Review of Optometry articles from February 2007

Review of Optometry archives from February 2007

Southern College of Optometry.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... Richard W. Phillips, O.D., former regional executive director for TLC-Laser Eye Centers, has been named the new president of Southern College of Optometry. Dr. Phillips succeeds William E. Cochran, O.D., who is retiring after nearly 40 years as...

Alcon Laboratories' AcrySof ReSTOR.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... The FDA recently approved Alcon Laboratories' AcrySof ReSTOR apodized diffractive aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) for the visual correction of aphakia following cataract surgery in adult patients with and without presbyopia. The AcrySof ReSTOR...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a ruling that allows Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cataract surgery to choose an astigmatism-correcting intraocular lens (IOL).(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a ruling that allows Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cataract surgery to choose an astigmatism-correcting intraocular lens (IOL). Similar to the CMS decision allowing...

N.J. kids' bill would save eyes and money: a bill would create a pilot program requiring eye exams for N.J. second-graders.(News Review)(New Jersey)
February 15, 2007... The New Jersey Legislature is considering a bill that would require comprehensive eye exams for second graders through the creation of a pilot program. The purpose of this proposed three-year program is to eliminate inappropriate referrals...

Vision loss costs Medicare $2.14 billion.(News Review)
February 15, 2007... Poor vision costs Medicare more than $2 billion per year in non-eye-related maladies and health-care needs, according to a study published in the February issue of Ophthalmology. Specifically, Medicare beneficiaries with coded diagnoses of...

Lucentis can cause higher risk of stroke, company warns.(News Review)
February 15, 2007... In late January, Genentech sent letters to 1,500 eye specialists warning that trials of Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) showed a higher incidence of stroke, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The ongoing 5,000-patient trial...

Legislature considers children's vision bills.(News Review)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... A new bill that would provide children with necessary follow-up care after being diagnosed with a potential vision problem was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month. H.R. 507, known as the "Vision Care for Kids Act of...

New class of lipids found.(News Review)(oleamide identified in human tears)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... The fatty acid amides, first identified in the human cerebrospinal fluid, are generally associated with the initiation of sleep. But researchers at Ohio State University have now found fatty acid amides in the human tear film, and one in...

LASIK vs. LASEK? It's a draw.(News Review)(laser in-situ keratomileusis)(laser epithelial keratomileusis)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... A study comparing the safety, effectiveness and reliability of LASIK and LASEK has found no clinically significant differences between the two types of laser eye surgery. The study, published in December's American Journal of...

Next step in ocular gene therapy: DNA nanoparticles.(News Review)(deoxyribonucleic acid)
February 15, 2007... DNA nanoparticles were successfully used by researchers at the University of Oklahoma to express DNA in the rods and cones of mouse retinas, according to a new study. Researchers concluded that these nanoparticles appear to be a clinically...

Pat yourself on the back: everything about optometry is more sophisticated than it was a mere 10 years ago.(Editor's Page)
February 15, 2007... I can't imagine what it's like for O.D.s who have been in practice for 30 years or more. If you've changed with the times, your professional life certainly has not been boring. Newbies probably wouldn't recognize the office of yesteryear...

What makes a hottentot so hot? Courage. What puts the 'ape' in apricot? Courage. What have they got that we haven't got? Courage.(Chair Side)
February 15, 2007... Why does one soldier cower while the guy beside him rushes in to save his comrades? It's courage. But what is courage? A Medal of Honor winner spoke at my church one time, and he said it like this: "People ask me how I could be so brave as...

Usable PAL data needed.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
February 15, 2007... Dr. Stephen Glasser's article on PALs ("A Scientific Approach to PAL Options," December 2006) tantalized us but it failed to provide practical application for the clinical prescription of progressive lenses for our patients. He said, "Power...

Quest for 'perfect PAL'.(Letters to the Editor)
February 15, 2007... I agree with the points of the article by Dr. Glasser titled "A Scientific Approach To PAL Options." He states: "Currently, there is no such thing as a perfect PAL, which would offer large distance, intermediate and near zones; a short corridor...

