In the midst of the House Republicans recent announcement of their proposed ACA replacement plan, known as the American Health Care Act, the ACP and AMA, among many other health care organizations, have released statements in opposition of the plan, noting that it will negatively impact access, quality and cost of care for patients. “This bill will result in many millions of Americans losing coverage; benefits and consumer protections …,” Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP, president of ACP, said in a press release. “In sum, it will rollback and (Read more...)
Author: Healio ophthalmology
InnFocus MicroShunt with MMC reduces IOP in 4-year series
CORONADO, Calif. — In patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the InnFocus MicroShunt reduced IOP by 55% from baseline to 11.2 mm Hg, according to a study presented here.The tube’s dimensions and surface effects result in a predictable transscleral gradient, according to Paul F. Palmberg, MD, PhD, who presented the study at the American Glaucoma Society meeting.
Complications common but transient in PTVT study
CORONADO, Calif. — Surgical complications were common in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study, but most were transient and self-limited, Ike K. Ahmed, MD, reported at the American Glaucoma Society meeting.In the PTVT study, patients underwent placement of a 350 mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant in the superotemporal quadrant with complete restriction of flow or underwent a superior trabeculectomy with a standard dose of mitomycin C.
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Business education gives a boost to clinical practice
Investing in a Master of Business Administration degree or some other type of business education can significantly improve an ophthalmologist’s clinical practice and provide enterprising opportunities.Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA, FAAO, managing partner at Brar-Parekh Eye Associates in Woodland Park and Edison, New Jersey, said earning an MBA is analogous to having undergone refractive surgery. “I see through a different lens now as everything is more ‘macro’ to me, after having practiced for so many years in a ‘micro’ fashion,” he said.
First ReLEx SMILE procedure performed in US
The first ReLEx SMILE procedure in the United States was performed by Jon G. Dishler, MD, at the Dishler Laser Institute in Colorado, according to a Carl Zeiss Meditec press release.ReLEx small incision lenticule extraction to treat myopia has been per…
Uveitis linked with reduced vision-related quality of life in adulthood for patients with JIA
A history of uveitis had a negative effect on vision-related quality of life in adulthood for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, according to recently published data. Anne-Mieke J.W. Haasnoot , MD, in the Departmen…
Study: Location of LPI not associated with dysphotopsias
CORONADO, Calif. — New dysphotopsias occurred commonly after laser peripheral iridotomy, although location was not a statistically significant association, according to a study presented here.“Overall there was a high rate of new dysphotopsias in our study, 9%, but we also have to keep in mind that there was also a high rate of dysphotopsias before LPI and also a high rate of resolution of dysphotopsias,” Nazlee Zebardast, MD, said at the American Glaucoma Society meeting.
ACP, AMA: Trump’s revised executive order on immigration still poses threats to health care
President Donald J. Trump’s revised executive order on immigration will allow existing visa holders from six designated, majority-Muslim countries to enter and reenter the United States; however, the new order still encourages discrimination against Muslims, hinders travel by physicians and others and exacerbates a public health crisis for refugees, according to a press release by the ACP. In the revised order, Iraq was removed from the ban, as was the indefinite ban of Syrian refugees. Residents of Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Syria and Yemen will still not be able to (Read more...)
House Republicans announce ACA replacement plan
House Republicans introduced two bills Monday night to replace the Affordable Care Act. The new plan will no longer penalize Americans for not having health care insurance, but will allow insurers to impose a surcharge of 30% for those with gaps in the…
IOP, medications reduced after procedures using single-use goniotomy blade
CORONADO, Calif. — Both IOP and number of medications were reduced at 12 months in patients who underwent glaucoma treatment with goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade, Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD, and colleagues reported in a poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting.A total of 122 patients were included in the multicenter, prospective, consecutive case series. Under gonioscopic visualization, goniotomy was performed with the KDB (New World Medical), a single-use goniotomy knife designed to develop parallel incisions in the trabecular meshwork and allow aqueous access to collector channels. A (Read more...)
