Two screens performed a year apart might help identify patients who need closer follow-up. Medscape Medical News
Category: News
FDA approves Cook’s Zilver PTX drug-eluting peripheral stent
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its partner Cook Medical, Inc. received approval on November 15, 2012 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market and sell the proprietary Zilver PTX drug-eluting peripheral stent, adding the Unit…
Latest in optometry: headache link debunked; iPads open up new vista
The latest research in optometry finds no link between headaches and refractive errors in children under the age of 18 years – and a clinical purpose for iPads.
CMS Okays 2 More Loopholes for eRx Penalty, Sets Deadline
Physicians will not owe a penalty next year under the Medicare e-prescribing program if they achieve EHR meaningful use, or intend to try. Medscape Medical News
Compounder Tied to Tainted Eye Meds, Lost Sight
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — All but one of 12 patients given injections of contaminated bevacizumab (Avastin) prepared by a compounding pharmacy permanently lost vision in the affected eye, researchers reported here.
Drug Could Cut Steroid Use in Uveitis
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — The immunosuppressive sirolimus (Rapamune) may help control non-infectious uveitis in some patients, although it won’t improve visual acuity, researchers said here.
Eye Drop Medications For Some Glaucoma Patients May Be Replaced By Ultra-Small Drainage Device
A tiny medical device no larger than an eyelash may significantly reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients and allow some to stop using eye-drop medications, according to year-one clinical trial results for the device…
Telling the FDA: Why Contact Lens Adverse Events Matter
The FDA requests that healthcare professionals report adverse events resulting from the use of contact lenses. Learn why it’s important to report them and how to do so. FDA on Medscape
Drug Works for Retinal Vein Occlusion
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — The newest anti-VEGF drug in ophthalmology improved eyesight for patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), although efficacy diminished with a move to as-needed dosing, researchers said here.
Drug Improves Sight in Diabetic Retinopathy
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Ranibizumab (Lucentis) not only slowed progression of diabetic retinopathy, but improved vision for most patients, researchers said here.
Mini-stent shows promising glaucoma control
The implantation of a microstent into the eyes of patients with open-angle glaucoma could remove their need to use eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure, show the 1-year results of a clinical trial.
Hydrus stent may significantly reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients
A tiny medical device no larger than an eyelash may significantly reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients and allow some to stop using eye-drop medications, according to year-one clinical trial results for the device.
Protective Eyewear Found To Reduce Eye, Head, And Facial Injuries
A new study conducted by researchers at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Fairfax (VA) County Public Schools, and Boston Children’s Hospital has found that…
Patient Anxiety Reduced By Soothing Sounds During Cataract Surgery
New research shows that the use of an audio therapy known as binaural beats can significantly reduce patients’ anxiety during cataract surgery. The 141-patient study, conducted in Thailand, is the first of its kind in cataract surgery, which is one of …
First Study To Refute A Common Health Misconception: Children’s Headaches Rarely Indicate A Need For Eyeglasses
A new study provides the first clear evidence that vision or eye problems are rarely the cause of recurring headaches in children, even if the headaches usually strike while the child is doing schoolwork or other visual tasks. Many parents assume that …
Job Stress a Major Factor in High Rates of Physician Suicide
Job stress, coupled with inadequate treatment for mental illness, may account for the higher than average rate of suicide among US physicians, new research suggests. Medscape Medical News
Artificial Eye Lenses Made to Reproduce Optical Qualities of Natural Ones (VIDEO)
Artificial eye lenses are regularly used by ophthalmologists to correct a variety of vision problems. Patients are typically elated after surgery as their vision significantly improves, unveiling the beauty of the world they only remembered before. Y…
No Apparent Risk of AMD After Cataract Surgery
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Having cataract surgery doesn’t appear to increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), though it may be associated with early changes in indicators of the disease, researchers said here.
New Laser Improves Cataract Surgery Outcomes
CHICAGO (MedPage Today) — Early data suggest that femtosecond laser systems may provide improvements in outcomes for cataract surgery, researchers said here.
Vision Problems A Greater Risk For Veterans Following Brain Injury And Stress Disorder
Many veterans of the United States armed forces who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder also have undiagnosed, chronic vision problems, according to two studies presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of …