In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Donald J. Trump laid the broad strokes for replacing the Affordable Care Act while still ensuring access to health care coverage for everyone. Saying that “Obamacare is failing” in certain parts of the country, Trump proposed five specific components the new plan should have, saying these ideas will allow for lower costs, expanded choice, and increased access:
Author: Healio ophthalmology
FDA approves VisuMax software update for ReLEx SMILE
The FDA has approved a software update for the Zeiss VisuMax femtosecond laser system for the ReLEx SMILE procedure, according to a company press release.A minimally invasive corneal refractive procedure, ReLEx small incision lenticule extraction is of…
Health Canada accepts new drug submission for Iluvien for DME
A new drug submission for Iluvien has been accepted for review by Health Canada, according to a press release from Knight Therapeutics and Alimera Sciences.Iluvien (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant 0.19 mg, Alimera) sustained-release intravi…
Himalayan Cataract Project selected as semifinalist for $100 million grant
The Himalayan Cataract Project, which works to find solutions for preventable blindness in Asia and Africa, is one of eight finalists in a MacArthur Foundation competition for a $100 million grant, according to a press release from the organization.The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will award one organization that is making “measurable progress towards solving a significant global problem” with the grant later this year.
VIDEO: Surgeon speaks about the advantages of CAPSULaser in cataract surgery
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands — CAPSULaser is an alternative way of assisting with the creation of a precise capsulotomy. At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting, Pavel Stodulka, MD, PhD, talks about his experience with this technology in more than 200 cataract procedures, including challenging cases.
FDA accepts NDA resubmission for Dextenza
The FDA has accepted a new drug application resubmission for Dextenza to treat ocular pain after ophthalmic surgery, according to a press release from Ocular Therapeutix.Dextenza (dexamethasone insert) 0.4 mg for intracanalicular use is designed to del…
Possible options for the future of health care
A perspective recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine provides some insight on what President Donald J. Trump can and cannot do, in light of his executive order on health care and a promise to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act.The commentary also speculates on what options the president could take and the impact of repealing the legislation.
‘Slurry’ Kenalog cost-effective, easy alternative for intraocular steroid delivery
MIAMI — A single injection of Kenalog lasts for an average of almost 8.5 months and has average or lower side effects compared with other long-term implantable steroid injection devices, according to a speaker here.“Over 1,000 papers have demonstrated the benefit of Kenalog without a single case of reported retinal toxicity, despite the warnings on this excellent medication. Sterile inflammation has been reported in both the preservative and preservative-free version of this medication, but this is an off-label use of this medication,” Susan M. Malinowski, MD, FACS, said at Angiogenesis, (Read more...)
L. Jay Katz named chief medical officer of Glaukos
L. Jay Katz, MD, FACS, has joined Glaukos as its chief medical officer, according to a company press release.the glaucoma service at Wills Eye Hospital and professor of ophthalmology at Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, previously served as a medical monitor for Glaukos clinical trials and an investigator for other glaucoma trials, including the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study and the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study.“Glaucoma is an insidious, asymptomatic disease that causes vision loss in millions of people worldwide,” Katz said in the release. “I have long admired (Read more...)
IND active for wet AMD treatment from Regenxbio
An investigational new drug application is now active for a phase 1 trial of the wet age-related macular degeneration treatment RGX-314, according to a press release from Regenxbio.The multicenter, open-label, multiple-cohort, dose-escalation trial is …
Valeant, EyeGate enter licensing agreement
Valeant Pharmaceuticals has entered into a licensing agreement with EyeGate Pharmaceuticals regarding the EyeGate II delivery system and EGP-437 combination product candidate for postoperative pain and inflammation, according to a press release from th…
Anti-VEGF therapy may not have impact on cataract surgery outcomes in DME patients
MIAMI — Anti-VEGF therapy for the treatment of diabetic macular edema does not have a negative impact on patients who undergo cataract surgery, according to a speaker here.“There was no change in best corrected visual acuity observed from baseline to the last visit before surgery despite a decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT). As expected, there was no negative impact on visual acuity as a result of the cataract surgery. In fact, vision improved in both treatment groups after surgery,” Andrew A. Moshfeghi, MD, MBA, said at Angiogenesis, Exudation, and (Read more...)
VIDEO: Measuring keratoconus progression still challenging
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands – At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting, David Touboul, MD, PhD, speaks about the challenges of measuring keratoconus progression. A study carried out at the University of Bordeaux has gone further in finding useful parameters, he said.
Glaukos completes enrollment in iStent Supra trial
Enrollment in the investigational device exemption trial for the iStent Supra for treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma and cataracts has been completed, Glaukos announced in a press release. The prospective, randomized clinical trial includes…
Achieving Trump’s health care promises would likely require single payer reform
President Donald J. Trump’s proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act with a health care law that achieves more coverage, better benefits and lower costs could be attained through single-payer reform, according to a commentary published in Annals of Internal Medicine.“President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have vowed to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA),” Steffie Woolhandler, MD, MPH, and David U. Himmelstein, MD, both from the City University of New York at Hunter College, wrote. “Replacing it with ‘something great’ is much trickier. The (Read more...)
Novel protein targets tissue factor involvement in neovascular AMD
MIAMI — Best corrected visual acuity outcomes were comparable at 6 months for the combination of ICON-1, a novel protein, plus ranibizumab compared with ranibizumab alone in patients with newly diagnosed age-related macular degeneration, according to a study presented here.“For vision outcomes, we see equivalent gains for ranibizumab only vs. combination. We’re not seeing superiority, we’re not seeing better vision gains for the combination, at least with that dose through the time period,” Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS, said at the Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2017 annual meeting.
Former Phillies prospect thanks surgeon after life-altering eye injury
In June 2016, Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Matt Imhof was completing a typical postgame stretching routine and workout, using a tension band that was anchored to the clubhouse wall to stretch out his arms. When Imhof brought one of the bands…
VIDEO: Astigmatism affects multifocal IOL models
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands – At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting, Francesco Carones, MD, speaks about the impact of residual and induced astigmatism on the performance of multifocal IOLs. In a study, he analyzed how different multifocal IOL models are more or less sensitive to astigmatism, suggesting a “tolerable” threshold for each of these models.
VIDEO: Surgeons present a novel approach to presbyopia laser surgery
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands – At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting, Frederic Hehn, MD, and Magda Rau, MD, present Isovision, a novel bilateral approach to presbyLASIK. This treatment is performed in two steps and aims to create a wavefront-optimized corneal profile for near and distance vision.
VIDEO: New technology develops data to create personalized defocus curves
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands – At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting, Arthur Cummings, MD, discusses a novel technology being developed by IROCH science. The device, held on spectacles, gathers data on vision in daily activities. That data may be used to create a personal defocus curve and help inform decision-making regarding which IOL technology is best for the patient.