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.
Author: Healio ophthalmology
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.
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.
Bausch + Lomb registers for IPO of common stock
Bausch + Lomb has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to allow for a proposed initial public offering of common stock, according to a company news release.No decision has been made regarding the number of sha…
Rayner IOLs approved for sale in Mexico, Thailand
Rayner Intraocular Lenses has received regulatory approval to begin selling some products in Thailand and Mexico, according to a company news release.In Thailand, all of Rayner’s hydrophilic acrylic lenses — C-flex, C-flex aspheric, Superflex, Superflex aspheric, T-flex aspheric, M-flex, M-flex T, Sulcoflex aspheric, Sulcoflex toric, Sulcoflex multifocal and Sulcoflex multifocal toric — were approved, along with Raysert, a small-incision injector.
Milestone payment improves 2012 revenue, net loss at Nicox
Nicox recorded revenue of €7.6 million in 2012 after recording no revenue in 2011, according to a company news release. The revenue increase was largely related to a $10 million milestone payment from Bausch + Lomb, which opted to continue developing latanoprostene bunod, a glaucoma drug candidate. As a result, there was a net loss of €10.2 million in 2012 compared with a net loss of €16.6 million in 2011.
Shire US Holdings to acquire SARcode Bioscience
Shire US Holdings will acquire SARcode Bioscience under an agreement expected to close in the second quarter following regulatory approval and closing conditions, according to a news release.Shire, a global specialty pharmaceutical firm, will make an i…
Iontophoresis device for cross-linking receives CE mark
Sooft italia has been granted a CE mark for an iontophoresis device to deliver riboflavin to the cornea to treat keratoconus, according to a company news release.The approval covers the Iontofor CXL corneal iontophoresis technology, which allows ribofl…
Alimera Sciences reports net loss of $19.75 million in 2012
Alimera Sciences recorded a net loss of $19.75 million for 2012 compared with a net loss of $22.52 million in 2011, according to a company news release.For the fourth quarter 2012, there was a net loss of $5.29 million compared with a net loss of $6.07…
Retinoblastoma not linked solely to <i>RB1</i> mutations, study finds
Some cases of retinoblastoma may occur due to amplification of the MYCN oncogene rather than mutation of both alleles of the RB1 retinoblastoma suppressor gene, a study found. In such nonhereditary cases, children may not be at heightened risk of retin…
FDA approves phenylephrine hydrochloride solution to dilate pupil
Phenylephrine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution USP 2.5% and 10% has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Paragon BioTeck announced in a news release.The solution, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist used to dilate the pupil, has …
Quantel Medical pattern-scanning laser granted 510(k) clearance
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Quantel Medical for its Vitra Multispot laser, according to a company news release.The device, used to treat diabetic eye diseases, is a 532-nm photocoagulator that combines pattern …
BLOG: Unilateral conjunctivitis not always related to lacrimal duct obstruction
It has always been the teaching that recurrent unilateral conjunctivitis must be evaluated for partial or complete nasal lacrimal duct obstruction. This may be congenital or acquired.In the adult population, women are more commonly involved than men, w…
Clinical Specialties recalls Avastin unit dose syringes
Clinical Specialties Compounding Pharmacy has voluntarily issued a nationwide recall of Avastin unit dose syringes after it received five reports of intraocular infections, according to a press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall covers 79 lots of Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) distributed to physicians’ offices in Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Indiana from Dec. 18, 2012, to the present, the release said.
Concomitant retinal detachment, macular holes can be repaired simultaneously
Cases of combined full-thickness macular holes with concurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment are rare, but the conditions can be repaired simultaneously with good anatomic and visual results, according to a study.In addition, proliferative vitreore…