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AMO launches new artificial tear to surgical community
CHICAGO — Advanced Medical Optics has launched a new artificial tear that it says is useful for preoperative management of the ocular surface.
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"Blink Tears is a novel tear that works with a completely different mechanism of action than any tear previously available in the United States," Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, said in an interview with Ocular Surgery News at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting here. "It treats the symptoms of dry eye, and it doesn't cause visual blurring. I consider this a refractive tear."
Blink was introduced last month in the United States with an indication for treating dry eye syndrome, but the ASCRS meeting represents its debut to the surgical community.
By thickening when the eye opens and thinning when the eye closes, Blink Tears has the ability to adapt to each individual eye, a feature that both improves tear film stability and provides longer-lasting comfort, Dr. Donnenfeld said.
Preliminary clinical data show that after 14 days of use, Blink Tears statistically significantly increased patient self-reported comfort and produced superior quality of vision, according to company literature.
In addition, Blink Tears posted a mean retention time of more than 31 minutes, but in some patients the drop was retained in the eye for more than 1 hour.
"I think it's a significant addition to the armamentarium of an ophthalmologist in treating a chronic disease that is important to all of us," Dr. Donnenfeld said.