EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/1180984
NOVEMBER 2019 | EYEWORLD | 55 G Contact information Bacharach: jbacharach@northbayeye.com Kahook: malik.kahook@cuanschutz.edu effects of drops, and acquisition costs of the medicine. "It's a potentially safe treatment op- tion that will give you reasonable efficacy," Dr. Bacharach said. Going forward, Dr. Bacharach believes that there will be winners and losers with all of this kind of nascent technology. "But I think that pushing the envelope here is where we're head- ed," he said. Early on, practitioners may opt for an external delivery system and then later decide to move more internally, he noted. Likewise, Dr. Kahook also believes that all safe and effective options are needed. "In a perfect world, we would have an external device that is 100% retained and free of adverse events, with the ability to deliver drugs over at least 6 months, while being totally independent from patient interactions," he said. "We are not there today, but future devices might get us closer to my wish list." timolol-like efficacy or exhibiting efficacy slight- ly worse than timolol over months of therapy," Dr. Kahook said. Meanwhile, Dr. Bacharach noted that there was an approximately 20% reduction in IOP for both the Mati plug and the bimatoprost ring. When putting in one of these devices, there has to be a comfort level for all types of practi- tioners, Dr. Bacharach stressed. "I think that, in general, we might see optometric doctors grav- itate more to the external, non-surgical delivery devices like plugs and rings and you might see a comprehensive ophthalmologist use everything, both external and internal," Dr. Bacharach said, adding that tertiary-care specialists would probably use more efficacious platforms that have more associated risks such as intracameral delivery devices. For many patients who need mild-to-mod- erate reductions of IOP, these eGAPs may give patients enough of a decrease, he noted, adding that this may be a way to overcome some of the challenges of adherence, peak and trough Relevant financial interests Bacharach: Allergan, Ocular Therapeutix, Glaukos, Equinox, New World Medical Kahook: Alcon, Aurea Medical, Equinox, Fluent Ophthalmics, Ivantis, New World Medical, Johnson & Johnson Vision, ShapeTech, SpyGlass Ophthalmics The Evolute Punctal Plug Delivery System (Mati Pharmaceuticals) is a surface device that fits in the tear drainage system. Source: Mati Pharmaceuticals