OMDI as an Alternative to Prostaglandin Analogues in Low or Nonresponders

Joseph F. Panarelli, MD; and Neda Shamie, MD

Eyetube

Joseph F. Panarelli, MD, sits down with Neda Shamie, MD, to discuss a phase 3, nonrandomized, two-phase, open-label, multicenter study that evaluated the IOP-lowering efficacy and safety of omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who did not respond or responded poorly to latanoprost. What were the results? To access the full review, please visit the link here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37853676/

The Promise of Drug-Eluting Contact Lenses

The future looks bright for this technology.

Alex Hynes, OD, FAAO

Modern Optometry

Although not yet commercially available in the United States, and with many prototypes still in preclinical study stages, drug-eluting contact lenses may pave the way for a new era of eye care. This article offers a brief overview of the technology and what lenses are in the pipeline. LENS PROS AND CONS As with all things in life, there are pros and cons to drug-eluting contact lenses. Let’s start with the less positive aspects of this treatment modality. Drawbacks Disadvantages to drug-eluting contact lenses include risk of corneal toxicity with long-term wear and discontinuation of wear due to lens discomfort. There are also fears that unhygienic lens handling may lead to infection.1 Issues remain with lens preparation and storage; for example, the fast and simple soaking method of drug loading is limited by poor sustained medication release. Encouragingly, however, several lenses loaded via more complex methodologies allowing more gradual medication release recently moved into clinical studies.2-5 Given the inherent limitations associated with other methods of ocular drug delivery, the potential of drug-eluting lenses is likely not over-exaggerated.5 Advantages Drug-eluting contact lenses may improve patient compliance compared with topical medication use, which is often limited by forgetfulness and poor hand-eye coordination. In a prospective study of patients with glaucoma, 29% could not administer drops into their eyes.6 Reduced drop instillation ability may result in under- or overdosing, which can lead to side effects or treatment inefficacies if patients don’t follow the correct dispensing interval or quantity.7 Contact lenses may also increase treatment efficacy by enhancing drug bioavailability. The medication is eluted into a post-lens tear layer that is partially shielded from blink-induced tear film turnover. This allows longer residence time on the ocular surface.

How Digital Health Helps Differentiate Your Optometric Practice

Understand what digital health is and learn how it can distinguish your clinic now and in the future.

Timothy Earley, OD

Modern Optometry

Some optometrists struggle to differentiate their practices from those of their colleagues, and some patients assume that all optometric practices are similar. These patients don’t realize that so many of us have special interests in different areas, such as managing the effects of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), comanaging patients with glaucoma, or treating ocular surface disease. Those of us in medically oriented optometry must therefore distinguish ourselves from nonspecialty eye care. But major capital investments can be daunting, and even if investments were an option, it may be difficult to discern which routes will yield the highest return. This is where expansion of digital health presents a solution to optometrists, as doctors can differentiate their clinic, increase the quality of care offered to patients, avoid steep start-up costs, and create new revenue streams. Before we dive into which specific platforms may be useful to clinicians seeking to expand their digital health offerings, we will first review what digital health is and why it may be attractive to those seeking to grow their clinic’s reach. WHAT IS DIGITAL HEALTH? Digital health is not the mere use of digital tools in a clinical setting. Rather, it is a framework for conceptualizing and executing a practice plan that leverages emerging technologies to provide patients with convenient, high-quality care, thereby empowering a clinician to deliver care irrespective of their physical proximity to the patient. In short, properly implemented digital health increases the quality of patient care without requiring more clinician hours.