Eyeworld

JUNE 2022 | EYEWORLD | 49 data can be used to show the effect of taking physicians out of the equation, the effect of pharmaceutical costs, and how preventative care and lifestyle modifications can improve health. Other presentations Contact Lens Drug Delivery Joseph Ciolino, MD, described technology developed by Mass Eye and Ear and licensed by TherOptix that would improve drug deliv- ery to the eye through a contact lens platform. While this concept dates back to the 1960s, Dr. Ciolino said its challenges include needing to maintain a therapeutic level of drug over a certain release time with a lens that's clear and comfortable. The new technology is based on a drug polymer film that provides elevated drug loading, controlled release, and consistent load- ing irrespective of contact lens parameters. The contact lens platform has been evaluated with dexamethasone, latanoprost, and moxifloxacin in animal models, showing success over drops in several areas. OcuRing: The Future of Dropless Cataract Surgery Kenneth Mandell, MD, PhD, shared informa- tion about a technology that could reduce/ eliminate drops needed after cataract surgery. OcuRing (LayerBio) is an inside-the-eye NSAID (ketorolac) that is bioerodible for sustained-re- lease treatment of inflammation and pain after cataract surgery. While NSAIDs are highly effective at reducing inflammation and pain, Dr. Mandell said, topical versions can delay healing and have the potential for corneal melts, with special precautions needed for certain types of patients. OcuRing has the efficacy benefits of topical NSAIDs with enhanced safety and tolera- bility, he said, adding that it guarantees com- pliance with improved outcomes and enhanced patient satisfaction. EVO ICL Roger Zaldivar, MD, described the history of the ICL, with the first being implanted by his father in 1994. In the years since, the ICL underwent "strong innovation," Dr. Zaldivar said. The cur- rent design increased safety and efficacy with no cataract formation, pupillary block, or pigment dispersion observed. There are new technolo- gies being used to predict vault more accurately, Contact Berdahl: john.berdahl @vancethompsonvision.com Ciolino: joseph_ciolino @meei.harvard.edu Mandell: ken@layerbio.com Price: francisprice@pricevisiongroup.net Zaldivar: ZaldivarRoger @InstitutoZaldivar.com Zamiri: pzamiri@graybug.vision continued from page 46 Relevant disclosures Berdahl: Aurion Biotech Ciolino: TherOptix Mandell: LayerBio Price: None Zaldivar: None Zamiri: Graybug Vision Dr. Zaldivar said. Surveys have shown a high degree of patient satisfaction with the ICL, with 92% scoring it at a 10 on a scale from 1–10, and the others scoring it at a 9. Dr. Zaldivar also noted that a higher degree of patient satisfac- tion was reported among patients with the ICL compared to patients who had LASIK. Intrastromal Delivery of AAV-IDUA for MPS1 Parisa Zamiri, MD, PhD, said that while patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 have had many of the negative, systemic effects of this genetic condition taken care of with enzyme replacement therapy and hematopoietic stem cell therapy, they are still going blind. Clouding of the cornea affects 98% of patients with this condition, she said. The only currently avail- able treatment, corneal transplant, is difficult in this group due to anesthesia issues, high risk of postop inflammation, and risk for reoccur- rence necessitating repeat procedures. Graybug Vision is developing GB-501, an AAV vector to deliver a functional IDUA gene into the stroma to clear the cornea. Dr. Zamiri said that once the functional gene is inside the stromal cells, they will continue to produce the functional protein to keep the cornea clear. The efficacy of this technology has been demonstrated in a canine model, and a Phase 1/2A data readout is expected in the fourth quarter of 2023. Inside-Out: Using Cell Therapy to Replace Diseased Corneal Endothelium John Berdahl, MD, described ophthalmology as being in the lead of cell therapy technologically. Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD, started developing cell therapy in the 1990s. Decades later, there is now in-human, long-term data from Aurion Biotech and Emmecel showing safe- ty and efficacy of this technique, which uses healthy cells from one donor that are multiplied for use in multiple treatments. In the proce- dure, the diseased endothelium is removed, and healthy cells are injected. Afterward, the patient lays prone for several hours. A couple of the benefits of this therapy, Dr. Berdahl said, are that it could resolve the issue of limited avail- ability of donor corneas, and it could be carried out by less specialized surgeons.

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