WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Soosan Jacob, MS, FRCS, DNB, describes a new technique she is using in thin membrane endothelial keratoplasty procedures.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Novartis launches FocalView app for trial participation
Novartis has launched the FocalView app, an ophthalmic digital research platform designed to allow researchers to track disease progression by collecting real-time data reported from consenting patients.
By adapting the design of clinical trials for patients’ daily routines, the app may reduce barriers to study participation, the company said in a press release.
The app will help patients complete assessments and gain feedback on their visual function, including changes over time. It can also provide researchers with real-world, patient-reported data to create more flexible and accessible
VIDEO: CLEAR a new concept in refractive surgery
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Arun C. Gulani, MD, discusses his CLEAR concept for refractive surgery, which employs all anterior segment, lenticular and corneal techniques and technologies to bring patients to 20/15 vision.
VIDEO: Multifocal IOL combo creates high patient satisfaction
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, John A. Hovanesian, MD, discusses a study looking at using a combination of 2.5 D add and 3.0 D add multifocal IOLs in patients for the correction of presbyopia.
Eating dark chocolate may improve visual acuity, contrast sensitivity
Participants who ate a dark chocolate bar experienced improved contrast sensitivity and visual acuity 2 hours after eating the candy compared with participants who ate a milk chocolate bar, according to a study.The randomized, single-masked crossover c…
Better refractive results reported with femtosecond vs. manual cataract surgery
Elizabeth Yeu
WASHINGTON — Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery provides more accurate refractive outcomes than manual surgery, according to a study presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here.
A retrospective review of more than 2,000 charts compared the refractive outcomes of 225 eyes that underwent cataract surgery with the LenSx femtosecond laser system (Alcon) and 231 eyes that underwent manual cataract surgery.
“The proportion of eyes within 0.5 D of target refraction demonstrates there is a statistically significant difference
VIDEO: Two iStents perform well as stand-alone procedure
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Jason Bacharach, MD, discusses a study comparing the implantation of two iStent devices (Glaukos) as a stand-alone procedure for reducing IOP in newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma patients.
Stem cell-based retinal implant shows promising results for advanced dry AMD
A first-of-its-kind stem cell-based retinal implant for patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration was well-tolerated and showed promising early efficacy in a phase 1/2a study.
Researchers evaluated the use of human embryonic stem cells implanted in patients with advanced dry AMD. The study evaluated the primary safety of the treatment and noted any restoration of vision or prevention of vision loss in a patient cohort, lead author Amir H. Kashani, MD, PhD, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, told Healio.com/OSN.
“The idea
Shire to consider Takeda takeover deal
Shire’s board may recommend its shareholders accept a bid from the Japanese-based pharmaceutical company Takeda, Shire announced in a press release.
The proposal includes 21.75 pounds in cash and 27.26 pounds in new Takeda shares per Shire share, for a total of approximately 46 billion pounds, the release said.
Shire’s board “would be willing to recommend the revised proposal,” contingent on a resolution of other terms of the offer including an agreement of certain terms, completion of a confirmatory due diligence review, the unanimous and unconditional recommendation of
AAO, CheckedUp enter content licensing agreement
CheckedUp has entered a content licensing agreement with the American Academy of Ophthalmology to provide professional programing on its waiting room and exam room technology platforms, the company announced in a press release.CheckedUp provides specia…
VIDEO: Registry shows early detection of wet AMD helps patients maintain better vision
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Allen Ho, MD, of Wills Eye Hospital, discusses data gleaned from the AAO’s IRIS Registry showing that the earlier wet age-related macular degeneration is detected and treated with anti-VEGF agents, the better the patient’s vision will be over time.
VIDEO: CorT, vector planning improve refractive surgery outcomes
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Noel A. Alpins, MD, discusses astigmatism correction using CorT and vector planning to achieve the “perfect laser treatment.”
Corneal Scleral Profile report available for Oculus Pentacam
Software for a Corneal Scleral Profile report is now available for the Pentacam, according to a press release from Oculus.The CSP scan offers a measurement that is independent of the tear film; 250 Scheimpflug images are taken as it measures sagittal h…
One-fifth of conflicts of interest not disclosed at drug approval meetings
Of the public speakers at Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee meetings, about 20% had undisclosed conflicts of interest and those who did have conflicts of interest were much more likely to support drug approvals, according to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
“Little formal attention … has been paid to the possibility of such conflicts of interest among patients and advocates who appear as public speakers before the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee (AADPAC), which advises the FDA on drug products used in anesthesiology and
Success found with toric lenses in highly aberrated corneas
Sheri L. Rowen
WASHINGTON — For patients with highly aberrated corneas due to pellucid marginal degeneration, penetrating keratoplasty or previous refractive surgery, toric lenses can have optimal results, according to a speaker here.
“These are very difficult patients,” Sheri L. Rowen, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. “All of these patients want the best lens. How do we offer the premium outcome in these patients, and what can we safely offer?”
A retrospective analysis of 30 eyes with highly aberrated corneas evaluated
Lucentis prefilled syringe now available for all forms of diabetic retinopathy
The Lucentis 0.3 mg prefilled syringe can now be ordered by ophthalmologists in the United States for the treatment of all forms of diabetic retinopathy, Genentech announced in correspondence with Healio.com/OSN.The prefilled syringe was approved by th…
Hong Kong Polytechnic develops spectacle lens to slow, halt myopia
Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a spectacle lens that slowed myopia progression by 60% and halted progression in 21.5% of Chinese children in a randomized controlled trial, according to a press release from the university.
“We have patents from China and [the technology] is in the process for the U.S.,” Carly Lam, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, principal investigator and professor, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told Primary Care Optometry News. “The company collaborating with us on the lens design is Hoya. The plan is to launch (Read more...)
Education, collaboration critical to maximize EMR potential
Kendall Rogers
NEW ORLEANS — Ongoing training, tweaking the technology to what benefits you, and discussing needed changes with information technology departments can help primary care physicians and internists recognize the full potential of the electronic medical record, according to a presenter at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Meeting.
“The EMR is our primary tool of providing care to patients, it’s also our cockpit, our dashboard,” Kendall M. Rogers, MD, CPE, FACP, SFHM, professor and chief, division of hospital medicine, University of New
Fresenius moves to terminate Akorn merger
Akorn has filed a complaint against Fresenius Kabi in Delaware Chancery Court after Fresenius moved to terminate its merger agreement with the company, according to an Akorn press release.
Fresenius announced the termination of the merger agreement Sunday, claiming Akorn has failed to fulfill several closing conditions and citing breaches of FDA data integrity requirements relating to Akorn’s operations, according to a press release from Fresenius.
Akorn, in turn, is asking the court that Fresenius be required to fulfill its obligations under the agreement.
“Fresenius’ attempt
MeiraGTx’s AAV-RPGR for retinitis pigmentosa gets fast track designation
The FDA has granted fast track designation to AAV-RPGR for the treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, MeiraGTx announced in a press release.The fast track process will allow MeiraGTx to have early and frequent communication with the FDA through th…