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Focus on Allergy Medications

Pemirolast potassium 0.1% (Alamast) is indicated for the prevention of ocular itching due to allergic conjunctivitis. According to Santen, it halts the allergic cascade in both the early and late phases of allergic reactions. The company adds that in a survey, 99% of subjects reported no burning, stinging or ocular discomfort.

Phone: (707) 254-1750
Web: www.santeninc.com

Nedocromil sodium (Alocril), a b.i.d. ophthalmic solution, is a second-generation mast-cell stabilizer that prevents the release of inflammatory mediators, deactivates inflammatory cells and inhibits the release of secondary mediators.

At this year's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting, two posters were presented on nedo-cromil. The first poster reported data showing that nedocromil is a potent medication for the long-term control of ocular allergy symptoms in pediatric patients. The second poster offered clinical evidence that nedocromil improves signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in menopausal women.

Phone: (800) 347-4500
Web: www.alocril.com

Loteprednol etabonate 0.2% (Alrex) is the only ketone cortico-steroid formulated with glycerin and povidone to treat your patients' ocular allergies, according to Bausch & Lomb. The company adds that loteprednol covers many allergic mediators by working on both the early and late phases of the allergic inflammatory cascade.

Recently, a multicenter study evaluated the safety of chronic long-term use of loteprednol. Results showed no intraocular pressure spikes, cataract induction or infections in patients.

Complete results are currently awaiting publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Phone: (800) 338-2020
Web: www.bausch.com

Olopatadine (Patanol) is a dual-acting antihistamine and mast-cell stabilizer.

Alcon presented the results of two studies involving olopatadine at this year's ARVO meeting. The first showed that, unlike antihistamines, olopatadine doesn't disrupt or damage cellular integrity when used to treat allergic conjunctivitis. The second study involved the first ever in-vivo demonstration of olopatadine's mast-cell stabilizing effect in the human eye. It showed that olopatadine reduced the release of, and effect of, mast-cell-derived mediators.

Phone: (800) 862-5266
Web: www.patanol.com

Ketotifen fumarate (Zaditor) inhibits eosinophils and has a high affinity for both antihistamine receptor types H1 and H2; it provides relief within 3 minutes. Plus, ketotifen stabilizes mast cells in 15 minutes, which contributes to 12-hour relief.

Novartis Ophthalmics reports that ketotifen has high rates of patient and physician satisfaction. In a survey of 2,700 eye allergy patients, 90% were satisfied with ketotifen. And in a survey of 700 physicians, 96% said ketotifen is as effective, or more effective, than other products currently on the market.

Phone: (866) 393-6336
Web: www.zaditor.com

More Products & Services

Rhein Medical's Sapphire LRI Knives let you construct paracentesis incisions and limbal relaxing incisions.

LRI KNIVES
Two new Sapphire Limbal Relaxing Incision (LRI) Knives are now available from Rhein Medical. The blades of the knives are mounted on aluminum handles with a single footplate.

The Advantage I Sapphire Knife has a 1-mm-wide snub-nose blade, which is sharp all around. The handle has preset depth calibrations of 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm.

The Advantage II Sapphire Knife has a 0.75-mm-wide sharp blade with blunt side edges. The handle has preset calibrations of 0.3 mm, 0.55 mm and 0.6 mm.

Both Sapphire LRI Knives are designed to allow full advancement and retraction.

Rhein Medical
Phone: (800) 637-4346
E-mail: info@rheinmedical.com
Web: www.rheinmedical.com

PHACO UPGRADE
For a limited time, Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) is offering a program that allows users of the Diplomax Machine to receive a trade-in allowance towards a new Sovereign Compact.

For more information, contact your AMO representative.

AMO
Phone: (800) 366-6554
Web: www.amo-inc.com

The portable Iridis 3-watt diode laser weighs 11 pounds.

DIODE LASER
New to the U.S. market: The Iridis 3-watt diode laser.

The Iridis is a solid-state laser with a wide range of adapters and probes for many procedures; it's ideal when you require depth of penetration and lack of absorption. You control the power level with the footswitch.

