OSN SuperSite May 28, 2009
ROME — Glaucoma medications that are available today can be divided into outflow and inflow agents.While beta-blockers, alpha-agonists and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are all inflow agents, "research is now concentrating on outflow side because we all know that the aqueous is a nutrient in the circulatory system of many tissues in the anterior segment. The new treatments are directed at enhancing trabecular meshwork outflow," Douglas J. Rhee, MD, said at the annual joint meeting of Ocular Surgery News and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology. Of the various outflow agents that are currently under investigation, the one that is closest to market is the Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor (Santen Pharmaceutical). In a human trial of 45 normal subjects, it was shown to lower IOP in a dose response curve.
"The maximum response was about 3 mm Hg, which in patients with an IOP of 14 mm Hg to 15 mm Hg, a 3-mm lowering was actually pretty good," Dr. Rhee said.Adenosine receptor agonists are another agent that may become available on the market. They work by enhancing extracellular matrix turnover in the trabecular meshwork, he explained.
Friday, May 29, 2009
'Fork tip' makes phacoemulsification safer, easier, more effective
OSN SuperSite May 28, 2009
A newly designed "fork tip" for phacoemulsification holds the nucleus firmly, allowing for safer, easier and faster surgery, according to one speaker here.
"Traditional tips are spoon shaped and are not effective in holding and fragmenting the nucleus," Hideharu Fukasaku, MD, said at the annual joint meeting of Ocular Surgery News and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology.
The new tip has pointed teeth at the distal end, just like a fork, which allow the tip to be deeply embedded into the nucleus to grasp it, hold it firmly and crush it.
Story continues below↓
"We have developed several prototypes for different grades of nucleus hardness. They all work well," Dr. Fukasaku said."This technique has great advantages, particularly for hard nuclei. It reduces overall phaco time and ultrasound time, enhancing the safety of the procedure," he said.In all the patients he has treated using this tip, cataract surgery was quicker and less ultrasound power was used.
A newly designed "fork tip" for phacoemulsification holds the nucleus firmly, allowing for safer, easier and faster surgery, according to one speaker here.
"Traditional tips are spoon shaped and are not effective in holding and fragmenting the nucleus," Hideharu Fukasaku, MD, said at the annual joint meeting of Ocular Surgery News and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology.
The new tip has pointed teeth at the distal end, just like a fork, which allow the tip to be deeply embedded into the nucleus to grasp it, hold it firmly and crush it.
Story continues below↓
"We have developed several prototypes for different grades of nucleus hardness. They all work well," Dr. Fukasaku said."This technique has great advantages, particularly for hard nuclei. It reduces overall phaco time and ultrasound time, enhancing the safety of the procedure," he said.In all the patients he has treated using this tip, cataract surgery was quicker and less ultrasound power was used.
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