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This week in optometry: April 10-April 14
A look back on what happened in optometry during the week of April 10-April 14.
Catch up with what Optometry Times®' shared this week:
Image credit: Adobe Stock/Viacheslav Yakobchuk
Optometry news
A pregnancy sleep-OSA-dry eye triad
By Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO
Pregnancy involves anatomical, physiological, and biochemical changes in the body.1 During pregnancy, changes in hormones, metabolism, and hemodynamic, vascular, and immunological response can affect the eye, including the ocular surface tissues, which may be transient or permanent in some cases. The ocular effects of pregnancy may be physiological or pathological and can be associated with the development of new ocular pathology or may be modifications of preexisting conditions.
Myopia progression can be decreased by low-dose atropine drops
By Lynda Charters
In a recent myopia management trial, atropine 0.01% eye drops were found to decrease myopia progression over the course of 1 year in children.1
A randomized trial, led by Isha Sharma, MD, and colleagues from the Department of Ophthalmology, University College of Medical Science & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, evaluated the efficacy of low-dose atropine to halt myopia progression.
The study compared the mean changes in the spherical equivalent and axial length to a control group and evaluated the drug’s effect on the near vision, pupillary size, and keratometry and pachymetry values at 1 year.
Q&A: How is the landscape of geographic atrophy changing?
By Euin Cheong, OD
Geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), had no FDA-approved treatment until February 2023. Pegcetacoplan (Syfovre; Apellis) is the first treatment to break into the market of geographic atrophy, and its approval is based on clinical data from the phase 3 OAKS (NCT03525600) and DERBY (NCT03525613) studies.
But there are others on pegcetacoplan’s heels. The FDA has accepted a new drug application and granted priority review for intravitreal avacincaptad pegol (Zimura; Iveric Bio) with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of August 19, 2023.
Dry eye disease treatment improves corneal staining
By Lynda Charters
The use of water-free topical cyclosporine 0.1% solution to treat patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED) was found to have clinically meaningful results. The study group observed a significantly greater reduction in the total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS) score compared with vehicle.1
A treatment that both provides rapid onset of action and is well-tolerated would fill an important gap in this patient population, the investigators pointed out.
See the full ESSENCE-2 study results...
Beyond the podium: Thought leadership in optometry is evolving
By Corporate Optometry
A thought leader is an expert in their field who is actively engaged in promoting their ideas and sharing their knowledge with others. They are often seen as a change-maker or thought- provoking individual, and their aim is to influence and inspire others. They have a vision of what optometry is supposed to be, not what is dictated by others in the industry.
In order to become a thought leader, it is not enough to simply be an expert in your field. You must also be proactive in sharing your ideas and engaging with others. This can be done through writing articles or blogs, giving talks or presentations, or using social media. In the past thought leaders we ODs that lectured at conferences and had busy practices. With the rise of social media this has changed. Different voices are now able to be amplified. Thought leaders aren’t selected by optometry magazines, pharma boards ,companies or conferences anymore. Thought leaders are created from changing the norm and utilizing the different platforms they have to provide a different perspective. Corporate ODs have been underrepresented in the past. Now is the time to seek opportunity to amplify their voice in the industry. Different voices help our industry grow.
Eye rubbing plays role in keratoconus and ocular surface disease progression
By Lynda Charters
French investigators reported that chronic eye rubbing “presents addictive-like cognitive and behavioral characteristics in patients with keratoconus (KC) or ocular surface disease (OSD)” and may be instrumental in the onset and progression of KC and the maintenance of dry eye.1
Eye rubbing is a common practice, but one that can cause a number of problems.
Practical management EP 12: Factors & indicators to watch out for when considering a practice purchase
By Maria Sampalis, OD; Kassi Jackson, Editor
As we near the end of this practice management series, Maria Sampalis, OD, discusses factors and indicators to watch out for when considering a practice purchase.
Driving with glaucoma: Steering clear of vision issues
By Lynda Charters
Driving is a primary activity for most individuals, and the need to stop driving can affect individuals psychologically. Older patients who stop driving have decreased quality of life and high rates of depression and are 5 times more likely to enter a long-term care facility.
However, the incidence rates of accidents are much higher in patients with glaucoma, and the rates increase even more as the severity of the disease increases. Therefore, ophthalmologists should engage in serious discussions about driving with their patients with glaucoma.
Prioritizing eye health in a digital world
By Curt Greeley, OD
Studies suggest that people now spend upwards of 13 hours looking at a screen every day – a number that is likely to continue to increase with hybrid work environments that require daily Zoom calls and the immediacy of streaming entertainment. But not taking preventative measures, can potentially cause many negative effects to eye health, including dry, burning and itchy eyes, blurred vision and headaches.
Applications open for AAOF Allison Summers Pediatric Pilot Grant Program
By Kassi Jackson, Editor
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) is accepting applications for the 2023 Allison Sommers Pediatric Pilot Grant Program. The program awards a $10,000 grant to enable mid-career clinicians to collect pilot data and compete for increased funding in pediatric research. Those interested must submit a letter of intent by May 1, 2023.
