With increasing ocular burden and global aging trends, the incidence of ocular diseases has surged globally in recent years, driving rapid expansion of the pharmaceutical market. Frost & Sullivan data indicates the global ophthalmic drug market grew from $27.7 billion in 2016 to $35 billion in 2020, with projections reaching $42.5 billion by 2025 and $73.4 billion by 2030.

The physiological structure of the eye is intricate and complex, featuring barrier systems such as tear dilution, blood circulation, lymphatic clearance, and the blood-ocular barrier. These mechanisms impose higher requirements on drug delivery systems and novel formulations. Ophthalmic pharmaceutical development primarily addresses common ocular conditions including glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy.

The development of novel ophthalmic drugs is currently in full swing, with research hotspots including atropine sulfate, recombinant anti-VEGF agents, humanized monoclonal antibodies, and gene/cell therapies. Concurrently, this progress poses elevated requirements and challenges across clinical study design, pharmaceutical supply chain management, and patient compliance optimization.

Multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, AbbVie, Alcon, and Santen Pharmaceutical,  are actively expanding their ophthalmic drug pipelines to address unmet clinical needs in specialized therapeutic segments.

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Patient Recruitment Challenges & Compliance Risks

Patient recruitment and compliance management present significant challenges in ophthalmic drug trials, particularly given the inherent complexity of trial design. Frequent follow-up requirements impose substantial burdens on participants, while the necessity for long-term treatment compliance introduces additional hurdles. Participants often face difficulties adhering to protocols when immediate therapeutic benefits remain unobserved or adverse effects emerge, increasing the risk of premature withdrawal. Effectively managing adherence to mitigate attrition risks and ensure timely study progression has emerged as a critical concern for trial sponsors.

National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25)

Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15)

Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain (10-point scale)

Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) Questionnaire

Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS)

Validated Ophthalmic Scales for Clinical Research
ACCMED-eCOA is designed to elevate compliance and drive research efficiency. It facilitates timely data submission through multi-party and multi-channel reminders, ensuring no critical information is missed. The platform streamlines communication with a rich library of templates and informative content, simplifying the dissemination of important updates. Besides, it goes further by offering a comprehensive one-stop service for clinical scales, featuring an extensive repository of validated instruments and expert team support. This encompasses procurement, copyright management, translation, and validation—all seamlessly integrated into a single workflow. Boasting an intuitive interface, clear operational logic, and a robust help center, ACCMED-eCOA ensures effortless usability and exceptional user satisfaction at every research stage.