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Assets and opportunities dominate discussion of ophthalmology 'space'
 Emmett Cunningham Jr. |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dry age-related macular degeneration may provide an opportunity for new entrants into the ophthalmology market "space," Emmett Cunningham Jr., MD, PhD, MPH, told a gathering of investors, physicians, business leaders and others with ophthalmology interests and assets.
Another area of opportunity is the wet AMD market, albeit a complex one, possibly through development of combination therapies, Dr. Cunningham said at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit here.
Aging baby boomers continue to contribute to growing refractive surgery trends, particularly in the area of cataract surgery.
"Cataract surgery continues to grow with the aging population at about 3% per year," Dr. Cunningham said. Among refractive procedures, though, toric procedures are the fastest growing, at an annual growth rate of nearly 4% to 6%, he said.
"This year they are poised to overtake presbyopia-correcting lenses as the most common refractive procedure," Dr. Cunningham said.
Even though "money is tight" and the National Eye Institute funding rate has been essentially flat over the past decade, Dr. Cunningham is optimistic for the ophthalmology drug and device market.
"The good news for us is that ophthalmology is a hot space right now," he said.
- Disclosure: Dr. Cunningham is a partner in Clarus Ventures LLC.