News

Study Examines Visual Outcomes of LASIK-Induced Monovision

LASIK-induced monovision increases spectacle independence and is a valid option for myopic patients with presbyopia, according to a study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.1

The prospective, observational study examined 37 consecutive patients older than 45 years who underwent bilateral myopic LASIK with planned monovision. At the 6-month postoperative visit, distance and near binocular visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis were evaluated. Patients with unstable refraction, previous ocular surgery, suspected keratoconus, ocular or systemic disease, or history of amblyopia or other conditions affecting ocular motility were excluded.

By inducing a mean residual spherical equivalent defect of -0.97 D in the nondominant eye, patients achieved a mean near binocular UCVA of 0.74; a mean reading test binocular UCVA of 0.88 using an acceptable spontaneous reading distance (48 cm); and a mean distance binocular UCVA of 1.08, according to the study. A slight decrease in contrast sensitivity and stereopsis was observed in monovision compared with full distance correction.

1. Garcia-Gonzalez M, Teus M, Hernandez-Verdejo J. Visual outcomes of LASIK-induced monovision in myopic patients with presbyopia. Am J Ophthalmol. 2010;150(3):381-386.

Ojas conducted an camp at Assistant commissioner of police (Wireless)

Ojas Laser Eye Surgery Centre conducted an Eye checkup camp at ACP (Wireless)-Byculla on 28th of August 2010.Nearly 150 people were checked in newly launched mobile eye van. The van eas assited by a doctor and a optomatrists. Patients were checked under a fully air-conditioned environment.

Industrial use nanofiber may help treat glaucoma

Nanomaterial developed for use in aircraft coatings, wind turbines, and other large-scale commercial applications may lead to a significant breakthrough in glaucoma treatment, according to the University of Dayton Research Institute, Ohio. The so-called “fuzzy fiber” will be used to create biocompatible, non-clogging drainage tubes to relieve excess fluid and pressure in the eye. The carbon tubes will be marketed as an alternative to silicone tubes, which need replacement if they become encapsulated with fibroblasts.

If early animal testing is successful, the UDRI said the tubes could be on the market in as little as three years.

The patent application for the technology covers applications for ear drainage tubes in addition to ophthalmic use, according to the University

Alcon completes acquisition of LenSx Lasers Inc

Alcon (Huenenberg, Switzerland) announced last week that it received regulatory approval of the acquisition of LenSx Lasers Inc., a laser device company that has developed a femtosecond laser to perform certain steps of cataract surgery, and closed the transaction.

The LenSx femtosecond laser is the first such laser to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for use as a part of cataract surgery.

According to the press release, Stuart Raetzman, vice president of global marketing and area president for the U.S., noted, "We are extremely pleased with the addition of the LenSx technology to Alcon’s current microincisional cataract surgery product portfolio. We believe surgeons and their patients will benefit from the increased accuracy and control provided by the LenSx femtosecond laser ... The LenSx acquisition illustrates Alcon’s dedication to helping surgeons improve every step of the cataract procedure."

LenSx president and CEO, Dr. Ronald Kurtz said, "The LenSx team is thrilled to be a part of Alcon, the world’s leader in eyecare, which will allow this advanced technology to reach more surgeons and cataract patients around the world."

Alcon paid a base purchase price of $361.5 million in cash to LenSx shareholders for their shares, plus committed to pay maximum contingent payments of $382.5 million based upon the achievement and over-achievement of future femtosecond unit and procedure fee revnue milestones. Alcon anticipates that the LenSx femtosecond laser will be commercially available in the U.S. beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010 and in other countries next year.

The American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) released the results of a study project to develop a term to help patients and the public more easily understand presbyopia.

Language, especially medical terminology, can act as a barrier to patient understanding, ASCRS said in a press release. Presbyopia is such a term. Despite the fact that millions of Americans are presbyopes, many will simply say they have “short arms syndrome” and dismiss it as a normal part of aging that is simply to be accepted, not knowing there are management options beyond reading glasses. People do not understand how the aging of the lens affects their vision, nor are they aware of the surgical or intraocular lens options for managing the condition, noted the study report, available at www.ascrs.orgmn .

With this in mind, the ASCRS Foundation undertook a project with Interbrand Health to develop a term that could stand on its own or be used in conjunction with presbyopia and suggested text for educating patients about the condition. The selected term is Age-Related Focus Dysfunction.

Criteria for acceptance of the term included:

1) people, particularly presbyopes, upon hearing it would be able to understand it and intuit its applicability to their own condition;

2) it had to “medicalize” the condition with the attendant suggestion that presbyopia could be managed or treated medically.

ASCRS encourages use of the term and its accompanying text for patient education purposes in pamphlets, practice advertising, on practice websites, in patient counseling, and other similar situations.

Too Few Infants Get Comprehensive Eye Assessments; One in 10 Have Undetected Vision Problems.

One in 10 infants in the U.S. have undetected vision problems, ranging from crossed eyes to cancer. While most parents know eye and vision problems can be detected in children before they're a year old, only 19 percent of those who participated in the American Optometric Association's (AOA) annual Eye-Q® survey report taking their infant for a comprehensive eye assessment. Thirty-three percent of parents wait until their child is between one and two years of age, while 26 percent wait until their child is five years of age or older.

"It is critical that infants undergo a comprehensive eye assessment from an optometrist by the time they turn a year old," said Dr. Glen Steele, optometrist and chair of the InfantSEE® committee, a program of Optometry Cares The AOA Foundation. "Optometrists have the clinical background and expertise to detect eye and vision problems as well as ensure your baby has healthy eyes and their vision is developing appropriately."

Unfortunately, only 19 percent of respondents know that cancer can be detected in an infant's eyes, while the majority of respondents understand problems like lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed eyes, nearsightedness and farsightedness could be identified.

"Early intervention is essential for maintaining infant eye and vision health," said Dr. Steele. "Most conditions are easier to treat when caught early."

Traditional eye chart testing requires identification of letters or symbols and demands sustained attention, making it impossible to use with infants and toddlers. Instead, an evaluation of visual acuity includes tests to assess whether an infant can fix his eyes on an object and follow the object, or identify which objects the baby prefers to look and at what distances.

"It is crucial that parents understand the importance of comprehensive eye exams for infants and how they are administered," said Dr. Steele. "The good news about a trip to the optometrist is that most babies seem to enjoy the 'games' we use to determine whether their visual development is progressing normally and their eyes are healthy."

Demographic Comparisons

Ethnicity Comparisons

According to the 2010 Eye-Q® survey, Hispanics (26 percent) are more likely than Caucasians (17 percent) and African-Americans (16 percent) to take their baby for a comprehensive eye assessment before their first birthday. The majority of Caucasians (35 percent) wait until their child is between one and two years of age, while the majority of African-Americans (36 percent) wait until their child is five years of age or older to have a comprehensive eye exam administered.

Gender Comparisons

Surprisingly, more men (21 percent) than women (17 percent) report having their infants' eyes checked by an eye doctor between six months and one year of age. In addition, the majority of male respondents (37 percent) reported their child having a comprehensive eye exam for the first time between one and two years of age, compared to the majority of female respondents (37 percent) who said their child was five years or older.

How the AOA Can Help

Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation and Vistakon®, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. created InfantSEE®, a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide. Through InfantSEE®, optometrists provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants between six and 12 months of age, regardless of a parent's ability to pay.

The AOA recommends that infants have an InfantSEE® assessment before their first birthday and young children have comprehensive eye exams at age three, before starting school and then every two years thereafter.