Updated on 5-23

Articles
            • The New York Times published an article on the international vision problem: “A Simple Way to Improve a Billion Lives: Eyeglasses.” Find it at https://nyti.ms/2KN8Ltb

Associations
            • The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) has opened registration for its annual meeting, Academy 2018 San Antonio, which will take place Nov. 7-10 at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. For information, visit www.aaopt.org.
                  • The AAO’s Scientific Program Committee invites the submission of abstracts for Academy 2018 San Antonio. The Academy's Scientific Program offers scientists, educators and clinicians the opportunity to exchange the latest information in optometry and vision science in two formats: research paper presentations and scientific posters. The submission window will be open until May 31. To read more about the submission guidelines, visit http://bit.ly/2HHgIic. In other news, the AAO has launched a new online CE and resource platform, called Academy Online. Session recordings from past meetings and distance learning credits are currently available and complimentary for members and for a fee for non-members. Learning.aaopt.org.
                  • The American Academy of Optometry and Essilor of America announced the “Essilor Academic Challenge @ Academy Stadium.” This new annual event for students will be comprised of a digital competition by three-student teams at each school and college of optometry, culminating in the finals at Academy 2018 San Antonio. For more information, visit http://www.aaopt.org/2018.
                  • American Optometric Student Association named Rebecca Hildebrand, M.S.W., executive director of the organization. 
            • Registration is open for the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association clinical skills pre-conference, to take place Sept. 20 to Sept. 21, and its annual general conference, to take place Sept. 21 to Sept. 23, in St. Louis. Registration is available on its website https://noravisionrehab.com. 
            • The Vision Council has published ANSI Z80.3-2018 – Nonprescription Sunglasses and Fashion Eyewear Requirements. The revision clarifies testing of photosensitive lenses, making requirements consistent with international standards. Find it at http://bit.ly/2Hfi4Ri. In other news, The Vision Council named James Rosin as optical retail division chairman, the first to hold the position. Stuart Jolly has been named vice chairman.
 
FDA News
            • Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced the submission of its New Drug Application to the FDA for Roclatan (netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005%. Roclatan, a once-daily eye drop, is designed to reduce IOP in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It is a fixed-dose combination of Aerie’s Rhopressa and the widely-prescribed PGA latanoprost. 
 
