AAO launches ophthalmology’s first clinical data registry

NEW ORLEANS — The American Academy of Ophthalmology announced the launch of the specialty’s first clinical data registry. The Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry is designed to let ophthalmologists collect information and use it to improve the quality of care and outcomes and meet regulatory requirements. A team of experts discussed the registry at an AAO news conference during the annual meeting here. The IRIS Registry is scheduled for full implementation in April 2014, Michael F. Chiang, MD, chairman of the AAO’s Medical Information Technology Committee, said.

New AAO president issues call to action for ophthalmologists

NEW ORLEANS — Ophthalmologists should advocate for colleagues and patients amid a challenging and increasingly complex regulatory environment, President-elect Gregory L. Skuta, MD, said at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here. “Compassionate and devoted service to our patients serves as a foundation for what we all do,” Skuta said after his induction at the opening ceremony. Skuta replaces Paul Sternberg Jr., MD, as AAO president.

Speakers disagree on need for genetic testing in AMD

NEW ORLEANS – Whether to conduct genetic testing in patients with AMD in order to tailor nutritional therapy was contested in two presentations here, with one speaker advancing the need and another standing by the American Academy of Ophthalmology genetic testing guidelines. Carl C. Awh, MD, and colleagues this month published study findings in Ophthalmology regarding the influence of genetic risk markers on response to nutritional supplements in patients with age-related macular degeneration, suggesting that genotype-directed nutritional therapy could result in improved outcomes for patients with moderate AMD. “The biological (Read more...)

MAHALO results suggest positive treatment effect of lampalizumab in geographic atrophy

NEW ORLEANS – The 18-month results of the MAHALO study demonstrate a positive treatment effect of a complement inhibitor in AMD-related geographic atrophy, according to a speaker here. “The MAHALO results suggest the CFI biomarker is both prognostic for geographic atrophy progression and predictive for lampalizumab treatment response,” Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS, said at Retina Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.