Month: March 2013

Researchers are reporting evidence from tissue culture experiments that the popular dietary supplement carnosine may help to prevent and treat cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye that is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. The study is scheduled for the July 28 edition of ACS’ Biochemistry, a weekly journal.

In the new study, Enrico Rizzarelli and colleagues note that the only effective treatment for cataracts is surgical replacement of the lens, the clear disc-like structure inside the eye that focuses light on the nerve tissue in the back of the eye. Cataracts develop when the main structural protein in the lens, alpha-crystallin, forms abnormal clumps. The clumps make the lens cloudy and impair vision. Previous studies hinted that carnosine may help block the formation of these clumps.

The scientists exposed tissue cultures of healthy rat lenses to either guanidine – a substance known to form cataracts – or a combination of guanidine and carnosine. The guanidine lenses became completely cloudy, while the guanidine/carnosine lenses developed 50 to 60 percent less cloudiness. Carnosine also restored most of the clarity to clouded lenses. The results demonstrate the potential of using carnosine for preventing and treating cataracts, the scientists say.

Article: “Protective Effects of L- and D-Carnosine on alpha-Crystallin Amyloid Fibril Formation: Implications for Cataract Disease” pubs.acs/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/bi900343n

Source:
Michael Woods

American Chemical Society

Certain children with the visual condition known as retinopathy of prematurity appear to see better at age 6 if they received treatment early, whereas others benefit more from observation than early treatment, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the June print issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Retinopathy of prematurity occurs in babies born early; abnormal blood vessels and scar tissue grow over the retina, decreasing vision. A previous study on retinopathy of prematurity helped researchers identify two types of the condition-Type 1 and Type 2-based on various clinical characteristics, according to background information in the article. Differences between the two include stage of disease, area of the retina affected and the presence or absence of plus disease (severe growth of additional blood vessels in the back of the eye).

In the previous study of 401 infants whose eyes were randomly assigned to early treatment or conventional management, early treatment appeared to show a benefit at 9 months. The Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group followed the same group of children through 6 years of age (370 had survived).

Overall, early treatment was not associated with improved vision at 6 years. However, eyes of children with Type 1 retinopathy of prematurity appeared to have improved vision at age 6 if they were treated early (25.1 percent vs. 32.8 percent had an unfavorable outcome). There did not appear to be a benefit of early treatment for eyes of children with Type 2 retinopathy at age 6 (23.6 percent vs. 19.4 percent unfavorable outcomes).

In the original nine-month study, “the analysis identified eyes with characteristics indicating a benefit for early treatment (Type 1) and eyes that could be observed (Type 2), with treatment offered if the disease progressed to Type 1,” the authors write. “These divisions into Type 1 and Type 2 eyes were not preplanned as part of the original design in 1999 but came about in 2003 as a result of analysis of initial study outcome data. There was an obligation to follow these eyes according to this subdivision once the types had been developed and published.”

The results demonstrate that the benefit of treatment for children with Type 1 disease lasts as long as six years, they note. “Visual acuity is improved with early treatment, but nevertheless, 65.4 percent of eyes receiving early treatment develop visual acuity worse than 20/40. Whether this result is due to retinal, cortical or both factors remains to be determined, but clearly prevention of retinopathy of prematurity now assumes an even higher priority since early treatment is beneficial for some eyes but often does not result in normal development of visual acuity.”

Arch Ophthalmol. 2010;128[6]:(doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.72).

Source
Archives of Opthalmology

Two particularly notable research presentations at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Annual Meeting described new approaches to the treatment of “wet” Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of severe vision loss in the western world in people over age 50.

“Wet” AMD is responsible for the majority of AMD-related vision loss. It is characterized by the abnormal growth of blood vessels under the retina (a sensitive area at the back of the eye). New treatments, that act on “wet” AMD’s abnormal blood vessel growth, such as Avastin and Lucentis, have allowed some patients to obtain meaningful and sustained improvements in vision. This type of medication, termed “anti-VEGF”, is sometimes combined with a laser treatment called photodynamic therapy (PDT).

