Optometry Times® news summary 11/15/2020

Click here to watch the associated news update video

With this week’s eye care update, I’m Gretchyn Bailey, editor in chief and content channel director of Optometry Times.

Kala Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its drug Eysuvis (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) 0.25% for the short-term (up to 2 weeks) treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

According to the company, approximately 80 percent of people living with dry eye disease suffer from episodic flares. These flares can be caused by a variety of triggers and often cannot be adequately managed with current therapies.

Eysuvis utilizes Kala’s Ampplify mucus-penetrating particle drug delivery technology to enhance penetration of loteprednol into target tissue on the ocular surface. Loteprednol targets the immune responses that drive acute dry eye disease flares. Prior to Eysuvis, there were no FDA-approved ocular corticosteroids for the treatment of dry eye disease. Kala plans to launch Eysuvis in the U.S. by year-end.

Related: Eysuvis FDA approved for dry eye treatment

Orasis Pharmaceuticals has announced the initiation of NEAR-1 and NEAR-2 Phase 3 clinical studies in the U.S., evaluating its novel eye drop candidate designed to improve near vision for people with presbyopia.

The NEAR-1 and NEAR-2 Phase 3 studies are multi-center, double-masked, parallel-group clinical trials in the U.S. enrolling approximately 600 participants with presbyopia to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the company’s eye drop candidate.

Related: Treatments for presbyopia coming soon

Bausch + Lomb introduces the SimplifEYE intraocular lens delivery system, which is available exclusively for the enVista MX60PL and the enVista toric MX60PT, the first preloaded toric IOL available in the United States.

The SimplifEYE delivery system facilitates smooth and consistent implantation of enVista lenses into the capsular bag in just 3 steps through an incision as small as 2.2 mm, according to the company. The fully enclosed SnapSet cartridge houses an untouched IOL to help ensure proper positioning and reduce the risk of lens damage.

The beveled tip of the SimplifEYE system permits consistent lens folding to afford surgeons reproducible and reliable delivery of the enVista IOL into the capsular bag. Clear construction provides outstanding visualization of the IOL during implantation, and the proprietary coating technology of the inserter eliminates linear additive transfer deposits on the surface of the IOLs after implantation, according to the company. Finally, a convenient viscoelastic port ensures proper IOL lubrication that allows for smooth passage of the IOL during delivery.

The enVista MX60PL offers the widest range of powers of any preloaded IOL (from 0-34 diopters). The enVista toricoffers rotational stability as well as the lowest cylinder power of 1.25 diopters. Both preloaded lenses also offer the benefits of a zero spherical aberration optic. Because both lenses are uniform power center-to-edge, neither are affected by tilt and decentration.

Related: FDA approves Bausch + Lomb Alaway antihistamine eyedrops

Digital health platform Zyter announces the availability of Zyter Member Engagement, a secure mobile application and optional member portal designed to deliver a more satisfying member experience for healthcare payer organizations, according to the company.

Zyter Member Engagement is HIPAA-compliant and provides healthcare plan members with features and functionality to efficiently manage their health and their plan remotely.

Supported by the Zyter Digital Health Platform, Zyter Member Engagement provides fast responsiveness, attractive and user-friendly interface, intuitive navigation, and customizable features. Other key features include:

• Personalized home screen

• Simplified access to healthcare information

• Secure two-factor user authentication and

• In-app plan changes and upgrades

Related: How mask antiviral coatings may limit COVID-19 transmission

LION Eye Group, an alliance of independent optometry practices in New York, has formed LION READS, a not for profit currently under development. READS is an acronym for Recycle, Educate, Advocate, Donate, and Support.

• Recycle means repurpose eyewear and work with vendors who use earth-friendly materials.

• Educate means public awareness to detect when children are struggling with vision concerns.

• Advocate means work with vendors and organizations on behalf of at-risk youth.

• Donate means free or reduced fees for children’s eyecare and eyewear.

• Support means financial assistance to literacy, educational, and mobile book programs.

The mission of LION READS is to positively impact the lives of children facing economic injustice through literacy, by providing access to eye care and vision correction eyewear, promoting empowerment through education, and securing self-confidence for greater achievement.

