NICE, France — At the Euretina meeting, Paolo Lanzetta, MD, discusses the role for photodynamic therapy in the treatment of wet AMD in the era of anti-VEGFs.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
VIDEO: Speaker compares differences between bifocal, trifocal IOLs
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Damien Gatinel, MD, PhD, discusses the differences between bifocal and trifocal IOLs.
Mediterranean diet may have protective role in AMD, study finds
NICE, France — The Mediterranean diet, combined with physical exercise, might have a protective role in the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration, according to a Portuguese study. The study, which was the first to specifically evaluate the role of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle habits in AMD, was developed within the larger epidemiological AMD Coimbra Eye Study, a cross-sectional population-based study including subjects aged 55 years or older from two Portuguese populations, one from a coastal town and one from an inland town.
Contact lens case changes color to signal bacterial contamination
SAN DIEGO — Researchers have developed a microbial sensing device that alerts contact lens wearers of unsafe levels of bacteria and to discard the lens. They presented their findings at ICAAC 2015.“We have devised a real-time sensing device, embedded within a contact lens case, that is capable of signaling the presence of abnormal levels of live microorganisms,” Nishal Govindji-Bhatt, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Manchester, said in a press release.
AAO and ASCRS set guidelines on postop co-management, transfer of care
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery have issued a joint position paper with guidelines on co-management and transfer of care after ophthalmic surgery.“Co-management is a relationship between an operating ophthalmologist and a non-operating practitioner for shared responsibility in the postoperative care when the patient consents to multiple providers, the services being performed are within the providers’ respective scope of practice and there is agreement between the providers to share patient care,” the paper said. “Transfer of care occurs when there is complete (Read more...)
Screening protocol may detect eye disease in American Indian, Alaskan Native population
A specified ophthalmic screening protocol accurately detected eye disease in an American Indian and Alaskan Native population. However, the protocol needs to be tested in diverse populations with varying disease profiles, a study found.Investigators ra…
VIDEO: Cataract patients implanted with Symfony IOL show promising results
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Florian Kretz, MD, discusses positive results from a study evaluating the Tecnis Symfony extended range of vision IOL.
FDA clears adjustable chandelier for Stellaris PC Vision Enhancement System
Bausch + Lomb received FDA 510(k) clearance for an adjustable chandelier fiber optic illuminator in 23- and 25-gauge versions for the Stellaris PC Vision Enhancement System, according to a press release.The chandelier can be used in several procedures, including bimanual surgery with the use of multiple instruments. It features controlled light adjustment, an adjustable fiber cable, secure placement with distal fiber and a 90° distal curvature to assist in placement.
Rhopressa meets primary endpoint in Rocket 2 trial
Rhopressa showed non-inferiority to timolol in glaucoma patients with baseline IOP below 25 mm Hg in a phase 3 clinical trial, Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced.Vicente Anido Jr., PhD, CEO of Aerie, reviewed results of the Rocket 2 trial during a company…
VIDEO: Speaker discusses new data on FluidVision accomodative IOL
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Louis D. “Skip” Nichamin, MD, reported 2-year follow-up data on the PowerVision FluidVision accomodative IOL.
InSite Vision terminates QLT bid, plans to merge with Sun Pharma
InSite Vision terminated a merger agreement with QLT and accepted a merger bid from Sun Pharmaceutical.The all-cash acquisition is valued at $0.35 per share, or approximately $48 million in aggregate equity value, on a fully diluted basis, according to…
Publication Exclusive: Fallout from failed clinical trials poses challenges to companies
So far in 2015, four different ophthalmic products in phase 3 clinical trials failed to meet their primary endpoints. Ocular Surgery News spoke with three of these companies to find out what happened and how they responded. Their stories offer a telling glimpse at the challenges and opportunities companies face when endpoints are missed in clinical trials as part of the overall innovation cycle.“Private companies often simply learn from their experience and make appropriate adjustments to their research and business plan. They continue on as long as their investors are (Read more...)
Health clinics awarded $500 million in ACA funding to expand PC services
The HHS has granted almost $500 million in Affordable Care Act funding to help health care centers nationwide provide primary care services to the most in-need populations, according to a press release. Roughly $350 million in funding will go toward in…
VIDEO: Multifocal IOLs may improve visual, cognitive outcomes
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Philippe Sourdille, MD, shares his views on multifocal intraocular lenses. He points out how adaptation to these lenses entails not only visual, but also cognitive processes that should be assessed at the time of patient selection.
Endophthalmitis rate after intravitreal injections comparable to rate after cataract surgery
BARCELONA — Data from the Swedish Macula Register showed steady growth of intravitreal injection volume over the last 7 years and a stable low incidence of endophthalmitis with a slight increase in 2014. “Between 2007 and 2014, we had 18,802 patients, 21,811 eyes, 304,401 visits and 145,747 treatments. Numbers have been growing steadily. Treatments were just over 2,000 in 2007 and nearly 36,000 in 2014,” Inger Westborg, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting here.
Zeiss builds on range of ophthalmic products
BARCELONA — Carl Zeiss Meditec introduced additions and enhancements to a range of ophthalmic products at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.In particular, Visuconnect 500 software adds networking capability to Zeiss’s line of basic diagnostics devices, Opmi Lumera 300 is a new surgical microscope, and the SL 220 slit lamp features a new user interface and tower design, Ralf Kuschnereit, PhD, head of the Ophthalmic Systems Division, reported at a company press briefing.
FDA gives orphan drug designation to MANF for retinal artery occlusion
The FDA granted orphan drug designation to Amarantus BioScience Holdings for its investigational retinal artery occlusion treatment drug MANF, according to a press release.Mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a natural protein …
VIDEO: Management of phakic IOL explantation
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Antonio Marinho, MD, speaks the causes and management of phakic IOL explantation, which occurs in a high number of cases in the long term. He also expresses his opinion on the future role of this technology.
Complicated cases bring out the best in femtosecond laser cataract surgery
BARCELONA — While most surgeons are still using femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery only in standard cases, in which no significant difference from classic phaco has yet been demonstrated, the true advantages are in a wide range of complicated cases, according to José L. Güell, MD.At a symposium on femtosecond laser cataract during the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, he showed examples of several situations in which laser makes the difference for the surgeon and the eye he or she is operating on.
Pupil expansion device gently deals with small pupil problems during cataract surgery
BARCELONA — A new pupil expansion device allows a safer, gentler approach to intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, pseudoexfoliation and small pupils during surgery.The I-Ring pupil expander (Beaver Visitec) is made of soft polyurethane, as opposed to the stiffer polypropylene more commonly used in pupil expansion devices. It is preloaded in an inserter and injected through the phaco incision.