Week in review: CyclASol success, color-changing lenses, $30 million models

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Novaliq announced good news about their preservative-free cyclosporine drops for dry eye. According to topline results from a phase 2b/3 trial, patients randomized to twice-daily CyclASol 0.1% for 4 weeks showed significant improvements over controls in corneal staining. The central cornea improved most, consistent with findings from last year’s phase 2 trial. Novaliq

These contact lenses (pictured above) change color as drugs diffuse into the eye, clearing up uncertainty over whether a drug has reached its target. Chinese scientists used molecular imprinting to dot the lenses with microscopic cavities, then load the dots with timolol. As timolol diffuses into the eye, the lenses shift from yellow to blue. The color change can be seen with the naked eye, according to their recent paper in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, enhancing visibility of drug delivery for patients and doctors alike. American Chemical Society

A team of cataract surgeons traveled to Fiji last month to perform 137 surgeries in 6 days. Led by Michael Rauser, MD, chair of the Loma Linda University Eye Institute, the team completed 135 cataract surgeries, 1 pterygium removal and 1 ectropion repair at the Nadi Hospital Eye Clinic. “By unofficial records, our surgical team and ancillary staff completed the most cases in 1 week ever seen in Fiji,” Rauser said, adding that the tripwas a “resounding success.” Loma Linda University Health

Through the Audacious Goals Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, the National Eye Institute has awarded a total of $30 million over 5 years to researchers working on new models of retinal diseases and optic neuropathy. “Models that recapitulate human disease are essential to predicting the success of new therapies in humans. These audacious projects will be pivotal in our efforts to translate the latest science advances into new treatments for vision loss and blindness,” said NEI director Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD. NEI