New Trends in Ocular Surface Treartment

New Trends in Ocular Surface Treatment

J. Alberto Martinez, M.D.27201-AS COPE Approved

December 9, 2012

OUTLINE• Dry eye medication use and expenditures

• Six new weapons to attack dry eyes

• How to prescribe artificial tears

• Efficacy and safety of diquafosol ophthalmic solution in patients with dry eye syndrome: a Japanese phase 2 clinical trial.

• Dry eyes and migraines: is there really a correlation?

• Intraductal Meibomian Gland Probes

• A randomized double-masked study of 0.05% cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.

OUTLINE, CONT.

Squeezing the meibomian glands.

•Is topical ganciclovir effective for the treatment of adenovirus conjunctivitis?

•Neurotrophic Keratopathy: New Treatment Strategies

•Case presentation: Partial stem cell deficiency

•

Dry eye medication use and expenditures:data from the Medical Expenditure Panel survey 2001 to 2006

• From the 2001 to 2006 • Medical Expenditure Panel Survey• Data gathered from 147 unique participants

aged 18 years old or older using the prescription medicine, Restasis and Blephamide.

• The results: ▫Dry eye medication use and expenditures increased

between the years 2001 and 2006, with the mean expenditure per patient per year being: $55 in 2001 to 2002 (n = 29) $137 in 2003 to 2004 (n = 32) $299 in 2005 to 2006 (n = 86).

• This finding was strongly driven by the introduction of topical cyclosporine emulsion 0.05% (Restasis; Allergan, Irvine, CA).

• In analysis pooled over all survey years, demographic factors associated with dry eye medication expenditures:▫Gender:

Female: $244 vs. male: $122, P < 0.0001

▫Ethnicity Non-Hispanic: $228 vs. Hispanic: $106, P < 0.0001

▫Education Greater than high school: $250 vs. less than high

school: $100, P < 0.0001

Six new weapons to attack dry eyes

Tools used 5 years ago:▫Handing out samples of a lubricating eye drops▫Recommending increased hygiene around the eye▫Prescribing Restasis▫ Inserting punctal plugs

• In 2012, eye care practitioners have multiple new tools available to help patients at various stages of the condition whose symptoms range from mild to severe, making the management of dry eyes a much more rewarding proposition, both clinically and financially

New toys in dry eyes, anterior segment•Anterior segment OCT•Osmolarity measurements•Lipiview/Lipiflow•Inflammadry•Zienna eyewear•Intraductal meibomian gland probes

Anterior segment OCT

•Measures accurately the tear meniscus. Anything below 164 um is abnormal.

•Useful to quantify dry eye, compare efficacy of treatments.

Anterior segment OCT

•ADVANTAGES:•Rapid, non invasive, accurate

•DISADVANTAGES:•Expensive, not that useful in day to day

clinical use (too many variables)

TearLab Osmolarity System

• Quickly and reliably during the patient’s visit• “lab test on a microchip”

▫requires a small sample (50 nL) of the patient’s tear film, which is gathered by a special tip and then inserted into the unit for measurement

• Accepted as a gold standard • The test is cleared by the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)

• Enables doctors to perform the laboratory test in their offices

Usefulness of Osmolarity

•Most (only?) objective, measurable test to classify severity and to determine effectiveness of treatment

•Normal: 300.8 +/_ 7.8•Mild or moderate : 315.5 +/_ 10.4•Severe: 336.7 +/_ 22.2•Potential for doing better than asking

patient: Do your dry eye problem feels better or worse with the treatment I am giving you?

Usefulness of Osmolarity

• INTEREYE DIFFERENCE

•Associated with disease severity.

•Normal intereye difference: 6.9 +/_ 5.9

•Mild/moderate: 11.7 +/_ 10.9

•Severe: 26.5 +/_ 22.7•Still, Osmolarity is

only a mesure of dry eyes and does not provide a treatment of point toward a solution

LipiView

• The LipiView Analyzer uses interferometry (specular reflexion) to take a high-resolution image of the lipid layer. It measures the lipid layer (normally 60 nanometers). Thin lipid layer is highly correlated with MGD and patient symptoms

LipiFlow

• Rests on the sclera without touching the cornea • Heat and pressure are directed at the meibum, effectively

massaging the structures to soften and release the obstruction that characterizes meibomian gland dysfunction

• The treatment works by increasing blood flow around the meibomian gland, thus facilitating heat transfer, and, secondly, by mechanically removing blockage in the passages

• BUT: most payers, including Medicare, consider this procedure to be “experimental and investigational” and therefore not covered

• The device costs about $100,000 and the disposable eye cups for each patient use costs about $650 a pair.

