Welcome to another edition of CEDARS/ASPENS Debates. CEDARS/ASPENS is a society of cornea, cataract and refractive surgery specialists, here to discuss some of the latest hot topics in ophthalmology.This month, we are featuring how to navigate the rapi…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Opioid use for corneal cross-linking: Potential concerns and drug stewardship
The ongoing opioid epidemic highlights health care’s role in fueling the crisis as well as the highly addictive nature of opioids.Even a single exposure to opioids can increase the risk for dependence (Sun et al.; Thao et al.).Although postoperative op…
Opioid use for corneal cross-linking: Potential concerns and drug stewardship
The ongoing opioid epidemic highlights health care’s role in fueling the crisis as well as the highly addictive nature of opioids.Even a single exposure to opioids can increase the risk for dependence (Sun et al.; Thao et al.).Although postoperative op…
Pegcetacoplan slows GA progression with no change in vision loss
Pegcetacoplan injections slowed progression of geographic atrophy but had no impact on visual acuity in a real-world setting, according to a study published in Vision.“GA and [neovascular age-related macular degeneration] often coexist in the same eye;…
CDC carries on without a permanent director
More than a year into the second Trump administration, the CDC is still operating without a permanent director — which, former CDC officials said, puts national health and safety at risk.“This is dangerous,” Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, who served as CDC dire…
ACA enrollment plummeted in 2026
Enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace dropped by more than 1 million users in the face of stalled federal resolutions to skyrocketing health care costs in the United States.According to CMS, in 2025, 24,166,491 people enrolled in the ACA’…
Healio Community webinar offers tips for best AI utilization
Harvey Castro, MD, MBA, predicts AI will eventually help people live to an average age of 120 years.It will detect when someone is dehydrated based on their trip to the restroom or predict when a patient may have a UTI.“This reactive medicine will go a…
VIDEO: Cataract patients with dry eye may have neurotrophic keratopathy
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — In this expert perspective from Hawaiian Eye 2026, John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, discusses a study assessing neurotrophic keratitis in cataract patients with dry eye.Hovanesian, Healio | OSN Associate Medical Editor, said the study s…
VIDEO: Real-world data show positive outcomes of intravitreal implants in DME
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — In this expert perspective from Retina 2026, Baruch D. Kuppermann, MD, PhD, discusses positive data from real-world studies assessing intravitreal implants for diabetic macular edema.According to Kuppermann, Steinert Endowed Professo…
Telehealth extensions, pharmacy benefit manager reform: What’s in the new spending package
Congress passed a bipartisan spending package on Feb. 3 that carries ramifications for telehealth, pharmacy benefit managers, funding for physicians’ mental health resources and more.The five-bill, $1.2 trillion spending package was signed into law by …
Adaptive fluidics allows for vitrectomy at lower IOP
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — In this Healio Video Perspective from Retina 2026, Jorge Calzada, MD, discusses IOP stabilization during vitrectomy.{{VIDEO}}“Most vitrectomy surgery involves an infusion pressure through our infusion cannula that different doctors s…
Insights from 2025 International Study of Dry Eye Sufferers
Dry eye disease affects millions of people globally. Yet despite its prevalence, it remains underrecognized, underdiagnosed and undertreated.The 2025 International Study of Dry Eye Sufferers, called Needs Unmet in Dry Eye: Symptoms, Treatment and Sever…
Q&A: Protection pointers as ICE activity increases in health care settings
Health care providers may encounter immigration officers in their hospitals and practices, but they can take steps to prepare themselves for these interactions, staying safe and legally compliant, according to an expert.The past year has been marked by…
Omidenepag isopropyl may increase myopia in glaucoma
Omidenepag isopropyl eye drops may increase nearsightedness in patients with glaucoma, leading to myopic shifts of 0.75 D or more, according to a study published in Journal of Glaucoma.“Omidenepag isopropyl is a relatively new glaucoma medication that …
VIDEO: Noncontact esthesiometer quantifies neurotrophic keratitis
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — In this expert perspective from Hawaiian Eye 2026, John D. Sheppard, MD, MMSc, FACS, discusses a corneal esthesiometer developed by Brill Engines to detect neurotrophic keratitis.According to Sheppard, of Virginia Eye Consultants, th…
VIDEO: Retinal vein occlusion requires longer treatment than previously thought
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — In this expert perspective from Retina 2026, Sharon Fekrat, MD, FACS, FASRS, discusses a real-world retrospective analysis of the Vestrum Health Retina Database of patients with retinal vein occlusion.Fekrat, of Duke University Schoo…
FDA clears investigational new drug application for ER-100
Life Biosciences plans to begin human clinical trials of a cellular rejuvenation therapy in optic neuropathies after receiving FDA clearance of an investigational new drug application, according to a press release.ER-100 aims to modify the epigenome of…
Retaine Omega Forté omega-3 dry eye supplement launches
Retaine Omega Forté, an omega-3 nutritional supplement aimed at alleviating symptoms of dry eye, is now available, according to a press release from OcuSoft.Retaine Omega Forté is intended for any patient with dry eye or meibomian gland dysfunction as …
FDA approves readministration of iDose TR
Editor’s note: This is a developing news story. Please check back soon for updates.The FDA approved a new drug application labeling supplement that allows readministration of iDose TR with a repeat treatment protocol, according to a press release from …
Burdensome health care cost pervasive in U.S.
Burdensome health care spending in the United States is a wide-reaching issue that requires multiple solutions, according to an expert.Adam Gaffney, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and colleagues recently publishe…