Eyeworld

EW MEETING REPORTER 63 fessor of ophthalmology, School of Medicine at New Orleans, Louisiana State University, described a Rapid Pathogen Screening (Sarasota, Fla.) test to determine whether a patient has elevated levels of matrix metal- loproteinase, which until recently has been next to impossible to meas- ure, he said. A high-resolution 3D ultrasonic system (Vevo 2100, VisualSonics, Toronto) "makes it possible to see le- sions located behind the iris involv- ing the ciliary body, choroid, retina, or position of the IOL or foreign body inside the eye," said Gholam A. Peyman, M.D., director, vitreo- retinal service, University of Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Ariz. Henry Edelhauser, Ph.D., dis- cussed microneedles that are able to deliver 50-150 microliters into the suprachoroidal space to serve as a route for targeted retinal drug deliv- ery with biodegradable microbeads and microbubbles for the treatment of various retinal disease. When compared to intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetate, 63% re- mained in the vitreous while 77.6% remained in the suprachoroidal space. Richard L. Lindstrom, M.D., adjunct professor emeritus, ophthal- mology department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, closed the Innovators Session with his 2011 Charles D. Kelman Innovator's Lec- ture, "Thoughts on the ophthalmol- ogist's role in education and innovation." An admitted propo- nent of collaboration between industry and physicians, Dr. Lindstrom stressed that 92% of com- panies fail in the U.S. before they reach commercialization stages. Attempting to eliminate so- called conflicts of interest is not real- istic, he said. "I am supportive of some of the new recommendations for trans- parency and disclosure," he said, and cited Harvard University's pol- icy that encourages collaborative ef- forts. "There's a negative impact to science if you take every innovator and consultant off the podium." Editors' note: Dr. Bille has financial in- terests in Aaren Scientific (Ontario, Calif.) and Heidelberg Engineering (Vista, Calif.). Dr. Edelhauser has fi- nancial interests in GlaxoSmithKline (Middlesex, U.K.), LensAR (Winter Park, Fla.), and Alcon (Fort Worth, Texas). Dr. Fabian has financial inter- ests in Abbott Medical Optics (AMO, Santa Ana, Calif.) and Carl Zeiss Meditec (Dublin, Calif.). Dr. Kaufman has a financial interest in Rapid Pathogen Screening. Dr. Lindstrom is a consultant to industry. Dr. Olson has a financial interest in Advanced Refrac- tive Technologies (San Clemente, Calif.). Dr. Peyman has no relevant fi- nancial interests. Update on FDA 510(k) rules and LASIK Quality of Life Study Innovation, the 510(k) regulatory process, and LASIK were the hot top- ics at the FDA symposium. Cdr. Elizabeth M. Hofmeister, M.D., Navy Refractive Surgery Cen- ter, San Diego, provided an update May 2011 continued on page 64

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