Cataract
Pipeline by Development Stage
Ophthalmology is a $3.7B market with a mature, consolidating portfolio dominated by glaucoma treatments and emerging corneal/retinal therapies.
Key Trends
- Glaucoma therapeutics (prostaglandin analogs, adrenergic agents) represent 60%+ of spending but face patent cliffs 2028-2034
- Innovative mechanisms (NGF agonists, LFA-1 antagonists, RTKIs) gaining traction in dry eye and retinal disease segments
- Heavy trial activity (2,656 total) skewed toward Phase 4 (369) and Phase 3 (442), indicating mature clinical development landscape
Career Verdict
Ophthalmology offers stable mid-career opportunities with strong Commercial and Medical Affairs salaries, but limited innovation catalysts and significant patent cliff risk warrant careful timing of entry.
AI-generated market analysis based on FDA, CMS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and hiring data
Market Leaders
| # | Product | Company | Revenue | Share | Stage | Trend | LOE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUMIGAN (Bimatoprost) | AbbVie | $697M | 19% | LOE_APPROACHING | Declining | |
| 2 | OXERVATE (Cenegermin-BKBJ) | Unspecified | $493M | 13% | PEAK | Stable | |
| 3 | XIIDRA (Lifitegrast) | Bausch + Lomb | $473M | 13% | PEAK | Stable | 7.6yr |
| 4 | INLYTA (Axitinib) | Pfizer | $467M | 13% | PEAK | Growing | 11.2yr |
| 5 | HUMIRA (Adalimumab) | AbbVie | $258M | 7% | LOE_APPROACHING | Declining |
Drug Class Breakdown
mature, losing exclusivity
peak growth in corneal disease
sustained peak sales
expanding in retinal indications
mature, multiple LOE approaching
mature, losing exclusivity
mature immunology approach
Career Outlook
StableOphthalmology offers predictable mid-career growth with strong Commercial ($158K) and Medical Affairs ($247K) compensation but faces structural headwinds: patent cliffs 2028-2034 eliminate $97M in revenue, glaucoma franchise maturity limits blockbuster potential, and modest trial volume (2,656) signals incremental R&D expansion. Best suited for professionals seeking stable roles in established therapeutic areas rather than disruptive innovation.
Breaking In
Enter via Clinical Operations or Commercial analyst roles at CROs (Syneos 210 jobs) or large diagnostics players (Labcorp 904) to build domain expertise before targeting pharma MSL/Medical Affairs positions.
For Experienced Professionals
Experienced professionals should prioritize Medical Affairs and Market Access roles leveraging mature market knowledge; avoid product-specific expertise in glaucoma due to patent cliff concentration, and consider adjacent areas (retinal, corneal) where innovation catalysts remain.
In-Demand Skills
Best For
Hiring Landscape
Ophthalmology hiring (3,202 jobs) is distributed across diagnostics/devices (Labcorp 904, Abbott 348) and pharma commercial functions rather than concentrated in R&D. Top pharmaceutical employers (Pfizer 60, AstraZeneca 100, Regeneron 168) show modest pharma-specific headcount relative to market size, suggesting outsourced CRO and distributor dependency. Medical Affairs ($247K avg salary) commands premium compensation, signaling high barrier to entry but strong mid-career upside.
Top Hiring Companies
By Department
Clinical Operations and Commercial roles offer entry-level stability ($150K-$158K); Medical Affairs commands premium salaries ($247K) but requires advanced credentials; limited R&D hiring (207 jobs) suggests constrained innovation investment.
