Vol. VII, No. 21
May 21, 2008
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CONTENTS
New Journal Studies
Academy News
Industry News
NEW JOURNAL STUDIES
Cell loss after small-incision DSEK is significantly influenced by surgical technique
This retrospective review of 500 consecutive cases of primary Descemet stripping with endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) identifies three surgical factors that influenced endothelial cell loss six months after surgery. Cell loss was significantly less when single-point fixation forceps were used for graft insertion and in grafts that did not require repositioning. Combining DSEK with cataract extraction also resulted in less cell loss. Ophthalmology, May 2008
Avastin appears to have the same low endophthalmitis rate as Lucentis
This retrospective review included 10,254 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections – including pegaptanib, bevacizumab and ranibizumab – performed as an office-based procedure with povidone-iodine as the only pre-injection preparation. The incidence of suspected endophthalmitis per injection was 0.029 percent; a rate similar to or lower than clinical trials that mandated the use of pre-injection antibiotics and draping of patients. There was no difference in infection rate among the three treatments. American Journal of Ophthalmology, May 2008
LASIK can treat some children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia
Researchers evaluated the use of unilateral LASIK to achieve refractive balance in 32 children in whom conventional therapy was unsuccessful. At last follow-up, which ranged from one to five years, visual acuity improved in the amblyopic eye and was associated with decreased anisometropia. The children achieved results similar to that of adults with comparable refractive errors. Journal of Refractive Surgery, May 2008
Cyclosporine A appears to speed visual recovery after LASIK
Researchers retrospectively compared outcomes in patients treated with cyclosporine A 0.05% after surgery to those who received the standard regimen for 12 weeks. None of the 45 patients had pre-existing dry eye. Overall, eyes in the cyclosporine A group showed dramatic improvement in UCVA recovery at one week postop, with 44.9 percent of cyclosporine A eyes obtaining UCVA of 20/15 compared with 22.2 percent of eyes in the standard treatment group. Journal of Refractive Surgery, May 2008
Animal study shows levofloxacin may be an alternative to standard therapy for endophthalmitis
Researchers evaluated the efficacy of intravitreal 1.5% levofloxacin compared to combined vancomycin and ceftazidime in rabbits inoculated with either S epidermidis, S aureus or P aeruginosa. In all three models of endophthalmitis, levofloxacin treatment produced 3–5 log reductions in CFU/ml of vitreous relative to that in untreated eyes, and there were no significant differences in CFU/ml between the two antibiotic-treated groups. British Journal of Ophthalmology, May 2008
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ACADEMY NEWS
Abstract submissions for Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day open now through June 25
Join leaders in your field from around the world, and submit your abstracts for papers and e-posters for the ISRS/AAO 2008 Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day. Find submission details online.
Did you know that the Ophthalmic News & Education (O.N.E.) Network offers opinions on the latest journal studies from leaders in your field?
When you first launch the O.N.E. Network, you will see information displayed for Comprehensive Ophthalmology, but you can set the O.N.E. Network to display content in your area of interest whenever you log in. Here’s how:
- Select a subspecialty from the dropdown list near the top of the page, then
- Click the link under the name of the subspecialty you have just chosen
2008-2009 Basic Clinical Science Course available for advance order
Both the print and CD-ROM versions will ship June 20. The online version will be available for purchase in June. Four sections have undergone major revisions this year: Section 10: Glaucoma, Section 11: Lens and Cataract, Section 12: Retina and Vitreous, Section 13: Refractive Surgery.
Treat an eye injury last week?
If so, it’s not too late to report it as part of the fifth-annual Eye Injury Snapshot. The Academy and the American Society of Ocular Trauma ask that you take a moment to gather the charts from any patients you treated for eye injuries May 11 to 18 and copy the basic facts into our quick online form. Submit all data by May 23.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Google launches health service
The service, still a non-final "beta" version, lets users link information from a handful of pharmacies and care providers, including Quest Diagnostics labs. Google plans to add more.
Massachusetts Senate bans gifts to doctors
The ban is part of a healthcare reform package, and it prohibits pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers from giving doctors gifts of any kind, regardless of monetary value. The bill is the first of its kind in the nation although Minnesota and Vermont both have similar laws but without the full scope of the Massachusetts act.
Court: U.S. currency discriminates against blind people
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit this week upheld a decision by a lower court that ruled U.S. money discriminates against blind people because it’s impossible for them to distinguish among the bills' varying values. It could force the Treasury Department to redesign its money.
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