EuroTimes RSS http://www.eurotimes.org ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=266 Using a mechanical microkeratome offers surgeons a safe and efficient means of flap creation in LASIK procedures and produces residual stromal beds of excellent smoothness and quality that compare favourably with those created by femtosecond laser, a... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=426 Four years ago, Patrick H Benz PhD got so frustrated looking for a way to add blue filtering to IOLs without reducing contrast sensitivity that he spent his Christmas holiday scouring the scientific literature. What he found was that a single n... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1767 For the first time, the ESCRS Congress will partner the 10th European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) Congress which will also take place at Le Palais des Congres from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 September, immediately preceding the XXVIII E... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1768 Alcon has announced that it will purchase the US rights for two FDA-approved topical eye care products from Sirion Therapeutics, Inc. The first is Durezol... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1777 After a successful pilot programme in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Spain last year, preparations are now well advanced for the launch of the online European Registry ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1792 What can be more humdrum than taking a taxi from an airport into a city? Unless, that is, the taxi is a luxurious motor launch and the city is Venice ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1793 COLLAGEN cross-linking with riboflavin may provide an effective and safe treatment for post-refractive-surgery ectasia ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1798 DEATH and remodelling of retinal ganglion cells may explain a number of early anomalies in visual function brought about by diabetes... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=1799 Appropriate IOL selection continues to be a major challenge to cataract surgeons. The bewildering array of formulae made available for the task can intimidate the most experienced clinicians. The challenge is compounded by the consideration of ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2002 India''s Aravind Eye Care System is the world''s largest provider of eye surgery. Through its five hospitals and network of clinics in southern India the system manages some 2.5 million outpatient visits and 300,000 eye surgeries annually. Of t... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2003 Anyone who has done fundus exams on patients with multifocal intraocular lenses knows how difficult it can be to adequately illuminate and visualise the retina through these complex optics. MIOLs also can complicate procedures done at the slit ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2004 The recurring corneal ulcer wasn... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2005 Promising new compounds currently undergoing clinical trials may have the potential to reduce the devastating effects of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and offer patients a new paradigm of care, according to Alexander Brucker MD. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2006 A NEW visual field test grid based on the correspondences between the retinal ganglion cell distribution in the optic nerve head and points in the visual field may detect glaucomatous structural change more sensitively than the conventional 24... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2007 In between visits to Istanbul... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2008 A patient previously diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) complained of not being able to watch movies with his family because he got a headache when they turned off the lights in the room. When he turned the lights on, the headache went away... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2009 Surgical outcomes registries operated by 10 national ophthalmology societies serving 15 European countries are beginning to share data through EUREQUO, the online European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2010 Five years after undergoing LASIK and three years after developing post-LASIK keratectasia, a helicopter pilot on disability leave from a metropolitan city''s Fire Department in the US, was referred to A John Kanellopoulos MD at New York Univer... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2011 Technolas Perfect Vision (TPV) GmbH has unveiled two new laser procedures in the fields of cataract surgery and the treatment of presbyopia. TPV has now developed a new femtosecond laser procedure, known as CUSTOMLENS... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2012 The European Science Foundation has drafted a code of conduct to curtail research fraud in ophthalmology and every other field of medical and scientific study. According to the foundation... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2013 Corneal topography makes possible precise measurements of astigmatism induced by corneal surface irregularities before and after any type of cataract or refractive surgery. Combined with measures of total astigmatism from aberrometry or manifes... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2014 Marking the 20th anniversary of LASIK and the European Year of LASIK, the ESCRS has launched ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2015 A new global initiative has recently been set in motion with the aim of eliminating blindness from paediatric cataracts worldwide. Co-sponsored by Lions Club and Bausch + Lomb, The Pediatric Cataract Initiative (www.PediatricCataract.org) will ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2016 Adherence is the toughest aspect of glaucoma therapy and is likely to influence disease progression, so what keeps patients from taking their medication? Understanding patient motivation may provide a key to achieving adherence and developing s... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2017 Researchers have found that noninvasive in vivo imaging of a hallmark of Alzheimer... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2018 Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for ocular surface reconstruction has been increasing in popularity in recent years with about two dozen possible indications currently described. However, the expanding use of AMT for some purported ind... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2019 Femtosecond lasers currently being used for LASIK flap creation reflect an improved understanding of the physical principles underlying femtosecond laser-tissue interactions, said Michael Mrochen PhD, at the 1st EuCornea Congress. