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...)
Author: Healio ophthalmology
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.
Dysfunctional lens syndrome education for patients recommended
CHICAGO — When patients with dysfunctional lens syndrome understand each individual stage of the syndrome, they can better understand their treatment options, according to a presenter here.“[Patients] are confused, whether they’re seeing an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, it’s all a confusion,” Daniel S. Durrie, MD, said at Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. “After they understand it, you can talk about treatment options much clearer.”
Treat-and-extend dosing reduces treatment burden in TREX-AMD trial
CHICAGO — Treatment burden was significantly reduced with treat-and-extend dosing vs. monthly dosing of ranibizumab through 2 years in the TREX-AMD study, an investigator reported here. Charles C. Wykoff , MD, PhD, presented the study results at Retina Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. The trial was funded by a grant from Genentech.
Brimonidine seen as promising treatment for geographic atrophy
CHICAGO — Neuroprotective brimonidine as a treatment for geographic atrophy is promising, William R. Freeman, MD, told colleagues at Retina Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.Freeman reported results of a phase 2 randomized clinical trial of brimonidine administered intravitreally using a 22-gauge insert placed in the eye that released brimonidine over a period of 6 months. Allergan sponsored the trial.
Compact Navilas laser system introduced to non-US market
CHICAGO — OD-OS introduced its new compact Navilas laser system to non-U.S. markets here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.The Navilas 577s, a retinal photocoagulator with a digital fundus camera, is to be used in retinal laser treatments, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of ocular pathology in the posterior segment, according to a company press release.
Valeant CEO: More efficient, available health care needed
CHICAGO — Making health care more efficient and access to that health care more available as the population ages has become an important factor for the companies involved in pharmaceuticals and technology, Joseph Papa, chairman and CEO of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, said during a press briefing here.In discussing Valeant and Bausch + Lomb’s strategies for addressing these trends, Papa said that consumption of eye care drugs and treatments is 7.8 times greater in persons older than 60 years of age than in those who are younger.
Lumenis launches Smart 532 photocoagulator
CHICAGO — Lumenis announced the launch of a new photocoagulator at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here.The Smart 532 photocoagulator is powered by SmartPulse sub-threshold technology and includes a new user interface and touch screen, according to a company announcement.
SMILE’s advantages include improved tear osmolarity
CHICAGO — Small incision lenticule extraction has some advantages over LASIK, with the procedure being less influenced by the environmental factors of surgery, such as hydration and exposure, according to a presenter here. “It is a highly effective procedure. It has very high satisfaction rates, the dry eye is better, the biomechanics are better, induced aberration is lower, subjective pain is lower and the regression is lower,” Sunil Shah, MD, said at Refractive Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
TearLab, PRN enter co-promotion agreement
TearLab Corporation has entered a co-promotion agreement with PRN Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals to jointly promote PRN’s patented omega-3 formulations, TearLab announced in a company press release.PRN’s products, including Dry Eye Omega Benefits, have shown they reduce osmolarity levels in dry eye patients using the TearLab Osmolarity System to diagnose and manage dry eye disease, according to the release.
Patient misconceptions of LASIK remain
CHICAGO — Despite patients having misconceptions about LASIK, the facts about the procedure are overwhelmingly positive and need to be shared, according to a presenter here. “The efficacy and safety of LASIK has been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials, perhaps most definitively in the recent FDA sponsored Prowl I and Prowl II studies. The Prowl studies confirmed LASIK is highly effective in correcting refractive error,” Marianne O. Price, PhD, said at Refractive Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
8 strategies to increase wellness, cope with physician burnout
LAS VEGAS — Physicians can reclaim the joy in their practice and apply strategies to mitigate their risk of burnout, according to an expert here at the Clinician Wellness Preconference at the Cardiometabolic Risk Summit.Lislotte N. Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, FACP, from the Mayo Clinic, explained that excessive workload, work inefficiency, flexibility, work-life integration and meaning in work are key drivers of physician burnout. She asked physicians to consider whether they could modify aspects of their behavior to decrease their risk for distress.
Lucentis recommended for EU approval for sixth indication
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended the approval of Lucentis in the European Union for the treatment of patients with visual impairment due to choroidal neovascularization not caused by neovascular age-related macular deg…
Speaker gives pearls for preventing infectious keratitis after laser vision correction
CHICAGO — Preventing infectious keratitis after primary laser vision correction is preferred over treating a post laser vision correction infection, a speaker here said. “Infectious keratitis may not be so common; however, it is devastating when it does happen. Half of patients have moderate to severe reduction of visual acuity. We know it is better to prevent it than treat it. If you have prompt recognition and aggressive treatment, you can end up with a very nice, reasonable result,” Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD, said at Refractive Subspecialty Day preceding the (Read more...)
VIDEO: Sun Ophthalmics poised to launch BromSite, Xelpros
CHICAGO — At the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit here Jerry St. Peter, vice president and head of Sun Ophthalmics, discusses the intended November launch of BromSite (bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.075%), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has been FDA-approved for prevention of ocular pain and treatment of postoperative inflammation in patients undergoing cataract surgery. As well, St. Peter anticipates the future launch of Xelpros (0.005% latanoprost) for the treatment of glaucoma.
FDA approves Lucentis prefilled syringe
Genentech’s pre-filled Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) syringe has been approved by the FDA, the company announced.The 0.5 mg prefilled syringe was approved to treat patients with wet age-related macular degeneration and macular edema after retinal vein occlusion and is the first pre-filled anti-VEGF medication to be approved by the FDA, the announcement said.