Smoking, diabetes and obesity may increase the risk of cataract surgery in postmenopausal women, according to a study. The UK Million Women Study included 1,312,051 postmenopausal women who had no previous cataract surgery, hospital admission for catar…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Several risk factors may increase cataract surgery rates in postmenopausal women
Smoking, diabetes and obesity may increase the risk of cataract surgery in postmenopausal women, according to a study. The UK Million Women Study included 1,312,051 postmenopausal women who had no previous cataract surgery, hospital admission for catar…
AMA votes to modernize Code of Medical Ethics
The AMA has voted to adopt a modernized version of its Code of Medical Ethics, capping an 8-year process to update the guideline for relevance, clarity and consistency, according to a statement from the organization.The modernized Code of Medical Ethics was approved by physician leaders gathered at the AMA Annual Meeting, in Chicago. The original code, the first uniform ethics guideline of its time, was first approved in 1847 during the AMA’s inaugural meeting.
Omeros reports $20.5 million net loss in first quarter
Omeros reported a net loss of $20.5 million, or $0.54 per share, in the first quarter compared with a net loss of $18.7 million, or $0.51 per share, in the same quarter of 2015, according to a press release. Total revenue was reported at $7.4 million i…
VIDEO: Treating ocular surface neoplasia
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — At the Kiawah Eye meeting, Derek W. DelMonte, MD, discusses treatment options for patients with ocular surface neoplasia.
Higher BMI, geographic atrophy may suggest poor response to aflibercept
Elevated body mass index and presence of geographic atrophy may be associated with a poor response to aflibercept in patients with age-related macular degeneration who were previously treated with ranibizumab or bevacizumab, according to a study.The re…
Out of bounds: When you move, be sure to let Medicare know
From international law firm Arnold & Porter LLP comes a timely column that provides views on current regulatory and legislative topics that weigh on the minds of today’s physicians and health care executives.When asked what their practice’s most important asset is, most ophthalmologists will respond with a nod to their top-notch office personnel or new femtosecond laser or loyal patients. However, perhaps no greater asset exists for an ophthalmological practice than its Medicare participation agreement. It is the foundation of a successful and stable practice upon which careers are built. (Read more...)
ACCORDION: Intensive blood glucose control lowers risk for diabetic retinopathy
NEW ORLEANS — The risk for diabetic retinopathy is cut in half in people with type 2 diabetes who intensively control their blood glucose, according to results from the ACCORDION study. “This study sends a powerful message to people with type 2 diabetes who worry about losing vision,” Emily Chew, MD, deputy director of the National Eye Institute’s division of epidemiology and clinical applications, said in a press release. “Well-controlled glycemia, or blood sugar level, has a positive, measurable and lasting effect on eye health.”
pSivida reports $5 million net loss in third quarter
pSivida’s financial results for the third quarter were similar to results reported for the third quarter a year ago, according to a press release.Quarterly net loss was reported at $5 million, or $0.15 per share, compared with a net loss of $5 million, or $0.17 per share, a year ago.
VIDEO: Preoperative testing in dry eye patients undergoing surgery
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — At the Kiawah Eye meeting, William B. Trattler, MD, discusses available preoperative testing for dry eye patients undergoing ocular surgery.
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with multiple polyps has poorer response to ranibizumab
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with multiple polyps did not respond as well to intravitreal ranibizumab as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with a single polyp, according to a study conducted in Japan.“We propose that the stratification of PCV lesions by polyp number may be valuable to understand the prognosis of this condition,” the study authors said.
AMA inaugurates Andrew W. Gurman as new president
The AMA has sworn in Andrew W. Gurman, MD, as the 171th president of the organization.According to a press release from the AMA, Gurman will focus on three specific areas during his tenure: Improving physician satisfaction and practice sustainability, …
FDA accepts 510(k) premarket notification filing for Xen treatment system
The FDA has accepted the filing of the 510(k) premarket notification application for the Xen Glaucoma Treatment System, Allergan announced in a press release. The system includes the Xen45, which is a minimally invasive gelatin shunt, and the Xen injec…
VIDEO: Surgeon rescues eyes from devastating consequences of angle-supported IOLs
This video shows the case of a 34-year-old woman who, 12 years after implantation of angle-supported phakic IOLs developed cataract, iris atrophy, pupil deformation and glaucoma in both eyes. Camille Budo, MD, OSN Europe Edition Board Member, took care of this patient who was referred to him. He removed the phakic IOL, performed cataract surgery with IOL implantation and also implanted an iris prosthesis, allowing the patient to recover vision as well as aesthetic appearance.Surgery was performed under topical anesthesia. Two paracenteses and one mini-incision were performed, and a dispersive (Read more...)
Examining the link between adherence and costs in glaucoma care
“Maximizing patient adherence to medication has the potential to reduce the number of surgical interventions required to treat glaucoma, prevent unnecessary vision loss and save the overall health care system money in the long run.”– Alan L. Robin, MD
VIDEO: Corneal epithelial pachymetry ratios for diagnosis of ketatoconus using SD-OCT
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — At the Kiawah Eye meeting, Justin M. Roman, MD, MS, discusses the use of spectral-domain OCT corneal epithelial pachymetry ratios for the early diagnosis of keratoconus.
Customized cross-linking yields stronger corneal flattening
Customized corneal cross-linking compared well with standard cross-linking in terms of visual acuity but yielded stronger corneal flattening and faster epithelial healing, according to a study.The prospective study included 40 eyes of 40 patients with …
AMA ratifies ethical guidance on telemedicine, telehealth
The AMA adopted new guidance for the ethical practice of telemedicine at its annual meeting, according to a press release issued by the organization.The guidance, which addresses differences in physicians’ responsibilities between traditional patient i…
AAFP, ACP, AAP, AMA, others renew call for Congress to lift ban on gun research
In the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, in which 49 people were killed and 53 wounded early Sunday after a gunman opened fire in an Orlando gay nightclub, many medical professional organizations have issued multiple statements not only expressing condolences for victims and their families, but also calling on Congress to lift its 20-year ban on the CDC conducting research into gun violence.In a joint statement, leaders from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Physicians (Read more...)
EV06 ophthalmic solution for presbyopia improves visual outcomes in phase 1/2 study
Presbyopic patients who were treated with EV06 ophthalmic solution showed an improvement in visual outcomes in a phase 1/2 study, Encore Vision announced in a press release. “This clinical trial was designed to confirm or not confirm that topically applied lipoic acid at a concentration of 1.5% could increase the elasticity of the human lens and enhance accommodation,” OSN Chief Medical Editor Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, told Ocular Surgery News.