The year of 2023 has been jam-packed with groundbreaking FDA approvals (we’re looking at you, Syfovre and Xdemvy), commercial products launches, and—of course—a seemingly endless stream of eye drop warnings/recall updates (see here for a brief look).
Out of all these updates though, which caught the eye (pun intended) of our readers the most? We give you: our top 10 Glance-ified news coverage.
Let’s start with #10.
VSP Vision launches Student Loan Repayment Program
Published: September 20, 2023
Player involved:
- VSP Vision
Your rundown:
VSP Vision invested $2 million to launch a new Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) for eyecare professionals (ECPs) in optometry, where a selected number of ECPs will be provided up to $50,000 per year over the next 4 years on the contingency that they commit to working in a VSP-owned location or private practice.
Moving on to #9…
Bausch + Lomb launches MIEBO in the US
Published: Sept. 12, 2023
Players involved:
- Bausch + Lomb
- Novaliq GmbH
Your rundown:
Just over 4 months following FDA approval, Bausch + Lomb’s MIEBO (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution), the first and only treatment for dry eye disease (DED) that directly targets tear evaporation, was commercially launched in the United States.
#8
FDA issues warning letters to 8 companies over unapproved eye products
Published: Sept. 13, 2023
Players involved:
- FDA
- Boiron Inc.
- CVS Health
- DR Vitamin Solutions
- Natural Ophthalmics, Inc.
- OcluMed LLC
- Similasan AG/Similasan USA
- TRP Company, Inc.
- Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Your rundown:
The FDA issued warning letters to eight companies over the illegal manufacturing or marketing of unapproved drug products—with some labeled as containing silver, which is known to permanently turn the eyes gray—for certain ocular conditions, placing some of the companies on its “import alert” list to prevent their products from entering the U.S.
Now lucky #7.
FDA warns against use of unapproved amniotic fluid eye drops
Published: April 27, 2023
Players involved:
- Regener-Eyes LLC
- M2 Biologics LLC
Your rundown:
The FDA issued a public safety notification that warned of potential safety concerns with the marketing and distribution of amniotic fluid eye drops—for conditions such as DED—that have not received required pre-market review and approval.
And #6?
Nationwide recall issued for two more eye drop products
Published: March 6, 2023
Players involved:
- FDA
- Apotex Corp.
- Pharmedica USA
Your rundown:
Apotex Corp. and Pharmedica USA initiated voluntary recalls for consumers to cease use of their eye drop solution products—Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution 0.15% and Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops, respectively—following reports over non-sterility.
#5.
Amazon receives warning for selling 7 unapproved eye drops
Published: Nov. 15, 2023
Players involved:
- FDA
- Amazon
Your rundown:
The FDA issued a warning to Amazon.com, Inc. regarding the online platform’s “introduction into interstate commerce” of seven unapproved eye drop products for sale to consumers. See the complete list of drops here.
#4.
What to know about Akorn Pharma’s bankruptcy
Published: March 3, 2023
Player involved:
- Akorn Pharmaceuticals
Your rundown:
Trending months after the company’s demise, this story covered Akorn Pharma’s filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, laying off its entire workforce without severance pay and closing all of its U.S. locations—all with $100 million in debt.
And that doesn’t even include the 70+ drugs they recalled from the U.S. market.
#3
Study identifies cancer-causing chemicals in popular contact lenses
Published: May 23, 2023
Brands involved:
- Alcon
- Acuvue
- CooperVision
Your rundown:
Readers are continuing to flock to this story on a consumer study commissioned by Mamavation, an eco-wellness digital platform, that examined 18 sets of soft contact lenses and identified various levels of organic fluorine—a potential indicator for the presence of toxic “forever chemicals.”
Moving on to #2…
FDA warns against use of 27 eye drops from major brands
Published: Oct. 5, 2023
Players involved:
- CVS Health
- Leader (Cardinal Health)
- Rugby Cardinal Health
- Rite Aid
- Target Up & Up
- Velocity Pharma
- Walmart
Your rundown:
The FDA issued a warning to consumers on Oct. 27 to immediately stop the purchase and use of 27 over-the-counter (OTC) eye drop products due to a potential risk for eye infection—the third major eye drop recall of the year.
At last … now #1.
Lawsuit filed against VSP alleging optometric market power abuse
Published: Oct. 5, 2023
Players involved:
- VSP Vision
- Total Vision
Your rundown:
Our top story features a lawsuit filed in U.S. court against VSP Vision by San Diego, California-based Total Vision that accused the vision insurance company and a number of its complementary businesses of abusing its market power via restricting competition within the eyecare industry and pressuring practices to purchase products/services with inflated prices.