SAN FRANCISCO — Small-incision lenticule extraction and femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK offered comparable visual and refractive outcomes, a speaker said here.At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Angie De La Mota, MD, presented results of a randomized study comparing visual, refractive, anatomic and sensory outcomes with small-incision lenticule extraction (smile) and femtosecond LASIK.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Almost one-fourth of sutured cataract wounds leak, study finds
SAN FRANCISCO — More than half of clear corneal incisions and almost one-quarter of sutured cataract wounds leaked when tested with calibrated reproducible force, according to a study presented here.“Even after stromal hydration, 60% of corneal wounds leaked when challenged,” John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, said in presenting the study he conducted with Samuel Masket, MD, during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Diagnostic errors called most harmful, costly medical mistakes
Misdiagnoses were responsible for the costliest and deadliest portion of US malpractice claims during the last 25 years, according to new research.After reviewing 350,706 malpractice payments through the National Practitioner Data Bank (1986 to 2010), …
Corneal cross-linking faces various regulatory hurdles in US
SAN FRANCISCO — Corneal collagen cross-linking faces numerous regulatory approvals in the United States by virtue of being a drug-device combination, an expert said here.The procedure is approved in the European Union and other regions but is not approved in the U.S. Several clinical trials are ongoing.
Novel method of pterygium surgery optimizes visual, cosmetic outcomes
SAN FRANCISCO — A sutureless method of pterygium surgery offers optimal cosmetic results the day after surgery, according to a study presented here. The method, using amniotic membrane, yields high patient satisfaction, Arun C. Gulani, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Ab interno implant offers alternative method to reduce IOP
SAN FRANCISCO — An innovative minimally invasive ab interno subconjunctival gelatin implant reduced IOP in glaucoma patients, according to study results presented here.”It’s minimally invasive on one side and highly effective on the other,” Inga S. Kersten-Gomez, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Capsule-sparing procedure has effective results in complex pediatric eyes
SAN FRANCISCO — Phacoemulsification with in-the-bag implantation of a scleral-sutured modified capsular tension ring and an IOL is a practical procedure that preserves capsular and anterior hyaloid anatomy and avoids unnecessary vitrectomy, according to a physician here.”It is a better choice in the pediatric demographic, which is prone to blunt trauma,” Mauricio A. Perez, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Customized PRK improves astigmatism after PK
SAN FRANCISCO — Topographically guided PRK was effective in treating irregular astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty, according to a study presented here. Best corrected visual acuity improved in almost half of all eyes, Simon P. Holland, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Reducing vacuum and aspiration rate minimizes post-occlusion surge
SAN FRANCISCO — There are ways to minimize post-occlusion surge during phacoemulsification, according to a speaker. “Surge is something we all need to recognize as surgeons. We need to know what it is; we need to know how to manage it,” Timothy P. Page, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here.
Corneal transplant yields good visual recovery in children with keratoconus
SAN FRANCISCO — Corneal transplant surgery in pediatric patients with keratoconus resulted in good visual recovery, according to a physician here.“Keratoconus is the most common reason for corneal transplant surgery in older children between the ages of 12 and 18; interestingly, however, there are very few reports in the literature on the long-term results of corneal transplant surgery in children with keratoconus,” Gerald W. Zaidman, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Two trabecular micro-bypass stents reduce IOP in open-angle glaucoma patients
SAN FRANCISCO — The use of two trabecular micro-bypass stents in open-angle glaucoma patients significantly reduced IOP without complications, according to a study presented here.“There is some evidence that more iStents may further lower pressure beyond the simple one stent,” Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. Furthermore, the addition of one medication appears effective in lowering IOP in refractory glaucoma cases after trabeculectomy, he said.
Study: MICS with 21-gauge phaco needle yields less surgically induced astigmatism
SAN FRANCISCO — A 21-gauge phaco needle tip has a smaller diameter than a 20-gauge tip, yet it has the same intraoperative efficiency without clogging when used in microincision cataract surgery with transversal ultrasound, a speaker said here.“It provides better postoperative wound morphology and better control of surgically induced astigmatism,” Ahmed Assaf, MD, FRCSEd, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Smile procedure safely, accurately corrects spherical myopia
SAN FRANCISCO — Femtosecond laser-assisted small-incision lenticule extraction safely treated spherical myopia, according to initial clinical trial results presented here.Jon Dishler, MD, FACS, discussed preliminary data from the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption clinical trial for the ReLEx smile procedure using the VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec).
Trifocal IOL safely corrects presbyopia, maintains contrast sensitivity
SAN FRANCISCO — A trifocal IOL corrected presbyopia and yielded high patient satisfaction, according to a study presented here.The At Lisa tri 839MP IOL (Carl Zeiss Meditec) improved near, intermediate and distance visual acuity, Gabriel Morgado, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Medical mindset influences decision making
SAN FRANCISCO — A pair of authors suggested physicians consider their own “medical mindset” when they or their patients are faced with making medical decisions. “The public has become acutely aware that experts disagree,” Pamela Hartzband, MD, said, citing the wealth of information available via various media and interpreted and disseminated differently. The same data are valued differently because of different mindsets, the authors said.
Intraoperative aberrometry optimizes outcomes of accommodating IOL and LRIs
SAN FRANCISCO — Wavefront-guided accommodating IOL implantation and limbal relaxing incisions offered predictable visual and refractive outcomes, according to a study presented here.At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, Robert J. Weinstock, MD, discussed visual and refractive outcomes of the Crystalens AO accommodating IOL (Bausch + Lomb) combined with manual limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs).
True accommodation remains holy grail of cataract surgery
SAN FRANCISCO — Advances in IOL development enable safe and minimally invasive surgery with positive visual outcomes, a guest lecturer said here.Nick Mamalis, MD, traced the “long, strange trip” of IOL development as he gave the Binkhorst Lecture during the opening ceremonies at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Novel IOL suturing technique provides stable scleral fixation
SAN FRANCISCO — A modified IOL suturing technique for scleral fixation has several advantages over a conventional technique, according to a study presented here.The technique uses the Hoffman corneoscleral pocket and enables secure fixation of the IOL haptics without the need to perform conjunctival dissection, Tsukasa Hanemoto, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
ASCRS leads advocacy and innovation efforts
SAN FRANCISCO — Ophthalmic leaders stand poised to tackle ongoing clinical and regulatory challenges in the years ahead, Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, the newly installed president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, said here.Donnenfeld was installed during the opening ceremonies at the annual ASCRS meeting. He accepted the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, David F. Chang, MD.
Femtosecond laser assists bag-in-the-lens IOL insertion technique
SAN FRANCISCO — A stumbling block to inserting a bag-in-the-lens IOL may be overcome with the use of a femtosecond laser, according to a presenter here.The original bag-in-the-lens IOL insertion technique, which is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, was designed to prevent posterior capsule opacification in pediatric and adult cataract patients, Ana Paula Canto, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting. However, the technique for bag-in-the-lens IOL insertion is considered difficult because centration depends on an appropriately sized and centered capsulorrhexis.