EW Weekly, December 18, 2020

- COVID-19 vaccine update
- Phase 2b trial for blepharitis treatment
- Phase 2 results from study evaluating melanocortin pathway for dry eye treatment
- Update in gene therapy trials
- Product news
- A case series published in JAMA Ophthalmology looked at real-time incision-related Descemet membrane detachment to better understand when and how it occurs in cataract surgery. In the series of 133 patients, Descemet membrane detachment occurred in 125 operations, most frequently during phacoemulsification (69 cases) and irrigation-aspiration (44 cases). According to the study authors, these findings suggest that Descemet membrane detachment is most likely to occur during points of surgery with the most friction at the incision site. They also found that the severity of the detachment is associated with the level of ultrasonic energy and length of phaco time. “Decreasing ultrasonic energy and phacoemulsification time may reduce the severity of incisional DMD,” the authors concluded.
- Long-term outcomes of SMILE in patients with high or low levels of astigmatism were evaluated in a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Forty-three eyes had 2 D or more of astigmatism (considered the high astigmatism group) and 31 eyes had 1 D or less. The outcomes were evaluated at 4 years postop. Residual cylinder at 4 years in the high astigmatism group was −0.31±0.29 D and −0.20±0.28 D in the low astigmatism group. The study authors reported an efficacy index of 0.99±0.14 and 1.10±0.21 in the high astigmatism and low astigmatism groups, respectively, and a safety index of 1.11±0.20 and 1.22±0.21. Eighty-six and 90.3% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of intended cylinder correction in the high and low astigmatism groups, respectively. According to the researchers, these findings and others show that SMILE is safe and effective for correcting high astigmatism, though vector analysis did reveal a trend toward under correction of astigmatism in this group.
- Optos announced several advancements to its ultra-widefield imaging devices. Its Daytona device has improved optics and image capture time and an updated design/user interface. Silverstone now has a repeat scan tool for monitoring change over time, a new mode that displays OCT scan type and location on the optomap image, and auto contrast angiography capture. All devices in the Optos platform also now have optomap image enhancements.
- Medmont International launched the medmont meridian Advanced Topographer, which in addition to topography includes anterior and fluorescein imaging and videos and dry eye evaluation tools.
- Cassini Technologies announced that cOS 6.0 software for the Catalys Precision Laser System (Johnson & Johnson Vision) and its Cassini Ambient are now compatible and commercially available.
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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