- Survey: Patient perspectives on presbyopia
- Study: Wearable visual field testing device correlates with standard testing, offers efficiency
- Endpoints not met in blepharitis drug trial
- Retinal cell protection observed in non-clinical model with investigational IOP-lowering drug
- Extension study of investigational wet AMD therapy shows reduction of injection burden
- 12-month safety data reported from Phase 3 bevacizumab trial
- ASCRS news and events
October 1, 2021 • Volume 27, Number 39
Survey: Patient perspectives on presbyopia
Allergan, in launching a new patient education website on presbyopia, revealed perspectives of adults ages 40–55 about near vision issues. According to the Blurry Near Vision survey commissioned by the company and conducted between August 2–9, 2021, with 1,000 nationally representative participants, 65% of participants were not prepared for their eyesight to worsen with age, and a quarter were in denial that their near vision was getting worse. Eighty-four percent of respondents reported that they find blurry near vision more frustrating than a frozen Zoom call. Half of the respondents said they decreased or gave up on an activity they liked due to near vision issues, and just over 50% reported losing or misplacing their reading glasses at least once a week (26% “lost” them daily).
Study: Wearable visual field testing device correlates with standard testing, offers efficiency
Heru recently reported results from a study that compared its re:Vive automatic and wearable visual field testing device to a traditional, tabletop device (the Humphrey Field Analyzer [HFA], Carl Zeiss Meditec). The study of 47 eyes in 21 healthy patients and 26 patients with glaucoma and other neuro-ophthalmic diseases found that the visual field mean deviation and threshold values correlated between re:Vive and the HFA, according to the company’s press release. A second study with more participants showed similar results, the press release continued. The re:Vive platform was faster than the HFA SITA Standard, which the company stated can enhance physician workflows.
Endpoints not met in blepharitis drug trial
Nicox announced that primary and secondary endpoints were not met in its Mississippi Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating NCX 4251 (fluticasone propionate ophthalmic suspension, 0.1%) compared to placebo in patients with acute exacerbations of blepharitis. Though the endpoints of complete cure of blepharitis signs and symptoms (eyelid redness, eyelid debris, and eyelid discomfort) by day 15 were not met, the company stated that potential efficacy was seen in that there was numerical improvement of these signs and symptoms in the test group compared to placebo. According to the company’s press release, NCX 4251 showed a significant difference compared to placebo in change from baseline in composite score of these signs and symptoms at day 8 and day 15. The drug was also safe and well tolerated. The company stated that it is continuing data analysis to help it decide on the signs and symptoms upon which to focus future development.
Retinal cell protection observed in non-clinical model with investigational IOP-lowering drug
Nicox announced positive retinal cell protection in a non-clinical model of its lead clinical candidate for IOP lowering. NCX 470, a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin analog, showed potential protective effects on the retina and optic nerve head in this exploratory, non-clinical study, according to the company’s press release. NCX 470 is currently in a Phase 3 clinical trial for IOP lowering in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Extension study of investigational wet AMD therapy shows reduction of injection burden
Graybug Vision announced the results from its 18-month Phase 2b trial of GB-102, a proprietary formulation of sunitinib malate injected intravitreally twice yearly, for treatment of wet AMD. The extension study found that 55% of patients who received GB-102 1 mg saw a duration of 12+ months, maintaining their visual acuity and central retinal thickness. The company stated that this is “the longest duration ever achieved with an intravitreal injection in a randomized, masked, controlled clinical trial in wet AMD.” Graybug also reported a 73% reduction in injection burden for patients participating in the injection study as well.
12-month safety data reported from Phase 3 bevacizumab trial
Outlook Therapeutics announced new safety data from its Phase 2 trial of ONS-5010/LYTENAVA (bevacizumab-vikg) as a treatment for wet AMD. According to the company’s press release, this 12-month data further confirms the safety of this ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab. The trial enrolled 228 patients with wet AMD across trial sites in the U.S. ONS-5010 was dosed monthly and compared to Lucentis (Genentech), which was dosed according to its regimens.
ASCRS news and events
- 2022 ASCRS Annual Meeting: ASCRS is accepting submissions for courses, papers, posters, films, and photos until October 14. Visit the Call for Submissions website for more information about the submission process.
- ASCRS Grand Rounds: The latest ASCRS Grand Rounds presented by Wills Eye Hospital is now available for ASCRS members to access online.
- CME opportunity: “ASCRS Satellite CME: Supplemental Education to the ASCRS Annual Meeting” includes four, 1-hour programs captured from the 2021 Annual Meeting that are now available online and on-demand for viewing/claiming credit. Learn more.
Research highlights
- A paper published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology surveyed patient perspectives on immediate versus delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS and DSBCS). It found that 96% of patients who experienced ISBCS were likely to say they’d choose this procedure again, compared to 80% of patients who had DSBCS. Sixty-five percent of patients said they chose ISBCS due to convenience; 68% of patients chose DSBCS due to surgeon recommendation. The potential need to modify surgical plan in the second eye to reduce the need for glasses postop was a factor for 16% of ISBCS patients and 38% of DSBCS patients.
- A prospective cohort study of 102 eyes of 102 patients with primary angle closure glaucoma with cataracts assessed the 10-year effect of early cataract surgery on anterior chamber depth, angle width, IOP, and number of medications needed postop. According to the study, mean IOP decreased from 22.15±2.08 mm Hg at baseline to 14.08±2.13 mm Hg postoperatively, and anterior chamber depth increased from 2.2±0.21 postop to 3.73±0.25 postop. Nasal angle width also increased from 16.02±2.08 at baseline to 40.05±2.09 postop; temporal angle width went from 13.05±2.07 to 41.9600±1.94. Glaucoma medications decreased postop, according to the authors. The authors reported complete success in 69.65% of cases, while 2.9% failed to be controlled. They concluded that early cataract surgery with an IOL is safe and effective for long-term IOP control in these patients with some effects lasting at least 10 years. This paper is published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology.
This issue of EyeWorld Weekly was edited by Stacy Jablonski and Liz Hillman.
EyeWorld Weekly (ISSN 1089-0319), a digital publication of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), is published every Friday, distributed by email, and posted live on Friday.
Medical Editors: Eric Donnenfeld, MD, Chief Medical Editor; Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, Cataract Editor; Clara Chan, MD, Cornea Editor; Nathan Radcliffe, MD, Glaucoma Editor; and Vance Thompson, MD, Refractive Editor
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