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2020 Topically applied lyophilized extract of human amniotic membrane (AMX, Keera, www. keera.eu) safely and effectively promotes healing of persistent epithelial defects, reported Emiliano Ghinelli MD, at the 1st EuCornea Congress.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2022 The incidence of glaucoma in Europe is likely to increase dramatically in coming decades, as the population ages and longevity increases. As a result, glaucoma management will require a more efficient use of medical resources than is currently ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2023 The long-term findings of the OHTS study suggest that an early prophylactic IOP-lowering eye drop regimen is unlikely to benefit most patients with ocular hypertension, but in those with known risk factors for glaucoma it can significantly redu... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2024 IOLs which open or expand the capsular bag appear to be very effective at preventing posterior capsule opacification (PCO), said Liliana Werner MD, PhD, John A Moran Eye Centre, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, US.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2025 Swiss researchers have reported success in restoring light sensitivity in animals with retinitis pigmentosa using an ancient bacterial protein. The researchers used the protein ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2026 The sharp posterior optic edge of an acrylic IOL can at most delay posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Indeed, the IOL material plays a more important role in the long term, and silicone is best in that regard, according to Rupert Menapace M... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2027 Cataract surgery patients bilaterally implanted with the aspheric bifocal AcrySof ReSTOR IOL (Alcon Laboratories) maintain useful stereoacuity despite the presence of simultaneous images on the retina, according to researchers at the GIO Univer... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2028 Vitrectomy offers an effective treatment for disturbing primary vitreous floaters, although patients need to be warned about the high complication rate associated with the procedure, according to a study presented at the 10th EURETINA Congress ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2029 At the same EuCornea Congress session, Josef Stoiber MD, reported on the first Boston KPro surgeries performed at the University Eye Clinic, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2030 Two different techniques for anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) assisted by the IntraLase femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics) are safe and effective when corneal transplantation becomes indicated... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2031 Performing cataract operations on both eyes on the same day saves money, equipment and time without compromising safety, according to advocates of Immediately Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS).... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2032 Every medical speciality is stereotyped by those outside the specialty in the wider profession. The image of surgeons is of brisk, no-nonsense technocrats who tend to prefer action to words. All stereotypes are false as absolute descriptions of ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2033 Longer-term results support the potential of Descemet''s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for becoming the technique of choice in the surgical treatment of endothelial disease, according to Gerrit Melles MD, PhD.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2035 Researchers in the US have reported on the use of a novel peptide to reduce the level of photoreceptor cell death associated with retinal detachment. The mode of cell death in retinal detachment is similar to many other types of retinal degener... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2037 Even if you... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2038 Hydrodissection cannula Sterimedix has announced the introduction of a new hydrodissection cannula for cataract surgery. Designed in conjunction with Dr Richard Mackool, the new cannula is angled and flattened to allow easy access under the anter... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2039 Intraocular devices for treating endstage macular degeneration that can be implanted in the capsular bag using conventional cataract surgery technique are becoming a reality. The new lenses offer several advantages over implanted Galilean teles... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2040 Adjusting Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) values based on central corneal thickness (CCT) will only add to the inaccuracy of the measurement, according to James D Brandt MD, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, US.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2041 As refractive surgery has become more complex, so too has reporting the results of various procedures. Presbyopia correcting procedures in particular have introduced a need for new reporting terms. Recognising a growing need for clarity in clini... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2042 All three surgeons involved in the study agreed that the quality of the flaps and stromal beds were marginally better in the traditional microkeratome group compared to those in the femtosecond laser group. ""When looking at the stromal beds of One U... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2043 Following the successful launch of "LASIK Safe in Our Hands" (www.LASIKSafeinOurHands. com), a consumer-oriented website dedicated to highlighting the facts about LASIK surgery, ESCRS has launched a number of dedicated foreign language sites to promo... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2044 If the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract & Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO) succeeds, it could become a model for other specialties seeking to share information and develop evidence-based standards across borders, predicts Georgios M... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2045 The European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) has launched the 2011 EURETINA Innovation Awards, a new initiative sponsored by EURETINA to support and encourage innovation in the field of retinal medicine. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2046 The global cataract market is roughly 10 times the size of the refractive surgery market, and most adults over the age of 40 have presbyopia to some degree. Technolas Perfect Vision (TPV), based in Munich, Germany, is offering a host of new laser pro... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2048 A new e-learning solution for ESCRS members will be officially launched at the 2011 ESCRS Winter Meeting in Istanbul. