http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/ The latest news stories from Retina Today. en-us Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:29:43 GMT Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:29:43 GMT BMCToday http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=study-shows-bevacizumab-and-ranibizumab-equally-effective-in-stabilizing-visual-acuity-loss Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech, Inc.) and ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech, Inc.) appear to be equally effective in stabilizing visual acuity loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to data from a retrospective study.1 Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (Pasadena, CA) followed 34... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=study-shows-bevacizumab-and-ranibizumab-equally-effective-in-stabilizing-visual-acuity-loss http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=iluvien-demonstrated-effective-sustained-release-of-fa-improved-vision Iluvien (Alimera Sciences Inc.) provided excellent sustained delivery of fluocinolone acetonide (FA) and significantly improved vision in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), according to Peter Campochiaro, MD. He presented the results of the FAME (Fluocinolone Acetonide in Diabetic Macular Edema) study at the Angiogenesis 2010: Clinica... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=iluvien-demonstrated-effective-sustained-release-of-fa-improved-vision http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=positive-phase-1-results-with-liquid-sustained-release-drug-delivery-platform The Verisome drug delivery system (Icon Biosciences) was safe and provided controlled, extended release of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in a phase 1 study, said Anne Fung, MD, a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the California Pacific Medical Center, at the Angiogenesis 2010: Clinical Trials Conference.1 The Verisome system is a liquid, ... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=positive-phase-1-results-with-liquid-sustained-release-drug-delivery-platform http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=ozurdex-shows-promise-for-macular-edema-due-to-rvo The intravitreal 700 μg dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex, Allergan, Inc.) was well tolerated and produced substantial improvements in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with macular edema due to central or branch retinal vein occlusions, researchers announced. The response to a second treatment after 6 months was similar to the re... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=ozurdex-shows-promise-for-macular-edema-due-to-rvo http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=notal-visions-foreseehome-amd-monitor-receives-fda-clearance Notal Vision (St. Louis, MO) received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its ForeseeHome AMD Monitor, which allows patients to monitor age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from home. The ForeseeHome AMD Monitor is the first ophthalmic device linking patients and doctors between eye exams for ongoing monitori... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=notal-visions-foreseehome-amd-monitor-receives-fda-clearance http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=pegaptanib-shows-benefit-in-preliminary-brvo-study In a preliminary study, intravitreous pegaptanib sodium (Macugen; EyeTech Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY) showed potential benefit for treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).1 The uncontrolled, dose-finding study, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, evaluated 20 patients diagnosed with BRVO... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=pegaptanib-shows-benefit-in-preliminary-brvo-study http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=postive-phase-2-results-for-microplasmin-separation-of-the-vitreous A phase 2 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of intravitreal microplasmin (ThromboGenics, Leuven, Belgium) in facilitating the separation of the vitreous from the retina produced positive results. The study, reported in Ophthalmology, evaluated 125 patients scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) primarily for treatment of vitreomacul... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=postive-phase-2-results-for-microplasmin-separation-of-the-vitreous http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=expanding-retinal-research-and-low-vision-awareness Optelec manufactures and distributes innovative and lifechanging assistive technologies for the blind and visually impaired worldwide. With its US headquarters in San Diego, CA, the company specializes in advanced electronic magnification solutions, daily living aids, and educational resources designed to improve quality of life and mobili... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=expanding-retinal-research-and-low-vision-awareness http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=fda-calls-for-limits-on-asthma-drugs The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in February that drugs in the class of longacting beta agonists (LABAs) should never be used alone in the treatment of asthma in children or adults. The agency’s guidance affects Serevent (salmeterol, GlaxoSmithKline, Inc.), Advair (fluticasone and salmeterol, GlaxoSmithKline, Inc.), Symbi... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=fda-calls-for-limits-on-asthma-drugs http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=aspirin-may-contribute-to-survival-reduce-recurrence-in-breast-cancer-survivors Women with breast cancer who used aspirin were less likely to suffer a recurrence or die from the disease compared with women who did not take the drug, according to researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston. This research is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Michelle Holmes, MD, DrPH, and colleagues at BWH c... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=aspirin-may-contribute-to-survival-reduce-recurrence-in-breast-cancer-survivors http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=british-journal-withdraws-paper-linking-autism-to-vaccines The Lancet retracted a 1998 research paper1 that suggested that vaccines could cause autism. According to the New York Times,2 the retraction3 is part of a longterm reassessment of the scientific methods and financial conflicts of Andrew Wakefield, MD, who asserted in the 1998 paper that the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine ... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=british-journal-withdraws-paper-linking-autism-to-vaccines http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=antidepressant-enhanced-cognitive-recovery-following-stroke The antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro, Forest Laboratories, Inc.) may help stroke patients recover some of their mental skills, according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry.1 Researchers at the University of Iowa randomly assigned 117 patients to receive escitalopram (n=43), placebo (n=45), or nondrug problem-solving therapy ... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://bmctoday.net/retinatoday/2010/03/article.asp?f=antidepressant-enhanced-cognitive-recovery-following-stroke