Author: Healio ophthalmology

Sirolimus can reduce vitreous haze in patients with non-infectious uveitis

A higher proportion of patients with non-infectious uveitis experienced a reduction of their vitreous haze scores to 0 at 5 months after receiving a 440 µg dose of intravitreal sirolimus compared with control subjects receiving a 44 µg dose of sirolimus, according to a study.Two phase 3 studies found 440 µg of intravitreal sirolimus (Santen), a locally delivered mTOR inhibitor, effectively reduced vitreous haze scores to 0, with fewer adverse events, at 5 months’ follow-up for patients with non-infectious uveitis of the posterior segment, Pauline T. Merrill, MD, told Ocular (Read more...)

Leadership begins locally for women in ophthalmology

Having a mentor and becoming involved in local organizations early can help more women assume leadership roles in ophthalmology and become mentors themselves later in their careers. Cynthia G. Mattox, MD, FACS, president of the American Glaucoma Society and a trustee-at-large on the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s board of trustees, said her desire to serve in a leadership role in the field was stoked when she became involved with the New England Ophthalmological Society early in her career.

Presbyopia treatment in 2017: Where are we?

Looking at the present state of refractive surgery, in which the correction of refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism has become safe, accurate and precise with outstanding results for most patients, I feel that presbyopia correction still involves challenges and compromises. Think of the procedures we use to correct, let’s say, 2 D of myopia. I can count three, maybe four, surgical techniques that are currently used — LASIK, PRK, advanced surface ablation, SMILE — and all of them provide similar, excellent results. Think now of the procedures (Read more...)

OSN introduces new section editors

It is my pleasure to announce exciting changes to our editorial board. In an effort to continually evolve in covering ophthalmology, I met recently with the editorial team of OSN to make some significant changes to the board.I’m proud to announce the following appointments: Elizabeth Yeu, MD, Section Editor, Cornea/External Disease; Andrew G. Lee, MD, Section Editor, Neurosciences; John P. Berdahl, MD, Section Editor, Refractive Surgery; Wendy W. Lee, MD, Section Editor, Oculoplastics and Reconstructive Surgery; and, Allison Weber Shuren, MS, JD, Section Editor, Regulatory/Legislative.

PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Assia Pupil Expander useful for small pupils in routine and complex cataract surgeries

A well-dilated pupil is optimal for cataract surgery, including laser-assisted procedures, because it provides greater access to the cloudy lens, thus facilitating the surgical procedure and minimizing potential surgical complications. A small pupil not only limits visualization of the lens but may be associated with increased iatrogenic iris damage during cataract surgery that may be permanent and contributes to increased iris-related inflammation that may even cause postoperative macular edema, a poor visual outcome and an unhappy patient. A small pupil that does not dilate easily may be associated with previous (Read more...)

Regenerative agent promotes healing after corneal cross-linking

Instillation of a new topical regenerative agent before contact lens fitting may be a promising new adjunct in the postoperative management of cross-linking patients, according to a study.Regenerating Agent, or RGTA (Laboratoires Théa), is an ophthalmic solution indicated for the treatment of persistent epithelial defects and corneal dystrophies. It accelerates the healing processes by acting as a scaffold for the fixation of the components involved in the regeneration of corneal tissue.

Healio.com celebrates 5th anniversary

THOROFARE, N.J. – Healio.com, a clinical news and education website for health care professionals in more than 25 specialties, celebrates its 5-year anniversary this month.“The goal with Healio was, very simply, to put everything in one place,” said Peter N. Slack, president and CEO of The Wyanoke Group. “It was going to help search engine results; it was going to help physicians and other health care practitioners who visit Healio. By my observation, it’s been a resounding success.”

Report: ‘Deliberate steps’ required to preserve, foster integrity in scientific research

The U.S. scientific research enterprise must improve its practices and policies to protect the integrity of research, according to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.“This report does not conclude that the research enterprise is broken,” members of the entity’s committee on responsible science wrote in the report. “However, the research enterprise faces serious challenges in creating the appropriate conditions to foster and sustain the highest standards of integrity. To meet these challenges, deliberate steps must be taken to strengthen the self-correcting mechanisms that are an (Read more...)

AAFP, AMA, others implore Trump, Congress to stabilize individual health insurance market

Representatives of AMA, AAFP and several other associations recently sent President Donald J. Trump and leaders of the U.S. House and Senate letters urging them to continue funding cost sharing reductions for health care and stabilize the individual health insurance market.“The window is quickly closing to properly price individual insurance products for 2018,” the letter stated.

Globe salvage rates better with IAC than IVC in select cases of unilateral retinoblastoma

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Intra-arterial chemotherapy resulted in better globe salvage than intravenous chemotherapy for treatment of unilateral retinoblastoma in certain cases, according to a speaker here.“There is not complete agreement in the management of retinoblastoma,” Carol L. Shields, MD, said at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting. “Basically, we have some agreement that we have made huge progress in the management of retinoblastoma. In fact, this is the most successfully treated pediatric cancer.”

Earlier therapy reduces need for surgery in JIA-related uveitis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The sooner a patient with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related and idiopathic uveitis receives both methotrexate and a second immunomodulatory therapy agent, the sooner the patient will experience better control over the uveitis, according to a study.“Earlier initiation of both methotrexate and a second IMT [immunomodulatory] agent, if required, is associated with a reduced likelihood of needing any ophthalmic surgeries at 3 years. [Patients] are less likely to need more than three times a day of topical prednisolone, and [there is] overall improved uveitis control,” Crystal S. Cheung, MD, (Read more...)

Phaco with Trabectome shows higher IOP reduction in more advanced stages of glaucoma

Combination of phacoemulsification and Trabectome surgery in a large retrospective series showed a higher IOP reduction in patients with more advanced stages of glaucoma.According to the authors of the study, this demonstrates that “the trabecular meshwork is the primary impediment to outflow, and its ablation benefits those eyes relatively more than in mild glaucoma.”