The Victus femtosecond laser platform has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the creation of penetrating arcuate incisions, according to a news release from Bausch + Lomb Technolas.The clearance covers use of the d…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Retinal degenerative diseases may be inhibited with tetracyclines
MIAMI — Tetracyclines may inhibit the molecular pathways that contribute to retinal degenerative diseases, specifically retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration, a speaker said here.According to Elias Reichel, MD, the TOGA study, a phase 3 study evaluating treatment with Oracea (doxycycline, Galderma) in geographic atrophy, will compare doxycycline with placebo in reducing the rate of change in area of geographic atrophy.
Subretinal injection of human adult stem cells yields favorable results in atrophic AMD
MIAMI — Patients who experience vision loss due to geographic atrophy may respond favorably to a subretinal injection of human adult stem cell therapy, a speaker said here.Allen C. Ho, MD, OSN Retina/Vitreous Board Member, said at Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2013 that stem cell therapy for atrophic age-related macular degeneration holds a promising future in ophthalmology.
Retinal sensitivity in DME improves with anti-VEGF
MIAMI — Aflibercept improves retinal sensitivity better than laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic macular edema, a speaker said here.According to Diana V. Do, MD, Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron) was shown to improve retinal sensitivity in a substudy of the DA VINCI trial.
CBO lowers estimate for 10-year freeze of payments under the SGR
The Congressional Budget Office recently released its Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2023, which lowered the estimate to hold current payment rates under the sustainable growth rate for 10 years from $243.7 billion to $138 billion. “We welcome the news from the [Congressional Budget Office] CBO that the cost of permanently replacing the flawed Medicare physician payment formula, known as [sustainable growth rate] SGR, has decreased dramatically,” AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, stated in an AMA press release. “The new cost of freezing payments for 10 (Read more...)
Survival rate of corneal transplants for keratoconus high 20 years postop
Corneal allografts for keratoconus failed frequently after 2 years, but the likelihood of failure decreased by 20 years after surgery, according to a study.The retrospective case series included 219 eyes of 184 patients who underwent corneal transplant…
Outcomes of trabeculectomy with MMC unaffected by prior clear corneal phaco
Initial trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in patients who had prior clear corneal phacoemulsification yielded comparable outcomes in managing IOP to phakic eyes that underwent the same surgery, according to a study.The study included 39 pseudophakic eyes…
pSivida reports quarterly net loss of $2.6 million
pSivida reported a net loss of $2.6 million for its second quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a $17.5 million net loss in the same quarter of the previous year, according to a company news release.For the 6 months ended Dec. 31, there was a net loss …
Two IOL calculation formulas added to Lenstar optical biometer
The Lenstar LS900 optical biometer from Haag-Streit now includes the Masket and Modified Masket IOL calculation formulas following software update version 5.0, according to a company news release.The new formulas are recommended for patients who had la…
Corticosteroid reduces pain, inflammation after cataract surgery
Loteprednol etabonate gel effectively treated pain and inflammation after cataract surgery, according to a study.The prospective study included 406 patients with anterior chamber cell grade 2 or higher after cataract surgery; 203 patients were randomiz…
Novel technique shows promise for repair of recalcitrant macular holes
Arcuate retinotomy may prove beneficial in the repair of large macular holes that cannot be closed with conventional methods, according to a study.The retrospective case series included six phakic eyes of six patients with large macular holes and previ…
Patients prefer morning administration of glaucoma medication
Patients adhered to morning administration of once-daily glaucoma medication slightly better than evening administration, according to a study.The prospective, randomized study included 30 patients who were newly diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hyper…
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BLOG: Reduced CBO estimate reignites debate over sustainable growth rate repeal
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.
FDA clears normative database for iVue SD-OCT
Optovue has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a normative database that functions as a clinical reference for the iVue spectral-domain optical coherence tomography system, according to a company news release.
New concept sulcus-implanted IOL may provide true accommodation in presbyopic eyes
A novel sulcus-implanted lens based on free-form optical surfaces showed promising results in providing patients with 2 D to 5 D of true accommodation. The AkkoLens Lumina is a hydrophilic acrylic IOL made of two optical surfaces that shift perpendicular to the optical axis thanks to vectorial forces generated by the ciliary body during the accommodation process, OSN Europe Edition Board Member Jorge L. Alió, MD, PhD, told Ocular Surgery News.
Subconjunctival anti-VEGF may stop progression of corneal neovascularization
Subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab induced regression of recent-onset corneal neovascularization, according to a study.The double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 30 patients with corneal neovascularization attributed to variou…
Novartis reports higher net income in 2012
Novartis reported a net income of $9.62 billion in 2012, up from $9.25 billion in 2011, an increase of 4%, according to a company news release.The company’s Alcon division had net sales of $10.23 billion in 2012, a 3% increase from $9.96 billion in 2011.
OCT imaging enables creation of RNFL, macular thickness norms for children
Optical coherence tomography images were used to generate measurement standards for macular thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and retinal layer thickness in children, according to a study.The prospective study included 83 hea…
Merck reports increase in yearly net income
Merck reported an increase in net income from $6.27 billion in 2011 to $6.66 billion in 2012, an increase of 6%, according to a company news release.In the fourth quarter of 2012, net income was $1.44 billion, down from $1.51 billion in the same quarte…