Two new studies add to the growing evidence that spending time outdoors may help prevent or minimize nearsightedness in children. A study conducted in Taiwan, which is the first to use an educational policy as a public vision health intervention, finds…
Category: News
Eyemaginations Launches a Cloud-Based Solution for Patients’ Education
Eyemaginations Inc., launched Echo, a cloud-based
software solution that allows health care professionals
to communicate with patients from any Internet-based
device, according to a news release. Combining the full
list of Eyemaginations’ content into one centralized
library, Echo reportedly provides doctors with a w…
National ARMOR Surveillance Study Results Presented at 2013 ARVO Annual Meeting
Researchers from Bausch + Lomb reported the most
recent findings of the ARMOR (Antibiotic Resistance
Monitoring in Ocular Microrganisms) surveillance study,
the only national survey of antibiotic resistance patterns
in eye care, at the 2013 Association…
MacuLogix Raises $3.6 Million in Series A Round
MacuLogix, Inc., announced it has raised $3.6 million
in Series A funding. Investors include Berwind Private
Equity, Roche Venture Fund, Life Sciences Greenhouse
of Central Pennsylvania, and Ben Franklin Technology
Partners of Central and Northern Penn…
Data on Episcleral Brachytherapy for Wet AMD Treatment Positive
At ARVO, Kamaljit Balaggan, BSc(Hons), MBBS,
MRCOphth, PhD, vitreoretinal surgery fellow at
Moorfields Eye Hospital National Health Service
Foundation Trust in London, presented results from a
cohort study evaluating the use of a minimally invasive
ret…
Survey Highlights Need for Continued Education for Patients About LASIK
Although LASIK is the most popular elective surgery,
with more than 16 million procedures performed in the
United States to date, misconceptions and fears about
the procedure persist, according to findings from a survey
by the American Refractive Surgery Council (ARSC).
“The [first annual ARSC LASIK] survey shows t…
VEGF-C Shown to Have Major Role in AMD
Kameran Lashkari, MD, of The Schepens Eye Research
Institute at Harvard Medical School, presented data at ARVO showing a major link between VEGF-C levels and
AMD. He indicated that the drug candidate, VGX-300
(a soluble form of VEGF receptor-3 that blo…
Center is the First in the Nation to Offer Genetic Test for Patients Considering LASIK
Avellino Lab USA, the developer of the only genetic
test available worldwide for Avellino Corneal Dystrophy
(ACD), today announced that California-based NVision
Laser Eye Centers is the first provider in the United
States to offer patients the Avellino…
ODLean Consulting Expands Offerings
The Vision Care Institute, LLC, announced that its
ODLean Consulting Program is expanding its offerings
to better help eye care practitioners manage patient
flow, increase productivity, improve patients’ experiences,
and boost profits.
Available to doctors and their staff, “Operating a
Lean Practice,” is a 1-d…
First Corneal Transplants Performed Using Preloaded Tissue
The Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research
(LEITR) announced that, for the first time, EndoGlide
(Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) cartridges preloaded
by an eye bank have been successfully used in corneal
transplantation. According to a news …
Ocular Comorbidity Predicts Poor Cataract Surgery Outcomes
Cataract surgery yields excellent visual outcomes for most patients, but those with ocular comorbidity, preoperative risk factors, surgical complications, and older age have may have worse outcomes. Medscape Medical News
The Journey to Femtosecond Laser-assisted Cataract Surgery
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery represents a paradigm shift in cataract surgery. Are the benefits significant enough to justify the necessary huge financial investment? Eye
Diabetic Retinopathy, Microalbuminuria Predict GFR Decline
Having diabetic retinopathy or microalbuminuria predicts higher risk for rapid glomerular filtration rate decline, so ophthalmologists and diabetologists should share information, researchers say. Medscape Medical News
One in Three Preschoolers Not Screened for Vision
Screening young children for vision problems such as amblyopia is not universal, new research suggests. Medscape Medical News
FDA Panel to Consider Two Cancer Drugs
WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) — The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will meet Thursday to weigh the approval evidence for two cancer therapies: tivozanib and a drug-device product combining melphalan (Alkeran) with a novel infusion kit.
VEGF Trap-Eye: Looking Good for AMD
Clinicians should take note of the results of these 2 important studies. Medscape Ophthalmology
Ophthalmologist Compensation Stable From 2011-2012
Ophthalmologists continue to report compensation higher than that seen in middle- and lower-income specialties, with significant differences by sex, geography, and healthcare setting. Medscape Medical News
Screening Finds Retinopathy Early in Diabetes (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) — A screening program for diabetic retinopathy eventually diminished the likelihood of eye disease in patients with diabetes, English researchers found.
IL-1 antagonist relieves dry eyes
Clinical trial results point to a role for interleukin-1 targeted agents for the treatment of dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction.
Ocular tuberculosis presents a diagnostic challenge
Mycobacterial ocular inflammation typically arises without concomitant systemic or pulmonary disease and should be suspected in patients who do not respond to anti-inflammatory therapy.