Breaking News Related to Macular Degeneration, Cataract, Glaucoma, Corneal Disease and Other Eye Conditions » Dry Eye

Bausch + Lomb Acquiring ISTA Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:41:26 +0000

In late March, Bausch + Lomb and ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISTA) announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Bausch + Lomb will acquire ISTA for $9.10 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $500 million.

Executives anticipate that Bausch + Lomb will help ISTA strengthen its pipeline and market its products by combining ISTA’s portfolio of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory, allergy, and glaucoma drops (such as XIBROM and Bromday) to Bausch + Lomb’s portfolio of existing Rx ophthalmology and OTC eye health products. ISTA’s pipeline includes candidates in various stages of development to treat various ocular conditions including inflammation and pain, while Bausch + Lomb’s pipeline of pharmaceutical innovations include the first of a new class of ocular anti-inflammatory agents to come along in decades, and a promising approach to reducing intra-ocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Click here for the full press release.

LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System Effectively Treats Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:26:06 +0000

The results of a randomized, controlled clinical study involving 139 patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), to be published in the April 2012 issue of Cornea, compared results for treatment of MGD with the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System from TearScience versus warm compress.

Treatment with LipiFlow® provided sustained improvement, on average, in both signs and symptoms.

Further, the study demonstrated the clinical utility, safety and effectiveness of LipiFlow® in adult patients with MGD and dry eye symptoms.

Click here for further details on the study.

LipiFlow®, which applies heat and gentle pressure to a patient’s eyelid, is designed to liquefy and evacuate obstructions in Meibomian glands during a 12-minute in-office procedure. The goal of unblocking the glands is to allow them to resume their natural production of lipids required for a healthy tear film. LipiFlow®’s second generation product allows physicians to treat two eyes simultaneously.

Omega 3 for Anterior Basement Membrane Dystrophy?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:41:22 +0000

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.

ISTA Pharmaceuticals Reports Results of Studies of REMURA(TM) Eye Drops for Dry Eye Disease

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:36:02 +0000

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.

What Eye Drops Are Best for Dry Eye Relief?

Patient Letter to the Editor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:44:35 +0000

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.

Changes In Tear Neuromediators Found In Dry Eye

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:31:34 +0000

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.

Volunteers With Dry Eye Sought for Clinical Trial to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of Thymosin Beta 4 Ophthalmic Solution to Treat Dry Eye

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:44:36 +0000

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.

LipiFlow Treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Approved by FDA

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:22:32 +0000

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.

New Gizmo To Measure Dry Eye- Do We Need It?

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Tue, 31 May 2011 05:25:56 +0000

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.

New Dry Eye Treatments in the Pipeline

Dr. Ari Weitzner — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:19:35 +0000

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.