Several analogies were used on April 15 during the Supreme Court oral arguments for the Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics trial. The court was considering whether human genes are patentable. Genes refer to a unit of DNA that is the…
Author: Healio ophthalmology
Innovation in ophthalmology pushes forward
SAN FRANCISCO — The future of innovation in ophthalmology is promising, with more forward movement than drag, according to a speaker here. “The tailwinds are stronger than the headwinds,” William J. Link, PhD, managing director of Versant Ventures, told colleagues interested in supporting innovation in the ophthalmic space at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit.
FDA focus on more efficient processing yields faster decisions
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been criticized for its ponderous movement of potential drugs and medical devices through the approval process. Recognizing this criticism, and following implementation of the Medical Devices User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002 and subsequent internal reevaluations and reorganizations, the FDA approval process for innovative technologies has been gaining speed since 2010.“We believe the U.S. is and should remain the leading innovation leader,” Malvina B. Eydelman, MD, director of the FDA Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices, said at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit meeting here.
Prevention of posterior segment complications critical in keratoprosthesis patients
The significant prevalence of posterior segment complications following keratoprosthesis surgery, coupled with the subsequent anatomic difficulties correlated with their management, has made understanding and prevention of these postoperative complicat…
Umbilical cord blood serum promotes endothelial healing in severe dry eye
Heterologous umbilical cord blood serum-based eye drops may enable healing of diseased corneal epithelium and reduce symptoms in patients with severe dry eye disease, according to a study.The study included 33 eyes of 17 patients with graft-versus-host disease and 26 eyes of 13 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. Patients’ mean ages were 38.8 years in the graft-versus-host disease group and 59.6 years in the Sjögren’s syndrome group. All patients received sterile cord blood serum eye drops daily for 1 month.
Ultralong-scan-depth OCT useful in identifying potential causes of PCO in highly myopic eyes
Use of ultralong-scan-depth optical coherence tomography revealed weak posterior capsular adhesion and capsular bending in highly myopic eyes, which may increase the likelihood of posterior capsular opacification after cataract surgery, according to a …
Immunosuppressant shows promise in managing inflammation in birdshot retinochoroidopathy
Infliximab managed inflammation in patients with treatment-refractory birdshot retinochoroidopathy, according to a study.Forty-four eyes of 22 patients with refractory birdshot retinochoroidopathy received 4 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg of infliximab at intervals …
FDA approves Tecnis toric one-piece IOL
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Tecnis toric one-piece IOL for cataract patients with pre-existing corneal astigmatism, according to a news release from Abbott.The IOL is being launched in the United States.
Two-port PPV with slit lamp illumination effective for posterior segment surgery
Performing 20-gauge two-port pars plana vitrectomy with slit lamp illumination was an effective technique for treating vitreoretinal pathologies without intraoperative complications, a study found.The retrospective study included 195 consecutive eyes o…
David Tanzer named chief medical officer of Abbott Medical Optics
Abbott Medical Optics has named David Tanzer, MD, as its divisional vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer, according to a company news release.In this role, Tanzer will offer medical input for the company’s clinical strategy, innovation and business development activities while overseeing medical affairs and product safety, as well as the development and dissemination of educational materials.
Study links reversal of lamina cribrosa displacement to IOP reduction in OAG
IOP reduction was associated with lamina cribrosa displacement reversal in patients with open-angle glaucoma, according to a study.The observational study included 100 eyes of 100 patients with open-angle glaucoma whose IOP had decreased by at least 20…
Online medical professionalism statement targets social media use
According to a position paper designed by researchers from the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards, new technologies and practices have pulled patients and physicians into a Web-based relationship. Although popular by nature, this form of communication should be conducted with the utmost professionalism.“It is important for physicians to be aware of the implications for confidentiality and how the use of online media for non-clinical purposes impacts trust in the medical profession,” Humayun Chaudhry, DO, MS, FACP, co-author and president and CEO of the Federation of State Medical Boards, said in a press release.