Recent publications have helped to clarify therole of topical antibiotics in the prophylaxis ofendophthalmitis after cataract surgery.Administering topical antibiotic drops, inaddition to standard povidone-iodine antisepsis, hasbecome a standard o…
Category: Cataract
Colonoscopy, Removal of Adenomas Reduced Cancer Risk on Both Sides of Colon
Colonoscopy combined with detection and removal
of adenomas was associated with a reduced risk of both
left- and right-sided colorectal cancer, according to a
study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.1
Hermann Brenner, MD, MPH, of the German Cancer
Res…
Sidebar: The Goal: Amazing Outcomes
As progressive-minded ophthalmologists, we have one goal: outcomes. With the large number of baby boomer patients expecting exciting advances in cataract surgery, it is mandatory that we provide excellent postoperative visual acuity. I use…
Transepithelial CXL had Favorable Effect in Keratoconic Eyes
Transepithelial corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) had a
limited but favorable effect in keratoconic eyes.1
In the prospective study, researchers studied data from 51
consecutive patients to determine the clinical effects of
transepithelial CXL on ker…
10 Years of Tecnis
It has been a decade since we surgeons first realized
that IOL optics could reduce or eliminate spherical
aberration (SA) to restore a youthful quality of
vision for pseudophakes. That discovery, which led
to the introduction of the first succ…
Initiative Targets Pediatric Cataract in Developing Countries
The Bausch + Lomb Early Vision Institute (Rochester, New
York) and Lions Clubs International Foundation (Oak Brook,
Illinois) have launched the Pediatric Cataract Initiative (PCI)
to identify, fund, and promote innovative methods of overcoming
debilita…
Prevention of Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is an uncommon complication
of cataract surgery, with rates ranging from
0.07% to 0.13%, and more recently as high as
0.38%, as reported in a multicenter ESCRS
study.sup1-3/sup Because of the devastating nature of endophtha…
CHIEF MEDICAL EDITOR’S PAGE
Last year was an outstanding one for ophthalmology.
I spent time over the holidays thinking
of the best of 2010. My thoughts were
guided by Gillian McDermott’s excellent article
on the subject that appeared in emCataract and Refractive Surg…
Four Errors in Prescribing Antibiotics
Topical and/or intracameral antibiotics play a key
role in any strategy designed to maximize
endophthalmitis prophylaxis. The optimal strategy
for reducing the incidence of endophthalmitis
always includes the two classic goals of (1) decreasin…
Managing the Unhappy Cataract Patient
In this era of immediate gratification and premium
IOLs, patients have become more demanding. The
following scenario is common. A postoperative
cataract patient presents with a visual acuity of
20/20- and a manifest refraction of -0.25 D. Upon…
emCOMPLEX CASE MANAGEMENT/em: Posterior Polar Cataract and Astigmatism
bCASE PRESENTATION/bbr /A 49-year-old, soon-to-be-retired police officer is
referred to you for a cataract evaluation. He complains of
severe glare when driving at night. The patient states that
he has never worn glasses and hopes to mini…
Presurgical Management of MGD
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is believed
to be one of the most common sources of
patients’ complaints in eye care practices.sup1/sup
Although estimates vary, MGD may be a contributing
factor in more than 60% of all dry eye sufferers…
emPoint/Counterpoint/em: What to Do When Phacoemulsification Goes Bad
emKeep the incision small./embr
bDAVID A. GOLDMAN, MD/b
During phacoemulsification, if the posterior
capsule tore and nuclear material remained, I
would first inject a dispersive viscoelastic to
stabilize the anterior chamber…
PCCC Minimized Postop Axial Shift
The use of primary posterior continuous curvilinear
capsulorrhexis (PCCC) during cataract surgery stabilized and minimized axial IOL displacement.1
In a prospective, comparative study, researchers analyzed
data from 77 patients (86 eyes) who underwent …
Sidebar: Ocular Health and Cataract Surgery
It is no secret that today’s cataract surgical patients have
high expectations, whether they will receive new-technology
IOLs or monofocal implants. Because patients know that
cataract surgery is associated with excellent postoperative
visua…
What is the Evidence for Free Radical Effect on AMD and Cataracts?
A recent review in Opthalmic Research discusses the epidemiological evidence for the effect of free radicals on the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Interest in this area stems from the “free radical theory” of aging, which purports…
Blue-Blocking IOL’s- A Bad Idea?
In an editorial in Ophthalmology, the authors are very critical of the lack of scientific evidence that blue-blocking IOL’s are of any value in reducing the progression of macular degeneration. They agree with the CMS that the relationship between blue light and AMD is speculative and not evidence-based. The authors make a compelling point. I […]
Vitamins C,E Show No Beneficial or Harmful Effect on Cataract Risk
Long-term use of vitamins C and E had no visible
effect on the incidence of cataract in men, according to a
study in the Archives of Ophthalmology.1
The study was based on the Physicians’ Health Study
II, which examined the effects of vitamin E, vitami…
Diabetes and Depression Linked in Women
Depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus have a bidirectional
association in women, according to a study in
the Archives of Internal Medicine.1
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health,
Boston studied the relationship between the two diseases
…
OptiMedica’s Catalys Created More Precise Capsulotomies Than Manual Techniques
The Catalys System Precision Laser (OptiMedica Corp.,
Santa Clara, California) helped surgeons improve precision
during several critical steps of cataract surgery when
compared with manual techniques, particularly capsulotomy,
according to a study publ…