News from the American Optometric Association, Centre for Ocular Research & Education, CooperVision, Essilor, Horizon Therapeutics, HOYA Vision Care, IDOC, and more…
Practice Tip: New hires can create job security by making themselves indispensable to their employers, writes “New OD” columnist Kristin S. O’Brien, OD, in the March 2022 issue. One way to accomplish this is to offer help: “Notice that the phones are ringing off the hook at the front desk? Answer some calls. Additionally, volunteer yourself for extra responsibilities in the practice when the opportunity arises. For example, if the practice is going to start offering a new service or product with which you are familiar, why not take on the responsibility of educating allied staff?” For additional tips, see “How to Become Indispensible,” at https://bit.ly/3D149vE.
American Optometric Association Pushes for Federal Investigation of National Association of Optometrists and Opticians’ Tax-Exempt Status
In a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig, Robert C. Layman, current American Optometric Association president, said there should be a comprehensive review of conditions that allow the National Association of Optometrists and Opticians (NAAO) to be “a 501(c)(6) tax exempt association [misleadingly] claiming to represent licensed professionals (optometrists) when the membership is not made up of those professionals…” For additional information, see https://bit.ly/3tvUavj.
Centre for Ocular Research & Education Initiative Receives Public Relations Accolades
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education’s (CORE) global awareness initiative “Alerting the World to MADE: Mask-Associated Dry Eye,” received the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil shortlist designation for overall effectiveness, and a Bronze Anvil shortlist nod for a campaign-anchoring feature story, says CORE. Winners will be announced during a gala dinner at Manhattan’s Edison Ballroom on May 19.
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Names General Manager, Americas
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare appointed Tony Sommer Jr., as its general manager, Americas. He will lead the organization’s growth and category expansion across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, starting in April, says the company. Mr. Sommer was senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Visioneering Technologies, Inc., where he led strategic planning and commercial operations. Additionally, he was head of Sales for Bausch & Lomb’s U.S. Vision Care division.
Essilor to Host Myopia Management Webinar Tonight
Essilor Custom Contact Lens Specialists will hold the webinar “A Guide to Myopia Management: From the Science to the Clinical Application,” tonight, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. During the session, attendees will learn how to apply scientific knowledge to myopia etiology, development, progression; risk factors to their clinical practice; apply the current evidence on myopia prevention and management to their clinical practice; and practice evidence-based clinical care when managing myopia. The session will be presented by Anita Gulmiri, OD. To register, visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1216456449120/WN_9-xubtfWQpy_IG0FOLbEZA.
Eversight Appoints New Members to Leadership Team and Board
Eversight named two new members to its leadership team and one new member to its board of directors. Colin Ross is now vice president of Partner Relations & Global Development. Mr. Ross, at Eversight since 1997, will oversee partnerships with surgeons, hospitals, government entities and others. Ryan Simmons is now vice president of Clinical Services. Mr. Simmons, who joined Eversight in 2010, will lead departments that work with health care providers, donor families, and organ procurement organizations. Finally, Probi Kapur will serve a three-year board of directors’ term. He is senior vice president of IT Finance, Sourcing and Portfolio Management at AmerisourceBergen Corporation.
EyeMedsNow Announces New Search Process for OTC Tears and Monthly Newsletter
EyeMedsNow.com, a free service to help quickly identify medications using a variety of search criteria, announced a new search process for OTC tears. In addition to searching via the site’s dropdown lists and free text box, users can search for OTC tears by manufacturer, active ingredient(s), viscosities, preservative type, and how supplied. Also new is EyeMedsNow monthly email newsletter, edited by Megan Taylor, OD, FAAO, which is sent to all doctors who register for free on the site. The newsletter discusses new FDA ophthalmic drug approvals, noting clinical relevance, and presents other doctors’ experiences using EyeMedsNow in their practices. Also included is Dr. Taylor’s commentary on the specifics of using EyeMedsNow.
