US OPHTHALMIC REVIEW – VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2 – FALL 2016

Welcome to the fall edition of US Ophthalmic Review, which aims to review topical subjects in the field of ophthalmology. This edition features a wide range of articles that evaluate current practices and research as well as discussing future directions and innovations that directly affect ophthalmologists. In a fascinating opening article, Berdahl describes the effects […]

The moment the first person steps on Mars will be one of the most unifying and defining moments in human history. Mars is the closest planet to Earth and is 35 million miles away at its closest point and 250 million miles away at its furthest point. A one-way trip to Mars would take 7 […]

Laser-assisted cataract surgery has been a welcomed addition to my surgical arsenal for several reasons, including the greater refractive predictability provided by the standardized and wellcentered capsulorhexis, the increased accuracy of my relaxing keratotomies, and for the improved therapeutic efficiencies afforded in management of more complex cataracts. Overall, I think the learning curve is fairly […]

Glaucoma is a multifaceted disorder resulting from damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, causing progressive optic nerve degeneration and leading to irreversible blindness in some patients.1–4 In most cases the condition develops gradually, with peripheral vision loss typically being followed by loss of central vision.5 In the US, in 2011, openangle […]

The number of cases of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) performed in the US has surpassed that of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) as of 2012,1 but PK is still a frequently performed procedure. As such, corneal transplant surgeons must still be able to recognize and treat the various complications that can be encountered after PK, ranging from anterior […]

Scleritis refers to a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the sclera, which may also involve the cornea, adjacent episclera, and underlying uveal tract.1 In contrast to episcleritis, scleritis is associated with significant ophthalmic and systemic morbidity.2 Patients who are not appropriately diagnosed and treated are at high risk of vision loss owing […]

Medical therapies for periocular tumors are emerging as alternatives to traditional surgical excision and radiation. These relatively new drugs are good options in patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery, with locally advanced lesions, or, as in the case of basal cell nevus syndrome, with multitudes of large symptomatic tumor burden. Targeted drugs […]

Few, if any studies are available on the prevalence and spectrum of ocular chlamydial disease in the US. Current estimates of ocular disease are predominantly anecdotal. The majority of disease is associated with urogenital transmission, with conservative estimated rates of one case for every 300 genital cases. According to Kalayoglu, 50–90% of adults with ocular […]

This research is primarily focused on the influences on enhancements in laser vision correction during the perioperative period. As surgeons we always strive to enhance technology while trying to improve outcomes. However, this study was a prospective look at what influences enhancement rates from a surgical technique, an intraoperative suite, or associated findings in patients. […]

Examination A 10-year-old Indian male with short stature and skeletal deformities presented. Height 120 cm; blood pressure normal. There were multiple café au lait spots of more than 5 mm on the thorax, abdomen, and back skin (see Figure 1). Axillary and inguinal freckling was absent. The left side of the face had hypertrophic deformity […]

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) represents a common retinal vascular disease, with a cumulative 15-year incidence of 1.8% in the overall population.1 With regard to its association with cardiovascular diseases (particularly arterial hypertension and ischaemic heart disease),2 the diagnosis is of major relevance. As a quick and noninvasive method, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) nowadays […]

Imaging techniques in the diagnostic field of the eye have undergone a tremendous development over the last few decades. Fluorescein angiography (FA) as one of them, has been a key tool in the diagnosis of retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, artery or vein occlusions, vasculitis and vascular tumours of the retina. […]