MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OPKO Health, Inc. (NYSE: OPK) has agreed to sell its ophthalmic instrumentation business to OPTOS, Inc., a subsidiary of Optos plc, a leading and rapidly growing medical technology company engaged in the design, development, man…
Category: Retina
Implantable Telescope is Available!
The first implantable telescope for patients with macular degeneration is now available for those eligible patients. Medicare will endorse as of October, 2011.
Avastin Does Not Cause Infection
The FDA issued an alert that 12 cases of intraocular infection were linked to Avastin. The infections; however, were linked to a single pharmacy and, perhaps, dirty syringes.
Happy Birthday to Me!
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!
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 […]
NICE FAD does not recommend ranibizumab for treatment of diabetic macular oedema
Source: NICE
Area: News
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued its Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on ranibizumab for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Within the FAD, ranibizumab is not recommend…
NETAG supports use of intravitreal bevacizumab for the management of age-related macular degeneration
Source: NETAG
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The North East Treatment Advisory Group (NETAG) has produced an updated appraisal of bevacizumab for the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and recommended bevacizumab 1.25 …
NICE Turns Down Lucentis (Ranibizumab) For Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment, UK
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) in the UK has decided not to recommend Lucentis (ranibizumab) for diabetic macular edema (British spelling: oedema) treatment. NICE approves or turns down treatments that will be covered by the NHS (Nat…
Novartis Fails to Win UK Backing for Lucentis in Diabetic Eye Condition
Novartis AG, Europes second-largest drugmaker, failed to win approval from the U.K.s health-cost agency for its drug Lucentis in diabetics who suffer an eye condition. Lucentis wasnt cost effective in patients with macular edema, the National Institute…
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…
New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Study For Dry AMD And Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy
Two patients have been treated using RPE (retinal pigment epithelial) cells derived from hESCs (human embryonic stem cells) in two Phase 1/2 clinical trials for dry age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt’s macular dystrophy, Advanced Cell Techn…
Histopathologic Complications Seen Post-Intra-Arterial Chemo
Though retinoblastoma can be controlled by intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC), histopathology demonstrates that ocular complications, including thromboembolic events, can occur, according to a study published online July 11 in the Archives of Ophthalmol…
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?
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.