Ophthalmology A new study by Canadian researchers supports the safety of continued perioperative Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) use in “patients meeting strict institutional pre-procedure screening pathways for short-duration ophthalmic surgeries under MMS [Mild-To-Moderate Sedation] in an ambulatory setting.” However, the researchers caution that their findings “may not extend to higher…
A new study published in Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases evaluates “the time-adjusted economics of retinal and cataract surgery” in an effort to clarify how the “dynamics” of ASCs “influence access to urgent care.” The study, “A Comparative Time-Based Profit Analysis of Retinal and Cataract Surgery in Ambulatory Surgery Centers,” applied…
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced that EyePoint, a manufacturer of therapeutics for ophthalmic applications, has agreed to pay $4,678,981 to resolve allegations that it paid kickbacks to induce ASCs to purchase its drug DEXYCU. The government alleges that EyePoint violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the…
A cost efficiency analysis of outpatient ophthalmic procedures has been published in American Journal of Ophthalmology. The purpose of the study, state the researchers, was to “evaluate the financial feasibility” of nine common ophthalmic procedures performed at ASCs and HOPDs relative to Medicare facility reimbursement in 2025. The study proposes…
Vision Innovation Partners (VIP), a managed services platform for Mid-Atlantic ophthalmology providers that operates 12 ASCs, has acquired Frederick (Md.) Eye Institute. It’s VIP’s 28th practice addition since its 2017 founding. Frederick Eye Institute specializes in cataract surgery and lens implants, but also employs “the latest technology” to provide care…
U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers ratings. Using data provided by health insights provider Arcadia, U.S. News evaluated 4,421 ASCs nationwide. That’s well short of the total number of ASCs in the U.S., due to the fact that the ratings focus exclusively on…
Editor's Note Laser cataract surgery is entering a new era where robotic systems and artificial intelligence (AI) work alongside surgeons to improve accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. According to the July/August 2025 edition of Ophthalmology Times, recent advances in robotic integration, astigmatism management, and AI-driven imaging are minimizing variability, reducing…
Editor's Note A novel stem cell treatment for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)—a type of corneal disease caused by injury—restored corneal function in half of study participants within three months, according to a March 5 report in Medical News Today. According to the article, the experimental therapy, cultivated autologous…
Editor's Note Cataract surgery raises the risk of worsening diabetic retinopathy in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a February 24 article in MedPage Today. The article focused on a a retrospective analysis published in the journal Ophthalmology. The study involved a large dataset from the TriNetX research network,…
A wave of policy and regulatory changes is shaking up the healthcare industry—among many other markets. Like the COVID-19 pandemic greatly sped up the proliferation of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) by bringing traditional hospital operations to a standstill, ASCs are again on the poise of another boom. Medical innovation abounds…
