The glaucoma surgery procedure profile has expanded, with many choices for the surgeon to utilize to assist in the management of sight-threatening glaucoma, while decreasing the potential iatrogenic and procedure-specific complications that can be asso…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Innovation journey in ophthalmology takes many pathways
Taking an idea from inception to completion as a product or device sold on the ophthalmology market can follow many different paths. No one path is correct, but burgeoning innovators need to realize which one is appropriate for them and their goals for the idea.
The innovation process can take many pathways depending on the idea and how it will affect the field of ophthalmology, according to Malik Y. Kahook, MD, an OSN Glaucoma Board Member who holds more than 20 granted patents for medical devices.
Exploring an unmet need (Read more...)
Innovation critical to meet future eye care needs
Most innovations in ophthalmology originate from a challenge faced by a practicing clinician. It is the clinician in the arena face to face with patients and their problems who first recognizes the unmet needs and looks for answers. Disruptive examples of clinician-driven innovation include IOLs, phacoemulsification, YAG laser posterior capsulotomy, laser therapy of retinal disease, LASIK, anti-VEGF treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, mechanical vitrectomy and all the MIGS procedures, to name only a few.
While it is definitely an ophthalmologist’s duty to diagnose and
How many stamps in your ‘life passport?’
“The finest eloquence is that which gets things done.” – David Lloyd George
“When you’re in trouble, all you need is your bank card and passport, and you’re fine.” – Sam Worthington
My partner Corinne Wohl and I are just back from spending a few days with an old pal, ophthalmology icon John Corboy. Which got me to thinking: I know very few people who have packed so much living into one life.
We talked about it some. If he had entered this world with a “life passport,” John would (Read more...)
VIDEO: LipiFlow reduces atrophy in meibomian gland dysfunction
HONOLULU – At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting here, Alice T. Epitropoulos, MD, FACS, explains a recent study that found a reversal in atrophy in 70% of patients with meibomian gland disease treated with LipiFlow, a thermal pulsation treatment from TearScience.
VIDEO: Researcher discusses post hoc analysis of RADIANCE trial
HONOLULU — At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting here, Carolyn Pan, MD, discusses post hoc analysis of the RADIANCE trial, in which safety and efficacy of Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) was compared with verteporfin photodynamic therapy for treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization.
MGD responds similarly to doxycycline, azithromycin
HONOLULU — No significant difference in treatment response was seen in patients given doxycycline or azithromycin to improve signs and symptoms of meibomian gland dysfunction, according to a poster presented here.
Vannarut Satitpitakul, MD, and colleagues conducted a prospective study to evaluate the associations between age, meibum secretion quality score and treatment response in patients with MGD.
In the study presented in a poster at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 155 patients with grade 3 or 4 MGD were randomly treated with either oral doxycycline 200 mg
VIDEO: Silicone plates a viable option in eyelid reconstruction
HONOLULU — Brian Fowler, MD, discusses a study regarding silicone plates for upper eyelid reconstruction he presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting here. The retrospective study of eight patients in the U.S. and India found silicone plates to be a viable alternative to tarsal plates in patients who had more than 80% of their upper eyelid removed.
Confocal microscopy measures lifestyle effects on cornea
HONOLULU — Using corneal confocal microscopy, lifestyle factors can be associated with density of epithelial cells and corneal nerves in young, healthy women, according to a poster presented here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
Whereas it is not unusual to use corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to measure corneal parameters in disease states, it is less studied in healthy eyes, Karen Edwards, PhD, told Healio.com/OSN.
Edwards and colleagues at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia,
assessed the effects of lifestyle factors and dry
Micromonovision with EDOF IOL reduces photic phenomena
HONOLULU — Visual function and satisfaction were better in patients targeted for micromonovision with implantation of an extended depth of focus IOL than in patients targeted for emmetropia with the same lens or targeted for emmetropia with a diffractive multifocal lens, according to a poster presented here.
Furthermore, the incidence of rainbow halos, distinguished by patients as having distinct rings, was statistically significantly greater in the group targeted for emmetropia with the multifocal lens (P = .033), Youngsub Eom, MD, of the Korea University College of Medicine, told
VIDEO: Omidria reduces use of pupil-dilating devices, surgery time
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Cynthia A. Matossian, MD, discusses a study on the use of Omidria (phenylephrine 1% and ketorolac 0.3% intraocular solution, Omeros) in cataract surgery. The study found that intraoperative use of Omidria reduces the use of pupil-dilating devices by 67% and reduces the overall length of cataract surgery.
VIDEO: Update phaco machines to improve efficiency in cataract surgery
WASHINGTON ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Eva Liang, MD, discusses how she has improved efficiency in cataract surgery by updating her phacoemulsification platform.
VIDEO: ‘Host Descemetic scaffolding’ technique preserves thin grafts
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.
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