Author: Healio ophthalmology

Transepithelial PRK may be feasible option in myopic patients with thin corneas

PARIS — One-step transepithelial PRK with mitomycin is a good alternative to phakic IOLs in myopic patients with thin corneas, according to one surgeon speaking at the French Society of Ophthalmology meeting. “It is an easy, quick, reliable and reproducible procedure that can be optimized or customized to each patient,” Nicolas Mesplie, MD, said.

Sustained-release Dextenza meets endpoints for post-cataract surgery pain

NEW ORLEANS — Sustained-release dexamethasone was superior to placebo in managing pain and preventing inflammation after cataract surgery, a speaker told colleagues here.At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Joseph Gira, MD, reported results of two phase 3 prospective, multicenter, randomized studies of Dextenza (sustained-release dexamethasone intracanalicular depot, Ocular Therapeutix).

VIDEO: Surgeon shares experience with VisAbility Micro-Insert System for presbyopia

NEW ORLEANS — At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Y. Ralph Chu, MD, discusses his experience with the VisAbility Micro-Insert System from Refocus for the treatment of presbyopia. The procedure is done outside the line of sight, Chu said, thus preserving the cornea and the lens for future cataract and refractive procedures. During the meeting, Refocus announced that the phase 3 trial for the device has completed patient enrollment.

Combined femto laser, excimer laser procedure allows correction of high cylinder and sphere

PARIS — A technique combining deep intrastromal arcuate keratotomy with LASIK allows correction of high ametropia beyond the normal range of LASIK. The technique is performed in two steps, Ora Levy, MD, said at the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology. First, arcuate incisions are performed with a femtosecond laser on an optical zone varying between 6.5 mm and 7 mm. A LASIK flap is then performed with the same laser, 100 µm deep, with a diameter of 9.5 mm.

Glaucoma a common finding after KPro implantation

NEW ORLEANS — One in four eyes with pre-existing glaucoma may develop worsening disease after implantation with the Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis, and up to one in five eyes without pre-existing glaucoma may develop new onset glaucoma after implantation, according to a study presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.Whereas glaucoma is a common comorbid condition in patients undergoing KPro implantation, detection and monitoring of glaucoma after implantation are “notoriously difficult,” Kavitha R. Sivaraman, MD, said.

Good long-term visual acuities reported in presbyopic patients implanted with Raindrop inlay

NEW ORLEANS — Good long-term visual acuities for distance and near were achieved in presbyopic patients, both emmetropic and hyperopic, implanted with the ReVision Optics Raindrop inlay, according to a study presented by Cornelis Verdoorn, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here.Twenty-one patients were implanted in the nondominant eye with the hydrogel near vision implant. Mean age of patients was 54 years; mean follow-up period was 21 months. Of the 21 patients, eight were emmetropic and received the inlay only; 13 were hyperopic and were (Read more...)

Reduced laser energy optimizes results of lenticule extraction procedure

PARIS — Setting laser energy to a lower level makes visual recovery faster and optimizes results of ReLEx SMILE, according to a study presented here at the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology. “ReLEx SMILE (Zeiss) is a safe and effective procedure, but cases of BCVA loss and slower recovery of vision compared to LASIK were reported,” David Donate, MD, said.

Allergan announces stock repurchase plan

Allergan plc announced in a press release that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $10 billion of the company’s common stock.Allergan reported that it expects to make $4 billion to $5 billion in open market repurchases during the next four to six months, “subject to favorable market conditions,” according to the release. The share repurchase program is “pending the completion of and receipt of proceeds from the divestiture of Allergan’s Global Generics business to Teva, expected to close by the end of June 2016,” Allergan reported.