EW Weekly, August 31, 2019

- FDA approves AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL
- FDA: Sufficient data for human study of EVO/EVO+ Visian lens
- Combination of THR-317 and ranibizumab for DME safe, well-tolerated
- Iconic Therapeutics signs option agreement with Novartis
- Study: Cataract surgery safe, effective over time
- One month left to nominate a candidate for the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame
- In patients with allergic conjunctivitis, there was no significant difference between sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) versus subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy, according to Khulood Sayed and coauthors. Their prospective comparative case series study was done on 100 patients with a positive skin prick test and high-serum immunoglobulin E levels. Two groups were formed (50 patients each) to offer SLIT or subcutaneous immunotherapy and were followed for a year. Pre- and post-treatment symptoms were compared to assess efficacy. Aeroallergens—particularly, pollens and house dust—were significantly more common than food allergens. Both SLIT and subcutaneous therapy led to a clinical and immunological improvement at 12 months and was evident in all follow-up parameters. Patients tolerated the allergen therapies without any serious adverse events. The study is published in Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
- Chronic exposure to the high levels of air pollution via ambient nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide significantly increased the risk of AMD in a population-based study using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program between 2000 and 2010, reported Huang-Hsi Chang and coresearchers. Subjects included were age 50 or older, and the annual total nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide exposure was calculated from 1998 to 2010 for each subject. A total of 39,819 people were enrolled, 1,442 of whom developed AMD during the study's 11-year follow-up period. The highest quartile of each air pollutant was associated with an increased risk for AMD. The study is published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine.
- Eyes that had previous incisional glaucoma surgery and went on to have intravitreal anti-VEGF injections had a significantly lower post-injection IOP elevation as well as a faster recovery to within 10 mm Hg of their pre-injection IOP, according to Jocelyn Lam and coresearchers. In their experimental study, pre- and post-injection IOP measurements were compared along with time to recovery to within 5 and 10 mm Hg of baseline IOP. Ten eyes with a history of glaucoma surgery and 29 control eyes receiving anti-VEGF injections were part of the study. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy was the most common indication for injections. The mean change in IOP after intravitreal injections was lower in surgical eyes (10.7 mm Hg versus 28.6 mm Hg). Mean time for IOP to return to within 10 mm Hg of pre-injection IOP was less in surgical eyes (5.2 versus 13.3 minutes). Incisional glaucoma surgery may be an option in patients where attenuation of post-injection IOP elevation is needed and other less invasive measures have failed, the researchers concluded. The study appears in Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
This issue of EyeWorld Weekly was edited by Stacy Jablonski and Vanessa Caceres.
EyeWorld Weekly (ISSN 1089-0319), a digital publication of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), is published every Friday, distributed by email, and posted live on Friday.
Medical Editors: Eric Donnenfeld, MD, Chief Medical Editor; Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, Cataract Editor; Clara Chan, MD, Cornea Editor; Nathan Radcliffe, MD, Glaucoma Editor; and Vance Thompson, MD, Refractive Editor
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