The LION Eye Group will be selecting partner vendors with similar value systems for advancement of the LION READS initiative.

IDOC, a privately-held alliance of independent optometrists, has launched a new professional partnership with Illinois-based United Eye Care Providers—or UECP—an alliance of private-practice optometrists. Established in 1995, UECP provides support for over 50 independent practices in Illinois, including continuing education coursework throughout the year. Based on the new partnership, Illinois-based IDOC members are now eligible to receive UECP-hosted, COPE-approved CE free of charge.

UECP and IDOC will offer continuing education classes each quarter to help doctors fulfill their Illinois license requirements.

Click here to watch the associated news update video

CooperVision is expanding its Brilliant Futures Myopia Management Program featuring its MiSight 1 day contact lens to multiple countries less than a year after debuting it in the United States. CooperVision is taking its program to the United Kingdom, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Canada, South Korea, and Taiwan. The company says it seeks to create a new standard of care by creating the optimal environment for compliance, satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and long-term loyalty.

Brilliant Futures is coming to countries where MiSight 1 day has been previously available, such as the United Kingdom in October. The program will also be introduced this month in Spain and Portugal, which are current MiSight 1 day markets.

Likewise, the program is launching in countries concurrent with the first availability of MiSight 1 day. In Russia, this coincides with MiSight 1 day’s new approval as a therapeutic contact lens. The lens is newly approved in South Korea for slowing myopia progression, with the program launch commencing this month.

Brilliant Futures was unveiled in Taiwan in late September.

Norlase has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for Norlase LION, a green laser photocoagulator integrated into a Keeler indirect ophthalmoscope. Unlike other laser indirect ophthalmoscopes that require a fiber optic connection to a laser source, LION has no fiber tether, is powered by a battery, and utilizes a wireless interface with voice control of parameters.

Product features include:

• Green laser and laser indirect ophthalmoscope in one integrated device, eliminating the need for an external laser console.

• Untethered design with no fiber optic cables, reducing risk of fiber breakage and costly repair.

• Compact and portable design provides easy transport between treatment rooms or offices.

• Rechargeable battery provides more than a full day of continuous use.

• Parameter settings operable through an intuitive user interface on a wireless tablet, and

• Optional voice recognition, providing touchless parameter control during treatment.

LION is available and currently being sold in the United States. The company looks forward to expanding adoption of LION and its suite of smart laser solutions in the global retina market.

Related: US launches searchable contact lens database

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education or CORE has published issue number 56 of its free online education magazine, Contact Lens Update. The latest edition reviews topics on current and future uses of scleral contact lenses.

The issue is curated by Dr. Melissa Barnett, principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Eye Center and past president of the Scleral Lens Education Society.

Published 6 times per year, Contact Lens Update provides a global platform for unbiased clinical insights based in current research.

The publication receives support from the educational arms of Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

Related: Optometry Times® news summary 10/25/2020

Essilor of America shares that in the first 2 months of its Win Together With Essilor rewards program, the company has distributed $1.1 million worth of bonus points, allowing independent practices to choose their lens technologies. The program was activated on October 1, 2020, and supports independent eyecare professionals in prescribing Essilor’s progressive lenses, photochromics, and no-glare coatings that may be financially affected by managed vision care formulary changes.

With additional VSP formulary changes to take effect on January 1, 2021, Essilor encourages practitioners who are not yet signed up to enroll in Win Together with Essilor to continue to choose what is best for their patients.

To participate in Win Together with Essilor Bonus Rewards, practices must be enrolled in Essilor Experts, Essilor’s flagship partnership program, or the new Essilor Partners program, and be enrolled in Essilor Preferred Rewards. Practices fully enrolled on or before November 30, 2020, will earn bonus points for all eligible product sales from December 1, 2020, forward. Participants can cash in points for rebates, office equipment, Visa gift cards, and more.

Now, I talk with Dr. Bernard Gilly, CEO of GenSight Biologics, about the company’s forthcoming drug Lumevoq for the treatment of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy or LHON.

Click here to watch the associated news update video