Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed operation worldwide (Lindstrom, 2015). In the EU alone \>4.3M operations are performed annually(65% of patients are 65+). The leading post-surgical complication is inflammation, causing pain and, if left untreated, visual loss.
Extremely high post-cataract surgery inflammation risk mandates a post-operative care routine with all patients requiring corticosteroid eye drops, administered at least 4X/day, for a month. Compliance is currently very low, especially in older patients with comorbidities. When patients cannot self-administer drops and have no support from their families, district nurses have to intervene. This is a huge burden and cost.
VisusNano Ltd is developing a facilitating technology, enabling dropless post-cataract surgery care regimes. VisusLens is a biodegradable polymer-based drug elution system attached to an implantable intraocular lens (IOL). This provides controlled, sustained drug release within the patient’s eye. Utilising our patented mechanism for polymer attachment and controlled release.
VisusLens has already attracted the interest of ophthalmologists, strategics and venture capitalists. Our team has expertise in drug delivery development and ophthalmic surgery. 2 KOL ophthalmologist are integral to the team and ensure that the developed product is fit for their end-users. As a consequence, we are extremely patient-focussed.
In the EU, of the 4.5M annual surgeries on over 65s, 315K(7%) live with dementia and 1.12M (25%) with arthritis- attributable activity limitations. If patients cannot self-administer the drops, family is asked to help, adding to the unpaid carer burden. Otherwise, district nurses need to home visit the patient, at high cost and burden to the NHS(\>£55M). These costs are set to increase dramatically over the next 10yrs (driven by the ageing population), unless a new solution is found.
An alternative to drops, a limited number of products have been developed Dextenza and Dexycu. All products require an additional procedure during surgery(i.e. the injection or placing the insert) that increase its length, risk and costs.
VisusNano’s solution is simple to implement, requiring no change to the current surgical procedure.