Companies
            • 4ECPs’ marketing division, one of six at the company, is hosting and launching EyeInnovate, a conference dedicated to marketing education specific to vision care. It is set to take place at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on Nov. 6. Eyeinnovate2018.com.
            • Practices that ship their contact lenses directly to consumers experienced a higher growth rate than those that did not, an analysis of data by ABB Optical Groupfound. Specifically, practices that ship 45% of their soft contact lens sales to their patients experienced about 8.6% growth for this segment of their business from 2016 to 2017, according to the company. Meanwhile, practices that shipped less than 10% of their soft contact lenses to patients grew 6.3%, and the national average for this period was 7.2%. Additionally, the company identified within the data that patients are seven times less likely to return contact lenses when shipped directly to them. (Patients who never pick up their contact lenses from the practice are defined as a “return,” according to the company.) 
            • AccuLens has appointed Brett Cochran as western regional sales manager.
            • Advanced Vision Technologies signed a license agreement to manufacture the double reservoir lens, an orthokeratology design. Its features correct myopia up to -7.00D and cyl up to -4.00D at any axis, as well as hyperopia up to +4.00D. 
            • Avedro secured $25 million in financing from investors, Lilly Asia Ventures, OrbiMed Advisors, InterWest Partners and HealthQuest Capital, to invest in product development, clinical studies and commercial efforts, including expansion of sales and reimbursement support.
            • Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE recycling program has recycled nearly 2.5 million used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since its launch in November 2016. This saves more than 14,000 pounds of waste, which, with a $1-per-pound donation commitment, equates to about $14,000 donated to Optometry Giving Sight. 
            • Blanchard Contact Lenses has unveiled control peripheral recess, or CPR, technology. This manufacturing process creates a reproducible peripheral recess on a lens to accommodate pingueculas and any other types of growths and shunts. This technology is available on all Onefit and Onefit MED lens designs. 
            • The Cooper Companies has promoted Brian Andrews to senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, effective the first of the month, succeeding Albert White, who assumes the role of president and CEO on the same date. 
            • For Eyes Optical, a division of GrandVision N.V., added Dr. Jagda Nogueras, O.D., as its vice president of professional services. 
            • Heidelberg Engineering announced that NASA launched the company’s SPECTRALIS with OCT 2 module aboard the Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-9, on May 21 from Wallops Island, Va. The Heidelberg device is headed to the International Space Station to be used to measure the effects of a microgravity environment on vision. It is expected to be installed on the International Space Station later this year. 
            • Johnson & Johnson Vision has introduced Andy, an artificially intelligent chatbot used through the Facebook Messenger app to help guide U.S. consumers. Andy will answer consumers contact lens-related questions, supporting that information provided by eye care providers. For example, it can help new wearers with questions on insertion. It can be found by connecting with Acuvue brand on Facebook. 
            • MacuHealth and Med Op Health have reached a settlement in their lawsuit. In it, Med Op agreed to stop comparing its formula to MacuHealth’s in its marketing materials moving forward. 
            • Marcolin Group held its national sales meeting in L.A. in April. The three-day meeting included more than 225 attendees. 
            • Nicox will open its U.S. development office in Research Triangle Park North Carolina. It relocates from a previous site in Forth Worth.  
            • Opternative has partnered with WebEyeCare to provide access to online prescription renewal on the WebEyeCare’s website. Additionally, the company has partnered with Liingo Eyewear to provide online prescription renewal on its website, liingoeyewear.com. 
            • Optovue announced the retirement of John Hawley, the company’s senior vice president of global sales, effective July 1. He will remain with the company in an advisory role. 
            • Paragon Vision Sciences played host to 18 key opinion leaders and researchers from throughout China to exchange clinical expertise and practice management know-how on how to treat and effectively manage myopia. 
            • Safilo Group announced Stephen Wright as chief commercial officer of Safilo North America, effective June 19. 
            • Sightbox has joined the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety, a recently created group that advocates for patient safety and “to defend the doctor-patient relationship,” according to its website. 
            • Sight Sciences Inc. has initiated its Olympia study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the TearCare System in patients who have dry eye disease. The study consists of a randomized, controlled trial comparing the TearCare System to a daily regimen of combined warm compress therapy and lid massage. The trial will enroll 200 subjects at 10 centers in the U.S. The primary endpoint is TBUT at a month, among other measurements, to evaluate dry eye. The study will include follow-up for subjects at six months, and a subsequent round of treatment and six-month follow up, for a total time of 12 months. 
            • TakedaPharmaceutical agreed to buy Shirefor $62 billion. The transaction has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors. Assuming shareholders approve, the deal is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2019. Under the terms of the deal, Shire investors will receive $30.33 in cash and either 0.839 new Takeda shares or 1.678 Takeda American depositary shares for each share.
            • Tear Film Innovations Inc., manufacturer of the iLux evaporative dry eye system, completed a $8.5 million Series B Preferred Stock funding round led by Visionary Ventures Fund and Bluestem Capital. 
            • Transitions Optical has launched an interactive experience with Snapchat, enabling users to try on and see Transitions adaptability through augmented reality. Find it on the app or scan the Transitions Snapcode. More information for ECPs can be found at TransitionsPRO.com/Snapchat. In other news, the company showcased its SHOEI helmets at the 10^thannual Quail Motorcycle Gathering. The helmets feature photochromic technology via Transitions Light Intelligent Shields. Additionally, the company found, in its Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey, that six in 10 employees would be more likely to get their eyes checked more often if their employers offered coverage of online eye exams. However, the survey also found that 2/3 are unfamiliar with online eye exams. Finally, four in 10 employees believe online eye exams can serve as a replacement for in-office exams. The company offers tools and educational materials at HealthySightWorkingforYou.org. In other news, the company announced the members of its 2018 Diversity Advisory Board, including: Albert Brown-Gort; Brian Chou, O.D., F.A.A.O.; Diana Canto-Sims, O.D., and optician Mila Ferrer; Edwin Marshall, O.D., M.S., M.P.H. and Vincent K. Young, M.D.
            • Valeant Pharmaceuticals will change its name to Bausch Health Companies, effective July 2018, when the company will roll out a new corporate brand identity, including new imagery and a web site. “We believe Bausch Health Companies more accurately represents the full scope of the Company today — a leader in the development and manufacture of a wide range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology," says Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO, Valeant. 
         • Vision Source will launch My Treatment Monitor, a national optometric network used to monitor patients taking medications to treat chronic disease, in June. After a drug to treat a chronic disease is prescribed, optometrists in this network will ensure their patients are examined, to rule out pre-existing conditions, and continue to monitor patients through treatment. 
            • VSP has partnered with Competitive Health, a health care technology company, to extend its offerings to members of its loyalty and perks program, WellCard Savings. Competitivehealth.com. 
 
