Announcement From the AAO Meeting: Bausch + Lomb Expands Dry Eye and Aesthetics Portfolios

Bausch + Lomb introduced several new products at the American Academy of Optometry.

LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS

LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS, a new line of hypoallergenic specialty eye care products scientifically developed to cleanse, nourish and brighten the sensitive eye area. Each product in the LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS line has been formulated with clean, nutrient rich ingredients and contains no fragrance, alcohol, sulfates, mineral oil, prostaglandins, PEG (polyethylene glycol), parabens, phthalates or PHMB (polyhexamethylene biguanide). In addition, the safety and performance of the products were tested up to 12 weeks with more than 15,000 applications using cutaneous and ophthalmic testing metrics.

The product line includes LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS 3-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water and Eye Makeup Remover; LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS Nourishing Lash & Brow Serum and LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream.

“An increasing number of my patients have experienced eye irritation associated with some of the products or treatments they use around their eyes,” said Jennifer Tsai, OD, and founder, LINE OF SIGHT, New York. “LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS was developed specifically for the sensitive eye area with extensive safety and performance testing. I’ll be recommending this new line of products to help my patients achieve beautiful, healthy-looking eyes.”

LUMIFY EYE ILLUMINATIONS are located in the eye care aisle next to Bausch + Lomb LUMIFY redness reliever eye drops and are also available online at all major national food, drug and mass retailers.

The U.S. Commercial Launch of MIEBO

MIEBO (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution) was introduced for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) and is the first and only prescription eye drop approved for DED that directly targets tear evaporation.

“More and more Americans are suffering from dry eye disease, due in large part to today’s multi-screen lifestyles,” said Andrew Stewart, president, Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer, Bausch + Lomb. “With MIEBO, eye care professionals now have a prescription eye drop that directly addresses tear evaporation, the leading cause of dry eye disease.”

DED affects more than 38 million Americans, with approximately nine in 10 experiencing evaporative dry eye.^1,2 When not addressed, tear evaporation may lead to worsening of the condition by triggering a cycle of inflammation and ocular surface damage.^3,4 MIEBO is a single ingredient, water-, preservative- and steroid-free prescription eye drop that spreads quickly and comfortably. It is designed to address the signs and symptoms of DED by reducing tear evaporation at the ocular surface.^5-7

Acquisition of XIIDRA®

Bausch + Lomb has completed its acquisition of XIIDRA (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a non-steroid eye drop specifically approved to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) focusing on inflammation associated with dry eye, and certain other ophthalmology assets.

In addition to XIIDRA, Bausch + Lomb’s dry eye offering includes eye and contact lens drops from the company’s consumer brand franchises and its pharmaceutical business, including MIEBO™ (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution), the first and only FDA-approved prescription eye drop for DED that directly targets tear evaporation.

“We expect to quickly take a leading position in the growing prescription dry eye category with the XIIDRA acquisition and MIEBO launch and, importantly, help the millions of patients not currently receiving adequate treatment for dry eye disease,” said Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO, Bausch + Lomb.

OTC Product Line Expands With Blink® Eye Drops

“There’s a growing need for relieving the symptoms of dry eyes and dry contact lenses, and OTC products are often the first option consumers choose,” said John Ferris, executive vice president, Consumer, Bausch + Lomb. “The addition of Blink expands our robust portfolio of OTC eye care brands, enabling us to provide more choices for consumers and eye care professionals.”

According to a 2022 Gallup Study, 57% of American adults report suffering from eye dryness, and of them, nearly half (48%) use OTC lubricant drops to obtain relief. The incidence is increasing, with a strong correlation between the amount of time spent on digital devices and reported dry eyes.⁸ In addition, contact lens discomfort and contact lens dryness impacts a third of the 45 million contact lens wearers in the United States.^{9, 10, 11}

References

1. Downs P. 2020 Dry Eye Products Market Report: A Global Analysis for 2019 to 2025. Market Scope; 2020.
2. Lemp, MA, Crews, LA, Bron AJ. (2012). Distribution of Aqueous-Deficient and Evaporative Dry Eye in a Clinic-Based Cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea, 31(5), 472-478. 2012;31(5):472-478. doi:10.109/ICO.0b013e318225415a.
3. Craig JP, Nelson JD, Azar DT, et al. TFOS dews II report executive summary. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(4):802-812. doi:10.1016/j.tos.2017.08.003.
4. Baudouin C, Messmer EM, Aragona P, et al. Revisiting the vicious circle of dry eye disease: a focus on the pathophysiology of meibomian gland dysfunction. Br J Ophthalmol. 2016;300-203. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-307415.
5. Data on file.
6. Nichols KK, Foulks GN, Bron AJ, et al. The international workshop on Meibomian gland dysfunction: executive summary. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52(4):1922-1929. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6997a
7. Borchman D, Vittitow J, Ewurum A, Veligandl SR. Spectroscopic study of perfluorohexyloctane human Meibum interactions. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2022;63:1525.
8. MultiSponsor Surveys, Inc. The 2022 Study of Dry Eye Sufferers. August 2022.
9. MultiSponsor Surveys, Inc. The 2021 Study of the U.S. Consumer Contact Lens Market. December 2021.
10. American Optometric Association. www.aoa.org.
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov.

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