Abbott reported worldwide net sales of $5.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 2.8% increase on a reported basis and a 3.8% increase on an operational basis from the same quarter in 2015, according to a press release.Full-year sales were $20.9 bi…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
VIDEO: Gupta shares pearls for managing white, dense cataracts
KOLOA, Hawaii ― At Hawaiian Eye 2017, Preeya Gupta, MD, shares surgical pearls she presented here for managing white or dense cataracts, which requires extra effort to protect the eye as more energy is required to break up the hard cataracts.
VIDEO: Health care trending toward consolidation
KOLOA, Hawaii ― No matter what happens with respect to Trumpcare in the next 2 or 3 years, there will be more and more consolidation in health care, reflecting a “bigger is better” trend, according to Alan E. Reider, JD, MPH, who spoke on the topic at Hawaiian Eye 2017.
Multi-imaging helps distinguish choroidal neovascularization types
Using a variety of imaging techniques is very effective in differentiating between types of choroidal neovascularization in patients with age-related macular degeneration, according to a study.The cross-sectional retrospective study examined images from 30 patients at Sacco Hospital’s Eye Clinic at the University of Milan, Italy. The imaging techniques included dynamic indocyanine green angiography, fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography and near-infrared.
VIDEO: Use standard deviation of keratometry readings to improve cataract surgery outcomes
KOLOA, Hawaii ― At Hawaiian Eye 2017, Jack T. Holladay, MD, MSEE, FACS, discusses his presentation on how to use the standard deviation in keratometry readings to identify irregular astigmatism, what steps to take next, and other pearls for using topography and tomography to improve cataract surgery outcomes.
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Through the years of fixating IOLs in challenging cases
In the 1980s as the director of the Cornea Service at the University of Minnesota, I was referred several hundred patients with closed-loop anterior chamber IOLs, usually so-called Leiske anterior chamber lenses originally manufactured by Surgidev, wit…
Senate Finance Committee holds hearing on nomination of Tom Price, MD
The Senate Finance Committee held the second hearing on the nomination of Tom Price, MD, (R-Ga.) for secretary of HHS.Topics of discussion focused on the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how Price would manage Medicare and Me…
VIDEO: SCORE2 and LEAVO trials underway to compare CRVO treatments
KOLOA, Hawaii ― At Hawaiian Eye 2017, Michael S. Ip, MD, updates colleagues on the U.S.-based SCORE2 trial and the U.K.-based LEAVO trial, both of which are comparative studies looking at the effectiveness of available treatments for central retinal vein occlusion.
VIDEO: Omidria helpful in cataract surgery for glaucoma patients
KOLOA, Hawaii ―At Hawaiian Eye 2017, Savak “Sev” Teymoorian, MD, MBA, discusses advantages of using Omidria from Omeros in cataract surgery for glaucoma patients as well as in combined cataract and MIGS glaucoma procedures.
Surgeon: Nanosecond laser provides safe cataract surgery at lower cost than femto
The nanosecond laser may provide an affordable, safe and effective alternative method for cataract surgery, with advantages over both standard phacoemulsification and femtosecond laser-assisted surgery, according to one specialist.“A minimal level of energy is applied to the eye. There is no thermal alteration in the anterior chamber, no mechanical or thermal side effects,” Jérôme C. Vryghem, MD, said. “It should be the method of choice when maximal endothelial protection is required, such as in Fuchs’ dystrophy or after corneal transplantation.”
Ocular Therapeutix resubmits new drug application for Dextenza, announces public offering
Ocular Therapeutix has resubmitted a new drug application to the FDA for Dextenza for treatment of ocular pain after ophthalmic surgery, according to a company press release.Dextenza releases dexamethasone for up to 30 days after being placed through t…
PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: Interpreting tear film osmolarity: One test is not enough
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. Tear film osmolarity has become a commonly use…
Lifestyle changes can help lower IOP in glaucoma patients
KOLOA, Hawaii — Changes in behavior such as increasing exercise and consuming more dietary nitrates can help lower IOP in glaucoma patients, according to a speaker here.“What I tell my patients about lifestyle modifications is to get moving, especially if [they] aren’t already … to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, especially green, leafy ones, drink your daily cup of coffee but don’t binge, and then I do talk to my patients about what other risk factors for cardiovascular disease they have,” Yvonne Ou, MD, said at Hawaiian Eye (Read more...)
Team-based perioperative model reduced surgical readmissions
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Implementation of the Perioperative Surgical Home model has demonstrated encouraging results as a method to reduce surgical readmissions and length of stay in a hospital, as well as improve patient satisfaction, according to a speaker at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Orthopedic Value-Based Care. “I think we all know that we have a problem with health care costs. The health care costs in the United States has increased since 1980, but it is not just a problem in the United States. The United Kingdom’s health care costs have (Read more...)
Intraoperative OCT provides real-time imaging for clinicians
KOLOA, Hawaii — Intraoperative OCT is an exciting technique that can help improve procedures such as Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty, according to a speaker here.“I think this will not only be a great teaching tool for people starting a procedure, but even for those of us doing this for a while,” Francis W. Price Jr., MD, said at Hawaiian Eye 2017.
VIDEO: Home monitoring technology advantageous for early AMD patients
KOLOA, Hawaii ― At Retina 2017, Allen C. Ho, MD, discusses the advantages of home monitoring systems for detecting early AMD progression, which allows patients the possibility of preserving good vision longer.
VIDEO: MIGS allows more targeted treatment for glaucoma patients
KOLOA, Hawaii ― At Hawaiian Eye 2017, Richard A. Lewis, MD, discusses how new MIGS device approvals are opening the door for more personalized, targeted treatment options for glaucoma patients.
Speaker: Patient-centered care improves patient satisfaction rate, clinical outcomes
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Practice patient-centered care improves patients’ satisfaction rates and clinical outcomes by strengthening the physician-patient relationship, according to a speaker at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Orthopedic Value-Based Care. “At the end of the day, I think the premise is that we are all here for the right reasons, which is to make us better. The patient deserves to be better; they deserve more from us; our community deserves more from us,” Khaled J. Saleh, MD, MSc, FACSC, MHCM, CPE, said here.
VIDEO: Beckman weighs injection regimens vs. drops in cataract surgery
KOLOA, Hawaii ― At Hawaiian Eye 2017, Kenneth A. Beckman, MD, gives an overview of a panel discussion on “dropless” injection regimens in cataract surgery vs. the use of a traditional eye drop regimen.
PRK with crosslinking beneficial for keratoconus patients
KOLOA, Hawaii — Patients with irregular corneas can benefit from treatment with topographic-guided PRK with crosslinking, according to a speaker here.“Our goal is to take that football and turn it into a basketball,” Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, said at Hawaiian Eye 2017. “Topographical ablations have really changed a lot of what we do.”