How I quit corporate and started cold: after as many as 16 years on the 'chain gang,' these O.D.s are hanging out the shingle.(Practice Management)
February 15, 2007... For Barbara Fluder, the moment came when the perfect location virtually fell into her lap. For Chad Millsap, it was more methodical, with some discouraging fits before he got his start. For DeAnne Witherspoon, enough was just enough. Each...

An expanded menu of IOL options: your patients may benefit from these recent advances in lens designs and theories.(Technology)
February 15, 2007... Until recently, the main focus of cataract surgery has been to offer patients a safer, less traumatic procedure with few complications. Today, cataract surgery has evolved to such a level. But, with this advancement comes an increased...

What can Botox do for your patients? What your patients should understand about botulinum toxin treatment for focal dystonias, strabismus, and other ophthalmic disorders.(Patient Care)
February 15, 2007... Known primarily for use in cosmetic surgery, botulinum toxin, better known as Botox, enjoys growing popularity in eye care as a therapeutic agent. The toxin's ability to cause denervation in unwanted muscle function makes it an intriguing...

Osmolarity and dry eye: a test that can determine early osmolarity changes would aid in the diagnosis of dry eye.(Research Review)
February 15, 2007... Osmolarity and Dry Eye It has been theorized that osmolarity changes in the tears have a direct impact on ocular surface abnormalities and decreases in conjunctival goblet cell density. (1) Researchers found that by reducing the osmolarity...

The secondary causes of glaucoma: a wide variety of clinical conditions make up what we call the 'secondary glaucomas.' Don't mistake trabecular obstructions for POAG.(Patient Care)(Disease/Disorder overview)
February 15, 2007... In North America, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. However, more than one-third of glaucomas are believed to have a secondary cause. (1) So, O.D.s must be familiar with these conditions. A wide...

Look at the 'whole' picture: dry eye treatment conducted in isolation, without the consideration of multiple causal factors, is often doomed to failure.(Cover Focus)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Cover story)
February 15, 2007... More than 20% of patients age 45 and older report dry eye or its symptoms. (1) But, a survey of diagnostic and treatment practices indicates that most eye care providers manage these signs and symptoms based only on clinical findings. ...

8th annual dry eye report: an inside track on the body's attack: autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks healthy issue. They may also be behind your patient's dry eye.(OPTOMETRIC STUDY CENTER)
February 15, 2007... Up to 20.7 million Americans suffer from some form of dry eye. (1-3) The Women's Health Study and the Physician's Health Study show that some 3.2 million women and 1.05 million men ages 50 and up have clinically significant dry eye. (4-6) ...

Patient's B12 deficiency causes chiasmal lesion: this patient's vitamin [B.sub.12] deficiency manifested through loss of visual fields, uneven cup-to-disc ratios, elevated blood pressure, and dizzy spells.(Case Report)
February 15, 2007... A 69-year-old white male presented for his annual eye exam. He had no new visual complaints, but he mentioned a longstanding floater in his right eye that had been diagnosed two years earlier as a posterior vitreous detachment. His medical...

DSEK: new way to foil Fuchs': this new procedure allows for faster visual recovery than penetrating keratoplasty and earlier cataract extraction.(Comanagement Q+A)
February 15, 2007... Q I have a patient who has Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy and a significant cataract. I'm hesitant to recommend cataract surgery due to possible corneal decompensation. What should I do? A Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) has been the standard...

Which antibiotic for rosacea? Minocycline and doxycycline both have been proven effective, but doxycycline appears to have a slight advantage.(Cornea+Contact lens Q+A)
February 15, 2007... Q I have a patient who has ocular/dermatologic rosacea with some severe corneal findings. His dermatologist prefers minocycline to doxycycline. Are there any real advantages or disadvantages of using one rather than the other? A The short...