Quantel
Phone: (888) 660-6726
E-mail: info@quantelmedical.com
Web: www.quantelmedical.com

BLUMINATOR PATENT
Eidolon Optical, maker of the Eidolon Hand Held Slit Lamp 510L, has been awarded a U.S. patent for the Eidolon Bluminator Ophthalmic Illuminator.

The Bluminator provides a 7X magnified image to help you detect corneal injuries and streamline contact lens fittings. The Bluminator's rechargeable batteries, when used under normal conditions, last 3 to 5 years.

Eidolon Optical
Phone: (508) 651-0015
Web: www.slitlamp.com

The Blue Opaque Herrick Lacrimal Plugs feature Lacrimedics' patented intracanalicular design.

LACRIMAL PLUGS
New from Lacrimedics: Blue Opaque Herrick Lacrimal Plugs. These are non-dissolvable intracanalicular lacrimal plugs (rather than surface-style punctum plugs). They're available for as little as $25 a plug.

Also new from Lacrimedics: Dissolvable Opaque Herrick Lacrimal Plugs for medium-term occlusion therapy. You can use these when patients experience dry eye or allergy problems, and when dry eye patients undergo corneal refractive procedures.

The plugs are available in sterile boxes containing one pair of plugs (at $12.50 per plug) and in 20-pair bulk packs (at $5 per plug).

Lacrimedics
Phone: (800) 367-8327
Web: www.lacrimedics.com

LOW APR
Vision Fee Plan (VFP) is now offering a consumer loan plan with fixed annual percentage rates as low as 5.9%.

VFP believes this new low-rate program benefits both patients and practices. The company points out its high approval rates and says, "Payment to the medical practice is one of the easiest processes in the industry."

Vision Fee Plan
Phone: (877) 837-7526
Web: www.visionfeeplan.com

Jorge Alio, M.D., designed this diamond knife to facilitate his MICS technique.

MICS KNIFE
The Alio Trapezoidal Diamond Knife is designed for micro-incision cataract surgery (MICS).

The knife's diamond blade features a laser-etched line at the 1.25-mm shoulder, which the surgeon can use as a landmark when entering the anterior chamber. The blade's purpose is to make a trapezoidal incision, 1.25 mm wide at the internal margin and 1.4 mm wide at the external margin. These dimensions let the surgeon use MICS instruments while maintaining a closed environment -- without stretching the incision.

Katena
Phone: (800) 225-1195
Web: www.katena.com

LOW VISION EDUCATION
This summer and fall, Eschenbach is offering two seminars: "Low Vision: What's It All About?"and "Making Money at Low Vision," a free 1-hour course that immediately follows the other seminar.

"Low Vision: What's It All About?" is an introductory, hands-on workshop and lecture, approved for three continuing education credits. "Making Money at Low Vision" is a practice management course that covers reimbursement issues and shows how low vision can be a profit center in your practice. (The latter is not approved for continuing education credit.)

Dates and locations include: Aug. 13, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Aug. 20, Charleston, W. Va.; Aug. 27, Miami; Sept. 3, Detroit; Sept. 10, San Francisco and Dayton, Ohio; Sept. 17, San Antonio, Texas; Sept. 18, Pittsburgh; Sept. 24, Little Rock, Ark.; Sept. 25, Providence, R.I.; Oct. 1, Jackson, Miss.; Oct. 8, New Orleans; Oct. 15, Denver and Charlotte, N.C.; Oct. 22, Dallas; and Oct. 29, Nashville, Tenn., and Anaheim, Calif.

You can register either by calling (800) 549-3656 or by visiting www.healthcareconferencegroup.com.

Eschenbach
Phone: (800) 487-5389
Web: www.eschenbach.com

Kirwan Surgical says its 25-gauge bipolar pencil minimizes surgical trauma and reduces time in the OR.

VITREORETINAL PENCIL
Kirwan Surgical designed its 25-gauge bipolar pencil for use in surgery when you employ sutureless vitreoretinal surgical systems.

The 25-gauge pencil is one third the size of a 20-gauge pencil. This reduces the target area of coagulation by more than half, according to the company.

Kirwan Surgical
Phone: (888) 547-9267
Web: www.kirwans.com