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Watershed Intraocular Lens: The Light Adjsutable Lens (Calhoun Vision)
November 19, 2009
Pilot trial for toric correction with light-adjustable lens yields promising early results | ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com
SInce years ophthalmologist await the approval of the LAL Light adjustable lens (calhoun VIsion) as it will represent a watershed in intraocular lens technology.
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NO BRAINER: Genentech Prefers to Promote Lucentis over Avastin for Wet ARMD
October 7, 2009
Genentech revisits plan for Avastin | www.sfgate.com
It does not require a lot of ophthalmic and business savy to understand why a company rather promote a drug that costs more than 20 times more to treat the same medical condition.
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LASIK IS AN EXCELLENT PROCEDURE FOR THE APPROPRIATE CANDIDATES
May 7, 2008
LASIK Worries? Some May See Better with Alternatives | www.washingtonpost.com
The FDA report and scrutiny of LASIK complaints reveals what consientious LASIK surgeons have known for years: Not everyone who walks through your doors is a good lasik candidate and you should not laser everyone. About 1 out of 4 patients that consider lasik are actually good candidates for the procedure. Surface ablation, or lens implants are of course other procedures that can be a better option for a subset of patients. Surgeons that use conservative criteria and appropriate counseling and consent are rarely surprised by very unhappy patients or bad results. THose that laser all comers and reap the economic gain from 'a less stringent weeding out of patients' will invitably produce sub-optimal results, more unhappy patients, and maybe even develop a serious problem such as ectasia or extreme dry eye.
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The Next Big Thing in Cataract and Lens Based Surgery: The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)
April 7, 2008
Pilot trial for toric correction with light-adjustable lens yields promising early results | ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com
The light adjustable lens is a lens implant that is placed in the eye like a tradition intraocular lens during cataract surgery. The unique difference is that it can be treated with a special light after surgical implant (weeks to months later) to correct any residual refractive errors or to fine tune the outcome as desired by the patient or the surgeon. There is no other similar technology like it in clinical studies.
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GENETECH BACKTRACKS ON ITS DECISION TO LIMIT AVASTIN FOR WET MACULAR DEGERNATION
October 31, 2007
Genentech revisits plan for Avastin | www.sfgate.com
In the two weeks since Genetech made its announcement that it would limit the availability of Avastin to ophthalmologists for use in treating wet macular degeneration the outcry from patients, ophthalmologists, politicians, and the American Academy of OPhthalmology has been so great that Genetech is reversing its position. In the two weeks since Genetech made its announcement that it would limit the availability of Avastin to ophthalmologists for use in treating wet macular degeneration the outcry from patients, ophthalmologists, politicians, and the American Academy of OPhthalmology has been so great that Genetech is reversing its position.
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October 29, 2007
Ophthalmologists Concerned About AMD Patients’ Access To Avastin | aao.org
The American Academy of Ophthalmology said the recent decision by Genentech to limit availability of Avastin (bevacizumab) to compounding pharmacies could have a significant negative impact on the care of patients with age-related macular degeneration [AMD]. Dr. Charles Wilkinson, president of the AAO, said patients with macular degernation have come to rely on Avastin in their fight against potential vision loss and that AAO is evaluating how Genentech’s decision will affect patient care Because Avastin has also been used off-label to treat diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and various other sight-threatening disorders, Genentech’s decision to restrict availability of the drug has much wider implications than just for AMD patients,” said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., M.D., AAO’s executive vice president.
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October 22, 2007
Genentech to cease supplying bevacizumab to compounding pharmacies | www.osnsupersite.com
Genentech, Inc. is suspending sales of Avastin (bevacizumab) to compounding pharmacies in the United STates, in an effort to curb its non approved use for wet macular degenration. Recently, ophthalmologists have begun using the antiangiogenic cancer drug off-label to treat retinal neovascularization caused by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and other ocular diseases with excellent and safe results, but it still remains an off label use. Genentech also manufactures and distributes Lucentis (ranibuzumab injection), a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor approved that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of AMD. SInce Avastin cannot be purchased ready to use in the eye, ophthalmologists depend on compounding pharmacies to divide vials of the drug into smaller doses needed for the treatment of wet macular degenration and other eye disorders.
