Although 1.5% of all ED visits are eye-related, they make up only 0.76% of total ED charges, suggesting reimbursement may be lagging. Medscape Medical News
Tag: Ophthalmology
Does CXL Reduce the Need for Transplants for Keratoconus?
It has been proposed that crosslinking reduces the number of corneal transplants performed for keratoconus. However, Dr Rapuano sees holes in the data and stresses the need for better trials. Medscape Ophthalmology
Advantages Claimed for Dropless Cataract Surgery
Use of a combined triamcinolone/moxifloxacin compound improves therapeutic compliance, enhances prophylaxis against infection, and costs less than conventional eyedrops. Medscape Ophthalmology
Imaging for Glaucoma Diagnosis
Is OCT becoming the gold standard for glaucoma diagnosis? Not so fast, say Drs Rhee and Patel, as they discuss the complex challenges of glaucoma care. Medscape Ophthalmology
Surprising Variation Found in Mitomycin C Concentrations
Ophthalmologists are advised to choose concentrations in the middle range rather than on the outer ends of the spectrum, researchers say. Medscape Medical News
Noctura 400 Sleep Mask Helps Diabetic Patients Keep Their Eyesight
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for adults between the ages of 20 and 64 in the United States. As a patient’s diabetes progresses, the blood circulation worsens and the supply of oxygen to the retina is compromised. The retina is especially oxygen-starved at night since the rods, which are use (Read more...)
IRIS Registry Combs Big Data for Cataract Surgery Outcomes
Data from the IRIS Registry has determined the rate of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery to be lower than reported rates from other US data sets. Medscape Ophthalmology
Eye Implant for Producing Tears to Fight Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome may soon be treated with a new implant developed by a team led by researchers at Stanford University. The team identified the afferent neural pathway as being an excellent target for stimulation in order to activate tear production. They built a device that has platinum foil electrodes implanted under the inferior lacrimal [&hellip (Read more...)
Ophthalmologists Have Low Patient Complaint Rates
Ophthalmologists at academic centers have the highest risk for patient complaints compared with others in their field, but ophthalmology overall enjoys fewer complaints than other medical specialties. Medscape Medical News
AMD: Aflibercept Clinical Practice Efficacy Similar to Trials
Bimonthly administration may reduce the treatment burden and improve adherence, but longer-term visual acuity outcomes are still not known. Medscape Medical News
Smartphone-Based Adapter Captures Optic Disc Images
A new smartphone-based adapter enables untrained photographers to capture gradable optic disc images, researchers report. Reuters Health Information
Ebola-Related Uveitis: Treat One, Treat Many
Emory University ophthalmologists treated Dr Ian Crozier’s eye complications related to the Ebola virus and then took what they learned to West Africa to save the sight of many Ebola survivors. Medscape Ophthalmology
Ptosis and Diplopia in a 74-Year-Old With History of Stroke
Five years after her initial hospitalization, a patient returns with ptosis and diplopia. Are these a sign that another stroke has occurred, or is a different diagnosis called for? Medscape Ophthalmology
New Regulatory Requirements Tied to Drop in Intravitreal Bevacizumab Use
Regulations requiring patient-specific prescriptions (PSPs) for drugs used off-label may have caused a drop in prescriptions for intravitreal bevacizumab, with retinal specialists switching to medications that don’t require PSPs, according to a study f…
Direct Funduscopy Rarely Used, Feared to Be a ‘Forgotten Art’
Although performing direct funduscopy during a patient’s initial assessment is considered a ‘basic competency,’ most clinicians skipped the eye exam, potentially missing ‘valuable’ information. Medscape Medical News
Response to Anti-VEGF in Macular Edema Evident at 3 Months
Response to anti-VEGF injections at 3 months is predictive of response at 1 and 3 years, so nonresponders can be switched to a drug with a different mechanism of action early on, researchers report. Medscape Medical News
Expert Opinion in Managing Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye Disease
A survey of dry eye experts provides insight into the most commonly used treatment strategies for aqueous deficient dry eye disease. BMC Ophthalmology
Neural Deficit Progresses After Collagen Crosslinking for Keratoconus
Collagen crosslinking (CXL) treatment appears to halt the progression of keratoconus in young patients, but nerve disorientation persists, according to European investigators. Reuters Health Information
Baerveldt Has Edge on Ahmed in Glaucoma at 5 Years
For patients with refractory glaucoma, intraocular pressure was lower with the Baerveldt implant than with the Ahmed valve, and fewer medications were required, but the risk for hypotony was greater. Medscape Medical News
New Dry Eye Gel Improves Some, but Not All, Symptoms
A carbomer-based lipid-containing artificial tear formulation improved patients’ ocular surface staining grades and ocular irritation symptom scores and decreased symptoms in patients with dry eye. Medscape Medical News