CHICAGO — At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, discusses a real-world study using Omidria in cataract surgery.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Alcon launches CyPass micro-stent at AAO meeting
CHICAGO — Alcon launched the CyPass micro-stent at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, according to a company press release.CyPass, approved in July 2016 for use with cataract surgery to lower IOP in adult patients with mild to moderate primary open-angle glaucoma, is implanted during cataract surgery into the supraciliary space, the release said.
VIDEO: Corneal topography useful in preoperative dry eye assessment
CHICAGO — At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Jonathan D. Solomon, MD, discusses his pre-cataract or refractive surgery assessment of dry eye. Along with tools such as InflammaDry and TearLab, Solomon urges the use of corneal topography to assess the ocular surface.
VIDEO: Thermal pulsation helps optimize ocular surface
CHICAGO — At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Sumit “Sam” Garg, MD, discusses the preoperative assessment and treatment of the ocular surface prior to cataract surgery. In addition to re-esterified Omega-3 supplements and warm compress use, in many patients he finds the use of thermal pulsation of is a good option for creating an optimal ocular surface.
MACRA rule may help ophthalmologists avoid penalties
CHICAGO — The recently finalized MACRA rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services may help ophthalmologists avoid penalties by shifting physician payments from a volume based payment program to a value based payment program, according to speakers here.“MACRA has established, really, an entirely new payment policy for physicians. They’re calling it a quality payment program. In a nutshell, they’re paying for value rather than volume…The final rule has been pretty encouraging in terms of what we believe is the ability for most of our members to avoid the (Read more...)
Adherence to Mediterranean diet can reduce risk of AMD
CHICAGO — Adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet, namely through increased consumption of fruits, can significantly reduce the risks of developing age-related macular degeneration, according to a speaker here. Joao Figueira, MD, PhD, reported results from the Coimbra Eye Study, a lifestyle and food habits questionnaire in the Portuguese population, at an American Academy of Ophthalmology press briefing here.
Confocal imaging enhances contrast visualization in geographic atrophy
CHICAGO — Eidon confocal color imaging allows visualization of geographic atrophy “with very impressive contrast,” SriniVas R. Sadda, MD, said at a CenterVue press briefing here.“Advancements in industry technology have made us rethink the role of color imaging in geographic atrophy,” Sadda said.
Three receive OWL awards
CHICAGO — Ophthalmic World Leaders, previously Ophthalmic Women Leaders, presented three OWL awards at its “signature event” during the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here.OWL, an organization dedicated to advancing diversity in leadership, gives the Rising Star Award, the Catalyst Award and the Visionary Award each year to a member of the organization.
Survey finds most dry eye sufferers not familiar with key symptoms
Nearly nine out of 10 eye care professionals believe the multi-screen lifestyle is responsible for a rise in dry eye disease, which is becoming increasingly common, according to new survey results from Shire.The National Eye Current Attitudes Related t…
Topical NSAID prevents pseudophakic CME in eyes with certain risk factors
CHICAGO — The use of once-daily 0.3% nepafenac after cataract surgery can help prevent pseudophakic cystoid macular edema in eyes with certain risk factors, but did not improve PCME outcomes in eyes without those risk factors, according to a presenter here. “We are able to show we had a significantly improved PCME outcome with risk factors. This is, in the general ophthalmology practice, about 10% to 30% of patients. However, in 70% to 90% of the patients, it is unlikely that clinical PCME outcomes are improved in those patients without (Read more...)
Extended release ENV515 lowers IOP at 9 months with one dose
A “clinically meaningful” IOP reduction was maintained at 9 months with one dose of extended-release ENV515, according to an interim analysis of a phase 2 study released by Envisia Therapeutics.ENV515 (travoprost XR) is being evaluated in five patients during the ongoing multicenter 12-month safety and efficacy evaluation.
Visual gains achieved with abicipar for diabetic macular edema
CHICAGO — A cohort of patients with diabetic macular edema receiving abicipar pegol every 8 weeks showed “comparable” gains in visual acuity when compared with every 4-week dosing with ranibizumab, according to a presenter here. Tarek S. Hassan, MD, reported results of the PALM study at Retina Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. In the multicenter, double masked, phase 2 trial supported by Allergan, 43 patients received 1 mg abicipar every 8 weeks, 41 patients received 2 mg abicipar every 8 weeks, 45 patients received 2 mg (Read more...)
Physicians’ political beliefs may impact patient care
When it comes to politicized health issues, whether a physician is a Democrat or Republican may impact how they care for patients.According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, political bias affects how issues s…
IRIS becomes ‘world’s largest clinical registry’
CHICAGO — Since its debut on Jan. 1, 2013, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Intelligent Research in Sight Registry has become the world’s largest clinical registry, William L. Rich III, MD, said in a press briefing at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.The registry provides ophthalmologists with data on more than 28 million U.S. patients and 100 million patient visits, according to Rich.
Jackson lecturer seeks ways to reduce corneal measurement inaccuracies
CHICAGO — A healthy cornea, optimal tear function, accurate devices capable of taking both anterior and posterior measurements, and ways to noninvasively adjust postoperative refraction can help a surgeon accurately record cornea measurements and IOL calculations, Douglas D. Koch, MD, said in his delivery of the Jackson Memorial Lecture here.“The requirement that we have for reducing and managing corneal measurement errors, is, of course, [that] our patient’s corneas need to be optimized. They need to be as healthy as possible with optimal tear function,” Koch said at the American Academy (Read more...)
KPro retention failure rate influenced by surgical indication
CHICAGO — Patients whose indication for implantation of a Boston Type 1 keratoprosthesis was Stevens Johnson syndrome had a higher retention failure rate than other patients implanted with the device for other reasons, according to study results presented here. At Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Anthony J. Aldave, MD, reported his experience with the device in a retrospective, single surgeon consecutive case series.
Natamycin remains treatment of choice for fungal ulcers
CHICAGO — Topical natamycin remains the mainstay of treatment of fungal ulcers, a treatment developed in the 1960s, a speaker here said. “However, Fusarium ulcers may benefit from the addition of oral voriconazole,” Jennifer R. Rose-Nussbaumer, MD, said at Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. “That needs to be balanced with the fact that it does have higher adverse events and is expensive.”
Biomarker testing needed in conjunctival melanoma management
CHICAGO — Searching for and treating biomarkers is an important part of conjunctival melanoma management, according to a presenter here.“Management of conjunctival melanoma is more than removing the lump on the surface of the eye,” Carol L. Shields, MD, said at Cornea Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. “Now we look for molecular markers in all patients to identify high-risk melanoma, because we have medications for biomarkers.”
VIDEO: Photocoagulator with sub-threshold technology treats DME in trial
CHICAGO — At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Caesar Luo, MD, reports outcomes of patients with diabetic macular edema treated with the Lumenis Smart 532 photocoagulator. The laser was launched at the meeting here.
Zeiss markerless cataract suite reduces surgery time
CHICAGO — The Zeiss Cataract Suite markerless system can reduce overall surgery time by 6 minutes, according to a speaker at a Carl Zeiss Meditec media briefing. Jan Willem de Cler, head of surgical ophthalmology, presented the findings of two studies from Wolfgang J. Mayer, MD, which showed the use of the Zeiss Cataract Suite reduced the overall surgery time from 18 minutes using a manual technique to 12 minutes with the markerless system.