Review of Optometry articles from October 2005

Review of Optometry archives from October 2005

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) spurs retinal angiogenesis in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) spurs retinal angiogenesis in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, but it's not the only factor. Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan have identified erythropoietin, which acts independently of VEGF,...

Even after adjusting for high rates of diabetes mellitus.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... Even after adjusting for high rates of diabetes mellitus, Hispanics in the United States are at a greater risk of developing a visually-impairing cataract than either African-American or white individuals, says a study in September's Archives...

FDA approvals.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... FDA approvals: * IntraLase received clearance to expand use of its laser to include corneal resection performed in lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty procedures. * Alcon's AcrySof Toric intraocular lens received...

Katrina destroys O.D.s' offices, homes: hundreds of optometrists have been affected. Many lost everything but hope.(News Review)
October 15, 2005... Midnight, Saturday, August 27, New Orleans optometrist David Baptiste was awake, waiting to watch his favorite TV show. But news broadcasts broke in. Hurricane Katrina was coming. And coming strong. Dr. Baptiste lived in New Orleans all his...

Relief efforts under way for Katrina victims.(News Review)
October 15, 2005... The American Optometric Association has organized a relief fund for O.D.s affected by Hurricane Katrina and is trying to plan for future disasters. The AOA, through its American Optometric Institute (AOI) nonprofit corporation, has...

Other organizations offer relief.(News Review)
October 15, 2005... Other associations, optical companies and optometry schools contributing to relief efforts include: * The Optometry Association of Louisiana has established the Optometry Association of Louisiana Relief Fund. Financial aid will go "to...

How to hit a home run: my husband says everything in life can be compared to baseball. Even optometry.(Editorial)
October 15, 2005... Do you ever think that life would just be so much easier if someone else were making your decisions for you? I do. Don't get me wrong, I'm forever lamenting too few options and crying, "What choice do I have?" But, sometimes (especially when...

Let's put the fun back in refund: some patients are just asking for it. A refund, that is. Why does this happen to us? You'll never hear a patient ask a proctologist for a refund.(Chair Side)
October 15, 2005... What is the most dreaded word in optometry? In your office, it might be melanoma, degeneration, ulcer, or perhaps even receptionist. In my office, the most dreaded word is refund. Refund. It sounds a little like something your...

Men and women are created equal.(Letter to the Editor)
October 15, 2005... In the August 2005 editorial, you asked: What will women do to optometry? The answer is they will practice it, just as I have for the past 20 years. A Doctor of Optometry by any appearance--whether short or tall, thick or thin, old or young--is...

'Leave his cataracts alone!'.(Funny Patient Stories)(Letter to the Editor)
October 15, 2005... Early in my practice, an elderly couple presented for exams, and I referred both of them for cataract surgery. The wife underwent cataract surgery first. A few days after her surgery date, I called to ask how she was doing. She replied, "It's...

Watch where you aim.(Funny Patient Stories)(Letter to the Editor)
October 15, 2005... I recently examined an educated, intelligent man who had a relatively advanced maculopathy. He said his disease caused anything he looked at to be obscured behind a dark, fuzzy circle. His primary complaint: The cross-hairs of his rifle scope...

Manage your office by the numbers: pay close attention to how much money flows out of your office and where it goes to avoid serious financial trouble.(Practice Management)
October 15, 2005... "How's business?" a colleague asks. "I don't understand where all the money goes," you sadly reply. "I have a good handle on the money that comes into my practice, but I don't have nearly as good a grasp on the money that goes out." If...

Tackle extreme clinical cases: here are three extreme cases that you should know how to handle. This special feature is based on a presentation by optometrist Alan G. Kabat, at Review's Snow Vision conference in March 2005.(Patient Care)
October 15, 2005... Every optometrist eventually encounters a patient whose condition causes him or her to lose sleep. If you've been down this road, the questions, "Did I diagnose the condition correctly?" and "Is my treatment working?" may have haunted you until...

Disorder has patients 'seeing things': Charles Bonnet syndrome may affect a large portion of your patients, but you'll never know, unless you educate yourself, and them, about it.(Patient Care)
October 15, 2005... An 84-year-old woman, who has advanced atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and disciform scarring, started "seeing things" a few months ago. Specifically, she continually sees two black Labrador retrievers and three calico kittens....

Myopia correction takes a new shape: here are some of the latest designs and fitting pearls for corneal reshaping, plus a look at who the best candidates are for this modality.(Contact Lenses)
October 15, 2005... Corneal reshaping is a rapidly progressing and increasingly popular modality worldwide and has demonstrated success in myopia reduction with patients as young as age 7. (1-3) There have been some reports of adverse reactions in patients...

Should you take the chance to enhance? Can custom enhancements help these three difficult refractive surgery cases? We asked a panel of experts to weigh in.(OPTOMETRIC STUDY CENTER)(Cover Story)
October 15, 2005... LASIK continues to be the predominant refractive surgery choice for thousands of patients due to its safety, effective predictability, rapid visual recovery and minimal discomfort. However, the complexity of today's technologies and the...

