Today is my birthday. I decided to celebrate by writing something non-clinical yet about something I enjoy. It’s about doctors willing to show transparency!
Category: Blogs
Avastin/Lucentis Update 48: Contaminated Re-Packaged Avastin Causes Severe Eye Problems
The inevitable was bound to happen. A pharmacy in Hollywood, FL repackaged Avastin into single-use syringes and in the process contaminated the drug that was then sold to several clinics for the treatment of wet AMD, causing severe eye damage, includin…
How This Blog Has Developed…into a Business!
I started this blog 2.5 years ago. We have started a medical marketing company to teach other docs to do the same!
VEGF Trap Denied by FDA
VEGF Trap Eye is another anti-VEGF medication to be injected into the eye for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. The FDA did not approve recently, but will reconsider by November!
Stem Cells for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy and Macular Degeneration
Clinical trials for RPE replacement therapy for Stargardt’s disease and dry AMD have begun. The study will assess the safety of replacing stem-cell derived RPE cells in humans.
Does the Implantable Telescope Materially Improve the Quality of Life of AMD Sufferers?
In a past post we had reported on a new treatment for end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD): an implantable miniature telescope (IMT) that amplifies vision and was approved by the FDA in Summer 2010. But does this device provide enough of an improvement in quality of life to be worth the trouble and cost? A recent study […]
Stem Cells in Ophthalmology Update 9: First Patients Treated
As I reported back on June 16th, Advanced Cell Technology had enrolled the first two patients in its Phase I/II clinical trials using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for treating Stargardt’s Macular Dy…
Update on Pediatric Vision Scanner That Offers Breakthrough Method of Detecting Any Form of Amblyopia in Small Children
Several months ago we reported on a new device, called the Pediatric Vision Scanner, which uses a laser beam to measure the alignment of children’s eyes (New Device Detects Lazy Eye and Strabismus in Preschoolers). Now we bring you newly released details on clinical testing of the device. Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is one of the […]
Vitrectomy Eye Surgery for Macular Pucker
I produced my first patient education video! It is video of me performing a vitrectomy to remove an epiretinal membrane. Enjoy!
FDA Upholds Denial of Avastin
Though the FDA upheld its decision no longer approve Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer. The drug is still available for eye patients.
Avastin/Lucentis Update 47: Should the UK’s NICE Consider Adding Avastin to It’s Approved Drugs?
In a blog, appearing on the BMJ (British Medical Journal) Group Blogs, James Raftery, a health economist with several decades’ experience with the National Health Service (NHS) and a professor of health technology assessment at Southampton University, regularly writes about…
Two Lasers for Diabetic Retinopathy
Some patients with diabetic retinopathy require two types of treatment. Should treatment for macular edema precede other treatment?
A Potential Breakthrough in the Treatment of Glaucoma
Three related news items caught my attention last week. They had to do with the medical treatment of glaucoma.
The first item noted that patients don’t properly use their prescription eyedrops in treating elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Dr. Ari…
Stem Cells in Ophthalmology Update 8: …and So It Begins
Advanced Cell Technology announced today that it had enrolled the first patients in its two Phase I/II clinical trials, using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for treating Stargardt’s Macular Dystropyy …
AMD Update 15: Visualization of Living Rods and Cones
Back in February 2009, I first wrote about David Williams and his research group at the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, and their announcement that they had used adaptive optics to image RPE cells in vivo. That report, AMD Update 4:…
Menu 19: Updates for March 2011 – May 2011
A lot of interesting news was made over the past few months that I posted online. This update covers the period from March through May of 2011, including extensive coverage of developments from the recent ARVO Meeting held the beginning…
Menu 19: Updates for March 2011 – May 2011
A lot of interesting news was made over the past few months that I posted online. This update covers the period from March through May of 2011, including extensive coverage of developments from the recent ARVO Meeting held the beginning of May, and sev…
Do Avastin Injections Hurt?
Ever had an eye injection that hurt? Intraocular injections of Avastin should not hurt, but if it does, ask your doctor to change the preparation.
New Dry Eye Treatments in the Pipeline
OSN: Several promising treatments are in the pipeline for dry eye, which is an “epidemic” and can drive patients to drink. Secretagogues stimulate the eye to produce its own tears, like Restasis. One is called Lancovutide which was originally used in cystic fibrosis. Rebamipide’s mechanism is to increase the mucin level in tears, which makes […]
Oraya IRay Update: Company Completes Enrollment in European Clinical Trial
Since first writing about this company in November 2009 (Oraya IRay In-office Stereotactic X-ray Treatment for AMD: A First Report), I have been following its progress. As I wrote back then, its Phase III Clinical Trial, which planned to enroll approxi…