Leading Off
TIPS, TRENDS & NEWS YOU CAN USE
Lash Length Plays Role in Ocular Surface Health
If one’s eyelash length is shorter or longer than one third of the width of his or her eye, they increase airflow to the surface, increasing the risk for ocular dryness, says a study in February’s Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
Specifically, the study’s researchers measured the eyes and eyelashes of an array of mammals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and discovered that 22 species had the same lash length to eye width ratio. (The researchers speculated from the scientific literature that human eyelashes fall within the aforementioned range.)
Next, they built a fake human eye (a 4mm deep, 20mm diameter aluminum dish mimicked the cornea, which rested on an acrylic plate used as the face) complete with mesh eyelashes and a wind tunnel, which they aimed at the fake eye. While changing the length of the mesh during studies on particle deposition and evaporation, the researchers made their discovery.
Of note: People who can’t grow eyelashes could reduce their likelihood of ocular dryness by wearing fake lashes that are the right length, the researchers say.
So, could a therapy such as bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03% (Latisse, Allergan), a drug used to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, be used to prevent ocular dryness?
While there is no research available to answer the question, if the drug could control the growth of the length of eyelashes to one third the width of the eye, “it could definitely help,” suggests Guillermo J. Amador, lead author of the study and a Ph.D. candidate at Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. In addition, the drug helps to thicken lashes, “and thicker lashes reduce evaporation and contamination,” says Mr. Amador.
An Allergan spokesperson declined comment on the possibility of the drug as a dry eye therapy, citing that Latisse is approved by the FDA only as a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis (inadequate or not enough lashes) to grow eyelashes longer, fuller and darker.
Business Intelligence
■ I believe you don’t have any competitors … because your own doubts, your own disbelief in your abilities will trump you and crush you far more than any external aspect or company or person. - Sean Stephenson, “Escape Velocity” podcast, episode 9, Feb. 5, 2015
■ Ultimate victory lies not in winning tactical battles but in winning the war: Not an empty inbox, but an inbox emptied of all important messages. Not a completed to-do list, but a list with all truly important items scratched off. Not the absence of a line at our door, but a line with no truly important people remaining in it. - Ed Batista, “The Most Productive People Know Who to Ignore,” HBR.org
■ Every committee or organization has at least one well-meaning person who is pushing to make things more average … This is the record producer who wants the new song to sound a whole lot like the last song … Yes, it’s true that the remarkable, edgy stuff we wanted to make wasn’t going to be embraced by everyone. But everyone is rarely the point any more. - Seth Godin, “The Ones Who Make Things Worse,” sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/
Three-minute abdominal breathing increases the tear meniscus volume in healthy women, making it a possible dry eye disease treatment, reveals January’s The Ocular Surface.
Combination Injectables on Their Way for Retinal Disease?
Jerry Helzner, contributing editor
Combination anti-VEGF and anti-PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor) drug combinations may be the next generation of drugs to help those who have retinal disease, such as AMD, reveals several companies. The concept behind the anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF combination is that the anti-PDGF strips the pericytes that act as guards for the VEGF, thus making it easier for the anti-VEGF agent to attack the VEGF and eliminate it.
Here’s a look at the companies pursuing the combination injectable route:
• Allegro Ophthalmics. Its Integrin Peptide Luminate plus anti-VEGF for wet AMD and DME is in combination trials.
• Allergan. The company is working on its own anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF DARPin combination.
• Genentech. The company is seeking to combine Lucentis with a variety of more “customized” agents, which could mean different drug combinations for different subsets of patients who display specific biomarkers. The company’s MAHALO study for dry AMD genotyped all the patients in the trial and found responses that varied among subsets. Some were very positive for efficacy.
• Ophthotech. A pilot study on its combination drug Fovista reveals that 27 wet AMD anti-VEGF-resistant patients showed significant vision improvement on average when receiving the drug. Phase III trials are currently underway.
• Regeneron. The company has gathered enough data to push its anti-VEGF/anti-PDGF combination into a large Phase II trial.
