Author: Healio ophthalmology

Tocilizumab shows positive results for giant cell arteritis in phase 3 trial

In a phase 3 trial, tocilizumab showed positive phase 3 trial results for patients with giant cell arteritis.“The publication of these phase 3 results in The New England Journal of Medicine validates the significance of our considerable basic and clinical autoimmune disease research in medical practice,” Sandra Horning, MD, chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development, said in a press release from Genentech. “The data from the GiACTA supported the FDA approval of the first new treatment option for patients with [giant cell arteritis] GCA in more than (Read more...)

Latest Iluvien data similar to trial results

Patients with chronic diabetic macular edema treated with an Iluvien implant experienced an average visual acuity increase from 51.9 letters at baseline to 57.2 letters at 24-month follow-up, with IOP-related adverse events occurring at a similar frequency as those reported in the FAME study.Fourteen United Kingdom clinics contributed data comparing real-world safety and visual function outcomes in eyes treated with an Iluvien implant (0.2µg per day fluocinolone acetonide, Alimera Sciences). Three hundred forty-five eyes of 305 patients with chronic DME had a mean follow-up of 428 days.

PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: The state of dry eye care, part 2

As we head into the summer months, I thought it would be helpful to take the pulse of our dry eye world and report on the state of the state, if you will. In part 1 I reviewed how we are diagnosing dry eye in our clinics — and learned that the news cycle does not respect the editorial/creative process when RPS sold InflammaDry while my piece was in turnaround. Let us now examine the state of dry eye disease treatment.As a group, doctors who treat DED have become much (Read more...)

ASCRS, ASOA representatives meet with Congress members at annual fly-in

About 50 physicians and ophthalmic administrators representing the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators met with members of Congress in Washington to discuss the need to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the need for regulatory relief for physicians and other care providers from several specific program requirements, according to an ASCRS press release. The representatives met with Congress through the annual Alliance of Specialty Medicine Legislative Fly-In, with a total of 135 physicians and practice administrators participating. According to an (Read more...)

PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Man presents with blurry vision, flashes, floaters and redness

A 53-year-old Caucasian man presented with a 3-week history of worsening blurry vision of the left eye associated with flashes, floaters and redness. He also complained of a recent fever that lasted 2 weeks and resolved on its own. He noted that he recently had a “sore” in his mouth that also resolved.The patient had a medical history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. His ocular history was significant only for refractive error. He denied any tobacco use and reported social alcohol use. He had no pets at home. He worked as (Read more...)

Top five videos from OCTANe

The OCTANe Ophthalmology Technology Summit, held in Newport Beach, California, in June, gave experts a forum to discuss new technology and business opportunities in the field of ophthalmology.Healio.com/OSN was there to provide live coverage, including…

PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty slowly on the rise

Lamellar techniques have almost entirely replaced penetrating keratoplasty. They have undergone progressive refinements and have more recently evolved toward minimizing the presence of allogenic tissue in the eye to prevent rejection and graft failure.“Overall, if we can work toward smaller grafts or no graft at all, this is going to benefit the patient in many ways. On the other hand, if we can multiply the number of grafts we can obtain from the same donor, we can reduce the costs and the problem of tissue shortage in some areas of (Read more...)

Alimera allowed to reduce size of Iluvien study in UK

The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has given final approval to reduce the size of Alimera Sciences’ post-marketing study of Iluvien, according to a company press release.The study, originally intended to follow 800 patients over 5 years, has shown consistent positive safety data, leading the company to seek a smaller sample size, the release said. There are currently 550 patients enrolled.