New to the Market
            • Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of Rhopressa (netarsudil 0.02%), a once-a-day drop FDA-approved for the treatment of glaucoma in the U.S. For more on this treatment, see previous coverage at: http://bit.ly/2E7SLlU, http://bit.ly/2HK5hXc and http://bit.ly/2HGReSa. 
      • Costa launched its Untangled Collection of four sunglass styles, the frames of which are made by recycling discarded fishing nets. The collection is made in collaboration with Bureo, a company that works with fishing communities to collect fishing nets to be recycled into quality products. The four sunglasses: Baffin, an extra-large fit frame with square lens shape, Pescador, a large-fit frame with a squared wayfarer shape, Caldera, a medium-fit with cat-eye wayfarer shape and Victoria, a smaller fit rounded cat-eye shape.   
            • Hello contact lenses, from Aveo, are a daily disposable featuring AquaLock Technology, for hydration, BlissEdge Design, consisting of a dual-tapered edge and UVA and UVB blocking. The lenses are available for online subscriptions this spring, according to the press release.
            • PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula, from Bausch + Lomb, has added a mixed berry chewable to its offerings. The release is in response to consumer preference for chewable vitamins. The formula includes the six key nutrients and levels recommended by the NEI. Later in the month, Bausch + Lomb also launched Lumify (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.025%) an OTC eye drop for the treatment of eye redness. (See previous coverage: http://bit.ly/2Bkla6f.)
            • KOMONO’s fall/winter 2018 sunglass collection, True Colors, features vibrant colors in several unique designs. 
            • Monaco, from Optos, is an ultra-widefield imaging device with OCT capabilities now available in the U.S. Additional functionality: three-in-one color depth imaging and autofluorescence. 
            • Snap Inc. introduced its new Spectacles. The second generation of the product boasts increased comfort, quicker upload and a smaller profile. www.snap.com/en-US/news/
            • Super Optical has released the Conversion Brown option for FastGrind’s photochromic conversion line. It is available in single vision and ADDvantage HD Plus digital progressives. 

Non-profit
            • Brien Holden Vision Institute has updated its myopia calculator to include features, such as an ethnicity option, and made it available in Mandarin and Spanish. To access the calculator: http://bit.ly/2Hisdg7
            • Centre for Ocular Research & Education says its COREKnowledgeGame.org is now available for free at the website. 
            • Envision and Hunter Health, a full service medical clinic in Wichita, have partnered to bring access to eye health services to under- and uninsured individuals in Sedgwick County, Kansas. A new vision clinic, Envision Vision Care at Hunter Health, will open this summer at a Hunter Health facility to aid these efforts. In other news, Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind will merge into Envision, while retaining its name. Additionally, the nonprofit has received a $300,000 gift from The Sunderland Foundation, which supports construction projects of nonprofits in the Midwestern region. Funds will be used for the construction of the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center, which will be dedicated to training people who are blind or visually impaired for skilled positions in the workforce. 
            • Results of the 2017 Think About Your Eyes campaign generated 3.4 million eye exams in the calendar year. It’s estimated that this resulted in $752 million in industry revenue, such as exam fees, frame and lens purchases. This year’s campaign was, “Seeing is a Gift.” Visit thinkaboutyoureyes.com. 
            • Lighthouse Guild is offering an elearning course for social workers to help meet the needs of patients who have vision loss. The course is called “Understanding and Addressing Vision Loss;” registration is at LighthouseGuild.org/ce.
            • NEI plans to launch a Healthy Vision Month campaign in May to encourage the more than 23 million American adults who have never had an eye exam to prioritize their eye care. The campaign will be geared toward millennials and the preventative measures they can take to ensure their vision later in life. 
            • School of Optometry & Vision Sciences at I’Université d’État d’Haïti opened April 12 as the first optometry school in Haiti, due, in part, to donations to Optometry Giving Sight. 
            • Prevent Blindness’ National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health is now accepting nominations for the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award. The award is given to an individual or group to improve public health approaches for children’s vision at the state or national level. The deadline is June 15. Applications are accepted at http://bit.ly/2jh8yTr. In addition, the non-profit has declared May as UV Awareness Month to educate the public. A dedicated website has been set up at www.preventblindness.org/protect-your-eyes-sun. The nonprofit has also declared June cataract awareness month. It provides information and other resources here: http://bit.ly/2ICRIcl. 
            • Results of the 2017 Think About Your Eyes campaign generated 3.4 million eye exams in the calendar year. It’s estimated that this resulted in $752 million in industry revenue, such as exam fees, frame and lens purchases. This year’s campaign was, “Seeing is a Gift.” Visit thinkaboutyoureyes.com. 
            • The Vision Council recognized the 2018 Goodfellow Award winner David Rips, CEO of Younger Optics at its2018 COLA Spring Meeting in California. Photos can be found on the meeting’s flickr page: http://bit.ly/2rqU3Rp.
 
Schools
            • University of Pikeville has appointed Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O., as dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry, effective July 1. 
            • Centre for Ocular Research & Education at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science celebrated its 30^thanniversary at ARVO.
            • SUNY College of Optometry, at its 44^thcommencement ceremony, presented honorary degrees to Dr. Kovin Naidoo, chief executive officer of the Brien Holden Vision Institute, and Dr. Frank Schaeffel, professor of neurobiology of the eye at the Institute of Ophthalmic Research at the University of Tubingen.