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OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS CAN HOLD PROMISE IN TREAMENT OF MANY EYE DISEASES
September 24, 2007
IGFBP3 suppresses retinopathy through suppression of oxygen-induced vessel loss and promotion of vascular regrowth | www.pnas.org
Omega-3 supplementation could be a useful strategy for protecting against retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), say Swedish investigators. In the study, mice with retinopathy were fed food enriched with either omega-3 or omega-6. Mice that ate omega-3 initially lost fewer retinal blood vessels than mice that ate omega-6, and they developed only half as much abnormal vessel growth.Their retinas also showed lower inflammatory activity. The same research team recently published another study showing that a protein called IGFBP-3 might also confer some protection against ROP. In that study children with retinopathy had lower levels of the protein compared with healthy children, suggesting that the protein prevents vessel loss and promotes normal vessel regeneration. A Phase I study is now under way with that compound.
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HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CASES RISING IN USA AND SO MAY GLAUCOMA
September 24, 2007
Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, & Open Angle Glaucoma: The Rotterdam Study | archopht.ama-assn.org
Patients with high arterial pulse pressure may be at increased risk for high-tension open angle glaucoma, a Dutch study concludes. Researchers analyzed data from 5,317 individuals, 215 of who had definite or probable open-angle glaucoma and 5,102 of whom were disease free.The analysis found that high-tension open-angle glaucoma was associated with high pulse pressure, possibly with increased carotid arterial stiffness and, only in persons treated for systemic hypertension, with low diastolic perfusion pressure. Normal-tension open angle glaucoma was associated with high diastolic blood pressure, whereas the association between normal-tension open angle glaucoma and low diastolic perfusion pressure was inverted.This suggests that the mechanisms involved in the etiology of high-tension open-angle glaucoma may be different from those in normal-tension open-angle glaucoma.
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ALCON MOVING FORWARD QUICKLY WITH WAVELIGHT PURCHASE
September 21, 2007
Ophthalmic business: Alcon exceeds 70% stake in WaveLight | www.osnsupersite.com
Alcon holds more than 70% of Wavelights shares and its takeover of Wavelight has been approved by the German authorities. WHile wavelight produces some interesting intraocular lenses, it is clear that Alcons interest in Wavelight lies in its realiable and fast excimer laser system that can be used for LASIK treatments. THis purchase will likely signifiy the end of Alcons LADARVISION excimer laser system and the full incorporation of Wavelights platform.
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NEW DIRECTIONS IN GLAUCOMA THERAPY/RESERACH FOR FUTURE
September 21, 2007
Targeting amyloid- b in Glaucoma | www.pnas.org
New research indicating the presence of amyloid-beta protein in dying retinal cells suggests a new direction in glaucoma research. Amyloid-beta is a protein found in Alzheimer's plaques. Using a rat model of glaucoma, the researchers found that the dying retinal cells showed accumulation of amyloid-beta. Blocking the effects of amyloid-beta delayed the onset of glaucoma in animal models.The researchers believe amyloid-beta is likely the mediator of retinal cell death, which is the cause of blindness from glaucoma.
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TEARS OF THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM: An Old Problem in a New Era.
August 13, 2007
Tears in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium: A Complication Associated with the New Macular Degeneration Treatments | pt.wkhealth.com
Tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) may develop during the course of anti-VEGF therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) related pigment epithelial detachment (PED), according to a study published in the June issue of Retina. A total of 33 cases of RPE tear after treatment with pegaptanib, bevacizumab and ranibizumab have previously been reported and of these, the authors collected and analysed the data from 25, in addition to the five other cases. The common features of each of the 30 cases included: advanced age of patient, the presence of fibrovascular PED or PED associated choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and diagnosis of the tear within four to eight weeks of the first or second injection.The authors concluded that patients with high-risk lesions should be advised and monitored carefully for signs of RPE which could limit their visual prognosis.
