Researchers in Israel are developing a pill for dry eye that has shown more than 25% improvement in tear film break-up time (TFBUT), corneal staining and Schirmer testing. Phase II clinical trial data, published in the March Ophthalmology, found that the drug, CF101, “resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the mean change from baseline at week 12 of the corneal staining, TFBUT, and tear meniscus (TM) height in the CF101-treated group. CF101 was well tolerated and exhibited an excellent safety profile with no serious adverse events.” Also noted: a statistically significant decrease in IOP of treated subjects. “Treating dry eye syndrome with an oral drug is based on much better patient compliance than that associated with a topical treatment,” the researchers wrote. Long-term studies of CF101 to treat patients with dry eye syndrome are now underway.

AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) has released the first-ever estimate of the global cost of vision loss—nearly $3 trillion dollars ($2,954 billion) for 733 million people living with low vision and blindness worldwide. These costs will rise dramatically over the next decade unless effective prevention and treatment strategies are adopted worldwide, AMDAI says. The full report is available at www.amdalliance.org.

The American Board of Optometry has launched its new secure website at www.americanboardofoptometry.org. The new site allows visitors to apply completely online to begin the process toward becoming an active candidate for board certification.