Subscribe to Newsletter
Subspecialties Basic & Translational Research, Cataract, Cornea / Ocular Surface, COVID-19, Neuro-ophthalmology, Pediatric, Professional Development, Business and Innovation, Health Economics and Policy, Practice Management

AAO Announcements

Credit: Frantisek Krejci from Pixabay.com

  • A study by researchers from the University of Miami, Florida, USA, has shown that pain experienced by dry eye patients depends on the way their nervous system responds to pain signals (1). To assess how the nervous system reacts to these signals in patients with chronic, painful dry eye disease, researchers used a technique called conditioned pain modulation (CPM). After evaluating 296 patients, they established that those patients had a normal to high CPM response, which suggests that treatments for painful dry eye may be improved by focusing on the nervous system.
  • Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, most school pupils have had to use virtual lessons for extended periods of time. Now, research from Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, has confirmed that increased screen time due to virtual learning has led to more eye strain and convergence insufficiency in children – a condition where eyes are unable to work together when looking at objects up close. This can result in double or blurred vision and make reading difficult for children. Frequent checks for those symptoms, encouraging breaks and frequent blinking helps to resolve eye strain symptoms (2). 
  • The AAO has outlined the top four issues threatening ophthalmologists’ financial stability. These include: Medicare physician payment fee cuts, with US-based physicians facing drastic cuts from January 2022 as well as expiry of pandemic waiver and a further cut from implementing “PayGo” balance budget rules; surgeon and facility payments for cataract and MIGS codes, with the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid only adding $34 for MIGS procedures to be added to the cost of standalone cataract surgery; lack of equity for post-operative visits included in the Medicare global surgical payments; and prior authorization and step therapy burdens.
Receive content, products, events as well as relevant industry updates from The Ophthalmologist and its sponsors.

When you click “Subscribe” we will email you a link, which you must click to verify the email address above and activate your subscription. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at [email protected].
If you wish to unsubscribe, you can update your preferences at any point.

  1. A Galor, University of Miami, “Neuropathic pain: a critical missing piece in dry eye?” (2021). Available at: https://bit.ly/3g2jXnu.
  2. J Lavrich, Presented at 125th AAO, November 14, 2021, New Orleans, US.
About the Author
Aleksandra Jones

Editor of The Ophthalmologist

Having edited several technical publications over the last decade, I crossed paths with quite a few of Texere's current team members, and I only ever heard them sing the company's praises. When an opportunity arose to join Texere, I jumped at the chance! With a background in literature, I love the company's ethos of producing genuinely engaging content, and the fact that it is so well received by our readers makes it even more rewarding.

Product Profiles

Access our product directory to see the latest products and services from our industry partners

Here
Register to The Ophthalmologist

Register to access our FREE online portfolio, request the magazine in print and manage your preferences.

You will benefit from:
  • Unlimited access to ALL articles
  • News, interviews & opinions from leading industry experts
  • Receive print (and PDF) copies of The Ophthalmologist magazine

Register

Disclaimer

The Ophthalmologist website is intended solely for the eyes of healthcare professionals. Please confirm below: