Around 80% to 90% of school-leavers in major East Asian cities like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea suffer from myopia or short-sightedness…
Category: News
Dispelling Myths in Refractive Surgery
Some of the most persistent myths about LASIK are tackled, and the truth should be a relief to practicing refractive surgeons. Medscape Ophthalmology
Bionic eye helps two blind men see for the first time in 20 years
In a medical breakthrough two blind men have regained partial sight for the first time in more than 20 years after receiving a “bionic eye”. Scientists said the first clinical trials of the microchip eye implant, which measures just 3mm across and …
New Phakic Intraocular Lens Is Effective and Safe
Five-year data indicate that patients implanted with the new phakic lens continue to have excellent visual acuity and stable refraction. Medscape Medical News
Second-Generation Glaucoma Stents Are Effective and Safe
A new study reports impressive results with second-generation glaucoma stents in patients with mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma. Medscape Medical News
STAAR Surgical first quarter total revenue increases 4% to $15.5M
STAAR Surgical Company, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today reported that sales of its Visian ICL product in the first quarter ended March 30, 2012 increased 25% to $8.6 million.
Levetiracetam to be tested for seizure management in malaria endemic regions
Michigan State University researchers, with the help of a groundbreaking medical device, are starting a clinical trial in Africa they hope will provide relief for the hundreds of thousands of children who survive cerebral malaria but are left stricken …
Interpreting The Avastin-Lucentis Study For Persons With Macular Degeneration
This week, the second-year results of an important clinical trial on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), known as the Comparison of AMD Treatments Trials (or CATT), were published in the journal Ophthalmology. Researchers found that two drugs known…
Bevacizumab equivalent to ranibizumab in treating wet AMD
In a landmark drug-comparison study, Cleveland Clinic researchers found that bevacizumab (Avastin) is equivalent to ranibizumab (Lucentis) in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through two years.
Comparison Of Avastin And Lucentis In Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration
At two years, Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab injection), two widely used drugs to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), improve vision when administered monthly or on an as needed basis, although greater improvements in vision …
Effort Seeks to Increase Organ Donation
Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) has joined forces
with SightLife to increase eye, organ, and tissue donor
registration among physicians and to honor those who
have already registered, according to a news release from
the company. The “Are You A Dono…
Disrupted Sleep May Increase Risk for Obesity, Diabetes
Short sleep duration and circadian disruption may
alter metabolism and therefore increase the risk of
obesity and diabetes, according to a study in Science
emTranslational Medicine/em.sup1/sup
Orfeu M. Buxton, PhD, of Harvard Medical School in
Boston,…
Glaucoma Specialists Believe Preservatives in Glaucoma Medications Exacerbate OSD
Results of a survey recently conducted by the Working
Group on Preservatives Toxicity in Glaucoma Medications,
an advisory panel of glaucoma experts, revealed that,
although some progress has been made in ophthalmologists’
awareness of preservative t…
Mammography Plus Ultrasound Effective in Detecting Invasive Breast Cancer
Annual mammography plus ultrasound exams detect
34% more invasive breast cancers than mammography
alone, according to a study in the emJournal of the American
Medical Association/em.sup1/sup
Wendie A. Berg, MD, PhD, of the University of
Pittsburgh, an…
Congressman Urges Support for Bill to Reform FDA
Speaking at a recent meeting of cataract and refractive
surgeons, Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., said that the current
review process for regulatory approval of medical devices is
threatening an industry that provides $21.5 billion in salaries
and 2 milli…
Alcon Debuts the WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser
Alcon Laboratories, Inc., introduced the WaveLight
EX500 excimer laser during the ASCRS meeting in Chicago.
The laser received approval from the FDA in December
2011.
With a reportedly faster speed and enhanced laserhead
life, the 500-Hz WaveLight EX5…
CATT: Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab Had Similar Effects on Visual Acuity Over 2 Years
Second-year results from the pivotal Comparison of
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials
(CATT) comparing bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech)
and ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) found that the
drugs are equivalent in treating neovascular age…
iFS Femtosecond Laser Technology Approved for Arcuate Incisions
The iFS Femtosecond Laser (Abbott Medical Optics Inc.)
has received clearance from the FDA to create bow-shaped
or curved arcuate incisions in corneal surgery, including cataract
surgery.
With this new clearance, which was announced at the
ASCRS meeti…
ASCRS Announces New Membership for Optometrists
ASCRS, a 9,000-member international society dedicated
to improving the education and skill sets of anterior segment
surgeons, announced the establishment of a new
membership category that will enable certain optometrists
to apply for membership to the …
Carl Zeiss Announces US Clinical Trial of ReLEx Smile Procedure
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., was granted conditional approval
from the FDA to initiate a clinical trial in the United States
of the ReLEx smile procedure for the correction of myopia.
The ReLEx smile technique for refractive surgery combines
femtosecond …