The first successful cornea transplant with donor endothelial tissue preloaded by an eye bank was performed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston.

 

Dr. Roberto Pineda used endothelial tissue that was prepared and pre-loaded into EndoGlide™ cartridges from Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, at the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research in Tampa, Florida. According to Dr. Pineda, this technology may minimize potential damage to the endothelial cells and, thus, lead to better outcomes for the patient. 

 

In a pre-clinical study conducted in 2012, the pre-loaded corneal tissue sustained 9.07% endothelial cell damage, compared to 36.2% damage for the tissue that was loaded into the insertion system on site.

 

“Reducing any variables that could interfere with a patient’s ability to successfully regain sight after surgery is significant. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for our patients,” said Dr. Pineda.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130507195811.htm   

 

 

Next to cosmetic contact lenses, eyelash extensions cause ophthalmologists the most worry.

 

Do any of your clients use eyelash extensions? If they do, they are at risk of developing grave side effects. The American Acadamy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recently issued a warning about the risks, particularly the following:

• Infection of the cornea,
• Infection of the eyelid,
• Swelling of the eyelid, and
• Permanent or temporary loss of eyelashes.

 

Earlier in the year, an article published in Consumer Reports discussed such issues. It reported that several patients had experienced infections and allergic reactions to formaldehyde-based adhesives used in eyelash extensions.

 

The AAO also offered some advice, which eyecare professionals could pass on to any clients who use these products:

• Ensure that the aesthetician is certified and working at a reputable establishment.
• Check that the aesthetician practices adequate hand washing and proper hygiene.
• Check the eyelash adhesive ingredients before use.

 

This advice could prevent some of your patients from taking the old adage to the extreme: “No pain, no gain!”

Source: http://www.aao.org/newsroom/release/20130508b.cfm

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/05/eyelash-extensions-can-pose-health-risks/index.htm

 

The Quebec pharmaceutical Valeant has acquired Bausch + Lomb, the global leader in eye health, for $8.7 billion.

 

Half of the payment will go directly to the investor group led by Warburg Pincus, which bought B + L in 2007 for $4.5 billion, while the other half will be used to repay B + L’s outstanding debt. To finance the acquisition, Valeant will issue $2 billion in new equity and borrow the rest.

 

Valeant will integrate its ophthalmology businesses into the new division, which will retain the name Bausch + Lomb. The pharmaceutical company expects to achieve $800 million in cost savings by 2014. B + L distributes such products as Vision Care, ONEday, PureVision, along with the Besivance, Lotemax, and Ocuvite treatments.

 

There have been rumours for months that Bausch + Lomb was being sold, but when it came time to discuss potential buyers, names like Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson, and Sanofi, even Merck & Co and Pfizer, were frontrunners, as ClipInfo.ca reported on January 8, 2013. More recently, in February, Warburg Pincus was considering the initial public offering route to unload B + L, saying it was disappointed in the bids it had received.

 

Source: http://ir.valeant.com/investor-relations/news-releases/news-release-details/2013/Valeant-Pharmaceuticals-International-Inc-To-Acquire-Bausch–Lomb-For-87-Billion/default.aspx

Novartis, a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company, recently released new data to support the effectiveness and safety of its flagship ophthalmological drug, Lucentis.

 

At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting, recently held in Vienna, Austria, Novartis presented the results from the REPAIR study, conducted over a year on British patients. They show that with an average of 9.7 injections of Lucentis over a five-year period, blindness attributable to AMD could be reduced by 59%.

 

The study also found that visual acuity improved in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization, with an average of 3.6 injections.

 

Moreover, data from 22 studies support the evidence that the drug is safe, which still needs to be confirmed by a five-year, global study involving 30,000 patients.

 

In 2012, Novartis achieved net sales of $2.4 billion with Lucentis, and Roche, which distributes it in the United States, recorded earnings of $1.56 billion.

Source: http://www.bilan.ch/awp/novartis-presente-de-nouvelles-donnees-sur-lefficacite-du-lucentis-7

Essilor has signed a licensing agreement with Safilo for the design, manufacture, and worldwide distribution by Essilor of polarized ophthalmic lenses under the Polaroid brand.

 

The 10-year agreement between the French and Italian optics giants has Essilor CEO Hubert Sagnières enthusiastic. “The strength of the Polaroid brand is a key lever in drawing people’s attention on the importance of protecting their eyes from the sun and in growing the polarized category within the mainstream consumer segment. This new collaboration will allow us to bring together Essilor’s strong know-how and leadership in ophthalmic lenses with Polaroid’s strong recognition on polarization,” said Sagnières.

 

According to Essilor, the market for polarized lenses only represents 20% of the total sun market in the world today.

 

Roberto Vedovotto, CEO of Safilo, considers the project “an extraordinary opportunity for Polaroid not only to confirm its credibility and worthiness as a reference brand for the protection and improvement of eyesight, but also to extend its application to eyesight correction.”

Sources: http://www.essilor.com/en/Press/News/Documents/2013/Essilor_Safilo_licencing_agreement_polaroid_EN.pdf

http://www.safilo.com/en/PR_2013-05-21_safilo-announces-a-licensing-agreement-with-essilor-for-polaroid-branded-polarized-ophthalmic-lenses