Real-World Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Intracameral Bimatoprost Implant in a Clinical Setting in the United States.

Purpose: A sustained-release, biodegradable, intracameral 10-µg bimatoprost implant (Durysta) is approved for single administration per eye to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the IOP-lowering effectiveness and safety of a single implant administration per eye in patients with OAG or OHT in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-site study involving 105 consecutive adult patients with OAG or OHT treated with the bimatoprost implant in 1 or both eyes in routine clinical practice. Available medical records of the patients for 12 months or longer after the initial implant administration were reviewed, and data including IOP, IOP-lowering medication and procedure use, and safety outcomes were collected and analyzed. The analysis used ranges of follow-up because of the real-world setting. Results: The study included 197 eyes (85.3% diagnosed with OAG, 94.9% pseudophakic, and 83.8% with angle grade 4). IOP reduction was observed through 1 year after the bimatoprost implant administration. Mean IOP was 16.6 mmHg at baseline and 13.3 mmHg at 11-13 months, with the mean number of topical IOP-lowering medications used reduced from 1.4 at baseline to 0.2 at 11-13 months. IOP and IOP-lowering medication use were similarly reduced in eyes treated with both selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and bimatoprost implant (including 66 eyes with their last SLT before implant administration and 28 eyes with their last SLT after implant administration). There were no cases of treatment-emergent corneal edema after bimatoprost implant administration, and no eye required implant removal. Conclusion: A single bimatoprost implant administration safely and effectively reduced IOP for up to 1 year and decreased the need for topical IOP-lowering medications in eyes with OAG or OHT with or without previous or subsequent SLT.

One Year of Netarsudil and Latanoprost Fixed-Dose Combination for Elevated Intraocular Pressure: Phase 3, Randomized MERCURY-1 Study.

PURPOSE: A phase 3 trial (MERCURY-1) investigated efficacy and safety of a once-daily, fixed-dose combination (FDC) of netarsudil and latanoprost, compared with each active component, in reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT). A planned 3-month analysis demonstrated the superiority of netarsudil/latanoprost FDC over its individual active components at every assessment. Herein, the 12-month efficacy and safety of netarsudil/latanoprost FDC are reported. DESIGN: Double-masked, randomized, active-controlled, parallel-group trial. PARTICIPANTS: Patients had unmedicated IOP >20 to <36 mmHg in both eyes at 8:00 am and met other standard criteria for OAG or OHT. METHODS: Randomization to once-daily netarsudil 0.02%/latanoprost 0.005% FDC (n = 238), netarsudil 0.02% only (n = 243), or latanoprost 0.005% only (n = 237). Patients instilled study drug into each eye between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: IOP was obtained at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 4:00 pm on day 1 (baseline); at weeks 2 and 6; and at months 3, 6, 9, and 12. Ocular and systemic safety were evaluated up to month 12. RESULTS: Netarsudil/latanoprost FDC maintained statistically superior IOP lowering compared to its components at every assessment for 12 months. Least squares mean diurnal IOP (± standard error) at month 12 was 16.2 ± 0.23 mmHg for netarsudil/latanoprost FDC, 17.9 ± 0.20 mmHg for netarsudil, and 17.6 ± 0.18 mmHg for latanoprost (P < 0.05 for netarsudil/latanoprost FDC versus each comparator). The safety profile of netarsudil/latanoprost FDC was consistent with its individual components. The proportion of patients who experienced at least 1 adverse event (AE) was 82.8% (197/238) in the netarsudil/latanoprost FDC group, 78.2% (190/243) in the netarsudil group, and 54.0% (128/237) in the latanoprost group. The most common AE was conjunctival hyperemia, mostly of mild severity, with an incidence of 63.0% in the netarsudil/latanoprost FDC treatment group compared with 51.4% in the netarsudil group and 21.9% in the latanoprost group. CONCLUSIONS: Results at 12 months revealed superior efficacy for netarsudil/latanoprost FDC compared with the individual components, netarsudil and latanoprost, at every time point assessed and an ocular tolerability profile similar to that of netarsudil alone.

Subconjunctival latex paint from occupational injury.

BACKGROUND: Accidental eye trauma with spray guns are rare, but potentially very serious, injuries. Although it is agreed that these injuries require immediate and vigorous therapy, the specifics of such therapy are poorly defined. With latex paint sprayer injuries to hands and extremities, resulting chemical-induced inflammation, high-pressure necrosis, ischemic necrosis, and gangrene require surgical debridement and possibly, amputation. With eye injuries, treatment is directed at preservation of vision, as there is a potential risk of visual loss. OBJECTIVE: There is currently no consensus on optimal treatment of ocular spray paint injuries. Here we propose a management approach to ocular spray paint injuries with a successful outcome in the case reported. CASE REPORT: We report the first case, to our knowledge, of an industrial airless spray gun injury that resulted in subconjunctival deposition of latex paint in a soft contact lens wearer. Vision was preserved with medical management consisting of irrigation and topical corticosteroids, antibiotics and cycloplegics. CONCLUSION: Although latex paint spray gun injuries to the eye are not encountered frequently in practice, this case shows that conservative medical management with no surgical intervention is effective for ocular injuries with preserved vision.

Evaluation of tensile strength of tissue adhesives and sutures for clear corneal incisions using porcine and bovine eyes, with a novel standardized testing platform.

BACKGROUND: Tissue adhesives for ophthalmologic applications were proposed almost 50 years ago, yet to date no adequate tissue glues have been identified that combine strong sealing properties with adequate safety and absence of postsurgical side effects. In recent years, cataract surgeries and Descemet's stripping with endothelial keratoplasty procedures have significantly increased the number of clear corneal incisions performed. One of the obstacles to discovery and development of novel tissue adhesives has been the result of nonstandardized testing of potential tissue glues. METHODS: We developed an instrument capable of controlling intraocular pressure in explanted porcine and bovine eyes in order to evaluate sealants, adhesives, and surgical closure methods used in ophthalmic surgery in a controlled, repeatable, and validated fashion. We herein developed and validated our instrument by testing the adhesive properties of cyanoacrylate glue in both porcine and bovine explant eyes. RESULTS: The instrument applied and maintained intraocular pressure through a broad range of physiological intraocular pressures. Cyanoacrylate-based glues showed significantly enhanced sealing properties of clear corneal incisions compared with sutured wounds. CONCLUSION: This study shows the feasibility of our instrument for reliable and standardized testing of tissue adhesive for ophthalmological surgery.

Nonblinding, penetrating orbital injury with pontine and cerebellar involvement secondary to antenna trauma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Traumatic pontine and cerebellar damage originating from ocular injury has been documented in the past; however, no report has been made about an orbital trauma causing injury to the pons and cerebellum with associated neurological symptoms while leaving the globe, visual pathway, and ocular controls intact. METHODS: Chart review of a single case of a traumatic antenna injury. RESULTS: A traumatic antenna injury that penetrated the orbit and injured the pons and cerebellum without involving the visual pathway and its controls. CONCLUSIONS: Pontine and cerebellar injury can occur from trauma that originated in the orbit and traveled posteriorly through the cranium without causing any overt damage to ocular structures but still causing other associated neurological problems.

Perforating globe injury from Taser trauma.

We report a case of a blinding, perforating globe injury from Taser trauma. There have been other instances involving similar circumstances, but this traumatic event resulted in the loss of all meaningful vision and eventual enucleation. Despite meticulous planning and intervention, however, Taser trauma can result in devastating ocular injury.