Years after he left the FDA and met people hurt by the procedure, Morris Waxler says he now sees the risks as too high and wants the FDA to add warnings. The FDA and an industry group respond. Medscape Medical News
Tag: News
Diabetes Eye Exam Frequency in US Is ‘Alarmingly Low’
In a large database of insured patients, almost half with type 2 diabetes and a third with type 1 diabetes had no eye exam in a 5-year period. Change is needed to stop retinopathy being the leading cause of blindness. Medscape Medical News
Diabetic Retinopathy: 2-Year Screening Interval May Be Okay
Findings suggest screening intervals could be lengthened, but both the study authors and editorialists urge caution pending further study. Medscape Medical News
Eye Movements May Flag Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia
A Japanese study found a significant association between visual exploration and scores on a cognitive test requiring visual search in patients with schizophrenia. Medscape Medical News
Burnout Rises Above 50% in Some Specialties, New Survey Shows
Urologists had the highest burnout rates; 20% of all physicians said they have had thoughts of suicide or prefer not to answer. Medscape Medical News
Smartphone App Detects Opioid Overdose
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a smartphone app that can detect if someone is experiencing an opioid overdose. The app uses sonar to monitor the breathing rate of a user, which it can do from up to three feet away, to assess if someone is experiencing an overdose. So far, the technology […]
Take Diabetes Into Consideration When Assessing for Glaucoma
Diabetes and hyperglycemia are associated with thicker central corneal thickness, a relationship that could lead to overestimation of intraocular pressure, researchers warn ophthalmologists. Medscape Medical News
Miris Human Milk Analyzer Cleared by FDA to Measure Nutritional Content for Donor Milk
Donor human milk is a standard of care in many maternity wards caring for preterm infants. While very effective, the nutritional content of donor milk is often subpar and requires targeted fortification. Miris, based in Uppsala, Sweden, won FDA clearance for its Human Milk Analyzer, a novel device used to test donor breast milk for energy (Read more...)
Diet Soda Linked to Increased Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy
Diet soda, but not regular soda, was linked to increased risk for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a study found; further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Medscape Medical News
Medical Historian Prescribes, Fact Checks for Television
Who takes the call when Hollywood needs help with a medical script? In one case, the director of the Museum of Vision helped out, and plans to open to the public in 2020 are underway. Medscape Medical News
Higher Eye Pressure After Anti-VEGF Therapy Needs More Attention
The elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) known to follow intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents may persist in certain patients, according to a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Reuters He…
Dry Eye Symptom Screens Show Modest Accuracy
In head-to-head comparisons, two of five dry eye screens showed a statistically significant ability to detect signs of the disorder, but all demonstrated relatively modest diagnostic accuracy, researchers say. Reuters Health Information
Cheap Infrared Scanners Thanks to Quantum Effects and Wavelength Shifts
Infrared spectroscopy is commonly used for testing the strength of various materials, to study archaeological finds, and in forensics. It’s a bit of a niche in medicine, partially due to the fact that the visible spectrum is itself so useful and equipment relying on it cheap to acquire. Researchers at the Agency for Science, Technology [&hell (Read more...)
Small-Particle Air Pollution May Raise Glaucoma Risk in Some
In people who already have a genetic vulnerability, small-particle air pollution known as black carbon may raise the risk of developing glaucoma, a new study suggests. Reuters Health Information
Calcified Nodules Linked to AMD Progression
Calcified nodules in the retinas of patients with age-related macular degeneration are linked to the progression to advanced stage disease, a study has shown. Medscape Medical News
Pressure Intensifies to Lower Drug Prices
Ophthalmic drug costs vary widely in the United States, and patients don’t know whether they will pay $10 or $200 for their medication at a pharmacy. Medscape Medical News
OCT Screening Before Cataract Surgery Can Improve Outcomes
Routine screening with optical coherence tomography (OCT) before cataract surgery can identify overlooked pathologies, researchers say, but cost might be an issue. Medscape Medical News
23andMe’s Pharmacogenetic Test Approved by FDA
The FDA has just approved 23andMe’s Personal Genomic Service (PGS) Pharmacogenetic Reports. This marks the first direct-to-consumer test for pharmacogenetics of enzyme variants that may affect the way patients break down medications. Consumers collect their saliva into 23andMe’s testing kit, mail it to the company’s labs, and then (Read more...)
Transistor Chip for Continuous Monitoring of 3D Cell Cultures
A team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge has developed a 3D “organ-on-a-chip” with a difference – the cells in the device grow within an electrode that allows for continuous electrical monitoring. The researchers have dubbed the device a transistor in a tube, or “Tubistor,” and hope that it can advance (Read more...)
Cataract Surgery, Hearing Aids May Curb Cognitive Decline
Sensory deprivation is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, but will correcting impaired hearing and vision prevent these outcomes? Yes, these studies suggest. Medscape Medical News