DEWS II REPORTS “BEST” CLINICAL APPROACH TO DRY EYE DISEASE

The “best” clinical approach to dry eye disease (DED) consists of four tools, reports DEWS II, or the International Dry Eye Workshop, released by the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society at press time.

Specifically, the Workshop’s authors write that evidence suggests (1) a screening questionnaire, such as the OSDI, (2) TBUT, (3) tear film osmolarity and (4) ocular surface staining via fluorescein and lissamine green comprise the “best clinical approach.”

The authors add that meibography, lipid layer interferometry, evaporation and tear volume measurements can help elucidate where the DED patient lands on the evaporative and aqueous-deficient subtype and promote the correct choice of treatment.

DEWS II is comprised of 11 reports, including, “Sex, Gender and Hormones Report,” “Pain and Sensation Report” and “Pathophysiology Report.” All 11 reports are available in the July 2017 issue of The Ocular Surface (visit www.theocularsurfacejournal.com ).

(OM will continue coverage on DEWS II in upcoming issues.) ■

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPTOMETRY ANNOUNCES 2017 AWARD RECIPIENTS

The AAO has given these awards for contributions to the profession:

• Charles F. Prentice Medal and Lecture Award: Eli Peli, MSc, O.D., F.A.A.O.
• Glenn A. Fry Award and Lecture (American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award): Mitchell Scheiman, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.
• Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award: Ava K. Bittner, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.
• AAO-Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry: Luigi Bilotto, M.S., O.D., F.A.A.O.
• Brien Holden Humanitarian Award: C. Ellis Potter, O.D., F.A.A.O.
• Carel C. Koch Memorial Medal Award: Joseph Fontenot, M.D., C.L.V.T.
• Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics (American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award): Laura Goldberg, O.D., M.S., and Celia R. Gong
• Vincent Ellerbrock Clinician Educator Award: Richard Madonna, M.A., O.D., F.A.A.O.
• Eminent Service Award (posthumously): Harue J. Marsden, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O.
• Life Fellow Award: Bert C. Corwin, O.D., F.A.A.O., and Avrum Richler, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.
• Garland W. Clay Award: Jeffrey J. Walline, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O., Katie L. Greiner, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O., Mary Elizabeth McVey, O.D., M.S., and Lisa A. Jones-Jordan, Ph.D., F.A.A.O.
• Michael G. Harris Award for Excellence in Optometric Education (American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award): Lorraine Lombardi, Ph.D.
• Max Schapero Memorial Lecture Award: Suzanne M.J. Fleiszig, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.
• Founders’ Award: Lynette Johns, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.S.L.S.

In addition, the American Academy of Optometry Foundation announced that the inaugural Joseph T. Barr Early Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award went to Yuno Iwabuchi, a fourth-year O.D./M.S. student/teaching assistant at Pacific University College of Optometry.

Recipients will be recognized during Academy 2017 in Chicago. ■

JACK RUNNINGER: THE MARK TWAIN OF OPTOMETRY, 1923 - 2017

IRVING BENNETT, O.D.

What this world needs are more Mark Twains and more Jack Runningers. Cut from the same cloth, both icons cleverly, skillfully and ingeniously combined wisdom and humor in such a way that readers smiled and learned something. Often, the sage humor led to a change in viewpoint.

William John “Jack” Runninger, O.D., F.A.A.O., 93, died June 23. Jack practiced optometry for close to 45 years in Rome, Ga. and penned more than 500 articles and columns for an array of publications. This includes OM’s “Lessons Learned” column, until 2015, when he chose to retire, and a humor column for his hometown paper, The Rome News-Tribune, until his death. (Incidentally, he wrote his own obituary for the paper, which began: “I couldn’t resist writing one more column. . . so I have composed my own obituary. Prior to my demise, of course.” See http://bit.ly/2se1IzW .)

Jack also edited several magazines, including OM from 1981 to 1989. He showed his abilities not only to write glowing, humorous stories about people he knew, but also in his on-the-money suggestions to others to write for the publications he edited. Of course, he will be best remembered as the laid-back humorist he was.

In addition, my friend and colleague was a member of what Tom Brokaw termed “The Greatest Generation.” Specifically, Jack was in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he served aboard the attack transport ship, the USS Newberry. Of this experience, he wrote in 2008, “Discovering for the first time my close brush with death 63 years ago, somehow made my present problems seem a lot less significant. . . (See http://bit.ly/2tNTJui .)

It was always easy to find Jack where a crowded meeting was being held. Most likely, he was in the center of it. He was “Mr. Friendly” personified. He seldom participated in the open discussions in large attendance meetings; instead, he gave his wise counsel and advice in one-on-one get-togethers where it often did the most good.

Both optometry and society, in general, will miss Jack Runninger. People like him do not come around very often. ■

Dr. Bennett is a member of the OM Editorial Advisory Board. He was publisher/editor of OM from 1965-1981.

BARBARA ANAN KOGAN: PRACTITIONER AND JOURNALIST

Optometrist Barbara Anan Kogan, 69, died June 20. Dr. Kogan received her B.A. from the University of Hartford, in West Hartford, Conn., pursued journalism at Temple University, in Philadelphia, and attended the Southern College of Optometry, in Memphis.

