Volume 20, Number 1
March 2011
E. B. Spaeth Oration - February 10, 2011
By Rita Stern
The E. B. Spaeth Foundation Dinner was held on February 10, 2011
at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. Dr. Gordon T. Plant
was the featured speaker at this year's Glaucoma Service Foundation's
Edmund B. Spaeth Oration Dinner held at The College of Physicians
of Philadelphia on February 10th. Dr. Plant is a Neuro-Ophthalmologist
at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen
Square to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK. His topic was
“For and Aft: reciprocal changes on either side of the LGN
synapse in occipital stroke, glaucoma and more.”
This is the 34th year for the event. The event honors Edmund B.
Spaeth, who was a busy, internationally respected physician and
teacher who passed away at the age of 86. Originally from Buffalo,
New York, Edmund Spaeth, MD served as a field surgeon in the First
World War. He established the Department of Ophthalmology at the
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was a founder of the American
Board of Plastic Surgeons and the American Board of Oculoplastic
Surgery, and wrote the first major text on Ophthalmic Surgery,
which became an international standard.
In addition, he was a Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology
at Temple University, and later became head of the Ophthalmology
Program at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine
and a Chief at Wills Eye. Edmund B. Spaeth was fully committed
to his patients, his students and his family.
The evening, devoted to celebrating great teaching and great teachers,
brings together fellows, residents, medical students from Wills
Eye, Temple, Jefferson, Scheie Eye Institute, Drexel, Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine and ophthalmologists from all over the Greater Delaware
Valley.
Additionally, there were employees from Alcon, Allergan, Merck,Pfizer
and Wills Eye and Board Members from the Glaucoma Service Foundation.
Alcon Laboratories was the sponsor for this wonderful and information
evening. Then intent of this unique event is to broaden and deepen
ophthalmologists' understanding of the art and science of medical
practice. It is an educational evening both academically and socially.
The event is also part of the Greater Philadelphia Ophthalmic
Society's series of programs.
Dr. Gordon T. Plant
from left -Dr. Michael Pro, Dr. George Spaeth, Dr. Gordon Plant
and Dr. Robert Sergott
Glaucoma Service Foundation Board-(from left to right starting
with back row-Irving Schorsch, Leonard Rosenfeld, Phd, George
Strimel, Jeremiah J. White, Jr., Dr. Jay Katz, Grace Renner, Hyman
Lovitz, Esq., and Dr. George L. Spaeth. Not pictured: Dr. Jeff
Henderer, Dr. Zeff Lazinger, Chris Urban, Dr. Charles Tressler,
Dr. Jonathan Myers, and Richard Smoot
The
Edmund B. Spaeth Oration Photo
Gallery by Roger Barone
FROM THE “CHAT HIGHLIGHTS” OF THE GLAUCOMA SERVICE WEBSITE
Click
here to read highlights.
Glaucoma Research Center 2011 Update
With a new year fully underway, the Glaucoma
Research Center is closing out some studies and opening up some
new ones. The following is a list of the studies we are currently
recruiting for.
1. INOTEK– This Phase II study is testing
a new drug for safety and effectiveness in lowering eye pressure
in patients with ocular hypertension or primary open angle glaucoma.
This drug is not FDA approved yet, therefore; careful observation
over a short period of time will take place. There are two qualifying
visits where patients are taken off their current medication.
This is a placebo-controlled study meaning some patients may not
receive the real drug. There are approximately 11 visits over
a one to three-month time period.
2. Aerie – We are waiting on IRB approval
for this Phase II, cross over study which is testing a new drug
for safety and effectiveness in lowering eye pressure in patients
whose pressure in not well controlled on one medication. This
drug does not have FDA approval yet, therefore; careful observation
over a short period of time will take place. Xalatan will be used
throughout the study. Timolol will be compared to the new drug
in addition to the Xalatan. Each patient will be randomized to
receive one of the two drops first for 28 days then they will
receive the opposite drop for 28 days. Two intervals of Xalatan
only for four weeks will be part of the study. There are approximately
seven visits over a three-month period.
3. SPARCS – Validation and Reproducibility
of Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity Test. Contrast Sensitivity
is another way of testing vision with black letters on a white
background. A new computer generated test was designed to measure
contrast sensitivity in four quadrants of the visual field and
straight ahead using black and white stripes instead of letters.
Glaucoma patients and healthy individuals with no eye disorders
are needed for this one-day study. There are no treatments or
risks to participate. In the future we will be recruiting patients
with macular degeneration, cataracts and refractive errors to
complete this study.
4. Brain Imaging – For patients who participated
in our previous functionality studies where they were matching
socks and navigating an obstacle course, we have the Brain Imaging
study. The purpose of this study is to determine if glaucoma is
associated with changes in areas of the brain other than the areas
where vision is processed. We also need age, race and gender matched,
healthy individuals with no eye disorders for our controls. Each
participant will have a neurological evaluation and MRI. There
are no treatments or risks for participation.
