PRODUCT SPECTRUM

PRESCRIPTION DRY EYE TREATMENT NOW AVAILABLE

Shire plc has announced that Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a twice-daily prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, is now available by prescription in the United States.

Shire says that the active ingredient in Xiidra, lifitegrast, binds to the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), a cell surface protein found on leukocytes, and blocks the interaction of LFA-1 with its cognate ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). ICAM-1 may be overexpressed in corneal and conjunctival tissues in patients who have dry eye disease. This interaction can contribute to the formation of an immunological synapse resulting in T-cell activation and migration to target tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated that lifitegrast may inhibit T-cell adhesion to ICAM-1 in a human T-cell line and may inhibit secretion of inflammatory cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, according to Shire. The exact mechanism of action of lifitegrast in dry eye disease is not known.

Xiidra is packaged in a foil pouch containing five low-density polyethylene 0.2mL single-use containers and is supplied in a carton of 60 single-use containers.

In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions reported in 5% to 25% of patients were instillation site irritation, dysgeusia, and reduced visual acuity. Contact lens wearers should remove their lenses before using Xiidra and wait for at least 15 minutes after instillation before lens application.

It is not known whether Xiidra is safe and effective in children under 17 years of age.

Shire has patient-focused resources to share information about Xiidra prescription coverage and savings (subject to eligibility): 1) ask iiris, a phone service offering live-person responses to questions regarding information about insurance coverage, benefits, co-pays, and availability in pharmacies. To ask iiris, call (844) my-iiris; and 2) Xiidra iinsider, an optional program that patients can sign up for to receive information and special offers, either via text or email. More information about the product and the patient-resource programs can be found at Xiidra.com and Xiidraiinsider.com. Practitioners can call (800) 828-2088 or visit www.xiidra-ecp.com ■

Xiidra offers a new treatment option for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adult patients.

VAULT MAPPING SOFTWARE FOR SCLERAL LENS FITTING LAUNCHED

Optovue introduced Vault Mapping for all iSeries OCT systems at International Vision Expo West. Optovue says the new Vault Mapping software can assist in scleral lens fitting by allowing visualization and mapping of the central corneal clearance (CCC).

Traditional corneal imaging for identifying the clearance (vault) between the cornea and a scleral lens utilizes a fluorescein solution and a slit lamp, resulting in one cross-sectional view. Vault Mapping creates a CCC assessment map that can help determine whether the lens is tilting or fitting improperly. Optovue also says that the software enables precise visualization of the lens-to-eye relationship to improve efficiency for specialty lens fitting.

Vault Mapping is available for iVue, iFusion, and iScan OCT devices. Call (866) 941-9240 or visit www.optovue.com ■

D-EYE INTRODUCES ENHANCED APP FOR RETINAL SCREENINGS

D-Eye Srl, a developer of smartphone-based retinal screening, has introduced its version 2.0 app for iPhones. The updated app, available as a free download from the Apple Store, enhances functionality, allowing healthcare practitioners to more easily screen for eye health issues, according to the company.

New features include autofocus calibration for myopic, hyperopic, and emmetropic eyes, saving time when conducting each retinal exam, according to D-Eye. An Image Mask feature is also part of the new app, allowing users to highlight the posterior pole in real time. Image editing features have also been expanded to include contrast, brightness, RGB, Gamma, and saturation. And, for the iPhone 6, 6S, 6+, and 6S+, users can now log on to the D-Eye app via the new “Touch ID” feature. Call (626) 497-9212 or visit http://d-eyecare.com ■