at press time

ASCRS Limits O.D. Access to Symposium
The Action Stems from Scope of Practice Battle.

The Executive Committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) has unanimously decided to restrict registration of optometrists at the ASCRS Annual Symposium and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) Congress. Registration will now be limited to those optometrists directly employed by ophthalmologists or by ophthalmic industry manufacturers.

Previously, registration at these events was open to all optometrists.

It's believed that the ASCRS Executive Committee ordered the restrictions reluctantly, but felt compelled to act in reaction to provocative steps by optometry interests to expand their scope of practice into surgical treatments traditionally reserved for ophthalmologists.

The ASCRS/ASOA action follows even more restrictive action taken against O.D.s by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in May. The AAO barred optometrists from attending all Academy educational activities after Oklahoma optometrists argued that their attendance at AAO-sponsored seminars had helped prepare O.D.s to perform surgical procedures. The Oklahoma legislature later passed a law containing provisions that permit optometry interests to largely determine the scope of practice for state O.D.s.

In continuation of an existing policy, those optometrists permitted to attend ASCRS and ASOA events will still initially register for the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) Congress and won't receive continuing education credits for their attendance. A new rule approved by the ASCRS Executive Committee will require O.D.s attending ASCRS and ASOA courses, presentations and other meeting events to sign a statement saying that their attendance in no way qualifies them to perform surgery.

The ASCRS Executive Committee said its decisions regarding optometrists and their attendance at ASCRS and ASOA meetings supports the concept that eye surgery should only be performed by qualified ophthalmologists. The Committee said its views represent the accepted standard of care and are intended to emphasize patient welfare.

"Eye surgery requires the comprehensive training of a medical specialist," said ASCRS President Priscilla Arnold, M.D. "Patient welfare is most protected when those performing surgery are able to recognize and manage complications, and understand complex disease conditions that may be encountered. We are also concerned with meeting the educational needs of our members, which is our primary mission."

Ophthalmologist in New Bid for Congress
Dr. Melissa Brown is a Moderate Republican.

Melissa Brown, M.D., who describes herself as fiscally conservative but liberal on social and women's issues, is not one to give up easily. This year, she's making her third run for Congress as the Republican candidate in the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania.

Though Dr. Brown's first two campaigns ended unsuccessfully, she gave popular incumbent Democrat Joseph Hoeffel a strong battle in 2002, garnering 47% of the vote in a district that includes heavily Democratic areas of northeast Philadelphia and more affluent suburban areas. With Rep. Hoeffel giving up his seat to run for the U.S. Senate, Dr. Brown is now contesting for an open seat against a lesser-known opponent, State Sen. Allyson Schwartz. Political pundits give Dr. Brown a good chance to win this time around.

A former registered nurse, Dr. Brown earned her M.D. degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1986. She completed a residency at Wills Eye Hospital. Currently, Dr. Brown is an adjunct assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania and serves as director for the center for Value-Based Medicine. She is also co-chief editor of Evidence-Based Eye Care. Dr. Brown was recently appointed to serve on the Advisory Council for the National Institute of Aging.

Dr. Brown, who resides in Flourtown, Pa., is married and the mother of three daughters.

If Dr. Brown is elected in November, she won't be the first ophthalmologist to serve in the U.S. House. John Cooksey, M.D., of Louisiana, held a seat from 1997 until 2003, giving it up to make an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate.

IN THE NEWS

ThinOptX trial begins. The first ThinOptx small-incision IOLs have been implanted in an FDA-approved trial. The lenses were implanted in three cataract patients in July in Santa Monica, Calif., by Kenneth Hoffer, M.D.

Dr. Hoffer reported that each lens was inserted through a 2.4- 2.5-mm phaco incision without complication. As the trial progresses, it's planned that some ThinOptX lenses will be implanted through incisions as small as 1.5mm.

ASOA has new executive director. Eileen Giaimo of Burke, Va., has been named the new executive director of the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA). She succeeds longtime ASOA executive director Lucy Santiago, who recently retired from the position.

Giaimo comes to ASOA from the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, where she served as director of Economic Affairs for Practice Management. She was previously a captain in the U.S. Air Force medical Service Corps, and has more than 10 years experience in clinical practice management, coding and reimbursement, policy analysis and consultation with physician practices.

"I look forward to joining ASOA in its effort to lead the development of programs designed to enhance the skills and professionalism of ophthalmic practice administrators," said Giaimo.

Allergan appointments. Scott Whitcup, M.D., has been named executive vice president for Research & Development for Allergan. Dr. Whitcup, who joined Allergan in 2000 after serving as clinical director for the National Eye Institute, will head worldwide R&D efforts for the company.

In another appointment, Joseph Schultz has been named senior vice president of Allergan's U.S. Ophthalmology business unit. Schultz comes to Allergan from Johnson & Johnson, where he held senior marketing and sales positions.

Alimera launches dry eye product. Alimera Sciences Inc., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company, has introduced Soothe Emollient Eye Drops, which the company says is the market's first multidose, emollient-based artificial tear product. Soothe is an over-the-counter product offering relief for dry eye.

Alimera Sciences says Soothe has an advanced lipid restorative to re-establish the eye's protective lipid layer, reducing tear evaporation and sealing essential moisture, providing patients with up to 8 hours of comfort.

REFRACTIVE SURGERY UPDATE

Refractec sales surge. Refractec Inc., the developer of the minimally invasive Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) radiofrequency energy procedure for presbyopia, said its gross revenue increased 64% to $7.9 million in the first half of 2004, compared with $4.8 million in the same period a year ago. CK procedures in the first 6 months of this year totaled 12,278, a 131% increase compared with the year-ago period. Refractec says the latest figures bring the number of CK procedures performed worldwide to about 55,000.

"NearVision CK fills a void in the refractive marketplace, and is for the first time offering millions of Americans an opportunity to leave their reading glasses behind," said Mitchell B. Campbell, Refractec president and CEO.

Intacs sales growing. Addition Technology, Inc., the maker of Intacs prescription inserts for surgical vision correction, announced that second quarter 2004 sales of Intacs inserts in the United States increased 51 percent compared to the same quarter of the prior year and 7 percent over the first quarter of 2004. International sales were up 47 percent vs. the prior year and 6 percent vs. the prior quarter.

"Intacs growing acceptance as a problem-solver for corneal surgeons has spurred strong double-digit quarterly sales increases that began in the first quarter of 2003," said William M. Flynn, president and CEO of Addition Technology.

"We are confident that this momentum will continue based on the recent approval to market Intacs for the treatment of keratoconus in Europe, and strong interest in learning how to treat patients with Intacs expressed by corneal surgeons at major ophthalmic meetings. We also expect to soon receive FDA approval to market Intacs for the treatment of keratoconus," Flynn added.