News from Bausch + Lomb, Contact Lens Institute, Luxottica, Natural Ophthalmics, Prevent Blindness, Signet Armorlite, TissueTech and more.
Practice Tip: One way to build one’s contact lens practice is by doing so “from the inside out,” writes Susan Resnick, OD, FAAO, in “Build a Contact Lens Practice” in Optometric Management’s annual contact lens issue at https://bit.ly/3AKvEIX. “Have a staff member go through your current patient records to determine who may benefit from lens wear. For example, how many of your current eyeglass-wearing and non-eyeglass-wearing patients are on the verge of presbyopia and could, therefore, benefit from multifocal contact lenses at their next visit?” She writes.
Bausch + Lomb and Prevent Blindness Announce Annual AMD Awareness Month Campaign
Bausch + Lomb (B&L) and Prevent Blindness announced they are once again partnering during AMD Awareness Month (February) to provide education and raise greater awareness of the condition. Specifically, throughout this month, the two entities will share educational content on their social media pages to encourage patients to take an active role in their AMD. Also, B&L will donate $1 to Prevent Blindness and its sight-saving fund for every “like” or “share” of designated social media posts from its SightMatters Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SightMattersCommunity.
British Journal of Ophthalmology Paper Connects Retinal Age Gap and Mortality Risk
A new paper published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology notes that the difference between the biological age of a person’s retina and their chronological age — the retinal age gap — is linked to their risk of death. The researchers used fundus photos to develop a deep learning model to predict age, and then compared that “retinal age” with the participants’ chronological age. They found that each one-year increase in retinal age gap corresponded with a 2% increase of risk of death from any cause, and a 3% increase in risk of death from a specific cause — except for cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Cognivue Names Chief Medical Officer/Senior Vice President
Cognivue, Inc. hired Jason Agran, MD, PhD, as its chief medical officer and senior vice president, effective Feb. 7, 2022. Dr. Agran has much experience in neurosurgery, neuroimaging, memory study, attention modulation, and emergency medicine, according to the company.
Contact Lens Institute Announces Expansion of Healthy Contact Lens Wear and Care Program
The Contact Lens Institute expanded its The EASY Way (Eyes, Awareness, Safety and You) program to promote healthy contact lens wear and care habits. Specifically, new for 2022, the program’s webinars share information from practices successfully using The EASY Way tools with their patients. “Making Contact Lens Compliance Stick: EASY Insights, Tips & Tools from Visionary Eye Care Pros” will occur Thursday, March 3 at both 6:30 pm EST and 6:30 pm PST. Free registration is open for the earlier event at bit.ly/EASYWayEastern and the later event at bit.ly/EASYWayPacific.
Centre for Ocular Research Peer-Review Paper Examines Common Soft Contact Lens Myths and Misconceptions
A peer-review paper from the Centre for Ocular Research (CORE) seeks to shift persistent views about contact lenses that are no longer accurate based on current evidence. These myths and misconceptions include, among others: young children are less successful with contact lenses, patients with low astigmatism do fine with spherical lenses, and my contact lens business will not grow because as many patients as I fit end up dropping out. While the authors found evidence to dispel nine of the 10 myths, one held true: Non-compliance does lead to an increased risk of complications. Supported by Johnson & Johnson Vision and published in several journals, the CORE paper “Addressing common myths and misconceptions in soft contact lens practice” (Walsh K, Jones L, Moody K), can be found at tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08164622.2021.2003693.
Lighthouse Guild Season 2 Podcast Explores Vision and Brain Plasticity
Lighthouse Guild’s podcast series will launch a new episode: “On Tech & Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts.” Dr. Roberts, the host of the podcast, will explore how senses other than vision can access the brain’s visual cortex. He will speak with mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer — who lost his vision to retinoschisis as a teenager — about how his hearing helps him navigate outdoor environments. Also featured is Peter Meier, creator of experimental technology that uses audio feedback to convert visual information into sound, activating sight-impaired users’ visual cortex.
MeiraGTz Receives $30 Million from Janssen for Continued Gene Therapy Study
MeriaGTz announced a $30 million cash milestone payment from Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the Phase 3 trial of botaretigene sparoparvovec (AAV-RPGR), an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). The company, which is now dosing participants in the trial, is jointly developing the drug with Janssen in a wide-ranging collaboration focusing on the development and commercialization of gene therapies to treat genetic retinal diseases, according to the press release. As part of the collaboration, MeriaGTx is eligible for further development and commercial milestones for botaretigene sparoparvovec.