Finally, Alcon has a wet AMD drug (RTH258) entering Phase III trials. So far, it’s in monotherapy trials but may have potential in combination form.
Survey Sheds Light on Gap in Eye Care
The findings of the 2015 annual Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey, supported by Transitions Optical, Inc., reveal an excellent opportunity for eye doctors to actively ask their patients about vision problems at work, while letting them know lens options exist to improve their work vision.
Specifically, 56% of respondents reported vision disturbances associated with lighting — the top vision complaint. Breaking this down, 23% cited outdoor light, 20% blamed a combination of outdoor and indoor light, and 13% cited indoor light (light reflected from a computer screen, personal device or other surface) as problematic when trying to work. Other complaints were tired eyes (40%), dry eyes (31%), headaches (27%) and blurry vision (21%).
Overall, parents, respondents between ages 18 to 44, and those who work outside or a combination of outside and inside were more likely to report that vision problems were to blame for a decrease in the quality of their work. In addition, they were more likely to blame light, and Hispanic Americans were more likely to say this vs. non-Hispanic Americans. Further, less than one-third of respondents reported discussing light-related vision issues with their eye doctor.
The Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey was conducted online in November 2014 among 1,000 employed American adults whose employer offers vision benefits.
O.D. Notebook
Associations:
■ The AOA released a press release that it disagrees with a Conference Board report that O.D.s will be in short supply through the next decade. The AOA’s Workforce Study reveals an adequate supply of O.D.s.
■ The AOA Foundation’s Optometry Cares invites nominations for the Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE award at www.aoa.org/sullins by April 30, 2015. Such individuals must go “above and beyond” to serve their young patients. The winning O.D. receives the award at Optometry’s Meeting, June 24 to June 28 in Seattle. In related news, fourth-year optometry students are invited to apply for the Dr. Pat & Patrick Cummings $5,000 Scholarship. Visit www.aoafoundation.org.
■ The joint Global Scientific Meeting on Myopia, overseen by the World Health Organization and the Brien Holden Vision Institute, reveals that 5 billion people will have myopia in 2050, with almost a billion having high myopia. Visit www.brienholdenvision.org for further information on the Meeting.
■ In partnership with the National Optometric Association (NOSA), The Vision Council will award a $1,000 scholarship to one OD candidate at each optometry school who maintains a 2.5 GPA or higher, will graduate in 2016, has an interest in working with underserved populations, has financial need, participates in optometric community service and is part of the school’s NOSA chapter.
■ The New England Optometric Conference, which offers CE for O.D.s, opticians, techs and staff, will take place June 6 and 7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashua, N.H. and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, R.I., respectively. For information, visit www.NEOC2015.com.
■ The Optometric Society released the brochure, “Eye Before See,” which emphasizes the importance an eye health exam and not just a refraction. Request brochure copies at www.theoptometricsociety.org.
■ Prevent Blindness’ Focus on Eye Health National Summit, which will be held June 17 in Washington, D.C., at the National Press Club, is now open for online registration. Visit preventblindness.org/eyesummit.
■ The Vision Council has appointed R. Michael (Mike) Daley as its CEO as of this month. Mr. Daley retired as president and COO of Essilor’s Lens Division in 2008 and has since held board member and leadership positions with an array of optical organizations, such as Prevent Blindness.
Company News:
■ ABB Optical Group has named Aaron See vice president of marketing. Mr. See was vice president of marketing at Johnson & Johnson’s Vision Care division in Japan.
■ Alcon is donating $50,000 to Essilor Vision Foundation’s Kids Vision for Life, which focuses on eliminating poor vision as a hurdle to learning in children, after getting 50,000 “likes” on its eyeSOLUTION Facebook page.
■ Alden Optical announced that Mika Hague, FCLSA, NCLE-ADV, has joined the company as a product specialist. Ms. Hague will consult on complex specialty fittings.