Lipiflow

Lipiflow

• Great possibilities. The “ultimate” warm compress

• Very expensive (both to eye doctors and patients) , not covered by insurance

• Unclear who are the best candidates (where is the “sweet spot”) of this treatment?

• Only device in the area: Alan Glazier, OD, Rockville, Md. aglazier@youreyesite.com

• Job opening…. 301-670-1212

Inflammadry

•Another “lab on a chip” type product•Swab the fornices with an absorbent sponge•Measures Metalloproteinase-9, a non-specific

marker of inflammation•Like a pregnancy test: Negative or positive•Non-specific to dry eyes but highly correlated•Not yet approved in the US. Used in Canada

Dry eyes and nutrition

• We are in a unique position to address nutrition with our patients.

• Many (most?) patients are unaware of the connection between diet and ocular health

• We know that chronic inflammation plays a central role in dry eye disase and MGD

• BEFORE you discuss fish oil, Talk about Vitamin C and E.• Both of these vitamins have antioxidant properties. Reduce

inflammation• Reccommed increased intake of vegetables and fruits

(COLOR!) or a supplement of 1000 mg of Vit C and 400IU of Vit E

Nutrition: Essential Fatty Acids• Essential because body can not synthesize them, they have to

be obtained from diet• Conpsumption of omega 3 fatty acids has DECREASED

dramatically in the last 100 years. Why: they are very susceptible to light and heat. Easily becomes rancid: Not good for supermarket shelves

• While omega 6 has INCREASED. Why? More resistant to decay, better shelf life.

• This “flipped” ratio has been found to be pro-inflammatory. • Sources of Omega 3 and 6: Cold water fish (sardines,

salmon,trout etc), nuts and seeds, vegetables, nuts and seeds.• We must avoid saturated, oxygenated fats and increase

essential fatty acids

Dry Eye and Nutrition. Fish oil

multiple studies show a decrease in inflammation

• Most ophthalmologist pooled, take fatty acid supplements

• At VO we prefer “Hydroeyes” (Science-based health) for it has several oils (GLA, EPA and DHA) and vitamins (a, E,C and B6) proven to improve dry eyes.

• A more “hardcore” (liquid oil) alternative: Udo’s oil. (a 2:1:1 ratio of Omega 3:6:9)

• Also beneficial for skin, brain, joints, immune system

Ziena Eyewear

• Sunglasses frame that was specifically developed for women with DED

• It contains an eyecup that magnetically attaches to the frame and can be removed for cleaning. The eyecup is well hidden behind the frame

• Discrete way of locking moisture, a proven relief for dry eyes.

• May be helpful to reduce use of medicines in some

Intraductal Meibomian Gland Probes

•We all have seen obstructed meibomian Glands•Obstruction is caused by increased viscosity •Many orifices also exhibit keratinization.•Inspisated glands lead to swelling,

inflammation and pain•Decreased meibum production leads to

evaporative dry eyes•Warm compresses often are not sufficient to

unplug the glands•Need at least 5 working glands per lid

Intraductal Meibomian Gland Probing

•Indications:•Swollen tender lids, symptomatic MGD•Procedure:•Slit lamp, topical anesthesia (lidocaine

jelly)•Disposable probes 1mm-6mm probes. Can

deliver steroids through probe•Must continue MGD Rx: Doxy, Omega 3

etc

Intraductal Meibomian Gland Probing

OTC Drops: Telling the Tears Apart

▫ Is the optimum artificial tear for this patient preserved or not preserved?

▫ Does the patient have more of an aqueous deficiency, mixed disease or an evaporative form of dry eye?

▫ How severe is it?

How to prescribe artificial tears

•Self selection of medications is not a good idea

•Patients will get Walt-Mart or Safeway brand, the most inferior tears in the market.

•Worse yet they may choose Visine

How to prescribe artificial tears

•USE TWO CRITERIA:

•1. Underlying cause of dry eye? ( Aqueous deficiency, mixed disease or evaporative form of dry eye?)

