BOSTON — Warren E. Hill, MD, has a vision for improving accuracy of IOL power calculation through mathematical “brute force” and algorithmic finesse. Hill and an “algorithm dream team” have been working on a proof of concept project that moves beyond modern theoretical calculation formulas to predict IOL power with greater accuracy. The method relies on radial basis functions (RBFs) to replicate the nonlinear relationships inside the eye. For his innovative efforts, Hill was honored to give the Charles D. Kelman Innovator’s Lecture at the American Society of Cataract and (Read more...)
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Femtosecond laser safely, successfully creates free-floating capsulotomies
BOSTON — A short-pulse femtosecond laser was used to create free-floating capsulotomies with few complications, according to a study presented here. Y. Ralph Chu, MD, elucidated results obtained with the Victus femtosecond laser (Bausch + Lomb) at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting. “We can successfully create free-floating capsulotomies with the Victus platform,” Chu said. “It did not seem to be associated with increased suction loss or difficulty docking.
Symptoms alone inadequate for dry eye diagnosis, speaker says
BOSTON — Symptoms alone are insufficient for an accurate diagnosis of dry eye disease, a speaker told colleagues at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting here. “Dry eye disease is present in about half the population. It’s at least as common in the refractive and cataract populations as well,” Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, said. “Dry eye symptoms are present in half the normal patients who do not have dry eye and in only half the patients with significant dry eye. Symptoms alone cannot be used to (Read more...)
NSAIDs linked to reduced rate of CME after cataract surgery
BOSTON — NSAIDs reduced cystoid macular edema more than steroids after cataract surgery, according to a study presented here. “We think that NSAIDS used routinely did better than guessing on the high-risk patients. Bromfenac alone may be equal or better than the steroid,” Keith Walter, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. “Generic drops may be less effective, but a more prospective judicial use would need to be done in order to elucidate this further.”
Nanovision Group to launch marketing effort in Europe, Asia
Nanovision Group plans to start commercialization of its technology and product lines in Europe and Asia later this year, according to a news release. The company’s strategy was announced at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting in Boston. The Russian-based company plans to market new-technology IOLs, refractive surgery equipment and the first independent network of eye banks in Eastern Europe.
OPUS-2: Lifitegrast improves symptoms but not signs of dry eye disease
BOSTON — Of two co-primary endpoints of the OPUS-2 study, signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, one was met and one was not, according to a speaker here. “The study robustly met the primary endpoint for symptom, with a P value of .0001; however, there was no statistically significant difference for the endpoint sign of corneal staining,” Joseph Tauber, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
Femtosecond laser studied for use in deep anterior lamellar dissection
BOSTON — Deep anterior lamellar grafts for keratoconus and other anterior stromal pathology, in time, may be performed more successfully with femtosecond lasers and more reliably than the big bubble technique, according to a speaker here.“The classic challenge of deep lamellar keratoplasty has been poor optical outcomes,” Roger F. Steinert, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting. “Why does that happen? I think it is primarily an interface issue.”
Femtosecond laser zigzag deep lamellar keratoplasty treats corneal stromal pathology
BOSTON — A technique that combines femtosecond laser zigzag deep lamellar keratoplasty with Anwar’s big bubble technique yields rapid recovery of corrected distance visual acuity in patients with stromal pathology, primarily keratoconus, according to a speaker here.Marjan Farid, MD, described the technique to colleagues at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
Integrated laser, guidance system debuts at ASCRS meeting
Lensar and TrueVision 3D Surgical have completed a global co-development and distribution agreement that combines TrueVision’s TrueGuide system and the Lensar laser system, Lensar announced in a news release.The combined system is on display at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Test designed to detect genetic mutations in patients undergoing LASIK
Avellino Lab USA is launching the Avellino DNA Dual Test for LASIK Safety, which can detect genetic mutations that cause postoperative complications, according to a news release.The test, which is being introduced at the American Society of Cataract an…
Your practice could be at risk without a legally compliant employee handbook
Physicians take great care, and significant effort, to build their practices. Many practices, however, are exposed to potential liability and financial disaster concerning employment law issues.There are easy steps that practices can take to avoid this exposure (the proverbial “ounce of prevention”), and yet many do not. This is the first in a series of articles regarding employment law issues affecting medical practices. This article focuses on employee handbooks.
