A wireless device that was implanted in the eye of a glaucoma patient and monitored for well over a year measured intraocular pressure safely and accurately, researchers report. Reuters Health Information
Tag: News
No Change in Retinopathy in Diabetes 2 Years After Surgery
Two years after diabetic patients undergo bariatric surgery, diabetic retinopathy has neither worsened nor improved, data from STAMPEDE show. Regular eye exams are still important, investigators stress. Medscape Medical News
Aerie Pharma’s Glaucoma Drug Succeeds in Mid-stage Trial
Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc said its single-drop glaucoma treatment was shown to be superior to each of its two components in a mid-stage trial. Reuters Health Information
Telemedicine Diagnosis of CMV Retinitis by Nonexperts
Nonophthalmologists with limited special training can’t consistently diagnose cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis by telemedicine, researchers say. Reuters Health Information
Drug for Age-Related Macular Degeneration Falls Short
Ohr Pharmaceutical Inc said its experimental eye drop showed no significant benefit over a placebo in reducing the number of injections of another drug directly into the eye, but improved patients’ visual clarity. Reuters Health Information
Nonvisual Factors Affect Visual Ability in Elderly Patients
Visual ability is affected by a number of nonvisual factors, including walking ability, depression, and cognitive function. Medscape Medical News
Aberrometry-Based Refraction: Enough for Surgical Planning?
Intraoperative wavefront aberrometry may not provide consistent results and should not be relied on as the sole guidance for intraoperative surgical planning during cataract surgery. Medscape Medical News
Switch From Lucentis to Avastin Could Save Medicare $18B
Medicare could slash $18 billion in spending over the course of 10 years if physicians treated patients with vision-robbing ailments with bevacizumab instead of ranibizumab. Medscape Medical News
Selumetinib Yields Modest Benefits in Rare Eye Cancer
The first randomized controlled trial of the MEK inhibitor selumetinib finds modest improvement in clinical outcomes of advanced uveal melanoma but high rates of adverse effects. Medscape Medical News
Glaucoma Risk After Infantile Cataract Surgery
Several factors may be tied to a lower risk of glaucoma after infantile cataract surgery, according to a meta-analysis: later surgery, primary implantation, and fewer additional procedures. Reuters Health Information
Screen for Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy to Preserve Vision
Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy can cause damage that may continue for 3 or more years after the drug is discontinued and greatly reduce the amount of visual loss. Medscape Medical News
FDA Panel Delivers Mixed Verdict on KAMRA Corneal Inlay
The FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Committee wrestled with flawed trial data that suggested efficacy but yielded some safety concerns, leading to overall uncertainty about benefit versus risk. Medscape Medical News
AMD: Baseline Vision Features May Predict Vision Loss
Sustained visual acuity loss may be rare in patients with AMD treated with anti-VEGF drugs, but baseline vision characteristics may predict patients whose vision will worsen. Medscape Medical News
Blood Pressure Meds May Up AMD Risk, 20-Year Study Suggests
Beaver Dam Eye Study researchers have linked vasodilator blood pressure medicines with a higher risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration. Medscape Medical News
Glaucoma: Automated Calls May Up Compliance With Eye Drops
Electronic monitoring, and then automated reminders, have documented medication adherence and adherence improvement in patients with glaucoma. Medscape Medical News
Regimen, Choice of Drug Can Affect AMD Treatment Outcomes
Regular rather than as-needed treatment with VEGF inhibitors can improve outcomes, and which VEGF inhibitor used can affect the number of intravitreal injections required, 2 new studies show. Medscape Medical News
Microstent Standalone Treatment Improves Refractory Glaucoma
Microinvasive glaucoma surgery is safe and beneficial, even when not combined with cataract surgery, new research shows. Medscape Medical News
EHR Divide Is Widening Among Physicians, CDC Says
When it comes to EHR adoption, physicians in large practices are outpacing soloists. The gap between primary care physicians and specialists has grown as well. Medscape Medical News
CMS Tightens Controls on Medicare Prescribing
Final ruling says all prescribers must be enrolled in Medicare in light of reports that show some drug orders are coming from unauthorized providers. Medscape Medical News
Low-Power Annual SLT Effective for Ocular Hypertension
Improvement was greater with a regimen of yearly low-power selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) treatments than with standard SLT therapy. Medscape Medical News