In the United States pharmacotherapies are the most common treatment approach. In the US and internationally, surgical treatment may be used when a patient’s “wet” AMD has advanced beyond the point where pharmacotherapies are useful or in situations where they are unavailable.

Milam A Brantley, Jr., MD, PhD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Washington University School of Medicine, spoke on how genetic factors may affect the success of Avastin (bevacizumab) treatment; and Zhizhong Ma, MD, described an innovative, intriguing surgical technique for “wet” AMD developed in Peking University Eye Center, Beijing, China, where she is a professor of ophthalmology and deputy director.

Dr. Brantley’s study is the first to link genetic factors to patients’ response to Avastin treatment for “wet” AMD. Previous studies had found variants in two genes, CFH and LOC387715, to be associated with AMD. Dr. Brantley’s study looked at 86 patients to see whether having either of these genetic variants affected their responses to Avastin.

“We found that patients with two copies of the CFH variant faired significantly worse than the others in response to treatment with Avastin,” Dr. Brantley said, “but we saw no differences in treatment response with the LOC387715 variant. We hope that our study and future, similar research might lead to the development of more individualized AMD treatments that will be more effective and economical.”

Adjusting patients’ treatments based on genetic tests is also underway or in development in other areas of medicine, such breast cancer.

New surgical approaches to “wet” AMD are being explored by ophthalmologists around the world. The technique developed by Dr. Ma’s group advanced the ability to sustain transplant tissue integrity and reduced complications during or after surgery, and vision improved in a majority of patients. This could make a significant difference in AMD treatment in certain population groups.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology

AAO is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons – Eye M.D.s – with more than 27,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy’s Web site at aao.

View drug information on Avastin; Lucentis; Photodynamic Therapy.

The common antibiotic doxycycline effectively treats a type of lymphoma associated with chlamydia infection, according to a study in the October 4 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Ocular adnexal lymphoma of the MALT-type (OAL) is a kind of cancer of the eyelids and related tissues. It is not often fatal, but its symptoms can compromise a patient’s quality of life. Some research has suggested an association between OAL and infection with the bacteria Chlamydia psittaci.

Andres J. M. Ferreri, M.D., of the San Raffaele H Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy, and colleagues examined whether doxycycline was an effective treatment for OAL. They gave 27 OAL patients a 3-week course of doxycycline therapy, whether they were positive or negative for chlamydia. They looked for tumor progression every 6 months.

The authors found that doxycycline treatment caused lymphoma to regress in both patients who did not test positive for the disease and those who did. They suggest that doxycycline may be a useful therapy even in patients where other treatments have failed, and it is a valid alternative to chemotherapy and radiation without causing the same toxic side-effects. Patients treated with doxycycline had a 66% rate of disease-free survival.

“Our prospective trial revealed that doxycycline is a fast, safe, and active treatment for OAL, both at initial diagnosis and at relapse,” the authors write.

In an accompanying editorial, Emanuel Zucca, M.D., and Francesco Bertoni, M.D., of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, write, “While doxycycline appears to be an easy-to-implement therapeutic approach, we strongly encourage all physicians to enroll patients in clinical prospective trials to help answer these questions.”

Contacts:

Article: Andres Ferreri

Editorial: Emanuele Zucca

Citations:

Article: Ferreri AJM, Ponzoni M, Guidoboni M, Resti AG, Politi LS, Cortelazzo S, et al. Bacteria-eradicating therapy with doxycycline in ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma: a multicenter prospective trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:1375-1382.

Editorial: Zucca E, Bertoni F. Chlamydia, or not Chlamydia, that is the question: which is the micro-organism associated with MALT lymphomas of the ocular adnexa? J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:1348-1349.

