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In memoriam: Endre A. Balazs, MD
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ASCRS Hall of Fame member Endre A. Balazs, MD, passed away on August 29. Dr. Balazs distinguished himself through pioneering research on the structure and biological activity of hyaluronan, a viscoelastic polysaccharide present in all tissues of the human body but in large amounts in the vitreous of the eye and the soft tissues of joints and skin.
Dr. Balazs received his medical degree from the University of Budapest in 1942 and began his research career in the university's Department of Histology and Embryology. In 1951, at the invitation of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Balazs moved to Boston to set up the research laboratories and organize the Retina Foundation. He co-founded the Boston Biomedical Research Institute.
In 1962, on Dr. Balazs' initiative, Experimental Eye Research, the first international eye research journal, was started. Dr. Balazs was the editor in chief until 1991. He also initiated and co-founded the International Society for Eye Research.
Dr. Balazs was recipient of the Friedenwald Award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (1963), the Cornelius D. Binkhorst Medal from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (1986), and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Schepens Eye Research Institute (2008).
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Allergan to acquire AqueSys
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Allergan (Dublin, Ireland) and AqueSys (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Allergan will acquire AqueSys in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan will acquire AqueSys for a $300 million upfront payment and regulatory approval and commercialization milestone payments related to AqueSys' lead development programs, including XEN45. The XEN45 is a soft shunt that is implanted in the subconjunctival space through a minimally invasive procedure with a single use, pre-loaded proprietary injector. Final approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected by late 2016 or early 2017 via the 510K device pathway.
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First OCT-angiography technology approved in U.S.
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Carl Zeiss Meditec (Jena, Germany) has received 510(k) clearance for its AngioPlex OCT Angiography for imaging of the retina, the company announced.
The technology allows for a single additional optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan that takes seconds on the Zeiss' Cirrus HD-OCT system, and will image the retinal vasculature "at a depth and clarity never available before," Zeiss said.
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SMD Sr90-1 brachytherapy device granted 510(k) clearance
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The SMD Sr90-1 Radionuclide Brachytherapy Source (RBS) received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration, developer Salutaris Medical Devices (Tucson, Ariz.) said in a press release. The SMD Sr90-1 RBS is indicated for episcleral brachytherapy of tumors and benign growths, and is intended for use within a manual brachytherapy applicator system.
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Most CL wearers report 'risky eye care behaviors'
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Almost all of the 41 million estimated contact lens (CL) wearers in the United States may be engaging in at least one behavior known to increase their risk of eye infections, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly 33% of survey participants reported red or painful eyes related to wearing CLs that necessitated a physician's visit.
More than 99% of survey respondents reported at least one risky behavior, with 82.3% keeping CL cases longer than recommended, 55.1% "topping off" solution in the case rather than emptying the case completely before adding more solution, and 50.2% sleeping in CLs not designated for overnight wear.
In previous studies, each of these behaviors has been known to increase the risk of eye infections by 5 times or more, the CDC said.
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DR screening for kids can be pushed back, researchers say
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A new study has found that the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains low among children living with diabetes, regardless of how long they have had the disease or their ability to keep blood sugar levels controlled. Researchers are therefore recommending that most children with type 1 diabetes delay annual DR screenings until age 15, or 5 years after their diabetes diagnosis, whichever occurs later.
Researchers based at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania conducted a retrospective study of 370 children under age 18 with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Some of the study participants had blood sugar levels 3 times that of a person without diabetes. The researchers were concerned that annual exams may create an excessive financial and logistical burden for families and the healthcare system, according to a press release from American Academy of Ophthalmology (San Francisco).
The researchers found previous studies reported a DR prevalence rate between 0 and 28% among children studied, but the majority of the cases were very mild and thus would not qualify for treatment. They also found that the youngest person reported to have severe DR was between 15 and 19 years old, and 5 to 6 years was the shortest reported duration of having diabetes before developing severe DR.
