The News Feed

Timely reports on clinical research, legislative updates and product launches, from the editors of Review of Optometry and RCCL. Stories post each weekday morning.

Ortho-K, Multifocal Contacts Offer Similar Progression Halting Effects

Retrospective analysis found no difference in the annualized axial length growth with these types of myopia control options.
March 20, 2023

Immunodeficiency Increases Odds of Recurrent HSV Keratitis

Study found an elevated risk in pediatric patients, in addition to stromal involvement leading to amblyopia and corneal scarring.
March 20, 2023

Study Identifies Factors to Predict Surgery, Blindness in NVG

Patients with an IOP over 35mm Hg, two or more topical drops and vision worse than 20/100 had the highest risk.
March 20, 2023

Portable Perimeters Similar to HFA in Mean Deviation, Not Sensitivity

A tablet-based device had substantial differences based on location, likely stemming from the design.
March 17, 2023

Statin Use, Certain Ethnicities Linked to Late-Onset AMD

On the flip side, female sex, obesity and fluoxetine use were found to be associated with earlier development.
March 17, 2023

OCT Angiography May Be Good Diagnostic Tool for Amblyopia

The device was able to identify retinal vessel density in these patients to be lower than in controls.
March 17, 2023

Florida Senate Advances Bill to Ban OD Use of Optometric Physician Title

Similar restrictions would not be put on dentists, chiropractors or podiatrists, since these doctors’ practice acts define them as physicians. The legislation next goes to the house of representatives.
March 16, 2023

Close Monitoring During Year One of Anti-VEGF Advised

Severe vision loss—three or more lines of ETDRS acuity—during treatment may be linked to the number of injections.
March 16, 2023

Open Globe Injury Repair Risk Highest in Male, Younger Patients

Black and Hispanic people were also disproportionately affected in prevalence.
March 16, 2023

AOA Gears Up to Fight Anti-Optometry Bills

To counteract scope expansion efforts, MD groups in at least three states have introduced legislation that could prevent or limit ODs from being referenced as doctors or physicians.
March 15, 2023

Optic Nerve Most Vulnerable to Tobacco During Fetal, Early Life

Patients whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had thinner peripapillary RNFLs.
March 15, 2023

Set Target IOP Lower in NTG Patients with Parafoveal Scotoma

Patients with this finding experienced more defects and a thinner lamina cribrosa than those with a nasal step, a new study finds.
March 15, 2023

Observation Sufficient for Majority of Valsalva Retinopathy Cases

Most hemorrhages resolved on their own within three months.
March 14, 2023

Early Recurrence for Intermittent Exotropia After Surgery High

A recent study used pre- and post-op prediction tools to help clinicians and patients consider appropriate interventions and responses.
March 14, 2023

Technician-Led Remote Screening Program Notches Successes, Notes Barriers

High-risk populations in economically disadvantaged communities were brought into the healthcare system, with many given eyeglasses and booked for follow-up appointments.
March 14, 2023

California Reintroduces Laser Bill for Optometrists

Advocates regroup after last year’s loss and are ready to try again this session.
March 13, 2023

Use OCT to Spot Macular Diseases in Asymptomatic Cataract Surgery Patients

Study shows that one in every eight people evaluated preoperatively could have a condition undetectable by indirect ophthalmoscopy alone.
March 13, 2023

DR Toll in American Indian Populations Has Improved in Recent Decades

Analysis of recent data suggests extending follow-up intervals for retinopathy assessment in the healthier cohorts of this patient demographic.
March 13, 2023

CooperVision Introduces Daily Lens for Digital Eye Strain

MyDay Energys delivers a +0.3D power boost to help improve comfort of accommodation.
March 10, 2023

ODs Making Inroads at Teaching Hospitals But Lag Behind in Status, Numbers

About 65% of academic medical centers employ optometrists, but only 51% have an academic appointment to formally recognize their contributions to medical education.
March 10, 2023

Good Safety Profile Found in Pediatric Soft Contact Lens Wear

Children weren’t at greater risk for infection compared with adults, adding another point for this modality as a strong choice for myopia management.
March 10, 2023

Atropine Reduces Axial Length Progression in Genetic Carriers of Myopia

Study shows this in children with or without a known monogenetic cause, as well as mice.
March 10, 2023

Retinal Vessel Diameters Correlate to Uveitis Activity

Dilation increased in inflamed eyes but regressed when the disease became inactive.
March 9, 2023

Choroidal Thinning Plays Role in Myopic Maculopathy

As well as with a progressive peripapillary atrophy area expansion, these factors could be used to predict the condition and its subtypes.
March 9, 2023

