NEW YORK — Abandoned LASIK flap procedures due to complications are uncommon, but a second surgery can still result in positive outcomes for patients if surgeons optimize timing and their surgical technique, a speaker said here. “The good news is even when we experience these significant complications at the time of LASIK elective procedures, we can tell our patients that we can still get them good outcomes. While we have to wait a little bit longer for microkeratome flaps to maybe stabilize, the nice thing that we looked at with (Read more...)
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Ocular Therapeutix reports lower net loss in third quarter
Ocular Therapeutix reported a net loss of $9.6 million, or $0.39 per share, in the third quarter compared with a net loss of $11.5 million, or $0.47 per share, in the third quarter of 2015, according to a company press release.Total costs and operating…
Valeant to divest Paragon
Valeant Pharmaceuticals has agreed to divest Paragon Holdings I Inc. to restore competition in the gas-permeable button market, according to the Federal Trade Commission.It was alleged that Valeant’s acquisition of Paragon Holdings, which included the wholly owned subsidiaries Paragon Vision Sciences Inc. and CRT Technology Inc., violated Section 7 of the Clayton Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act by lessening competition in the markets for polymer discs, or buttons, used to make orthokeratology, large-diameter scleral and general vision correction contact lenses.
Preoperative dry eye, ectasia risk factors can determine if PRK or LASIK is optimal
NEW YORK — Both PRK and LASIK are effective refractive surgery procedures, but patients with preoperative dry eye and those who are at high risk for ectasia may be better candidates for PRK, according to a speaker here. “LASIK and PRK are both excellent options for refractive surgery, and they provide excellent results. However, whatever criteria you use, the [residual stromal bed] or the [percent tissue altered], whatever that minimum number is, it’s important to not exceed that with a planned LASIK procedure, and if so, you should perform a (Read more...)
Valeant announces Q3 financial results
Valeant Pharmaceuticals announced its third quarter 2016 financial results, which included total revenues of $2.48 billion, compared with $2.70 billion in the third quarter of 2015, according to a press release.The decrease of 11% was the result of dec…
STAAR Surgical reports net loss in third quarter
STAAR Surgical reported a net loss of $1.8 million, or $0.04 per share, in the third quarter, which is equal to its net loss in the third quarter of 2015, according to a company press release. STAAR’s net sales were up 7% to $20.1 million, which was attributed to ICL revenue and unit growth, as well as IOL revenue growth. This was offset by lower sales of injector parts and a delay in orders from Canada for the EVO toric lens.
IOP reduction, medication elimination noted after implantation of two iStent inject devices
Patients with open-angle glaucoma had an IOP reduction in phakic eyes with the elimination of medication through 18 months after undergoing standalone implantation of two iStent inject devices, according to a study. Researchers included 57 phakic eyes …
VIDEO: Patient follow up key in treating dry eye disease
NEW YORK ― At the OSN New York meeting here, John A. Hovanesian, MD, discusses the importance of following up with dry eye patients to learn which of the many new modalities for treating dry eye are the most successful.
VIDEO: Treat astigmatism in glaucoma patients at time of cataract surgery
NEW YORK ― At the OSN New York meeting here, Savak “Sev” Teymoorian, MD, discusses the need to treat astigmatism in glaucoma patients at the time of cataract surgery.
SVOne comparable to traditional refractive error measures
The SVOne provides measurements of spherical equivalent refractive error in both children and adults that are not significantly different from those of other standard clinical procedures, according to researchers in Optometry & Vision Science. Researchers compared the findings of the SVOne (Smart Vision Labs) with retinoscopy, subjective refraction and two commercially available autorefractors in a pediatric population.
Spark Therapeutics reports $32.6 million loss in third quarter
Spark Therapeutics reported a net loss of $32.6 million, or $1.07 per basic and diluted share, in the third quarter compared with a net loss of $16.9 million, or $0.70 per basic and diluted share, in the third quarter of 2015, according to a company pr…
pSivida brings on Deb Jorn as executive vice president of corporate and commercial development
Deb Jorn has joined pSivida as its executive vice president of corporate and commercial development, according to a company press release.Jorn, who began her career at Merck and previously worked at Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Bausch + Lomb, Schering-Plough and Johnson & Johnson, will report directly to the company’s President and CEO Nancy Lurker in the newly created position.
VIDEO: PRK an acceptable option for thin corneas
NEW YORK ― At the OSN New York meeting here, William B. Trattler, MD, discusses his presentation on surface ablation in thin corneas and corneas with forme fruste keratoconus.
VIDEO: Visual outcomes ‘excellent’ with surface ablation after LASIK flap complication
NEW YORK ― At the OSN New York meeting here, Priyanka Sood, MD, recommends waiting until refractive stability is achieved in cases of re-treatment after LASIK flap complications. In 11 of 14 cases at her clinic, refractive stability was achieved within 2 weeks of the initial abandoned procedure, and re-treatment with surface ablation on top of the flap resulted in “excellent visual outcomes.”
VIDEO: Discuss cataract surgery options with keratoconus patients
NEW YORK ― At the OSN New York meeting here, Jennifer M. Loh, MD, discusses best practices for performing cataract surgery in patients with keratoconus. She stresses the importance of communicating the options with patients in advance of surgery as well as the need to tailor surgery to each patient’s specific condition.
Data monitoring key to tracking, improving toric IOL outcomes
NEW YORK — Keeping extensive records of accuracy, tracking outcomes and measuring accurately are key to improving surgical outcomes after toric IOL implantation and reducing the need for enhancement following the procedure, according to a speaker here. “You want to automate as much as possible,” Denise M. Visco, MD, said at the OSN New York meeting. “It’s critical that if you put a lot of effort into measuring, you need to put a lot of effort into marking. You want to track your results and go in the direction of (Read more...)
Non-IV sedation eases anxiety for patients undergoing cataract surgery
NEW YORK — Patients who received sublingual anesthesia prior to cataract surgery had less anxiety than those who underwent an intravenous form of anesthesia for cataract surgery, according to a presenter here.“Sublingual sedation approaches decrease the need for IVs. You get a predictable dosing, …it allows a sublingual administration, patients really like it, and you get a little bit better focusing on the light and a ketamine stare,” John P. Berdahl, MD, said at the OSN New York meeting.
FDA takes action in October
In October, the FDA approved, cleared, responded to and issued review status for products and devices in the ophthalmic space. Here are the articles:
VIDEO: FLACS results continue to improve
At Hawaiian Eye 2016, Kevin M. Miller, MD, points out the good and the bad aspects of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery compared with conventional cataract surgery.
VIDEO: Consider initial therapy with SLT for glaucoma, speaker says
At Hawaiian Eye 2016, L. Jay Katz, MD, FACS, of Wills Eye Hospital discusses the use of selective laser trabeculoplasty as a substitute for glaucoma medications in patients with open angle glaucoma. As first-line therapy, Katz says that SLT compares fa…