miproducts

Allergic conjunctivitis affects one in 10 Australians.1 Zaditen (ketotifen 0.025%) is a first-line eye drop option for itchy allergy eyes,2 providing three-way action to help relieve itching, decrease swelling, and reduce redness associated with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.3

After a period of limited availability, Zaditen is back in stock in pharmacies in Australia. With both antihistamine and mast cell stabilising properties, it works within minutes, lasts for up to 12 hours, and is suitable for adults and children three years and older.3

Differentiating Acute Red Eye Presentations

Although red eyes may look similar, clinical clues around onset, symptoms, and course can help identify the underlying cause and guide appropriate management. Table 1 (below) summarises key clinical differences between common causes of red eye.4,5

Allergy Eye Drops for Targeted Relief

When an allergic conjunctivitis diagnosis is established, oral antihistamines or intranasal corticosteroids may be recommended with saline eye drops or eye washes, especially when allergic rhinitis is also present.2

If these are inadequate for relieving ocular symptoms, medicated eye drops offer targeted treatment of ocular symptoms, although the choice of product is important.2,6

Topical decongestants or vasoconstrictors are not recommended for allergic conjunctivitis due to the risk of rebound eye redness, which can lead to potential overuse, and they do not target the key symptom of itch.2,6

Instead, Therapeutic Guidelines recommends other options.2

- Antihistamines (levocabastine 0.05%) provide rapid relief of symptoms.

- Mast cell stabilisers (cromoglycate 2%, lodoxamide 0.1%) take longer to work than antihistamines – up to two weeks – but provide sustained benefit.

- Agents with both antihistamine and mast cell stabiliser properties (ketotifen 0.025%, azelastine 0.05%, olopatadine 0.1%) offer short- and long-term relief and are generally considered more effective than antihistamines or mast cell stabilisers.

Based on these mechanisms, dual-action antihistamine and mast cell stabiliser eye drops are recommended first-line.2 Zaditen contains ketotifen 0.025% and has demonstrated efficacy in reducing redness, swelling, and itch, and is indicated for adults and children three years and older.3

With Zaditen available again during the allergy season, healthcare professionals can recommend it for suitable patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Care Pharmaceuticals has confirmed stock is being progressively replenished throughout pharmacies across Australia.

References
1. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Allergy and immune diseases in Australia: AIDA report 2013 [Internet]. Sydney: ASCIA; 2013. Available at: allergy.org.au/images/stories/reports/ASCIA_AIDA_Report_2013.pdf [accessed Sept 2026].
2. Therapeutic Guidelines. Allergic rhinitis. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2026 Jun. Available at: tg.org.au [accessed Sept 2026].
3. Care Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. Australian product information: Zaditen (ketotifen) eye drops solution. February 2023.
4. Gin C, Crock C, Wells K. Conjunctivitis: a review. Aust J Gen Pract. 2024;53(11):847-852. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6960.
5. Therapeutic Guidelines. Conjunctivitis. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2025 Dec. Available at: tg.org.au [accessed Sept 2026].
6. Leonardi A, Quintieri L, Kuna P, et al. Allergic conjunctivitis management: update on ophthalmic solutions. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2024;24(7):347-360. doi: 10.1007/s11882-024-01150-0.

Optopol ANZ has launched OptoShop (optoshop.au) – a centralised digital platform designed to improve practitioner access to specialised ocular surface and periocular care products.

Optopol said OptoShop provides a centralised digital platform where practices can browse products, place orders, and access products relevant to both clinical treatment and long-term patient management.

The platform launch follows the company’s appointment as a distributor for the Blephadex product portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. Optopol ANZ said the platform has been released “at a time when ocular surface disease is receiving increasing attention from both optometrists and ophthalmologists”.

“Greater awareness of dry eye disease, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), blepharitis, and Demodex-related eyelid conditions has led to a growing emphasis on comprehensive treatment strategies that extend beyond the consulting room and rely on ongoing patient adherence to prescribed lid hygiene regimens,” the company said.

The Blephadex portfolio includes Blephadex Eyelid Wipes, Blephadex Eyelid Foam, and Blephadex In-Practice Applicators. Formulated with tea tree oil and coconut oil, the products are designed to assist with the removal of debris, excess oils, bacteria, biofilm, and Demodex mites from the eyelid margins while supporting the management of blepharitis, MGD, and dry eye disease.

Also available through the platform is the Blephadex Pro Cleanse range, comprising eyelid wipes and eyelid foam formulated with manuka honey and Dead Sea salt.

The OptoShop platform also features the Weye portfolio, which includes Weye Eyelid Foam, Weye Periocular Cream, Weye Gel Soap, Weye Sunscreen, and the Weye USB Eye Mask. These products are also intended to support daily eyelid hygiene and complement the ThermaEye intense pulsed light platform.

Visit: optoshop.au

ZEISS Vision Care has launched ZEISS MyoActive, a new myopia management spectacle lens designed to slow myopia progression in children.

The company said the lens design applies Dynamic Signal Theory through optical defocus. In one-year results from an ongoing clinical trial, children wearing MyoActive had 0.60 D less myopia progression and 0.22 mm less axial elongation, on average, than children wearing single vision lenses.1

“With ZEISS MyoActive, mean progression was -0.23 D/year, which is less than the 0.25 D increment step used in subjective refraction, indicating no progression of clinical relevance.2 In addition, 98% fully adapted to the lenses within one week,” ZEISS Vision Care said.

Results remained consistent across both six-month periods, supporting sustained performance, the company said.1

Dynamic Signal Theory

Dynamic Signal Theory addresses a key challenge in myopia management – the eye and visual system’s ability to adapt to repeated, uniform optical signals over time – by combining myopic defocus, which provides the biological signal to help slow eye growth, with dynamic signal variation to help maintain retinal responsiveness.

ZEISS Vision Care said the principle is applied through patented MOVE (micro-optical variable elements) technology.

The front surface of ZEISS MyoActive combines a central clear zone with MOVE technology, creating continuously changing retinal signals as the eye moves naturally throughout the day. As a result, the optical signal remains active and variable rather than static, helping to reduce visual adaptation.

The back surface is optimised using ZEISS ClearFocus design, which the company said minimises hyperopic defocus in the periphery of the lens.

The clinical summary of the ongoing multicentre clinical trial can be found on the ZEISS Myopia Insights Hub: zeiss.com/myopia/en/articles--insights.html.

Visit: zeiss.com/vision-care

References
ZEISS Vision Care. Two-year prospective, multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial (NCT06563700) by Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center, China. One-year results as of July 2026 for children aged 7–13 years wearing ZEISS MyoActive (n=56) or ZEISS Single Vision Rx lenses (n=56). Data on file.
ZEISS Vision Care. ZEISS introduces MyoActive: first myopia management lens applying Dynamic Signal Theory (media release), dated 1 October 2026. The release defines mean progression below 0.25 D as no progression of clinical relevance.