Also Notable

• ABB Verify, the vision care benefits optimization platform, from ABB Optical Group, announced a new feature that allows eye care practices that utilize the service to retrieve medical plan information, in addition to the current vision insurance search offering, providing a centralized location to review vision and medical eligibility and benefits information.
• Allergan has announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for AGN-190584 (pilocarpine 1.25%) ophthalmic solution for the treatment of presbyopia. The company says it expects the FDA to act on the NDA by the end of 2021.
• BostonSight will host a one-hour scleral lens webinar on Thursday, April 6, at 8 p.m. EST. Specifically, Vishakha Thakrar, O.D., F.S.L.S., F.A.A.O., and Jennifer Liao, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.S.L.S., will teach the fundamentals of scleral lens fitting and troubleshooting. Attendees will also learn about BostonSight SCLERAL’s data-driven lens design, built-in oval optic zones and range of SMART features that benefit patients. Register at bit.ly/BostonSightWebinar .
• Compulink Healthcare Solutions now offers an EHR coding engine that supports the new 2021 E/M CPT codes. To support E/M 2021, the company partnered with coding experts to ensure its Advantage SMART Coding engine recommends codes with accuracy.
• CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has made available its Paragon CRT Software designed to simplify the first-time fitting process of the Paragon CRT and CRT Dual Axis lenses. Paragon CRT is recommended for patients who have <0.75 D of corneal astigmatism based on keratometry values. CRT Dual Axis is designed for patients who have >0.75 D of corneal astigmatism based on keratometry values to enhance the cornea-to-fitting relationship. The topography-guided tool enables lens parameter changes, fluorescein pattern assessment and more. The software is available to download at ecp.paragonvision.com/software .
• Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has designed infographics (available at core.uwaterloo.ca/covid-19 ) that eye care professionals can incorporate into ongoing patient communications, such as through newsletters, email campaigns, website content, social media and in-office displays, to educate patients about contact lens wear during the pandemic, mask-associated dry eye and the importance of eye exams. In other news, a new website, from CORE, ranks optometrists who have published extensively in both optometry and other disciplines. The rankings, on optomrankings.com , are based on factors like the number of publications, years of active publishing and number of citations. The researchers — Drs. Philip Morgan, Lyndon Jones, Jason Nichols and Nathan Efron, along with programmer George Morgan — created a custom tool that compiles metrics from Scopus, an abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature. The rankings are updated automatically every 24 hours.
• Eaglet Eye has launched the Eaglet Eye Academy, an online eLearning resource designed to enhance eye care professionals’ knowledge about 3D data-driven specialty contact lens fitting. The platform is accessible to all ECPs, but includes a gated area for users of Eaglet Eye’s Eye Surface Profiler. Initial courses available include ESP Induction Training to onboard new users, plus instructional videos and case reports. Visit eagleteye.com/eaglet-eye-academy/ .
• Envision has created two new research fellowship opportunities aimed at exploring new ways to increase the quality of life for blind or visually impaired individuals. For more information on the fellowship program, visit research.envisionus.com/fellowship-program .
• Eschenbach Optik of America has introduced the Easy Reader reading stand, an assistive device that holds reading material upright and at an ergonomically correct position to make reading more comfortable, particularly for those who are using a low vision device. The stand weighs 17 oz. and folds flat to 0.5 inches for storage and travel.
• Nanodropper, Inc., a medical device company, has launched an eyedrop bottle adaptor that decreases the size of a typical eyedrop by as much as 70%, stretching the life of a bottle, the company says. Named Nanodropper, this FDA-listed, Class 1 medical device screws on over the tip of most eyedrop bottles. The device has won awards, including the University of Washington Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge in 2019 and the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition award in 2018. For information, visit nanodropper.com .
• Reichert Technologies has launched a redesigned website that focuses on improved functionality, mobile optimization, tighter security, simplified navigation and a better overall customer experience. Visit www.reichert.com .
• Visus Therapeutics announced that the FDA has accepted the company’s Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to proceed with the clinical development program for Brimochol, a proprietary combination of carbachol and brimonidine tartrate. Brimochol is designed to be a once-daily eye drop to correct for the loss of near vision associated with presbyopia. Under this IND, Visus will initiate its planned Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. immediately, the company reports.

OM COVID-19 Resources

For continually updated resources regarding the coronavirus crisis and optometry, please visit bit.ly/OMcoronavirus . Additionally, be sure to check out O.D. Notebook weekly at bit.ly/ODNotebook2021 .