Richard W. Phillips, O.D., former regional executive director for TLC Laser Eye Centers, has been named the new president of Southern College of Optometry. Dr. Phillips succeeds William E. Cochran, O.D., who is retiring after nearly 40 years as an optometrist, educator and leader.

 

The FDA recently approved Alcon Laboratories AcrySof ReSTOR apodized diffractive aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) for the visual correction of aphakia following cataract surgery in adult patients with and without presbyopia. The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL is now the only FDA-approved presbyopia-correcting IOL that incorporates aspheric optics. Alcon expects the IOL to be available by mid-2007.

 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a ruling that allows Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cataract surgery to choose an astigmatism-correcting intraocular lens (IOL). Similar to the CMS decision allowing presbyopia-correcting IOLs, this new ruling allows patients to pay the additional charges for the correction of pre-existing astigmatism while Medicare provides customary reimbursement for cataract surgery. CMS plans to name which specific IOLs are included in this ruling.