Iluvien advances in the regulatory process for use in the treatment of diabetic macular edema in Europe. Similar to the FDA process, Alimera announced the "positive outcome of the Decentralized Procedure (DCP)" for use in Europe. The European process now involves a national phase of the DCP where a panel of countries will need to recommend Iluvien for medical … [Read more...]
New Drug Induces Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)
February 23, 2012 By 16 Comments
A new drug, Ocriplasmin, is seeking FDA approval for treatment of some retinal disorders. Ocriplasmin (also known as microplasmin) may help patients with vitreomacular traction syndrome (VMT) and macular hole by chemically inducing a PVD. The drug may gain Priority Review status by FDA later this year. Priority Review is a special designation for drugs that show … [Read more...]
Vitreous Causes Most Retinal Disease
February 16, 2012 By 9 Comments
The vitreous causes most diseases of the retina. Retinal tears, retinal detachments, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, macular edema, vitreomacular traction, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinal detachments are all related to the vitreous. We suspect even wet macular degeneration may play a role as well, but there is no conclusive … [Read more...]
Part 2: Stem Cells to be Safe, Too
February 8, 2012 By 6 Comments
Last week we celebrated the announcement of improved vision in the first two patients receiving stem cells transplantation. Truly exciting and encouraging news, but also due to the fact that the methods used seem safe, too. New medical discoveries, treatments, drugs, devices, etc. must all be shown (proven) to be both safe and effective for the patients. Last … [Read more...]
Stem Cells Reported to Improve Vision
January 31, 2012 By 25 Comments
Two patients receiving embryonic stem cells for their blinding retinal diseases reported improvement in their vision. The results were released just last week online in the medical journal Lancet. Each patient received retinal epithelial pigment cells (aka RPE cells) grown from human embryonic stem cells. RPE cells are the faulty cells in macular diseases such as ARMD … [Read more...]
Retinal Detachment Surgery
January 19, 2012 By 30 Comments
This is my latest recording of surgery for a retinal detachment. This is the second of (what I hope) to be a series of "videos" on the surgical aspects of retinal eye disease. This is a recording of two procedures often combined to repair, or fix, a retinal detachment. Anesthesia Now, this video is quite graphic. Believe it or not, however, the patient … [Read more...]
Happy New Year!
December 30, 2011 By 13 Comments
Dear Friends, This is my favorite week of the year. I love that my older two are back from school, we have no hockey scheduled, I take a few days off, etc. It's a nice break from the routine. I wish you all a very Happy New Year! Stay well. Randy … [Read more...]
Silicone Oil for Retinal Detachments
December 20, 2011 By 31 Comments
Silicone oil is used for recurrent retinal detachments or complicated retinal detachments including PVR (proliferative vitreoretinopathy). It can be a valuable tool to prevent blindness. Most retinal detachments are caused by a retinal tear, or hole, in the retina. In either case, this allows for communication between the vitreous cavity and the potential space … [Read more...]
Retinal Tears and Vitreous Hemorrhage
December 14, 2011 By 16 Comments
A vitreous hemorrhage may be caused by a retinal tear. Sometimes there is so much blood in the eye that direct examination is impossible and we can only guess at the most likely cause. It is the most difficult situation for me to handle as a doctor. Patients lose significant vision as the blood in the middle of the eye physically blocks all light from hitting the … [Read more...]
Eylea As Good As Lucentis
December 6, 2011 By 13 Comments
Last month, the FDA approved Eylea (VEGF-Trap, aflibercept) for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. The new drug does not need to be injected as often as Lucentis, yet it seems that the visual improvement is the same; that is, fewer injections yield similar improvement in vision...for the first year of therapy. Keep in mind that we are always interested in a … [Read more...]
