Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Ophthalmology for August 2016. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
ACA Is Helping More Americans Afford Prescriptions
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Though a growing number of Americans are able to afford prescription medications, millions still have difficulty, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Drug-Eluting Contact Lenses May Help Treat Glaucoma
TUESDAY, Aug. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Latanoprost-eluting contact lenses are effective at lowering intraocular pressure in a glaucoma model, according to an experimental study published online Aug. 29 in Ophthalmology.
Steep Rise in U.S. Drug Prices Tied to Patent Monopolies
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Prescription drug prices are skyrocketing in the United States due in large part to government regulations, according to a study published in the Aug. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Postnatal Steroids Tied to Higher Ocular Risk for Premature Infants
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Postnatal corticosteroid use may increase premature infants’ risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), according to research published recently in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
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ACA Has Increased Rx Drug Use, Cut Out-of-Pocket Spending
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased prescription use and reduced out-of-pocket spending, according to a report published online Aug. 17 in Health Affairs.
Oily Fish Consumption May Ward Off Diabetic Retinopathy
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetes, two servings of fatty fish a week may be enough to lower their risk of diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Patients Still Risking Eye Damage With Poor Contact Lens Care
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Unsafe use of contact lenses is triggering serious eye injuries for many Americans, according to research published in the Aug. 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Legal Issues Impact Delivery of Telehealth
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Telehealth technologies can allow delivery of high-quality care at a lower cost, especially in underserved areas, but there is currently no uniform legal approach to telehealth, hampering its provision, according to a Health Policy Brief published online Aug. 15 in Health Affairs.
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Minority of Surgical Studies Include Men, Women Equally
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Few surgical studies include men and women equally, and only about one-third perform data analysis by sex, according to research published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Surgery.
Residents Often Order Perceived Unnecessary Lab Tests
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Residents frequently order perceived unnecessary inpatient laboratory tests, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
U.S. Female Doctors Reimbursed Significantly Less Than Males
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Female doctors in the United States make much less than their male colleagues, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in the Postgraduate Medical Journal.
Tx Response No Different for Migalastat, Placebo in Fabry’s
THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with Fabry’s disease, the percentage of patients with response at six months does not differ for those treated with the oral pharmacologic chaperone migalastat or with placebo, according to a study published in the Aug. 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Many U.S. Hospitals Offer Language Services
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 68.8 percent of hospitals offer language services, with the proportion increasing with level of need, according to research published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Antifibrotics Up Outcomes After Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implant
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Mitomycin C (MMC) and 5-flurouracil (5-FU) improve outcomes following Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
Young Children in Highest Risk Group for Chemical Eye Injuries
MONDAY, Aug. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Young children have the highest rates for chemical ocular injuries, according to research published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Sedentary Behavior Linked to Diabetic Retinopathy
FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Sedentary behavior (SB) seems to be associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a research letter published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Handheld Probe Allows In Vivo Retinal Imaging in Children
FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An ultracompact handheld probe, weighing only 94 g, allows in vivo cellular-resolution retinal imaging in infants and children, according to research published online Aug. 1 in Nature Photonics.
Good Vision and Eye Health Rated High Priority by U.S. Adults
FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Although vision health is a high priority, many U.S. adults are unaware of important eye diseases and their risk factors, according to research published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
European Countries Implementing Cost-Sharing
MONDAY, Aug. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — European health systems are requiring an increase in cost-sharing measures for patients 50 years of age and older, according to research published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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