lifitegrast ophthalmic solution

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, on Monday, July 11, 2016. Xiidra is the first medication in a new class of drugs, called lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) antagonist, approved by the FDA for dry eye disease.

“Normal tear production is needed for clear vision and eye health,” said Edward Cox, M.D., director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This approval will provide a new treatment option for patients with dry eye disease.”

Dry eye disease includes a group of conditions in which the eye does not produce an adequate volume of tears or when the tears are not of the correct consistency. The chance of experiencing dry eye increases with age, affecting approximately five percent of the adult population age 30-40 and 10 to 15 percent of adults over age 65, and is more common among women. When severe and left untreated, this condition can lead to pain, ulcers or scars on the part of the eye called the cornea. Dry eye can make it more difficult to perform some activities, such as using a computer or reading for an extended period of time, and it can decrease tolerance for dry environments, such as the air inside an airplane.

The safety and efficacy of Xiidra was assessed in over a thousand patients, in four separate, randomized, controlled studies. These studies included patients 19–97 years of age, of which the majority were female (76 percent). Patients were randomized equally to receive either Xiidra eyedrops or placebo eyedrops, which were used twice a day for twelve weeks. The studies found that groups treated with Xiidra demonstrated more improvement in both the signs and the symptoms of eye dryness than the groups treated with placebo.

The most common side effects of Xiidra include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision and an unusual taste sensation (dysgeusia).

Dry eye disease does not routinely occur in children. Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below the age of 17 years has not been studied.

Xiidra is manufactured by Shire US Inc., of Lexington, Massachusetts.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency is also responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Questions Papers

Facial coloration including rosy cheeks biggest indicator of healthiness, say researchers

Your face can reveal a lot about your personality, the state of your health and

 attractiveness. It is a window into your health and emotions. When you stare into a mirror 

and dark circles, puffy eyes, acne or other undesirable facial flaws are staring back at you, 

your face is telling a tale about possible nutritional deficiencies, poor digestion, lack of sleep 

or other physical or mental health issues
                                    
  
Dr. Alex Jones, lecturer in psychology at the University of Swansea, has spent a great deal 

of his career researching the human face and the kind of information it holds about us. 

Facial appearance plays a significant role in how we feel about ourselves and how we feel 

about others. It influences who we are attracted to, and who we choose to approach 

or avoid.

Writing for The Conversation, and published in The Daily Mail, Dr. Alex Jones reveals what 

your complexion has to say about your lifestyle

What are our faces telling us?

We are attracted to healthy-looking faces and seem to avoid those who look unhealthy. But 

what makes a face look "healthy" in our eyes is the question that intrigues Dr.Jones the most

While he notes that the influence of body mass index (BMI) on face shape or the 

 smoothness of skin definitely play a role in how healthy others perceive us to be, he found 

 that there is another determining factor.

His new research sheds light on how facial skin tone or coloration affects people' perception

After analyzing a lot of faces, he concluded that lighter, redder and  yellower skin were seen 

as the healthiest. He further notes that these facial features seem to be linked to biological 

processes. A lighter skin, for instance, has been associated with the ability to absorb more

 vitamin D, while redness of the skin may indicate more efficient circulation and blood 

supplys to the skin.

A yellow glow, the sign of a healthy diet

While a lighter or redder skin is seen as a sign of good health, it is yellowness that seems 

to be particularly relevant for a healthy complexion. People with a yellow tinted skin tend to 

eat healthier diets packed with fresh fruits and vegetables.

As reported by Dr. Jones, carotenoids, or antioxidants that give fresh produce their vibrant 

color, are essential for good health, and are responsible for creating a healthy glowing skin.

 Tanning has been found to have the same effect. However, he notes that the yellow color 

conferred by a healthy diet is preferred to the yellowness brought about by tanning.

Overall skin tone and upping antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables seem to be the secrets 

to a healthy and rejuvenated look. But according to Dr. Jones, it isn't as simple as that.

Have you ever heard of the deep red-colored phytonutrient, astaxanthin? It is another 

powerful antioxidant that supports a healthy lifestyle.

The lighter areas show where the skin of healthier looking faces are brighter (left), redder (middle), and yellower (right).

Lighter skin under the eyes and rosy cheeks, the 

ultimate signs of good health

Dr. Jones notes that overall skin color or glow is not the only significant factor in how we 

perceive a healthy appearance.

Dark circles under the eyes or rosacea, for instance, are both seen as unhealthy signs. This 

indicates that not only overall skin tone but the colors in certain areas of the face could be 

relevant, too. To put this to the test, Dr. Jones asked observers to rate photographed faces, 

after subtly changing them to have lighter under-eye skin and redder cheeks, for 

how healthy they thought they were.

He has identified that while an overall yellow glow generally was the contributor to looking 

healthy, lighter skin under the eyes and rosy cheeks seemed to play larger roles.

Finally, he adds that it is not surprising that cosmetic products such as concealers and 

blushers are so popular given these results. They improve the coloration of the areas that 

matter the most to creating a healthy-looking appearance and glow.

But, as Dr. Jones mentioned, while makeup can do a lot to improve your appearance, 

nothing beats a good night's sleep and regular exercise to look your best.