Author: Healio ophthalmology

Trabeculectomy more successful than tube shunt in Primary TVT study

CHICAGO —Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C had a higher success rate than tube shunt surgery in patients with uncontrolled glaucoma and no prior incisional ocular surgery, according to 1-year results of the Primary Tube vs. Trabeculectomy study presented here.The PTVT is a multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of tube shunt implantation with the 350-mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant vs. trabeculectomy with 0.4 mg/mL MMC.

Anti-Ang2 combined with anti-VEGF improves visual acuity, central retinal thickness

CHICAGO — Visual acuity and anatomical improvements were achieved at all dose levels of nesvacumab combined with aflibercept in patients with diabetic macular edema or neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to a study presented here. David M. Brown , MD, told colleagues at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting that observations in a preclinical model of chronic vascular leak showed that nesvacumab, an anti-Ang2 agent, combined with aflibercept, an anti-VEGF, increased duration of anti-leak action of aflibercept. The observation led to the hypothesis that the combined product could produce a (Read more...)

Be accurate, thorough when coding patient visits

LAS VEGAS — Medical professionals should not shy away from using more than one correct Z code to describe a patient visit, according to a presentation at the Cardiometabolic Risk Summit. “This is not about us trying to game the system at all,” Timothy S. Harlan, MD, assistant dean for clinical services at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, said. “This is about us getting paid for the hard work we do.”

Sarilumab improves vitreous haze, reduces steroid use in noninfectious uveitis

CHICAGO — Patients with posterior segment noninfectious uveitis treated with sarilumab in a multiple-dose, randomized study saw more reductions in vitreous haze and steroid dosing than patients who received placebo, according to a presenter here. “Vitreous haze, visual acuity and central thickness all improved in patients treated with sarilumab for 16 weeks and maintained through 52 weeks,” Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, said at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Face-Q Eye Module measures patient satisfaction with cosmetic eye treatment

The FACE-Q Eye Module is a validated patient-reported outcome measure for analyzing patient satisfaction and adverse effects following cosmetic eye treatments, according to study results published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.The module of the FACE-Q measurement [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center] includes four appearance scales that each contain seven items regarding appearance. The first two scales for “eyes overall” and “eyelashes” measure patient aesthetic satisfaction, while the second two scales for “upper eyelids” and “lower eyelids” includes the adverse effect checklist to measure the extent to which a patient is (Read more...)

Good long-term results seen for phakic ICL in patients with high myopia, severe astigmatism

CHICAGO — Nearly 60% of eyes with 20/200 vision or worse that underwent phakic ICL implantation for the correction of high myopia or severe astigmatism improved to 20/40 without the use of glasses or corrective lenses, according to a speaker here. “We found very satisfactory refractive outcomes and that it was very effective, predictable and reduced astigmatism significantly,” lead study author Seyed Javad Hashemian, MD, said at a press briefing at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Outreach program yields high rate of glaucoma detection

The Philadelphia Glaucoma Detection and Treatment Project improved many people’s lives in high-risk areas where there are barriers to care, according to a retrospective study.The Wills Eye Glaucoma Research Center developed a community outreach initiative to screen the disadvantaged populations of Philadelphia for sight-affecting diseases, specifically glaucoma. The project included five Wills Eye team members who performed free glaucoma examinations 1 week after a Wills Eye community health educator held a glaucoma awareness workshop for at-risk individuals at each community screening site.

Novel method helps eliminate docking laser interface bubbles

Advances in laser technology continue to propel the laser surgical field forward and bestow improved quality of vision and quicker wound healing, thus improving our patients’ satisfaction with these laser-related ophthalmic procedures. One disturbing experience for the surgeon is the occurrence of interface bubbles while docking lasers. This results in downtime for the surgeon in the surgical suite.In this column, Dr. Siepser describes a simple surgical technique that can solve the problem of interface bubbles while docking the laser on the ocular surface, thus saving valuable surgical time and making (Read more...)

Corneal basement membrane dystrophy: Dry eye disease’s sticky wicket

Our severe dry eye disease archetype, “Linda Blair,” has come to your office with her eyes aflame and her head a-spinning. She has marched into your exam room spewing horrific invective at any and all who sat on the other end of your Haag-Streit, but you were prepared. You read all three parts of our series on starting and building a dry eye practice, and you went all the way and put into place the advanced dry eye protocol along with your entire staff.When Linda arrived, you evaluated her with (Read more...)