Prevent Blindness and Bausch + Lomb Joined Together to Raise Awareness and Provide Awareness and Provide Educational Resources for February’s Age-related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month
Organizations Launched Social Media Campaign and Offer SightMatters.com Resource to Provide People with AMD and Caregivers with Educational Information, AMD Action Plan, and More
Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business, and Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health non-profit organization, collaborated throughout the month of February for the fifth consecutive year to raise awareness of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults 50 years of age and older.
It is estimated that as many as 16 million people in the United States are living with AMD, an eye disease that affects the macula, the part of the eye that supports sharp, central vision needed for seeing objects clearly. Early-stage AMD often does not present any symptoms or changes in vision, as symptoms usually appear gradually over time. This progressive condition can impact one or both eyes, causing people to have difficulty with daily activities like driving, reading or recognizing the faces of loved ones.
“Each year, we look forward to joining forces with Bausch + Lomb to help bring awareness to this pervasive and potentially sight-stealing condition,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO, Prevent Blindness. “Together we aim to encourage people to prioritize their eye health by scheduling a comprehensive, dilated eye exam– the best way to identify AMD - by providing essential resources they need to feel informed about this condition and understand the essential steps they need to take for prevention or if they are diagnosed.”
Throughout February, Bausch + Lomb and Prevent Blindness posted a variety of content on their social media pages to share facts and helpful information about AMD with the public. Bausch + Lomb also donated $1 to Prevent Blindness and its sight-saving fund for every “share” or “like” of certain posts that promote this donation from the Bausch + Lomb SightMatters Facebook page.
The companies also encourage people to visit SightMatters.com, an educational online resource that Bausch + Lomb created to help people with AMD better understand the condition and its progression. The website features personalized tips and tools and provides people with AMD the ability to create an action plan to manage their condition. They can also join the Sight Matters Facebook community to share their experiences and hear stories of others living with AMD.
“Given the importance of vision on our lives, we understand those with AMD want to do everything they can, but often times are scared and unsure of what to do, or if what they are doing is right,” said Chris Marschall, vice president and general manager, U.S. Consumer Health Care, Bausch + Lomb. “With SightMatters.com, people have a singular online resource where they can go to find easy-to-understand, action-oriented information that they need to help manage their condition – no matter where they are on their journey. We are committed to providing AMD patients with helpful resources and information to help support their lifelong vision health.”
Although there is no cure for AMD, there are steps that patients can take as part of a plan created with their doctor to help reduce their risk of progression. These steps include stopping smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and receiving a dilated eye exam.
Patients can also talk to their doctor about taking a vitamin based on the AREDS2 study. Only PreserVision® AREDS 2 formula vitamins contain the exact nutrient formula recommended by the National Eye Institute to help reduce the risk of moderate to advanced AMD progression.
For more information about AMD, visit www.SightMatters.com. For a free listing of organizations and services that provide financial assistance for vision care in English or Spanish, please visit Prevent Blindness at https://www.preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information.
Bausch + Lomb Launches Expanded Parameters for Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
Lens Parameters Expanded by Nearly 60 percent, Providing Eye Care Professionals the Broadest Offering Among All Daily Disposable Toric Lenses
Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC), announced the U.S. launch of expanded parameters for Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism daily disposable contact lenses. The expansion will increase the toric parameter range by more than 60 percent, offering eye care professionals and their astigmatic patients the largest parameter offering of any daily disposable toric lens.1
“We are proud to offer expanded parameters for Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism lenses, further deepening our already robust toric lens portfolio as we continue to build upon our eye health offerings,” said Joe Gordon, U.S. president, Bausch + Lomb. “We are uniquely positioned to support a broad spectrum of vision needs for our customers’ patients, including those with astigmatism, a large patient population with unique requirements that can be more challenging to fit.”
