7 Days of Therapy From One 💧 Drop?

HOT TOPIC

Novel Eye Drop Platform Shown to Deliver Therapy for 7+ Days

EyeDura Therapeutics has received top recognition at two recent major industry forums designed for ophthalmic startup companies. The company, developer of a preservative-free ophthalmic drop, won both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards at the Octane Ophthalmology Technology Forum and “The Winning Pitch” challenge at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery conference. Unlike conventional eye drops requiring multiple daily doses, EyeDura’s preservative-free, sustained-release platform delivers therapeutic levels of active ingredients for 7 days or longer from a single dose, improving compliance rates, which can be as low as 60%, and reducing health care expenses.

The company’s platform targets both anterior and posterior segment diseases, offering a versatile solution for conditions with limited or burdensome treatment options. A recent study highlighted the technology’s potential in treating neurotrophic keratitis, demonstrating complete healing of epithelial defects in all 10 enrolled patients who received insulin delivered via two drops per week over 4 weeks. EyeDura anticipates submitting its first product for approval in the third quarter of 2026.

My Two Cents

EyeDura’s platform uses a lipid-based, extremely high-viscosity formulation that integrates into the lipid layer of the tear film. When the patient blinks, the aqueous layer is removed from the drop while the lipid layer and medication remain intact. This helps create a stable therapeutic level for 7 days or longer from a single drop. The company is developing “drops” for neurotrophic keratitis and dry eye disease in the anterior chamber and working on posterior treatments for neuroprotection and age-related macular degeneration using insulin and axitinib. This would be huge.

OUTSIDE THE LANE

Nicotine Pouch Poisoning Among Children on the Rise

A recent study published in Pediatrics by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center revealed a dramatic 763% surge in nicotine pouch poisonings among children 6 years of age and younger from 2020 to 2023, highlighting a growing public health concern.

The study analyzed 134,663 cases of nicotine ingestion reported to US poison centers from 2010 to 2023, with 76% involving children 2 years of age and younger, primarily at home. Nicotine pouches, such as the popular brand Zyn, are driving this increase due to their candy-like flavors and packaging, which appeal to young children. Unlike other nicotine products, such as gum, lozenges, and e-liquids, pouches are 1.5-times more likely to cause serious medical outcomes and twice as likely to lead to hospitalization.

Symptoms range from nausea and vomiting to severe effects, such as seizures, respiratory failure, and, in two tragic cases, death from liquid nicotine ingestion in children 2 years of age and younger. The study notes a decline in overall nicotine poisonings from 2015 to 2023, mainly due to the 2015 Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act mandating child-resistant packaging for e-liquids; however, nicotine pouches remain a threat. Experts, including Natalie Rine, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCEMP, and Hannah Hays, MD, urge parents to store nicotine products securely, avoid using them in front of children, and keep the national Poison Help Line (800-222-1222) accessible. (Read more here.)

My Two Cents

Nicotine is especially fatal in children, as the chemical has been found to increase both heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to serious nausea, vomiting, or, in rare cases, even coma. We need to remember that kids often think that whatever adults do is cool, and that can include even foolish things such as using nicotine patches. Heck, my 7-year-old son still thinks I’m cool and that being an eye doctor is the most awesome thing ever.

CAN YOU RELATE

We are a part of an amazing profession. For all the doom and gloom we may come across while perusing the various social media groups, what we are blessed to do each day is really something special. I wouldn’t trade this life for the world. And to those of you in industry who read this newsletter (it turns out there are thousands of you, which I think is just awesome!): Your line of work also helps people maximize their greatest sense each day.

Occasionally I’ll have a day where an encounter with a patient or industry rep, or just the day in general, will remind me how great life is as an optometrist. I recently had one of those days. I’ve made it no secret how much I enjoy having student externs in the office, as they bring an infectious attitude of positivity and new ideas into the building each time they walk through the door. Well, on this day, I met a sophomore at Xavier University of Louisiana. I often have students shadow me to decide if optometry is something they could be interested in, and I think this is the next best thing to an externship. These students come in, often not knowing much about eye care, let alone the anatomy of the eyeball itself, and we get the opportunity to show off all the wonderful things we can do. This student got to witness eight scleral lens fittings, nine intense pulsed light therapy sessions, two amniotic membrane applications, and numerous dry eye examinations. All in 1 day. I could tell she was hooked. I hope she continues to shadow me periodically.

Despite all the challenges we read about and experience, and the battles we may have with vision care plans, prior authorizations, staffing, overscheduling, etc, we are incredibly fortunate to do what we do for a living. Don’t let a few sour apples ruin the whole bunch by listening to the negative rants on social media. Want to be inspired? Have a student shadow you for a few hours, and you’ll get to see our profession through fresh eyes—and hopefully be reminded of just why you chose this career path!

And by the way—if you’re interested in getting students to shadow you or even share your experience as an OD virtually, sign up at www.eyeopenersession.org/doctor. Yes, this is run by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and I know there are many resentful feelings around the country about all the new schools opening up, but the best way to help move this profession forward is by encouraging our best and brightest youth to seriously consider it for their profession.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

— Maya Angelou