Re: Lavinsky et al.: Can macula and optic nerve head parameters detect glaucoma progression in eyes with advanced circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer damage? (Ophthalmology. 2018;125:1907-1912)

Abstract

we hope future studies in larger patient pools followed for a sufficient time to observe corneal reinnervation will be performed soon. Regarding duration of disease/corneal denervation, demographic factors and underlying causes, we could not find any risk factor that could be responsible for a lower efficacy of the treatment and based on the results of this trial we anticipate that rhNGF eye drops could be beneficial in all patients with moderate-severe NK. Therefore, we fully agree that the REPARO trial represents a giant leap forward in the field of NK and take this chance to anticipate that, since this paper was first submitted, a confirmatory study (NCT02227147) has already been performed successfully in the United States. Both the European Medicine Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have now granted marketing authorization for rhNGF (cenegermin) eye drops in NK based on the results of these studies. The product is already available in Europe and should be available shortly in the United States.