“[Dr. Kogan] was a lovely, brilliant woman. She contributed a great deal to the profession and to the enrichment of everyone around her,” writes optometrist Marsha Benshir, in the Reading Eagle. “She challenged us intellectually and empathically. . . Most of all, she was always kind, compassionate and caring . . .”

Dr. Kogan practiced optometry at her own practice in Washington, D.C. In addition, she was a Fellow of the National Eye Research Foundation, president of the Optometric Society for the District of Columbia and wrote for this publication and the magazine’s sister publications Eyecare Business and Contact Lens Spectrum. The topics she wrote about included orthokeratology, GP lenses and pediatric eye care.

Dr. Kogan had a special interest in helping fellow optometrists understand the care and treatment of patients who experienced head trauma, as she, herself, sustained a head trauma from a bicycle accident in 1997.

Dr. Kogan is survived by her sister, Bonnie Sussman-Versace. ■

VISION EXPO WEST READIES ATTENDEES WITH EDUCATION TOOLS

Vision Expo West, which will take place at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Sept. 13 to 16, has created three education tools to help attendees customize their education schedules.

“ . . . These tools allow us to provide the new education programs and exciting partnerships that will directly benefit our attendees and provide the education that they need,” explains Mitch Barkley, The Vision Council vice president of trade shows.

The three education tools:

1. “Education highlights” section of VisionExpoWest.com . This includes the latest education offerings for every job function and title.
2. Interactive education brochure. This helps Vision Expo West attendees (both O.D.s and their staffs) locate fast and easily the classes that matter to them most. Attendees can search keywords, create bookmarks and read course descriptions all in one area.
3. Digital education concierge function. Located in the top left corner of the interactive education brochure, this connects Vision Expo West attendees with a specialist who chooses the best education options based on individual needs, aids in the registration process and plans a show schedule.

To register for Vision Expo West, visit www.VisionExpoWest.com . ■

EYE CARE INDUSTRY MEMBERS FOCUS ON ADVOCACY

The AOA and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care have created the Health Policy Institute, (HPI) and Advocacy Academy, respectively.

The HPI is a policy think tank that will bring experts from inside and outside optometry to assess evidence-based research, analysis and solutions regarding health care policy to guide policy development and advances in both the profession and in patient eye health and vision care, says AOA President Christopher J. Quinn, O.D., in an AOA-issued press release.

Also, Dr. Quinn says the AOA anticipates that HPI will add to the work started by the National Commission on Vision and Health roughly 10 years ago. (The commission is a national, non-partisan group of public health leaders, including O.D.s, who work to ensure vision care access is part of public health programs.)

Advocacy Academy, from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, is an virtual learning tool that includes an email sign-up for legislative alerts, related educational materials, J&J member updates and eight education modules, such as “Advocacy Introduction: Why Your Voice Matters.” (visit jnjvisioncareinfo.com/advocacyacademy/ . In related news, J&J revamped its Vision to Action, site at jnjvisioncareinfo.com/ .

THE VISION COUNCIL RELEASES FASHION EYEWEAR TREND KIT

In an effort to garner consumer media awareness of the fall/winter eyewear trends, The Vision Council has released its Eyecessorize fashion eyewear trend digital kit.

Specifically, the kit highlights four eyewear trends: (1) Athleisure Infusion (sporty/stylish), (2) Elemental Panache (nature-inspired), (3) Fashion Unscripted (editorial eyewear) and (4) Sleek + Swanky (understatedly chic frames), according to a press release issued by The Vision Council.

In addition, the kit includes an online booklet that features products (men’s and women’s optical and sunwear frames) from members of The Vision Council and eye health information about digital eye strain, annual eye exams and UV eye protection, For additional information about The Vision Council’s fashion eyewear campaign, visit Eyecessorize.com .

Further, if you’re interested in accessing the kit, contact Jessica Lutz, The Vision Council’s marketing and communications manager, member programs, at jlutz@thevisioncouncil.org. ■

CMS INVITES COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULE TO SIMPLIFY MIPS

CMS requests comment by Aug. 21 on its proposed rule to alter Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements in 2018. It includes:

• Include a full year of data for the Quality and Cost performance categories, though CMS would not use Cost performance scores to determine a composite performance score.
• Increase the performance period to 90 days for the Improvement Activities and Advancing Care Information categories.
• Offer virtual groups a participation option. (These groups are comprised of solo doctors and groups of 10 or less eligible clinicians who join “virtually” with at least one other solo doctor or group to engage in MIPS for a one-year performance period.)
• Increase the low-volume threshold, so additional small practices and eligible clinicians in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas are exempt from MIPS participation.
• Allow use of the 2014 Edition Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT), while encouraging use of the 2015 edition.
• Add bonus points in the scoring methodology for: caring for complex patients and exclusively using 2015 Edition CEHRT.
• Incorporate MIPS performance improvement in scoring quality performance.
• Incorporate a voluntary facility-based scoring option for clinicians who have at least 75% of their covered professional services supplied in the inpatient hospital setting.
• Add a hardship exception for small practice docs under the Advancing Care Information performance category.
• Add bonus points to the final score of small practice clinicians.
• Continue awarding small practices that don’t meet data completeness requirements three points for measures in the Quality performance category.
• Add a new improvement activity in which MIPS-eligible clinicians could choose if they attest to using Appropriate Use Criteria through a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for all advanced diagnostic imaging services ordered.

Visit http://bit.ly/2t6Bwrr . ■