Cataract surgery in eyes with low corneal astigmatism: implantation of the AcrySof IQ Toric SN6AT2 intraocular lens

Purpose The aim of this study is to assess the refractive and visual outcomes following cataract surgery and implantation of the AcrySof IQ Toric SN6AT2 intraolcular lens (IOL) (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) in patients with low corneal astigmatism.Materials and Methods A retrospective, consecutive, single surgeon series of ninety-eight eyes of 88 patients following cataract surgery and implantation of the AcrySof IQ Toric SN6AT2 IOL in eyes with low preoperative corneal astigmatism. Postoperative measurements were obtained at one month post surgery. Main outcome measures were monocular distance visual acuity and residual refractive astigmatism.Results The mean preoperative corneal astigmatic power vector (APV) was 0.38 ± 0.09 D. Following surgery and implantation of the toric IOL, mean postoperative refractive APV was 0.13 ± 0.10 D. Mean postoperative distance uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.08 ± 0.09 logMAR. Postoperative spherical equivalent refraction (SER) resulted in a mean of - 0.23 ± 0.22 D, with 96% of eyes falling within 0.50 D of the target SER.Conclusions The AcrySof IQ Toric SN6AT2 IOL is a safe and effective option for eyes undergoing cataract surgery with low amounts of preoperative corneal astigmatism

Anxiety, resistence and disruptive innovations a methodology for measuring receptivity of eye surgeons to disruptive laser technologies

Attempting to measure receptivity to new innovations based on subjective methods is fraught with challenges. This is especially true in medical markets, where new technologies offer a possible way out to control increased patient demands, rising costs, and the ethical needs to treat a broader range of patients with more predictability and safety. Based on the literature on adoption of technology in the dental field, quantitative measurement of physiological changes, such as blood pressure, heart rate and blood volume may represent a better way of measuring surgeon resistance or receptivity to new products. This is a study that provides a literature review and conceptual development justifying a pilot study in the eye surgery market conducted in Australia. Results from this ophthalmic study support the theory contained in the literature that it is disruptive technologies that often ‘leapfrog’ or jump ahead in health care markets which are often resistant to innovation

Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States

To estimate the prevalence and distribution of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the United States by age, race/ethnicity, and gender. Summary prevalence estimates of drusen 125 microm or larger, neovascular AMD, and geographic atrophy were prepared separately for black and white persons in 5-year age intervals starting at 40 years. The estimated rates were based on a meta-analysis of recent population-based studies in the United States, Australia, and Europe. These rates were applied to 2000 US Census data and to projected US population figures for 2020 to estimate the number of the US population with drusen and AMD. The overall prevalence of neovascular AMD and/or geographic atrophy in the US population 40 years and older is estimated to be 1.47% (95% confidence interval, 1.38%-1.55%), with 1.75 million citizens having AMD. The prevalence of AMD increased dramatically with age, with more than 15% of the white women older than 80 years having neovascular AMD and/or geographic atrophy. More than 7 million individuals had drusen measuring 125 microm or larger and were, therefore, at substantial risk of developing AMD. Owing to the rapidly aging population, the number of persons having AMD will increase by 50% to 2.95 million in 2020. Age-related macular degeneration was far more prevalent among white than among black persons. Age-related macular degeneration affects more than 1.75 million individuals in the United States. Owing to the rapid aging of the US population, this number will increase to almost 3 million by 202