Monthly Ophthalmic News Digest

1. Researchers Develop Novel Eye Drop That Reaches the Back of the Eye

After 30 years of dedicated work, two researchers have achieved a remarkable breakthrough by developing eye drops that can effectively reach the back of the eye. This groundbreaking development paves the way for needle-free treatments of blinding retinal diseases, such as?diabetic macular edema?(DME).

This breakthrough is made possible because the nanoparticle's structure resembles a doughnut, with water-soluble properties on the outside and lipophilic characteristics on the inside. By utilizing this innovative technology, the drug successfully reaches the back of the eye after the dissolution of the doughnut-shaped nanoparticle.

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2. Hubble Contacts Faces Lawsuit Over Vision Loss Claims

Stephanie Guarisco, a woman from New Mexico, has filed?a lawsuit?against Hubble Contacts, alleging that the company's contact lenses resulted in the "total loss" of her right eye. According to the lawsuit, Guarisco underwent a complete removal of her right eye and now uses a permanent prosthetic in her eye socket.

The suit further states that she continues to receive treatment for issues with her left eye. Guarisco's attorney, Josh Harris, expressed that his client has experienced immense pain throughout the process and hopes that the lawsuit will provide some form of compensation to help her navigate life under these circumstances.

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3. Bausch + Lomb to Acquire Novartis’ Eye Drugs for Up to $2.5 Billion

Bausch + Lomb has announced that it will acquire the dry eye drug Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% from Novartis. Xiidra is an eye drop without steroids that has received specific approval for treating the signs and symptoms of?dry eye disease?(DED), with a focus on inflammation related to dry eye.

In addition to the acquisition of Xiidra, Bausch + Lomb will also obtain libvatrep (also known as SAF312), an investigational compound currently under study for the treatment of chronic ocular surface pain. Furthermore, they will acquire AcuStream technology, an investigational device with the potential to enable precise dosing and accurate delivery of specific topical ophthalmic medications to the eye.

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4. Six Cases of Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis Reported After Apellis’ Syfovre Injection

After the initial approval of Apellis Pharmaceuticals'?geographic atrophy?drug?Syfovre (pegcetacoplan injection), six cases of retinal vasculitis have been reported. The ASRS Research and Safety in Therapeutics (ReST) Committee issued a notification disclosing these safety concerns to ASRS members, resulting in a significant decline in Apellis' shares on Monday, closing down approximately 38%.

According to the ASRS ReST Committee, physicians have reported cases of intraocular inflammation (IOI) following the administration of Syfovre. These reports includes cases of mild-moderate IOI, as well as severe IOI, retinal vasculitis, and occlusive retinal vasculitis.

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5. Contact Lens Brands with Forever Chemicals Revealed: Alcon, Acuvue, Coopervision

A recent report?from Mamavation has revealed that eighteen different types of soft contact lenses, including three major brands—Alcon, Acuvue, and Coopervision—contain detectable levels of organic fluorine, indicating the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals."

The reported range of organic fluorine levels in these lenses varied significantly, ranging from 105 to 20,700 parts per million (ppm). Notably, the popular brands Acuvue, Alcon, and Coopervision all exhibited indications of PFAS "forever chemicals," albeit at different levels.

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