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2049 The current role of phakic IOLs (PIOLs) as a widely accepted alternative for the correction of moderate and high refractive error can be attributed to a number of advances relating to the technology itself and surgical technique. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2050 Ophthalmologists may soon see more extensive claims in drug advertisements depending on the outcome of a case now before Europe''s highest court. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2051 "Epiretinal membrane development remains a known complication of retinal detachment (RD) repair, but surgical removal of the membranes remains a viable means of improving visual acuity for these patients, according to a study presented at the 10th EU... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2052 "Research has identified several risk factors for the onset and progression of different types of glaucoma"... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2053 "Hospitals committed to training young surgeons should embrace the best technology available "... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2054 Eurequo , the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery, could make a major contribution to assisting young ophthalmologists in training, according to Oliver Findl MD, chairman of the Young Ophthalmologists... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2056 Less than a decade after its debut, Descemet stripping (automated) endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) has become standard of care in many areas of the world for eyes requiring corneal transplantation because of endothelial dysfunction. While DSAE... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2057 "Eurequo , the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery, could make a major contribution to assisting young ophthalmologists in training, according to Oliver Findl MD, chairman of the Young Ophthalmologists'' Forum. P... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2058 "Ophthalmic surgeons have explored the idea of replacement of the diseased corneal layers for many years. Unfortunately, various techniques proposed were unable to provide the optical and visual results equal to penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). That i... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2061 When the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS convened in September 2010, six different manufacturers were marketing femtosecond laser platforms for use in keratorefractive surgery, and all offer reliable technology for creating LASIK flaps with a num... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2063 A ruling by Europe''s highest court could slow or even block patients from travelling outside their own country for ophthalmic treatment. In a decision delivered last October, the European Court of Justice ruled that French law can require any ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2064 Preliminary analyses of data collected in the ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2065 As one of the world... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2066 Hyperopic sub-Bowmans keratomileusis (SBK) is safe and effective for correcting hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism and can substantially improve unaided near vision in presbyopic hyperopic patients, reported Vikentia Katsanevaki, MD, PhD, at ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2067 Three years out of fellowship, Thomas S Harbin Jr MD, MBA, had already built a successful regional glaucoma specialty practice, attracting referrals from more than 100 kilometres around. Then, in 1978, timolol eye drops hit the market.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2068 "When the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS convened in September 2010, six different manufacturers were marketing femtosecond laser platforms for use in keratorefractive surgery, and all offer reliable technology for creating LASIK flaps with a number of... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2069 "A ruling by Europe''s highest court could slow or even block patients from travelling outside their own country for ophthalmic treatment. In a decision delivered last October, the European Court of Justice ruled that French law can require any patie... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2070 "Preliminary analyses of data collected in the "Happy Patient Project" show bilateral multifocal IOL implantation resulted in excellent functional results and high patient satisfaction overall. However, postoperative satisfaction was slightly lower t... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2071 "As one of the world''s premier ophthalmic device manufacturers, Carl Zeiss Meditec offers a wide range of state-of-the-art products. The firm, based in Jena, Germany, sold €640m worth of leadingedge products in 2009. These included diagnost... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2072 "Hyperopic sub-Bowmans keratomileusis (SBK) is safe and effective for correcting hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism and can substantially improve unaided near vision in presbyopic hyperopic patients, reported Vikentia Katsanevaki, MD, PhD, at the 1s... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2073 "CSO has launched a non-mydriatic digital fundus camera. A company spokesman said the new camera, Cobra, integrates every function required for easy retinal screening. ""Integrating an innovative imaging optical system, Cobra realises digital fundus ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2075 "Emboldened by mid-term elections that cost the Democratic Party control of the US House of Representatives and trimmed its majority in the Senate, Republican leaders announced that repealing President Barack Obama''s signature healthcare reform is a... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2076 "What do you do for the LASIK recipient who develops cataracts and would like to remain spectacle free? A recent study evaluated the long-term refractive and visual outcomes of apodised diffractive multifocal intraocular lens implantation after myopi... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2077 "The live surgery programme will be one of the highlights of the 15th ESCRS Winter Meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. An exciting Scientific Programme has been prepared by the ESCRS Programme Committee for the Winter Meeting which takes... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2078 "The 11th EURETINA Congress will take place in The Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London from 26-29 May, 2011. We have high expectations for this year''s congress after a record number of medical and surgical retina specialists attended the 10th EURETI... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2079 "Today''s cataract surgery is no longer simply extraction of the lens content and implantation of a spherical IOL. The surgeons can now make their choices between more complex optic IOLs which may better meet their patients'' expectations. The number... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2080 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2229 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2230 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2231 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2232 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2233 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2234 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2235 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2236 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2237 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2238 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2239 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2240 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2241 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2242 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2243 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2244 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2245 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2246 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2247 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2248 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2249 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2250 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2251 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2252 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2253 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2254 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2255 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2256 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2257 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2258 "You could drown in history in Istanbul. Two thousand years of civilisation in the city that was Byzantium and then Constantinople have left behind a myriad of mosques and palaces, museums and markets. Choosing what to see and what to leave out becom... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2259 "In a stimulating discussion on blindness prevention, held at the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC), 2010 in Berlin, African doctors and healthcare organisers looked at the shortcomings of the VISION 2020 programme to date. They agreed that until th... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2260 A small minority of patients implanted with the accommodating Crystalens intraocular lens may be troubled by changes in the appearance of colours, says Peter J Cornell MD, Beverly Hills, California, US. Over a four-year period during which he implant... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2261 "Turning to combination therapy with VEGF inhibitors and steroids, Dr Loewenstein said that the ERIE trial had shown promising results from combined therapy with ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech Inc) and dexamethasone (Ozurdex, Allergan Inc)." ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2262 "Implantation of a keratoprosthesis remains the only option for restoring sight in many cases of corneal blindness, but most of the available devices are either not indicated for or have yielded poor outcomes in eyes with very advanced pathological c... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2263 "In the foreword to this slim volume, Dr Kristian Hohla writes about how the public perceives lasers as the "sexy" symbol of high technology. We see this in everything from James Bond movies to the promotion of LASIK surgery. "If we can accurately me... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2264 "When your practice converts a prospect from thinking about LASIK to making an exam appointment, how are they most likely to have contacted you? "It doesn''t happen by email. It doesn''t happen by Twitter. It doesn''t happen on blogs or on Facebook. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2265 "Cataract remains a major cause of blindness in Africa. This problem needs to be dealt with aggressively and unconventionally, according to Alfred Sommer MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health." ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2266 "As president of ESCRS, I would like to thank all the ESCRS members and EuroTimes readers who contributed to a very successful and enjoyable XXVIII Congress in Paris last month. The success of the meeting was a tribute to our society but also to the ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2267 "With cataract surgery becoming more of a refractive procedure, this year''s Young Ophthalmologists Programme featured a symposium on the refractive aspects of lens exchange in addition to basic and advanced cataract surgery courses. "The talk on IOL... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2268 "Advocacy, resource mobilisation and a coordinated effort from national and international stakeholders are required to make progress in the fight to reduce global blindness in the next decade, according to Gullapalli N Rao MD. In delivering the Berna... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2269 "An analysis of what may be the largest selection of biometry datasets reported in the literature has yielded some surprising findings with regard to the incidence of astigmatism among cataract patients and the relationship of the condition to other ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2270 "Bausch + Lomb has announced that it has concluded its acquisition of a portion of the assets and intellectual property for Miochol®-E from affiliates of Novartis AG. A company spokesman said Bausch + Lomb intends to complete the acquisition ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2271 "In February 2011, the 15th ESCRS Winter Meeting will be held in Istanbul, together with the Turkish Ophthalmological Society Cataract and Refractive Surgery Division. On behalf of the organisers and my Turkish colleagues, I would like to invite you ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2272 A proper diet means loving oneself. So reads the subtitle of the introduction to Lucio Buratto''s excellent book. Is it a surprise that this lavish book on nutrition and the eye, the centrepiece of which is a collection of mouth-watering recipes, is ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2273 In 2007, Laurent Morin brought together five of the region''s most skilled refractive surgeons to create a new laser refractive-cataract clinic, the Expert Vision Center in Strasbourg, France. Three years later the centre is profitable, providing abo... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2274 A new process known as focal corneal collagen cross-linking could reduce treatment times from one hour to just a few minutes while reducing the potential for endothelial damage due to prolonged UV exposure, said John Marshall PhD, Rayne Institute, St... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2275 "Thiomer technology is about to revolutionise treatment of dry eye syndrome - and other ocular conditions, predicts pharmacist Martin Prinz, managing director of CROMA GmbH, Vienna, Austria. Some time next year, he hopes to market a thiomer-based eye... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2277 "This month''s EuroTimes focuses on micro-incision cataract surgery (MICS). I am very happy to see such extensive coverage being given in the Cover Story to this important topic that is renovating cataract surgery once again. Continuing improvements ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2278 "If experience with The Netherlands national registry is any guide, EUREQUO, the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery, will be a valuable tool for surgeons to assess their operating technique and outcomes, says Yp... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2279 Femtosecond laser capsulotomy provides a more accurate and repeatable capsular opening with a more regular shape compared to manual capsulorrhexis, according to a number of studies presented at the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS. ""I believe that this ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2281 "Alcon has announced the launch of the AcrySof IQ ReSTOR Multifocal Toric intraocular lens and the WaveLight Refractive Suite, which includes the firm''s first femtosecond laser integrated with its fastest excimer laser yet, at the XXVIII Congress of... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2282 "A newer low coherence interferometer (Haag-Streit LS900) that provides high definition measurements of anterior segment anatomy shows promise for improving the accuracy of IOL power calculations, said Thomas Olsen, MD, at the XXVIII Congress of the ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2283 "Most current IOLs are designed to block ultraviolet light, with the goal of preventing photic retinopathy. Many of the newest IOLs on the market go one step further, blocking some light in the blue spectrum. Does this actually help the retina? Might... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2284 In December 2010, Wagih Aclimandos FRCS, FRCOphth, FEBO, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at King''s College Hospital, London, officially takes up his duties as president of the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO). In an interview with EuroTimes con... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2285 "Intraocular lens concepts are emerging that offer a less-invasive alternative to a full lens exchange for patients requiring refractive enhancements or explants of multifocal optics. They include multi-component lenses designed to allow adjustment, ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2286 "Dedicated glaucoma clinics which incorporate GDx measurements (Carl Zeiss Meditec) in their assessments can greatly improve the diagnosis and discharge of false positive referrals and can therefore reduce unnecessary follow-up of glaucoma suspect ca... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2287 "Newer spectral domain OCT devices provide higher definition scans with greater signal strength than older time domain machines, said Alain Bron MD, Service d''Ophtalmologie CHU Dijon at the ninth Congress of the European Glaucoma Society." ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2288 "From the earliest days, the goal of cataract surgery has been to minimise trauma to the eye and provide good postoperative vision. Daviel''s approach 250 years ago was an advance on the couching procedure, continued improvements over the centuries l... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2289 "Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the world, with millions of procedures each year. We may consider that the first modern cataract surgery was done by Sir Harold Ridley in 1949, with the implantation of the first ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2290 "Implantation of the ZM900 aspheric diffractive multifocal IOL (Tecnis multifocal, Abbott Medical Optics) offers favourable visual outcomes for high myopes that are comparable to those achieved among patients with lowto- moderate myopia. However, a p... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2291 "Rahul Doctor MD, Mumbai, India has won the second annual ORBIS Medal at the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS in Paris. "This work will have been worthwhile if it helps prevent blindness in even a single child. I am still pinching myself to see if I''m a... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2292 "The chance of achieving predictable refractive outcomes after cataract surgery can be considerably enhanced if surgeons take a few straightforward measures to ensure the accuracy of their IOL power calculations, according to a study presented at the... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2293 "A better understanding of the biological processes underlying the development or recurrence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) may lead to more targeted treatments for the condition in the future and eventually produce more widespread benefit ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2294 An expanding array of toric IOL options will help cataract surgeons to meet increasing patient demands for good uncorrected postoperative vision, including those wanting a presbyopia-correcting lens, according to reports at the XXVIII Congress of the... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2314 Laser refractive surgery has come a long way in a short time. Visual outcomes continue to improve while the incidence of adverse effects continues to decrease. Many of the challenges of 10 and 20 years ago have been addressed, leaving the quest... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2315 n ew techniques for quantifying biomechanical properties of the cornea now entering the clinic offer significant potential for the diagnosis of keratoconus and other corneal diseases, reported investigators at a clinical research symposium at t... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2316 General ophthalmology is a well-recognised medical specialisation in all European countries, but Masters'' degree programmes to provide further training and education are not yet fully developed. Consequently, ophthalmology graduates wishing t... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2317 The new developments in laser vision correction can be divided into two groups: excimer laser-related and femtosecond laser-related.