Fossil Launches Sustainable Eyewear Collection
Fossil released a four-piece collection of sustainable eyewear, part of its Pro-Planet line of planet-friendly products, the company says. The frames are made from 100 % recycled nylon, with two optical styles and two sunglass styes, each offered in 16 shades. Frame cases and lens cleaning cloths are also made from 100% recycled material, the company says. The company will release four more Pro-Planet styles, for a total of 32 in-market styles, in the fall of 2022. Visit www.MakeTimeforGood.com.
HEA and PECAA Officially Join Forces
Healthy Eyes Advantage (HEA) and Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) officially joined forces as a unified brand. This follows HEA’s 2021 purchase of PECAA. The unified entity’s new name is “PECAA: Delivering More with HEA. The Power of Independence.” This signifies “the unique and complementary features that both organizations bring to their union,” according to a press release. Additionally, PECAA Max, a comprehensive, customizable new membership experience that enables each member to choose from a combined suite of buying group and alliance services was announced. Visit PECAAMax.com, or call (800) 959-2020 and choose option 3.
Horizon Therapeutics Joins International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness as Global Patron
Horizon Therapeutics became a global patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness to bring better eye health to everyone at regional, country, and global levels, according to a press release. Specifically, the organizations will be working to promote the links between vision and the Sustainable Development Goals and promote awareness and innovation in thyroid eye disease and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, among other rare disease areas, to bring better eye health and vision to more people around the world.
HOYA Vision Care Partners with International Myopia Institute to Promote Advocacy and Education
HOYA Vision Care and the International Myopia Institute (IMI) joined forces in a global initiative to raise awareness about myopia and the importance of evidence-based myopia management, advance myopia research, improve standards of care, and educate key stakeholders on prevention, treatment, and management of the disease. The partnership will also include the creation of multimedia content for distribution across the IMI website and HOYA learning modules.
IDOC Receives Great Place to Work Certification
IDOC Garnered certification by Great Place to Work (www.greatplacetowork.com), based exclusively on what employees said about their experiences in working there. According to IDOC, 89% of employees said it is a great place to work, 98% said they are made to feel welcome upon joining, and 95% said they believed management shows a sincere interest in their development as people, not just employees. To learn more about IDOC’s Great Place to Work Certification, visit www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7025633.
Iridex Appoints New Member of Board of Directors
Iridex Corporation named Beverly Huss to its board of directors, effective, March 17, 2022. Ms. Huss has over 25 years of business operations, management, and corporate governance experience in the medical device industry. Since January 2021, she has been the CEO of Pagonia Medical, Inc., which is a private company focused on creating a novel, non-invasive device for the preservation of tissue following a heart attack, stroke, or traumatic brain injury, according to a press release.
LumiThera Announces Positive Early Results From AMD Trial
LumiThera Inc. announced its LIGHTSITE III multi-center clinical trial of the Valeda Light Delivery System (photobiomodulation treatment) in dry AMD subjects demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint in BCVA at 13 months in the treatment group vs. the sham-treatment group. Further, a sustained, mean increase in ETDRS letter score of 5.5 letters from baseline was noted at the 13-month timepoint in the Valeda-treated subjects’ BCVA, reports the company. The study will continue to treat and follow subjects for 24 months.
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association Accepting Abstracts for General Conference
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association is accepting abstracts from members and non-members for consideration for its 2022 General Conference, scheduled for Sept. 8 to Sept. 11, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Selected posters will be displayed at the General Conference and published in Optometry & Visual Performance. The Gus Forkiotis Student Award winner will also be selected, receiving a check for $500. The deadline to submit an abstract (and for students and residents to request an extension) is July 15, 2022. Visit https://noravisionrehab.org/healthcare-professionals/posters for information on how to submit an abstract and for poster presentation guidelines.
Prevent Blindness Names New Member of Board of Directors
Prevent Blindness announced that Mr. Alan J. Gunner, vice president, Revenue Cycle Management, AEG Vision, LLC, was elected to the Prevent Blindness board of directors on March 18, at the 2022 Prevent Blindness Spring Board Meeting. Mr. Gunner leads managed vision care operations, revenue cycle management and the revenue cycle integration of newly acquired businesses into the AEG Vision common platform, according to a press release.
