Month: August 2014

A new digital ophthalmoscope, devised by a research team led by the University of Warwick, can provide both doctors and high street optometrists with a hand-held eye disease diagnosis device equal to the power of bulky hospital-based eye diagnosis cameras. It will also give optometrists the ability to email detailed eye maps of patients to specialist eye doctors.

Ophthalmoscopes, which act as an illuminated microscope for the eye, have changed little in design in the last century. As a result the effective operation of the device is constrained by the skill, expertise and eyesight of the eye specialist.

The new digital ophthalmoscope (developed from a three-year research partnership bringing together the University of Warwick, ophthalmoscope manufacturer Keeler Optics, City University, & UCL) uses a combination of specialist lens digital imaging and lighting technology which for the first time allows a high quality digital image to be captured and recorded by an ophthalmoscope.

University of Warwick research Professor Peter Bryanston-Cross has also been able to apply software used to stitch together detailed map images to assemble the captured images from the digital ophthalmoscope. This produces a highly detailed single picture of medical significance and usefulness. It provides a map of the eye equal to the field of view and resolution of the large “Fundus” cameras typically used in hospital settings to examine eyes. The new digital ophthalmoscope would also be around 10 times cheaper than a Fundus camera.

This technology will be a powerful tool in the hands of specialist eye doctors, but it will also revolutionize eye care on the high street. Previously high street opticians have had to rely on notes and hand drawn sketches when referring customers to eye clinics. This new technology will allow them to create and email detailed eye images to hospital specialists cutting patient referral and diagnosis times and massively easing the burden on expensive and overstretched hospital eye equipment.

Warwick Hospital consultant eye surgeon Gary Misson has been working with Professor Peter Bryanston-Cross’s digital ophthalmoscope research digital programme for several years. He says:

“This is an exciting development as it makes an instrument that is traditionally difficult to use much easier to handle and therefore available for use to a wider range of health care workers. It will allow digital images of disease such as the potentially blinding complications of diabetes and glaucoma to be accurately and quickly sent to specialists who will then be able to arrange appropriate treatment. I foresee a relatively inexpensive instrument that is about the size of a mobile phone in common use in the near future.”

Contact: Peter Dunn

University of Warwick

U.S. researchers have taken the first steps in treating an eye disease that causes irreversible blindness in humans by successfully testing two novel treatments in mice.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is characterized by severe loss of vision at birth, but its causes are not fully understood. Researchers believe that the disease might be due to abnormal development of photoreceptor cells in the retina, extremely premature degeneration of these cells, or when the cells lack essential metabolic ingredients necessary for vision. In a subset of these diseases, it is known that the retina stops functioning due to loss of the lecithin retinol acyl-transferase enzyme (LRAT). LRAT is required for regeneration of a pigment necessary for the eye to detect light.

LCA can be caused by mutations in the gene encoding RPE65, a key protein involved in the production and recycling of 11-cis-retinal in the eye. Currently, there is no treatment for LCA, although previous studies in mice have successfully tested the injection of a virus carrying the normal gene for RPE65, and, separately, oral administration of a vitamin A-like compound.

In this month’s open access journal PLoS Medicine, a team led by Krzysztof Palczewski from Case Western University (previously University of Washington) examined the effect of combining the two treatments in blind mice that didn’t have the LRAT enzyme. They found that these treatments “provide highly effective and complementary means for restoring retinal function in this animal model of human hereditary blindness.”

They noted that the oral treatment was easier to administer compared with injecting the gene therapy directly into the eye, but a disadvantage of the oral treatment was a potential for long-term systemic toxicity compared with the gene therapy. However, toxicological data gathered in this and previous studies have suggested no long term ill effects in mice.

It is possible that each treatment might eventually prove to be more suitable for a specific age group of patients, and therefore, combining the therapies might offer more effective treatment for a wider age range of patients, suggest the authors.

The team hopes that if the treatments are used together, treatment with oral retinoids could begin in infancy to avoid early sight loss and the difficulties associated with surgery in very young patients. And when patients are older, long-lasting drug-free treatment could be done by surgically introducing gene therapy. This study marks the first step in finding out whether these treatments will work effectively and safely in humans.

