Eyeworld

EW CATARACT 89 March 2015 Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is treatable. Eliminate the guesswork of dry eye. Identify, diagnose and treat MGD with confidence. Ask us about our new LipiView ® II with DMI and learn more about the TearScience ® Solution for MGD. Give MGD a Second Glance structural change (severe gland atrophy and drop out) normal meibomian gland structure structural change (duct dilation, gland atrophy and drop out) tearscience.com 919-459-4880 sales@tearscience.com was originally done in response to a large outbreak of TASS that was occurring," Dr. Mamalis said. "What these new issues right now have done is prompted us to convene an expert panel once again to update the recommended practices." EW Editors' note: The physicians have no financial interests related to their comments. Contact information Chang: dceye@earthlink.net Mamalis: nick.mamalis@hsc.utah.edu Clarifying terminology Ultimately, CMS clarified that the terminology "immediate use steam sterilization" refers to "flash ster- ilization," which may include an interrupted sterilization cycle to expedite instrument use, Dr. Chang explained. "Following the manufactur- er's directions for use for approved shorter sterilization cycles should be referred to as 'short-cycle steam ster- ilization' and this continues to be acceptable to CMS," Dr. Chang said. "The recent survey … showed that approximately half are practicing 'short-cycle steam sterilization.'" On Feb. 26, CMS released clarification in writing in their Medicare Learning Network provider newsletter, MLN Connects. Under the announcement section of the newsletter, "Sterilization of Ophthal- mic Surgical Instruments" states, in part: "Use of short-cycle sterilization is particularly common in facilities that perform eye surgery and is ac- ceptable when all IFU [device man- ufacturer's instructions for use] (i.e., sterilizer, device, and container man- ufacturer's) are followed. However, there appears to be confusion in the field about the differences between IUSS and short-cycle sterilization, and misuse of the term IUSS to refer to what is in fact short-cycle steril- ization. Facilities performing surgery should understand the differences between IUSS and short-cycle steril- ization in order to ensure that they comply with Medicare infection pre- vention and control requirements." Specialty-specific guidelines for ophthalmic instrument cleaning and sterilization "A task force with representation from the same 3 societies and ASORN [American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses] is working to update specialty-specific guidelines for ophthalmic instru- ment cleaning and sterilization and to further clarify differences in the sterilization methods and terminolo- gy," Dr. Chang said. Dr. Mamalis, who is chairing the task force, thinks that updating the sterilization guidelines is ultimately going to be helpful. He said that the recommended practices for cleaning sterilization of intraocular surgical instruments were initially drawn up by a task force in 2006. "That

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