•2. How often the patient is instilling drops? (severity of the disease). Ore than four instillations per day: Go to preservative free

How to prescribe artificial tears/Preservatives?BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE (BAK)•It is essentially: Ammonia!.•Deleterious effects to ocular surface are

innumerable: Destruction of epithelial cell walls, destruction of intercellular tight junctions and hemidesmosomes, destruction of corneal nerves, destruction of bowman’s and even stroma.

•Also: axonopathy and degeneration of corneal nerves (irreversible neurotrophic keratopathy)

How to prescibe artificial tears

•Best preservative: NONE!•Single-dose unit. Can twist-off, recap and

use for the entire day.•A few good choices (all more expensive

than multiple dose preparations)•Refresh (Allergan)•TheraTears•Soothe (Bausch + Lomb)•Systane (Alcon)

How to prescribe artificial tears

•VANISHING PRESERVATIVE•Preservativeturns into water or non-toxic

chemical when exposed to air or tear film•Genteal (Novartis) has sodium

perchlorate•Allergan products: Purite (sodium

chlorite) Refresh optive

How to prescribe artificial tears

•LIPIDS•An attempt to mimic biphasic nature of

tears by providing both aqueous and lipid components

•Guar in Systane•Refresh Optive Advance and soothe

provide a lipid substitute

How to prescribe artificial tears•VISCOSITY•For people with more severe dry eyes•“Watery” drops (i.e refresh plus) only last 3-4

minutes in the eye•“sticky” viscous ones such as Celluvisc or

Systane ultra stay around the eye longer, but:•Blurry vision, unsightly residue in lashes•Good for patients with poor blink or

lagophthalmos or bell’s palsy. Best used at bedtime

Osmolarity• lower osmolarity tears may have a better effect

on the ocular surface. • There are some tears that have ingredients that

are called osmoprotectants. They are taken up by cells, and they blunt the response of the epithelial cells on the surface of the eye to high osmolarity in the tears. The Optive tears have osmoprotectants; some of those are found in sports drinks also because people can lose a lot of fluid and their blood may be a higher osmolarity. There is pretty good scientific evidence that they do help to protect cells.

How to prescribe artificial tears

•OSMOLARITY•Increase osmolarity is a final common

pathway fro dry eyes•Decreased osmolarity improves symptoms

and surface (TBUT, staining etc)•Some tears (Optive)have osmoprotectants

that go inside the cells and protect against increased osmolarity

How to prescribe artificial tears

•Novasorb cationic emulsion. Electrostatic attraction between negatively charged droplets and positively charged ocular surface

•Hypotonic to reduce osmolarity•Lipid to lubricate and protect•Available only through OD or

MD•Not a great deal of personal

experience yet

How to prescribe artificial tears• OASIS TEARS• Preservative free• A viscoadaptive, non

linear molecule that adheres to the surface

• Molecules are elastic, remain in the surface longer.

• Good personal experience

• Sold at the doctor’s office only

How to prescribe artificial tears

•RESTASIS (Cyclosporine 0.05%)•Unknown mechanism. Inmunomodulator•Decrease inflammation, increase tear

production•Compliance is difficult secondary to side

effects ( burning, stinging, FB sensation)•Expensive•Undeniably, works well for some people•Must suppress inflammation prior to

starting restasis

How to prescribe artificial tears

•RESTASIS.•My regimen: Lotemax bid X 2 weeks, then

start restasis bid, taper off Lotemax over two weeks

•In severe dry eye patient with residual symptoms but some improvement, may increase Restasis up to qid (Positive dose-response relationship)

How to prescribe artificial tears

•RESTASIS•Has been shown to improve MGD•Increases TBUT (in patients without

aqueous tear deficiency)•Decreased lid inflammation•Increased meibomian gland expressibility•Unclear mechanism

Diquafosol in dry eyes

•Several studies have shown that Diquafosol is effective in dry eye treatment

•Stimulates secretion of the three components of tears: Mucin lipids and fluids

•Restores epithelial barrier function•Approved in Japan in 2010•In The US is in phase III clinical trials•Brand name will be Prolacria•Unclear when will be available

Dry eyes and migraines: is there really a correlation?

Dry eyes and migraines?

•Yes!. There is a correlation•Observational comparative study•66 patients, half with migraines•The migraine sufferers have significantly

worse dry eye scores (TBUT, Schirmer, staining)

•Both migraines and dry eyes have inflammatory basis.

