January 2008 Issues

LASIK Update -- Quick Pulse

Summary: Thirteen refractive surgeons were interviewed to check on LASIK trends in 2008.

Eyecare Update

Summary: Refractive surgery referrals by optometrists are down slightly and likely to remain flat through 2008, but multifocal IOL use, primarily for cataract patients, is increasing. ♦ Contact lens sales are slightly down, a trend expected to continue through 2008. ♦ Silicone hydrogel lenses now account for more than 50% of fittings, and that is growing. Johnson & Johnson/ Vistakon’s Acuvue Oasys is the most popular silicone hydrogel, but CooperVision’s Biofinity is catching on, though it doesn’t have a full range of powers yet. ♦ Alcon’s Opti-Free Express is the contact lens solution most frequently recommended by these optometrists. ♦ Inspire’s antibiotic, AzaSite, hasn’t caught on yet among optometrists, but its less frequent dosing is starting to attract attention. ♦ High cost and poor patient compliance are the key reasons that use of Allergan’s dry eye medication, Restasis, isn’t growing. ♦ Use of Combigan, Allergan’s new combination glaucoma medication, is growing, and in a year 15% of glaucoma patients could be taking it. ♦ Alcon’s Patanol is the No. 1 ocular allergy medication, but most doctors would switch to a generic if it became available because of cost.

CMS Expands Competitive Bidding Program in Effort to Reduce Medicare Fraud -- Quick Pulse

Summary: On January 8, 2008 , the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) announced it is expanding a competitive bidding program on equipment, which it said would lower out-of-pocket costs and reduce fraud and abuse. The expansion affects durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). DMEPOS items include standard and complex power wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen supplies and equipment, certain devices, and hospital beds.

American College of Neuropsychopharmacology -- Quick Pulse

Summary: The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) meeting offered an interesting look at a variety of drugs in development for addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, migraine, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. The meeting also offered an overview of several new classes of agents, including endocannabinoids, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, neurosteroids, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGLuRs), and glycine T inhibitors.