MIAMI — Robust investment by venture capitalists is making up for stagnant government funding for medical research, particularly in the ophthalmic and biotechnology sectors, a speaker told colleagues here.“Necessity is the mother invention. I like to say that prosperity is the father of innovation. We can’t have innovation unless we have a robust economy because we need that money to drive the innovation,” Emmett T. Cunningham Jr., MD, PhD, MPH, said at Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2016.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Senate proposes new safety requirements for reusable devices
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions today favorably reported a bill requiring manufacturers of reusable medical devices like duodenoscopes to submit cleaning instructions and validation data to the FDA before bringing these de…
Legislators ask for national surveillance of neurological illnesses
The Senate health committee today recommended the establishment of a national surveillance system for neurological diseases.The objective of the “Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015” (S. 849), sponsored by Sens. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is to enhance and coordinate efforts to track the epidemiology of neurological diseases in the United States, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. The bill provides for the collection and analysis of data on the incidence and prevalence of these diseases, as well as information pertaining to demographics, risk factors, (Read more...)
Senate proposes EHR fix for physicians, patients
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions unanimously recommended a measure today that would improve the use of electronic health records for the benefit of health care providers and patients.“This is some of the most important work that this committee has done — to call attention to the electronic medical record system being in a ditch,” Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said during an executive session. Alexander noted that President Barack Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative, a national research effort to support individualized treatment, “absolutely depends on electronic (Read more...)
New bill supports young researchers
The Senate health committee recommended a bill today that would improve opportunities for new researchers in the United States. The “Next Generation Researchers Act” (S. 2014), sponsored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, was created to establish an initiative within the office of the director of the NIH to support and encourage new opportunities for young researchers as well as earlier research independence. These include training opportunities for those seeking careers in research, mentorship programs, efforts to provide diversity in the workforce and assistance for new researchers (Read more...)
Nanophthalmic eyes show some significant improvements with high-powered IOL
Implantation of a foldable high-powered IOL significantly improved uncorrected distance visual acuity and spherical equivalence in nanophthalmic eyes, according to a study.The retrospective case series consisted of 21 eyes of 13 patients with nanophtha…
Senate committee proposes easier approval process for medical devices
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions favorably reported a measure today that would reduce regulatory hurdles for the approval of medical devices. The “FDA Device Accountability Act of 2015” (S. 1622), sponsored by Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C.; and Al Franken, D-Minn., and co-sponsored by Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is intended to ensure the “least burdensome means” of evaluating medical devices, according to the bill’s authors. It requires that any FDA employee involved in the premarket submission process of medical devices receives training to make the approval of (Read more...)
Medical rehabilitation bill recommended in Senate
The U.S. Senate health committee today recommended legislation to strengthen and increase the visibility of medical rehabilitation research at the NIH.The “Enhancing the Stature and Visibility of Medical Rehabilitation Research at the NIH Act” (S. 800), sponsored by Sens. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; and Susan Collins, R-Maine, calls for the development of a comprehensive research plan at the agency to support the recovery of stroke victims and help patients return to work.
Senate committee adopts bill to facilitate genetically targeted drug development
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions adopted legislation today designed to speed up development of genetically targeted drugs for patients with rare and serious or life-threating conditions.The “Advancing Targeted Therapies for Rare Diseases Act of 2015” (S. 2030), sponsored by Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Burr, R-N.C., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will allow drug companies seeking approval of a candidate therapy to leverage data from previously approved drug applications and to maximize the use of certain scientific methods, such as surrogate endpoints, to (Read more...)
Publication Exclusive: Dry eye a common but still often overlooked condition
Dry eye is a problem that every ophthalmologist faces on a daily basis. It is one of the most frequent causes for patients to visit the ophthalmologist. Dry eye is a progressive disease, so the longer it goes untreated, the worse the symptoms become. D…
VIDEO: Allergan looks to have complete platform for glaucoma treatment
SAN FRANCISCO — At the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum, Aziz Mottiwala, vice president of marketing at Allergan, discusses the company’s “franchise approach” to the glaucoma space in which it would like to ensure it has a full complement of pharmaceutical and surgical device options for treating glaucoma.
Speaker delivers DRCR.net update at Angiogenesis meeting
MIAMI — Harry W. Flynn Jr., MD, discussed the newly published and continuing trials of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network at Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2016.Protocol S, which was recently published, showed that intravitreal Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) was not inferior to panretinal photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema and resulted in better visual acuity over 2 years. The ranibizumab group had a higher chance of a 10-letter score improvement or better, while the PRP group had a higher chance of visual acuity worsening by 10 letters or more, as well (Read more...)
VIDEO: Surgeon recommends iStent device prior to cataract surgery
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — At Hawaiian Eye, Con Moshegov, MD, discusses how patients can benefit from the Glaukos iStent device before cataract surgery.
Senate health committee considers seven biomedical innovation bills
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will consider seven bipartisan bills on biomedical innovation tomorrow, Feb. 9, at the first of three executive sessions.“Senators and staff on our committee have been working together throughout 2015 to produce a number of bipartisan pieces of legislation that are ready for the full committee to consider,” Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said in a press release. “The House has completed its work on the 21st Century Cures Act. The president has announced his support for a precision medicine (Read more...)
Rate of retinal detachment after bag-in-the-lens IOL implantation similar to rate after traditional implantation
The incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after bag-in-the-lens IOL implantation corresponds to the rate observed after lens-in-the-bag IOL implantation, according to a study.The prospective cohort study evaluated 1,323 consecutive cases of ba…
Practice is key to learning surgery
A major concern for all ophthalmic trainees is the progression of our surgical skills and abilities. The best methods for surgical training and optimizing performance remain unclear. Jack S. Parker, MD, shares his views on this and tells us why even th…
Home-monitoring device helps to detect CNV earlier
Home monitoring with a preferential hyperacuity perimetry device may allow for early detection of choroidal neovascularization-related changes in patients with early age-related macular degeneration.The earlier neovascular AMD is treated, the better fi…
FEMCAT study evaluating value of femtosecond cataract surgery
Almost 1,800 subjects have been enrolled in the French FEMCAT study evaluating the clinical value and cost-effectiveness of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, a speaker said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Barcelona.The study will be completed in the first half of 2016. It is designed to provide a scientific basis for the potential adoption of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in the French health care system, Béatrice Cochener, MD, PhD, said.
VIDEO: Promising results from 3-year data on microshunt for glaucoma treatment
SAN FRANCISCO — At the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum, Russ Trenary, president and CEO of InnFocus, discusses 3-year study results published in the Journal of Glaucoma of the efficacy of the InnFocus microshunt for lowering IOP — alone, with mitomycin C or in combination with phacoemulsification.
Ladas Super Surface dinâmica ajuda a otimizar e refinar os cálculos da LIO
Historicamente, somos aconselhados a otimizar a fórmula de LIO específica de nossos pacientes para prever melhor a refração pós-cirúrgica e fornecer melhores resultados visuais. Isto significa que precisamos analisar os dados do paciente e, então, realizar os ajustes para que os futuros cálculos da LIO sejam exatos.A ideia é que existem diferenças na calibração dos dispositivos utilizados em biometria, e inclusive diferenças nas técnicas cirúrgicas, que podem influenciar o cálculo da potência da LIO e, assim, o resultado refrativo pós-cirúrgico. Isto faz sentido porque um cerátomo lê 0,5 D diferente (Read more...)