SIFI Granted Second FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Fungal Keratitis Drug
SIFI S.p.A. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company’s Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) application for its investigational anti-infective polymer polihexanide for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Polihexanide is an anti-infective polymer that acts via a dual mechanism involving disruption of microorganism cell membranes and selective condensation and/or disruption of microorganism chromosomes by DNA binding. Polihexanide also has ODD for acanthamoeba keratitis granted by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency.
SightGlass Vision Joint Venture Begins Operation
EssilorLuxottica and CooperCompanies announced the finalization of their joint venture agreement for SightGlass Vision. This collaboration accelerates the commercialization of novel spectacle lens technologies to expand the myopia management category, according to the companies. SightGlass Vision’s Diffusion Optics Technology incorporates thousands of micro-dots into the lens that softly scatter light to reduce contrast on the retina, which is intended to reduce myopia progression in children, the companies say.
Sight Sciences Appoints New Board of Directors Member
Sight Sciences, Inc. named Brenda Becker to its board of directors, effective March 15, 2022. As part of her duties, Ms. Becker joined the Nominating and Governance Committee. Ms. Becker has more than 40 years of combined private and public sector experience focused on health policy and legislation, according to Sight Sciences. She currently serves as senior vice president, Global Government Affairs at Boston Scientific. Before joining Boston Scientific in 2007, Ms. Becker served in the George W. Bush administration under former Vice President Dick Cheney as assistant to the Vice President for Legislative Affairs.
SUNY College of Optometry Named Most Cost-Effective Research Program in SUNY System
The SUNY College of Optometry has been identified as the most cost-effective research program in the entire SUNY system, according to the 2021 Financial Risk Accountability report from the SUNY Research Foundation. The report measured both fiscal and scientific accountability via a multi-year trend analysis from fiscal years 2019 to 2022. The college continues to search for researchers to add to its roster of nationally and internationally recognized faculty with the goal of expanding its research efforts, according to a press release.
Transitions Optical Reschedules Transitions Academy 2022
Transitions Optical scheduled new dates for the 25th Transitions Academy. The educational event will now take place June 1 to June 4, 2022, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla. The event will include presentations, guest speakers and workshops, and the winners of the 2021 Transitions Innovations Awards will be honored. Those interested in receiving an invitation to Transitions Academy 2022 can visit TransitionsAcademy.com.
The Vision Council and RX Detail Vision Expo East Opening Night Party & Special Events
Organizers of Vison Expo — The Vision Council and RX — released details on the opening night party and other special events. The opening night party will feature rock band Bad Habits “The EyeDocs of Rock” and will be held on April 1st in the Paramount Hotel. The “ODs on Facebook” Party is also April 1st, at Empire Penthouse. Finally, the OPTImum Retail Award Champagne Reception will occur April 1st in The Bridge neighborhood to honor the winner of the 2022 award celebrating independent boutique retailers. Vision Expo East 2022 is scheduled from March 31 to April 3 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
Visus Therapeutics Starts Phase 3 Trials of Brimochol PF for Presbyopia
Visus Therapeutics Inc. launched the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials (BRIO-I and BRIO-II) for BRIMOCHOL, a preservative-free, fixed-dose combination of carbachol and brimonidine tartrate in ophthalmic solution form for the treatment of presbyopia. BRIO-I and BRIO-II are double-masked, randomized, multi-center, safety and efficacy studies expected to enroll emmetropic phakic and pseudophakic presbyopic patients (approximately 170 and 500 respectively). The primary efficacy endpoint is the percentage of patients who gain three lines of improvement in binocular near VA sans losing one line of distance vision. The first read out of this study is anticipated in Q4 2022, says Visus.
O.D. Notebook is published weekly on Wednesdays. Unless otherwise noted, the information presented is based on press releases and/or announcements by the respective organizations. Find earlier editions here. To submit a press release to be considered for publication, click here. Additionally, find frequently updated COVID-19 coverage here.