Breaking News Related to Macular Degeneration, Cataract, Glaucoma, Corneal Disease and Other Eye Conditions

Cataract Surgery Essentials or What All Patients Should Know About Cataract Surgery

One of our contributors, Dr. David Richardson, of San Gabriel Valley Eye Associates, has published an audio CD that answers questions commonly asked by patients undergoing cataract surgery. Among topics covered are how to choose an eye surgeon and information on advanced introcular lenses.

The audio format is an excellent choice for patients with a significant cataract that make it difficult to read books on the subject.

Dr. Richardson was trained at Harvard Medical School, is Board …

Acuvail vs. Nevanac Prior to Cataract Surgery

I am scheduled for cataract surgery later this week.  My doctor prescribed and gave instructions for me to use Acuvail (drops) twice daily and Zymar 4 times daily, for three days before surgery and afterward.  When I picked up the prescriptions, he had changed the Acuvail to Nevanac 3 times daily. What is the difference between Acuvail and Nevanac, and why might he have changed the prescription?  I believe both are NSAIDs.

SuperSelective Chemotherapy Prevents Enucleation

Administering chemotherapy by cannulating the ophthalmic artery in patients with retinoblastoma was very effective in resolving these tumors in children and prevented enucleation in 27/28 cases. No complications! The procedure was safely repeated up to six times. The cannulation was performed under fluoroscopic control, and this method avoids all the side effects of chemo.

IRIDEX Granted Patent for MicroPulse™ Technology for Dose Control of Laser Energy During Eye Surgery

On Thursday, IRIDEX announced the issuance of a patent covering its MicroPulse™ technology providing ophthalmologists with fine dose control of laser energy during eye surgery on patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy and other sight-threatening retinal and glaucoma disorders. According to the company, treatments using MicroPulse technology demonstrate favorable outcomes and significantly less damage to healthy retinal structures compared to traditional continuous wave laser treatment.

Laser products such as IRIDEXs’s IQ 577 that incorporate the MicroPulse control technology covered by …

Is Frequency Doubling Technology Perimetry Superior to Standard Automated Perimetry in Detecting Glaucoma?

An article in Ophthalmology gives further support to what was demonstrated earlier- Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) visual fields detect glaucoma earlier than Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP). Fellow normal eyes (by SAP), found to have glaucoma by FDT, were much more likely to develop glaucoma than those fellow eyes with normal FDT. A clever study. For several years, I have been very happy to switch my patients who hate SAP to FDT. It’s faster and is better- period. …

Does a Modest Reduction in Intraocular Pressure Slow Vision Loss in Glaucoma Patients?

According to an article appearing yesterday on MedPage Today, a Canadian study has demonstrated that a modest reduction in intraocular pressure resulted in a significant slowing of visual field loss in patients with progressive glaucoma. Specifically, a 20% decrease in median intraocular pressure from 18 mm Hg to 14.8 mm Hg led to a reduction in rate of progression by a factor of three. Researchers noted that the slowed progression would be most clinically significant …

Cataract Surgery Essentials or What All Patients Should Know About Cataract Surgery

One of our contributors, Dr. David Richardson, of San Gabriel Valley Eye Associates, has published an audio CD that answers questions commonly asked by patients undergoing cataract surgery. Among topics covered are how to choose an eye surgeon and information on advanced introcular lenses.

The audio format is an excellent choice for patients with a significant cataract that make it difficult to read books on the subject.

Dr. Richardson was trained at Harvard Medical School, is Board …

Acuvail vs. Nevanac Prior to Cataract Surgery

I am scheduled for cataract surgery later this week.  My doctor prescribed and gave instructions for me to use Acuvail (drops) twice daily and Zymar 4 times daily, for three days before surgery and afterward.  When I picked up the prescriptions, he had changed the Acuvail to Nevanac 3 times daily. What is the difference between Acuvail and Nevanac, and why might he have changed the prescription?  I believe both are NSAIDs.

Do Yellow Tinted IOL’s Affect SWAP Perimetry?