Sony launches surgical video recording system
Sony has launched a new system designed to capture and record full high-definition surgical video at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting, according to a company news release. Surgeons will be able to pair the Sony MCC…
ASCRS looks to build on the successes of the past year
BOSTON — After a busy year, outgoing American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery President Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, outlined ways in which the organization plans to improve on its success under new leadership. Incoming ASCRS President Richard A. Lewis, MD, will play an important part in cementing the role glaucoma plays in the organization during his tenure as president, Donnenfeld said at the opening ceremonies of the annual meeting. Speaking for Lewis, who was unable to attend the meeting, Donnenfeld said, “I’m pleased to announce that the 2015 ASCRS (Read more...)
Speaker: Presbyopic LASIK treatment targets near, intermediate vision, preserves distance vision
BOSTON – Patients who have undergone previous LASIK will all age and become presbyopic. These are the patients who are motivated to continue a spectacle-free lifestyle, according to a speaker here. “Some of these patients over the years have regressed; some still have some residual refractive error,” Robert Ang, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting. “These are our patients who come back to us after many years and still want less dependence on spectacles.”
Surgeon reports high patient satisfaction with hydrogel corneal inlay
BOSTON – Overall patient satisfaction is 98% after implantation with the Raindrop inlay, according to a surgeon here. The Raindrop inlay is a hydrogel corneal inlay limited to investigational use in the U.S. As an investigator in the ReVision Optics Raindrop Near Vision Inlay U.S. IDE Trial for emmetropes only, Jeffrey Whitman, MD, has implanted 82 eyes of 82 patients, with outcomes at 1 year available for 45 of those patients. At 1 week, uncorrected near visual acuity in the inlay eye improved, and continued to improve, with 93% of (Read more...)
BioTissue introduces procedure to treat conjunctivochalasis, restore tear reservoir
BioTissue Inc. is introducing an amniotic membrane-based treatment for conjunctivochalasis dry eye at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting in Boston, the company announced in a news release. The Reservoir Restoration procedure uses cryopreserved amniotic membrane to restore the tear reservoir and tear meniscus, and inhibits metalloproteinase activity. The procedure involves the company’s proprietary AmnioGraft replacement tissue product.
Konan releases add-on to Chart2020 VA testing application
Konan Medical has released FLEX, an add-on to the Chart2020 Duo visual acuity testing application, the company announced in a news release. The application was presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting in Boston. FLEX…
Speaker: Treat preexisting dry eye disease before LASIK
BOSTON – Dry eye is one of the most common complications of LASIK surgery, but severity is worse in prior dry eye disease patients, according to a speaker here. Postoperatively, occurrence of dry eye peaks at 1 week to about 3 months, regardless of prior dry eye disease, and chronic dry eye disease occurs in about one in five post-LASIK patients and in about 3% to 7% post-PRK patients, Elizabeth Yeu, MD, told colleagues at Cornea Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
Cornea Donor Study: Donor age inconsequential in PK for endothelial disease
BOSTON — Ten-year results of the Cornea Donor Study indicate that donor age is not an important factor in most penetrating keratoplasties for endothelial disease, a speaker said here. With 1,090 patients evaluated and 105 surgeons, 80 sites and 43 eye banks involved, this study has been “a tremendous collaborative effort by the eye banking community,” Edward J. Holland, MD, said at Cornea Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting. The primary objective of the study was to determine whether success of PK performed for (Read more...)
Femtosecond laser has applications in glaucoma surgery
BOSTON — Considering the recent technological progress of femtosecond laser platforms, aided by 3-D imaging, glaucoma surgeons may now find femtosecond lasers beneficial in their own practices, according to a speaker here at Glaucoma Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting. “Femtosecond laser cataract surgery is a novel technology,” Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, told attendees. “Patients are enjoying it. It’s computer-controlled with laser accuracy, it improves capsulotomies in difficult eyes, it reduces phacoemulsification time and energy, and treats astigmatism. I think it may be very (Read more...)