Imaging/Diagnostics News

CHICAGO — Heidelberg Engineering introduced the launch of its OCT2 here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

LONDON — A novel, continuous, intraoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device enhances control, accuracy and safety of surgical maneuvers in anterior segment surgery, according to one specialist.

For years, the main reason for ophthalmic screening in patients with diabetes has been to detect the presence of diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema — both of which may lead to blindness if untreated — relying on either a dilated fundus examination or color photography.

In my 20 years of experience using ultrasound biomicroscopy, I have become increasingly impressed with ultrasound technology for the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, especially glaucoma. I have found it to be an invaluable instrument in my practice because it allows me to clearly visualize areas behind the iris of the eye, such as the ciliary body processes and the lens zonules. As new advancements in system technology emerge, such as probe covers that are more comfortable to the patient, the technology becomes an increasingly valuable addition to any ophthalmic practice.

A new market report valued the 2012 global endoscopy device market at $24.9 billion and predicted it would grow to an estimated $36.9 billion in 2019, according to a press release.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted CenterVue 510(k) clearance for its next-generation Macular Integrity Assessment device, according to a company press release.

I have long believed that photography is an underutilized resource in our visually oriented specialty. If a relevant picture can be introduced without disruption of the clinical visit, it can greatly enhance the doctor-patient interaction as well as improve the medical record. Smartphone cameras have finally made it possible to achieve that goal.

An advanced 3-D imaging technology has practical value in helping surgical teams operate with increased precision and record procedures for educational purposes, according to one proponent.

Thickness maps generated with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography identified retinal nerve fiber layer defects in glaucomatous eyes more effectively than clock-hour and deviation maps, according to a study.

AMSTERDAM — An iPhone coupled to the surgical microscope via a simple afocal adapter can produce high-quality surgical videos with the additional benefit of sound recording  and video editing, according to one speaker at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting here.