Tafluprost – FDA Approved to Treat Glaucoma

February 15, 2012

By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013

February 15th 2013- The FDA has approved Zioptan (Tafluprost), a preservative free prostaglandin analog, for the treatment of certain kinds of glaucoma.  The ophthalmic solution reduces IOP in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Results from five controlled clinical studies helped spur the approval of the drug, showing that when the drug was administered once in the evening, a mean decrease in pressure from 5mmHg to 8mmHg after six months of trials from baseline levels as high as 23-26mmHg was found. Merck, a major drug company will have the new treatment ready for consumers in March.

Basic Treatments for Myopia Progression – Anti-muscarinic Drops Win

February 2, 2012

Reported in the Review of Optometry, various methods utilized for slowing myopia progression were compared in efficacy and potential side effects. Looking at data from 23 randomized controlled trials, including 4,696 participants, pediatric eye doctors and study methodologists have found that anti-muscarinic eye drops provide the greatest effect on controlling the progression of myopia, but also are associated with some side effects.

 

The studies focused on and compared:

  • Bifocal soft contact lenses
  • RGPs.
  • Pharmaceutical eye drops such as anti-muscarinics
  • Multifocal spectacles like PALs or Bifocals
  • Undercorrection
  • Both multifocal lenses and pharmaceutical eye drops.

Anti-muscarinic drops proved to be most successful but were associated with light sensitivity and/or blurred near vision.

Multifocal glasses mildly reduced the progression of myopia, while undercorrection actually seemed to increase the amount of myopia progression.

Here is a full link to the study. Students giving advice to patients on the progression of myopia should really consider referencing clinical trials like this one.

AOA Career Center – Calling all 4th year optometry students!

The AOA has an incredible tool that should be utilized by any 4th year optometry students looking to start their career. It’s called The Optometry’s Career Center. This new tool provides optometrists access to practice opportunities including employment and practices for sale. This service is free to all AOA members and will make finding that golden opportunity a little less arduous.

Visit www.optometryscareercenter.org to:

·  Post your resume and search for opportunities
·  Find a practice to purchase or list your practice for sale
·  Post staffing opportunities

Be sure to take advantage of this incredible resource the AOA has established for our profession.

Current AOSA members can also access and search the database by using their log in credentials. (Login credentials are your school e-mail and birthday so its very easy to log in!)

VA to resume use of Avastin

January 25, 2012

The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs will resume the use of intraocular Avastin. The VA had originally banned the use of ophthalmic Avastin because of concerns regarding its safety secondary to bacteria-tainted injections. With new safety standards in place, ophthalmologists can begin to use Avastin once again.

Some of the new regulations are as follows as found in Review of Optometry and reported by Sight Nation (01/11/12 – “VA Gives Avastin Another Shot”):

  • “Using outsourced compounding pharmacies to prepare intravitreal Avastin for use within VA facilities is not permitted.
  • VA pharmacies or ophthalmology providers are not permitted to prepare multiple Avastin doses from one vial. If the patient requires bilateral treatment, a separate vial and syringe must be used for each eye.
  • Any unused contents remaining in a punctured Avastin vial shall be treated as chemotherapy waste and discarded as such within the eye clinic.

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013
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Astronomy and Vision Change?

January 25th 2012 - In an October issue of Ophthalmology, it was reported that astronauts who spend six months or longer in space may begin to experience visual changes, changes that may last even after returning to Earth. In a study conducted, seven astronauts spent at least six consecutive months in space were observed, and all of them reported blurred vision while on the space station. This study concurred with previous studies conducted in 1989, which showed about 50% of 300 astronauts involved in space missions longer than six months reported changes in both distance and near vision.

Furthermore, Lawrence DeLucas, O.D., Ph.D, optometrist and astronaut, saw changes in vision 20 years ago while he himself was on the space shuttle Columbia. Dr. DeLucas shared his own findings regarding the crew members, citing seeing petite hemes in several members of the team just a few days into the mission. Many of those hemorrhages began to reabsorb 12 days into the mission. He believes it had something to do with changes in gravity, resulting in increased intracranial pressure, which subsequently can lead to optic edema and changes in vision. This is certainly something that NASA and eyecare professionals will be keeping an eye on.

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013
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Contact Lenses to Monitor Health?

January 15, 2012

January 13th 2012- Contact lenses, a Class II medical device, are already used by millions of Americans to see. However, exciting news from the University of Washington shows that maybe, in the relatively near future, they may be able to monitor health. “Smart Lenses,” a new generation of lenses, are specially designed with wireless technology, circuitry, and sensors, that may effectively monitor blood and important biomarkers found within blood such as cholesterol, glucose, potassium, and sodium, all of which are commonly found on the surface of the eye. There is a lot of promise and exciting ideas surrounding these news lenses, such as continuous diabetic blood sugar monitoring for example; however, that kind of function is years away as the lens has not even been tested in humans yet.

The hope is that, the smart lens could one day be intertwined with smart phones and other technology to not only monitor, but treat eye disease as well based on drug delivery through the lens, and looking at how the eye has changed over the course of time, right from a person’s cell phone.

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013
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Risk of Wet AMD linked to Daily Aspirin Use?

January 7, 2012

Jauary 7th 2012- Wet AMD poses a risk of blindness in seniors. Recent research has suggested that taking a daily aspirin may double the risk of developing wet AMD. The Journal Ophthalmology reported that daily aspirin use was associated with the onset of late-stage wet AMD and the onset of early dry AMD. The results of the study showed specifically that late-stage wet AMD onset was 2.22X more likely among daily aspirin users. Unfortunately, not inherent within the study was the exact dosages of aspirin taken, so correlations between specific dosages and risks was not assessed. – Read more about this topic here.

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013
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AOA Tool “Ophthalmic Resources On Demand” Takes Home Two Awards

Ophthalmic Resources On Demand Tool Takes Home Two eHealthcare Leadership Awards

January 7th 2011- The Ophthalmic Resources On Demand tool launched by the American Optometric Association took home two eHealthcare Leadership Awards at the 15th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in November. Selected from 1,200 entries, the AOA platform won Platinum Award for Best Health/Healthcare Content and the Silver Award for Best Overall Internet Site. Available on the AOA website to its members, the health tool provides access to expanding offerings like pharmaceutical product prescribing information, coupons, patient assistance programs, and patient education on products and managing medical conditions. An e-prescribing platform is currently planned for the site. The AOA has produced an excellent tool for eye and health care providers, and members should be sure to take advantage of it. CLICK HERE TO USE OPHTHALMIC RESOURCES ON DEMAND

 

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013
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National Glaucoma Awareness Month

January 7th 2012- Glaucoma, right behind cataracts is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. January marks National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Some of the biggest groups and organizations in eyecare are educating the public about this blinding disease and to get comprehensive eye exams such as the American Optometric Association, Prevent Blindness America, the National Eye Institute and Glaucoma Research Foundation. Although glaucoma does result in blindness, vision can be saved if proper diagnosis and treatment is enacted. Education and awareness is critical.

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY 2013
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ABB Concise Silicon Hydrogel cleared by FDA

January 7th 2012 - The FDA has given approval to ABB Concise to produce silicon hydrogel specialty contact lenses made from 74% H2O Definitive material with a Dk of 60. The specialty lenses will include designs for multifocal, toric, and irregular corneas. These new products will be available in the first quarter of 2012.

Article By: Antonio Chirumbolo SUNY Optometry 2013
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