Citation: Batten ML, Imanishi Y, Tu DC, Doan T, Zhu L, et al (2005) Pharmacological and rAAV genetherapy rescue of visual functions in a blind mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis. PLoS Med 2(11):e333.

dx.doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020333

All works published in PLoS Medicine are open access. Everything is immediately available-to read, download, redistribute, include in databases, and otherwise use- without cost to anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original authorship is properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.

About PLoS Medicine

PLoS Medicine is an open access, freely available international medical journal. It publishes original research that enhances our understanding of human health and disease, together with commentary and analysis of important global health issues. For more information, visit plosmedicine

SOURCE: plosmedicine

A new study released shows that eye exams are often the first to detect chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. The study, conducted by Human Capital Management Services Group (HCMS), a national human capital consulting firm, found that eye doctors detected signs of certain chronic conditions before any other healthcare provider recorded the condition 65 percent of the time for high cholesterol, 20 percent of the time for diabetes, and 30 percent of the time for hypertension.

“With the national healthcare system focused on prevention and early detection, annual eye exams play a critical role in detecting signs of chronic diseases even at the beginning stages as eye doctors have the only unobstructed, non-invasive view of blood vessels,” said Susan Egbert, director of eye health management, VSP Vision Care, the nation’s largest eyecare provider who commissioned the study. “Additionally, individuals who have a VSP vision plan are three times more likely to get an annual eye exam than a routine, preventive physical, making it a critical component of overall health and wellness.”

When the study was applied to VSP’s entire membership of 56 million, the following received early treatment for chronic diseases as a result of their eye exam:

— 65 percent of the 2.2 million members with high cholesterol (1.5 million), resulting in two-year savings of $1.7 billion

— 20 percent of 1.5 million members with diabetes (296,800), resulting in two-year savings of $827 million

— 30 percent of 2.2 million members with hypertension (667,800), resulting in two-year savings of $2 billion

The HCMS study further revealed that employers offering vision benefits experienced 7 percent less absenteeism, 4 percent less employee turnover and savings on insurance and workers’ compensation costs. Early detection of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension also increased the likelihood employees would be proactive with their healthcare and more likely to see a medical doctor to receive follow-up care.

The study also concluded that eyecare benefits saved VSP’s 38,000 clients for profits, not-for-profits and government organizations $4.5 billion through the early detection of chronic diseases via an eye exam. For every $1 invested in VSP exam services which include comprehensive, annual eye exams during an employee’s first year with the benefit, employers average a two-year total return of $1.27 in long-term healthcare savings. These savings are a result of avoided medical costs and increased employee productivity.

VSP Vision Care is the only vision plan to facilitate nationwide, HIPAA-compliant data collection and exchange through the VSP Eye Health Management Program® resulting in these cost savings and health benefits.

About the study

Human Capital Management Services Group (HCMS), a national health care and workplace productivity consulting firm, matched medical condition data for over 200,000 members covered by VSP Vision Care, spanning two years to medical and pharmacy data obtained from the clients’ medical and drug carriers. HCMS compared chronic patients who were first identified by VSP Vision Care against those who entered the health care system via traditional means. The study included six large commercial clients with a total of 212,000 members.

With a research reference database of more than 2.2 million employees and their families who are actively enrolled in a health plan, HCMS maintains a comprehensive data catalogue containing medical and prescription costs, absenteeism, disability, workers’ compensation, and productivity costs. The study identified more than 9,000 VSP members who were first identified with early signs of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol by a VSP doctor.

Source: VSP Vision Care

You expected vision changes with age, but you hadn’t anticipated vision problems because of drooping eyelids.

Aging or drooping eyelids are common with aging. The skin around your eyes is naturally thin and delicate. Over time, the eyelids typically stretch, the muscles weaken and fat tends to gather over and under the eyes. The result is sagging eyelids that can affect vision and produce a tired appearance — no matter how much you rest.

The condition can be treated. Blepharoplasty (BLEF-uh-ro-plas-tee) is a surgery that may be done to improve your ability to see without obstruction and your appearance. Insurers usually pay for the surgery if drooping eyelids are interfering with vision.

