A few weeks ago, I was talking to a client in the Midwest. The marketing director was looking for something fresh for social media, and I suggested a campaign for seniors. Immediately she shot it down, saying that seniors don’t get on the Web and just aren’t computer savvy. I disagreed and was happy to recite some numbers for her.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Synthetic retinoid derivative may reduce geographic atrophy secondary to AMD
Fenretinide reduced the growth of geographic atrophy lesions secondary to atrophic age-related macular degeneration, according to a study.“Collectively, the data from this trial provide compelling support for further investigations of the therapeutic potential of fenretinide in the treatment of AMD,” the study authors said.
InSite Vision wins legal battle with university over patents
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently affirmed, by a split decision, a ruling made by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel of judges in favor of InSite in its patent interference litigation with the University of California S…
Medical device alert issued in UK for Hoya one-piece IOLs
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a medical device alert in the United Kingdom for five Hoya one-piece foldable posterior-chamber IOL models due to higher than expected rates of inflammation and endophthalmitis observed…
Central retinal vessel trunk position affects visual field pattern in advanced glaucoma
Perimetric loss patterns correlated with the position of the central retinal vessel trunk in a study of end-stage glaucoma patients.The observational study compared the position of the central retinal vessel trunk (CRVT) in 21 patients with remaining c…
OIG’s strong language on physician-owned distributorships is clear message to investors
In a Special Fraud Alert released on March 26, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) stated in no uncertain terms that physician-owned entities that arrange for the sale of “implantable medical devices ordered by their physician-owners for use in procedures [that] the physician-owners perform on their own patients at hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers” are “inherently suspect under the anti-kickback statute.” According to the OIG alert, these PODs “produce substantial fraud and abuse risk and pose dangers to patient safety.” As such, a POD (Read more...)
SD-OCT appropriate in evaluating foveal sparing in geographic atrophy
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography, followed by blue light fundus autofluorescence and near-infrared fundus autofluorescence, is appropriate to evaluate foveal sparing in patients with geographic atrophy, according to a study.The study includ…
Pallimed recalls all sterile compound products
Pallimed Solutions, doing business as Pallimed Pharmacy, has recalled all sterile compound products dispensed since Jan. 1, 2013, due to the presence of visible particulates in several vials of different products, according to press releases from the c…
Patient age correlates with postoperative refractive outcomes in highly myopic eyes
Patient age affects postoperative refractive outcomes in LASIK correction of myopia, according to a retrospective case series.At 1 year after surgery, 612 eyes that had preoperative myopia higher than 5 D were analyzed.
HHS announces final rule for Medicaid expansion
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced the final rule that would guarantee complete coverage for newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries under age 65 years with income up to 133% of the federal poverty level.“This is a great deal for states and great news for Americans,” Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services (HHS), stated in a news release. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will have access to health coverage and the federal government will cover a vast majority of the cost. Treating people who don’t (Read more...)
BLOG: The silver surfers are hitting the Web
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a client in the Midwest. The marketing director was looking for something fresh for social media, and I suggested a campaign for seniors. Immediately she shot it down, saying that seniors don’t get on the Web and just aren’t computer savvy. I disagreed and was happy to recite some numbers for her. In 2012, Pew Research came out with new numbers on seniors and the Internet, and they were astonishing. Fifty-three percent of adults living in the U.S., age 65 years and (Read more...)
Astigmatic overcorrection possible after LASIK in eyes with low cylinder
LASIK in myopic eyes with a preoperative cylinder of 0.5 D or less may result in astigmatic overcorrection, according to a study.The retrospective cross-sectional study comprised 448 myopic eyes of 448 patients with a preoperative refractive cylinder of 0.75 D or less and a preoperative subjective sphere between –2.75 D and –11.5 D.
BLOG: In treating glaucoma, don’t forget old-fashioned clinical skill
The cover story in the current issue of Ocular Surgery News focuses on the progression of glaucoma, one of our field’s most perplexing mysteries. The longer I practice ophthalmology, the less certain I have become that we really understand glaucoma. Sure, I can follow accepted standards of care, setting target pressures and assessing regularly for compliance and efficacy, but I feel less and less like we really know what’s going on, especially with the enigmas we call low-tension glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Goniotomy, glaucoma drainage devices control IOP in juvenile uveitic glaucoma
Goniotomy and implantation of a glaucoma drainage device successfully manage refractory juvenile uveitic glaucoma, according to a study.The retrospective case series included 36 patients with juvenile uveitic glaucoma who underwent one or more surgerie…
Stakes enormous as Supreme Court weighs ‘pay-to-delay’ generic drug deals
From international law firm Arnold & Porter LLP comes timely views on current regulatory and legislative topics that weigh on the minds of today’s physicians and health care executives.The Supreme Court is poised to resolve a long-running debate regarding the legality of so-called “reverse payment” patent litigation settlements between brand drug and generic drug companies. The court heard oral argument on March 25 in FTC v. Actavis, a case that focuses on these settlements, in which (1) the brand company licenses the generic product to enter the market on a (Read more...)
Force gauge used to test integrity of clear corneal incisions
A calibrated force gauge was used to apply pressure approximating what a patient’s eye might experience when it is rubbed, and then that pressure was used to determine the rate of wound leak after clear corneal incision cataract surgery.The study authors used the Dontrix gauge (GAC International), modified by Ocular Therapeutix, to determine a force of 1 oz was needed to approximate patient manipulation of the eye. The instrument can be sterilized and used to provide a controlled, quantifiable amount of force, the authors said.
TNF inhibitor effective in patients with severe uveitis
Adalimumab may treat patients with severe uveitis even if a systemic disease is present, according to a study.The retrospective study included 60 patients with uveitis; 41 patients had both uveitis and systemic disease. Patients underwent treatment wit…
Successful trabeculectomy hinges on greater bleb area, reduced bleb vascularity
Eyes with greater central and maximal bleb area and reduced bleb vascularity had better surgical outcomes after trabeculectomy, according to a study.The cross-sectional study evaluated bleb morphology in 85 eyes of 85 patients by slit lamp using the Mo…
HHS fraud alert targets physician-owned distributorships
Physician-owned distributorships are the target of a new special fraud alert issued by the Office of Inspector General.Citing the “strong potential for improper inducements between and among the physician investors, the entities, device vendors and device purchasers,” the alert, dated March 26, sounded a clear warning about how the office views physician-owned distributorships (PODs).“We believe that PODs are inherently suspect under the anti-kickback statute,” the alert said, adding that the office is concerned about the “proliferation” of PODs.
Age, refractive index of corneal stroma help improve LASIK predicted outcomes
Factoring patient age and refractive index of the corneal stroma into the treatment profile improved the predictability of LASIK outcomes, according to a study.The prospective study included 133 eyes, of which 107 were myopic and 26 were hyperopic. Mean patient age was 33.4 years. Mean refractive index was 1.368, and attempted spherical correction was –2.43 D.