Author: Healio ophthalmology

Alcon announces preloaded delivery system for CyPass micro-stent

WASHINGTON — Alcon announced a new preloaded delivery system for the CyPass micro-stent, designed to streamline the process of loading the microinvasive glaucoma surgery device.
The CyPass Ultra System, indicated for use in adult patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma who require cataract surgery, comes preloaded with a CyPass micro-stent housed in a loader tip. The tip is attached to a handheld applier.
“It reduces the number of steps required to load the device. The existing configuration, right now, there’s a separate mechanism where you take an applier,

Alan S. Crandall receives inaugural Chang Humanitarian Award at ASCRS

WASHINGTON — Alan S. Crandall, MD, was presented the inaugural Chang Humanitarian Award for his humanitarian work in the field of cataract blindness. He was presented the award by David F. Chang, MD, who also endowed the award to ASCRS.
Alan S. Crandall, MD, received the inaugural Chang Humanitarian Award. Source: Robert L. Linnehan
The goal of the humanitarian award is to highlight the unsung efforts of individuals and their organizations who are working to reduce the enormous global backlog of cataract blindness, Chang said.
“Alan is one of ophthalmology’s (Read more...)

Cooperation among specialties key to advancing ophthalmology

WASHINGTON — Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, incoming president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, stressed the importance of inclusivity and cooperation among specialties in his address at the organization’s annual meeting opening ceremony.
Samuelson, who mostly specializes in glaucoma treatment and surgery, said he sees first-hand how cooperation among all anterior segment specialists helps foster better practitioners and, in turn, better treatment for their patients, and how organizations like ASCRS help make that happen.
Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, takes over as

Systemic immunotherapy becoming more popular in ophthalmology

Nisha Acharya
WASHINGTON — Immunosuppression therapies are becoming more popular in ophthalmology and can be used to treat common conditions such as scleritis and peripheral ulcerative keratitis, according to a speaker here.
“The important thing with these conditions is that 50% of the time there is an associated systemic autoimmune disease, usually a vasculitic condition, and so for that reason I think systemic therapy has a critical role. We know that in these conditions there are a number of infiltrating cells in the blood vessels and in the ocular tissues. (Read more...)

Glaukos files patent lawsuit against Ivantis

Glaukos Corporation filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Ivantis Inc., according to a company press release.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division, the lawsuit alleges “Ivantis’ Hydrus Microstent device infringes Glaukos patents relating to certain of Glaukos’ core glaucoma technologies,” the release said.

Femtosecond laser-assisted keratectomy suitable for corneal scarring

 
 
WASHINGTON — Femtosecond laser-assisted keratectomy can be an additional effective treatment for patients with corneal scarring, according to a speaker here.
“The femtosecond option is very nice. We can leave some of that epithelium intact and not induce as much inflammation and TGF-beta activation to help us make sure that we have as clear a surface as possible. It may work better for slightly deeper anterior stromal opacities, as opposed to specifically ones that affect Bowman,” Leela Raju, MD, said during Cornea Day at the American Society of (Read more...)

Reducing anxiety in LASIK patients helps improve satisfaction

Louis E. Probst
WASHINGTON — Empowering patients during their LASIK procedure is among the steps surgeons can take to enhance the experience, according to one surgeon who related pearls for conducting LASIK at Refractive Day during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
“We all know LASIK is a great procedure … but we can still have issues,” Louis E. Probst, MD, said. Complications are becoming more rare, but the procedure can still be stressful for patients, he said.
One way to reduce complications is to use single-use (Read more...)

Scientific evidence can guide choice of dry eye diagnostics

John Sheppard
WASHINGTON — Ophthalmologists must decide which of many dry eye diagnostic tests to use to decrease the overall cost of diagnosing and treating dry eye disease, according a speaker here.
There are a multitude of dry eye tests, but assigning value, knowing which ones are backed by scientific evidence, and which can best guide diagnosis is important in the decision making.
“I encourage you to get meibography in your practice, I encourage you to get osmolarity in your practice — and MMP-9. They will make a big difference (Read more...)

Hydrogel sealant offers alternative to sutures

Leon Herndon
WASHINGTON — Hydrogel sealant is a viable alternative to sutures to prevent wound leakage during cataract surgery, according to a speaker here.
With more than 3 million cataract surgeries performed each year, most of which utilize a clear cornea incision, which is slower to heal than a scleral incision, better wound closure options are necessary, Leon W. Herndon Jr., MD, said at Glaucoma Day at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
“ReSure sealant (Ocular Therapeutix) provides adequate wound integrity for use in a wide variety (Read more...)

DREAM results do not support omega-3 supplementation for dry eye disease

Penny Asbell
WASHINGTON — The results of the 1-year Dry Eye Assessment and Management trial found insufficient evidence to support patients taking oral omega-3 supplements to reduce the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, according to a speaker here.
“This NEI-supported clinical trial shows that oral omega-3 is no better than placebo in relieving signs and symptoms of dry eye disease,” Penny Asbell, MD, study chair of the DREAM trial, said during Cornea Day at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
The DREAM trial is (Read more...)

Diopsys unveils two electrophysiology testing products at ASCRS

WASHINGTON — Diopsys will introduce two new visual electrophysiology testing products at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
The Retina Plus is a carry-case-sized device that allows for a more convenient way to conduct flicker ERG testing, while including the ability to scale the system to a full visual electrophysiology suite, according to a press release. It is complementary to the Nova cart-based and Argos tabletop systems.
The multifocal electroretinography module, to be used with the Nova, Argos or Retina Plus platforms, is a localized retinal function

Age, corneal shape influence risk for ectasia after LASIK

Steven Schallhorn
WASHINGTON — Abnormal corneal shape and younger age pose the greatest risk for ectasia after LASIK, according to Steven Schallhorn, MD, who reported on an ongoing analysis of a large cohort of patients.
“We have a consecutive series of patients that we’re following that were treated years ago from 2007 to 2011,” Schallhorn said at Refractive Day during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. These patients represent nearly 200,000 patients who underwent laser vision correction. “It takes time if ectasia is going to become

Majority of physicians engage in multisite practicing

Imam Xierali
Nearly two in three physicians in Georgia are multisite practitioners — that is, they have multiple hospital privileges and/or work in multisite group practices — according to findings recently published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
“An estimated 72% of land mass in the United States are currently designated as primary care health professional shortage areas, with more than 105 million individuals residing in these areas. Accurate physician practice location information is therefore important to assess health care accessibility and