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John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, focuses his blog on new technologies and innovations and how ophthalmic practices can best incorporate them to benefit patients.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
A recent article in the New York Times highlighted the legal impact of a 2011 Supreme Court ruling on the liability of generic drug makers for damage done to patients by their products. The ruling concluded that generic drug makers are not liable for damage resulting from their failure to warn patients of specific dangers of their generic products. Instead, they may simply copy the warnings associated with the brand name "equivalent" drug.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
In recent years, our specialty has seen a return to the minor procedure room for a number of new surgical procedures that have emerged. For dry eye alone, we now have meibomian duct probing, intense pulsed light, and the newest, the LipiFlow thermal pulsation system (TearScience) — all procedures that can be performed in the office. Retinal surgeons routinely perform dozens of intravitreal injections in a clean-room setting and are beginning to perform vitrectomy even in an office setting using simplified machinery for routine procedures. New corneal procedures such as collagen cross-linking also are appropriate for this setting.
Monday, February 6, 2012
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
As we gain greater understanding of mechanisms that affect corneal health, and awareness of the effect of even mild corneal dysfunction on vision and lifestyle, I believe three fundamental changes will continue to happen in eye care in the coming years.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
However careful we are with the way we treat patients, all of us will occasionally encounter someone who is unhappy with our care. Here is a list of principles from a variety of experts that will serve you well in helping your own patients.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
The 2005 CMS ruling opened a world of opportunity for patients and surgeons to choose premium lenses and services for cataract surgery. But 6 years later, still many surgeons have not adopted these new technologies. Why?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
Amniotic membrane has been in use in ophthalmology for over 30 years to reconstruct defects of the conjunctiva and cornea when severe disease depletes a healthy surface. In my practice, where we perform about 200 procedures with amniotic membrane each year, we've learned some important truths about this useful material:
Monday, November 14, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
As femtosecond laser cataract surgery becomes increasingly available in the United States, it is becoming apparent that patients are quite self-motivated to choose this technology and do not seem to balk at the added cost.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
As an American surgeon, I am always impressed at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting with all the great, new technologies in the exhibit hall but saddened to see that so many are available only to doctors and patients outside the U.S.
Friday, October 28, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
Wallace capsulorrhexis gauge (Storz Instruments)
Wallace capsulorrhexis gauge.
Surgeons who perform refractive cataract surgery using premium lens implants know that achieving the predicted outcome is the key to satisfying a patient. While there are many uncontrollable factors that determine a patient's visual outcome, here are five elements we can control that I have found to most meaningfully influence refractive accuracy.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS
In our daily practice routine, we encounter all sorts of individuals with all sorts of styles of communicating. One of our greatest challenges as clinicians is to develop our own style that provides a clear transfer of information in a caring tone that can fit this broad spectrum of individuals we treat.