title: Feasibility study of sustained-release travoprost punctum plug for intraocular pressure reduction in an Asian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and safety of a punctum plug-based sustained drug release system for a prostaglandin analog, travoprost (OTX-TP), for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in an Asian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an initial feasibility, prospective, single-arm study involving 26 eyes and a bioresorbable punctum plug containing OTX-TP. An OTX-TP was placed in the vertical portion of the superior or inferior canaliculus of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The main outcome measure was the IOP-lowering efficacy of OTX-TP at 3 (8 am) and 10, 20, and 30 days (8 am, 10 am, and 4 pm), compared to baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 OTX-TP were inserted for 17 subjects. The mean (standard deviation) age was 57.2 (13.8) years. At 10 days, all plugs were still present, and the IOP reduction from baseline was 6.2 (23%), 5.4 (21%), and 7.5 mmHg (28%) at 8 am, 10 am, and 4 pm, respectively. At 10 days, the mean IOP (standard error of mean) was 21.2 (1.2), 20.4 (0.8), and 19.7 (1.0) at 8 am, 10 am, and 4 pm, respectively, showing no discernible IOP trend during the course of the day. At 30 days, plug retention had declined to 42%, and the overall IOP reduction had decreased to 16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sustained-release OTX-TP is able to reduce IOP by 24% (day 10) and 15.6% (day 30), respectively. It is a potentially well-tolerable ocular hypotensive for glaucoma patients with a history of poor compliance.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shamira A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Daniel Sw
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Monisha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nongpiur
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia D
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chelvin Ca
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sng
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sue-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aung
keywords: Asian; bioresorbable; glaucoma; ocular hypertension; punctum plug; travoprost