This week in optometry: July 31-August 4
Catch up on what happened in optometry during the week of July 24-July 28.
Catch up with what Optometry Times®' shared this week:
(Adobe Stock / New Africa)
Optometry news
What is type 3 diabetes?
Euin Cheong, OD
At first glance, there may not appear to be a connection between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease or other forms of dementia. However, a connection does exist, and the evidence supporting it is compelling enough that medical experts have started referring to Alzheimer disease as type 3 diabetes.
Diabetes and Alzheimer disease are 2 of the most prevalent diseases that affect the elderly population around the world. Diabetes is a chronic disease that impairs the body’s capacity to process glucose, which can lead to serious health complications. According to the CDC, 37.3 million people have diabetes, which makes up 11.3% of the US population.1 Alzheimer disease is a degenerative brain condition that causes damage to brain cells, resulting in memory loss and the impairment of other critical mental functions. It affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans, and rates of death from the disease increased by more than 50% between 1999 and 2014.2
Harrow celebrates Vigamox US launch
Kassi Jackson, Editor
Harrow announced the completion of the New Drug Application (NDA) transfer of moxifloxacin hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.5% (Vigamox), making the drug commercially available in the United States under the Harrow name. Vigamox is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic eye drop for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible strains of organisms.1 Earlier this year, Harrow bought the US commercial rights to 5 branded ophthalmic products—Ilevro, Nevanac, Vigamox, Maxidex, and Triesence—making this NDA transfer completion the fourth FDA-approved product from the acquisition.2
The optometrist plays an important role in premium intraocular lens decision-making
Ahmad A. Aref, MD, MBA
The growing number of intraocular lens (IOL) options and technologies has made surgical decision-making more complex, sometimes leading to patient confusion and often a need for provider guidance. One common decision point is choosing between the implantation of an extended depth of focus IOL (EDOF IOL; Figure 1) and a multifocal intraocular lens (MFIOL; Figure 2). Both types of lens platforms have offered our patients reliable methods for extending the range of vision to increase spectacle independence after cataract surgery. Both lens platforms have also resulted in high levels of patient satisfaction. A recent report of outcomes after MFIOL implantation found that 96% of patients would recommend the same procedure and lens type to others.1
View the figures and read more...
CRU 2023: Learn to care for your patients' retinas with genetic testing
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO; Emily Kaiser, Assistant Managing Editor; Marlisa Miller, Editorial Intern
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, who is part of the faculty for the CRU Eye Symposium, caught up with Optometry Times®' assistant managing editor, Emily Kaiser, to talk about the meeting.
CRU is an acronym that stands for "current, relevant, useful," and the second annual symposium will be held November 10-12, 2023, at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, California. S. Barry Eiden, OD, FAAO, FSLS; Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, FSLS; and John D. Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA, are the co-chairs of the meeting, with honorary ambassador Vance Thompson, MD, FACS.
Pegcetacoplan shows increasing beneficial effects after 30 Months of Continuous treatment for GA
Lynda Charters
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the results from the GALE extension study that indicated that continuous treatment with SYFOVRE (pegcetacoplan injection) for 30 months continued to show increasing beneficial effects over that timeframe in patients with geographic atrophy (GA). Pegcetacoplan is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for GA associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The company announced the data at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists in Seattle.
CRU 2023: Seeing eye to eye over education and wine
S. Barry Eiden, OD, FAAO, FSLS
We are looking forward to the second annual Current, Relevant, Useful (CRU) Eye Symposium that will take place at the beautiful Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, California, November 10–12, 2023. This year’s CRU meeting will take place during one of the loveliest times of the year in wine country, when the vineyards turn red, yellow, and golden brown. Skies are blue; temperatures are warm during the day and comfortably cool in the evenings.
Beyond the wonders of the Napa Valley and the more than 400 world-respected wineries, CRU is a spectacular educational event where a diverse number of eye care topics are discussed and presented by some of the most highly respected speakers in optometry and ophthalmology. Topics will include ocular surface disease, glaucoma, irregular corneas, advanced contact lenses, and retinal disease, among others.
EyeCon 2023: Overview with Dr Kelly Nichols
Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO; Emily Kaiser, Assistant Managing Editor; Marlisa Miller, Editorial Intern
Dr Kelly Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, met with Optometry Time to discuss EyeCon, a meeting that combines optometry and ophthalmology. EyeCon will be held December 1 and 2 in Sanibel Island, Flordia.