Note: The Journal of the National Cancer Institute is published by Oxford University Press and is not affiliated with the National Cancer Institute. Attribution to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute is requested in all news coverage. Visit the Journal online at jncicancerspectrum.oxfordjournals/.

Contact: Ariel Whitworth

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Bottle rockets can cause significant eye injuries in children, often leading to permanent loss of vision, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the May print issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Of the estimated 9,200 emergency department admissions resulting from fireworks-related injuries each year, about 1,400 cases involve the eyes, according to background information in the article. A disproportionate number of these injuries are caused by bottle rockets. Bottle rockets are about half the size of a normal firework and consist of three main parts: an explosive-filled core, a nose cone that guides the fireworks’ flight and a guide stick, which stabilizes the rocket. “Injuries may result from direct high-velocity contact with the intact rocket, from parts of the rocket that may break off during flight or from neighboring debris propelled by the force of the rockets’ combustion,” the authors write.

Mehnaz Kahn, M.S., and colleagues at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, report on 11 eyes in 10 patients (eight boys and two girls) age 18 or younger who were seen for eye injuries caused by bottle rockets between 2006 and 2009. Eight of the 10 patients were injured within a month of July 4; eight were launching bottle rockets at the time of injury and two were bystanders. None were using protective eyewear at the time.

Of these, injuries included defects in the epithelium lining the cornea (seven eyes), bleeding in the front of the eye (six eyes), traumatic inflammation of the iris (two eyes), iridodialysis or a tear of the iris (four eyes), cataract (four eyes), retinal dialysis or a type of retinal tear (one eye) and bleeding into the eye’s vitreous fluid (two eyes).

Eight of the eyes required initial treatments such as surgical removal of the lens or corneal debridement (removal of damaged corneal tissue). Three patients required additional procedures, including muscle surgery and placement of a new lens.

Of the 10 eyes with follow-up, the most recent visual acuity was 20/30 or better in four eyes and 20/200 or worse in six eyes. Permanent visual impairment was usually due to traumatic maculopathy, or damage to the part of the retina responsible for central vision.

“This study demonstrates that bottle rockets can cause significant ocular injury in children and adolescents and, in turn, cause their parents and themselves to incur expenses through emergency department visits, surgical interventions and days missed from school and work,” the authors conclude. “If children, adolescents and parents choose to launch bottle rockets, it is important for parents not only to supervise children and adolescents in the vicinity of bottle rockets but also to ensure that protective eyewear is being used.”

(Arch Ophthalmol. Published online January 10, 2011. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.336.)

Source: Archives of Ophthalmology

Elevated pressure inside the eye, cornea thinning, and visual field loss are all markers that glaucoma may progress, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Glaucoma is one of the world’s leading causes of permanent vision loss is glaucoma. It is a group of diseases that can lead to damage of the optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness. Previous studies of glaucoma risk factors do not always represent the majority of patients or real-world practices in treating them. “The purpose of our study is to verify whether the main risk factors identified in populations enrolled in the major RCTs [randomized clinical trials] can also be applied to populations seen in scenarios that more closely resemble a typical clinical practice,” explain the authors.

Carlos Gustavo V. De Moraes, M.D., from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and colleagues collected data from patients who were enrolled in the New York Glaucoma Progression Study and who had at least eight visits for visual field loss. The study included disc photographs; visual field analysis; and measurement of peak intraocular pressure (IOP), the highest level of pressure in the fluid within the eye. A total of 587 eyes of 587 patients were evaluated.

Researchers found that glaucoma was more likely to progress when peak IOP was 18 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or higher. Other risk factors included thinning of the cornea, presence of disc hemorrhage in the retina of the eye, and atrophy in part of the eye.

