January 2008

Expanded Departments, New Columns for 2008

Allen C. Ho, MD, Chief Medical Editor, and Robert L. Avery, MD, Associate Medical Editor

Medical Update

A summary of general medicine news that affects your patients, your practice, and you.

David S. Boyer, MD

Joint Efforts Led to Avastin Compromise

Leah D. Farr, News and Industry Editor

2008 Changes to Retinal Surgical Codes

The most significant impact will be seen with surgical repair of traction retinal detachments and retinal detachments complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Mitchell S. Fineman, MD, and Bryan D. Caruth

Above and Beyond Anti-VEGF Therapy in AMD

Samir Patel, MD

The Job Search and Interviewing

David A. Eichenbaum, MD

Reoperating Without Removing Silicone Oil: Interface Vitrectomy

Steve Charles, MD

Microplasmin Shows Promise for Vitreomacular Traction Treatment

Microplasmin dissolves the protein structure linking vitreous to the retina.

Peter Stalmans, MD, PhD, and David M. Brown, MD

Is There a Role for In-Office Vitreolysis With Autologous Plasmin Enzyme?

In this group of cases, eyes were refractory to previous treatments with other available intravitreal agents.

Tarek S. Hassan, MD

Small-Gauge Incision Techniques: The Art of Wound Construction

Stanislao Rizzo, MD; Federica Genovesi-Ebert, MD; and Albert J. Augustin, MD

Complement Factor 3 Variation Is Associated With AMD Risk

This discovery of a new association between variation in the complement system and AMD adds to the growing evidence that inflammatory and immune processes are involved.

Johanna M. Seddon, MD, ScM

Pearls and Forget-Me-Nots in the Management of Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma represents approximately 4% of all pediatric malignancies and is the most common intraocular malignancy in children.

Carol L. Shields, MD

Triple-Combination Therapy in the Treatment of CNV Due to AMD

Combination therapy may decrease the number of treatments needed and increase duration of efficacy.

Albert J. Augustin, MD; Indre Offermann, MD; and Stanislao Rizzo, MD

Quadruple Therapy for AMD Significantly Reduced Retreatment Rates at 14 Months

Vitrectomy may help angiogenic factors diffuse from the retina.

Frank H.J. Koch, MD, and Robert G. Josephberg, MD

Maximizing Treatment Efficacy with Early Detection in AMD

Paul Garfinkle, MD

The RADICAL Trial: Exploring Combination Therapies

This ongoing trial will evaluate results with double and triple therapies and reduced fluences for PDT.

Henry L. Hudson, MD, FACS

Evidence for Combination Therapies in AMD Continues to Grow

No randomized prospective trial results have been published, but prospective case series suggest the efficacy of these approaches.

Mark S. Hughes, MD, FACS, and Delia N. Sang, MD, FACS

PDT Combined With Other Agents May Boost Efficacy, Reduce Treatment Frequency

The VERITAS trial is investigating combination of PDT with either intravitreal triamcinolone or pegaptanib.

Peter K. Kaiser, MD

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RETINA SPECIALISTS (ASRS) 25th ANNUAL MEETING

December 1–5, 2007 — Indian Wells, California

CONFERENCE CALENDAR

5 Questions With Steve Charles, MD

Dr. Charles is the founder of the Charles Retina Institute in Memphis, one of the world's foremost retinal clinics, specializing in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. The Institute is known internationally for its quality of care, surgical expertise, technology development, research, and teaching.

Steve Charles, MD