Competitive Landscape
30 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage
Trial Timeline
Clinical trial activity over time
Showing 15 of 48 trials with date data
Clinical Trials (50)
Total enrollment: 9,406 patients across 50 trials
Clinical Assessment of Visual Function With the Acrysof ReSTOR Multifocal IOL
Recommendations for Monitoring Clinical Experience Following Implantation of the AcrySof® Toric
Toric Performance And Constant Evaluation
Evaluation of a Monofocal Intraocular Lens
Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Moxifloxacin in Vigadexa® in Aqueous Humor Samples Following Preoperative Antibiotic/Steroid Dosing in Cataract Surgery Patients
Comparison of Postoperative Visual Acuity and Spectacle Independence Between the Tecnis Multifocal Intraoculer Lens (IOL) and the Crystalens Accommodating IOL
Accommodation Measurements After Bilateral Implantation of an Aspheric Accommodating Lens and Monofocal Aspheric Lenses
Visual and Refractive Outcomes After Implantation of Aspheric IOLs With Different Dioptric Increments and Manufacturing
Evaluation of Effective Lens Position With a Uniplanar Bi-aspheric IOL
Three Intraocular Lenses Designed to Improve Distance, Intermediate and Near Vision Following Lens Extraction
A Comparison of Visual Function After Bilateral Implantation of Presbyopia-correcting Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
Evaluation of 3 Intraocular Lenses Following Lens Extraction
Clinical Evaluation of the One-Piece Tecnis Multifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL)
Visual Function With Contralateral AcrySof® ReSTOR® Aspheric SN6AD1 and SN6AD3
Night Driving Pilot
Check of Optical Features and Accuracy of the Zeiss ZO Lens After Selection and Calculation With OKULIX
Safety and Effectiveness of the Akreos Toric Intraocular Lens.
Visual Function Evaluation of Bilateral AcrySof ReSTOR Aspheric IOL
Visual Function With Bilateral AcrySof® ReSTOR® Aspheric SN6AD1
Study of Efficacy and Safety of Vigadexa in Treating Inflammation and Infection Post-cataract Surgery
Visual Outcome and Visual Quality After Bilateral Implantation of the AcrySof® IQ IOL Compared to MI60® and Tecnis® IOL
To Compare the Ability of DiscoVisc® OVD to Protect the Corneal Endothelium and Maintain Anterior Chamber Space With Healon® and Amvisc® PLUS During Cataract Surgery.
Indomethacin Eyedrops Compared With Ketorolac Eyedrops for Ocular Inflammation Following Cataract Surgery
Ocular Tissue Levels of 1.5% Levofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution Compared to an Active Comparator
Visual Function After Implantation of Bilateral AcrySoft ReSTOR Aspheric IOL
DisCoVisc Versus DuoVisc, Healon5 and AmVisc Plus
Visual Function After Implantation of Bilateral AcrySof ReSTOR Aspheric +3
Visual Outcomes of Subjects Bilaterally Implanted With ReSTOR Aspheric +4 vs. Tecnis or Acri.LISA
Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome
ACRYSOF® ReSTOR® Aspheric +3.0 D Add Power Intraocular Lens (IOL)
Evaluation of the Safety & Effectiveness of the Bausch & Lomb AKREOS® TL Intraocular Lens
Clinical Evaluation of a New Aspheric Intraocular Lens.
A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of MELT-300 for Procedural Sedation in Subjects Undergoing Cataract Extraction With Lens Replacement (CELR)
Chloroprocaine 3% Gel Eye Drop as Topical Anestheticsin Phacoemulsification.
Clobetasol Propionate Ophthalmic Nanoemulsion 0.05% for the Treatment of Inflammation and Pain Associated With Cataract Surgery (CLOSE-1)
Clobetasol Propionate Ophthalmic Nanoemulsion 0.05% for the Treatment of Inflammation and Pain Associated With Cataract Surgery (CLOSE-2)
A Study Assessing Safety and Efficacy of MD-15 Intraocular Lens in Patients With Aphakic Eye After Cataract Surgery
Mapracorat Ophthalmic Suspension, 3% for the Treatment of Ocular Inflammation and Pain Following Cataract Surgery
Mapracorat Ophthalmic Suspension, 3% for the Treatment of Ocular Inflammation and Pain Following Cataract Surgery
Nepafenac Compared to Placebo for Ocular Pain and Inflammation
Efficacy and Safety Assessment of Intracameral Injection of T2380 in Cataract Surgery
Mapracorat Ophthalmic Suspension for the Treatment of Ocular Inflammation Following Cataract Surgery
Confirmatory Study Nepafenac 0.3%
Clinical Evaluation of a 1-Piece Intraocular Lens
Study of T-PRED(TM) Compared to Pred Forte(R) II
Efficacy and Safety of Bromfenac Ophthalmic Solution in Cataract Surgery
Efficacy and Safety of Bromfenac Ophthalmic Solution in Cataract Surgery
Safety and Efficacy of a Violet Visible Light Blocking Intraocular Lens (IOL)
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Key Insights
The information on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Drug information is sourced from FDA, DailyMed, and other government databases. Adverse event data from FAERS does not establish causation. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical decisions.