5. Triesence in Glaucoma Surgeries – This
study looks at Triesence (Triamcinolone), a corticosteroid used
during glaucoma surgery to reduce inflammation in the front of
the eye. Patients requiring glaucoma surgery may qualify for this
study. There is a six-month period postoperatively with five follow-up
visits.
6. Ologen – This study is for patients
needing first time glaucoma surgery (Trabeculectomy). During glaucoma
filtering surgery, patients typically receive a medicine known
as an antimetabolite to try to prevent the body from forming scar
tissue at the surgical site. Patients will be randomized to receive
Mitomycin C, the standard antimetabolite, or Ologen, a new artificial
extracellular matrix during surgery. This is a one-year postoperative
follow-up with nine visits.
7. Kerasys – This study compares a patch
graft material called Kerasys to another material called Tutoplast
in patients who are scheduled for tube shunt surgery. This material
covers the sclera (white part of the eye) to prevent the tube
from eroding. Patients are randomized to receive Kerasys or Tutoplast
during surgery. This is a one-year study with five post-operative
visits.
8. Baerveldt – This study is comparing
two different sized Baerveldt tube shunts in patients who are
scheduled for tube shunt surgery. The goal of the study is to
determine if one size is superior to the other in successfully
lowering eye pressure. Patients will be randomized to one size
or the other. There are 11 postoperative visits during a five-year
period.
9. AAO Study – After IRB approval, this
observational study will compare the effectiveness of different
treatment strategies (eye drops, laser and surgery) for open-angle
glaucoma. Patients who have failed initial medical therapy with
two bottles of glaucoma eye drops will qualify. The study will
not provide or recommend any treatment. All direction for treatment
is solely at the discretion of the physician in accordance with
their usual practice. Data will be collected and a quality of
life questionnaire will be administered to patients four times
over a one year period.
10. Reversibility – This study compares
the structural nerve fiber layer changes in the macula and optic
nerve head with Spectralis OCT (a noninvasive measurement) and
functional changes using automated perimetry (visual field test)
after medical or surgical interventions. Patients who have intraocular
pressures greater than 35 mm Hg will qualify. Ten glaucoma patients
who had stable and controlled eye pressure over one year will
be recruited as the control group. There will be four visits over
a nine month period.
If you or someone you know may be interested
in participating or learning more about one of our studies, feel
free to contact us. You will need an ophthalmic exam to determine
eligibility. This may or may not be covered by your medical insurance.
Glaucoma Research Center:
MaryJo Schwartz,
Administrator 215-928-3123
mschwartz@willseye.org;
Jeanne Molineaux,
Coordinator 215-825-4713
jmolineaux@willseye.org;
Sheryl S. Wizov,
Coordinator 215-928-3221
swizov@willseye.org.
 Welcome
New Fellows
Dr. Camila Zangalli has joined
us from Brazil as a Research Fellow, and will be here until February
of 2013. Dr. Zangalli received her Medical Degree from Fundação
Técnico- Educacional Souza Marques, located in Rio de Janeiro.
She has also trained at Santa Casa de Misericordia, and at Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro.We are particularly excited to have
Camila with us, as in addition to her Glaucoma Research, she will
be pursuing another masters degree, this one in Public Health,
at Thomas Jefferson University. This represents the first Glaucoma
Fellow who has also been a student at Jefferson, and we hope that
she will be the first of many to do so. While at Wills, Dr. Zangalli
will be working on the SPARCS study, that is the Spaeth-Richman
Contrast Sensitivity which many of you may be familiar with.We
are thrilled to have Camila on this project as she is an accomplished
researcher, having taken part in the Brazilian Congress of Blindness
Prevention, and the International Congress of the Brazilian Society
of Ophthalmology. She has also presented her work in the United
States, notably the ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and
Ophthalmology) meeting in Florida in May 2010.
 Dr.
Lan Lu has come on board as a Research Fellow. She will
be performing Research under the guidance of the Wills Glaucoma
Physicians until March 2013. A native of The People's Republic
of China, Dr. Lu received her Medical Degree from Fujian Medical
University. Currently, she is the Fujian Medical University's
Vice-Chief Ophthalmologist. After she was recognized by the Fujian
Provincial Health Bureau as one of the region's finest medical
professionals, Lan was allowed a one year period to travel abroad
for further training. She chose to use that year to study at Wills
Eye. In addition to her work at the Fujuan Medical University,
Dr. Lu has worked with Nyangabgwe Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai,
and is an accomplished researcher, having numerous articles published
in medical journals across China.
Board of Trustees: Dr. Zeff Lazinger,
President • George L. Spaeth, MD, Director of Medical Research
and Education
L. Jay Katz, MD, Secretary • Jeremiah White, Vice President
• Richard Smoot, Treasurer
Steve Harmelin, Esquire • Jeffrey D. Henderer, MD •
Hyman Lovitz, Esquire • Jonathan S. Myers, MD • Grace
Renner
Leonard Rosenfeld, PhD • Irvin Schorsch • George Strimel
• Charles Tressler, MD • Chris Urban • Elaine
Watson
Honorary Trustees: Francesco & Charlotte
Bonmartini • James Kim
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