SAN DIEGO, Sept. 19, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TearLab Corporation (Nasdaq:TEAR) (TSX:TLB) ("TearLab" or the "Company") announced that, today at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Annual Congress in Vienna, prominent LASIK surgeon, Dr. Eric Donnenfeld, presented data from a multi-site refractive surgery center study designed to determine how pre- and post-LASIK tear osmolarity levels relate to rates of Dry Eye Disease ("DED") and DED symptoms, if differences exist in patients who are pre-treated with ocular lubricants, and if pre-operative tear osmolarity levels relate to visual acuity outcomes.
In the study, 128 refractive patients (256 eyes) were randomized into two arms, pre-surgically treated or untreated with an ocular lubricant containing hyaluronic acid (Abbott Medical Optics' Blink® Tears). All patients followed each surgeon's standard pre and post-surgical therapeutic regimen including fluoroquinolone, steroid and cyclosporine drops as appropriate. TearLab® Osmolarity testing, OSDI symptomology, as well as uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity assessments were performed at screening, immediately prior to, one month post-, and three month post-surgery.
Patients with pre-operative hyperosmolarity (≥ 308 mOsms/L) demonstrated worse long-term uncorrected visual acuity (p=0.018). In addition, those treated pre-operatively with an ocular lubricant achieved normal osmolarity levels faster post-operatively (p=0.020).
Dr. Donnenfeld commented, "These findings suggest that staining, commonly used as a screening test before refractive surgery, is not sensitive enough. Instead, surgeons should perform pre-operative testing with the TearLab® Osmolarity System as this new technology may be uniquely able to identify those patients who are at risk of worse post-operative outcomes and initial symptoms due to DED. Further, identifying DED patients with the TearLab Osmolarity System and pre-treating them with an ocular lubricant may help reduce their post-surgical exposure to heightened osmolarity."
About The TearLab Osmolarity System
The TearLab Osmolarity System uses a novel lab-on-a-chip approach that requires less than 50 nL (nanoliters) of tear fluid in order to measure tear Osmolarity. The TearLab Osmolarity System eliminates the challenges that previously prevented point-of-care Osmolarity testing. The TearLab Osmolarity System can produce a sample-to-answer result in less than 30 seconds.
About Dry Eye Disease
DED is a common condition in which the eye does not produce enough tears to keep the surface of the eye sufficiently lubricated. It affects approximately 40 million people in the U.S. and 100 million people worldwide. In its mild to moderate forms, it can impact vision and the ability to go about daily activities. In its more severe forms, DED can lead to permanent loss of vision.
About TearLab Corporation
TearLab Corporation (www.tearlab.com) develops and markets lab-on-a-chip technologies that enable eye care practitioners to improve standard of care by objectively and quantitatively testing for disease markers in tears at the point-of-care. The TearLab Osmolarity Test, for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease, is the first assay developed for the award-winning TearLab Osmolarity System. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, TearLab Corporation's common shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol 'TEAR' and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'TLB'.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about TearLab. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding future increases in the number of insurers covering the TearLab® Osmolarity test and the future commercial adoption of the TearLab™ Osmolarity System. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results may differ materially. Many factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including the factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to our annual and quarterly reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.