An increased risk for falling in patients with diabetes was associated with the presence of mild to moderate diabetic retinopathy, according to a study.A post hoc cross-sectional analysis of the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study evaluated re…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Cryopreserved amniotic membrane controls inflammation, promotes healing
The use of a cryopreserved amniotic membrane in dry eye disease correlated with corneal nerve regeneration as evidenced by a significant increase in corneal nerve density and corneal sensitivity, according to a study presented at the American Academy o…
Experts analyze Aetna, CVS merger
CVS agreed to acquire Aetna for $69 billion over the weekend in a proposed deal that The Washington Post said is the biggest health-care merger announced in more than a year. CVS announced that as part of this merger, it planned to turn CVS stores into community medical hubs for basic procedures and primary care.
A health policy expert told Healio Family Medicine that the merger could offer benefits to patients, but with caveats.
“Preferred provider relationships with a large, nationwide pharmacy such as CVS will probably allow for decreased (Read more...)
VIDEO: VR eCloud perimeter will help track visual fields in challenging situations
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Ashvin Agarwal, MD, discusses the development of a virtual reality perimeter that allows visual field testing with a lightweight headset. Results can be viewed on a laptop computer, tablet or smartphone.
FDA clears pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty for Pascal laser
The Pascal laser has received FDA clearance to offer pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty, according to a Topcon press release.
Pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty (PSLT) is a laser treatment for reducing IOP in open-angle glaucoma. It provides a “minimally traumatic computer-guided treatment that applies a sequence of patterns onto the trabecular meshwork,” the release said.
“Globally, we’ve seen success with the Streamline’ PSLT application and believe glaucoma specialists and comprehensive ophthalmologists in the United States will find this technology a
Puerto Rico-related medical product shortages continue months after Hurricane Maria
Medical manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico continue to struggle after Hurricane Maria tore through the island in September and knocked out the power grid, according to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD.Shortages of medical products such as IV sa…
Frontline physician groups alarmed by potential impact of Senate tax bill
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the Senate voted 51-to-49 to pass the final version of its tax bill.Senators received the revised 479-page bill just hours before the vote took place, and amendments from Democrats calling for a delay to allow ti…
Glaukos receives patent for shunts, surgical methods
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Glaukos for shunt devices to treat glaucoma and the method of implanting those devices, according to a company press release.
The patent, titled “Shunt Device and Method for Treating Ocular Disorders,” covers both ocular devices and methods of surgically implanting those devices within Schlemm’s canal to facilitate aqueous humor flow, the release said.
“This issued patent strengthens the protection of our inventions, further substantiates the proprietary nature of our technology and further expands our
Cryopreserved amniotic membrane graft reduces recurrence after pterygium surgery
Cryopreserved amniotic membrane tissue helped reduce recurrence rates after pterygium surgery, according to a study.The noncomparative retrospective study examined 556 eyes of 535 patients who had pterygium excision with adjunctive amniotic membrane tr…
VIDEO: Comparison of large trials shows similar results with anti-VEGFs for CRVO, BRVO
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Theodore Leng, MD, discusses a poster presentation reviewing the treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion among the three anti-VEGF agents at 6 months. The study showed similar treatment outcomes for bevacizumab, ranibizumab and aflibercept.
VIDEO: IPL effective for treating meibomian gland dysfunction
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Steven Dell, MD, discusses a study of intense pulsed light therapy on the lower lids and lateral canthal region in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction in dry eye.
VIDEO: IPL effective at treating meibomian gland dysfunction
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Steven Dell, MD, discusses a study of intense pulsed light therapy on the lower lids and lateral canthal region in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction in dry eye.
VIDEO: Tissue-sparing laser technology affecting macular disease treatments
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Victor Gonzalez, MD, discusses the latest advances and research in tissue-sparing laser treatments for macular disease.
AAO highlights top November ophthalmology news
News from the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting led November’s top ophthalmology headlines, with four of the month’s most-read articles coming from presentations given at the conference.
The meeting and its preceding subspecialty days took place in mid-November.
Here are the top five most-read headlines on Healio.com/OSN last month:
1. LASIK called safest, most successful elective procedure in the world
The latest peer-reviewed meta-analysis of worldwide scientific literature for LASIK shows the satisfaction rate for the procedure is up to 98% and nearly 90% of
Omeros sees $7.5 million third-quarter loss
Omeros reported a net loss of $7.5 million, or $0.16 per share, for the third quarter of 2017 compared with a net loss of $14 million, or $0.34 per share, in the same period of 2016.
Revenues from Omidria (phenylephrine 1% and ketorolac 0.3% injection) rose from $11.3 million in 2016’s third quarter to $21.7 million in 2017’s third quarter, according to a press release.
Total costs and expenses increased from $23.3 million to $26.8 million, which Omeros attributed to increased third-party manufacturing costs for OMS721, higher costs for advancing (Read more...)
Cataract surgery shifting to ASCs
Most patients who underwent cataract surgery from 2001 to 2014 did so at an ASC compared with a hospital outpatient department, according to a study.Of 369,320 patients included in the retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis, 237,046 (64.2%) underwe…
Senate set to resume tax bill debate with health care components uncertain
The Senate will debate and may vote on the Republican tax reform proposal today, with several critical health care components still undefined, possibly affecting millions of people and billions of dollars.
“The current draft of the Senate bill would repeal the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to obtain health insurance that meets minimum standards,” Pari Mody, associate of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, told Healio Family Medicine in an interview.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said such a repeal would increase the number of uninsured people to 13
VIDEO: Study finds Barrett formula most accurate for accommodating IOLs
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Eva Liang, MD, discusses her study comparing different IOL calculation formulas for accuracy in predicting good visual results when implanting accommodating IOLs.
VIDEO: Imaging device helps identify ocular surface disease
NEW ORLEANS ― At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Richard Adler, MD, discusses the Antares corneal imaging device (Lumenis), which can help identify dry eye disease in asymptomatic patients.
NovaBay reports $2.4 million net loss in third quarter
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals reported a net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.16 per share, for the third quarter of 2017 compared with a net loss of $3.7 million, or $0.34 per share, for the third quarter of 2016.
Net sales for the quarter rose from $3.4 million to $4.1 million, according to a company press release.
Sales and marketing expenses increased from $2.7 million in 2016’s third quarter to $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, which was attributed to an increase in the number of sales representatives and increased (Read more...)