EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/387844
119 EW RETINA October 2014 Contact information Foo: chuan-kit.foo@bayer.com Hasan: rafiq.hasan@baye .com Mitchell: paul.mitchell@sydney.edu.au meaning that after the first 3 monthly injections, additional injection intervals are adapted to individual patients depending on how well they are doing. EW Editors' note: The sources have financial interests with Baye . Making good business sense "We can deliver comparable outcomes with a longer interval between doses," said Rafiq Hasan, MBBS, vice president and global head, SBE Ophthalmology at Bayer. Doing the right clinical trials was therefore important. The company essentially demonstrated that from the payers' perspective, they are pay- ing for fewer injections with com- parable outcomes. "The community sees the value." The community wit- nessing the importance of the drug includes not only ophthalmologists but also government officials who approved the drug for reimburse- ment in some markets, including Australia. Chuan-Kit Foo, MD, head of medical affairs, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Asia-Pacific, shed additional light on the success of Eylea. "What Eylea offers to the patient in terms of a benefit is ve y obvious," he said. "It's a fixed dose one injection every 2 months. [This means] convenience and coming to see the physician less. It also offers the healthcare system economic benefits with fewer follow-ups. These are the benefits that we see and that patients have seen." In a way, reducing the dosage of a wet AMD drug may not sound like a breakthrough. After all, greater efficacy or safety is not being discussed here. "You may think, OK, you visit the doctor less," Dr. Foo said. "It's actually a big deal. In age-related macular degeneration, which afflicts the elderly, it's a huge burden on family members who transport fathers or mothers. They often have to take annual leave or time off for consultation. Reduced intensity of visits without compromise in terms of efficacy or safety is one of the key success factors for Eylea." Dr. Mitchell also has a parting word of advice for companies that market wet AMD treatments. "It is very important for Bayer and Novartis to collect data on inject and extend approaches," Dr. Mitchell said, essentially Reference: 1. Data on file. LENSAR, Inc. The LENSAR Laser System – fs 3D (LLS-fs 3D) is intended for use in patients undergoing cataract surgery for removal of the crystalline lens. Intended uses in cataract surgery include anterior capsulotomy, laser phacofragmentation, and the creation of full and partial thickness single-plane and multi-plane arc cuts/incisions in the cornea, each of which may be performed either individually or consecutively during the same procedure. Laser Capsulotomy, laser phacofragmentation and/or corneal incisions surgery is contraindicated in patients: who are of pediatric age, whose pupils will not dilate or remain dilated to a diameter greater than that of the intended treatment and for capsulotomies and/ or laser phacofragmentation with intended diameters of less than 4 mm or greater than 7 mm, who have existing corneal implants, who have previous corneal incisions that might provide a potential space into which the gas produced by the procedure can escape, who have conditions that would cause inadequate clearance between the intended capsulotomy cut and the corneal endothelium, such as: hypotony, uncontrolled glaucoma, who have corneal disease or pathology that precludes transmission of light at the laser wavelength or causes distortion of laser light, such as: corneal opacities, residual, recurrent, active ocular or uncontrolled eyelid disease or any corneal abnormalities (including endothelial dystrophy, guttata, recurrent corneal erosion, etc.) in the eye to be treated, ophthalmoscopic signs of keratoconus (or keratoconus suspect) in the eye to be treated, a history of severe dry eye that has not responded to therapy, a history of herpes zoster or herpes simplex keratitis. Potential contraindications are not limited to those included in the list. WARNING: The safety and effectiveness of this laser have NOT been established in patients with diabetic retinopathy, a history of treated glaucoma, or prior intraocular surgery. © 2014 LENSAR, Inc. All rights reserved. LENSAR and the LENSAR logo are registered trademarks and Augmented Reality is a trademark of LENSAR, Inc. 50-00078-000 Rev. A 08/14 The LENSAR ® Laser System can help you make all the right moves in femtosecond laser cataract surgery. That's because LENSAR was thoughtfully designed from the ground up to meet the needs of cataract surgeons, with unique features that increase workflow and procedural efficiencies, reduce CDE up to 100%, 1 and create a safe patient experience. And now with pending capabilities to connect with pre- and post-op diagnostics, LENSAR can help you further refine outcomes for increased accuracy and greater patient satisfaction. Learn more about LENSAR's winning combination at AAO, Booth 533. www.thinklensar.com THINK STRATEGIC