ASSOCIATIONS

• The AAO has launched a new website, designed to make navigation quick and easy for users, for both the Academy and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. Aaopt.org .
• The Fall 2017 Optometric Journal, ASCO’s publication, is available for view at journal.opted.org . Titled “Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence,” the issue features two peer-reviewed articles and two special reports, among other pieces, according to an ASCO press release. In related news, ASCO, through funding from Walmart, has created the “ASCO Guidelines for Culturally Competent Eye and Vision Care” for its 23 schools and colleges of optometry. Visit bit.ly/2AYc3bw for these guidelines.
• Erin Lorraine McCleary, O.D., has been welcomed into The International Association of HealthCare Professionals with her publication in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare.
• SECO International, taking place Feb. 28 to March 4 in Atlanta, will feature more than 400 hours of education, including trending topics, such as How to Mend a Broken Cornea, and sessions supporting diabetes and Alzheimer’s patients. Attendseco.com .
• The Vision Council’s third quarter VisionWatch market research report reveals that contact lenses remain the strongest in the optical market through 2017, thanks to an additional 1.3 million wearers, and dollar revenue of OTC readers grew 3.1%.

COMPANY NEWS

• ABB Optical Group has launched a new brand for its optical labs. Digital Eye Lab Network encompasses its lab in Hawthorne, N.Y., as well as three labs it acquired from Diversified Ophthalmics in 2016. In other news, ABB Optical Group announced the 2017 recipients of its ABB Cares Program. The non-profits will receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
• Bausch + Lomb’s One by One Recycling Program has recycled more than 1 million used contact lenses, blister packs and foils in less than one year. BauschRecycles.com .
• CooperVision has donated $200,500 to Optometry Giving Sight in support of the 2017 World Sight Day Challenge. It was the largest single donation to the organization last year.
• The Canadian Competition Bureau has cleared the proposed combination of Essilor and Luxottica.
• Heidelberg Engineering has made available video presentations from its International Spectralis Symposium 2017, which took place in October. To view: http://bit.ly/2AHEjgl
• RightEye LLC signed an agreement with Tobii, an eye-tracking technology company, to collaborate and co-develop new hardware that will complement RightEye vision tests and training games. RightEye.com .
• Transitions Optical in conjunction with the National Optometric Association, published the educational paper, “Why Minority Eye Health Still Matters,” which recaps highlights from a panel regarding minority health that took place at the 49th annual NOA Convention and CE Program in Portland, Ore., moderated by NOA President-Elect, Sherrol A. Reynolds, O.D., F.A.A.O., “Retina” columnist for OM. (Visit TransitionsPRO.com/Multicultural for the paper.)

FDA NEWS

• The FDA provided clearance to RxSight’s light-adjustable IOL. It uses a UV light reactive material treated by a specific light-delivery device through one to two weeks following cataract surgery.
• Topcon Medical Systems announced that its PASCAL Laser received FDA clearance to offer Pattern Scanning Laser Trabeculoplasty for the reduction of glaucomatous IOP.

NONPROFIT

• Lighthouse Guild honored Brian Gell, vice chairman, New York Tri-State Region CBRE; Darcy Stacom, chairman and head of New York City Capital Markets and Pauline Raiff, immediate past chair, Lighthouse Guild for their contributions to improving the lives of the visually impaired.

SCHOOLS

• Research from Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry finds that 97% of O.D.s surveyed interact with other health care professionals at least annually for diabetes patients. Further, these doctors were more likely to be satisfied with their health care role and more likely to believe that team-based care makes a difference in patient outcome. OM