Breaking News Related to Macular Degeneration, Cataract, Glaucoma, Corneal Disease and Other Eye Conditions » Dry Eye http://eyedocnews.com Ophthalmology on the Web Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:48:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Omega 3 for Anterior Basement Membrane Dystrophy? http://eyedocnews.com/006226-omega-3-for-anterior-basement-membrane-dystrophy/ http://eyedocnews.com/006226-omega-3-for-anterior-basement-membrane-dystrophy/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:41:22 +0000 Patient Letter to the Editor http://eyedocnews.com/?p=6226 I have anterior basement membrane dystrophy.

Drops are not really helping any more.  I also have slight cataract problems too.

I am now starting to take 3 capsules of Omega 3s and was wondering if this could help?

I would sure like to get back to my art work and also reading again.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/006226-omega-3-for-anterior-basement-membrane-dystrophy/feed/ 3 ISTA Pharmaceuticals Reports Results of Studies of REMURA(TM) Eye Drops for Dry Eye Disease http://eyedocnews.com/006180-ista-pharmaceuticals-reports-results-of-studies-of-remuratm-eye-drops-for-dry-eye-disease/ http://eyedocnews.com/006180-ista-pharmaceuticals-reports-results-of-studies-of-remuratm-eye-drops-for-dry-eye-disease/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:36:02 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=6180 Last week, ISTA Pharmaceuticals announced top-line results from the second of its two Phase 3 studies to evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of two concentrations of REMURA(TM) (bromfenac ophthalmic solution for dry eye) in alleviating the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

In the EAST study, REMURA was highly effective in treating a sign and symptom of dry eye but was not statistically significantly better than placebo in the entire patient cohort, a common outcome reported in studies testing other dry eye therapies. In both Phase 3 studies, safety data demonstrated REMURA was well-tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to placebo and consistent with those observed previously with REMURA in a Phase 2 study and with other prescription dry eye drops. All three formulations were rated by patients as very comfortable.

Click here for the full release.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/006180-ista-pharmaceuticals-reports-results-of-studies-of-remuratm-eye-drops-for-dry-eye-disease/feed/ 0 What Eye Drops Are Best for Dry Eye Relief? http://eyedocnews.com/005934-what-drops-are-best-for-dry-eye-relief/ http://eyedocnews.com/005934-what-drops-are-best-for-dry-eye-relief/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:44:35 +0000 Patient Letter to the Editor http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5934 What is the best eye drop option for treatment of dry eye?

Friends seeking dry eye relief have recommended drops such as Visine or TheraTears, and more recently RESTASIS.

Can someone provide feedback on the best eye drop option for dry eye relief. Please also mention any side effects.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005934-what-drops-are-best-for-dry-eye-relief/feed/ 5 Changes In Tear Neuromediators Found In Dry Eye http://eyedocnews.com/005951-changes-in-tear-neuromediators-found-in-dry-eye/ http://eyedocnews.com/005951-changes-in-tear-neuromediators-found-in-dry-eye/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:31:34 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5951 Archives:  researchers have discovered that in dry eye patients, there are decreased levels of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and that tear levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) are related to corneal epithelial damage. This may be helpful in determining dry eye severity or perhaps open new areas of research into this very common and frustrating disease.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005951-changes-in-tear-neuromediators-found-in-dry-eye/feed/ 0 Volunteers With Dry Eye Sought for Clinical Trial to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of Thymosin Beta 4 Ophthalmic Solution to Treat Dry Eye http://eyedocnews.com/005868-volunteers-sought-for-clinical-trial-to-evaluate-safety-and-efficacy-of-thymosin-beta-4-ophthalmic-solution-to-treat-dry-eye/ http://eyedocnews.com/005868-volunteers-sought-for-clinical-trial-to-evaluate-safety-and-efficacy-of-thymosin-beta-4-ophthalmic-solution-to-treat-dry-eye/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:44:36 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5868 Today, RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals announced the commencement of a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company’s preservative-free Thymosin Beta 4 eye drops (referred by the company as RGN-259 eye drops) in alleviating signs and symptoms of dry eye.

As its primary measures, the trial will look at the number of patients with decreased corneal staining, and decreased ocular discomfort following administration of the eye drops.