■ In the Allergan-sponsored 2014 M3 Global Research Survey of Glaucoma Specialists, three in four glaucoma specialists ranked efficacy, tolerability, safety and managed care coverage as the most important when prescribing adjunctive therapy. Visit bit.ly/M3survey for additional information.
■ CareCredit and VSP Vision Care announced a partnership together to educate VSP members and CareCredit’s cardholders about options for managing eyecare expenses for a range of lifestyle choices. They will also work to connect members and cardholders with providers who accept CareCredit in the VSP doctor network.
■ Essilor of America, through Optometry Cares — the AOA Foundation, is sponsoring the Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship, which provides $10,000 to a third-year optometry school student. For more information, visit bit.ly/BMscholarship.
■ CooperVision’s WebSystem3 announced that its LensFerry contact lens mobile ordering system, which includes contact lenses from all manufacturers, is now available to select optometry practices in New York and California. WebSystem3 plans to introduce the service to additional practices and geographic markets through the coming months. For more information, visit LensFerry.com.
■ Nikon strengthened its presence in the medical sector with the announcement that it agreed to purchase retinal imaging company Optos for $400 million. Optos is the market leader in retinal imaging systems with a 30% share of sales, according to Reuters.com
■ OASIS Medical has introduced a 10mL multi-use bottle of its preservative-free lubricant eye drop, Oasis Tears PF. While most preservative-free drops are packaged in small one-time-use vials, Tears PF is packaged in a multi-use bottle that prevents contamination through a patented closing tip, valve and air venting system.
■ Odwire.org launched CEwire2015, a virtual CE conference and exhibit hall, May 16 and 17, that includes 30+ COPE CE credits. Profits from the event will go to the American Optometric Foundation, Lighthouse Guild International and Prevent Blindness. The courses will be available for CE credit online through the subsequent 90 days. To register, visit http://www.vconferenceonline.com/event/home.aspx?id=1147.
■ Primary Eyecare Network (PEN), a division of ABB OPTICAL GROUP, announced a new monthly webinar series focused on compliance issues. In partnership with consulting company CS Eye, the series is free to PEN members or $15 for nonmembers.
■ Vision Source has named Bausch + Lomb an elite vendor in therapeutics and contact lens products, enabling the organization to receive member pricing discounts and rebate programs on Ocuvite and PreserVision supplements, Soothe and Alaway eye drops, ELASTIderm products, ULTRA, Biotrue, ONEday and PureVision contact lenses and Biotrue, renu, Boston and PeroxiClear solutions. Vision Source will endorse these products.
■ The Williams Group, a practice management, consulting and EHR firm, named Gilan Cockrell, O.D., F.A.A.O., executive vice-president of corporate strategy, CEO and Brad Rourke, CPA, former CEO, CFO.
■ The D-EYE Portable Retinal Imaging System, distributed by Wilson Ophthalmic, is a phone case-sized add-on that turns an iPhone or Android smartphone into a fundus camera that can take high-definition video and still images of the eye for screening and evaluation.
■ Zeiss released the Humphrey Field Analyzer 3, which is equal to and interchangeable with test results from prior Humphrey perimeters. It includes automated trial lens correction and RelEYE, which lets docs instantly assess eye position at any stimulus point. Visit www.zeiss.com/hfa3.
FDA News:
■ Aflibercept injection (Eylea, Regeneron) is now FDA approved to treat diabetic retinopathy in patients who have diabetic macular edema.
■ Shire submitted a New Drug Application for lifitegrast, a small molecule integrin inhibitor, for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adults.
International:
■ Mexico’s president modified the country’s Health Act to add optometry to the list of health professions that require a college degree to practice.
Schools:
■ Satya B. Verma, O.D., of Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry, began his two-year term as president of the National Academies of Practice (NAP). He is the second O.D. to become the president of this organization, which represents 14 healthcare professions.
CORRECTION:
In “Technology,” page 50 of the February 2015 issue, the code for Plaquenil was incorrect. It is actually V58.69. The editorial staff of Optometric Management apologizes for the error.
![]({"src":"/media/b3hoxtvb/42015.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})