The eye is highly innervated and extremely sensitive to pain.

Currently, there are no topical analgesics on the market, and the current standard of care (NSAIDs or steroids) lack the necessary speed, efficacy and safety to relieve the pain.

NSAIDs and steroids do not target the pain itself, but the disease or the effects of the procedure causing the pain. Only once that issue is relieved will the pain then begin to subside. This can sometimes take days, leaving the patient with significant ocular pain and at risk of slowing the healing process.

Ophthalmology is a major growth opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry, and AOP is an area that continues to grow due to an aging population, climate change, and technological advancement in diagnostic testing.

AOP occurs following numerous eye procedures like cataract surgery and refractive laser surgeries, as well as from eye conditions such as dry eye or uveitis (eye inflammation) and ocular trauma.