The cost of doing business: an 84-year-old patient is newly diagnosed with glaucoma. Is treatment worth the cost given her age?(Glaucoma Grand Rounds)
February 15, 2007... A very energetic and outgoing 84-year-old white female presented in February 2005 complaining of blurry vision O.U. that had progressed gradually during the past six months. She reported that her last eye examination had been approximately two...

Male's vision appears watery: this HIV+ patient worried that his blurred vision was a retinal detachment, but examination and testing showed other unusual changes.(Retina Quiz)
February 15, 2007... A 54-year-old white male presented complaining of blurred vision in his right eye for the past four days. When he worked on his computer, he said, it seemed as though he was looking through a glass of water. He was concerned that he might have...

Just say no: ganja for glaucoma? A simple answer still works best for this difficult question.(Therapeutic Review)
February 15, 2007... "Hey, Doc," the patient asks quietly, after ensuring that no one else is listening. "Can smoking pot really help your eyes?" If only we had a dollar for every time we've fielded THAT question. But, all joking aside, we cannot easily...

Comanagement: Retinal Camera software.(Product Review)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... Eye Q Capture Review software, by Canon U.S.A., Inc., facilitates the capture of a patient's images when using the Canon Non-Mydriatic CR-DGi Retinal Camera. The software features a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and allows images to be...

Exam equipment: product suite.(Product Review)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... A new suite of exam equipment by OptiMedica Corporation consists of: * The Pascal Laser Indirect Ophthalmoscope (LIO), which features user-friendly controls and a built-in monitoring system to allow for easy transitioning between the LIO...

Dispensary: Optical Swim Goggle display stand.(Product Review)(from Tusa VIEW)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... The Optical Swim Goggle display stand, from Tusa VIEW, is a display unit for the company's Optical Swim Goggles. The display unit holds up to 27 lenses and five parts kits and features blue acrylic and steel construction. You can stand it on...

Ophthalmic lenses: polarized polycarbonate lenses.(Product Review)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... SunRx Melanin polarized polycarbonate lenses, by Vision-Ease, are available in the company's D28 bifocal lens, single-vision lens, Outlook progressive lens and Illumina progressive lens. SunRx Melanin lenses have been recommended by the Skin...

Spanish eye health.(Product Review)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... "!Yo No Sabia Eso!" by Transitions Optical, Inc., provides Spanish-speaking patients with information about eye health and vision care. The Web site is a counterpart to "Eye Didn't Know That!" (http://us.transitions.com/edkt/), also by...

Nautica by marchon.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... Marchon presents the "Navigate Life" collection by Nautica, which includes both sunwear and ophthalmic frames. The sunwear line includes: * Hawk's Nest, a men's Flexon metal rectangular frame. This style is offered in size 58/19-140...

ecko unltd. by Viva International.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... Viva International Group introduces two new metal groupings in its ecko unltd. eyewear line: a men's grouping and a new children's grouping called "Dots and Dye." The men's frames, which feature perforated dots and the rhino logo on the...

Ray-Ban by Luxottica.(FRAMES)(Brief article)
February 15, 2007... Luxottica introduces a line of ophthalmic frames for Ray-Ban and reintroduces the classic Wayfarer sunglass. The Wayfarer is a reproduction of the 1952 original. This unisex oversize sunglass is made of injection-molded acetate and features...

Meetings + conferences.(Calendar)
February 15, 2007... February * 21-25. SECO International, Atlanta. CE hours: 163. Contact Jon Reading, 4661 N. Shallowford Road, Atlanta, GA 30338; call (770) 452-0600; fax (770) 220-0942; e-mail registration@secostaff.com; or go to www.seco2007.com. *...

Floating words, dipping grades.(Diagnostic Quiz)
February 15, 2007... History An 11-year-old black male presented complaining of "floating words" that were most noticeable while reading. He also complained of occasional diplopia at near, which he described as worsening since the new school year started. His...