According to the authors, perhaps the most significant findings involved the effect of IOP: “We demonstrated that for each increase in millimeters of mercury in IOP, there is a significant increase in the risk of progression for treated glaucoma patients.” Since this is a simple measurement to take in the clinical setting, the findings “may help clinicians decide how aggressively to treat specific patients to slow the rate of glaucoma progression,” the authors write. They also pointed to disc hemorrhage as “an indirect sign” of visual field loss that may already have occurred, and erosion of the visual field as well as cornea thinning as predictors of glaucoma progression.

Arch Ophthalmol.
2011;129[5]:562-568.

Jeremy Renton (76) feared he was going to lose the sight in his right eye due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Jeremy suffered with both types of AMD (dry AMD in his left eye and wet AMD in his right) for over 10 years before seeking treatment at London Medical, an independent medical practice in Marylebone. He was treated by Mr Victor Chong, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, with Avastin; a drug injected into the back of the eye which stops the abnormal blood vessel growth which causes sight loss in wet AMD. Following the treatment Jeremy is able to read well with his right eye, whereas he was unable to do so before, and continues to enjoy a full life.

What is AMD?
There are two types of AMD – known as wet and dry. Wet AMD is the result of the formation of abnormal blood vessels behind the retina. The abnormal blood vessels leak, resulting in scarring and loss of central vision. Dry AMD is caused by the breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula (the part of the retina that facilitates clear vision).

Treatments for AMD
In addition to Avastin, there are three other drug treatments available to treat wet AMD. These are Lucentis, Macugen and Visudyne. These drugs all work the same way, they are injected under local anaesthetic into the back of the eye. This kind of treatment is offered as day surgery and patients can return home after the procedure.

There is currently no treatment for dry AMD, although sufferers can be helped with a variety of optical aids that make use of the parts of the retina that are not affected by the condition.

How do the treatments work?
Avastin, Lucentis, Macugen and Visudyne are all anti-angiogenesis drugs which halt the abnormal growth and leakage of blood vessels behind the retina. A monoclonal antibody, Avastin blocks and neutralises the action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the cause of abnormal blood vessel growth. Comparative data shows that Visudyne and Macugen stabilise wet AMD, while Avastin and Lucentis reverse the wet AMD process and improve the condition1.

What results can be expected?
Treatment results are good. Following treatment patients report 90-95% stabilisation of the condition and 30-40% experience visual improvement.

Where are treatments available?
Only one treatment for wet AMD – Visudyne – is available on the NHS. Visudyne was approved for use in the UK in 2000 and was approved by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2003. Of the other drugs; Avastin is not licensed for the treatment of AMD, but appears to be safe and effective; Lucentis is only available on a named patient basis and Macugen is licensed for treatment but not approved by NICE.

Avastin, Lucentis and Macugen are not yet available on the NHS but can be prescribed in private practice. NICE guidance on the treatment of wet AMD is not expected until August 2007, a worrying delay for people at risk of losing their sight. However, NICE only affects the NHS, whereas consultants in private practice at London Medical can continue to prescribe the most effective treatments for their patients, unrestricted by NHS policy.

Victor Chong, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at London Medical commented “We are achieving positive results with our patients using state-of-the-art therapies for wet AMD. We use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess AMD both before and after each injection. The OCT equipment allows us to see if the retina is improving or not and we can therefore advise patients to continue or discontinue treatment as necessary.”

About London Medical
London Medical is an independent medical practice which offers the highest quality of care for people with AMD and also offers specialist services in diabetes, heart disease, nutrition and weight management, hormone disorders including the menopause, polycystic ovaries and osteoporosis.

For more information on AMD and treatment options or to request a consultation with any of the specialists at London Medical please visit londonmedical or telephone 020 7467 5470.

For general information about macular disease please contact The Macular Disease Society – maculardisease or telephone their helpline on 0845 241 2041.

