Femtosecond laser entry into the cataract surgery arena had a positive influence on the key steps of cataract surgery, namely anterior capsulotomy, softening of the lens nucleus, lens fragmentation and self-sealing corneal incisions. A full-thickness c…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Research a career option for young ophthalmologists to consider
Life as an ophthalmology resident is busy with steep learning curves for both clinical and surgical skills. However, finding time for research can be rewarding and lead to a different career path. Alessandro Abbouda believes that research experience ul…
PQRS reporting mandatory for all eligible practices in 2015
A clinical registry is recommended, but not required, for practices participating in Medicare’s Physician Quality Reporting System, which was made mandatory in 2015 by the Affordable Care Act, according to one practice management consultant.Physicians participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) must report on at least nine quality measures in 2015, Kevin J. Corcoran, COE, CPC, CPMA, FNAO, said in an update of Medicare’s incentive programs and utilization changes at Hawaiian Eye 2015.
Intraoperative aberrometry measurements in cataract surgery spur debate
Welcome to CEDARS-ASPENS Debates, a monthly feature in Ocular Surgery News.CEDARS (Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery Society) and ASPENS (American Society of Progressive Enterprising Surgeons) is a joint society of cornea, cataract and r…
Innovative technique variations offer options in difficult cases
Amar Agarwal, MS, FRCS, FRCOphth, is an amazingly innovative surgeon and a prolific writer and educator. He has popularized the so-called “glued posterior chamber IOL technique.” In this technique, the haptics a of a posterior chamber IOL are placed in scleral tunnels under a scleral flap. The flap is glued in place with temporary fibrin glue under conjunctiva as well. It is really an intrascleral fixation of the posterior chamber IOL, and the glue is not critical. One could close the scleral flaps with sutures as an alternative because fibrin (Read more...)
Intensive therapy reduces incidence, cost of ocular surgery in type 1 diabetes
Intensive insulin therapy significantly reduced the long-term risk of ocular surgery in patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a study.Data were culled from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and the Epidemiology of Diabetes Inter…
Glued intrascleral posterior chamber IOL fixation technique continues to evolve
Suturing of posterior chamber IOLs in back of the iris or the capsular bag is standard practice, but it may not be appropriate in cases with insufficient capsule, lens subluxation or loss of zonular integrity.In the last decade, surgeons began to perfo…
Girl initially presents with open globe injury
The ophthalmology service was consulted for an otherwise healthy 6-year-old girl who was hit in the right eye by her brother with a pen 3 days before presenting to the emergency room. The patient’s mother thought her daughter seemed fine immediately after the event. However, over the next few days, the child complained of increasing irritation in her right eye. The mother took a closer look and was alarmed when she saw a “brown bubble” on the right eye.On exam, the patient’s visual acuity was 20/70 in the right eye (Read more...)
Diaton tonometer yields IOP readings without corneal contact
When corneal tonometry is challenging, measuring IOP through the upper eyelid at the limbus may be an alternative.“There are certain conditions where you cannot achieve a reliable pressure through the cornea,” Emil W. Chynn, MD, FACS, MBA, of Park Avenue Laser Vision in New York, told Ocular Surgery News. Such conditions include eyes with severe scarring, corneal edema, ocular trauma or a keratoprosthesis.
Dry eye may be associated with corneal endothelial cell loss
A significant decrease in corneal endothelial cell density was found in eyes with moderate to severe dry eye disease compared with normal eyes, according to a cross-sectional study.The mean endothelial cell density (ECD) was 2,596 cells/mm2 in 90 eyes …
Cataract surgery can be complicated by presence of loose zonules
Loose zonules complicate cataract surgery because their laxity makes removal of the nucleus and cortex challenging and limits stability of the IOL. In some patients we are able to detect zonular laxity during the preoperative consultation. Severe laxity may result in subluxation of the cataract or marked phacodonesis, in which the cataract is seen to move or shake in response to ocular movement. Patients with visible pseudoexfoliative material on the anterior lens capsule are also at higher risk for loose zonules. Other signs may be more subtle, such as a (Read more...)
Standardized bilateral LASIK protocol yields similar operating times for two surgeons
A standardized surgical protocol for bilateral LASIK resulted in similar procedure times for two experienced surgeons, according to a study.”Use of a standardized surgical protocol can optimize the efficiency of corneal suction time as well as total su…
U.S. News & World Report: Bascom Palmer best in ophthalmology
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University Of Miami Miller School of Medicine has been ranked the nation’s best hospital in ophthalmology for the 12th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report.“Receiving the No. 1 ranking for 12 consecutive years recognizes the exceptional expertise of Bascom Palmer’s team. Together, Bascom Palmer’s world-class ophthalmologists, vision researchers, nurses, ophthalmic technicians and support staff have one goal — to provide the ultimate in compassion and medical care to patients,” Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD, professor and chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, said (Read more...)
VIDEO: Analysis of anterior chamber parameters using Scheimpflug imaging
At the Kiawah Eye 2015 meeting, Anne M. Schroeder, MD, discusses results from a study conducted to investigate changes in the anterior chamber parameters before and after laser-assisted lens extraction in hyperopic eyes.
Mass. General tops U.S. News & World Report honor roll for best hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital has been ranked the nation’s top hospital, moving up from the number two spot last year, according to the 2015-2016 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals survey, released this morning.The reports Honor Roll represents hospitals that rank among the nation’s top 20 in at least six different specialties, including: cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; gynecology; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; ophthalmology; orthopedics; psychiatry; pulmonology; rehabilitation; rheumatology; and urology.
Analysis: Lucentis may be more cost-effective than Eylea for DME
VIENNA — A cost-effectiveness analysis based on Protocol T results found considerably higher costs and minimal gain in quality-adjusted life-years with Eylea compared with Lucentis for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, leading to the conclusion that Lucentis may be more cost-effective.“We used the Markov model, which takes visual acuity and divides it into groups from best to worst vision, and then we used an algorithm to sort these visual acuities into visual impairment costs and QALYs,” Nancy Holekamp, MD, said at the American Society of Retina Specialists meeting.
Pyron Award lecture focuses on optogenetics as vision restoration strategy
VIENNA — The Pyron Award lecture at the American Society of Retina Specialists meeting focused on optogenetics, an exciting advancement with the possibility of restoring vision in blind patients with inherited retinal degeneration. Gary W. Abrams, MD, explained that the concept, first described in 2005 by Boyden and colleagues, consists of the introduction of the genetic material of a light-sensitive protein into the cell membrane of light-insensitive retinal cells to effectively turn them into photoreceptors.
Valeant to acquire Amoun Pharmaceutical
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International announced in a press release that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Mercury (Cayman) Holdings, the holding company of Amoun Pharmacuetical, for approximately $800 million in addition to conting…
House passes 21st Century Cures Act
By a vote of 344 to 77, the U.S. House of Representatives on July 10 passed the 21st Century Cures Act, a bipartisan bill that authorizes several changes to the approval process for drugs and medical devices.The bill, H.R. 6, also authorizes an $8.7 bi…
FDA approves iDesign Advanced WaveScan Studio System for LASIK procedures
The FDA approved the iDesign Advanced WaveScan Studio System for LASIK procedures, according to a press release from Abbott.The system generates a high-definition scan that captures more than 1,200 micro-readings of the eye and identifies the shape of the cornea, its curvature, how light passes through the eye and pupil diameter under different lighting conditions. The “blueprint” of each patient’s eye measures and maps irregularities that may affect vision, which helps to create a personalized LASIK treatment plan, the release said.