At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ocular Surgery News gathered a panel of international experts to discuss the current state of presbyopia correction. George O. Waring IV, MD: I will start with…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Are physicians limited by government guidelines?
Welcome to another edition of CEDARS/ASPENS Debates. CEDARS/ASPENS is a joint society of cornea, cataract and refractive surgery specialists, here to discuss some of the latest hot topics in ophthalmology.Pharmaceutical guidelines and FDA requirements …
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...)
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: MIGS devices greatly expand treatment armamentarium
The recent FDA approvals of the Glaukos iStent, Alcon CyPass and Allergan Xen surgical devices for the treatment of glaucoma have significantly expanded the options for the American ophthalmologist. We also have a new simple disposable Kahook Dual Blad…
FDA sets Sept. 8 for decision on Zerviate NDA
The FDA has set a PDUFA date of Sept. 8 for its decision on the new drug application for Zerviate, according to a Nicox press release.Zerviate (cetirizine ophthalmic solution 0.24%) is an eye drop formulation designed to treat ocular itching associated…
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.”
New theories on #theDress shed light on spatial filtering
Erica L. Dixon and Arthur G. Shapiro used a series of experiments to show how the 2015 dress phenomenon may be explained by variations in a simple spatial filter that extracts relevant information from the environment. In early 2015, a photo of a dress was posted to the blogging site Tumblr and went viral. The author of the post said that she and her friends were debating over the color of the dress – some of them saw it as blue and black and some of them saw it as (Read more...)
Younger children have larger reoperation risk after cataract surgery
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Children who undergo cataract surgery have a greater risk of needing reoperation if they are younger, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting.“The results offered by this cohort demonstrate a reoperation rate indicative of the inherent risk of undergoing surgery at a younger age,” William J. Johnson, MD, and colleagues at Storm Eye Institute wrote.
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Technique offers individualized approach for vision correction
In this new era of high patient expectations and technological advancements, we are on a quest to achieve “super vision.” In this view, “Corneoplastique” is one such surgical option that is quite promising. In this month’s Complications Consult column, I invited Arun C. Gulani, MD, to share his experiences with Corneoplastique.What if you could provide a custom-designed vision correction surgical option to each and every patient (because everyone is a candidate), consistently deliver that best vision (in many cases beyond 20/20), not fear complex cases and have the confidence to (Read more...)
i-ROP screening detects clinically significant disease
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The i-ROP system, a computer-based image analysis system, reliably and accurately detected clinically significant retinopathy of prematurity, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting.“Retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis can be very variable among experts, and this can greatly influence treatment decisions,” Sapna Tibrewal, MD, and colleagues at Casey Eye Institute, Oregon, wrote. “CBIA tools have the potential to assist ophthalmologists in making more accurate and consistent diagnoses.”
Two iStents and topical travoprost lower IOP in phakic eyes
Patients with open-angle glaucoma and phakic eyes treated with two trabecular micro-bypass stents and topical travoprost experienced a significant and sustained reduction in IOP and medications, according to a study. The prospective, single-arm, unmask…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Can the solo practice premium surgeon survive in today’s health care environment?
Twenty-four years ago, I was completing my third year of ophthalmology residency and already had plans to open a private practice solo in a somewhat rural location at that time outside of Chicago. Even as far back as 1993, it was rare to go solo, knowi…
Select criteria aid success of primary IOL implantation in infants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When select criteria are met, primary IOL implantation is relatively safe and successful in children undergoing cataract surgery, according to a poster presentation at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting.“If they [have] good corneal diameter, no glaucoma, no anterior segment dysgenesis, it’s safe to implant an IOL in kids [younger] than 6 months.,” Ramesh Kekunnaya, FRCS, told Healio.com/OSN.
Controlling inflammation key for cataract surgery in children with uveitis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The keys to success in cataract surgery in children with uveitis are making sure the inflammation stimulated by surgery is controlled properly and being prepared with a medication plan, according to a speaker here.“Our roles as ophthalmologists in uveitis is to minimize complications, treat aggressively, control inflammation and reduce the need for topical steroids, but we all know that complications still happen,” Stefanie L. Davidson, MD, said at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting.