The FDA has approved the new drug application for Zerviate to treat ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis, according to a Nicox press release.Zerviate is the first topical ocular formulation of the antihistamine cetirizine.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Alimera Sciences reports $6.7 million quarterly net loss
A first-quarter net loss of $6.7 million was reported by Alimera Sciences, compared with an $11.1 million net loss for the first quarter of 2016. Operating expenses went down from $14.2 million in 2016’s first quarter to $11.5 million in 2017’s first quarter, according to a press release. Research, development and medical affairs expenses went down approximately 30% to $2.1 million.
VIDEO: Experienced surgeon shares views on mix and match with latest lens technologies
MILAN — Is there a role for mix and match now that multifocal lens technology has improved and the choice of lenses is wider? At the OSN Italy meeting, Magda Rau, MD, shares her views on this topic and her outcomes of a study.
Noninvasive laser therapy may be alternative to MIGS
MILAN — Transscleral micropulse laser therapy may be an effective alternative to minimally invasive glaucoma surgery in the treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma, according to a surgeon here.“It is a safe, minimally invasive and effective procedure that you can do in your office under topical anesthesia. I believe it has a great future as a treatment,” Rolando Toyos, MD, said at the OSN Italy meeting.
TearClear announces $4.5 million in funding for drop filter technology
TearClear has completed $4.5 million in Series A financing to advance development of its filter technology, designed to deliver preservative-free drops from preserved multi-dose products, the company announced in a press release.Visionary Venture Fund …
Second Sight reports $7.5 million first-quarter loss
Second Sight Medical Products reported a net loss of $7.5 million, or $0.16 per share, in the first quarter of 2017 compared with a net loss of $5.8 million, or $0.16 per share, in the same quarter of last year, the company announced in a press release…
Regression time shorter with ophthalmic artery chemosurgery plus intravitreous chemotherapy
Ophthalmic artery chemosurgery with intravitreous chemotherapy to treat class 3 retinoblastoma vitreous seeds resulted in a shorter time to regression compared with ophthalmic artery chemosurgery alone, according to a retrospective study.Researchers at…
In Memoriam of our founder: Charles B. Slack
THOROFARE, NJ — Charles B. Slack, founder of Charles B. Slack Incorporated, which later became SLACK Incorporated and the Wyanoke Group, publisher of many health care titles including Healio.com, died on May 27 at the age of 87 years.Slack was the founder of a company that became one of the last great American family-owned medical publishers to succeed in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Top five stories from ASCRS 2017
The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting took place May 5 to 9 in Los Angeles. Healio.com/OSN was there to cover breaking news and developments in cataract and refractive surgery.
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Improvements in instruments, sterilization and anesthesia set stage for office-based vitreoretinal surgeries
Remarkable advances in vitreoretinal surgery have occurred in the past 20 years. Diversified and miniaturized instruments have been produced, surgical time has dropped, and most procedures are done under local anesthesia, all of which have made hospitalization unnecessary in many cases. The number of vitreoretinal procedures performed in an outpatient setting has grown, and some surgeons feel that the time is about right to shift surgery to the office.“There are currently 5,500 ambulatory surgical centers in the U.S. doing 25 million surgeries. We feel comfortable with it, at least in (Read more...)
VIDEO: Neurostimulator the latest tool for dry eye treatment
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Cynthia A. Matossian, MD, discusses the TrueTear neurostimulator device from Allergan. TrueTear is the first medical device to be approved for the treatment of dry eye, giving patients a non-pharmacological option for achieving symptom relief.
Private equity offers new option for ophthalmology practice consolidation
Ophthalmologists and ophthalmology practices are steering toward consolidation in a fragmented market, and private equity firms may offer a new option for physicians as the firms look to invest in the field.Private equity firms, investment management companies that make investments in operating companies or startup companies, have been focusing their attention more on the ophthalmology field over the last several years. For example, in May 2014, Varsity Healthcare Partners, a health care services-focused private equity investment firm, acquired Katzen Eye Group, one of the nation’s largest ophthalmologic and optometric services (Read more...)
Double-infusion cannula technique minimizes complications, optimizes outcomes
Endothelial keratoplasty helps to restore the sanctity of the corneal endothelium from both a functional and structural aspect. Graft tissue adherence to the corneal surface is a matter of concern in eyes with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy or aphaki…
Should your next provider be a medical doctor or an optometrist?
“The only source of knowledge is experience.”– Albert Einstein
Do you believe private equity investment will be more successful than the physician practice management companies’ attempt at consolidations in the 1990s?
PointFor many years, eye care has been considered “outside the nest” of traditional medicine, and now as the payer world is evolving and there are solid attempts to consolidate through ACOs, IPAs, mergers and acquisitions, we need to find a way to differentiate ourselves and jump back into that “nest.” It is more critical than ever that we proactively build strong relationships with payers and legislators. We must invite them into our world to help them understand who we are and where we fit in the health care continuum. Consolidation (Read more...)
Woman referred for blurry vision, flashes of light and floaters
A 26-year-old Caucasian woman with a 3-day history of blurry vision, flashes of light and floaters in her left eye was referred by an outside comprehensive ophthalmologist for a retina evaluation. She had a medical history significant for hypothyroidism managed with a low dose of levothyroxine. Her ocular history was remarkable for one episode of unilateral iritis 3 years ago. She was a non-smoker, denied intravenous drug use and was in a monogamous relationship with her boyfriend. Her family history was non-contributory. On review of systems, she denied shortness of (Read more...)
Both junior and senior practice partners could benefit from private equity transaction
In the following paragraphs I would like to present an illustration of how a private equity transaction might work for an ophthalmology private practice, and it is important to emphasize the word “might” with the usual caveats about inability to predict the future. Nonetheless, I think the illustration will help many understand the economics.First, a few personal thoughts and disclosures. My partners and I at Minnesota Eye Consultants (MEC) recently completed a private equity (PE) transaction with Waud Capital of Chicago to create an entity called United Vision Partners (UVP). (Read more...)
Eleven Biotherapeutics reports $6.1 million loss in first quarter
Eleven Biotherapeutics reported a net loss of $6.1 million, or $0.25 per share, in the first quarter of 2017 compared with a net loss of $7.6 million, or $0.39 per share, in the same period of 2016. The company had revenues of $0.4 million in the first…
Eleven Biotherapeutics reports $6.1 million loss in first quarter
Eleven Biotherapeutics reported a net loss of $6.1 million, or $0.25 per share, in the first quarter of 2017 compared with a net loss of $7.6 million, or $0.39 per share, in the same period of 2016. The company had revenues of $0.4 million in the first…
AAFP, AMA: Congressional Budget Office report shows AHCA needs work
The presidents of AAFP and AMA have unleashed a new round of criticism regarding the American Health Care Act, the bill initiating the repeal of the Affordable Care Act that narrowly passed the House earlier this month.The groups’ comments come after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation released a report on Wednesday that indicated the House-passed version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) would leave 14 million more people uninsured than under the present law. According to the CBO report, that number would increase to (Read more...)