Ophthalmology Times Europe, Dec 1, 2008 - Ophthalmology Times Europe

From the Editor

Ending the year in debate

By Fedra Pavlou

The holiday season is upon us again and we are about to close the door on another year, but before we do, I would firstly like to say a big thank you to all of you for your continued support of our publication throughout this year.

Meeting Highlights

Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2008

Highlights from the 2008 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

In Focus

In Focus, December 2008

All the latest news and industry developments in focus, December 2008

Special Feature

2008: The Debates

By Victoria Farrell

A series of debates on the most relevant, and most controversial, topics in ophthalmology, in which today's most eminent ophthalmologists argue for the validity of their differing opinions and practices.

Cataract & Refractive

Are blue-light filtering IOLs necessary? YES

By James McCulley, MD, FACS, FRCOphth

There are those who say that blue or violet light actually benefits the eye. If this is true, we must have evolved really badly.

Are blue-light filtering IOLs necessary? NO

By Jack T. Holladay, MD, MSEE, FACS

Claiming that blue light is harmful and should be blocked is nothing more than a marketing ploy backed by absurd arguments.

Should we be cutting a flap at all? YES

By Omid Kermani

I do not believe that safe and effective SBK can be performed with a microkeratome.

Should we be cutting a flap at all? NO

By Massimo Camellin, MD

Whether the stromal flap is thin or thick is irrelevant; it will never heal fully.

Glaucoma

Should fixed combinations be given as first-line glaucoma therapy? NO

By Professor Gabor Hollo, MD, PhD, DSc

We should not be adding another drug to the therapeutic mix without having established the efficacy and side effect profile of a single therapy.

Should fixed combinations be given as first-line glaucoma therapy? YES

By Professor Anastasios G. P. Konstas, MD

Administering fixed combinations as first-line treatment allows us to understand quickly whether our patients are non-responders or insufficient responders.

Should we perform refractive surgery in the glaucoma patient? NO

By Tarek M. Shaarawy, MD , Nikolaos Mavrakanas

It is up to our refractive surgery colleagues to publish their results on such patients to allow us to put some, or all, of our questions to rest.

Should we perform refractive surgery in the glaucoma patient? YES

By Johan Blanckaert, MD

There is no evidence to suggest that there is rapid glaucoma progression following refractive surgery.

Retina

25 G vitrectomy surgery: abandon or adopt? ABANDON

By Professor Albert J. Augustin, MD

The slimmer design of 25 G instruments has left us exposed to an increased risk of complications and decreased surgical control.

25 G vitrectomy surgery: abandon or adopt? ADOPT

By Professor Stanislao Rizzo

25 G surgery offers enhanced patient comfort as well as faster postoperative recovery.

What therapy should we be administering to our DME patients? ANTI-VEGF

By Professor Jose Cunha-Vaz, MD

The high incidence of side effects associated with steroids makes them a less favourable treatment option.

What therapy should we be administering to our DME patients? STEROIDS

By Professor Francesco Bandello, MD, FEBO

Until I see research to convince me otherwise, steroid therapy will continue to be my drug of choice.

Policy

Ophthalmologist addresses European Parliament

By Dr Sibylle Scholtz

Professor Gerd U. Auffarth petitions the European Parliament for the introduction of co-pay schemes for cataract patients in the EU

ORBIS

Giving sight to the developing world

By Victoria Farrell

OTE's Victoria Farrell interviews Cambodian paediatric ophthalmologist Phara Khauv to find out how an ORBIS initiative has impacted his practice in a vastly underserved country.

Product Watch

All the latest product news and developments, December 2008

From the Forum

Your thoughts on patient numbers

By European Ophthalmology forum members

The most recent featured discussion on the European Ophthalmology forum was on the topic of patient numbers