Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Ophthalmology for November 2005. This roundup includes the latest journal articles and updates from government agencies, including the FDA, NIH, and agencies from the UK and Canada, that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
OTC Eye Drop Maker Halted Due to FDA Violations
TUESDAY, Nov. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that MBI Distributing, Inc., also known as Molecular Biologics, has signed a consent decree requiring it to stop making eye drops and other drugs until it corrects problems in its Benicia, Calif., facility.
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Devices Improve Night Vision in Retinitis Pigmentosa
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Low-vision night mobility devices benefit patients who have severe night blindness associated with retinitis pigmentosa, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development. Many patients are so severely affected that they use a sighted guide or eliminate outside trips after dark.
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FDA Announces Recall of GenTeal Gel Eyedrops
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday a voluntary recall of seven lots of two products, GenTeal Gel and GenTeal GelDrops, due to a lack of sterility assurance. Both are non-prescription eyedrops meant to relieve dryness of the eye.
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FDA Issues Warning About Flomax and Cataract Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday that men taking the drug Flomax (tamsulosin) for benign prostatic hyperplasia, or those who have taken it in the past, could experience problems during cataract surgery.
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Eye Shots More Successful in Diabetics with Macular Edema
MONDAY, Nov. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetic patients are more likely to benefit from intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide if they have pronounced macular edema and less likely to benefit if they have macular ischemia and a high preoperative best-corrected visual acuity, according to a study in the October issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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Support System Increases Cataract Surgery Rates
MONDAY, Nov. 14 (HealthDay News) -- An organized support system to help nursing home residents schedule cataract surgery and transport them to and from the hospital significantly increases uptake rates, according to a study published in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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Corneal Blindness Surgery Provides Long-Term Benefits
MONDAY, Nov. 14 (HealthDay News) -- A modified osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) surgery for corneal blindness may provide an anatomically stable prosthesis and improved vision, according to a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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Nasal Steroids May Contribute to Glaucoma Eye Pressure
THURSDAY, Nov. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Glaucoma patients who discontinue use of nasal steroids may experience a significant reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP), according to a study in the November issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Some patients were able to alleviate the need for additional glaucoma drugs or surgery simply by stopping use of the corticosteroids, which are used to control allergic rhinitis or other nasal symptoms.
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Presurgical Radiation Boosts Survival After Eye Melanoma
THURSDAY, Nov. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Radiotherapy of an eye before enucleation improves survival for patients with uveal melanoma, according to a study in the October issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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U.S. Leads Six-Nation Survey of Medical Errors
THURSDAY, Nov. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The United States leads five other developed nations in the number of medical mistakes, medication errors or inaccurate or delayed lab results, according to an international patient survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund.
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Eye Exams Help Preserve Elderly Vision
THURSDAY, Nov. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Regular eye examinations help elderly patients preserve their vision and participate in daily life, according to a study in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. An additional year with an eye examination cuts the probability that a patient will be unable to read newsprint or will have onset of low vision or blindness.
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FDA Announces New Electronic Drug Labels
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Under regulations effective Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will require drug manufacturers to submit package insert or labels to the federal agency in a new electronic format known as the structured product labeling (SPL).
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