The expanded parameters, which are now available for eye care professionals and their patients, include 30 new axes found below in bold:
| Sphere Power |
Cylinder Power |
Axis |
| Plano to -6.00D (in 0.25D steps) |
-0.75, -1.25, -1.75 ________________________________ -2.25 |
10° 20° 30° 40° 50° 60° 70° 80° 90° 100° 110° 120° 130° 140° 150° 160° 170° 180° |
| -6.50D to -9.00D (in 0.50D steps) |
-0.75, -1.25, -1.75 -2.25 |
10° 20° 60° 70° 80° 90° 100° 110° 120° 160° 170° 180° 10° 20° 90° 160° 170° 180° |
| +0.25 to +4.00 (in 0.25 steps) |
-0.75, -1.25, -1.75 |
10° 20° 70° 80° 90° 100° 110° 160° 170° 180° __________________________ 10° 20° 80° 90° 100° 160° 170° 180° |
“With the additional parameters of Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism lenses, more of my patients will be able to experience the benefits that this toric lens offers, including all-day comfort and convenience,” said Mile Brujic, OD, Premier Vision Group, Bowling Green, OH. “Finding a solution for patients with astigmatism was once a barrier. However, given the advancements in technology and the expansion of parameters such as those seen in Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism lenses, we can now provide patients the comfort and quality of vision they expect and deserve with a daily disposable toric lens.”
Similar to the other products in the Biotrue® ONEday brand family, Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism lenses are formulated with a patented dehydration barrier, which allows the lens to maintain nearly 100 percent of its moisture for a full 16 hours.1 Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism contact lenses also offer an evolved peri-ballast design, featuring a tapered edge to limit lid interaction, and spherical aberration control to help reduce halos and glare, particularly in low light conditions.
For more information on the full family of Biotrue® ONEday contact lenses, including how eye care professionals and patients can properly recycle these lenses and their packaging through the
Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling program, visit www.biotrueonedaylenses.com.
References
1. Data on file, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated. Rochester, N.Y.
Bausch + Lomb and Clearside Biomedical Announce Publication of Pivotal Phase 3 Data on XipereTM (Triamcinolone Acetonide Suprachoroidal Injectable Suspension) in Ophthalmology
Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company, and its parent company, Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), and Clearside Biomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSD), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and delivering treatments that restore and preserve vision for people with serious back of the eye diseases, announced today that Ophthalmology, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, has published results from the randomized, controlled, double-masked Phase 3 clinical trial (PEACHTREE study) of XIPERETM (triamcinolone acetonide suprachoroidal injectable suspension), an investigational treatment with a proposed indication of macular edema associated with uveitis.1
“Macular edema is the leading cause of vision loss in patients with uveitis,” said Steven Yeh, MD, lead author and principal investigator for the PEACHTREE study, and M. Louise Simpson Associate professor of ophthalmology, Emory Eye Center. “The efficacy and safety data from the PEACHTREE Phase 3 trial showed that delivery of XIPERE via suprachoroidal administration, an alternative technique for delivering ocular therapies, may facilitate more targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the retina and choroid. Targeted drug delivery via the suprachoroidal space may also limit corticosteroid exposure to the anterior segment with the potential to decrease adverse events, such as cataracts, intraocular pressure elevation and exacerbation of glaucoma that can commonly arise from other local corticosteroid delivery techniques.”
The data demonstrated that patients with noninfectious uveitis in the XIPERE study arm experienced clinically significant improvement in vision relative to the control arm, demonstrating the potential efficacy of suprachoroidal injection of XIPERE for the treatment of macular edema associated with uveitis. No serious adverse events (AEs) considered by the investigators related to treatment were reported.
“The publication of our positive Phase 3 XIPERE clinical trial results is an important milestone for Clearside as it expands the understanding of our suprachoroidal treatment approach,” said Thomas A. Ciulla, M.D., MBA, chief medical officer, Clearside Medical. “We are coordinating closely with Bausch Health, our exclusive licensee of XIPERE in the United States and Canada, and are excited for the potential to add this treatment option to the repertoire for retinal specialists.”
"The results of this study are an exciting development in our journey with Clearside to bring patients this potential new treatment option, if approved," said Yolande Barnard, vice president and general manager, U.S. Pharmaceuticals, Bausch + Lomb. “We are committed to delivering therapies that can make a difference in patients' vision and lives, and our work with XIPERE is a strong example of that."
References:
1. Steven Y, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Suprachoroidal CLS-TA for Macular Edema Secondary to Noninfectious Uveitis: Phase 3, Randomized Trial. Ophthalmology. 2020: doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.01.006