AERI Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc

FORM 4 [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES                                                                                   
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940                       

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ANIDO VICENTE JR	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS INC [ AERI ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director                    _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below)    _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) C/O AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 4301 EMPEROR BLVD., SUITE 400	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 2/4/2021
(Street) DURHAM, NC 27703 (City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	2/4/2021		A		28000 (1)	A	$0.00	243050	D
Common Stock								10500	I	Spouse IRA

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (right to buy)	$17.64	2/4/2021		A		125000		(2)	2/4/2031	Common Stock	125000	$0.00	125000	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	These shares of Common Stock are scheduled to vest, subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the issuer through the applicable vesting date, in equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of February 4, 2021.
(2)	This option is scheduled to vest, subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the issuer through the applicable vesting date, in equal installments on each of the first 48 monthly anniversaries of February 4, 2021.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ANIDO VICENTE JR C/O AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 4301 EMPEROR BLVD., SUITE 400 DURHAM, NC 27703	X		Chief Executive Officer

Signatures
/s/ John LaRocca, Attorney-in-Fact for Vicente Anido, Jr.		2/8/2021
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date