What is AMD?
Wet AMD is the result of the formation of abnormal blood vessels behind the retina which cause bleeding and scarring
Dry AMD is the result of the breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula (the part of the retina that facilitates clear vision)

Symptoms
Blurred or distorted central vision
Straight lines can appear bent

Treatments
– Optical aids for dry AMD
– Drug treatments

Visudyne
Avastin
Lucentis
Macugen

– Laser treatment (Used to destroy the leaking and abnormal blood vessels)
– Photodynamic therapy (Light sensitive dye is injected and transported to the retina and abnormal blood vessels are highlighted then low-level lasers are used to activate chemicals to destroy abnormal blood vessels)

Who gets AMD?
Most sufferers are over 65yrs
Some people can get wet macular degeneration in their teens

Easy assessment for AMD
One of the symptoms of AMD is central vision loss. The Amsler Grid is an easy-to-use diagnostic tool to assess this and alerts patients to early signs of AMD.

Mr Victor Chong:
Mr Victor Chong is Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Head of Laser and Retinal Research Unit at King’s College Hospital, London, and Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College London and the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. He is also the head of the Regional Macular Service for South East London and West Kent.

Mr Chong is a member of the prestigious Macula Society and the co-founder of the Amsler Club. He has written several ophthalmic textbooks, including ‘Medical Retina’, ‘Clinical Ocular Physiology’, he has contributed to ‘Atlas of Clinical Ophthalmology’ and ‘General Ophthalmology’ and authored over 50 other publications.

References:
1. MARINA study – Genentech Press Release assessed on August 2006. gene

For further information please visit:
The Macular Disease Society

Or
London Medical

View drug information on Avastin; Lucentis; Macugen.

Intriguing findings on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cataract risk, and on smoking and uveitis risk are reported in this month’s Ophthalmology,the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Does HRT Use Raise Women’s Cataract Risk?

An eight-year prospective study of more than 30,000 postmenopausal Swedish women found that those who were using or had used HRT had significantly higher rates of cataract removal compared with women who had never used HRT. Alcohol consumption seemed to increase HRT’s harmful effect. The HRT study was led by Birgitta E. Lindblad, MD, Sundsvall Hospital, Sweden as part of the Swedish Mammography Cohort (SMC), established to study lifestyle factors and chronic diseases.

“If future studies confirm the associations we found, increased risk for cataract removal should be added to the list of potential negative HRT outcomes,” Dr. Lindblad said.

More than 4,300 cataract removal surgeries were performed in participants between 1997 and 2005. The risk for cataract removal was increased by 14 percent in women who had ever used HRT and by 18 percent in current HRT users, compared with women who never used HRT. Longer duration of HRT use correlated with increased risk. Current HRT users who also reported having more than one alcoholic drink per day had 42 percent increased risk compared with women who used neither HRT nor alcohol. Smoking status did not significantly affect risk. Data were adjusted for exposure to external (exogenous) estrogens such as birth control pills, as well as reproductive and other health factors.

“Cataract is more prevalent in postmenopausal women than in men at similar ages; this implies that hormonal differences are involved and suggests a possible role for estrogen,” Dr. Lindblad explained. She described how HRT may act to promote cataracts and also compared her project’s findings with earlier studies.

Estrogen receptors have been detected in the eye’s lens, the area that becomes cloudy and inflexible when a cataract develops. Naturally occurring (endogenous) estrogen appears to protect the eye from cataract, along with guarding cardiovascular and other body systems before menopause. Exogenous estrogens like those used in HRT do not function the same way. For example, HRT increases C-reactive protein levels, associated with cataract development in other studies. Dr. Lindblad’s study also describes how alcohol and HRT may interact to raise estradiol levels, which appears to affect cataract risk.

In contrast to the SMC, earlier large HRT and cataract risk studies in the United States, Australia and Europe reported mixed results; importantly, some of these studies included women who were premenopausal and so possibly protected by endogenous estrogen. Results of the Swedish study may have been impacted by factors unique to this population: for example, nearly all participating women shared the same ethnicity, and all had equal access to care. The study did not identify type of HRT, type of cataract, or measure exposure to excess sunlight, a risk factor for cataract, although unlikely to impact residents of northern Europe.