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AMO makes Bid for Bausch and Lomb
July 10, 2007
AMO outbids private equity firm for Bausch & Lomb | www.osnsupersite.com
In this news release presented today, this leading ophthalmic journal reports that AMO has presented the highest bid for the purchase of Bausch and Lomb.
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July 2, 2007
Costs of Visual Benefits in Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration | www.ophsource.org
Dr Smiddy reviewed age-related macular degeneration studies to evaluate the cost for the visual benefit of various treatment approaches, and then compared them with the costs for treating other retinal conditions. This study founds costs for treating wet macular degeneation could be as high as $9000 per line of vision with Lucentis compared to $600 per line with Avastin.
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PDT MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE A ROLE IN THE TREATMENT OF WET MACULAR DEGENERATION
July 2, 2007
Verteporfin and Intravitreal Bevacizumab Combination Treatment | www.ophsource.org
In a study of patients with choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration, Lazic and Gabric demonstrated that improvements in vision and reduction of central macular thickness after one month and their maintenance over three months are more significant after verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal bevacizumab than after the individual use of either therapy. At three months, this improvement was still seen in 22 patients receiving the combined treatments.
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SMOKING INCREASES RISK OF BLINDNESS DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION
July 2, 2007
European Eye Study Links Cigarette Smoking to Age-Related Macular Degeneration | www.ophsource.org
The European Eye Study (EUREYE) investigated 4,750 randomly sampled people over age 65 and examined the association between cigarette smoking and age-related macular degeneration and concluded that there is a postive correlation to smoking and blindness from macular degeneration.
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AMO will Push Hard to Increase INTRALASE Penetration in the LASIK Market in 2008 and Beyond
July 2, 2007
Femtosecond Laser for Penetrating Keratoplasty | www.ajo.com
In this latest study with the Intralase femtosecond laser, we see its versatility in being able to produce very efficient and safe corneal cuts for corneal transplant surgery. In addition to producing significant benefits for patients that undergo LASIK, this laser has thereaputic benefits that will affect all areas of corneal curgery for years to come.
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DELIVERY SYSTEM OF NEW MACULAR DEGENERATION DRUGS MAY BECOME VERY IMPORTANT
July 2, 2007
Intravitreous Dexamethasone Drug Delivery System in Patients With Persistent Macular Edema | archopht.ama-assn.org
A study reported in the March issue of Archives of Ophthalmology describes a new intravitreous drug delivery system for treating persistent retinal macular swelling. Using dexamethasone DDS and appropriate follow up, patients with this new system had significantly improved vision and and safety measures.
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ANti VGEF THERAPIES ARE NOT JUST FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION
July 2, 2007
Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy complicated by vitreous hemorrhage | www.retinajournal.com
A study by Costa et al. reported in the prestigopis journal RETINA, of seven seven patients with macular SWELLING associated with ischemic retinal vein occlusion treated with intravitreal bevacizumab showed promising short-term results. Patients received two injections of bevacizumab (Avastin) and were followed up for 25 weeks. Results were promising and showed a decrease in swelling and improved vision, but it appears the effect may not be long lasting and that repeat injections may be necessary. The therapy was well toelrated by patients and no patient lost best corrected vision.
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July 2, 2007
Artisan Phakic Intraocular Lens Safe, Effective After 10 Years | www.ophsource.org
Tahzib et al. conducted a 10-year retrospective follow-up study of the Artisan phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) for the correction of moderate to high nearsigtedness and concluded the device is both stable and predictable, but only when strict inclusion criteria are used. Over 90% of patients achieved 20/40 or better uncorrected vision with a good safety profile.
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