For a drooping upper eyelid, an incision is typically made along its natural crease. Excess skin and fat may be removed through the incision. The incision is closed using a technique that hides the stitches to the extent possible. In lower eyelid surgery, the incision is made just below the lashes in the skin’s natural crease.

Blepharoplasty generally takes one to three hours and is usually done on an outpatient basis. Whether you undergo surgery to improve vision or appearance, eyelid drooping can recur over time.

For more information about Mayo Clinic Health Letter, visit HealthLetter.MayoClinic.

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The ability to tactually recognize fine spatial details, such as the raised dots used in braille, is especially important to those who are blind. With that in mind, a team of researchers has identified the neural circuitry that facilitates spatial discrimination through touch. Understanding this circuitry may lead to the creation of sensory-substitution devices, such as tactile maps for the visually impaired.

The findings appear in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The research team, led by Krish Sathian, MD, PhD, professor of neurology in Emory University School of Medicine, included first author Randall Stilla, research MRI technologist at Emory, and Gopikrishna Deshpande, Stephen Laconte and Xiaoping Hu of the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers found heightened neural activity in a network of frontoparietal regions of the brain when people engaged in fine tactile spatial discrimination. Within this network, the levels of activity in two subregions of the right posteromedial parietal cortex–the right posterior intraparietal sulcus (pIPS) and the right precuneus–were predictive of individual participants’ tactile sensitivities.

To determine which areas of the brain were involved in identifying fine spatial details, the researchers asked 22 volunteers to determine only by touch whether the central dot of three vertically arranged dots was offset to the left or to the right of the other two.

“Using their right index fingers, the subjects got to feel the dots for one second to determine in which direction the central dot was offset,” says Dr. Sathian. “We also varied the amount the dot was offset from the other two, which allowed us to quantify people’s sensitivity. In other words, we asked what is the minimal offset required to discriminate.”

In a separate control task, the subjects were asked to determine how long they were touched by three perfectly aligned dots. Brain activity during that temporal task was contrasted with brain activity during the spatial task. The researchers found that different brain regions showed more activity during either spatial or temporal processing.

“What is interesting is that we found the most relevant areas of the brain for spatial processing are on the right side, the same side of the body that was used to feel the stimuli. This is the opposite side to the one that might be expected,” says Randall Stilla.

“We usually think of the left side of the brain as controlling the right side of the body, which is generally true. But more and more we are finding that the right side of the brain is particularly important in many types of sensory processing,” adds Dr. Sathian.

Dr. Sathian’s and Dr. Hu’s laboratories also collaborated to determine the strength and direction of the connections between the areas of the brain that govern tactile spatial acuity (perception). Such collaboration, explains Dr. Hu, allows the application of cutting-edge image analysis methods to fundamental questions in neuroscience.

“We found that there are two pathways into the right posteromedial cortex that not only predict individuals’ acuity but also predict the magnitude of neural activation,” says Dr. Deshpande, who performed the connectivity analyses. “In better performers, the paths predicting acuity converge from the left somatosensory cortex and right frontal eye field (an attentional control center), onto the right pIPS. What’s more, these paths are stronger during spatial discrimination than temporal discrimination.”

The researchers are not yet sure why this particular neural pathway exists. Dr. Sathian suggests the signal patterns may be a combination of attentional, tactile, and visual processing reflecting the visualization of the spatial configurations. Future research, he says, will attempt to unravel the mechanisms underlying these different component processes.

This study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Source: Holly Korschun

Emory University

High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels appear to be risk factors for retinal vein occlusion, a condition that causes vision loss, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Retinal vein occlusion occurs when one or more veins carrying blood from the eye to the heart become blocked, according to background information in the article. Bleeding (hemorrhage) or fluid buildup (edema) may follow, damaging vision.

Paul R.A. O’Mahoney, of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 21 previously published studies involving 2,916 individuals with retinal vein occlusion and 28,646 control participants without the condition. The researchers pooled data from all the studies and estimated the population-attributable risk, or the percentage of cases of retinal vein occlusion that could be attributed to hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).

