Eyeworld

EW CORNEA 40 June 2015 feel that it's an essential component of what they're doing, just as they would look at keratoconus or other conditions that are fairly rare," Mr. Korney said. As of May 2015, Avellino had tested 481,828 individuals globally, with 466 testing positive for GCD. This places the prevalence of GCD at just under 1 in 1,100, making it nearly twice as prevalent as kerato- conus, which occurs in about 1 in 2,000 individuals. Anthony Aldave, MD, profes- sor of ophthalmology, and chief of the cornea and uveitis division at the Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that refractive surgeons test not only patients with a family history of TGFBI dystrophy, but also patients with unexplained corneal stromal opacities. Dr. Jackson performs the test on all LASIK candidates. "Why do something on a patient that's elective when they have a risk for something that can be sight-threatening later?" he said. "[Surgeons] are most concerned about keratoconus and ectasia, and this has very similar if not greater prevalence rates, so you should be testing them—and this one you can prevent." EW Editors' note: Dr. Aldave, Dr. Jackson, and Mr. Korney have financial interests with Avellino. Contact information Korney: scott@avellinolab.com Jackson: mjlaserdoc@msn.com Aldave: aldave@jsei.ucla.edu of candidates. While candidates express concern over the cost of the procedure, Dr. Jackson thinks that patients avoid surgery for another reason. "The real problem with LASIK isn't the cost, it's the fear of pain and blindness," Dr. Jackson said. "Cost is just an excuse for fear of pain and blindness. And our job as physicians is to alleviate fear and the risk for blindness." Misinformation and bad public relations have contributed to that fear, despite the fact that the LASIK complication rate is low, as con- firmed by the recent PROWL studies. By adding a layer of safety, the Avellino test could relieve some of that fear and increase demand for LASIK and other refractive procedures. Offering the Avellino test can also make a refractive practice stand out among competitors, Dr. Jackson said. "I can't say that it should be the standard of care, but based on the prevalence data and the risk of causing sight loss down the road, why not do it?" he said. "When it's an easy swab test, I don't see the downside." Logistics and initial results of the test Physicians collect DNA through a simple cheek swab that is sent directly to Avellino via a pre-paid courier package. Results are deliv- ered quickly, usually in 1–2 days, via email. The cost of the test to doctors starts at $200 and decreases as volume increases. Most doctors incorporate the cost into their LASIK package price, while some offer the test as an add-on option, with some mark-up charged to the patient. Avellino launched the dual GCD I and II test in 2014, and this year they hope to expand it to a multi- test that will be able to screen for the other 3 dystrophies associated with mutations in the TGFBI gene. The dual GCD test has 100% sensi- tivity and 100% specificity, based on a double blind clinical trial Avellino conducted in Asia. The test has become the stan- dard of care in many parts of Asia and has gradually expanded to the United States and Europe. It is cur- rently being used in more than 50 LASIK surgery centers in the United States and in many more individual practices. "The forward-thinking early adopters have embraced the test and The DNA test continued from page 38 2500 Sandersville Rd., Lexington, KY 40511 USA Phone: 800-354-7848, 859-259-4924 Fax: 859-259-4926 E-Mail: sales@stephensinst.com www.stephensinst.com Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery Instruments S5-1535 LRI Enhancement Forceps Cross-action provides accurate spreading of incisions pre- or post-operatively, or during slit-lamp examinations. S4-1700 Femtosecond Spatula Double ended sizing and spear shaped, thin blunted tips offer versatility for opening primary and secondary femtosecond laser incisions. S4-1710 Femtosecond Chopper Special design chops femtosecond laser fragmented nuclei with its unique shaped tip. Avellino Lab names advisor as CEO P eter Falzon has joined Avellino as chief executive officer, according to a press release from the company. Mr. Falzon was an advisor to the company for several months, defining the company's next-phase commercialization strategy, the release said. "[Mr. Falzon] has a successful track record in the medical device and diagnostics sector, which is important to Avellino Labs as we develop our patent-protected, rapid, affordable, and accurate DNA test platform technology for personal medicine applications in ophthalmology," said Mr. Korney. "I am excited to join Avellino Labs, especially at a time when the company has achieved an impressive milestone of having test- ed nearly a half-million patients," said Mr. Falzon. "I look forward to leading the company through its next stage of growth, allowing patients around the world to feel secure when moving forward with refractive surgery and directing Avellino's transition from a scientific to a commercially driven global company based on proprietary tech- nology adaptable to personalized medicine needs, both current and future." EW

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