Another Serious Eye Disease Linked to Smoking

Smoking is already a known risk factor for age-related macular degeneration, cataract and thyroid eye disease. Now, the first study to specifically examine the impact of smoking on uveitis-inflammation of the eye’s middle layer of tissue-indicates that tobacco smoke likely plays a role in this serious eye disease, as well. In the United States about 10 percent of blindness is caused by uveitis.

Researchers led by Nisha Acharya, MD, analyzed medical records for smoking status and the type and cause of inflammation for all uveitis clinic patients seen at the University of California, San Francisco’s F.I. Proctor Foundation between 2002 and 2009. Results for this patient group were compared with a matched control group and the data were adjusted for differences in age, race, gender, and median income. Smokers were 2.2 times more likely to have uveitis than those who had never smoked. Smoking correlated with higher risk of uveitis for all anatomical locations within the eye and for both infectious and non-infectious disease types. A particularly strong relationship was found between smoking and inflammatory central macular edema (swelling of the central area of the retina) in patients with certain types of uveitis.

“Cigarette smoke includes compounds that stimulate inflammation within the blood vessels, and this may contribute to immune system disruption and uveitis,” Dr. Acharya said. If other research replicates the UCSF findings, uveitis risk would be another reason for healthcare providers to advise people to stop smoking.

If uveitis symptoms such as eye redness, blurred vision, pain and sensitivity to light occur, people should seek medical care right away. Uveitis can harm important structures like the iris in the front of the eye, and the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye where images are focused and relayed to the optic nerve. The condition can develop in people with systemic diseases such as multiple sclerosis or juvenile arthritis or be part of the body’s response to an infection like herpes simplex or tuberculosis. Often, though, uveitis has no apparent cause.

Source
American Academy of Ophthalmology

View drug information on Estradiol Transdermal System.

With the new Leica M844 F40, Leica Microsystems introduces an ophthalmic surgical microscope that significantly improves
visibility and working conditions for the surgical team during the eye surgery, while protecting the eyes of both surgeon and
patient. Brilliant optics, outstanding illumination, perfect balance and easy of use: These are the highlights of the new
premium-class microscope system from Leica Microsystems.

One microscope for all disciplines

As eye surgeons become increasingly specialized in new or existing disciplines, their requirements for a surgical microscope
grow proportionately. While, for example, the quality of the microscope illumination is critical for operations in the
anterior eye segment, the best possible visibility under low light conditions is critical for procedures in the posterior eye
segment.

The Leica M844 F40 meets these varying requirements and thus can be applied across several disciplines.

You can request an image as a tif or jpg file by sending e-mail to:
marion.muessigmannleica-microsystems

Top-quality components guarantee optical brilliance

Unsurpassed image sharpness and the ability to see the finest, even transparent structures, highlight the new Leica M844 F40.
Leica uses only top-quality components in this microscope: the original APO OptiChrome� optics provide maximum resolution,
enormous plasticity, outstanding depth of field, high contrast and natural color fidelity. The QuadZoomTM system, with its
four parallel beam paths, provides the surgeon with undivided light – independent of the assistant and video system. The new
“Depth Enhancer” creates impressive depth of field. The degree of depth of field can be adjusted easily using either the
footswitch or the control unit.

Safety first

The greater the transparency of the optics, the greater the light efficiency. That is why, according to its Low Light
concept, Leica uses only the best optics in combination with well-proven illumination technology. Less light means more
safety – for the eyes of both surgeon and patient.

Clear light conditions

In addition to brilliant optics, surgical microscopy also requires clear light. This is assured at all times by the
integrated Leica halogen illumination, which provides a clear, brightly lit image. The latest generation of the dual-beam
stereo main illumination ensures a stable fundus red – a particular advantage for use with dynamic eye movements in modern
eye surgery. The new and improved Ottoflex� II auxiliary illuminator, which is independent from the main illumination,
improves contrast and red reflex by allowing the brightness and diameter to be varied.

