Author: Healio ophthalmology

Adaptive response plays role in strabismus surgery outcomes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The adaptive response to surgery has a positive influence on strabismus correction outcomes, softening perhaps the rigor of the dose-response relationship, Steven M. Archer, MD, suggested in his delivery of the Costenbader Lecture at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus annual meeting.“Strabismus surgery is as successful as it is because patients often have an adaptive response to the surgery that favors them being straight,” Archer said.

Adaptive response plays role in strabismus surgery outcomes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The adaptive response to surgery has a positive influence on strabismus correction outcomes, softening perhaps the rigor of the dose-response relationship, Steven M. Archer, MD, suggested in his delivery of the Costenbader Lecture at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus annual meeting.“Strabismus surgery is as successful as it is because patients often have an adaptive response to the surgery that favors them being straight,” Archer said.

Cybersecurity should be a research priority for hospitals

More than 200 data breaches have been reported at hospitals across the United States during the last 7 years, highlighting the need for better research on how to effectively guard patients’ information, according to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine. “Broad access to health information, essential for hospitals’ quality improvement efforts and research and education needs, inevitably increases risks for data breaches and makes ‘zero breach’ an extremely challenging objective,” Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and colleagues wrote. “The evolving landscape (Read more...)

Cybersecurity should be a research priority for hospitals

More than 200 data breaches have been reported at hospitals across the United States during the last 7 years, highlighting the need for better research on how to effectively guard patients’ information, according to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine. “Broad access to health information, essential for hospitals’ quality improvement efforts and research and education needs, inevitably increases risks for data breaches and makes ‘zero breach’ an extremely challenging objective,” Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and colleagues wrote. “The evolving landscape (Read more...)

Good results seen in phase 3 trial of tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis

Tocilizumab was shown to have a statistically significant inhibiting effect on IL-6, which is known to be elevated in patients with giant cell arteritis, according to the results of a phase 3 study presented at the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society annual meeting. “The results of Genentech’s GiACTA trial are encouraging for GCA patients and the physicians who treat them,” Philip R. Rizzuto, MD, FACS, clinical associate professor of ophthalmic surgery at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, said in correspondence from Genentech. “Long-term, high-dose steroid use can be problematic for (Read more...)

Good results seen in phase 3 trial of tocilizumab in giant cell arteritis

Tocilizumab was shown to have a statistically significant inhibiting effect on IL-6, which is known to be elevated in patients with giant cell arteritis, according to the results of a phase 3 study presented at the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society annual meeting. “The results of Genentech’s GiACTA trial are encouraging for GCA patients and the physicians who treat them,” Philip R. Rizzuto, MD, FACS, clinical associate professor of ophthalmic surgery at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, said in correspondence from Genentech. “Long-term, high-dose steroid use can be problematic for (Read more...)

Esotropia, exotropia oppositely affect need for strabismus surgery in ocular trauma cases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The presence of any initial esotropia was negatively correlated with the need for strabismus surgery in patients with both ocular trauma and diplopia, whereas initial exotropia correlated positively, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting. In a retrospective review of 265 patients at the University of Iowa, Tyler B. Risma, MD, and colleagues assessed ocular misalignment in patients with diplopia after orbital trauma to identify presenting features that predispose patients to needing strabismus surgery and to identify the type (Read more...)

Esotropia, exotropia oppositely affect need for strabismus surgery in ocular trauma cases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The presence of any initial esotropia was negatively correlated with the need for strabismus surgery in patients with both ocular trauma and diplopia, whereas initial exotropia correlated positively, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting. In a retrospective review of 265 patients at the University of Iowa, Tyler B. Risma, MD, and colleagues assessed ocular misalignment in patients with diplopia after orbital trauma to identify presenting features that predispose patients to needing strabismus surgery and to identify the type (Read more...)

Behavior economics principles offer guidelines to health care reform

Following the recent retraction of the American Health Care Act, two researchers propose four general principles from behavioral economics as guidelines for any future attempt at health care reform. The principles may help to keep currently insured individuals and households from discontinuing their insurance.“The behavioral economics approach cannot solve all of the problems facing U.S. health care. But behavioral principles can inform approaches to help ensure that insurance markets do not unravel, which is the first and most important challenge of any ‘repeal and replace’ efforts,” Jonathan S. Skinner, PhD, (Read more...)

Behavior economics principles offer guidelines to health care reform

Following the recent retraction of the American Health Care Act, two researchers propose four general principles from behavioral economics as guidelines for any future attempt at health care reform. The principles may help to keep currently insured individuals and households from discontinuing their insurance.“The behavioral economics approach cannot solve all of the problems facing U.S. health care. But behavioral principles can inform approaches to help ensure that insurance markets do not unravel, which is the first and most important challenge of any ‘repeal and replace’ efforts,” Jonathan S. Skinner, PhD, (Read more...)

Bupivacaine seen as alternative to strabismus surgery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bupivacaine injection for treatment of the convergence insufficiency type of exotropia may represent a safe, cost-effective alternative to strabismus surgery, according to a speaker.Reporting 6-month and 5-year outcomes of treatment with 0.75% bupivacaine, Stephen A. Mathias, MD, MPH, told colleagues at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting, “Bupivacaine injection is a simple, in-office procedure with low risk and minimal discomfort to the patient.”

Bupivacaine seen as alternative to strabismus surgery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bupivacaine injection for treatment of the convergence insufficiency type of exotropia may represent a safe, cost-effective alternative to strabismus surgery, according to a speaker.Reporting 6-month and 5-year outcomes of treatment with 0.75% bupivacaine, Stephen A. Mathias, MD, MPH, told colleagues at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting, “Bupivacaine injection is a simple, in-office procedure with low risk and minimal discomfort to the patient.”

BLOG: Triumvirate technique

The triumvirate technique comprises three techniques that are performed sequentially to optimize the visual outcome following a posterior capsular rupture with sinking nuclei in deficient capsular support. It comprises a modified posterior assisted levitation, or PAL, with IOL scaffold and glued IOL fixation. Click here to read the full blog from Priya Narang, MS.

BLOG: Triumvirate technique

The triumvirate technique comprises three techniques that are performed sequentially to optimize the visual outcome following a posterior capsular rupture with sinking nuclei in deficient capsular support. It comprises a modified posterior assisted levitation, or PAL, with IOL scaffold and glued IOL fixation. Click here to read the full blog from Priya Narang, MS.

No greater risk for death seen with anti-VEGF vs. ablation for ROP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There was no statistically significant difference in mortality in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity treated with anti-VEGF or with retinal ablative therapy, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting. “We undertook this study to address the possibility of increased death rate in premature infants that have been treated with anti-VEGF for ROP,” Iason S. Mantagos, MD, and colleagues from Boston Children’s Hospital wrote.

No greater risk for death seen with anti-VEGF vs. ablation for ROP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There was no statistically significant difference in mortality in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity treated with anti-VEGF or with retinal ablative therapy, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting. “We undertook this study to address the possibility of increased death rate in premature infants that have been treated with anti-VEGF for ROP,” Iason S. Mantagos, MD, and colleagues from Boston Children’s Hospital wrote.