Elongated pupil looks fishy: a patient reports episodes of an unusual, vertically elongated pupil. Is it for real? If so, is it serious?(Comanagement Q+A)(Interview)
October 15, 2005... Q A patient presented with a complaint that her pupil looks like a cat's eye for several minutes and then returns to normal. She says this happens several times a day. Is this patient imagining this, or is she truly experiencing a clinical...

Why the soap lid scrub snub? Here's why some practitioners choose hot compresses over shampoo lid scrubs for treating blepharitis and meibomianitis.(Cornea+Contact Lens Q+A)(Interview)
October 15, 2005... Q Some of my colleagues have virtually abandoned shampoo lid scrubs and prescribe only hot compresses for treating blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. What is the rationale for either strategy, and are there less tedious ways for...

Will patient lose second eye? Female with prosthetic right eye now has visual loss and unusual fundus findings in the left eye.(Retina Quiz)
October 15, 2005... A 46-year-old white female was referred by her ophthalmologist for management of an unusual retinal condition in her left eye. She noted a slow, progressive loss of vision in that eye during the past four weeks. The ophthalmologist reported...

An antibiotic anthology: ocular antibiotics have represented and will continue to represent a substantial tool in our armamentarium.(Therapeutic Review)
October 15, 2005... Various antibiotics successfully neutralize bacterial pathogens by interfering with select cellular processes, thus causing cell death or inactivation. Here, we will review the methods by which currently available antibiotics accomplish this...

Differentiate your practice by offering premium products: this course is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Transitions and Varilux.
October 15, 2005... In order to compete in today's marketplace you must differentiate yourself from the competition. Jack Trout, in Differentiate or Die, (1) explains how you should be in a better position to thrive in a competitive world by being different. One...

Enhanced retinal tomographer.(EXAM EQUIPMENT)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3 (HRT3) from Heidelberg Engineering GmbH is a newly-enhanced version of the company's flagship product, the HRT, for the evaluation, diagnosis and management of glaucoma. Like earlier versions, the HRT3 employs...

Intraocular lens upgrade.(COMANAGEMENT)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... The Crystalens SE system from Eyeonics Inc. is an upgraded version of the company's Crystalens intraocular lens. The new lens offers a 360[degrees] square edge to facilitate capsular bag stability. Also, there is no need for cycloplegia, the...

EyeHealth Network[TM].(WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEB)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... Interactive Eye Health and E-Commerce Web Site Eyehealthnetwork.com from EyeHealth Network Inc. offers you and your patients an interactive place to find local eye care practitioners, order ophthalmic products, read the latest news about...

Post-cataract surgery drug gets FDA nod.(THERAPEUTICS)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Nevanac (nepafenac ophthalmic suspension 0.1%, Alcon), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prodrug, for treating pain and inflammation following cataract surgery. Two multi-center,...

Optimized ophthalmic solution gets FDA OK.(THERAPEUTICS)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... The FDA has approved Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate 0.1%, Allergan), an "optimized formulation" of Alphagan (brimonidine tartrate 0.2%, Allergan), for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients who have open-angle glaucoma or ocular...

Three-month punctal plug.(DRY EYE)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... ProLong, an absorbable punctal plug from FCI Ophthalmics, can be used for up to three months. The plug is ideal for managing postoperative dry eye following LASIK and for transient dry eye symptoms that often follow other ophthalmic surgeries,...

New lensmeter.(LAB EQUIPMENT)(from Marco)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... The LM-1200 automatic lensmeter from Marco can read 108 points on a lens and instantly determine the add power of a progressive lens, the company says. Automatic lens type detection enables the LM-1200 to detect whether the lens is single...

New line of prism products.(LOW VISION)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... Correct-a-Prizm and Correct-a-Prizmbar from Gulden Ophthalmics can help you diagnose, correct and prescribe treatment for your low vision patients. Both are based on Comprisms, a new class of prisms that have a composite design with optical...

Sunwear options from Essilor.(OPHTHALMIC LENSES)
October 15, 2005... Essilor introduces four prescription choices: * PhysioTints, which offer true and natural color perception. PhysioTints come with Crizal Alize anti-reflective (AR) coating, which also make the lenses scratch-resistant, durable and easy to...

Office design.(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: The Mission Collection from Eye Designs is based on Shaker-style furniture and the Arts and Crafts movement. The collection features halogen lighting and is available in an array of wood finishes. Call...

Meetings + conferences.(Calendar)
October 15, 2005... November * 4-5. The Vision Institute of Canada's Fall Seminar and Trade Show, Ontario. CE hours: 15. Contact Georgina Tappenden, 16 York Mills Road, Suite 110, Toronto ON M2P 2E5; call (416) 224-2273; fax (416) 224-9234; e-mail...

Ball player gets 'white shadow'.(Diagnostic Quiz)(Brief Article)
October 15, 2005... History A 27-year-old black man presented for an eye examination following a blunt ocular trauma. He was elbowed in the right eye during a basketball game. Otherwise, his systemic history and ocular history were noncontributory. ...