FOCUS ON RETINA
The Future of Long-Term AMD Treatment
By Allen C. Ho, MD
At the outset of his article, Dr. Ho poses the question: Is the current standard of care for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) sustainable in the long term? He states that, despite evidence of the effectiveness of frequent intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, many patients do not receive the number of injections necessary to achieve the best visual outcomes. This has led retina specialists not only to look for ways to reduce injection frequency but also to explore other means of treatment, including encapsulated cell therapy. This treatment, Dr. Ho explains, may minimize local and systemic adverse events that can occur with bolus injections.
http://crstoday.com/2016/02/the-future-of-long-term-amd-treatment/
Micropulse Laser Therapy: Not the Emperor’s New Clothes
Dramatic increases in the diabetic population and in the number of patients who must be treated for diabetic macular edema (DME) have contributed to the demand for a variety of treatment options that can be tailored to the individual needs of patients. In Dr. Luo’s practice, micropulse laser therapy has become an important complement to anti-VEGF and steroid therapy for patients with DME.
http://crstoday.com/2016/02/micropulse-laser-therapy-not-the-emperors-new-clothes/
ACQUIRING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW TECHNOLOGY
New Technology and the Law of Unintended Consequences
As Mr. Nelson can attest, adopting new technology rarely goes according to plan. In his article, he describes how early adoption of a new piece of technology central to the practice’s operations—a femtosecond laser system for cataract surgery—proved to be challenging. Mr. Nelson cautions that the rapid pace of technological advancement in ocular surgery can significantly shorten the life cycle of some expensive equipment.
http://crstoday.com/2016/02/new-technology-and-the-law-of-unintended-consequences/
Practice Expansion: Why I Hired an Optometrist
By David A. Goldman, MD
If you are considering introducing an optometrist into your practice, Dr. Goldman advises hiring someone who is comfortable with your personal medical model. He shares that, after 4 months of being in practice with an optometrist, he has been able to add about 40 to 50 patients per week to his schedule.
http://crstoday.com/2016/02/practice-expansion-why-i-hired-an-optometrist/
