All GLG News Analyses Filed Under: Ophthalmology

Overdramatization

September 19, 2008

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:CooperVision Introduces Avaira™ Two-Week Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses | www.coopervision.com

To assert that Cooper needs the Avaira to be successful to be a player in the soft contact lens market is simply overly dramatic. Cooper has one of the largest portfolios of soft contact lens product of all of the big 4 manufacturers - B&L, Ciba, and Vistakon.  They have much wider range of lens parameters than their competitors, maintaining market share on high prescription patients. They also have multiple plastics available with similar designs to cover those patients whose tear physiology is incompatible with silicone hydrogel materials.  I see Avaira as an attempt to keep doctors who currently rely on Cooper as their choice product vendor from reaching for a competor's product when they need two-week replacement cycle for a silicone hydrogel lens.  

Does Staar have an alternative to Lasik?

September 18, 2008

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Insiders Buy Staar as Lasik Alternate Shows Potential (Update2) | www.bloomberg.com

The Staar ICL is a lens for the correction of high amounts of nearsightedness and will never take over a significant amount of the Lasik market. Their growth in the market for the ICL is in spite of the decrease in Lasik nationwide because more surgeons have been trained in its placement and because this procedure is so much more expensive than Lasik typically has a much longer lead time.  Costs for Lasik are $1200 to $2500 per eye and placement of the ICL is $4000- $5000+. Risk of surgery is hugely higher with the Visian ICL than it is with Lasik.

Laser is better than Steroids in the Management of Diabetic Macular Edema.

September 4, 2008

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:A Randomized Trial Comparing Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide and Focal/Grid Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular Edema | www.ophsource.org

This Phase III Clinical Trial clearly shows that focal grid laser is better than steroids in the management of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).  This reaffirms laser as the current gold standard in the management of DME and casts doubts on numerous treatment modalities in the pipeline that use steroids in various drug delivery systems.

Mark PackerClinical Associate Professor of OphthalmologyOREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY - CC

Visian ICL: Premium Channel for the Extremely Nearsighted

August 19, 2008

Analysis of:Insiders Buy Staar as Lasik Alternate Shows Potential (Update2) | www.bloomberg.com

The Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is an exquisitely precise technology for the correction of high degrees of nearsightedness -- much higher than the reach of laser refractive surgery such as LASIK and PRK.  Given the price of the ICL and the intraocular surgey required for its implantation, the out-of-pocket expense for the patient is about US$4000 per eye (about double the average LASIK).  In general, if patients are candidates for LASIK they will have LASIK; it is only those who cannot have LASIK because of their extreme nearsightedness who opt for the ICL.  LASIK works extremely well in the low to moderate nearsightedness range, and it corrects astigmatism as well (there is a toric ICL, but it is not yet approved in the United States). 

Steve RubinsteinOptometristSound Shore Vision Care

An illegal use of Lumigan, now legal?

July 3, 2008

Analysis of:Longer Lashes in a Tube? Maybe Not | www.nytimes.com

A few months ago, a small company tried to import Lumigan (bimatoprost), licensed by Allergan, in an eyelash applicator. It was held by the FDA as an unapproved use of a prescription medication. Now the owner of the patent is trying to import the same drug legally.

This should be a significant advance.

June 5, 2008

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Announces First Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel at BCLA | www.cltoday.com

This new lens represents a marriage of two important technologies in modern contact lens use; oxygen trasmissibility and convenience in wearing. This has the potential to become a significant portion of the contact lens market.

Contaminated solutions or sterile, your choice.

June 5, 2008

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Announces First Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel at BCLA | www.cltoday.com

Daily wear contacts reduce the frequency of ocular infection. Contact lens solutions and cases are breeding grounds for bacteria. If canditates, all patients desirous of contacts are advised to wear daily wear disposible lenses.

Implications for Astigmatism

June 5, 2008

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Announces First Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel at BCLA | www.cltoday.com

Many patients who have irregular astigmatism will find a disposable silicone hydrogel lens to provide good vision with less irritation of the cornea due to protein build up in the lens.  This could be a big help to those who may not be LASIK candidates or who are awaiting future Custom LASIK surgery for irregular astigmatism. 

Steve RubinsteinOptometristSound Shore Vision Care

Announcing the 1-Day Acuvue TruEye a New Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens

June 3, 2008

Analysis of:Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Announces First Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel at BCLA | www.cltoday.com

This is the first announcement anywhere in the world about a daily disposable contact lens that is in a breathable silicone hydrogel material. Will it make it across the ocean?

Steve RubinsteinOptometristSound Shore Vision Care

Will The Avaira Take Market Share From Oaysis?

May 15, 2008

Analysis of:CooperVision Introduces Avaira™ Two-Week Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses | www.coopervision.com

Can Cooper take over the 2 week spherical contact lens market? Can it make a dent in the market share of the industry leader in the silicone hydrogel field? Initial results look good. A definite maybe!

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