MediPrint reports 43% comfort gain in contact lens dropout study

MediPrint Ophthalmics said a U.S. multisite study found its daily disposable HA lens improved comfort scores by 43% in patients who had stopped wearing contact lenses. The result adds momentum to the company’s push to commercialize digitally printed, sustained-release lenses for comfort, glaucoma and dry eye treatment.

Why it matters: - Contact lens dropout affects a steady share of wearers each year, and dryness and discomfort are the main reasons people stop using lenses. - A lens that improves comfort could help retain users and expand contact lens use beyond vision correction. - MediPrint is also positioning the same platform as a drug-delivery system, which could make contact lenses a therapeutic device.

What happened: - MediPrint Ophthalmics reported results from a U.S. multisite clinical study of 16 patients. - The study tested the daily disposable MediPrint HA lens. - The lens uses a digitally printed, sustained-release hyaluronic acid reservoir on the lens surface. - The study showed a 43% improvement in Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire score among contact lens dropouts.

The details: - The result adds to four separate clinical studies that MediPrint says have shown positive outcomes across contact lens comfort and glaucoma indications. - MediPrint has completed three Phase II glaucoma trials. - Those glaucoma trials showed a 30% reduction in intraocular pressure using a preservative-free weekly disposable lens with sustained delivery of bimatoprost and hyaluronic acid. - MediPrint plans to seek FDA approval for its Daily Disposable HA lens in 2027. - The company plans to seek FDA approval for its Weekly Disposable HA lens in 2028. - MediPrint is also developing a therapeutic pipeline for glaucoma and dry eye treatment. - The company says its technology is protected by a global patent portfolio of 29 issued patents. - MediPrint operates a GMP-compliant, manufacturing-ready facility in San Diego.

Between the lines: - The comfort study supports MediPrint’s effort to move from niche clinical results toward a broader wearable-medicine platform. - The company is trying to turn a familiar consumer product into a sustained ocular drug-delivery system. - Industry veteran Tom Bender, former CEO and chairman of Cooper Companies, called a weekly MediPrint HA lens the next major shift in contact lenses. - Founder and CEO Praful Doshi framed the platform as a category shift in which therapy is delivered in the eye.

What's next: - MediPrint plans to advance a Weekly Disposable HA lens aimed at improving comfort, convenience and cost efficiency. - The company is pursuing strategic or equity partnerships to support commercialization. - MediPrint expects to move toward FDA submissions for its daily and weekly products in 2027 and 2028. - The company is also building out its glaucoma and dry eye pipeline for future approvals.

The bottom line: - MediPrint has another clinical data point to support its pitch that contact lenses can do more than correct vision. The company is now trying to prove that digitally printed lenses can become a commercial drug-delivery platform.