SEATTLE — The combination of ultra-high resolution adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope imaging with spectral domain optical coherence tomography can provide detailed assessment of the in vivo interplay of retinal vascular and neural pathology, according to a speaker here.“Microaneurysms are common and can be a hallmark sign of diabetic retinopathy,” Jennifer K. Sun, MD, said at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Lutein/zeaxanthin may not significantly reduce rate of cataract
Daily oral supplementation with lutein/zeaxanthin had an insignificant effect on rates of cataract development and cataract surgery, according to a sub-analysis of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2.Results of the study were released at the Associatio…
Endophthalmitis rate low after intravitreal injections
SEATTLE — The rate of infectious endophthalmitis after intravitreal anti-VEGF injection is low, according to a meta-analysis presented here in a poster. In cases that were reported over the past 7 years, the most common causative organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci and Streptococcus species.
Selective, non-selective alpha blockers present risk for IFIS during cataract surgery
SEATTLE — Both selective and non-selective alpha blockers taken before cataract surgery were associated with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome in a retrospective study of a large Veterans Health Administration database, according to a poster here.“Altogether, complication rates were fairly low,” David E. Vollman, MD, told Ocular Surgery News at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
Caffeine improves saccade velocity after exercise fatigue
SEATTLE — Fatigue-induced impairments in saccade velocity after prolonged strenuous exercise can be reversed by caffeine, according to a poster presented here.“It has been proven in primates that fatigue affects saccadic eye movement,” poster presenter Charlotte J. Connell told Ocular Surgery News at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting. With that premise, the researchers randomized 10 cyclists to receive either placebo or caffeine during a 180-minute cycling protocol. Saccadic eye movements and global motion perception were assessed before and after the protocol.
Surgeons, patients satisfied after bilateral implantation of multifocal IOL
SEATTLE — Both patients and surgeons are satisfied after bilateral implantation of an aspheric diffractive multifocal one-piece IOL, according to a poster presented here.The Tecnis multifocal one-piece IOL (ZMB00, Abbott Medical Optics) was bilaterally implanted in 106 patients with corneal astigmatism by surgeons who had not implanted this lens previously, and then both clinical and satisfaction assessments were made in a prospective, multicenter, open-label observation study.
NSAID reduces inflammation after cataract surgery
SEATTLE — Once-daily 0.07% bromfenac ophthalmic solution safely reduces ocular inflammation after cataract surgery, according to a poster here. “Compared to placebo, low-concentration, modified bromfenac ophthalmic solution dosed once daily effectively and safely reduced ocular inflammation associated with cataract surgery,” James A. Gow and colleagues said in a poster presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting.
NEI announces ‘audacious’ goal for research
SEATTLE — To regenerate neurons and neural connections in the eye and visual system is the “audacious” target that the National Eye Institute aims to accomplish in the next 10 to 15 years, the director of the NEI announced here.“The Audacious Goals Initiative is part of the trajectory of a remarkable past decade,” Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, said at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting, where he presented the NEI’s focus of future research. Vision has been “front and center” of molecular and genetic advancements in biology and their therapeutic applications, he said.
Higher success with ocriplasmin for vitreomacular traction found in certain population groups
SEATTLE — When considering using ocriplasmin for vitreomacular traction, the most important consideration is the size of the macular traction, but age, presence of epiretinal membrane and whether the eye is phakic also need to be taken into account, according to a speaker here. Speaking at the Cole Eye Institute Retina Summit held before the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting, Peter K. Kaiser, MD, said that if the macular adhesion is broad, patients did not do as well as patients with focal areas of adhesion.
Two anti-VEGFs demonstrate no visual acuity difference at 2 years, CATT author says
SEATTLE — Despite what many have said, the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials showed ranibizumab and bevacizumab are equivalent for visual acuity, according to an expert speaking here. “We are talking about a 0.5 D difference,” Daniel F. Martin, MD, said regarding visual acuity results in the CATT. “People see it the way they want to see it, but one line is really trivial. This is noise. There is no statistically significant difference at 2 years.”
Allegro, Senju to collaborate on integrin peptide therapy in Japan
Senju Pharmaceutical will co-develop and market Allegro Ophthalmics’ integrin peptide therapy in Japan under an agreement between the two companies, according to a joint news release. The first-in-class therapy targets integrin with an oligopeptide to reduce leakage from and growth of aberrant blood vessels. It is intended for use as an intravitreal injection in patients with vascular eye diseases, including diabetic macular edema and wet age-related macular degeneration, the release said.
Alterations in AREDS formula recommended
SEATTLE — The addition of lutein/zeaxanthin to and the subtraction of beta carotene from the AREDS supplement formula was recommended by investigators in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2. Emily Y. Chew, MD, lead author of the National Eye Institute study published online in Journal of the American Medical Association, told colleagues here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting that study data pointed to a replacement formula for the AREDS formula that until now has been recommended for patients at risk for progression of age-related macular degeneration. The new formula is 400 IU of vitamin E, 500 mg vitamin C, 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin, 80 mg zinc and 2 mg copper.
India Supreme Court determined to protect nation’s generic manufacturing sector
India has an arguably higher bar to get a patent covering a pharmaceutical than any other country. Before 2005, Indian legislation prohibited patenting pharmaceuticals. Only patents to methods of manufacturing a drug could be issued until recently. Und…
Anti-VEGF thwarts retinal nonperfusion progression in eyes with BRVO, CRVO
Ranibizumab reduced retinal nonperfusion in eyes with macular edema stemming from retinal vein occlusion, according to a study.Data were culled from the BRAVO and CRUISE studies, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genente…
Nanotechnology firm to form ophthalmology company
Liquidia Technologies, a nanotechnology-based health care company, will form a new ophthalmology business to move into a high-growth therapeutic area, according to a company news release. The company’s likely lead product is a glaucoma treatment that is expected to enter clinical trials in 2014, the release said.The company uses a proprietary technology platform, called Print, to allow for rapid development and production of precisely engineered particles of almost any size, shape and composition. Liquidia will release additional details on the ophthalmic company later in the second quarter, according to the release.
Net earnings increase 15% in first quarter for Allergan
Allergan reported net earnings of $296.2 million for the first quarter, up 15% from $257.6 million in the same quarter last year, according to a company news release.Revenue totaled $1.46 billion, up from $1.35 billion in the same quarter last year. Di…
BLOG: How much would you pay not to know the future?
The current issue of Ocular Surgery News explores the question of routine genetic testing for macular degeneration risk, a practice that the American Academy of Ophthalmology has, probably appropriately, come out against. Aside from the technical limit…
Uveitis, sutures, aphakia linked to hypotony after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy
Small-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was associated with an increased rate of hypotony in eyes with uveitis and those requiring sutures, according to a study.The retrospective study included 111 procedures performed in 109 eyes of 104 patients who underwe…
Novartis reports 7% increase in quarterly net income
Novartis reported net sales of $14 billion in the first quarter, with net income of $2.42 billion, an increase of 7% over the same quarter last year, according to a news release.Alcon accounted for $2.57 billion in net sales, up 1% from $2.54 billion i…
Eyemaginations releases new patient education system
Echo, a cloud-based, HTML5-optimized system to help educate patients, is now available, according to a press release from Eyemaginations. The software, initially introduced during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting in San F…