Thermamedx, Eyecare Partners to offer EverTears dry eye treatment in 80 markets across the US

ThermaMEDx today announced a partnership with EyeCare Partners to expand EverTears distribution across the network of the national provider of clinically integrated eye care.

According to a news release from the companies, the move comes after strong clinical results and positive patient feedback during a five-month commercial test of EverTears in the St. Louis market. Clarkson Eyecare is one of the key groups within the vast EyeCare Partners network of nearly 700 affiliated practices in 18 states across the U.S.

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from dry eye disease, a rapidly growing modern-medical issue due in large part to increased overall screen time for adults, blinking less, and digital eye strain.

Michel Guillon, PhD, co-founder of Atlanta-based ThermaMEDx, noted in the release that for decades, the eye care industry believed that dry eye symptoms were caused by poor tear production, but industry leaders now know that is incorrect for most patients.

“The problem lies in the meibomian glands, the oil-producing glands in your eyelids," Guillon said in the news release. “MGD is a chronic, progressive disease that many people don't even realize they have until the symptoms become unbearable. It occurs when the meibomian glands in the eyelids become clogged due to factors such as aging, contact lens use, makeup use, excess screen time, hormonal changes, and other risk factors."

The companies noted that while most OTC eye drops or "artificial tears" focus on temporary relief, EverTears is designed to provide immediate symptom relief while also working to help address the root cause of most dry eye: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). A medical team of eye health experts led by London-based Guillon spent decades researching a better treatment and first filed for a patent in 2002 to protect his invention of the first self-heating, premoistened medical device designed specifically for eye care including dry eyes related to MGD, styes and blepharitis.

Two years ago, Guillon partnered with two American entrepreneurs, former Alcon senior executive Ben Nobles and former senior executive with Coca-Cola and Starbucks, Carl Sweat, to found ThermaMEDx. With the addition of renowned US clinician Gregg Ossip, OD, the team successfully commercialized Guillon's vision of a clinically proven at-home treatment for dry eye combining a precise instant heating compress and a pre-moistened cleaning pad and launched EverTears.

Upon learning of the new technology, Brian Lojka, OD, division medical officer for Optometry at EyeCare Partners, recognized the potential to improve care, "We were intrigued by the EverTears® technology and wanted to evaluate its effectiveness and impact on improving compliance and results with our own patients. After five months, the positive feedback from our patients and doctors was overwhelming, and showed us EverTears® can be an effective tool for the treatment of dry eye patients across our network."

Alana Keller, OD, Lojka's colleague at Clarkson Eyecare, echoed his sentiment.

"As doctors, we've known for years that the best treatment for dry eyes relating to MGD is precise heat and daily eyelid hygiene,” she said in the news release. “The reason EverTears has been such a successful treatment for several hundred of my patients since we began the test in January is that it is so simple and convenient to use. We recommend it to all our patients as part of establishing a daily eye care hygiene routine."

Family-owned ThermaMEDx plans to build additional national partnerships to deliver relief for the millions who suffer from dry eyes related to MGD.

"We at ThermaMEDx are thrilled that EverTears® has proven so successful with patients, not only clinical studies, but now also at a premier national eye care provider like EyeCare Partners," Ossip, ThermaMEDx partner and former CEO of Ossip Optometry & Ophthalmology, said in the news release.