A 32-year-old pregnant woman at 31 weeks’ gestational age was referred to the New England Eye Center for a 1-week history of floaters and decreased vision in the left eye. She complained of 1 day of photophobia and left eye pain.Ocular history was unremarkable. Medical history included prior cesarean section, hepatitis C and spinal desmoid tumors resected and treated with doxorubicin. She had a history of intravenous drug use and stated the last episode was 8 months before presentation. She lived in a rural area with exposure to many animals (Read more...)
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Femtosecond laser allows fine-tuning of capsulotomy size
Welcome to another edition of CEDARS/ASPENS Debates. CEDARS/ASPENS is a joint society of cornea, cataract and refractive surgery specialists, here to discuss some of the latest hot topics in ophthalmology.As more surgeons have access to femtosecond las…
Femtosecond laser assists in complex cataract surgery case
Cataract surgery is usually safe and relatively easy to perform, especially for the experienced eye surgeon. However, the degree of surgical difficulty when performing phacoemulsification often parallels the degree of cataract density that the surgeon …
Building a dry eye clinic, part 3: The advanced dry eye practice
Are you still here? That is fantastic! That must mean you made a conscious, all-in decision to start a dry eye practice, as discussed in part 1, and you have adjusted your existing protocols to include a directed evaluation of the anterior segment looking for clues to the presence and type of dry eye using our traditional exam techniques, as discussed in part 2. You have started to use the information you have gathered to treat patients who suffer from dry eye symptoms using a combination of artificial tears, mechanical (Read more...)
Dynamic Ladas Super Surface helps optimize and refine IOL calculations
Historically, we have been advised to optimize specific IOL formulae for our patients in order to better predict the postoperative refraction and to deliver better visual outcomes. This means that we need to analyze our patient data and then make adjus…
VIDEO: Managing unhappy presbyopic lens patients
MIAMI — At the CEDARS/ASPENS meeting, Jennifer Loh, MD, discusses how she managed a case of a previously myopic patient who was dissatisfied with her presbyopic IOL.
CMS launches online Medicare prescription drug spending resource
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched an interactive resource with information about Medicare spending on prescription drugs, the agency announced in a press release.The Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard provides information on prescri…
‘No-talking’ policy may reduce endophthalmitis risk after intravitreal injection
A strict “no-talking” policy during intravitreal injections reduced the risk of endophthalmitis after the injections, according to a study.“Some studies found that wearing face masks reduces endophthalmitis risk, whereas others suggest that adopting silence or a no-speaking policy may reduce speech-related contamination of the surgical field. However, no study has demonstrated that an intervention designed to reduce transmission of oral flora results in a decreased risk of endophthalmitis,” the study authors said.
VIDEO: Ocular Therapeutix president gives company update
MIAMI — At the CEDARS/ASPENS meeting, Amar Sawhney, president and CEO of Ocular Therapeutix, discusses the recent FDA acceptance of the new drug application for Dextenza.
Medidur meets study endpoint of preventing posterior uveitis recurrence at 6 months
Medidur met its primary efficacy endpoint of preventing the recurrence of posterior uveitis for 6 months in a phase 3 clinical trial, pSivida announced in a press release.Medidur, an injectable micro-insert introduced into the back of the eye, provides…
Study: Moderate caffeine intake may improve surgical performance
FLORENCE, Italy — A moderate intake of caffeine enhances performance in retina microsurgery, according to a poster presented at the FLOREtina meeting by a group of retina surgeons from Mexico City. Using a microsurgical simulator, the effects of caffeine on the performance of experienced retina surgeons were evaluated. Under usual conditions on a random day, each surgeon underwent a test on a baseline simulator level (anti-tremor test and ILM peeling level 1) to get acquainted with the machine. A week later, the same surgeons underwent the same test at a (Read more...)
Specific genetic factors may lead to negative response to AREDS formulation
FLORENCE, Italy — High-dose zinc, as in the AREDS and AREDS2 formulations, may be harmful in patients with high complement factor H and low age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 risk alleles, according to one speaker. “There is considerable evidence that response to AREDS supplements is influenced by genetic risk,” Carl C. Awh, MD, said at the FLOREtina meeting.
IC-8 IOL may improve range of focal distances in cataract patients
Small-aperture technology in an IOL implanted monocularly may effectively improve a broad range of vision in presbyopic patients who require cataract surgery, according to a study.The prospective, noncomparative multicenter case series investigated the…
Obama signs medical device excise tax delay into law
President Obama has recently signed into law the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill and $650 million tax break package that includes a 2-year suspension of the 2.3% medical device excise tax.Under the terms of the agreement, known as the Consolidated …
VIDEO: Researcher describes use of OCT angiography in studies of diabetic retinopathy
FLORENCE, Italy — At the FLOREtina meeting, Yuichi Ogura, MD, shares the results of two studies in which healthy eyes and eyes with diabetic retinopathy were compared on OCT angiography. This new technology gives important new insights into the nature of the disease.
VIDEO: Cataract surgeon gives technique tips for early adopters of MIGS devices
MIAMI — At the CEDARS/ASPENS meeting, Carlos Buznego, MD, gives pearls on incorporating the iStent (Glaukos) into a cataract practice.
VIDEO: Speaker discusses outcomes of two DRCR.net trials
FLORENCE, Italy — At the FLOREtina meeting, Susan Bressler, MD, presents the main outcomes of DRCR.net Protocol S and Protocol T trials and discusses important clinical implications of the two trials.
Home-monitoring device helps to detect CNV earlier
FLORENCE, Italy — Home monitoring with a preferential hyperacuity perimetry device allows early detection of choroidal neovascularization-related changes in patients with early age-related macular degeneration. “Early detection means better preservation of vision, better outcomes of therapy,” Anat Loewenstein, MD, PhD, said at the FLOREtina meeting.
Improved topography, wavefront parameters sustained up to 7 years after cross-linking
Corneal topography and wavefront parameters continued to improve at 5 years after corneal collagen-cross-linking, with improvement still maintained at 7 years, according to a study.The prospective study included 36 eyes of 36 patients who underwent epi…
AMA, ACP file comments on Stage 3 meaningful use
ACP and the AMA are calling for changes to the current meaningful use program to better align with the needs of physicians and patients, according to press releases issued by the organizations.In separate letters directed to Andrew M. Slavitt, acting a…