Author: Healio ophthalmology

Intraoperative AS-OCT measurement of lens capsule allows for accurate IOL power calculation

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TOKYO — A microscope-mounted anterior segment optical coherence tomography prototype allows for accurate measurement of distances within the lens capsule during cataract surgery, leading to precise IOL power calculation. “Exact IOL power calculation is crucial with today’s premium IOLs. We have advanced technologies now, like optical biometry, and lots of mathematical formulas, but prediction is still not as accurate as it should be,” Oliver Findl, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress. The EUREQUO database of nearly 1 million cataract surgeries shows that 22% of eyes have more than 1 (Read more...)

Advanced OCT technology allows imaging of lamina cribrosa

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TOKYO — The latest developments in optical coherence tomography technology have the potential to unveil features and monitor changes of the lamina cribrosa, the primary site of glaucoma-related axonal injury. “OCT imaging of the lamina cribrosa is challenging and has limitations. The posterior surface is difficult to see. The anterior is visible but in some cases obscured by prelaminar neuronal tissue,” Joel S. Schuman, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress. Advancements in technology are progressively allowing better penetration of the tissue.

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Escalon announces FDA approval of portable UBM

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Escalon Medical Corp. announced in a press release that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for its Sonomed Escalon VuPad.The company said in the release that the portable VuPad combines its ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) with an ultra-high-resolution screen. The system can capture both still images and video clips and is operated by touch-screen controls.

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Dismay, relief greet latest ICD-10 implementation delay

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On April 1, President Barack Obama signed into law the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014.In addition to providing a 13-month Medicare sustained growth rate formula “patch” that prevented a 24% cut to Medicare physician payments, the legislation pushes back national implementation of the next generation of diagnosis and inpatient procedure codes, known as ICD-10. The new code set is designed to accommodate new diseases and procedures as well as be more descriptive and specific. The transition, however, requires anyone covered by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act to (Read more...)

Novel high near add multifocal IOL well tolerated, effective in AMD patients

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TOKYO — A novel IOL model with high near addition provides low vision patients with good distance vision and the ability to read with reduced or no need for special devices, according to one surgeon. The Lentis Mplus High Add IOL (Oculentis) is a hydrophobic acrylic biconvex IOL with a +8 D sector-shaped near addition resulting in 6 D of near correction at the spectacle plane and 1.5 times magnifying power. “It provides image magnification for near — quite useful for AMD patients who normally have to rely on low (Read more...)

Eye health action plan provides roadmap for improvement strategies, progress monitoring, effective cooperation

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TOKYO — Successful implementation of an action plan on eye health by the World Health Organization relies on awareness, coordination of efforts and synergistic work of the ophthalmologic community at large, ophthalmological societies and governments, Ivo Kocur, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress. Kocur defined the strategy, the WHO Universal Eye Health: A Global Action Plan 2014-2019, as “a very unique, comprehensive effort and a major accomplishment.” For the first time, all 194 member states set a common global target: 25% reduction in the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment (Read more...)

Toric IOLs require complex clinical judgment, proficient use of technologies

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TOKYO — Toric IOLs are gaining wide acceptance, but they require careful evaluation and complex clinical judgment, according to one surgeon. An increasing number of patients want to be spectacle-free, and 30% have significant astigmatism, Richard B. Packard, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress. “If you are planning to fit a multifocal toric lens, you know that an error of just half a diopter will degrade the image,” he said. Also, astigmatism can now be effectively addressed with toric lenses in patients with keratoconus and those who had keratoplasty.

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Intraoperative OCT launched internationally at WOC

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TOKYO — Carl Zeiss Meditec launched internationally at the World Ophthalmology Congress the Rescan 700 optical coherence tomography system integrated in the Opmi Lumera 700 surgical microscope for intraoperative use. Susanne Binder, MD, who was involved in the development of the device and has been using a prototype for her surgery since 2008, has now treated more than 50 patients with the Rescan since November 2013.

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