LOS ANGELES — The results of a third phase 3 study comparing the safety and efficacy of a sustained-release dexamethasone insert vs. a placebo for postoperative cataract surgery patients showed a statistically significant superiority for postoperative absence of pain and inflammation, according to a speaker here.“Dextenza (sustained-release dexamethasone intracanalicular depot, Ocular Therapeutix) showed a statistically significant improvement as early as day 2 for pain and day 4 for inflammation,” Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
VIDEO: Incorporate corneal parameters with vector planning to reduce adverse outcomes
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Noel A. Alpins, MD, discusses the use of vector planning to reduce astigmatism in refractive surgery.
Captain Scott Kelly talks about his year in space, effects on his ocular health
LOS ANGELES — Captain Scott Kelly discussed the challenges he faced to successfully reach his goal of becoming an astronaut and the effects being in space for a year had on his physical health.Kelly spent 340 consecutive days in the International Space Station with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko in a mission to collect scientific data and to better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to long-term space travel.
VIDEO: Patients report fewer dysphotopsias with combination of multifocal IOLs
LOS ANGELES ― John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, reports at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting on a study performed at his clinic of patient satisfaction in patients receiving a +3.00 add IOL in both eyes vs. those receiving a +2.50 D add in one eye and a +3.00 D add in the other eye. He found that patient satisfaction was comparable between groups, but those receiving the +2.50/+3.00 combination reported fewer haloes and less glare than the +3.00/+3.00 combination. All groups were implanted with the AcrySof (Read more...)
AM-UC drops can quicken re-epithelialization after PRK, PTK
LOS ANGELES — Amniotic membrane-umbilical cord drops administered after surgery can help quicken re-epithelialization in patients who underwent photorefractive or phototherapeutic keratectomy, according to a speaker here.“The AM-UC drops can reduce pain and accelerate re-epithelialization, which can reduce corneal haze formation after PRK, PTK and epi-off cross-linking. But further studies are needed to substantiate these findings and evaluate long-term outcomes,” Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, FACS, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
VIDEO: New phaco-vitrectomy technique for lens coloboma cases
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Ashvin Agarwal, MD, describes a vitrectomy-assisted phaco technique for lenticular coloboma cases.
Poll: Xen45 implantation easy to learn
LOS ANGELES — A Canadian survey of Allergan’s Xen45 ab interno gel stent users found that the surgeons polled believed it is easier to learn to implant the device than to learn traditional filtration surgery.“The purpose of our study is to provide the surgeon’s perspective on learning the gel stent implantation and compare this to other glaucoma surgeries,” Andrei-Alexandru Szigiato, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Decentered capsulotomy contributes to risk of vault after accommodating IOL implantation
LOS ANGELES — A decentered or irregular capsulotomy can increase the risk of postoperative vaulting in patients implanted with an accommodating IOL, a study found.“The overall incidence of vault was very low, but several factors seem to increase the risk,” Timothy Page, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
VIDEO: Surgeon describes single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty technique
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Amar Agarwal, MS, FRCS, FRCOphth, guides viewers through a description of the new single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty technique, which is being used in complex cases to reduce damage within the anterior chamber.
Binkhorst lecturer focuses on challenges of small pupils during cataract surgery
LOS ANGELES — Cataract surgery in patients with small pupils can be challenging, but several techniques and surgical devices can help make the procedure more successful, according to a speaker here.“A small pupil may be challenging even with the newest state-of-the-art technology, like femto laser-assisted cataract surgery. There are two possible scenarios: The pupil is small from the very beginning, or it starts to constrict during surgery. In both of them, the [Malyugin] ring will help you to complete the procedure and make it uneventful,” Boris E. Malyugin, MD, PhD, (Read more...)
VIDEO: BromSite delivers high concentration of bromfenac into eye
LOS ANGELES ― Thomas Walters, MD, discusses a study he presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting comparing BromSite (Sun Ophthalmics) and Bromday and the concentration of bromfenac into the eye before cataract surgery
Bonnie An Henderson, MD, takes place as next ASCRS president
LOS ANGELES — Kerry D. Solomon, MD, ended his year-long presidency of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and welcomed Bonnie An Henderson, MD, to take his place as the next ASCRS president.“No other organization comes close to what ASCRS can offer, but I want to build on what has been done and continue to grow this educational resource,” Henderson said at the ASCRS meeting.
VIDEO: CLASS an efficacious IOP-lowering procedure
LOS ANGELES ― At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here, Nir Shoham-Hazon, MD, discusses a study showing CO2 laser-assisted glaucoma surgery to be a safe and efficacious procedure in mild, moderate and severe glaucoma cases
Premium IOLs for glaucoma patients are advantageous, but patient selection is key
LOS ANGELES — Glaucoma patients can be successful candidates for premium IOLs, but patient selection and accurate preoperative measurements are necessities for success, according to a speaker here. “Premium IOLs, especially toric IOLs, offer advantages, but patient selection is key. Accurate preoperative measurements and modern IOL formulas are essential. You must keep up to date. You must know the differences between the different formulas,” Richard A. Lewis, MD, said at Glaucoma Subspecialty Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
FDA clears Pentacam, Aladdin topographers for integration with Lensar system
LOS ANGELES — The FDA has granted 510(k) clearances for integration of the Oculus Pentacam HR and Pentacam AXL, and the Topcon Aladdin topographer with the Lensar Laser System with Streamline III, according to a Lensar press release.The approvals build on the system’s open architecture design, which “allows surgeons to use the diagnostic devices they trust to guide treatment and manage astigmatism using our laser’s exclusive features,” Lensar CEO Nick Curtis said in the release.
VIDEO: Significant differences seen between generic, name-brand drugs after cataract surgery
LOS ANGELES – Patients who used generic NSAIDs demonstrated significantly more erythema, more corneal staining and a shorter tear breakup time than those who used brand name products, John Hovanesian, MD, FACS, reported at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting here. A recent study of 200 patients compared the once-daily Ilevro (nepafenac ophthalmic suspension 0.3%, Alcon) with four-times-daily ketorolac.
VIDEO: SightLife Surgical announces two major partnerships
LOS ANGELES – SightLife Surgical announced partnerships with Imprimis and Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD, President and CEO Monty Montoya said at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit at ASCRS here. Under the Imprimis agreement the companies will work together to offer autologous Serum Tears across the United States. The latter agreement will bring Kinoshita’s corneal blindness treatment to the U.S.
Antibiotic resistance seen as problematic in Asian study of infectious keratitis
LOS ANGELES — Antibiotic resistance is a significant problem in many Asian countries, one speaker reported in a presentation on lessons learned from the Asia Cornea Society Infectious Keratitis Study.The aim of the multicenter, prospective, observational study launched in eight Asian countries was to determine the causes of infectious keratitis, to track the types of organisms and to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns, Donald Tan, MD, told colleagues at Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Visual impairment associated with congenital Zika syndrome
LOS ANGELES — Babies presenting with congenital Zika syndrome can have significant visual impairment, regardless of whether they have other ocular findings, Camila Ventura, MD, said at Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.“Regardless of ocular findings, all of the babies that were examined presented significant visual impairment, which means that probably the visual impairment is related to the cortical findings,” Ventura said.
Some retinal complications can be managed before lens surgery
LOS ANGELES — The most common retinal complications after modern lens surgery can be treated, managed or even avoided with the correct preoperative examination, according to a presenter here. “This is a plea to look at these patients with OCT. It’s absolutely crucial,” Steve Charles, MD, said at Refractive Subspecialty Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.