Of patients with retinal vein occlusion, 63.6 percent had hypertension, compared with 36.2 percent of controls; those with high blood pressure had more than 3.5 times the odds of having retinal vein occlusion. High cholesterol levels were more than twice as common among patients with retinal vein occlusion as those without (35.1 percent vs. 16.7 percent), and those with high cholesterol levels had an approximately 2.5-fold higher risk of retinal vein occlusion. Diabetes was slightly more prevalent among those with retinal vein occlusion than among those without (14.6 percent vs. 11.1 percent).

“The pronounced population attributable risk percentage for hypertension (nearly 50 percent), hyperlipidemia (20 percent) and diabetes mellitus (5 percent) in persons with retinal vein occlusion, if causal, would mean that treatment of these diseases might be important in the primary and secondary prevention of retinal vein occlusion,” the authors write. “Accordingly, we recommend that an assessment of blood pressure and both fasting lipid and glucose levels be routinely performed in adults with any form of retinal vein occlusion.”

In addition, “those who treat patients with systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia should consider that each poses a risk not only to cardiovascular health but also to ocular health,” they conclude.

Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126[5]:692-699.

Archives of Ophthalmology

It’s a fact of life that eyes change with age, and baby boomers – Americans born between 1946 and 1964 – are at the stage when many are affected by vision problems. Despite the prevalence of Americans’ affected by these changes, a new survey from the American Optometric Association (AOA) shows a concerning lack of public knowledge and misunderstanding regarding age-related eye diseases and conditions.

According to the AOA’s American Eye-Q® survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of issues related to eye and visual health, only 18 percent of Americans know that macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years of age and older, and less than a quarter of all Americans understand the effects of glaucoma. Even more concerning, 89 percent of Americans incorrectly believe that glaucoma is preventable, when in fact it is only treatable if caught early.

Americans who are 40 years of age or older have probably noticed changes in vision. Difficulties seeing clearly for reading and close work are among the most common problems adults develop between the ages of 41 to 60. According to the Eye-Q® survey, top concerns about the effects of vision problems include not being able to live independently, cited by 45 percent; not being able to see loved ones, 21 percent; being unable to read, 20 percent and losing the ability to drive, 11 percent.

“When left undetected and untreated, many age-related eye diseases can damage your vision permanently,” said Mark Wilkinson, O.D., Chair of the AOA’s Vision Rehabilitation Section. “The good news is that most people can preserve their vision with proper treatment, so the key is early detection.”

Age-related vision disorders baby boomers and seniors should be aware of include:

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – an eye disease that causes loss of central vision. Activities like reading, driving, watching TV and recognizing faces all require clear central vision.

Diabetic retinopathy – a condition occurring in people with diabetes, which causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. If left untreated, it can cause blindness.

Cataracts – a cloudy or opaque area in the clear lens of the eye. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other. Cataracts can cause a decrease in contrast sensitivity, a dulling of colors and increased sensitivity to glare.

Glaucoma – a group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve resulting in peripheral vision loss. People at higher risk of developing glaucoma include those with a family history of the disease, older adults, African-Americans and Hispanics.

Dry eye – a condition where there is an insufficient amount of tears or a poor quality of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears contribute to clear vision and the health of the front surface of the eye.

Retinal detachment – tearing or separation of the retina from the underlying tissue. This can be caused by trauma to the eye or head, health problems due to advanced diabetes, and inflammatory disorders of the eye.

The good news is the majority of the American Eye-Q® survey respondents (92 percent) understand that visiting an eye doctor on a regular basis for comprehensive eye exams can help reduce the risk of developing age-related vision problems. The bad news is that respondents were less aware that avoiding smoking (40 percent) and eating a low-fat, low-salt diet (30 percent) can also reduce age-related vision problems.

“Some common warning signs of age-related vision problems include fluctuating vision, seeing floaters or flashes of light, loss of side vision and seeing distorted images,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “However, often patients with eye diseases do not have recognizable symptoms until the conditions are quite advanced, so regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for baby boomers and seniors.”

