More women than men in the US have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, according to a recent study by Prevent Blindness America (PBA). To educate women about the steps they can take now to help preserve their vision in the future, PBA has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. “The first thing every woman should do, especially those ages 40 and older, is get a dilated eye exam,” says Hugh R. Parry, PBA president and CEO. “Through early detection and treatment, vision loss can be lessened.”

The FDA has approved Prolensa (bromfenac 0.07%, Bausch + Lomb) a once-daily NSAID indicated for treatment of postoperative inflammation and reduction of ocular pain in patients who have had cataract surgery. In two clinical trials, patients started on Prolensa one day before surgery, and continued it for two weeks after surgery. At one day post-op, about four out of five patients (79%) treated with Prolensa were pain free. By day 15, post-op inflammation was completely cleared in 46% of patients on Prolensa.

A bill in Tennessee, which would have allowed optometrists to inject local anesthetics, has been tabled until 2014. ODs in Tennessee have been licensed to perform minor procedures and injections for two decades, so this bill would not permit optometrists to perform any new procedures, stated the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians. It would only allow ODs to apply anesthetic by a different means. The legislature will likely revisit the bill during the new session next January.