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.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
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.
VIDEO: Speaker discusses topoaberrometric customized ablation
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Massimo Camellin, MD, talks about topoaberrometric customized ablation, which he developed in 2002 in collaboration with Optikon and Schwind. The ORK-CAM topo-aberrometry software is currently incorporated in the Schwind Amaris laser.
Taxpayers should not fall for new tax scam tricks by IRS posers
Although the tax season is over, tax scammers work year-round. The Internal Revenue Service advises taxpayers to stay alert to protect themselves against new ways criminals trick them out of their money or personal information.These scams first tried t…
VIDEO: Speaker discusses prevalance of laser correction among ophthalmologists
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Jason Brinton, MD, dispels the misconception that the majority of refractive surgeons prefer to wear spectacles or contact lenses rather than have laser surgery performed on their own eyes. A questionnaire study assessing the prevalence of laser vision correction among ophthalmologists shows that quite the opposite is true.
VIDEO: Extended depth of focus mutlifocal IOLs reduce optical abberations
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Daniele Tognetto, MD, talks about the latest, extended depth of focus multifocal IOLs as a new milestone in the evolution of multifocal optics.
Three-month data show satisfactory performance of WIOL-CF bioanalogic polyfocal IOL
BARCELONA — Three-month results from an international observational registry show satisfactory performance of the WIOL-CF bioanalogic polyfocal IOL from Medicem.“This lens is an interesting option for patients who want spectacle independence. It brings back full natural vision combining mechanisms of action similar those of the natural crystalline lens,” Ewa Mrukwa-Kominek, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
VIDEO: Latest developments in corneal refractive surgery
BARCELONA — At the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Jorge L. Alió, MD, PhD, discusses the advantages of trans-epithelial PRK with the Schwind Amaris platform, the findings of the first study on the long-term outcomes of LASIK in high myopia and talks about an ongoing study comparing the SMILE procedure and conventional LASIK in high myopia.
Topcon’s SP-1P specular microscope cleared by FDA
The FDA granted 510(k) clearance to the SP-1P fully automated specular microscope, Topcon Medical Systems announced in a press release.The microscope features a 10.4-inch rotating touch panel monitor that eliminates the need for a control lever, a wide…
Two years of follow-up with FluidVision IOL show promising results
BARCELONA — A fluid-filled IOL provides true accommodation up to 4 D, stable over 24 months of follow-up, according to one surgeon.The FluidVision IOL (PowerVision), a three-dimensional device with a large leading haptic, restores true accommodation through a physiological system.
Surgeon: Better to rescue subluxated IOLs than to replace them
BARCELONA — IOL subluxation or dislocation occurs with increasing frequency, as reported in several sessions of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting. The best way to deal with this complication may be to rescue the IOL rather than explant it, according to one surgeon.“I wouldn’t call it an epidemic, but for sure it is something we see more and more often. One of the reasons might be that we do more complicated cases. We dare more and implant IOLs in an increasing number of increasingly old people,” (Read more...)
Aerie, Ramot enter research collaboration
Aerie Pharmaceuticals and Ramot at Tel Aviv University have entered a research collaboration and license agreement for a preclinical anti-beta amyloid small molecule product candidate, according to a press release from Aerie.The product will be evaluat…
VIDEO: Speaker discusses using a corneal trephine to solve a difficult retina case
BARCELONA — At the EuCornea meeting, Pavel Stodulka, MD, PhD, gives advice on how to solve a case in which the IOL falls down on the retina.
VIDEO: MLT beneficial treatment option for patients with open angle glaucoma
BARCELONA – At the ESCRS meeting, Jacky W. Y. Lee, MD, talks about micropulse laser trabeculoplasty as a treatment for open angle glaucoma. He also presents the results of a study with MLT performed at the University Eye Clinic of Hong Kong.
CLASS yields promising long-term results in glaucoma patients
BARCELONA — Five-year results of CO2 laser-assisted sclerectomy surgery showed lower rates of IOP and complications in open-angle glaucoma patients, according to a speaker here. “CLASS is simple to perform and has a short learning curve. This is very important. The long-term results proved high in safety and significant reduction in the number of medications. Long-term efficacy shows significant IOP reduction,” Noa Geffen, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
Femtosecond cataract surgery faces challenge in cost-effectiveness FEMCAT study
BARCELONA — The French FEMCAT study evaluating the cost-effectiveness of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is close to 1,800 enrollments and may be completed by the first half of 2016, Béatrice Cochener, MD, announced at the meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. The study aims at providing the scientific basis for a potential adoption of the femtosecond procedure within the French health system.