Addressing Age-Related Vision Problems

The American Eye-Q® survey also revealed that respondents age 55 and older are taking steps to address their age-related vision problems. Thirty three percent said they limit their night driving; 27 percent use brighter lights; 24 percent use wetting eye drops or artificial tears and 18 percent purchase or request items in large print.

Adding certain nutrients to one’s diet every day – either through foods or supplements – can help preserve vision and prevent age-related eye diseases.

The AOA recommends the following eye-healthy nutrients and foods:

– Lutein and zeaxanthin: Colorful fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines

– Essential fatty acids: Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, or herring; whole-grain foods; chicken and eggs

– Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes

– Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, such as safflower or corn oil; almonds and pecans; sweet potatoes and sunflower seeds

– Zinc: Extra-lean red meat, poultry, liver, shellfish, milk, baked beans and whole grains

Dealing with Vision Loss

Comprehensive eye exams are important for Americans of all ages, but become especially important later in life when more Americans develop age-related conditions and begin taking medications more frequently. The AOA recommends that adults over age 60 have a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist once a year or more frequently if a doctor recommends it.

For patients with age-related vision loss, a specialized examination by an optometrist who treats vision impairment is a critical first step in the care process that focuses on maintaining and/or regaining independence and maximizing useful remaining vision. Prescribed treatment options commonly include specialized reading spectacles, spectacle-mounted telescopes, hand-held magnifiers and telescopes, therapeutic filters, specialized contact lenses, field enhancement treatments, and video magnification technology that both enlarge and enhance the contrast of reading materials.

There also are numerous other assistive products that can help with daily activities for people who have vision impairment, such as large-type books, magazines, and newspapers, books-on-tape, talking wristwatches, self-threading needles, and more. To learn more about vision rehabilitation and available treatment options, talk to an optometrist.

For additional information about aging eyes or to find a doctor of optometry in your area, please visit aoa.

About the survey

The fourth annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From May 21 – 24, 2009, using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of U.S. general population. (Margin of error at 95 percent confidence level.)

Source
American Optometric Association (AOA)

A report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicates that vision screenings, using standard methods of assessing visual acuity in older adults, a practice common in the primary care setting, is insufficient for use as a secondary prevention or screening method. The American Optometric Association (AOA) highlights the significance of the report as an important, evidence-based analysis that health care providers and aging Americans should carefully consider.

“The AHRQ findings support the importance of regular comprehensive eye examinations in older adults and highlight the importance of AOA’s clinical care guidelines for older adults that stipulate the need for annual eye examinations in all adults age 61 or older,” said Michael R. Duenas, O.D., associate director of health sciences and policy at the AOA.

In addition, the AHRQ report found that screening for age-related eye diseases, many of which are asymptomatic in their early treatable stages, requires specialized examinations and equipment available through an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

“With the prevalence of adult vision impairment and age-related eye disease in America expected to double by 2030, the AHRQ findings offer a clear and distinct reason for all older adults to have a comprehensive eye examination on a regular basis,” said Randolph E. Brooks, O.D., president of the AOA.

In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least half of all blindness can be prevented through timely diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the CDC together with Prevent Blindness America (PBA) report that the annual economic cost of adult vision loss currently exceeds $51 billion dollars.

In addition, the CDC reports that the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment increases rapidly with age among all racial and ethnic groups. The agency’s own data, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) indicates, however, that the vast majority of adults surveyed (60%) reported that they had “no reason to have an eye exam.”

“Although aging is unavoidable, vision loss associated with aging is often preventable or treatable through regular eye examinations,” said Dr. Brooks. “The AHRQ findings published Tuesday sound an alarm to physicians and other health providers responsible for the health of seniors, to consider a comprehensive eye examination an essential component to necessary care. These eye examinations provide important information that may help uncover systemic disease, such as diabetes, thereby supporting a team approach to care.”

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):

The American Optometric Association represents approximately 36,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country, and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors. Doctors of optometry provide two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States.

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient’s overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Prior to optometry school, optometrists typically complete four years of undergraduate study, culminating in a bachelor’s degree. Required undergraduate coursework for pre-optometry students is extensive and covers a wide variety of advanced health, science and mathematics. Optometry school consists of four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care.