I never thought of this. In short wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP), blue/yellow is used instead of standard lights. According to a recent study, having one of those newer yellow tinted intraocular lenses that blocks blue light will affect color perception and thus the results of SWAP, which is used to measure visual field changes from glaucoma. We need to keep this in mind.

Is Preoperative Mitomycin Just as Good As Conjunctival Flap in Treating Pterygium?

In the AJO, researchers compared injecting a low dose of mitomycin in the pterygium one month before bare sclera surgery, and compared that to a conjunctival flap procedure. Remarkably, results were excellent in both groups. Mild whitening of the conjunctiva was noted in the mitomycin group, cosmetically acceptable. No other complications. Considering the low reimbursement rate for pterygium, I would consider this procedure, as my conjunctival autograft is a little time consuming considering how little …

How to Address Fuch’s Dystrophy After Cataract Surgery?

I wrote you awhile back and asked you about Fuchs Dystrophy and cataract surgery.  I had my surgery 2 months ago and my vision is only 20/70.  I don’t think at this point it will get any better, but my eye surgeon said my eye is not bad enough for a corneal transplant.  Do you think glasses will help my vision at this point or not?  I always like to find out why things happen …

International Stem Cell Corporation and Eye Hospital Launch Collaboration to Develop Stem Cell-Based Treatment for Corneal Vision Impairment

International Stem Cell Corporation, and Sankara Nethralaya Eye Hospital, a nonprofit medical facility in India, recently announced commencement of a collaboration to develop ISCO’s ‘CytoCor™’ stem cell-derived corneal tissue. The goal is to use CytoCor to treat corneal blindness and vision impairment.

CytoCor consists of transparent human tissue derived from pluripotent human stem cells. These structures are produced in the laboratory and recent testing at Sankara Nethralaya and laboratories in the US has demonstrated a range …

Should Ophthalmologists Add Hearing Services? Sell Hearing Aids?

A number of ophthalmologists have contracted with PHSI and other companies who either totally or partially provide turnkey operations where hearing services and subsequent sales of hearing aids are provided to patients. Some say it’s not ethical, but I disagree. the question is whether it’s appropriate. In other words, would it not be better to send these patients to hearing professionals or ENT?

Don’t Use Consult Codes

Medicare has now eliminated the use of consult codes in the office. You have to use the 92o04 or 992o4 codes (ophthalmology and E/M), but not that 99244 (consult). The difference is around $30-40. Of course, you’re going to end up treating the patient as a consult and writing a letter to the referring doctor like in any other consult, except you’re getting paid less, for no good reason. Yay!

Know Your Modifiers!

If you are in private practice, you MUST be familiar with the following three modifiers- otherwise, you are losing lots of money:

-24: This is added to the EXAM code (ie, 92012) during the post-op period (often 90 days after the procedure), when you are examining someone for a different diagnosis (i.e., conjunctivitis 1 month after cataract surgery). Without this modifier, the exam will be denied, as it will be assumed it’s a post-op visit.

-25: Add …

IRIDEX Granted Patent for MicroPulse™ Technology for Dose Control of Laser Energy During Eye Surgery

On Thursday, IRIDEX announced the issuance of a patent covering its MicroPulse™ technology providing ophthalmologists with fine dose control of laser energy during eye surgery on patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy and other sight-threatening retinal and glaucoma disorders. According to the company, treatments using MicroPulse technology demonstrate favorable outcomes and significantly less damage to healthy retinal structures compared to traditional continuous wave laser treatment.

Laser products such as IRIDEXs’s IQ 577 that incorporate the MicroPulse control technology covered by …

Is Retina Detachment Repair Emergent or Urgent?

AJO: 199 retinal detachment cases reviewed. In fovea-sparing cases, waiting up to three days was just as good as emergent surgery. A few weeks ago, an article noted that waiting a week to do ruptured globe also didn’t matter. But will the E.R. still call you at 3AM? Ubecha.

Is Stem Cell Therapy Available to Treat Retinopathy of Prematurity?

I would like to konow if there is any self stem cell therapy available for retinopathy of prematurity? My six year old son has lost complete vision due to ROP (stage 5) in both eyes in his third month. I am living in India.