PHILADELPHIA — New discoveries promise to drive developments in the diagnosis and treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, a speaker said here.Jason Slakter, MD, described potential diagnostic and treatment methods at Macula 2014.Currently, dry AMD management involves color photography and optical coherence tomography to follow disease progression, but there are no existing treatments, Slakter said.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Microscope-integrated systems future of intraoperative OCT, speaker says
PHILADELPHIA — Intraoperative optical coherence tomography may enhance surgeon experience and improve outcomes in vitreoretinal surgery, a speaker told colleagues here.“Intraoperative OCT is currently feasible. New discoveries are achieved through this technology. It’s an emerging field with regard to application on scopes,” Justis P. Ehlers, MD, said at Macula 2014.Currently, system incompatibility and cost hinder the use of intraoperative OCT, Ehlers said.
Gene therapy may reduce treatment burden associated with AMD
PHILADELPHIA — Existing techniques enable the application of gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration, a clinician said here.“I think we’re in the most exciting period advancing forward with respect to biologics and the treatments of retinal diseases,” Elias Reichel, MD, said at Macula 2014. “The idea is that this is going to last for a prolonged period of time. Hopefully, we’ll avoid some of the issues with the burden of treatment with multiple injections of either small molecules or biologics.”
Akorn acquires Betimol from Santen
Akorn has acquired the new drug application for and all rights to Betimol from Santen, according to a press release. Akorn intends to begin distribution of Betimol (timolol ophthalmic solution 0.25% and 0.5%) in the first quarter of this year. The tran…
CMS proposal would limit availability of Medicare D antidepressants, immunosuppressants
Physicians may soon face more limited choices of antidepressants and immunosuppressants for their Medicare patients. In a recent proposed rule regarding Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage programs, CMS proposed eliminating the “protected class” status of these drugs as of 2015.Part D plans now must include all (or “substantially all”) drugs in six protected classes on their formularies. Essentially all drugs in the six classes have been available on Part D formularies (although protected class drugs can be placed on any tier, so patient cost-sharing can be high). Plans have (Read more...)
Transpupillary thermotherapy effective in treating many choroidal melanomas
PHILADELPHIA — Transpupillary thermotherapy is still a viable treatment option for many types of choroidal melanoma, a speaker told colleagues here. “Transpupillary thermotherapy has been a subject of some controversy recently, and I disagree with some of the things that have been said and written,” Jerry A. Shields, MD, said at Macula 2014.
Eyes with prior vitrectomy at risk for lens-iris diaphragm retropulsion syndrome
Eyes with prior vitrectomy had a high rate of lens-iris diaphragm retropulsion syndrome during phacoemulsification, according to a study. The prospective, interventional case series comprised 75 eyes of 75 patients who underwent phacoemulsification aft…
VIBRANT study: Anti-VEGF outperforms laser treatment for BRVO
PHILADELPHIA — Aflibercept improved vision and reduced retinal thickness in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion, according to a study presented here. Julia A. Haller, MD, gave results from the VIBRANT study at Macula 2014. “We see in the trial superiority of intravitreal aflibercept over laser treatment seen through week 24 in terms of visual acuity and anatomic outcomes,” Haller said. “The drug was well tolerated.”
Dislocation/ecentration,incorrect lens power top indications for IOL exchange
Lens dislocation/decentration, incorrect lens power and patient dissatisfaction were the leading indications for IOL exchange in private practice, according to a recently published study. “The request for IOL exchange owing to patient dissatisfaction is increasing, especially for those with undesired visual acuity in the absence of photic symptoms,” the study authors said.
Minimally trained screeners can identify potential vision problems in children at similar rates as professionals
Students training in the health care profession screened and identified potential ocular problems in low-income and minority children at a comparable rate to health care professionals with advanced testing, a study found. The study comprised 9,743 Afri…
Forus completes Series B funding for portable screening device
Forus Health Pvt. Ltd. has completed a round of Series B funding of $8.2 million to develop 3nethra, a portable eye screening device, according to a company press release.The round was led by Asian Healthcare Fund, but was also supported by existing in…
FDA approves ReSure sealant for preventing fluid leaks after cataract surgery
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the ReSure sealant (Ocular Therapeutix) for sale in the U.S., the company announced Jan. 9.The ReSure sealant is indicated for “the prevention of postoperative fluid egress from incisions with demonstrated wound leak following cataract surgery,” the company said in a press release. It is the first product of its kind to be approved by the FDA for ophthalmic use.“Receiving approval to commercialize this product is a huge milestone for the company,” Amar Sawhney, PhD, President and CEO of Ocular Therapeutix, said in a news release (Read more...)
Glaucoma drug candidate shows low systemic exposure, IOP reduction
Top-line results from a phase 1 pharmacokinetics study showed that a glaucoma drug being developed by Aerie Pharmaceuticals seems to have a low systemic exposure, a high safety profile and an effective IOP-lowering capability, according to a press release.The drug, AR-13324, was administered as an eye drop to 18 healthy subjects once daily for 8 days. Blood levels after administration were at or below the limit of detection at all time points, and no drug-related effects on systemic safety parameters were observed, according to the release.
Guarded 33-gauge device reduces intravitreal injection time
A novel guarded 33-gauge injection device reduced intravitreal injection time and may reduce the risk of infection compared with a standard 30-gauge needle, according to a study.
Carl Zeiss Meditec acquires Aaren Scientific
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG has acquired 100% of the shares in Aaren Scientific, according to a press release. Aaren Scientific will be integrated into Carl Zeiss Meditec’s surgical ophthalmology strategic business unit and will complement the company’s IOL development and manufacturing sites in Berlin and La Rochelle, France. The surgical ophthalmology strategic business unit has reported above market growth rates for the last 3 to 4 years due to strong demand for innovative IOLs, the release said.
Allergan, Medytox complete licensing agreement
Allergan has closed a license agreement with Medytox for its neurotoxin product candidates, according to a press release. Allergan will pay Medytox an upfront cash payment of $65 million in exchange for worldwide exclusive rights, outside of Korea, to develop and commercialize certain neurotoxin product candidates currently in development, including a potential liquid-injectable product, the release said.
Anterior capsule tear rates higher after femtosecond laser-assisted surgery
More anterior capsular tears were seen after femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery than after phacoemulsification, according to a study. Capsular tear occurred in 15 of 804 (1.87%) eyes that underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, …
Latest from OSLI Retina: Controversies in the management of Irvine-Gass Syndrome
Severe postoperative cystoid macular edema associated with posterior uveitis, commonly referred to as Irvine-Gass syndrome, may occur after intraocular surgery and result in visual loss. There is little consensus on the efficacy of various topical, per…
Retina specialists examine evolving role of laser therapy in DME treatment
Laser photocoagulation has long been a mainstay in the treatment of diabetic macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy, but some retina specialists believe adjunctive use of laser may increase durability of commonly used anti-VEGF agents.Befor…
BLOG: The cash flow benefits of continuity of care, part 3
Picking up where we left off last time regarding recall and continuity of care, let’s check in on how your practice is doing in this critical area. Take this simple test in your practice (assuming you are still using paper charts). Pull 20 charts at random, per doctor, of patients last seen 2 to 3 years ago (but not in the last year.) Then fill out a chart that looks like this, with one line for each patient: