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Purpose: To evaluate both the early experience of real-world patients treated with dexamethasone ophthalmic insert (0.4 mg; DEXTENZA®), hereafter referred to as DEX, after cataract surgery as well as staff/practice integration of DEX relative to eyedrops. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study of 23 cataract practices in the United States. Respondents were patients and practice staff who had experience with DEX following cataract surgery. Both patients and practice staff completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics summarized the survey responses to portray the experience of the respondents. Results: Surveys were completed by 62 patients and 19 practice staff. Almost all patients (93%) were satisfied or extremely satisfied with DEX. Patients highly preferred DEX (93%) to topical steroid drops (7%) based on past experiences with topical steroid drops. Most practice staff (95%) were satisfied or highly satisfied with DEX, reporting a 45% reduction in time spent educating patients on postoperative drop use and a 46% decrease in time spent addressing calls from pharmacies regarding postoperative medications. Conclusion: Incorporating the DEX insert into clinical practice in cataract surgery practices can improve patient adherence, while potentially providing significant savings to practices in terms of time spent educating patients and responding to patient and pharmacy call-backs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this article is to review the literature on the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on dry eye disease (DED). A literature search on dry eye and COVID-19 was performed. Most current studies focus on DED in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or dry eye symptoms in random populations of students and medical staff. Real-world dry eye practices revealed a variety of responses, possibly related to local environmental factors and lifestyle. Patients recovered from COVID-19 warrant ocular surface surveillance for DED. Pandemic mitigation strategies including remote work/school/leisure and mask wearing affect dry eye practices globally. Heightened reiteration of dry eye management for environmental and behavioral modifications, visual display terminals, and mask wearing with attention to its effects on the ocular surface is increasingly important as this pandemic continues., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists.)

Contact lenses, when worn and cared for properly, are a safe and effective form of vision correction used by an estimated 45 million Americans. However, contact lens wearers are at risk for contact lens-related eye infections, especially when wearers do not practice proper contact lens wear and care habits. These infections, affecting the cornea and known as microbial keratitis (Figure), can lead to serious adverse health outcomes. Because contact lenses are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as medical devices, contact lens-related corneal infections should be reported to FDA as an adverse event. To illustrate their serious health implications, six cases of contact lens-related corneal infection, in which sleeping in lenses was reported as the main risk factor, are presented. Consequences of infection reported among the identified cases included the need for frequent administration of antibiotic eye drops, multiple follow-up medical appointments, and permanent eye damage. Health education measures directed toward contact lens wearers should emphasize raising awareness of the risks of sleeping in contact lenses as well as adherence to all recommendations for the wear and care of contact lenses. Additional measures are needed to educate eye care professionals about the need to report contact lens-related corneal infections to MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program (https://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/)., Competing Interests: CDC receives an annual contribution from the Contact Lens Institute to support CDC’s Healthy Contact Lens Program. The Contact Lens Institute had no involvement in the drafting or review of this report. No other conflicts of interest were reported.