To learn more about the clinical trial, read the company’s press release and description of the trial on ClinicalTrials.gov.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005868-volunteers-sought-for-clinical-trial-to-evaluate-safety-and-efficacy-of-thymosin-beta-4-ophthalmic-solution-to-treat-dry-eye/feed/ 0 LipiFlow Treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Approved by FDA http://eyedocnews.com/005695-lipiflow-treatment-for-meibomian-gland-dysfunction-approved-by-fda/ http://eyedocnews.com/005695-lipiflow-treatment-for-meibomian-gland-dysfunction-approved-by-fda/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:22:32 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5695 TearScience, Inc., announced yesterday that the FDA had cleared its LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), one of the leading causes of dry eye. The clearance enables TearScience to market and sell LipiFlow® to eye care physicians in the U.S. LipiFlow® will be available immediately, but on a limited basis in the U.S. through the end of 2011. LipiFlow® removes meibomian gland obstructions by applying directed energy to a patient’s eyelid during a 12-minute in-office treatment.

Click here to learn more.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005695-lipiflow-treatment-for-meibomian-gland-dysfunction-approved-by-fda/feed/ 2 New Gizmo To Measure Dry Eye- Do We Need It? http://eyedocnews.com/005473-new-gizmo-to-measure-dry-eye-do-we-need-it/ http://eyedocnews.com/005473-new-gizmo-to-measure-dry-eye-do-we-need-it/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 05:25:56 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5473 A new software for the Oculus Keratograph provides quantitative analysis of distortions in the placido rings and can thus give data on tear breakup time. I suppose it may be helpful to demonstrate this to patients who remain puzzled as to why they are tearing and have dry eye at the same time. Since it’s just a software upgrade, it may be worth it- I can’t imagine buying expensive hardware to prove dry eye.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005473-new-gizmo-to-measure-dry-eye-do-we-need-it/feed/ 0 New Dry Eye Treatments in the Pipeline http://eyedocnews.com/005441-new-dry-eye-treatments-in-the-pipeline/ http://eyedocnews.com/005441-new-dry-eye-treatments-in-the-pipeline/#comments Fri, 27 May 2011 15:19:35 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5441 OSN: Several promising treatments are in the pipeline for dry eye, which is an “epidemic” and can drive patients to drink. Secretagogues stimulate the eye to produce its own tears, like Restasis. One is called Lancovutide which was originally used in cystic fibrosis. Rebamipide’s mechanism is to increase the mucin level in tears, which makes the tears more stable and less prone to evaporate. A company called Mimetogen is promoting a nerve growth factor (MIM-D3) which nurtures the corneal nerves which stimulate the reflex responsible for tearing.

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005441-new-dry-eye-treatments-in-the-pipeline/feed/ 1 More Evidence for Positive Effect of Omega-3 in Dry Eye Sufferers http://eyedocnews.com/005366-more-evidence-for-positive-effect-of-omega-3-in-dry-eye-sufferers/ http://eyedocnews.com/005366-more-evidence-for-positive-effect-of-omega-3-in-dry-eye-sufferers/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 13:27:02 +0000 Dr. Risa Schulman http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5366 Earlier this year we reported in this blog on a pilot study testing the benefit of omega-3 fatty acids for dry eye patients.  A new study has just been released which brings additional evidence that omega-3 may be recommended for this condition.

Patients in this study suffered from dry eye due to Meibomian gland dysfunction or primary Sjogren syndrome.  They took omega-3 supplements from 1-4 months alongside their regular therapy.  Through questionnaires and testing of the eye surface, researchers found that supplmentation improved the symptoms of dry eye.  In addition, patients subjectively felt that the supplement helped them.

To read the abstract of this article, click here.

Risa Schulman, PhD
Expert, Healthy Food and Dietary Supplement Science, Marketing and Regulatory
Tap~Root

]]> http://eyedocnews.com/005366-more-evidence-for-positive-effect-of-omega-3-in-dry-eye-sufferers/feed/ 0 Does SmartPlug Treatment for Dry Eye Pose an Infection Risk? http://eyedocnews.com/005163-smartplug-may-be-causing-problems/ http://eyedocnews.com/005163-smartplug-may-be-causing-problems/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:26:20 +0000 Dr. Ari Weitzner http://eyedocnews.com/?p=5163 An article in Review of Ophthalmology reports potential problems with the SmartPlug treatment for dry eye from Medennium. Dr Fezza noted a high incidence of canaliculitis among those who received this plug in his practice. The plugs are typically inserted inside the canaliculus as a treatment for dry eye. Some patients required surgical procedures to remove the plug and associated inflammatory masses and stones. Reportedly, the company did not respond to the editor’s request for information.

Click here to read the full article.

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