Three in Four Patients Experience a Lapse in DR Care

These populations tend to be Black or Hispanic, recent study finds.
March 8, 2023

Glycemic Control May Mitigate Myopia

Low adiponectin and high HbA1c levels displayed an increased risk, suggesting consistent management could lessen this development. Researchers theorize a role for choroidal thickening in diabetes as the mechanism.
March 8, 2023

Physical Activity Protects Against Macular Thinning

Even glaucoma suspects who exercised more showed improved metrics in this multi-cohort observational study.
March 8, 2023

Haag-Streit Exam Lane Features New Slit Lamp Model

A Goldmann applanation tonometer, instrument stand, exam chair and stool make up the other items included in the five-piece bundle.
March 7, 2023

Pigment Epithelial Detachment Negatively Correlated With BCVA

Study shows that conbercept treatment could improve BCVA for non-PCV patients.
March 7, 2023

Macular OCT a Good Indicator of Glaucomatous VF Loss

Faster rates of ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning were identified as the culprits.
March 7, 2023

Two Next-Generation OCT Models Debut

Solix FullRange and Solix Essential use AI software to provide quick, high-resolution scans and insightful clinical data, the company says.
March 6, 2023

Contrast Balancing Partially Helps Stereoacuity in Asymmetric Keratoconus

Syncing the contrast input to both eyes may reduce losses in this aspect of vision.
March 6, 2023

Port Delivery System for nAMD Shows Positive Results at Two Years

The implant was shown to be noninferior to monthly ranibizumab injections.
March 6, 2023

Study Explores Role of Posterior Staphyloma in Myopic Maculopathy

Axial length was the biggest risk factor for development, followed by age.
March 6, 2023

Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Effect on VF Loss Comparable to Other Treatments

While the drainage device reduced IOP and the number of meds, there was a continued rate of post-op visual decline.
March 3, 2023

iStent Does Not Lead to Adverse Endothelial Effects, Study Says

No complications were found with implantation during cataract surgery in POAG patients at five years post-op.
March 3, 2023

Anxiety Disorders Linked to Visual Disabilities

This psychiatric consequence was found especially in an elderly population facing declining ocular health.
March 3, 2023

Screen For Glaucoma in Sleep Apnea Patients

Patients with moderate and severe OSA demonstrated significant RNFL thinning, putting them at risk for optic nerve-related disease.
March 2, 2023

Male Sex, Right Laterality Predominant in RRD

This observation was especially evident in patients aged 50 to 70 years old.
March 2, 2023

Study Identifies Characteristics of Wet AMD Patients Lost to Follow-up

Risk factors included increasing age, male sex, African American ethnicity, comorbid diabetes, unilateral involvement and Medicaid insurance.
March 2, 2023

VA Pushes Bill That Would Recognize ODs as Physicians

Awaiting a vote by the Senate, the VA CAREERS Act would help address clinic vacancies by increasing the salary cap and competitiveness of pay.
March 1, 2023

Norepinephrine Promotes Corneal Riboflavin Infiltration

This may improve the results of transepithelial crosslinking, researchers say.
March 1, 2023

Blood Pressure Not Indicative of Optic Nerve Damage

Cases of hyper- or hypotension were found not to be related to retinal OCT findings.
March 1, 2023

Study Supports Scleral Buckling for Macula-off Detachments

Cystoid macular edema occurred in one-third of vitrectomy patients but in no scleral buckling patients.
February 28, 2023

Children Most Vulnerable to Environmental Myopia Catalysts at Ages Six to Eight

The conclusion comes from a study showing that prevalence returned to pre-pandemic levels after lockdown, though methodological issues may have influenced results.
February 28, 2023

Type 1 Diabetes, Longer Disease Duration, Comorbidities Associated with PDR

Other factors showing correlation included insulin and anti-hypertensive medication use.
February 28, 2023

Early Retinal Neurodegeneration Found in Pre-diabetes

Recent study discovers modest association between higher blood sugar levels and thinner photoreceptor layers.
February 27, 2023

En Face OCT Superior to Red-free Imaging for RNFL Defects

Findings correlated more strongly with visual field loss. This study also observed the same dynamic in highly myopic eyes.
February 27, 2023

Microstent, Cataract Surgery Combo Can Preserve VFs

The addition of a MIGS device resulted in risk reduction of fast progression throughout five years of follow-up.
February 24, 2023

Southern States Fare Worst in Vision Care Access, Disease Burden

In these areas, non-Hispanic Black children were more likely to report this finding than non-Hispanic whites.
February 24, 2023