Fixed combination dosing lowers IOP more than individual components
CORONADO, Calif. — An “astounding” 40% reduction in IOP achieved with one drug given once a day was achieved in 35% of patients taking a fixed-dose combination of netarsudil and latanoprost, according to a speaker here. Sanjay Asrani, MD, updated colleagues at the American Glaucoma Society meeting on the 3-month interim results of the Mercury 1 trial, a double-masked, randomized, multicenter, active-controlled, parallel-group 12-month phase 3 study comparing safety and efficacy of a fixed-dose prostaglandin combination with safety and efficacy of each of its components.
Trabeculectomy successfully used as primary treatment in glaucoma patients
CORONADO, Calif. — As a primary intervention, trabeculectomy with mitomycin C had a higher success rate than tube shunt surgery at 1 year in patients with glaucoma and no prior ocular surgery, according to a study presented here.“Not only was the overall success rate higher in the trabeculectomy group but the rate of complete success was significantly higher,” Steven J. Gedde, MD, said at the American Glaucoma Society meeting, where he reported 1-year results of the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study.
Reduced IOP with CyPass plus phaco maintained at 2 years
CORONADO, Calif. — IOP reduction was sustained at 2 years in patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma who underwent CyPass micro-stent implantation at the same time as cataract surgery in the COMPASS trial, Quang H. Nguyen, MD, and colleagues reported in a poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting.In the randomized intervention trial, 374 patients underwent the combination of phacoemulsification plus CyPass micro-stent (Alcon) implantation, with 61.2% of those patients maintaining mean IOP between 6 mm Hg and 18 mm Hg at 2 years. Of the 131 (Read more...)
Study: Erosions more frequent in corneal than scleral patch grafts
CORONADO, Calif. — Corneal patch grafts eroded faster and more often than scleral patch grafts in patients who underwent glaucoma tube shunt implantation, according to a study presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting. Azra Idrizovic, DO, and colleagues undertook the study to compare specifically the rates of corneal and scleral patch graft erosion in eyes with glaucoma drainage implants and to examine the risk factors associated with tube erosions.
Multi-imaging distinguishes choroidal neovascularization types
Using a range of imaging modalities can be effective in identifying the types of choroidal neovascularization lesions in patients with age-related macular degeneration, according to a study.The cross-sectional retrospective study singled out retinal an…
Business education gives a boost to clinical practice
Investing in a Master of Business Administration degree or some other type of business education can significantly improve an ophthalmologist’s clinical practice and provide enterprising opportunities. Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA, FAAO, managing partner at Brar-Parekh Eye Associates in Woodland Park and Edison, New Jersey, said earning an MBA is analogous to having undergone refractive surgery. “I see through a different lens now as everything is more ‘macro’ to me, after having practiced for so many years in a ‘micro’ fashion,” he said.
‘New era’ of presbyopic IOLs brings reduced glare, better vision
New IOL technologies are providing clinicians with ways to reduce glare and halo while delivering favorable visual outcomes, according to a speaker at Hawaiian Eye 2017. Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, discussed the advantages of IOLs that have broadened clinicians’ options in treating presbyopia while reducing dependence on glasses.
Middle-age man experiences unilateral sudden-onset vision loss
A 44-year-old man with no significant medical or ocular history was referred by an outside optometrist to Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston for sudden-onset painless decreased vision of the right eye that began 4 days before presentation. At that time, the patient was also experiencing fevers, fatigue, 3 weeks of painless sores on the roof of his mouth, and spots on his palms and soles. His primary care physician obtained blood work, including CBC, ESR, BMP, HIV, Lyme, rheumatoid factor, RPR, ANCA and ANA, which were all negative except for an (Read more...)
Give me that old time religion
“All religions must be tolerated … for every man must get to heaven in his own way.”– Epictetus
A few books, a mentor and a clear sense of purpose can help forge a practice’s path to success
Most ophthalmologists focus on the sciences during their 4 to 5 years of college education and then are immersed in a very challenging medical school environment for 4 more years, with minimal to no formal training in business or practice management. This is repeated during their 1 year of internship and 3 years of residency. Those who perform a fellowship in a well-managed private practice environment have the opportunity to learn some business and practice management skills, but enhancing clinical and surgical skills remains the top priority.Fortunately, most young ophthalmologists (Read more...)