Alphaeon Corp. announced its acquisition of Clarion Medical Technologies, a provider of medical and aesthetic equipment and consumable products, for $55 million, according to a press release.The deal includes a combination of cash and equity, and perfo…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Role of cataract surgery in narrow-angle glaucoma
NEW YORK — At OSN New York, Savek Teymoorian, MD, MBA, discusses the importance of considering the long-term implications of glaucoma surgery.
VIDEO: Regulatory advances show promise in future of ophthalmology
NEW YORK — At OSN New York, Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, discusses the latest ophthalmic regulatory accomplishments.
VIDEO: New trabeculotomy procedure may give surgeons better way to control IOP
NEW YORK — At OSN New York, Savek Teymoorian, MD, discusses his presentation on performing trabeculotomy with a newer technology.
VIDEO: New technique for capsular sparing lens surgery in adult and pediatric ectopia lentis
NEW YORK — Kenneth J. Rosenthal, MD, FACS, presents a technique he developed of the last couple years in order to address the retention of the capsule.
Refractive surgery group calls for CDC to retract keratitis report
The Refractive Surgery Alliance has formally demanded that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention retract a November report that linked close to 1 million office visits each year to poor contact lens care, which it believes creates a false understanding of the risks of contact lenses.The CDC report was published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and was based on an analysis of billing data, according to a press release from the Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA).
Refractive surgery group calls for CDC to retract keratitis report
The Refractive Surgery Alliance has formally demanded that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention retract a November report that linked close to 1 million office visits each year to poor contact lens care, which it believes creates a false understanding of the risks of contact lenses.The CDC report was published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and was based on an analysis of billing data, according to a press release from the Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA).
Intravitreal ranibizumab yields long-term improvements in diabetic retinopathy severity
Patients who received intravitreal ranibizumab treatment alone showed better improvement in diabetic retinopathy severity than patients receiving sham and intravitreal ranibizumab treatment, according to a study.The study analyzed the RISE and RIDE tri…
Close of 2014 tax planning presents challenges to individuals, businesses: Part 1
Year-end tax planning is especially challenging this year because Congress has yet to act on a host of tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. Some of these tax breaks may be retroactively reinstated and extended, but Congress may not decide the fa…
Autologous serum eye drops may improve dry eye symptoms
Patients with severe dry eye reported subjective improvement in symptoms after long-term use of autologous serum 50% eye drops, according to study findings.The retrospective study included 123 eyes of 63 patients who were treated with autologous serum …
AVEO announces research agreement with Ophthotech
AVEO Oncology has entered into a research and exclusive option agreement with Ophthotech, according to a press release.The agreement provides Ophthotech with an exclusive license outside of Asia to examine the potential of AVEO’s tivozanib, a small-molecule VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the potential treatment of non-oncologic diseases of the eye.Under the agreement, Ophthotech is obligated to pay AVEO an upfront option fee of $500,000.
Anterior chamber, scleral-fixated IOLs yield similar long-term outcomes
Primary anterior chamber IOL implantation and secondary scleral-fixated IOL implantation after complicated cataract surgery in eyes with inadequate capsular support yielded comparable long-term visual outcomes and complication rates, according to a stu…
Iluvien granted marketing authorization in the Netherlands
Alimera Sciences announced that marketing authorization has been granted to Iluvien in the Netherlands.The Dutch Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg granted marketing authorization to Iluvien (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant) for the treatmen…
DRCR.net continues to deliver milestone results from multiple studies
VIENNA, Austria — The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR. net) continues to deliver positive results from clinical research to improve the care and management of diabetes-related eye conditions, according to a speaker here.At the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting, Lee M. Jampol, MD, summarized the outcomes of recent DRCR. net studies and outlined the objectives of ongoing protocols.
Effective interventions needed to improve quality credibility of research
VIENNA, Austria — Though the task force of research and the number of published papers have grown tremendously in recent years, effective interventions are needed to improve the quality and credibility of scientific investigation, according to John P.A. Ioannidis, MD, a keynote lecturer at the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting.Between 1996 and 2011, 15 million scientists contributed to the publication of 25 million papers in scientific journals, according to Ioannidis.
Treat-and-extend offers significant improvements vs. as-needed schedule
VIENNA, Austria — Results of a study carried out in a Swiss clinic showed improved outcomes following anti-VEGF therapy with a treat-and-extend approach compared with a previous as-needed regimen, according to a presenter here.“We switched to treat-and-extend in February 2012 for both treatment-naïve patients and for those previously treated with as-needed,” Christian Pruente, MD, said at the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting.
Multimodal imaging identifies specific ultrastructural characteristics
VIENNA, Austria — At the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting here, Giuseppe Querques, MD, PhD, discussed the potentials of multimodal imaging in identifying specific ultrastructural characteristics of drusen, reticular pseudodrusen and geographic atrophy.
Surgery plays role in DME cases unresponsive to pharmacotherapy
VIENNA, Austria — Vitrectomy may still have a role in treating diabetic macular edema in patients who do not respond to treatment with anti-VEGFs or steroids, according to a specialist.“Vitrectomy may be an option for nonresponders to pharmacological therapies,” Anat Loewenstein, MD, said at the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting, citing studies showing that a proportion of patients on such therapies have poor gain of vision or lose vision.
CMS proposes improvements for accountable care organizations
CMS released a proposal designed to strengthen the shared savings program for accountable care organizations by placing greater emphasis on primary care services and “promoting transitions to performance-based risk arrangements,” according to a press release.“This proposed rule is part of our continued commitment to rewarding value and care coordination — rather than volume and care duplication,” Marilyn Tavenner, CMS administrator, said in the release. “We look forward to partnering with providers and stakeholders to continuously refine and improve the Medicare Shared Savings program.”
VIDEO: Sensory substitution devices, multisensory bionic eye used for visual rehabilitation programs
VIENNA, Austria – At the Advanced Retinal Therapy meeting here, Amir Amedi, PhD, presents his basic research and visual rehabilitation programs using sensory substitution devices and the multisensory bionic eye.