Week in review: Royal cataracts, bimatoprost props, regulatory hat trick

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Royals don’t always wear sunglasses to official events … but when they do, it’s because they’ve just had cataract surgery. At least that was the case for Queen Elizabeth, according to a statement by Buckingham Palace. The monarch, aged 92, underwent surgery last month and has since been seen donning dark shades at palace garden parties and other engagements. Reuters

The phase 3 results are in: Allergan’s sustained-release implant—Bimatoprost SR—reduced IOP by 30% in 12 weeks, hinting that an implant can handle the job of daily drops for people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The implant uses the same biodegradable polymer platform as Ozurdex and is designed to last for at least 4 months. The company expects to file for FDA approval in the second half of 2019. Allergan

The Nexy robotic retinal imaging system just received FDA clearance. The CE-marked device photographs the retina in striking detail and can integrate with artificial intelligence engines to extract additional information from images. Nexy is already used in Europe for diabetic eye screening and telemedicine initiatives. Cision PRWeb

The FDA also cleared 2 Optovue technologies aimed at improving OCTA analysis. The AngioAnalytics system measures blood vessel density, foveal avascular zone parameters and areas of abnormal flow, while a 3D-projecting artifact-removal software called 3D PAR improves OCT image quality and analysis. The duo may help clinicians better manage diseases that cause progressive blindness, Optovue says. Business Wire

A European treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency has gained orphan drug designation, accelerating the path to regulatory approval in the United States. GPLSCD01, known in the EU as Holoclar, uses stem cells to reverse the eye damage caused by physical or chemical burns, inflammatory conditions or inherited diseases. Holoclar became the world’s first commercial stem-cell therapy when it received EU approval in 2015. Chiesi