Source: American Optometric Association

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researcher Irina A. Pikuleva has received a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Eye Institute to advance her research on the significance of particular enzymes in retinal function.

“This research will be critical for understanding the development of certain eye diseases that reduce vision,” said Pikuleva.

Cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) enzymes metabolize a wide variety of substrates and play key roles in many biological processes. Only recently has it become clear that normal and pathological visual functions are among these.

A growing body of evidence suggests the importance of cholesterol in the retina for normal vision. However, little is known about cholesterol turnover in the retina and the significance of cholesterol-hydroxylating P450s in retinal function.

Two cholesterol-metabolizing P450s (27A1 and 46A1) were recently found to be highly expressed in the retina. CYP46A1 is a recently cloned, and therefore much less studied, enzyme. It is known, however, to control cholesterol elimination from the brain, and its deficiency may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

The grant is focused on delineation of the specific roles of cholesterol-metabolizing P450s as well as of cholesterol metabolism in the retina.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for glaucoma, announced positive results from a Phase 2a study of its Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, AR-12286. The study evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of three different doses of AR-12286 in 88 patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. According to the study results, AR-12286 was safe and well-tolerated. There were no serious side effects reported in the study; mild to moderate and transient hyperemia (eye redness) was observed in a minority of patients. In addition, the Phase 2a study achieved statistical significance in demonstrating lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) with both once-daily and twice-daily treatment. AR-12286 achieved a maximum change of mean IOP of 28% from baseline, which is comparable to, or exceeds, pressure lowering attained by the most commonly used glaucoma drugs as reported in other studies. The Company plans on submitting the full data set for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting.

David L. Epstein, M.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, and Co-Founder of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, commented, “I am greatly encouraged by the results of the Phase 2a study. ROCK inhibitors such as AR-12286 act directly on the diseased tissue that is responsible for elevated intraocular pressure, the trabecular meshwork, and now it has been shown in patients to safely and effectively lower IOP. The ability to target diseased tissue and act directly to restore normal function is a fundamental tenet of Medicine and one which current glaucoma therapies do not address. AR-12286 may have broad implications in glaucoma therapy and could offer the next major advancement in the field since the approval of latanoprost (Xalatan) in 1996.” There are currently no ROCK inhibitors on the market, and AR-12286 is the first in class to report positive safety, tolerability and efficacy data in glaucoma patients.

The Phase 2a study was a U.S., multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study in which patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three doses of AR-12286 or placebo. Patients were first dosed once daily and then twice daily and evaluated over a three-week treatment period.

Thomas van Haarlem, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, commented, “We are very pleased with these results and will soon initiate a Phase 2b study with once-daily dosing in a larger patient group in order to determine the optimal dose to take forward into Phase 3 registration studies. Aerie’s goal is to advance the quality of glaucoma care and the clinical success of AR-12286 represents a significant step. We have several other innovative R&D programs underway with significant therapeutic potential, including the recent discovery by Aerie scientists of a new class of dual-action glaucoma drugs.”

About AR-12286

AR-12286 is a highly selective Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor designed to lower intraocular pressure by improving outflow of fluid via the trabecular pathway with the potential of restoring normal function. This class of compounds acts directly on diseased tissue, the trabecular meshwork (TM), which undergoes pathological changes in patients with primary open angle glaucoma. An altered TM morphology eventually restricts the drainage of fluid from the eye, which causes an increase in intraocular pressure and ultimately damage to the optic nerve. ROCK inhibitors return the TM to a state that allows normal drainage of ocular fluid and thereby reduces pressure in the eye.

About Glaucoma

Glaucoma represents a group of eye diseases often marked by elevated intraocular pressure, which, if left untreated, can lead to progressive loss of vision and eventually blindness. Over four million people are estimated to have glaucoma in the United States, but only half receive a diagnosis. Approximately 120,000 people are blind from glaucoma, making glaucoma the second most common cause of blindness in the U.S. For more information on glaucoma, please visit the National Eye Institute’s website at nei.nih.

Source
Aerie Pharmaceuticals