Allegro Ophthalmics (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) has licensed its integrin peptide therapy to Hanmi Pharmaceutical (Seoul, Korea), the companies announced in a joint press release.

Imprimis Pharmaceutical (San Diego) will introduce proprietary triamcinolone acetonide and moxifloxacin hydrochloride (Tri-Moxi) and prednisolone acetate and moxifloxacin hydrochloride (Pred-Moxi) combination eye drop formulations for patients following laser refractive surgery, including LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery, cataract, and other ocular surgeries, according to a company news release.

RESEARCH BRIEFS

• Although vitamin D and D3 are biomarkers for time spent outdoors, there is no evidence they are associated with future myopia in children, according to a recent study. Jeremy A. Guggenheim and colleagues analyzed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a population-based birth cohort, to determine if vitamin D levels played a role in future myopia. They conducted survival analyses on 3,677 children until the children reached 15 years of age. Amount of time spent outside was measured at ages 8 and 9. Serum vitamin D2 and D3 levels were measured at age 10. More time spent outdoors resulted in higher vitamin D and D3 levels, but not vitamin D2 levels (P=0.23). There was no statistical evidence to support that the children's serum vitamin D3 levels were associated with future myopia. This study is published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
• Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) proved effective in treating and achieving long-term stabilization of progressive keratoconus, reducing the need for corneal transplantation, according to Frederik Raiskup, MD, and colleagues. They conducted a retrospective interventional case series to analyze the 10-year results of 24 patients (34 eyes; mean age, 28.4 years±20.1 months) who underwent CXL for keratoconus between 2000 and 2004. Corneal collagen crosslinking was performed by applying riboflavin and ultraviolet-A. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal topography, and endothelial cell counts (ECC) were recorded preoperatively and 10 years later. The mean apical keratometry value was 61.5 D preoperatively and 55.3 D 10 years later, a statistically significant decrease (P<.001). Pre- and postoperative CDVA were also statistically significantly different (P=.002). The mean CDVA improved postoperatively by 0.14 logMAR (P=.002). The ECC remained unchanged. This study is published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
• The incidence of ocular hypertension after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) is high, affecting almost half the patients undergoing the procedure, according to a study. Faik Oruçoglu, MD, and colleagues retrospectively reviewed hospital charts of 146 eyes that had undergone PKP between 2001 and 2003. After surgery, 70 eyes (47.9%) had at least 1 period of ocular hypertension, with a mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of 27.15±5.66 mm Hg. Ocular hypertension appeared after a mean postoperative period of 70.3±15.8 days, and continued for an average period of 15.6±2.0 days. In 35 eyes (23.9%), a second episode of IOP elevation was noted 212.2±46.8 days after the surgery. Logistic regression analysis revealed that preexisting glaucoma (P=0.009) and an additional surgical procedure combined with PKP (P=0.007) were the main factors predicting ocular hypertension after PKP. In 11 eyes (7.53%) the topical pressure-lowering therapy failed, and they required glaucoma filtering surgery. The study is published in the Journal of Glaucoma.

NEW PRODUCT BRIEFS

• NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (Emeryville, Calif.) has rebranded its daily surfactant lid cleaner iLid Cleanser as Avenova, the company said.