Content about Ophthalmology

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. — Visine is looking to help consumers that experience eye irritation and redness during the summer months.

Designed for use by those ages 6 years and older, new Visine Summer Spectrum Relief is designed to treat symptoms and protect eyes from further irritation by helping to supplement the natural tear film.

Visine Summer Spectrum Relief exclusively is available at CVS/pharmacy in the sun care aisle for $3.99 for a 0.5-fl.-oz. bottle.

NEW YORK — Patients diagnosed with high blood-glucose levels that cannot control the condition over time likely will develop such eye-related complications as retinopathy 10 years later, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted an approval application from Merck for a drug to treat eye diseases, Merck said Wednesday.

Merck is seeking approval for Saflutan (tafluprost) ophthalmic solution, an investigational drug for relieving eye pressure in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche, reported that its eye drug helped improve vision in patients suffering from a complication caused by diabetes.

In its phase-3 RISE study, Genentech said diabetic macular edema patients that received monthly Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) achieved an improvement in vision at 24 months, compared with placebo.

WOBURN, Mass. — Advanced Vision Research on Monday announced results from a pilot trial published in the journal Cornea that demonstrated a reduction in dry-eye symptoms and an increase in tear volume and tear flow for those patients taking TheraTears Nutrition, an optimized blend of omega-3 oils.

Almost 3-in-4 symptomatic dry-eye patients who received the omega-3 supplement reported having no symptoms of dry eye after 90 days. In the placebo group, only 7% had a complete reduction of symptoms.

HUENENBERG, Switzerland Alcon on Monday announced the launch of Systane Balance lubricant eye drops, formulated with HP Guar, borate, sorbitol, propylene glycol and Alcon’s exclusive LipiTech System -- an emulsion technology of mineral oil and an anionic phospholipid. The new eye drop is designed to restore the lipid layer and the natural tear film to allow for relief of dry-eye symptoms.

IRVINE, Calif. Allergan's optimized reformulation of Lumigan has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Lumigan 0.01% (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) is a first-line therapy indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, Allergan said. Lumigan 0.01% will be available in fourth quarter 2010 as the newest addition to Allergan’s comprehensive glaucoma portfolio.

WASHINGTON The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease caused by diabetes, has increased among diabetic adults in the United States, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. Visine has developed a new eye-drop formula that relieves eye redness and irritation.

New Visine maximum redness relief formula uses a special Hydroblend formula to soothe irritation and provide up to ten hours of comfort, Visine said. In line with the product launch, Visine has developed a free app for iPhone and iPod Touch -- the Visine red eye remover application -- that eliminates red eye from consumers' photos in moments.

NEW YORK Computerized systems may be able to detect early eye problems related to diabetes, according to a University of Iowa analysis.