Advances in Ophthalmology

[RestoreSight]

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This is a general question. Can anyone share their opinion on what they feel is the next great breakthrough expected in ophthalmology on par with say, phaco or the first anti-VEGF meds?

Retinal implants? Stem cells for corneal disease? 5-10 years from now what advances (if any) should we expect will reshape the field?

 

[Visionary]

This is a general question. Can anyone share their opinion on what they feel is the next great breakthrough expected in ophthalmology on par with say, phaco or the first anti-VEGF meds?

Retinal implants? Stem cells for corneal disease? 5-10 years from now what advances (if any) should we expect will reshape the field?

I think you're on the right track. Limbal stem cell transplants are already used for certain corneal diseases. Stem cells for other diseases, such as retina, as in the works. At the last ASRS, papers were presented on subretinal umbilical cord stem cell injections for geographic atrophy. Much more work is needed, though. The retinal chip implants are still in relative infancy right now. The tricks are making the arrays small enough to provide worthwhile visual acuity, dissipating the heat generated, and powering the devices. Before those technologies are viable, it's likely we'll see more extensive ocular pharmacotherapeutics that will add to the anti-VEGF drugs.

 

[Shnurek]

Before those technologies are viable, it's likely we'll see more extensive ocular pharmacotherapeutics that will add to the anti-VEGF drugs.

👍👍

 

[vtrain]

This is a general question. Can anyone share their opinion on what they feel is the next great breakthrough expected in ophthalmology on par with say, phaco or the first anti-VEGF meds?

Retinal implants? Stem cells for corneal disease? 5-10 years from now what advances (if any) should we expect will reshape the field?

Once the price comes down and a few bugs are worked out, femtosecond cataract surgery will be a game changer, just like phaco was in the 70's.

 

[Dusn]

A decent treatment for open angle glaucoma is long overdue and would be a real field changer for both glaucoma and uveitis. It doesn't seem like it should be that hard to reliably lower IOP. And I know glaucoma is not just about IOP but life would be much easier if we could easily lower it.

 

[tm12]

It doesn't seem like it should be that hard to reliably lower IOP.

heh...

 

[bucknut101]

Biosynthetic cornea to be used for transplantation.

 

[bucknut101]

Also (probably not going to happen but I really hope it will) a revolutionary treatment for dry eye!

 

[Visionary]

Once the price comes down and a few bugs are worked out, femtosecond cataract surgery will be a game changer, just like phaco was in the 70's.

Was actually going to comment on this in my prior post. I have my doubts about femtosecond cataract surgery. I don't think it will be a game changer, and I don't see it being widely adopted. The technology is too expensive for the perceived gains. I don't see many patients stepping up and paying extra for premium IOLs AND femtosecond laser (which will be the only way to cover the costs). Fact is, modern phaco is quite safe and efficient. Femtosecond laser just doesn't add that much, other than an extra step (the laser has to be done in a separate room from the lens removal and IOL implantation). Of course, I don't do cataract surgery, so....

 

[MR1]

Was actually going to comment on this in my prior post. I have my doubts about femtosecond cataract surgery. I don't think it will be a game changer, and I don't see it being widely adopted. The technology is too expensive for the perceived gains. I don't see many patients stepping up and paying extra for premium IOLs AND femtosecond laser (which will be the only way to cover the costs). Fact is, modern phaco is quite safe and efficient. Femtosecond laser just doesn't add that much, other than an extra step (the laser has to be done in a separate room from the lens removal and IOL implantation). Of course, I don't do cataract surgery, so....

Totally agree, phaco was light years ahead of ECCE. Femto just doesn't add much, I know the "industry" folks say the wounds are better and the capsulorhexis is more precise and that matters for multi-focal lens. What does that "really" add though and if it really only makes multifocal better then maybe it will be an add on for those willing to pay.

I maybe wrong but I see it fizzling out.

 

[MstaKing10]

Totally agree, phaco was light years ahead of ECCE. Femto just doesn't add much, I know the "industry" folks say the wounds are better and the capsulorhexis is more precise and that matters for multi-focal lens. What does that "really" add though and if it really only makes multifocal better then maybe it will be an add on for those willing to pay.

I maybe wrong but I see it fizzling out.

Unless they figure out a way to make it cost effective (highly doubt it), this will fizzle out. At this point, the added safety and precision does not outweigh the monumental hike in cost.

 

[orbitsurgMD]

Everything seems to be going the wrong way in payments for that kind of technology to become commonplace, unless you also believe that procedures like cataract surgery will become so commoditized by payment reduction that the procedures will be done mostly in regional centers where very high volumes of cases might make use of fsYag worthwhile in the interests of speed and uniformity with reduction of phaco time.