EW Weekly, October 30, 2020

- FDA approves new short-term dry eye drop
- Positive topline results for investigational presbyopia drop
- Positive topline results for Phase 1/2a keratoconus drop study
- FDA accepts NDA for severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis drug
- IND approved for possible allergic conjunctivitis treatment
- Research moving forward on nitric oxide-mediated IOP-lowering agent
- Research Highlights
- Product News
- Novel evidence based on objective data supports the association of near work, light intensity, and myopia. The research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology included 86 children who wore a device that measured working distance and light levels for a week. Children with myopia were exposed to more intense light conditions for less time daily compared to non-myopic children. The research also found myopic children spend more time daily on activities that were considered near work. While this research supports the association of near work and light intensity with myopia, the researchers stated that causality and the dose-effect relationship need further study.
- Global productivity losses due to uncorrected or under corrected presbyopia were estimated at $11 billion in 2011—increasing to $25.4 billion if it’s assumed that patients 65 and older are productive—according to a new systematic literature review. The review, in addition to evaluating productivity losses, also looked at patient perception and burden. According to the research published in Clinical Ophthalmology, patients with presbyopia reported up to a 22% decrease in quality of life scores, and up to 80% of those with uncorrected presbyopia reported difficulty in near-vision tasks. The study authors reported that these visual challenges can induce distress and low self-esteem.
- According to a study published in Clinical Ophthalmology, it is common practice for ophthalmologists to manually center IOLs within the visual axis. Researchers sought to determine if doing this results in better postop centration. A single surgeon implanted monofocal, toric, or multifocal IOLs in 125 consecutive eyes that had either FLACS or standard phaco cataract surgery. Some IOLs were manually centered while others were not. At 4 weeks, a masked observer assessed and measured centration. Seventeen (13.6%) of all IOLs were off-centered to a minimal or mild amount at evaluation. The researchers said there was no statistically significant difference in the decentered IOLs that were manually centered intraoperatively and those that were not. Thus, they concluded that the position of the IOL “is not dependent on manual centration but rather on the design and symmetry of the IOL, as well as the integrity of the capsular bag.”
- Bausch + Lomb introduced its SimplifEYE IOL delivery system for the enVista MX60PL and enVista toric MX60PT, which the company noted in a press release is the first pre-loaded toric IOL.
- Visible Genomics launched a non-invasive genetic test that determines likelihood of developing AMD and/or risk of progressing to late-stage AMD if a patient already has the disease.
- Rayner launched an updated, web-based IOL calculator, Raytrace 3.5, with improvements that include posterior corneal astigmatism, among other features.
- Aerie and Santen Pharmaceuticals entered into a development and commercialization agreement for Rhopressa (netarsudil ophthalmic solution, 0.02%) and Rocklatan (netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.02%/0.005%) in Japan and rights for several other countries in Asia.
This issue of EyeWorld Weekly was edited by Stacy Jablonski and Vanessa Caceres.
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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