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RESEARCH BRIEFS
- Patients undergoing trabeculectomy had faster average rates of visual field (VF) loss prior to surgery than published values for the general glaucoma population, with more than one-third of eyes studied predicted to have become blind without intervention, according to a study in Eye. W.S. Foulsham and colleagues evaluated prior rates of VF loss in 117 eyes of 86 patients undergoing trabeculectomy and to estimate, in the absence of surgical intervention, lifetime risk of visual impairment and blindness. Patients were followed for 10.7±7.5 years prior to surgery with an average of 7 useable fields per eye. On average patients referred from general clinics lost 1.04 dB/year compared with 0.77 dB/year in those referred from glaucoma clinics (P=0.070). Patients referred from general clinics had more medication changes prior to surgery (3.4 and 2.6 changes, respectively; P=0.004).
- The big bubble technique is reproducible in dissecting Descemet's membrane endothelial (DE) grafts with minimal damage to the endothelial cells, according to S.A. Gamaleldin and colleagues. They evaluated 21 human corneo-scleral tissues unsuitable for transplantation to determine the efficacy of the big bubble technique in separating Dua's layer together with the DE graft and the effect of 7-day storage of the prepared tissues on the endothelial cells. Complete detachment of DE grafts was achieved in 20 cases (95.24%). Histological analysis revealed Dua's layer presence in 14 cases (70%). The mean endothelial cell density for the corneas before dissection was 2,375 cells/mm2 with significant reduction to 2,200 cells/mm2 (p<0.00001) with endothelial cell loss of 7.3±3.5% and non-viable cells of 6.5±2.5% at the end of the 7-day storage. On comparing the dissected DE grafts with Dua's layer versus those without at 1 day after dissection and at 7 days after storage, there were no statistically significant changes. The study is published in Acta Ophthalmologica.
- Combined pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and iris suture fixation of posteriorly dislocated IOLs led to stable fixation of the IOLs, according to a study in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. U. Soiberman and colleagues conducted a retrospective, non-comparative, consecutive case series review that included 27 eyes with posteriorly dislocated IOLs that had combined PPV and iris suture fixation. The median postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/30, and 16 of 27 eyes had stable or improved CDVA compared with baseline; 8 of the others had a shift from aphakic to pseudophakic correction. Overall, a significant myopic shift in spherical equivalent occurred after surgery, from 7.62±4.38 D to -1.33±1.45 D (P<.001). Surgically induced astigmatism assessed by comparing the difference in preoperative keratometry readings with the difference in postoperative manifest refraction cylinder adjusted to the corneal plane gave the following: 1.89±1.09 D versus 1.13±0.86 D, respectively (P<.001). All IOLs were stable and centered at the last follow-up, however, 1 was mildly tilted. One eye had a recurrent subluxation, and the IOL was resutured before the end of the study. No cases of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment occurred.
NEW PRODUCT BRIEF
- Rhein Medical (St. Petersburg, Fla.) introduced two new products: the Goldberg Silicone Oil Extractor, developed in coordination with Lawrence R. Goldberg, MD, and the Goldberg Iris Hook Forceps, also developed in coordination with Dr. Goldberg. The Extractor is designed to remove oil located in the vitreous during cataract surgery due to a retinal detachment repair. The Forceps have micro slots in the inner jaws designed to grasp iris hooks for easier and more controlled insertion. These slots are married to the outer diameter of the iris hook, and multiple slots make picking up the iris hook easier.
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EyeWorld Weekly Update is edited by Stacy Jablonski and Michelle Dalton.
EyeWorld Weekly Update (ISSN 1089-0319), a digital publication of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, is published every Friday, distributed by email, and posted live on Friday.
Medical Editors: Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, chief medical editor; Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, cataract editor; Clara C. Chan, MD, cornea editor; Reay H. Brown, MD, glaucoma editor; Steven C. Schallhorn, MD, refractive editor; and John A. Vukich, MD, international editor
For sponsorship opportunities or membership information, contact: ASCRS*ASOA * 4000 Legato Rd. * Suite 700 * Fairfax, VA 22033 * Phone: 703-591-2220 * Fax: 703-591-0614 * Email: ASCRS
Opinions expressed in EyeWorld Weekly Update do not necessarily reflect those of ASCRS*ASOA. Mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement by ASCRS*ASOA. |
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