LinkOPH

Merck updates on preladenant clinical program for treatment of Parkinson’s disease

The Medical News — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:09:43 +0000

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today provided an update on the clinical program for preladenant, Merck's investigational adenosine A2A receptor antagonist for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Full Story →

IOL Design and Posterior Capsule Opacification

Medscape — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:53:51 +0000

Can lens design influence the intensity of posterior capsular opacification following cataract surgery?
Medscape Optometry

Full Story →

Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant in Combination with Laser Photocoagulation for the Treatment of Diffuse Diabetic Macular Edema – Corrected Proof

Ophthalmology — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Purpose: To evaluate Ozurdex (dexamethasone intravitreal implant [DEX implant]; Allergan, Inc, Irvine, CA) 0.7 mg combined with laser photocoagulation compared with laser alone for treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema (DME).Design: Randomized, controlled, multicenter, double-masked, parallel-group, 12-month trial.Participants: Two hundred fifty-three patients with retinal thickening and impaired vision resulting from diffuse DME in at least 1 eye (the study eye) were enrolled.Intervention: Patients were randomized to treatment in the study eye with DEX implant at baseline plus laser at month 1 (combination treatment; n = 126) or sham implant at baseline and laser at month 1 (laser alone; n = 127) and (Read more...)

Full Story →

Incidence and Progression of Geographic Atrophy: Observations from a Population-based Cohort – Corrected Proof

Ophthalmology — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Purpose: To examine early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) lesion characteristics and risk factors associated with the long-term development and progression of geographic atrophy (GA).Design: Population-based cohort.Participants: Of 3654 participants aged ≥49 years in the Blue Mountains Eye Study, 75.8%, 76.7%, and 56.1% of survivors attended the 5-, 10-, and 15-year follow-up examinations, respectively.Methods: Retinal photographs were taken at each visit. Incident GA was confirmed using a side-by-side grading method. Computer planimetry was used to measure the area involved by GA. Fast and slow/normal progression rates were defined as GA area enlargement by ≥2 and <2 mm2/year, respectively. Incident GA was (Read more...)

Full Story →

Long-term Outcomes of Ranibizumab Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: The 36-Month Results from Two Phase III Trials: RISE and RIDE – Corrected Proof

Ophthalmology — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Purpose: To report 36-month outcomes of RIDE (NCT00473382) and RISE (NCT00473330), trials of ranibizumab in diabetic macular edema (DME).Design: Phase III, randomized, multicenter, double-masked, 3-year trials, sham injection–controlled for 2 years.Participants: Adults with DME (n=759), baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 20/40 to 20/320 Snellen equivalent, and central foveal thickness (CFT) ≥275 μm on optical coherence tomography.Methods: Patients were randomized equally (1 eye per patient) to monthly 0.5 mg or 0.3 mg ranibizumab or sham injection. In the third year, sham patients, while still masked, were eligible to cross over to monthly 0.5 mg ranibizumab. Macular laser was available to all patients (Read more...)

Full Story →

Incidence of Choroidal Neovascularization in the Fellow Eye in the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials – Corrected Proof

Ophthalmology — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Objective: To assess the influence of drug; dosing regimen; and traditional, nontraditional, and genetic risk factors on the incidence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the fellow eye of patients treated for CNV with ranibizumab or bevacizumab.Design: Cohort study of patients enrolled in a multicenter, randomized clinical trial.Participants: Patients with no CNV in the fellow eye at the time of enrollment in the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT).Methods: Eligibility criteria for the clinical trial required that study eyes have evidence on fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography of CNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and visual acuity (Read more...)

Full Story →

Bevacizumab Cheaper Than Ranibizumab for Macular Degeneration

Medscape — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:07:58 +0000

Cost analysis favors one vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor over another for patients with age-related macular degeneration.
Medscape Medical News

Full Story →

Aflibercept Therapy for Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration Resistant to Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab – Corrected Proof

Am J Ophthalmol — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of intravitreal injection of aflibercept in cases with exudative age-related macular degeneration, (AMD) resistant to injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab.Design: Retrospective observational case series.Methods: A retrospective chart review at a single institution was conducted to identify patients with exudative AMD and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in 1 or both eyes resistant to treatment with ranibizumab or bevacizumab who were switched to treatment with at least 3 monthly injections of aflibercept. In total, 36 eyes from 31 patients were included. The demographic data, visual acuities, central macular thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT), complications, and number of injections (Read more...)

Full Story →

The Impact of Dry Eye Disease on Visual Performance While Driving – Corrected Proof

Am J Ophthalmol — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Purpose: A specific simulator was used to assess the driving visual performance in patients with dry eye disease (DED) and to determine clinical predictors of visual impairments while driving.Design: Prospective case-control study.Methods: The study was conducted in the Center for Clinical Investigation of Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, Paris, France. Twenty dry eye patients and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects were included. Vision-related driving ability was assessed using a specific driving simulator displaying randomly located targets with a progressive increase in contrast to be identified. Other examinations included clinical examinations, serial measurements of corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and vision-related quality-of-life questionnaire (Read more...)

Full Story →

Surgeon reports first experience with femtosecond laser cataract surgery in public hospital setting

Healio ophthalmology — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:57:00 +0000

PARIS — Femtosecond laser is the future of cataract surgery, with a goal of increased accuracy and reproducibility. However, the higher cost of the procedure is an issue and will require reorganization of surgical protocols, staff and operating units, according to a surgeon.Following the initiative of the French Ministry of Health to temporarily place femtosecond lasers for cataract surgery in five university hospitals in the country to assess the feasibility of the procedure within the public health system, Carole Burillon, MD, of the Ophthalmology Department of Lyon University, has been able to experience the advantages and the practical problems of femtosecond laser cataract surgery in a public hospital setting.

Full Story →