Natural Ophthalmics Announces Availability of Products in 10 ml Bottles
Natural Ophthalmics, Inc. has made its products available in new, easy-to-manipulate 10 ml bottles, the company says. Each bottle is boxed and includes instructions for use. See www.NaturalEyeDrops.com
Patent Granted for Free-form Multifocal Natural Addition Ophthalmic Lens
Michael Walach, president of Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab and the CEO of QLDS, a cloud-based digital lens design global provider, was granted Broadview Natural Addition Lens (NAL) efficacy patent number U.S. 11,126,012 for OMNILUX. This is a new free-form multifocal NAL that provides a single-vision-like viewing experience with the performance of a multifocal lens and does not require the fitting height value, he says. QLDS is the exclusive provider of the NAL technology, licensing digital free-form labs worldwide.
Prevent Blindness Names February Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month
Prevent Blindness declared February as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and low vision awareness month. In addition to the “AMD Learning Center” at PreventBlindness.org/AMD, Prevent Blindness offers the free GuideMe app, created for those diagnosed with AMD, and has
Designed new, dedicated resources on geographic atrophy, sponsored by Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for low vision, Prevent Blindness offers the no-cost “Living Well with Low Vision” online resource at lowvision.preventblindness.org, and will debut a new episode dedicated to low vision in the online Focus on Eye Health Expert Series, it says.
Selections Announced for 2022 OneSight Student Clinics
Luxottica Eye Care, in partnership with nonprofit OneSight, announced the students selected to be part of this year’s student clinics: One clinic in the greater Chicagoland area and one in La Posta Reservation, Calif. OD students will work under Luxottica Retail's affiliated doctors performing comprehensive eye exams. Students will also help support Luxottica volunteers in the frame fitting, manufacturing and dispensing of new eyewear. Luxottica Retail will cover students’ expenses associated with the clinic. The students named for the Chicagoland clinic are: Katty Nguyen, NOVA Southeastern University; Sarah Krauss, Pacific University; Shiv Tamakuwala, University of the Incarnate Word; Emmanuel Gbolabo, University of Houston (alternate); and Nicole Chau, University of Waterloo, (alternate). For La Posta Reservation, the students named are: Olivia Burger, Salus University; Geneva Nguyen, University of California Berkeley; Blaze Sammon, Michigan College of Optometry; Anastasiya Zagurskaya; Salus University, (alternate); and Nicholas Bantz, Indiana University (alternate).
Signet Armorlite Launches KODAK Lens Smiles Optical Growth Program for Independent ECPs
Signet Armorlite introduced KODAK Lens Smiles, a two-year program intended to increase practice revenues for independent eye care providers. The program includes:
• Basic, Premier and Ultra tier structure with benefits based on KODAK Lens sales.
• Managed Vision Care consulting session with KODAK Lens Brand consultants.
• Total Blue Lens Light Measuring Unit that compares the filtration of two lenses side-by-side.
• KODAK Lens Vision Studio, a dispensing app with multiple patient-friendly features.
• Monthly supply of KODAK-branded gift bags for patients.
To participate in the program, providers must register for PracticePlus, which gives rebates of up to $15 per pair of KODAK Progressive Lenses.
SUNY College of Optometry Partners with SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University to Create Public Health and Research Programs
SUNY College of Optometry and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Downstate) joined forces to establish public health educational and research programs on the SUNY College of Optometry’s 42nd Street campus. This partnership will enable SUNY College of Optometry and SUNY Downstate’s School of Public Health to expand access to public health degree programs, while creating collaborative research opportunities that assess health care disparities and access, especially around eye and vision care. The branch program is set to open in the fall semester, according to the press release.
Théa to Buy Akorn’s Branded Ophthalmic Products
Laboratoires Théa SAS (“Théa”), agreed to purchase seven branded ophthalmic products from Akorn Operating Company LLC: tafluprost ophthalmic solution (Zioptan); acellular amniotic membrane (AcellFX); timolol ophthalmic solution (Betimol); dorzolamide HCl and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution (Cosopt and Cosopt PF); azithromycin ophthalmic solution (AzaSite); and lidocaine HCl ophthalmic gel (Akten). Additionally, Théa will add Akorn’s almost 50-person sales force, which Théa expects to expand in support of anticipated growth and launches of new products in the U.S., the company says.
TissueTech Names New President/CEO
TissueTech, Inc. appointed Ted Davis as the company’s new president and CEO. Mr. Davis, a biologics and orthopedics executive, recently served as president and CEO of Active Implants, LLC, a medical device company focused on the knee preservation segment of sports medicine. He succeeds TissueTech founder and former CEO Amy Tseng, who retired January 3.
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.