KOLOA, Hawaii — For some niche applications, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is “clearly superior” to manual methods of phacoemulsification, according to Randall J. Olson, MD, who discussed the impact of FLACS on standard of care at Hawaiian Eye 2017.“The big question at this point is, is it better?” he asked. “We know it adds expense. We know it adds time. It must be adding something or all of you wouldn’t be trying it, and a lot of people wouldn’t be talking about it.”
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Will MIGS replace drops as first-line treatment?
Microinvasive glaucoma surgery has the potential to replace drops as first-line therapy, not in all situations but in certain ones. When a newly diagnosed patient presents with moderate to severe glaucomatous disease, the proper course of action is to …
Woman presents with spontaneous visual field loss
The New England Eye Center was consulted on a 61-year-old woman with a history of recently diagnosed left-sided greater than right-sided internal carotid artery aneurysms when she presented urgently to the Tufts Medical Center Emergency Department with spontaneous inferotemporal visual field loss noticed upon awakening. At the time of consultation, she additionally described a 3- to 4-week history of transient “black spots and flashes” that occurred in both eyes during coughing episodes that lasted roughly 1 minute. Otherwise, she reported neither pain nor diplopia and believed her remaining visual acuity (Read more...)
Address partner compensation issues early and often
“When somebody says it’s not about the money, it’s about the money.”– H.L. Mencken
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...)
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…
Carl Zeiss Meditec wins patent infringement suit regarding trifocal lens
VSY Biotechnology BV and Fritz Ruck Ophthalmologische Systeme GmbH have been ordered by a court in Germany to recall and destroy all of their trifocal lenses after losing a patent infringement suit brought by Carl Zeiss Meditec, according to a Zeiss pr…
Teleretinal diabetic retinopathy screening program decreases need for referrals
Screening rates were increased and both the need for referral and wait time for screening were reduced for patients who participated in a large-scale urban teleretinal diabetic retinopathy screening program.The quasi-experimental pretest-posttest evalu…
Feasibility trials for Harmoni Modular IOL enrolled
A series of feasibility trials for the Harmoni Modular IOL are fully enrolled, according to a press release from ClarVista Medical.The Harmoni system, co-invented by Malik Kahook, MD, and used to restore vision after cataract surgery, will be tested in…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Dry eye disease in the surgical patient
“If you diagnose dry eye before you operate, it is your patient’s problem. If you diagnose it postoperatively, it is your problem.”–Eric Donnenfeld“You can’t handle the truth.”– Col. Jessup, A Few Good Men
Imprimis reports $19 million net loss in 2016
Imprimis Pharmaceuticals reported a net loss of $19 million, or $1.50 per common share, in 2016 compared with a net loss of $15.9 million, or $1.66 per common share, in 2015, according to a company press release.Total revenue for the year was up 105% f…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Ophthalmology-based treatments may have effect on seasonal affective disorder
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.As we endure the cold winter months with short …
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Which DRCR.net protocol has had the biggest impact on your practice?
Click here to view the Cover Story for this Point/Counter.
Survey: Sustained-release dexamethasone insert earns high satisfaction rating from cataract patients
Subjective quality assessment of a sustained-release dexamethasone intracanalicular insert showed a high degree of patient satisfaction regarding comfort, convenience and pain control. The insert, Dextenza by Ocular Therapeutix, was used as an alternat…
GOP, Trump pull AHCA due to lack of support
Reportedly acting on orders from President Donald J. Trump, House Republican leaders today again postponed a vote that would have overhauled the nation’s health care system by replacing the Affordable Care Act with a Republican-penned bill.Apparently still facing opposition from within their own party, House Republicans called a recess on Friday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m. EDT, the time they had said a vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) would finally be held. The move came after Republicans postponed a vote on Thursday that was scheduled for the (Read more...)
Second Sight posts $33.2 million net loss in 2016
Second Sight Medical Products reported a net loss of $33.2 million, or $0.84 per share, in 2016 compared with a net loss of $20 million, or $0.56 per share, the previous year, according to a company press release.Net sales were down from $8.9 million i…
ACP: Fight to stop AHCA not over
With the postponement of the House of Representatives vote on the American Health Care Act, the ACP urged Congress to reject the bill and start over in order to develop a meaningful legislation that improves the current law, rather than eliminate coverage and benefits for millions of Americans.“While we are encouraged that the [American Health Care Act (AHCA)] vote was postponed because of lack of support, ACP is also very much aware that the bill could still be brought back for a vote, potentially with changes to gain votes that (Read more...)
Nemus, Nanomerics to develop ocular formulation for glaucoma treatment
Nemus Bioscience and Nanomerics have signed a development agreement to develop a topical ocular formulation of tetrahydracannabinol-valine-hemisuccinate, according to a Nemus press release.The active component of NB1111, a product candidate from Nemus for the treatment of glaucoma, is tetrahydracannabinol-valine-hemisuccinate (THCVHS), the prodrug of THC, the release said. The agreement involves initial studies assessing the preparation of clinical-grade eye drops using Nanomerics’ patented Molecular Envelope Technology (MET).
NJHA, AARP voice concern ahead of House vote on American Health Care Act
COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — New Jersey residents and a panel of health care professionals and advocates voiced their concerns about the fate of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday at a community event organized by Congressman Donald Norcross (D).In the midst of the event, Norcross informed attendees via Skype that the scheduled House vote on the Republican health care plan was canceled, and said he expected the vote to occur on Friday.
STAAR Surgical reports $12.1 million loss in 2016
STAAR Surgical reported a net loss of $12.1 million, or $0.30 per share, in 2016 compared with a net loss of $6.5 million, or $0.17 per share, in 2015, according to a company press release.Full-year net sales were up 7% to $82.4 million, with fourth qu…