Dry eye diagnostic coming to a clinic near you

OcuSense, makers of the innovative TearLab Osmolarity System for the diagnosis of dry eye, announced the signing of multi-year agreements with four distributors in five EU countries, for the exclusive distribution of the TearLab system.

The countries involved include: the UK and Ireland (Birmingham Optical Group); Germany (bon Optic), Spain (Equipsa); and Italy (SIFI Diagnostics).

The TearLab System determines osmolarity through measurement of electrical impedance of tear samples. It uses a lab-on-a-chip approach: the disposable tip not only takes the tiny tear film samples, less than 50 nL, from the eye but also contains electrodes that rapidly measure tear osmolarity. It takes about 30 seconds to perform the test from start to finish, and can be done by a technician. Thus the test can be easily performed in the office and only a tiny tear sample is required.

A multicentre study with the system is scheduled to begin later this year in six European sites: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, as well as three sites in the US and one in Japan.