Beaver-Visitec International has purchased all ophthalmic assets of Odyssey Medical, according to a news release. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.The transaction will add Odyssey’s Parasol Punctal Occluder and other products focused on dry eye solutions to the Beaver-Visitec line of products for ophthalmic and specialty microsurgical procedures, the release said.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Victus granted CE mark for corneal incisions, PK, intrastromal incisions for intracorneal rings
Bausch + Lomb Technolas has been granted a CE mark in the European Union for the Victus femtosecond laser platform for creating corneal incisions in patients undergoing cataract surgery, according to a company news release. The platform also was grante…
LensAR laser system gains 510(k) clearance for arcuate incisions
The LensAR laser platform has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the creation of arcuate incisions during cataract surgery, according to a company news release.The device may now be used during cataract surgery for…
Retinal sensitivity potentially useful in evaluating anti-VEGF treatment of wet AMD
Measuring retinal sensitivity in patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration may assist with evaluating the treatment’s effectiveness, according to a study.The prospective, interventional case series included 42 eyes of 39 patients with neovascular AMD. All eyes were treated with 0.5 mg intravitreal Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) once a month for 3 months. Treatment continued as needed.
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.
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 that exhibits “any of the following suspect characteristics” will be of particular concern:
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 have insurance coverage raises health care costs for hospitals, people with insurance and state budgets.”
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 older, use the Internet or email. Yes, it’s not 82% of online users in the adults 18+ category, but it is slightly more than one out of two seniors online.
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 certain date, typically years before the brand’s patent expires; and (2) the brand company gives the generic company something else of value, be it a cash payment, a license on another product, or some type of fee-for-service business arrangement.
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.