United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has provisionally recommended ocriplasmin (Jetrea, ThromboGenics NV) for reimbursement within the National Health Service (NHS).

As dry eye syndrome (DES) affects more and more patients over the next 10 years, pharmaceutical companies are expecting to expand their clinical products globally to treat the condition, thus tripling the market’s global revenue over the next decade.

Vision-related diseases are costing patients, insurance companies, and the U.S. government more than ever. According to the new report commissioned by Prevent Blindness America (PBA) from researchers at the University of Chicago, vision diseases are among the costliest health problems to the U.S. economy.

The Appraisal Committee of the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a positive Appraisal Consultation Document (ACD) for the 190 µm fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant in applicator (Iluvien, Alimera Sciences) for the treatment of pseudophakic patients with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) and who are unresponsive to existing therapies.

The association of aspirin use and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is controversial, considering the varying study results. The totality of evidence, however, from observational studies and randomized, controlled clinical trials suggests there is no major harmful association of aspirin use with AMD, said Emily Y. Chew, MD.