PRAGUE — Lens extraction in angle-closure glaucoma is associated with better clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes than laser peripheral iridotomy and appears to be cost-effective, according to the results of the 3-year EAGLE trial.“With 5.3 million people affected worldwide, angle-closure is also a leading cause of blindness. Yet, there is a disproportion in the number of trials as compared with open-angle, and little is known on the efficacy of treatments,” Augusto Azuara-Blanco, MD, PhD, said at the European Glaucoma Society Congress.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
VIDEO: Speaker discusses pros, cons of MIGS
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Norbert Pfeiffer, MD, talks about the pros and cons of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
VIDEO: Speaker presents interim results of phase 4 clinical trial of Xen gel stent
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Ingeborg Stalmans, MD, PhD, shares positive 1-year interim data from the ongoing phase 4 clinical trial of AqueSys/Allergan’s Xen45 gel stent.
VIDEO: Speaker presents interim results of phase 4 clinical trial of Xen gel stent
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Ingeborg Stalmans, MD, PhD, shares positive 1-year interim data from the ongoing phase 4 clinical trial of AqueSys/Allergan’s Xen45 gel stent.
Glaucoma drugs may be repurposed with sustained-release implants
PRAGUE — Sustained-release implants may offer the opportunity to repurpose glaucoma drugs, overcoming noncompliance issues, according to one specialist speaking at the European Glaucoma Society Congress. James David Brandt, MD, said that intraocular implants are effective and have the advantage of avoiding allergic reactions on the ocular surface. However, there is a small risk of infection related to the injection, and the procedure is not easily reversible. If the patient develops an adverse reaction such as macular edema, surgery is needed to remove the implant.
Ophthalmoscopy, optic disc photos essential in glaucoma evaluation, management
PRAGUE — Fundus photography remains essential in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma. Imaging cannot capture all signs and should therefore complement but not substitute clinical examination, according to one specialist speaking at the European Glaucoma Society Congress. Thierry Zeyen, MD, PhD, mentioned several studies demonstrating that expert ophthalmologists and optometrists with a special interest in glaucoma were able to assess optic disc photos with equal or even greater precision than HRT, GDx or OCT.
VIDEO: Speaker discusses effect of modern cataract surgery techniques on glaucoma patients
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Carlo Enrico Traverso, MD, talks about the impact of modern cataract surgery techniques on the outcomes and quality of life of glaucoma patients.
VIDEO: New approaches to glaucoma surgery impact health economics of ophthalmic community
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Tarek Shaarawy, MD, PhD, discusses the impact that new devices and new approaches to glaucoma surgery have on health economics in the ophthalmic community.
Early diagnosis, treatment of fungal keratitis key to preserving vision
Early identification and treatment are key to preserving vision in patients with fungal keratitis resulting from Exserohilum infection, according to a study.In the retrospective, noncomparative observational study, records of 1,542 cases with keratomyc…
VIDEO: Summit gives ophthalmologists, industry chance to discuss future of ophthalmology
COSTA MESA, Calif. — At the Orange County Ophthalmology Technology Summit, John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, discusses how the meeting brings together ophthalmologists, industry and investment community in the “Silicon Valley” of ophthalmology.
Model of shared care delivery improves glaucoma management at Belgian university clinic
PRAGUE — An innovative model of shared care delivery resulted in optimization of flow, increased patient volume, cost savings and greater satisfaction of patients, employees and glaucoma specialists. Ingeborg Stalmans, MD, PhD, head of the glaucoma unit at Leuven University Hospital, Belgium, talked about this project at the European Glaucoma Society Congress, starting from the observation that optimization of resources might help avoid the two extremes of undertreatment and overtreatment, as well as the problem of capacity saturation in future years.
VIDEO: Speaker shares advice on improving medication adherence in glaucoma patients
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Frances Meier-Gibbons, MD, explains why glaucoma patients may not regularly take their medications and suggests how doctors can interact with them to improve adherence and acceptance of therapy.
CHMP recommends change in terms of marketing authorization for Nevanac
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion recommending a change to the terms of the marketing authorization for Nevanac, according to a summary of opinion from the European Medicines Agency. The recommended change is an extended indication that states “Nevanac 3 mg/mL is indicated in adults for prevention and treatment of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery [and] reduction in the risk of preoperative macular edema associated with cataract surgery in diabetic patients,” the opinion said.
Myopia prevention — from evidence to practice
The worldwide prevalence of myopia is expected to increase from 1.4 billion people at present to 4.7 billion people by 2050. More alarming is the suggestion from a recent meta-analysis that the prevalence of high myopia will increase by more than 300% …
VIDEO: Speaker presents 1 year results from phase 1/2 trial of bimatoprost implant
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Keith Martin, MA, DM, MRCP, FRCOphth, discusses interim 1 year results of the phase 1/2 trial of Allergan’s sustained-release bimatoprost implant for the treatment of glaucoma.
VIDEO: EGS president shares organization’s mission
PRAGUE — European Glaucoma Society President Anja Tuulonen, MD, PhD, sends her greeting from the society congress and speaks about the mission of EGS.
Sleeping in lateral decubitus position may cause visual loss in normal-, high-tension glaucoma patients
PRAGUE — Lateral decubitus position during sleeping may be the cause of asymmetric IOP increase and visual field damage in glaucoma patients, according to one specialist speaking at the European Glaucoma Society Congress. IOP increases in the supine position in both healthy and glaucomatous eyes, and studies suggest that this increase might play a role in the progression of glaucoma. Other studies found that in the lateral decubitus position, IOP increases asymmetrically, with higher elevation in the lower eye, Ki Ho Park, MD, PhD, told the audience.
VIDEO: Speaker presents results from EAGLE trial
PRAGUE — At the European Glaucoma Society Congress, Augusto Azuara-Blanco, MD, PhD, reports results of the EAGLE trial, a study looking at the role of lens extraction in patients with angle closure glaucoma.
VIDEO: Ophthalmologist — entrepreneur shares pearls on early product development
COSTA MESA, Calif. — At the Orange County Ophthalmology Technology Summit, Gary Wortz, MD, discusses lessons he has learned in entrepreneurship and how to turn an idea into an ophthalmic product.
Eleven Biotherapeutics reports $7.6 million net loss in first quarter
Eleven Biotherapeutics reported a net loss applicable to common stockholders of $7.6 million, or $0.39 per share, in the first quarter compared with a net loss of $6.5 million, or $0.36 per share, in the same quarter of 2015, according to a press relea…