Nearly 30.26 million Americans have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and of those, 4.2 million adults aged 40 and older, or 29%, have diabetic retinopathy. An estimated 11% of all diabetic patients have diabetic macular edema, and 1% to 3% of those have visi…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Novel technique preserves capsular bag in cases of dangling crystalline lens
A combined anterior and posterior surgical procedure may be considered a viable treatment option for patients with severe zonular dehiscence and a nearly luxated lens, according to a report.The authors described a novel method of combining microincisio…
29-year-old woman presents with subacute vision loss and headaches
A 29-year-old obese white woman with a known history of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or IIH, presented to the New England Eye Center with 1 month of progressively decreasing vision in her right eye and positional headaches. She was diagnosed w…
Disease advances despite treatment in half of patients with low-pressure glaucoma
Disease progression was seen after at least 8 years in about half of patients treated for low-pressure glaucoma, a study found.The study authors underlined the importance of identifying and following patients with low-pressure glaucoma who are at risk …
Diabetic donor tissue viable for DMEK with proper surgeon training
Special training in graft preparation is critical when using tissue from diabetic donors in Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty, a speaker said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Barcelona. Francis W. Price Jr., MD, OSN Cornea/External Disease Board Member, described challenges involved when using diabetic donor tissue in DMEK, Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty.
Expanded indications a possibility for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery promises to deliver modest IOP lowering for mild and moderate stages of open-angle glaucoma with minimal tissue disruption and complications. Narrow angles and advanced glaucoma stages are considered relative contrai…
Intraoperative aberrometry enhances IOL power calculation in astigmatic eyes
With careful use, intraoperative aberrometry provides valuable and otherwise unattainable data to improve refractive outcomes in cataract surgery, according to one surgeon.“We don’t know what the surgically induced astigmatism is going to be until we make our incision, and although there are devices out there that are starting to measure posterior corneal curvature better, I think aberrometry combines those two hard-to-obtain pieces of information the best,” John P. Berdahl, MD, said at OSN New York 2015.
Micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation an option for refractory glaucoma
Glaucoma can be a difficult management problem in a subset of patients, even for the most experienced glaucoma specialists. The treatment spectrum includes drugs, trabeculoplasty, microincision glaucoma surgery and traditional glaucoma surgery.While many use glaucoma medications as their initial treatment modality, others use selective laser trabeculoplasty for the initial IOP control. The majority of glaucoma patients’ IOPs may be controlled with one or more topical medications, but there is a subset of patients whose IOPs are not adequately controlled even on maximum medical therapy. Additionally, some patients have limited choice (Read more...)
I-Ring expands pupil, enhances surgical field of view
Pupil expansion devices are an essential element of cataract surgery in cases of non-dilating pupils. An adequately sized capsulorrhexis with an adequate and appropriate exposure of the surgical space ensures the ease of surgery. Without the use of a proper pupil expansion device, a small pupil may cause complications such as sphincter tears, intraoperative bleeding, zonular dialysis and, in extreme cases with prolonged struggle, possibly even posterior capsular rent or nucleus drop. Prolonged surgical time and increased maneuvering may result in postoperative complications such as striate keratopathy, uveitis, secondary glaucoma, (Read more...)
Surgeon prefers fourth-generation fluoroquinolones as prophylaxis for cataract surgery
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — At Hawaiian Eye, James P. McCulley, MD, FACS, FRCOphth, gives reasons for his off-label use of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones as prophylaxis before, during and after cataract surgery.
Choroidal detachment, hypotony may be common after 23-gauge PPV
Choroidal detachment and hypotony are common after 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, and most complications may be associated with the use of fluid tamponade, according to a study.The prospective observational study compared the clinical features of 49 e…
Abbott reports $20.4 billion in 2015 worldwide sales
Abbott reported $20.4 billion in worldwide sales for 2015, a 9.1% increase on an operational basis and a 0.8% increase on a reported basis compared with 2014, according to a press release. Worldwide sales were reported at $5.2 billion in the fourth qua…
Aerie Pharmaceuticals executive gives update on clinical trials in 2016
SAN FRANCISCO — At the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum here, Tom Mitro, president and COO of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, gives an update on the progress in clinical trials for both Rhopressa and Roclatan.
Halometer app may quantify patient-reported halos
A halometer application operated on an iPad reliably and objectively quantified the size of patient-reported halos, according to a study.The prospective study included 20 subjects who had a mean age of 27.7 years.
VIDEO: FDA working with glaucoma community, patients in MIGS development
SAN FRANCISCO — At the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum here, Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH, discusses a panel he co-moderated with Eugene de Juan Jr., MD, that featured Wiley Chambers, MD, supervisory medical officer of transplant and ophthalmology products at the FDA, and Malvina Eydelman, MD, division director of ophthalmic device evaluation at the FDA.
Glaukos initiates commercial launch of iStent inject in Canada
Glaukos has commercially launched the iStent inject trabecular micro-bypass stent in Canada, according to a press release. Health Canada approved the iStent inject to reduce IOP in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma o…
VIDEO: Surgeon anticipates FDA approval of collagen cross-linking for treatment of keratoconus, ectasia
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — At Hawaiian Eye, Rajesh K. Rajpal, MD, discusses positive results from multiple studies on collagen cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia.
Sub-Tenon’s cannula may be similar to sharp retrobulbar needle for vitreoretinal surgery anesthesia
The use of a sub-Tenon’s cannula may be comparable to a sharp retrobulbar needle for local operative anesthesia before vitreoretinal surgeries, according to a study.The retrospective comparative study reviewed 1,711 vitreoretinal surgeries that received local anesthesia, in which 940 cases were performed with a blunt sub-Tenon’s cannula and 771 cases were performed with a sharp retrobulbar needle. In total, 99% of cases in each surgical group were completed.
VIDEO: Research shows glaucoma may depend on two types of pressure
SAN FRANCISCO — At the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum, John P. Berdahl, MD, discusses the relationship between IOP and cerebral spinal fluid pressure in glaucoma, which may help explain normal tension glaucoma and ocular hypertension without the presence of glaucoma.
FDA grants orphan drug designation to IMCgp100 for uveal melanoma
The FDA granted orphan drug designation to IMCgp100 for the treatment of uveal melanoma.IMCgp100 (Immunocore) is part of a class of bispecific biologic reagents known as ImmTACs, or immune-mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptors against cancer.