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2319 T he precisely round, well-centred, accurate diameter capsulotomy achieved by femtosecond lasers demonstrates less variability in effective lens position after IoL implantation, which should lead to improved predictability in refractive outcom... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2320 "It''s a very exciting time to be in glaucoma genetics with large, interesting new studies being published almost daily," Ananth C Viswanathan MD, PhD, national Institute for Health Research (nIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for ophthalmology, ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2321 Hidden retro iridian structures such as ciliary sulcus, ciliary body, zonular system and lens equator are determining factors of accommodation, sulcus placement of intraocular lenses (IOLs), and precise positioning of phakic and aphakic IOLs.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2322 Istanbul-based VSY Biotechnology has been a leading ophthalmology supplier and manufacturer.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2323 New trocar locking forceps have been designed by Geuder, in cooperation with Prof BartzSchmidt, specially for 23G vitrectomy.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2324 Important advances in gene therapy research in recent years have opened the path for the first human clinical trials for choroideremia to begin in the near future, according to Robert E MacLaren MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology University of... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2325 T he KAMRA™ (AcuFocus, Inc) corneal inlay, which uses a small aperture to improve near and intermediate vision in presbyopes, has produced promising results in a series of patients taking part in an international FDA trial, reports Gu... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2326 G rowing evidence suggests that continuous or 24-hour IoP monitoring can improve the detection of peak pressures and pressure spikes and the degree of IoP fluctuation in glaucoma patients and glaucoma suspects.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2327 Functional vision after Nd:YAG... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2328 C onducting regular audits is essential to ensure that lasers used for refractive surgery are delivering the energy output, and therefore the refractive outcomes, promised by manufacturers, according to David Gartry MD.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2329 The EU''s highest court has ruled that it is illegal to forbid patients from refilling their prescriptions for contact lenses on the Internet.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2330 A CoRnEAL surface ablation technique called cTEn™, which removes the epithelium with an excimer laser, appears to provide visual outcomes comparable to those of PRK, but with less postoperative pain and faster re-epithelialisation, a... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2331 Many cases of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis are caused by the normal flora of the conjunctiva, eyelids and meibomian glands infiltrating the surgical wound.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2332 LASIK procedures designed to provide presbyopic patients with multifocality or an increased depth of field continue to show promise at different centres around the world as the related technology evolves, according to Jorge Alio MD, VISSUM, Insti... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2333 The pilot clinical trial of a subretinal electronic implant (Retina Implant AG) indicates that the device is safe, well tolerated and is capable of restoring some measure of useful visual function in blind retinitis pigmentosa patients, reporte... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2334 Good, better, best - Improved outcomes with IOLs after refractive surgery... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2336 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2344 Abbott has intr... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2345 One of the great strengths of EuroTimes is that it allows me and my colleagues the opportunity to debate issues that we might not always consider in our day-to-day practice and that we would have not considered for publication in a peer-reviewed jour... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2347 Femtosecond lasers are all set to change the way that cataract surgery is performed, giving surgeons the ability to create a variety of lens fragmentation patterns which can assist in lens removal with the use of little or no phacoemulsification ener... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2348 Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche) significantly improved vision over the long term for patients with clinically significant diabetic macular oedema (DME) compared with macular laser therapy, according to a study presented at the 10th EURETINA... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2349 Researchers from University College London and the Moorfields Eye Hospital have announced results of research studies that demonstrated the feasibility of cone transplantation into the adult retina.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2350 Raised expectations -Technology and innovative techniques allow the development of personalised approaches... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2351 Corneal collagen cross-linking is both safe and effective in children with progressive keratoconus, according to a number of studies presented at the Aegean Cornea X meeting.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2352 In some ways standard cataract surgery has become the simplest form of refractive lens surgery. A typical cataract patient can expect to achieve something like 20/20 uncorrected distance vision with monofocal intraocular lenses, perhaps with the adde... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2353 New diagnostic criteria places increased emphasis on subluxed lenses in the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, a multisystem connective tissue disorder. The condition is associated with mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1) and includes a series of ocu... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2354 A technique called "visco-trab", which combines elements of trabeculectomy and viscocanalostomy, can provide a significantly greater reduction in IOP than trabeculectomy alone, with fewer complications, according to the results of a contralateral eye... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2355 All-laser LASIK with the Ziemer LDV femtosecond and the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q lasers provides highly satisfactory visual outcomes in myopic patients, said Ali Mearza FRCOphth at the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2356 Out of 16 EU-funded health information pilot projects presented at a November European Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC) workshop, the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO) stood out. EUREQUO was the... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2358 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2359 Intense pulsed light treatment, long used for treating the skin condition rosacea, also may be effective for treating dry eye associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), according to studies by Rolando Toyos MD, Memphis, Tennessee, US. In his ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2360 Toric IOLs, new standard of care? Even modest amounts of astigmatism can have major effects on vision, a new study confirms. Moreover, uncorrected astigmatism can significantly affect patients'' independence, quality of life, and wellbeing, UK resear... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2361 The light-adjustable intraocular lens (LAL®, Calhoun Vision) appears to be living up to its promise of eliminating refractive surprises in both emmetropic and ametropic cataract patients, and the lens also has applications in the treatment of... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2362 Microplasmin (ThromboGenics NV) may provide a safe, efficient and less invasive means of treating focal vitreomacular adhesion (fVMA) which is implicated in many back-of-the-eye diseases, according to a study presented by Victor H Gonzalez MD at the ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2363 This year''s ESCRS Practice Development Programme will run over three full days at the XXIX ESCRS Congress in Vienna, Austria to allow more time for debate and discussion of the key issues facing ophthalmologists in their practices.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2364 The European Union (EU) has adopted landmark legislation to facilitate patients who require ophthalmic and other medical care outside their home country.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2365 A new contact tonometer with the potential to be less affected by variations in corneal thickness and curvature can provide IOP measurements that meet the International Standard Organization''s (ISO) accuracy standards, according to a study presented... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2366 Surgeons implanting the Lentis MPlus multifocal IOL (Oculentis) reported favourable impressions about this novel technology at the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS in Paris, France.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2367 The battle between anterior and posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) is fraught with questions over stability, efficacy and safety with both types of lenses promising all three.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2368 The INTRACOR® procedure (Technolas Perfect Vision) appears to be a safe and effective treatment for presbyopia, providing good reading vision for most patients, with a fast and painless recovery and good refractive stability, said Mike P Holz... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2369 It is with great pleasure that I look forward to the 11th EURETINA Congress, which will take place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London from 26-29 May 2011. The Programme Committee has been working very hard to produce another exciting... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2370 The SOE was founded in 1956, with the aim "to promote ophthalmology in Europe and to stimulate co-operation between European ophthalmologists and between their national societies". Over the past 55 years, SOE has grown from a relatively small society... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2371 ESCRS president Jose Guell has said the decision to hold the 15th ESCRS Winter Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey is another important development in the society''s policy of extending its membership and activities to eastern Europe and the surrounding regi... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2372 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2375 For the first time in its 13 year history, accommodating lenses were reported on the 2010 ASCRS/ESCRS survey of foldable lenses requiring explantation or secondary intervention, said Nick Mamalis MD, Salt Lake City, Utah, US. Accommodating lenses mad... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2379 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2381 All current strategies for treating glaucoma centre on the control of IOP, yet single IOP measurements carried out during office hours will not accurately reflect the true amount of hypertension in a patient''s eye and may therefore be inadequate as ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2399 There is growing evidence that baseline patient characteristics have a role to play in the final visual acuity outcome of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who are being treated with anti-VEGF therapies such as ranibizu... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2400 Corneal biomechanical properties characterise the response of corneal tissue to an applied force. Tissue that is "soft" stretches to a greater degree than tissue that is "stiff" under the same force. Until recent years, the only techniques available ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2401 Incoming ASCRS president Edward J Holland MD welcomed Ulf Stenevi MD as an Honoured Guest to the 2011 ASCRS annual meeting. Prof Stenevi, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and past chair of the Departme... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2402 Immediate answers Urgent questions find generous response... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2403 As a result of a new initiative launched by the ESCRS, urgent funding is being raised to reduce childhood blindness in the Gondar area in North West Ethiopia.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2404 Although most cataract patients with ocular co-morbidities are likely to achieve good visual outcomes following cataract procedures, the surgery in such cases can be more difficult and patients can be at an increased risk for biometry errors and unsa... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2405 A dual-optic accommodating intraocular lens design may be more effective than current single-optic alternatives, and its mechanism of action appears stable over the long term. Studies presented at the XXVIII Congress of the ESCRS once again showed th... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2406 Of all the organs in the body, the eye has always been an object of wonder and fascination. Writing in The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin expressed that wonder as follows: "...all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different di... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2407 For this month''s special retina themed issue, coinciding with the annual EURETINA Congress in London, EuroTimes contributing editor Roibeard O''hEineachain spoke with incoming EURETINA president Gisbert Richard MD about the organisation''s goals in ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2408 The use of amniotic membrane can enhance the outcomes of pterygium, conjunctivochalasis and other ocular surface surgical procedures, according to Christos Kalogeropoulos MD.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2410 Carl Zeiss Meditec says it is now successfully launching the next-generation, modular phaco and vitrectomy system on the market, therefore expanding its line of solutions for eye surgery in regard both to the fields of application they offer and to t... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2411 Initial results with a novel accommodative IOL (WIOL-CF, A.M.I. Care) indicate that the lens delivers very good uncorrected vision at all distances and sustained a consistent level of pseudo-accommodation over time, according to Ioannis Pallikaris MD... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2412 When it comes to post-op evaluation after cataract surgery, visual acuity testing does not tell the whole story. Patients may report dissatisfaction despite a 20/20 visual acuity reading. Questions remain about quality of vision and daily functioning... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2413 Innovations in laser technology and intraocular lens design have improved prospects for treating the full range of myopia, according to Karl Stonecipher MD, Greensboro, Raleigh, North Carolina, US.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2414 A hydrogel liquid ocular bandage called OcuSeal™ (Beaver Visitec International) appears to be very effective in sealing corneal incisions after cataract surgery and may provide some protection against endophthalmitis, said Matteo Piovella M... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2415 Last year, the ESCRS established the ESCRS Young Ophthalmologists'' Forum to address the needs of residents and young surgeons. We set up the forum in the belief that the expertise we have at the ESCRS with our educational programme is something we w... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2416 An improved laser thermal keratoplasty technique known as optimal keratoplasty (Opti-K, NTK Enterprises) has shown promising initial results in delivering excellent near and distance vision for emmetropic and hyperopic presbyopes, according to Michae... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2417 Anterior segment OCT imaging (RTVue, OptoVue) post-LASIK revealed the presence of a stromal tissue gap between the distal flap edge and peripheral untouched cornea in eyes whose flap was fashioned with a 60 kHz femtosecond laser (IntraLase, AMO), rep... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2418 With eight ophthalmologists, an anaesthesiologist, and 15 residents, Eye Clinic Svjetlost is one of the largest and most comprehensive private practices in Croatia.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2419 The EU''s highest court has effectively blocked pharmaceutical and medical device companies from using a new patent system that could have reduced the cost and delay in introducing and protecting their products.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2420 Over the next decade, an explosion of new technologies will greatly expand cataract and refractive treatment options and improve outcomes, Douglas D Koch MD told the American Academy of Ophthalmology in the 2010 Charles D Kelman Lecture.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2421 Microplasmin, a compound that helps dissolve proteins that bind the vitreous to the retina, may soon be available as a non-surgical treatment for a variety of retinal disorders related to vitreous adhesions, said Marc D de Smet MDCM, PhD, FRCSC, Laus... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2422 A retrospective study of 100 patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University found that about half had dry eye signs and 37 per cent suffered from potentially sight-threatening ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2423 As a life-long progressive condition, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) presents significant management challenges.... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2424 Despite concerns about the longterm effects of its use on the cornea, mitomycin C (MMC) remains a highly useful adjunct to surface ablation that is most effectively deployed as primary prophylaxis for the development of haze, said Roger F Steinert MD... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2425 To reduce the risk of post-procedure ectasia, many refractive surgeons favour surface ablation over LASIK for patients with central corneas less than 500 microns thick. But with the advent of sub-100 micron planar flaps cut by femtosecond lasers, thi... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2426 To reduce the risk of post-procedure ectasia, many refractive surgeons favour surface ablation over LASIK for patients with central corneas less than 500 microns thick. But with the advent of sub-100 micron planar flaps cut by femtosecond lasers, thi... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2427 The monoclonal antibody agent daclizumab (Zenapax, Hoffmann- La Roche), which has been widely used in transplantation surgery to prevent organ rejection, also shows promise as a safe, well-tolerated and useful long-term therapy for uveitis, according... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2428 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2436 Findings from a Medicare-based analysis provide insight on the risks of ocular complications after anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in clinical practice. ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2437 Analyses of angiographic data from a recently completed Phase 2 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral fenretinide (ReVision Therapeutics) in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) showed a benefit of the synthetic orally available vitamin A... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2438 Initial results with a novel accommodative IOL (WIOL-CF, A.M.I. Care) indicate that the lens delivers very good uncorrected vision at all distances and sustained a consistent level of pseudo-accommodation over time, according to Ioannis Pallikaris MD... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2452 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2457 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2458 ... http://www.eurotimes.org/newsitem.asp?id=2459