An initial pilot study of the device demonstrated efficacy with results presented at ARVO in May 2011 (view detailed results here).

Presently, plans are underway for expanded studies at 20 medical centers around the world to further evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of the EYEOP1 device to treat glaucoma. One recently announced such study will be conducted at the Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center of the Goldschleger Eye Institute at Sheba Medical Center in Israel (click here to learn more about the study at this location).

The primary objective of these studies is to demonstrate reduction of baseline IOP by more than 20% in participating patients after 12 months.

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.

This past week, an analysis of the health records of more than 75,000 women presented at the American Glaucoma Society 22nd Annual Meeting, demonstrated that heavy coffee drinking may increase the risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma (EG).

Lead investigator Louis Pasquale, associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, explained that rrevious randomized trials have indicated that homocysteine levels, a risk factor for coronary disease, are increased after coffee consumption, and that patients with exfoliation glaucoma have elevated homocysteine in the aqueous humor and tears.

Click here to read more.

As noted by both Drs. Phil Rosenfeld and Carmen Puliafito, who have used the new software, this new diagnostic tool will play an important role in assessing and speeding the development of  new treatments for both dry and wet AMD, that are being researched and brought to the market.

To read the full story, please follow this link.

But is it superior to a traditional trabeculectomy?

In a recent study, trabeculectomy delivered a better IOP (10) than Trabectome (16) with better success rate (76 vs. 22%).

My take is that if your patient has only mild-moderate glaucoma, chances are an IOP of 15 is pretty good. Also, you can always do trab later- so you have nothing to lose (especially if you are in the eye anyway doing phaco).