Editor's Note This multi-center study finds that critical vitreoretinal surgical procedures deemed as urgent or emergency decreased nationwide from March until May 2020, even though the American Academy of Ophthalmology said these procedures should continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 17 institutions throughout the US. Compared to…
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on August 4 announced that it is strongly opposed to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for CY 2021. In the fee schedule, which is set to take place January 1, 2021, Medicare payments will…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on May 21 issued Quick Safety 49: Disinfection of tonometers and other ophthalmology devices. The Joint Commission noted that the American Academy of Ophthalmology has reported that transmission of adenovirus and herpes simplex virus HIV, hepatitis C virus, enterovirus 70, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,…
Editor's Note Reducing low-value testing before cataract surgery was associated with cost savings for financially capitated healthcare systems, but it was also associated with losses for fee-for-service healthcare systems, which could be a barrier to eliminating low-value care, this study finds. Of 1,054 patients (469 intervention, 585 controls) included in…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on March 5 identified the recall by RVO 2.0, Inc (Aliso Viejo, California) of its Raindrop near vision inlay as Class I, the most serious. All lots of the inlay are being recalled because data from the post-approval study showed an increased…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 24 classified Alcon Research’s recall of its CyPass Micro-Stent Systems as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the risk of corneal endothelial cell loss with the system, which is used in conjunction with cataract surgery…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 23 issued a Safety Communication on the increased risk of corneal haze associated with the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay, which is surgically implanted in the cornea of one eye to improve near vision. The notice is to alert eye care…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on October 22 announced the recall by Promise Pharmacy (Palm Harbor, Florida) of one lot of Prednisolone and Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution 1%/0.5% sterile, 3 mL vials (Lot Number 09042018@2, Exp 12/03/2018). The recall was issued because the product was found to have…
Editor's Note In this study, cataract surgery was associated with a patient’s reduced subsequent risk of being in a serious traffic crash as a driver. This analysis of 559,546 patients who had cataract surgery in at least one eye found that the crash rate decreased from 2.36 to 2.14 per…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on June 14 issued a Safety Alert for compounded drugs containing triamcinolone and moxifloxacin by Guardian Pharmacy Services (Dallas, Texas). At least 43 patients have reported adverse events after receiving eye injections of the compounded triamcinolone and moxifloxacin drug during cataract surgery.…