OptiMedica Corp., a global ophthalmic device company, has released new details regarding the development of its proprietary femtosecond laser system for cataract surgery. The new system, which combines OptiMedica’s breakthrough pattern scanning technology, an ultra-fast laser and integrated Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging, is designed to dramatically improve the complex cataract procedure by replacing its most technically demanding and manual steps…

Although over-the-counter sales of nonprescription cosmetic contact lenses have been illegal in the United States since 2005, these decorative contact lenses are still widely available without prescription in retail stores and on the Internet. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) warns consumers that wearing these contact lenses improperly can cause serious eye disorders and infections…

Congenital stationary night blindness, an inherited condition that affects one’s ability to see in the dark, is caused by a mutation in a calcium channel protein that shuttles calcium into and out of cells. Now, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have teased apart the molecular mechanism behind this mutation, uncovering a more general principle of how cells control calcium levels…

Alaa M. El Danasoury, MD, has been appointed to serve a two-year term as the president of the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS), a partner of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). As the president, Dr. Danasoury will also serve as the chair of the ISRS Executive Committee. “I am honored and excited to lead the International Society of Refractive Surgery in 2010 and 2011,” said Dr. El Danasoury. “ISRS has long been at the forefront of refractive innovation and is comprised of leaders of refractive surgery worldwide…

Dennis S.C. Lam, MD, of Hong Kong and Stefan Seregard, MD, of Sweden have been appointed to serve a one-year term on the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) Board of Trustees. The International Advisor position on the AAO Board was established in 2010 to bring a global perspective to the board’s decision making and policy setting. Each advisor serves a one year term and represents one of the five major geographic world regions. In 2011, the new appointees will represent two of the remaining three regions. “The AAO has a substantial number of international members,” said David W…

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) conferred its International Ophthalmologists Education Award to 33 physicians in 2009. The International Ophthalmologist Education Award was developed to recognize AAO members practicing outside the United States who participate in continuing ophthalmic education through the AAO and report their activities. To qualify, international members must have finished their residency training and complete 90 continuing medical education (CME) credits over a period of three years. Half the credits must be AAO-sponsored CME…

New research from the UK shows that Optive™ eye drops have a significantly better effect on conjunctival tissues of patients with mild to moderate dry eye compared with Hylocomod (Na-Hyaluronate) eyedrops1. Due to the chronic nature of dry eye, tissue recovery could be considered essential to achieving long term success. The prevalence of people reporting dry eye symptoms is between 5 - 30% in the population aged 50 years and older…

A novel research project spearheaded by the University of Leicester and part-funded by The Leverhulme Trust aims to shed new light on the way people perceive art. By bringing together an artist and a neuroscientist, both disciplines seek to learn from each other principles of visual perception. In the process of the research, both artist and scientist are gaining new insights into what truly lies in the eye of the beholder…

LensAR, Inc., a leading developer of next generation laser technology for cataract surgery and other ocular applications, announced that four of the company’s scientific collaborators will present clinical and pre-clinical data for the LensAR Laser System at the upcoming 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). The presentations will include results from studies designed to assess the performance of the LensAR Laser System in cataract surgery and the treatment of presbyopia. The conference will be held April 9-14, 2010 in Boston, MA…

The popular dietary supplement vitamin E, loaded into special medicated contact lenses, can keep glaucoma medicine near the eye - where it can treat that common disease - almost 100 times longer than possible with current commercial lenses, scientists have reported. In a presentation at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), they described use of vitamin E to develop contact lenses that may deliver more medication for glaucoma and perhaps other diseases to the eye. Anuj Chauhan, Ph.D…