Meibomian Gland Secretion secrets

A single MG is capable of secreting oil on demand over the course of a working day ( approximately 9 hours)

Nasal MGs were the most likely to secrete upon demand over the course of day compared with the temporal and to a lesser degree the central MGs

Secretory characteristics of individual MGs examined as a function of their location in the lower eyelid does not change diurnally.

Squeezing the MG’s

New Tool for Adenoviral Conjunctivitis•In past studies, corneal and external

disease specialists' clinical diagnosis of adenoviral conjunctivitis had laboratory confirmation in only 20-25% of cases

•The RPS Adeno Detector Plus is a point-of-care immunoassay that has 93% sensitivity and 96% specificity.

•The monoclonal antibodies used in the assay detect all 53 adenoviral serotypes.

•

New tool for Adenoviral diagnosis

•Rapid. 10 minutes•Easy to use (just swab the conjunctiva)•Single test use, no ancillary equipment•CLIA waived. Can be performed by anybody

in your office•Reimbursable: CPT 87809QW•Cost/reimbursement?

Is topical Ganciclovir (Zirgan) effective for the treatment of adenovirus conjunctivitis?A multicenter clinical trial is underway

Several studies have shown that Ganciclovir is effective against adenovirus

Zirgan reduced the duration of the disease and the incidence of subepithelial infiltrates

Inclusion criteria: Follicular conjunctivitis who test positive on the RPS ( Rapid Pathogen Screening Adeno Detector Plus Immunoassay)

Ganciclovir Treatment Goals

• Limiting the development of corneal infiltrates (which can result in irregular astigmatism, glare, photophobia and hyperopic shifts), the duration of adenoviral shedding, and spread to the second eye

• Prevent the spread of disease by early and accurate diagnosis and treatment

• To reduce the cost of lost days at work and school • To afford specific antiviral treatment and avoid the

over-prescription of unnecessary, ineffective antibiotics.

• To reduce the costs of treatment and diminish the development of antibiotic associated allergies and toxicities.

Adenovirus treatment

•SILVER BULLET: Betadine 5%

Pre-anethesize with tetracaine, NSAID. 4-5 drops of betadine (if no Iodine allergies). Wait 60 seconds. Rub betadine with cotton tip swab around lashes. Rinse with saline. Topical steroids

A study is being conducted of a solution of 4% betadine/0.1% dexamethasone

Neurotrophic Keratopathy: New Treatment Strategies

• With loss of sensory function of the nasociliary branch of the trigeminal nerve, neurotrophic keratopathy will develop and result in degenerative corneal and conjunctival changes of varying severity.

• Minor manifestations include: ▫ conjunctival and corneal punctate epithelial irregularity

(fluorescein or rose bengal staining) with or without decreased tear production or decreased tear film stability (accelerated breakup time).

• However, such abnormalities can also progress to involve persistent corneal epithelial defects, stromal inflammatory reaction and most ominously, enzymatic stromalysis with ulceration potentially leading to perforation

Following herpes simplex keratitis, neurotrophic changes result in persistent epithelial defect, stromal inflammatory infilration and sterile stromalysis (“melting”).

Conventional Management• Traditional medical and surgical approaches include:

▫ preservative-free lubricants▫ autologous serum drops▫ topical steroid and non-toxic antibiotic prophylaxis, MGD

management▫ therapeutic soft contact lenses▫ punctal occlusion▫ moist chamber glasses▫ lid taping, lid malposition repair▫ lateral tarsorrhaphy or Botoxinduced ptosis▫ cycanocarylate tissue adhesive▫ conjunctival flap▫ keratoplasty,▫ Boston keratoprosthesis and herpes zoster vaccination.

• Conventional penetrating keratoplasty procedures have variable success due to the poor healing capabilities of neurotrophic tissues

• The risks of persistent epithelial defect and sterile ulcerative stromalysis being of greatest concern.

New tools for managament of neurotrophic keratopathy•Autologous serum•Prokera

•Now fully reimbursed•Though very expensive

Selective debridment of conjunctivalized epithelium to treat stem cell deficiency

Stem cell deficiency

•65 Y.O man with a history of alkaline burn.

•Presented initially 5 years ago with a melted, perforated cornea.

•Underwent PK, achieved 20/30 was stable until 1 month ago. Presented with visual acuity of 20/200, partial stem cell failure

•Underwent selective epithelial debridment with prokera, achieved 20/70 and improving.

•Avoided a stem cell transplant

Thank You