July/August 2015

The Importance of Being Current

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

News

Medical Update

PQRS in the Retina Practice

What it is, why it is important, and what it means for physicians.

Paul Gallogly, MD

Staying Current With Apps

Retina specialists are finding that apps are not just for music and games anymore.

Aron Shapiro

Meeting Mindfulness

A quick guide to attending educational meetings and conferences as a vitreoretinal surgical fellow.

Jayanth Sridhar, MD; Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD; and Daniel Chao, MD, PhD

Comparative Billing Reports: A Case Study

A closer look at the validity of the auditing parameters pertaining to general ophthalmological services—the eye codes—and of the findings as pertains to retina practices that use eye codes exclusively.

Riva Lee Asbell

Step-by-Step Guide to Retinal Implant Surgery

Surgical pearls for this complex implantation procedure.

Lisa C. Olmos de Koo, MD, MBA, and Ninel Z. Gregori, MD

Macular Buckling for Retinal Detachment in Highly Myopic Eyes With Macular Hole

Use of a modified macular buckle improved precision and allowed optimal positioning.

Matteo Forlini, MD; Małgorzata Szkaradek, MD; Robert Rejdak, MD, PhD; Adriana Bratu, MD; Paolo Rossini, MD; Cesare Forlini, MD; and Gian Maria Cavallini, MD

Laser Use and the Future of Retina Practice

Recent findings support the combination of pharmacologic and laser therapies for retinal diseases.

Anat Loewenstein, MD

Endoscopy in Pediatric Vitreoretinal Surgery

Although not a replacement for the microscope, the endoscope has an important place in retina surgery.

S. Chien Wong, MD, FRCSEd (Ophth)

A New Self-Testing System for Patients With AMD or DME

Changing treatment patterns often dictate the need for a change in disease detection.

Raj K. Maturi, MD

SD-OCT Imaging in Eyes Implanted With a Miniature Telescope

Overcoming imaging challenges in eyes of AMD patients implanted with a telescope can result in high-quality images.

Anna Pappas, BS, COA; Melanie J. Fortin, BS, COA; and Brian C. Joondeph, MD, MPS

What's Up With OCTA?

By understanding the mechanisms of a new imaging tool, retina specialists may further appreciate its potential.

Talisa E. de Carlo, BA; Gregory D. Lee, MD; David R. Lally, MD; and Jay S. Duker, MD

Treating Uveal Melanoma: Past, Present, and Future

Genomic analysis can help to personalize treatment and lead to better outcomes.

Aaron S. Gold, OD; Victor M. Villegas, MD; Andrea Wildner, CRA; Jennifer Thomson, CRA; Fiona J. Ehlies, BSc, CDOS; and Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, FACS

Retinal Hemangiomas: Understanding Clinical Features, Imaging, and Therapies

Several different vascular tumors can occur in the retina, each with its own features and findings.

Carol L. Shields, MD; Alexzandra Douglass, BS; Timothy Higgins, BS; Wasim A. Samara, MD; and Jerry A. Shields, MD

Personalized Medicine in Ocular Oncology

The options for focal treatment of retinoblastoma are growing. Here is a rundown of the latest options and what the latest studies reveal.

Victor M. Villegas, MD; Aaron S. Gold, OD; Andrea Wildner, CRA; Jennifer Thomson, CRA; Fiona J. Ehlies, BSc, CDOS; and Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, FACS

Individualizing Therapy for DME

Disease features as well as individual patient needs and preferences should drive treatment choices.

Antonio Capone Jr, MD

Examining the Systemic Safety of Anti-VEGF Agents

Although use of anti-VEGF agents seems safe in the general population, systemic safety concerns remain in at-risk patients.

Karen Roman, Editor-in-Chief

A Dual-Mechanism Drug for Vitreoretinal Diseases

With two distinct mechanisms of action, a new anti-integrin drug may be able to treat multiple targets across a range of conditions.

Baruch D. Kuppermann, MD, PhD

Incorporating New Technologies Into Practice: The Big Picture

When it comes to managing patients with diabetic macular edema, embracing new treatments requires planning.

Szilá,rd Kiss, MD

Profile of a Potential Treatment for Geographic Atrophy

An in-depth look at a complement-targeted therapy.

Karen Roman, Editor-in-Chief

Another Anti-VEGF Agent for Treatment of Neovascular AMD

If approved by the FDA, a new anti-VEGF agent could provide physicians with an alternative treatment for neovascular AMD.

Xiaoxin Li, MD, PhD; Xiaoyan Ding, MD, PhD; and Peter K. Kaiser, MD

5Q With David Eichenbaum, MD

David Eichenbaum, MD, is a Partner at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida and an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.