Today, Aug. 1, marks the kickoff of World Sight Day Challenge, an annual fundraising campaign to raise money and awareness to help provide eye care to those in need. To participate, visit givingsight.org/giving/world-sight-day-challenge to make donation or pick a fundraising activity to involve family, staff, patients and community in the event. (Find support materials for events through the link as well.
It is estimated that 1.22 billion people around the world who are blind or vision impaired and do not have access to an eye exam and eyewear they need, according to The Lancet Global Health. The funds raised through the challenge will help an additional one million people receive eye care in 2018. Optometry Giving Sight supports World Sight Day, to occur Oct. 11. The challenge will continue through the end of November.
Associations
For more news from industry and around eye care, see July’s O.D. Notebook.
*Retinal Physician and Optometric Management are both published by PentaVision Media.
It is estimated that 1.22 billion people around the world who are blind or vision impaired and do not have access to an eye exam and eyewear they need, according to The Lancet Global Health. The funds raised through the challenge will help an additional one million people receive eye care in 2018. Optometry Giving Sight supports World Sight Day, to occur Oct. 11. The challenge will continue through the end of November.
14-year-old Sokhanya, from Cambodia, who benefited from a free eye screening at her school and a new pair of glasses, which allow her to walk to and from school freely.
Image courtesy of Brien Holden Vision Institute
Associations
- National Optometric Association and National Vision Holdings announced the winners of National Optometric Student Association grant. The winners, in order, are Jaelyn DeBerry, Priscilla Chang and Sterlin Blakley. The three students were awarded a total of $7,000 for submitting excellent responses to the essay topic “What is your why?”
- The International Sports Vision Association announced the appointment of Gary Esterow as executive director. Mr. Esterow also serves as executive director of The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International and operates Esterow Communications, a consulting agency.
- The Vision Council’s Eyecessorize fashion eyewear campaign is releasing its fall/winter 2018 trend kit to about 250 fashion, health and lifestyle editors nationwide. It provides expanded product imagery compared to previous seasons. The digital kit will include an online booklet featuring optical and sunwear. For more information: Eyecessorize.com.
- Thomas W. Burns has joined the Avedro board of directors. Mr. Burns is president, CEO and a member of the board of directors at Glaukos Corp.
- Aerie Pharmaceutical’s Rhopressa has been nominated to the Best Pharmaceutical Product category for the Prix Galien U.S.A. award, presented by the Galien Foundation. Winners of the award will be announced in October. In other news, the company has expanded its agreement with DSM Biomedical Inc. The agreement covers research, develop and licensing for the sustained delivery of certain Aerie compounds using DSM’s bioerodible polyesteramide polymer technology.
- The proposed combination between Essilor and Luxottica has been approved in China.
- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued two patents to Guardion Health, both for “Method and Apparatus for Visual Acuity Testing.” According to the company, the proprietary technology provides an easy way to automatically standardize vision test lighting to a level recommended by the National Academy of Sciences and the FDA.
- Heidelberg Engineering made the following changes to its leadership team: Ali Tafreshi will head product management and clinical affairs; Krysten Williams will move to the headquarters from the UK subsidiary and support marketing and education efforts.
- Eton Pharma announced positive topline results in the Phase III study of its EM-100 pharmaceutical solution, a topical, preservative-free formula for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
- Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced a milestone in its Phase III trial of KPI-121 0.25% for the short-term treatment of dry eye disease: the first patient has been dosed.
- Topcon Medical Systems has released Topcon Augmented Reality app. The application uses features, such as augmented reality scanner and the ability to record, share and save AR experiences, to enhance products and promotional materials. Its first instance will be in the Image of the Month ad campaign in Retinal Physician.* The application is available for download through both Apple and google.
- Prevent Blindness announced Linda M. Chous, O.D., chief eye care officer of UnitedHealthcare, and Jeffrey L. McClellan, president/owner of Anthologie Inc., to its board of directors.
- Individuals who were older, were nonwhite, had lower educational levels, were less affluent, and had prior cataract surgery were found to be significantly less likely to use eyeglasses, according to JAMA Ophthalmology.
- Researchers were able to preserve and restore retinal function via insulin treatment in mice with glaucoma, according to July’s Brain.
- SUNY College of Optometry Alumni Association and Optometric Center of New York, the college’s affiliated foundation, have merged. The merging will combine resources to coordinate fundraising and relationship-building activities.
- Several paraoptometric assistants have completed the first optometric assistant class at Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu, Hawaii. The program provides 145 hours of classroom training designed to support and complement daily experience in the practices they work. Students include, Cherily Alejandro, Charito Galiza, Joanna Ngo, Samantha Cheng, Brie Duarte, Amandah Calamayan, Brie Duarte and Naomi Leigh Kukac.
The women who completed the first optometric assistant class in Honolulu.
Image courtesy of Amy Endo
For more news from industry and around eye care, see July’s O.D. Notebook.
*Retinal Physician and Optometric Management are both published by PentaVision Media.