News from CooperVision, Centre for Ocular Research & Education, Diopsys, Johnson & Johnson Vision, PECCA, and more...
Practice Tip: Practices that plan to connect with other providers on their patients’ health care teams may want to consider participating in Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), which “enable the electronic and secure sharing of health-related information,” write Ronald P. Snyder, OD, FAAO, and Michael J. Lipson, OD, FAAO, FSLA. “An HIE acts as a central repository where all of a patient’s health information resides and can be shared among all the providers on a patient care team, even if the providers are in different health systems or different offices.” For additional information, visit https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2022/june-2022/what-is-a-health-information-exchange.
CooperVision Names Senior Director of Life Cycle Management
CooperVision named Nancy Keir, OD, PhD, FBCLA, FAAO, senior director, Life Cycle Management. She is responsible for the creation of long-range strategic plans to drive market-leading growth and the timely delivery of new products that meet customer and market requirements, the company says.
Centre for Ocular Research & Education: Coronaviruses Easily Removed from Contact Lenses
A new study by the University of Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering and CORE has revealed that coronaviruses can be easily removed from contact lens surfaces, though how depends on the lens care solution. Specifically, for non-oxidative systems the rub and rinse steps are crucial for removal, whereas products containing hydrogen peroxide and povidone-iodine removed contaminants through soaking. The full-length article expounding on this research can be found at https://www.contactlensjournal.com/article/S1367-0484(22)00164-3/fulltext.
Diopsys Relocates, Expands Headquarters
Diopsys, Inc., now a wholly owned subsidiary of LumiThera, Inc., has moved to an expanded 17,000 square-foot facility. The company says the move provides additional space for operations, research and development laboratories, warehouse, and manufacturing capabilities.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Announces Anticipated Launch of ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1-Day
Johnson & Johnson Vision announced it has received FDA clearance, Health Canada approval and completed CE Mark activities for ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1-Day and ACUVUE OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL. The announcement comes during the Annual AOA Congress and AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting 2022 in Chicago. According to J&J, the new contact lenses were developed to provide all-day comfort and visual clarity, amidst feedback from eye care professionals and patients that today's modern lifestyles and increased use of digital devices are taking a toll on eye comfort. The new lenses are anticipated to be made available in the United States, Canada and multiple European countries this fall. Visit jnjvisionpro.com/oasys-max-family.
PECAA Annual Meeting Makes Return in Palm Springs
After a three-year hiatus and for the first time since combining with Healthy Eyes Advantage (HEA), Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) welcomed more than 900 members, strategic vendor partners, and industry thought leaders to reconnect in person for three days of camaraderie, education and idea exchange during its Annual Meeting in May, in Palm Springs, Calif. The event delivered a multitude of opportunities for PECAA members and their staff to connect with peers and vendors, as well as to learn more about new tools and resources now available to grow and sustain successful practices. The meeting also included 17 educational courses, some of which offered COPE-certified CE credit. For more information, visit PECAAMax.com.
Regal Healthcare Capital Partners Forms InFocus Eyecare
Regal Healthcare Capital Partners, a New York-based health care private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in health care services companies, partnered with Ryan Williams and his executive team to form InFocus Eyecare. Located in Jacksonville, Fla., InFocus will seek to create an eye care company focused on providing high-quality and accessible optometric and vision services, the company says. Visit www.infocuseyecare.com.
Transitions Academy Provided Educational and Networking Opportunities
The 25th Transitions Academy, themed “Eye Care Love Forever,” enabled attendees to learn about Transitions Optical’s most recent strategic projects, participate in professional development and product technology seminars, hear from experts on marketing and industry trends, and learn from colleagues at the three-day, invitation-only event, which occurred at the J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.
Versant Health Releases Annual Vision Wellness Study Results
Versant Health, Inc. made available the results of its third annual Vision Wellness Study. Some highlights: A total of 70% of respondents say the ability to identify eye diseases is a high-value service offered by eye doctors, up from 65% last year. Additionally, more than one third of respondents say they believe telemedicine is a very important health care topic in general, with close to two thirds saying having access to virtual visits and telemedicine would make them more likely to make an eye doctor appointment. The Vision Wellness Study was comprised of 558 responses from consumers ages 18 and older. Visit versanthealth.com.
The Vision Council Promotes National Sunglasses Day, June 27
National Sunglasses Day, taking place on Monday, June 27, is set to highlight the importance of UV-protective eyewear and remind consumers of the short- and long-term benefits of protecting their eyes. The observance is promoted by The Vision Council, which has provided resources to the eye care community, including the official hashtags #SunglassSelfie and #NationalSunglassesDay, and downloadable marketing assets. Visit www.nationalsunglassesday.com.
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.