A variety of functions for a variety of uses

The command center is a two-in-one screen with combined control unit and video display. This allows the surgery to be watched
in realtime. Individual settings can be saved, making each system unique and personalized. The newly developed “StepCycle�”
function allows the surgeon to record entire cycles of microscope movements for later retrieval at the touch of a button.
This provides a critical advantage: faster positioning, which leaves the surgeon’s hands free for surgery.

Master of ergonomics

Leica’s latest developments in microsystems technology provide the right conditions for safe, accurate and comfortable work.
Thanks to the wide assortment of ergonomic modules and accessories, the new Leica M844 F40 will meet the varied ergonomic
requirements of its users. This allows the surgeon and surgical team to work comfortably and without fatigue – whatever their
body type and posture.

Leica Microsystems is a leading global designer and producer of innovative high-tech precision optics systems for the
analysis of microstructures. It is one of the market leaders in each of the fields Microscopy, Imaging Systems, Specimen
Preparation, Medical Equipment and Semiconductor Equipment. The company manufactures a broad range of products for numerous
applications, which require either microscopic visual presentation, measurement, analysis or electron-beam lithography. The
company offers system solutions in the areas of Life Science including biotechnology and medicine, as well as the science of
raw materials, industrial quality assurance and the semiconductor industry. The company is represented in over 100 countries
with 10 manufacturing facilities in 7 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries and an international network
of dealers. With its workforce of about 3700 employees it makes a turnover of estimated 533m euros. The international
management is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.

Marion M?ssigmann

Phone +41 71 726 32 22

Fax +41 71 726 32 19

Marion.Muessigmannleica-microsystems
leica-microsystems

Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
SOM Business Unit
Max Schmidheiny-Strasse 201
CH-9435 Heerbrugg
surgicalscopes

Bausch & Lomb announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market the Akreos™ Advanced Optics Aspheric Lens (model AO60) in the United States.

The Akreos AO Lens is a single-piece, foldable acrylic intraocular lens with a unique four-haptic design and aspheric optics designed to be aberration-free.* The lens is implanted with Bausch & Lomb’s single-use AI-28 inserter, which enables single-handed insertion through an un-enlarged standard phaco incision.

The company expects to begin shipping the Akreos AO Lens to surgical facilities this month.

“I have been treating patients with the Akreos AO Lens for more than a year and a half in Canada and the single-piece four-haptic design allows for consistent post-op centration,” said Rosa Braga-Mele, M.Ed, M.D., FRCSC. Dr. Braga-Mele serves as the director of the Cataract Unit and Surgical Teaching at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

In the U.S., John Hunkeler, M.D., said, “The high quality aspheric optic, coupled with the Akreos biocompatible acrylic material will benefit my practice by providing excellent outcomes for my patients.” Dr. Hunkeler is a clinical professor and former chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Kansas and is in private practice in Kansas City, Mo.

“The Akreos AO Lens efficiently delivers visual quality and heightened contrast sensitivity in order to achieve high patient satisfaction. With this result, surgeons can be confident that they are using a technology that improves vision quality and will enhance the lifestyle of their patients,” said Brendan Sheil, senior vice president, Bausch & Lomb Surgical.

The distinctive properties of the Akreos lens will serve as a pathway to microincision cataract surgery, enabling new lens technologies that can be inserted through smaller incisions. Surgeons in the U.S. will now have the opportunity to expand their acrylic lens experience by having access to the Akreos AO.

About Bausch & Lomb

Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and employs approximately 13,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the company can be found at bausch. More information about surgical products and services can be found at bauschsurgical.

*Clinical studies have not been conducted with the Akreos Advanced Optics Aspheric lens to assess the effect of the added aspheric surface to the parent lens model Akreos on spherical aberration, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

Akreos is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.

Bausch & Lomb