Alcon has entered into a strategic alliance with PowerVision, according to an Alcon press release.PowerVision has developed an accommodating IOL that has shown the ability in pilot studies to change focus through fluid-driven shape-changing technology. The IOL is for cataract patients with presbyopia, and it is implanted in the capsular bag and utilizes the eye’s natural accommodating muscles to transport fluid in the IOL.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Physician behaviors hinder patients in navigating out-of-pocket costs
Recent qualitative findings published in Health Affairs showed that physicians struggled to help patients factor out-of-pocket expenses into their medical decisions.“Health care consumers cannot expect to make savvy financial decisions if their doctors do not engage with them in productive conversations about the pros and cons of their health care alternatives, including the financial costs,” Peter A. Ubel, MD, professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, told Healio Internal Medicine. “Some physicians say they are reluctant to do so because money talk would contaminate the doctor-patient (Read more...)
Keranova raises €4 million in series A funding for prototype in automated surgery
Keranova reported a series A funding investment of 4 million to finance development of prototype ophthalmic surgical equipment, according to a press release.The technological innovation “allows for a substantial reduction in manual intervention in favor of automation and precision,” which reduces operator-dependent risk, according to the release.
Nicox submits new drug application for AC-170
Nicox has submitted a new drug application to the FDA for AC-170 to treat ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis, according to a press release. The company also requested a priority review based on clinical pediatric data generated with…
FDA approves Avedro’s cross-linking system for progressive keratoconus
The FDA has approved the KXL System and two photoenhancers for corneal collagen cross-linking treatment of progressive keratoconus, according to a press release from Avedro.The photoenhancers are Photrexa 0.146%, a riboflavin 5’-phosphate solution, and Photrexa Viscous 0.146%, a riboflavin 5’-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution.
American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery names new president
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery announced in a press release it has named Robert Alan Goldberg, MD, as president.Goldberg, professor of ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA and chief of orb…
Physicians lack clarity on FDA approvals, ‘breakthrough therapy’
Physicians demonstrated limited understanding of the FDA approval process and the meaning of the “breakthrough therapy” designation, according to recent research in JAMA.“Although the term ‘breakthrough’ leads consumers to overly optimistic beliefs about drug effectiveness, it is not known how physicians understand this term — or more generally, what FDA approval means,” Aaron S. Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH, of the division of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and colleagues wrote. “A national survey of board-certified internists and specialists revealed substantial deficits in knowledge of the meaning of (Read more...)
Twice-daily dose of trabodenoson may lower IOP in glaucoma patients
Twice-daily 50 µg to 500 µg ocular doses of trabodenoson were well-tolerated, according to a study, and at 500 µg, a dose-related decrease in IOP was seen in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.The multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase 2 study included 141 patients who were administered 50 µg, 100 µg or 200 µg unilateral topical twice-daily trabodenoson (Inotek Pharmaceuticals) or placebo for 14 days, or 500 µg trabodenoson or placebo for 28 days.
Ohr enrolls first patient in phase 3 clinical trial of squalamine for wet AMD
Ohr Pharmaceutical has enrolled the first patient in the first of two phase 3 clinical trials of squalamine lactate ophthalmic solution 0.2% for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to a press release. The phase 3 cl…
VIDEO: New generation of ophthalmologists embrace technological advancements in glaucoma
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — At the Bassano Ophthalmology Meeting, OSN Europe Editorial Board Member Stefano Gandolfi, MD, relates one of the commendable “pros” of the meeting: a cross-generational discussion on technological advancements in the management of complications in glaucoma surgery, which included skills and insights of senior ophthalmologists and of new-generation surgeons.
Bowman’s layer transplantation may be safer surgery for patients with advanced keratoconus
For most eyes with advanced keratoconus, penetrating keratoplasty is a bad option. It permanently weakens the cornea, precipitates cataracts, promotes glaucoma, provides an often uneven and unstable refractive surface, presents the constant risk of allograft reaction and graft rejection, and — perhaps worst of all — produces many unhappy patients, particularly if the surgery was elective and not emergently required.Nevertheless, PK so far remains the most common surgical treatment worldwide for patients with advanced keratoconus. And while alternatives to conventional PK have emerged, including deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and new (Read more...)
Wrapping up APAO 2016 in Taipei
The 31st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress, in conjunction with the 57th annual meeting of the Ophthalmological Society of Chinese Taipei and co-sponsored by the European Society of Ophthalmology, was held from March 24 to 27, 2016, in Taipei. The congress was very well received, bringing together more than 4,500 delegates from 60 countries.In his welcome speech delivered at the Opening Ceremony, Dennis S.C. Lam, MD, FRCOphth, APAO’s president, highlighted the development of the APAO Congress. It was held once every 4 years initially and became a biennial event in (Read more...)
VIDEO: Surgeon discusses complicated case of combined cataract, glaucoma surgery
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — At the Bassano Ophthalmology Meeting, OSN Europe Editorial Board Member Alessandro Galan, MD, explains how he successfully dealt with a complicated case of combined cataract and glaucoma surgery.
VIDEO: Urrets-Zavalia syndrome managed with pupil constriction
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — At the Bassano Ophthalmology Meeting, Roberto Bellucci, MD, reported the successful surgical management of a difficult case of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome, in which pupil constriction was achieved using several passes of 10-0 Prolene suture, resulting in equally sized pupils bilaterally and reduction of glare.
Study: Patients with wet AMD would opt for high treatment burden to prevent worse visual acuity
Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were willing to opt for a higher treatment burden, which included regular intravitreal injections at short intervals and long periods of waiting, treatment and traveling, to prevent worsening o…
Iris hooks aid cataract surgeons in complicated cases with narrow pupils
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — Iris hooks are a helpful and versatile tool in case of cataract surgery with narrow pupils, according to one surgeon speaking at the Bassano Ophthalmology Meeting.“There are cases where neither the preoperative administration of NSAIDs to reduce prostaglandin production nor the intraoperative use of mydriatics, including the new intracameral mydriatics, is sufficient to dilate the pupil to a safe size for surgery,” Alessandro Franchini, MD, said.
VIDEO: Mediterretina Club plans meeting in Parma
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — Matteo Forlini, MD, announced the ninth edition of the Mediterretina Club meeting will be held in Parma, Italy, May 11-13, 2017. Meeting topics will span both surgical and medical retina, and there will be a special homage to the late Cesare Forlini, MD, who founded the Mediterretina Club with Anastasios Nikolakopoulos, MD, and Khaled El-Rakhawy, MD. For more information on the meeting, please visit Healio.com/OSN.
Technique repositions subluxated IOLs
A simplified technique that uses a single suture iris-to-capsulorrhexis fixation for early or mild in-the-bag IOL subluxation in pseudoexfoliation may be less traumatic and invasive than other methods, according to a study.Patients can experience sublu…
Woman referred for pain, decreased vision in left eye
A 61-year-old Caucasian woman was referred for neuro-ophthalmology evaluation at Lahey Medical Center for decreased vision associated with pain in the left eye.The patient’s medical history was significant for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism and a pericardial cyst. She also had an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level discovered incidentally 20 years ago, for which work-up by an outside rheumatologist was unrevealing. She had an acute right-sided hearing loss 2 years ago; work-up through an outside otolaryngologist and imaging were also unrevealing. Her ocular history included a mild refractive error. (Read more...)
Risk of capsular rupture similar for Venturi and peristaltic phaco pumps
The risk of capsular rupture during cataract surgery from contact with phacoemulsification needles was similar for both peristaltic and Venturi vacuum modes, according to a study.The experimental laboratory investigation used a posterior capsular surro…