A weekly newsbrief from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and
the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (ISRS/AAO)

This e-mail is a service offered to you as a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Vol. II, No. 6
February 7, 2008

CONTENTS

New Journal Studies

• Avastin may reduce corneal neovascularization

• Type and duration of diabetes independently associated with higher OAG risk in Latinos

• Many NAION patients initially present with near normal vision

• Positive five-year outcomes for deep sclerectomy with SkGel

• Using same-size donor and recipient trephines doesn’t appear to reduce myopia after PK for keratoconus

• Using MMC to improve the success of pterygium surgery

Academy News

• Registration and housing for the ISRS/AAO meeting in Cancún, Mexico are now open

• Academy publications earn high scores in industry rankings

Editor-in-Chief:
H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD

Chief Medical Editor:
Andrew G. Iwach, MD

Managing Editor:
Susanne Medeiros

ISRS/AAO Advisory Panel:
Matteo Piovella, MD
John A. Vukich, MD

Advisory Panel:
Terry L. Forrest, MD
Jean E. Ramsey, MD
Franco M. Recchia, MD
James C. Tsai, MD
Helen K. Wu, MD
 

NEW JOURNAL STUDIES

Avastin may reduce corneal neovascularization
This chart review of 10 patients finds that after subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab (2.5 mg/0.1 mL), the density and extent of corneal neovascularization decreased in seven patients over three months of follow-up. Image analysis determined that the area covered by neovascularization as a percentage of the total corneal area decreased by 29 percent from 14.8 percent to 10.5 percent. Researchers observed no change in corneal vessel centricity, and no significant adverse events. Cornea, February 2008

Type and duration of diabetes independently associated with higher OAG risk in Latinos
This evaluation of data from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study finds that the prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) was 40 percent higher in participants with type 2 diabetes than in those without type 2 diabetes. Trend analysis also revealed a higher risk of OAG among those who had type 2 diabetes for 15 years or longer. Ophthalmology, February 2008

Many NAION patients initially present with near normal vision
This large cohort study followed the natural history of patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). It shows that 49 percent of eyes examined within two weeks of onset had almost normal visual acuity (20/15 to 20/30), but they all had one or another type of optic disc-related visual field defect. Visual acuity and visual fields mainly improved or further deteriorated within six months, with no significant change after that. Ophthalmology, February 2008

Positive five-year outcomes for deep sclerectomy with SkGel
This large retrospective study followed patients with open angle glaucoma who underwent deep sclerectomy with a SkGel reticulated hyaluronic acid implant. Surgery was considered a complete success (IOP of 16 mm Hg or less, without medications) in 67.50 percent of the three-year follow-up group, and in 64.95 percent of the five-year follow-up group. Visual field testing at follow-up visits found stable mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation values. Journal of Glaucoma, January/February 2008

Using same-size donor and recipient trephines doesn’t appear to reduce myopia after PK for keratoconus
This retrospective study included 878 grafts for patients undergoing their first penetrating keratoplasty (PK). There was no significant difference in long-term refraction between patients who had same-size and oversize grafts for keratoconus. Postoperative visual acuity and graft survival were also comparable between the two groups; however, the same-size donor trephine group was associated with an increased risk of postoperative wound leaking. Ophthalmology, February 2008

Using MMC to improve the success of pterygium surgery
This large retrospective chart review of primary pterygium finds that intraoperative mitomycin C 0.02% (MMC) can reduce recurrence in direct conjunctival closure (DCC) procedures. However, the beneficial effect of MMC was not so marked when it was associated with a sliding conjunctival graft (SCG). Recurrence rates were similar between SCG without MMC and DCC with MMC. British Journal of Ophthalmology, February 2008

Back to Top

ACADEMY NEWS

Registration and housing for the ISRS/AAO meeting in Cancún, Mexico are now open
The meeting, Refractive and Cataract Surgery: Today and Tomorrow, will take place May 29 to 31, 2008, at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancún. This program includes many cutting-edge educational sessions. Registration is free to ISRS/AAO members. The deadline to register is April 16.

Academy publications earn high scores in industry rankings
Ophthalmology and EyeNet Magazine have again maintained high readership ratings over the past year. In the 2007 Perq/HCI Media-Chek Eyecare study, Ophthalmology ranked first among all publications for high readership, while EyeNet ranked first among non-peer-reviewed publications. These scores reflect how thoroughly and frequently ophthalmologists read these publications. The Academy's Web site was named first among the most useful research sites by 24 percent of all ophthalmologists surveyed, more than double the responses for PubMed, its nearest competitor.

Back to Top

The Academy provides the items appearing in the Academy Express as a service. The articles and studies come from news reports and peer-reviewed journals, and are not the product, opinion or position of the Academy unless explicitly stated to be so. The Academy does not endorse products, companies or organizations. The Academy disclaims all liability.

If you would like to update your e-mail address or be removed from the mailing list, please send a request to ISRS/AAO.

©2008 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.