Stephen S. Lane, MD, will join Alcon as its chief medical officer and global head of franchise clinical strategy, where he will lead the integration of scientific, clinical and commercial priorities across the company’s surgical and vision care franchises, according to a press release.Lane has specialized in cataract surgery, cornea/external diseases, anterior segment surgery, LASIK and refractive surgery in his more than 30-year career.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
VIDEO: Intraocular delivery of medications during cataract surgery advantageous
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Cynthia A. Matossian, MD, discusses the four Cs of the advantages of intraocular delivery of medications during cataract surgery over topical post-surgical administration: Cornea, compliance, cost and call-backs.
Most doctors disapprove of Trump approach to health care
A new survey shows that the majority of U.S. doctors do not like President Donald J. Trump’s job performance when it comes to health care policy, and think that the future of health care looks bleak for both medical professionals and patients. Earlier this year, a poll that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that most U.S. physicians do not want to see the Affordable Care Act repealed. That survey was taken before the House pulled the original vote on the American Health Care Act due to (Read more...)
SightLife Surgical names P. Bernard Haffey chief commercial officer
Paul Bernard “Bernie” Haffey has joined SightLife Surgical as its first chief commercial officer, according to a company press release. Haffey previously served as president and CEO of Nexis Vision and as president and CEO of NDO Surgical. He also held the titles of executive vice president and chief commercial officer at both Summit Technology and IntraLase Corp.
Precizon Presbyopic IOL from Ophtec receives CE mark
The aspheric Precizon Presbyopic IOL received a CE mark and will be commercially launched in October during the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, Ophtec announced in a press release. The lens was studied …
Precizon Presbyopic IOL from Ophtec receives CE mark
The aspheric Precizon Presbyopic IOL received a CE mark and will be commercially launched in October during the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, Ophtec announced in a press release. The lens was studied …
ARMOR study: Antibiotic resistance high among staphylococci
BALTIMORE – Researchers found high levels of antibiotic resistance among staphylococci, along with many isolates demonstrating multidrug resistance, in preliminary results for ocular isolates collected in 2016 under the ARMOR program, presented at the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting.The ongoing Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring in Ocular micRoorganisms (ARMOR) is a nationwide antibiotic resistance surveillance program specific to ocular pathogens.
VIDEO: Diet and supplements can augment treatment for dry eye disease
LOS ANGELES – At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Laura M. Periman, MD, discusses “foundational medicine,” the daily habits, eating patterns and supplements that can bolster eye health, particularly for dry eye patients.
ONL Therapeutics closes $4.25 million in Series A funding
ONL Therapeutics has closed $4.25 million in Series A funding for preclinical development of its lead therapeutic candidate, ONL1204, designed to treat retinal detachment, according to a company press release.The funding, which came from investors including Novartis, the University of Michigan’s Michigan Investment in New Technology Startups program, Capital Community Angels, Invest Michigan, Biosciences Research & Commercialization Center and Hestia Investments, will be combined with a $1 million grant from the National Eye Institute.
Research underway on cannabinoid-based treatment approach to neuropathic pain in dry eye
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Speaker discusses opioid crisis through a population health perspective
PHILADELPHIA — The key issue in opioid abuse is that addiction thrives among populations marked by violence, homelessness and employment, according to a speaker at Modern Healthcare’s 2017 Healthcare Issue Briefings. The topic of the briefing was seeking solutions to the opioid crisis using a population health approach.“Here is the issue, I think addiction thrives in populations that do not,” David B. Nash, MD, MBA, FACP, dean of Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University, said during the panel discussion. “That is the key issue. If they do (Read more...)
House hearing opens with support for NIH funding, criticism of proposed cuts
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing on funding for the NIH. In opening remarks, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies acknowledged the importance of investing in NIH. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, opened the hearing by stating, “Investment in NIH has been a key driver in making the United States the world leader in biomedical research and has led to vast improvements in life expectancy and the quality of (Read more...)
VIDEO: LensGen founder discusses impact of funding on IOL development
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery here, Ramgopal Rao, LensGen’s CEO and founder, discusses the impact of the news that LensGen has received $21 million in Series A financing for Juvene, its modular fluid-optic accommodating IOL.
OCTA used to assess macular vessel density in Stargardt disease
BALTIMORE — Patients with Stargardt disease had a lower vessel density in the deep retina, according to a study presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting. This suggests there is a significant decrease in the vascular layers after damage to the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium.“Previous studies have found that choroidal retinal atrophy and a loss of the choroidal vascular to be a factor in Stargardt, and since OCT is a new modality, which can see the deep layers of the retina and choroid and (Read more...)
Multifocal IOL on toric platform improves near, intermediate vision
LOS ANGELES — Adding a toric platform to a multifocal IOL significantly improves vision at intermediate and near distances, according to one speaker. “Our goal was to show that, if you put the toric platform on a multifocal, are you going to get just as good vision or is it going to worsen the vision putting those two things together? In this intermediate [distance], it actually improved the vision one line by correcting the astigmatism,” Stephen V. Scoper, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
VIDEO: Surgeon shares pearls for performing cataract surgery in post-RK eyes
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Jeffrey Whitman, MD, shares pearls on how to properly evaluate and measure post-RK eyes for cataract surgery, and shares surgical tips and lens choice for optimal visual outcomes.
Higher incidence of Bell’s palsy attributed to increase in herpes zoster infection
BALTIMORE — A higher incidence of Bell’s palsy in recent years may be attributed to increasing rates of herpes zoster infection, according to research presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting.“We wanted to see if the incidence of facial nerve palsy has changed over time. The last time there was a study on this was 1968 to 1982,” Sarah Alshami, study author from the Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, said in an interview with Healio.com/OSN.
VIDEO: Real-world Xen glaucoma implant technique improves on FDA-approved technique
BALTIMORE ― At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting here, Davinder S. Grover, MD, MPH, discusses an FDA-approved, prospective, open-label study of the Allergan Xen implant for the treatment of refractory glaucoma. The study looks at a less-invasive “real-world” ab interno technique than the one approved in the FDA clinical trial.
AMA urges Senate to sustain insurance coverage
AMA recently penned a letter to Senate leaders advocating protection for patients at risk of losing health insurance coverage as the Senate begins considering health system reform, according to a press release.“Significant changes to the [Affordable Care Act] or Medicaid program potentially threaten the ability for millions of Americans to obtain and retain coverage,” James L. Madara, MD, CEO of AMA, wrote in the letter. “It is these citizens, constituents and patients who should be at the center of this debate.”
New toric IOL shows stability, safety and efficacy
LOS ANGELES — The new Bausch + Lomb enVista toric IOL met all safety and efficacy endpoints in a pivotal FDA trial, according to a presentation here. “Premarket approval application to the FDA is underway,” Richard Hope, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.