WAILEA, Hawaii – At Hawaiian Eye 2015, Eve J. Higginbotham, MD, talks about the importance of the social determinants of health.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
VIDEO: New findings in OCT imaging and sickle cell retinopathy
WAILEA, Hawaii – At Retina 2015, Jennifer I. Lim, MD, shares her findings on sickle cell retinopathy from SDOCT imaging.
VIDEO: Drop to treat presbyopia in phase 2 trials
ATLANTA – Liquid Vision from Presbyopia Therapies is being investigated in phase 2 clinical trials as a topical, reversible, short-term treatment for presbyopia, reported Terry Kim, MD, here at SECO. Different from pilocarpine, the drop acts only on the sphincter muscle, not the ciliary muscle, thereby creating miosis without accommodative effect.
Ready-diluted formulation of Jetrea receives positive opinion in European Union
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has granted a positive opinion for a ready-diluted formulation of Jetrea, according to a press release from ThromboGenics.Jetrea (ocriplasmin) is approved in the Europe…
Alcon’s Pazeo allergy drop available March 10
ATLANTA – Alcon’s new once daily Pazeo will be commercially available March 10, announced a company representative during a press conference here at SECO.Mike Burns, U.S. allergy brand manager for Alcon, said that Pazeo (olopatadine HCl ophthalmic solution 0.7%), which the FDA approved Jan. 30, will be available to doctors next week.
STAAR names Caren Mason president and CEO
STAAR Surgical has appointed Caren Mason as president and CEO, according to a press release.The appointment is effective immediately. Mason replaces Barry G. Caldwell, who retired March 1.
Fixed-dose combination therapy outperforms prostaglandin alone in reducing diurnal IOP
CORONADO, Calif. — Fixed-dose combination therapy significantly reduced diurnal IOP in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma, according to a poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting.The multicenter randomized study included 88 patients who received brinzolamide 1%/brimonidine 0.2% fixed combination (BBFC) combined with a prostaglandin analogue and 94 patients who received vehicle combined with a prostaglandin analogue.
Custom sequence testing may accurately define glaucoma severity
CORONADO, Calif. — Custom sequence testing for relative afferent pupillary defect may objectively quantify disease severity compared with standard testing sequence, according to a presentation here.In a poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting, Alice Williams, MD, and colleagues examined 49 patients with glaucoma who underwent relative afferent pupillary defect testing with the Konan RAPDx pupillograph using standard and custom testing sequences.
AqueSys completes enrollment for clinical trial of Xen 45 gel stent
AqueSys has completed enrollment in a U.S. investigational study of the Xen 45 gel stent, according to a press release.The stent is designed to achieve IOP reduction through a minimally invasive technique using a disposable injector with a 27-gauge nee…
ASOPRS elects Kathleen F. Archer, MD, as president for 2015
Kathleen F. Archer, MD, has been elected president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for 2015, according to a press release.Archer has been a fellow member since 1990 and has served as the organization’s president-elect, vice president, secretary and assistant secretary of education, and chair and assistant chair of the continuing medical education committee. She has also been a member of the ASOPRS Foundation board of trustees since 2011, the release said.
Pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty compares well with selective laser trabeculoplasty
CORONADO, Calif. — Results obtained with pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty and selective laser trabeculoplasty were similarly effective, according to a scientific poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting here.Kaweh Mansouri, MD, and colleagues compared the safety, efficacy and tolerability of pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty (PSLT) vs. selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT).
Increased risk of angle closure, elevated IOP possible after anti-VEGF injection
CORONADO, Calif. — IOP elevation may be associated with increased narrowing of nasal angle measurements after intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, according to a presentation here.In a poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting, Joanne C. Wen, MD, and colleagues studied 21 eyes of 21 patients who received intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
STAAR reports net loss for 2014
STAAR Surgical reported a GAAP net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.22 on a per diluted share basis, in 2014 compared with a net income of $398,000, or $0.01 on a per diluted share basis, in 2013, according to a press release.Full-year sales totaled $75 mil…
SCOTUS hears arguments over tax credits for subsidies under ACA
The U.S. Supreme Court today began hearing oral arguments in King vs. Burwell, a case that will determine whether the Internal Revenue Service may extend tax-credit subsidies for health insurance purchased through federal exchanges established by the A…
Clearside launches phase 2 clinical trial for triamcinolone acetonide
Clearside Biomedical has begun enrollment for a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion, according to a press release.Clearside’s proprietary formulation of triamcinolone acetonide, CLS-TA, is administered via suprachoroidal injection with the company’s micro-injector.
IOP outcomes may not be affected by postop steroids after combined cataract, trabecular micro-bypass surgery
CORONADO, Calif. — The use of steroids after trabecular micro-bypass stent surgery and concomitant cataract surgery may not cause negative IOP and medication use outcomes, according to a presentation here.In a poster presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting, Aaron Winter, MD, and colleagues compared the outcomes of open-angle glaucoma patients who received a trabecular micro-bypass stent and underwent cataract surgery. Postoperatively, 52 patients received topical antibiotics and NSAIDs for 1 week and 4 weeks and 52 patients received topical steroids for 4 weeks.
Fixed dose combination proves superior in reducing diurnal IOP
CORONADO, Calif. — A fixed-dose combination of IOP-lowering medications reduced diurnal IOP more effectively than its constituent components dosed individually, according to a scientific poster presented here.Jason Bacharach, MD, and colleagues reported that PG324 ophthalmic solution (Aerie Pharmaceuticals) proved superior to both latanoprost and AR-13324 (Aerie) in reducing IOP over 1 month.
VIDEO: Preventing endophthalmitis after cataract surgery
ISTANBUL – At the ESCRS Winter Meeting, Altan A. Özcan, MD, talks about the best practices to prevent endophthalmitis after cataract surgery, from sterility protocols in the OR to perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The manufactured single-dose cefuroxime solution Aprokam (Théa) for ophthalmic use has just entered the Turkish market and is welcomed by surgeons as a safer intracameral approach.
Valeant reports growth in fourth quarter, fiscal year 2014 revenues
Valeant Pharmaceuticals totaled $8.3 billion in revenue in the fiscal year 2014, a 43% increase from 2013, according to a press release.In the fourth quarter 2014, total revenue was $2.3 billion, a 10% increase from the fourth quarter 2013.
Oraya receives CE mark extension for IRay to treat choroidal metastases
The Oraya IRay radiotherapy system received a CE mark extension for the treatment of choroidal metastases, expanding on prior approval for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, according to a company press release.Oraya’s IRay radiotherapy system, which noninvasively delivers a precise dose of radiation to the back of the eye, is available in Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.