News from ABB Optical, CooperVision, Eyenovia, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Glaukos, Global Specialty Lens Symposium, and more
Practice Tip: Many glaucoma patients are non-compliant to their prescribed treatments for a variety of reasons, such as medication side effects. One way to increase the likelihood of adherence to anti-glaucoma drugs is patient-tailored education, writes Austin Lifferth, OD, FAAO, in “Follow the Three Rs:” “Studies show that patients who receive tailored education (e.g., instillation technique, purpose of medications, the nature of the disease, memory aids, etc.) have both higher self-efficacy and a significant increase in adherence,” he writes. “In short, we should provide patient re-education at each visit.” See https://bit.ly/3MRJdfd.
ABB Optical Group Buys Michigan Optical Lab
ABB Optical Group acquired Green Optics, an independent full-service optical laboratory based in Auburn Hills, Mich. Green Optics has the latest technology for digital lens manufacturing, thermally cured dip hard coating, as well as anti-reflective and mirror coatings, says ABB Optical Group.
Allergan Announces Lastacaft is Available Over the Counter
Allergan, an AbbVie company, announced that alcaftadine ophthalmic solution 0.25% (Lastacaft) is now available over the counter. Lastacaft, which can work in as little as three minutes to provide relief from itchy, allergy eyes and lasts through 16 hours, is available in a 5 mL multidose bottle containing a 60-day supply, as well as a twin pack with two 5 mL multidose bottles for a 120-day supply. Visit lastacaft.com.
Arch Crown Launches 40-Page Catalog
Arch Crown’s new 40-page catalog includes over 100 styles of stock and pre-printed and custom printed Op-Tags and labels, such as a full-line of bar code technology products. These products include everything you need to print and scan bar code tags using your own computer, Arch Crown says. For free samples and catalog, call (800) 526-8353 or visit: www.ArchCrown.com
Contact Lens Compliance Event Now Available for On-Demand Viewing
The Contact Lens Institute hosted members of the eye care community from the United States, Canada, and beyond on March 3 to discuss a persistent question: How can practitioners encourage better contact lens compliance among patients? The online learning event — Making Contact Lens Compliance Stick: EASY Insights, Tips & Tools — is now available for on-demand viewing at https://youtu.be/uFKBtVNUKKE.
CooperVision Includes Silicone Hydrogel 1-Day Contact Lenses in U.S. Plastic Neutral Initiative
CooperVision announced that its entire portfolio of silicone hydrogel 1-day contact lenses is now net plastic neutral in the United States. Specifically, the MyDay daily disposable family joined the Clariti 1 day family, which was the first net plastic neutral contact lens. The company’s net plastic neutral initiative is made possible through a partnership with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain. Visit sustainability.coopervision.com. In other news, CooperVision introduced a suite of practice support tools for its Clariti 1 day family of silicone hydrogel lenses. These practice resources can be downloaded at https://coopervision.com/practitioner/build-your-practice/marketing-support/marketing-materials/clariti-1-day.
Eyenovia Announces Positive Study Results Regarding Optejet
Eyenovia, Inc., announced positive results from a study that evaluated the ocular surface damage from latanoprost+benzalkonium chloride (BAK) treatment administered via Optejet vs. Latanoprost+BAK administered via standard eye drops. Specifically, the study shows that human conjunctival epithelial cells tolerated Latanoprost+BAK treatment administered via Optejet technology significantly better than Latanoprost+BAK administered via standard drops, the company says.
EyeMedsNow Announces Business Advisor
Scott Jens, OD, has been named business advisor for EyeMedsNow. Dr. Jens has played a significant role in transforming EyeMedsNow into a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) platform, the company says. EyeMedsNow.com provides detailed information about prescription and OTC topical and oral ophthalmic drugs, including dosage, mechanism of action, contraindications, side effects and cost, among other characteristics.
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals Names Chief Regulatory Officer
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc. appointed Isabelle Lefebvre chief regulatory officer. Ms. Lefebvre has more than 30 years of global regulatory affairs experience across all phases of drug development, including ophthalmic and ocular conditions, the company says. She succeeds John Weet, PhD, who will be leaving his role as senior vice president, Regulatory, following a transition period.
Glaukos Commences Phase 2 Corneal Health Clinical Program for Keratoconus Therapy
Glaukos Corporation announced it has begun a Phase 2 clinical program for its third-generation iLink therapy platform created to treat keratoconus. The platform consists of single-use drug formulations that are bio-activated by proprietary systems via the delivery of ultraviolet light to the cornea to activate corneal cross-linking. The Phase 2 clinical program consists of two separate multi-center, randomized, controlled trials to assess the safety and efficacy of patient-specific, customized vs. non-customized treatment patterns for corneal cross-linking and a new investigational laser-based bio-activation system, respectively. Both trials will have a primary safety and efficacy follow-up period of 6 months.
Global Specialty Lens Symposium Names New Program Committee Member
The Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) welcomed new program committee member Ashley Wallace-Tucker, OD. Dr. Wallace-Tucker is an owner-partner at Bellaire Family Eye Care in the Houston area where she primarily focuses on specialty contact lenses and myopia management. In addition, she is a visiting assistant professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Scleral Lens Education Society. Dr. Wallace-Tucker joins existing members Jason Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD (GSLS Chair); Karen DeLoss, OD (Vice Chair); Pat Caroline; Lynette Johns, OD; and Eef van der Worp, BSc, PhD. In other news, GSLS is seeking submissions for one-hour CE breakout sessions and two-hour CE workshops for its 2023 meeting, which will occur in Las Vegas from Jan. 18 to Jan. 21, 2023. The submission window opens on March 15 and will close at 5:00 p.m. EDT on April 15, 2022.
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association Seeking Award Nominations
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association is now accepting nominations for The Advancement of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Award; The Advancement of Sciences Award; Founding Father’s Award; and the William and Diana Ludlam Educators Award. For further information and to submit a nomination, which must be received by June 30, 2022, visit https://noravisionrehab.org/about-nora/awards. The winners will be named at the NORA 2022 General Conference, Sept. 8 to Sept. 11, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio.
NovaSight Announces Positive Results From Its Digital Treatment Device for Amblyopia
NovaSight announced positive data from its multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of CureSight, an eye-tracking based, digital treatment device for amblyopia. The study, which randomized 103 participants ages 4 to 9, showed the digital device to be non-inferior to eye patching for amblyopia treatment in children. Additionally, the topline analyses from the pivotal study demonstrated that BCVA improvement at week 16 was larger in the CureSight group vs. the patching control group.
Ocuphire Completes Enrollment of Phase 2b Clinical Trial of Oral Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy
Ocuphire Pharma, Inc. announced it has completed enrollment of 103 diabetic patients who have moderately severe-to-severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or mild proliferative diabetic retinopathy in ZETA-1, a Phase 2b trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of APX3330, an oral therapy, for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy at 25 investigational sites across the U.S. in less than a year. For more information, visit https://www.ocuphire.com/clinical-trials/zeta-1-diabetic-retinopathy-phase-2-clinical-trial-for-apx3330.
Orasis Pharmaceuticals Completes Phase 3 Trial on Presbyopia Drop
Orasis Pharmaceuticals announced the completion of its NEAR-1 and NEAR-2 Phase 3 clinical studies. The multi-center, double-masked, parallel-group clinical trials were comprised of more than 600 U.S. participants to assess the efficacy and safety of CSF-1, Orasis’ eye drop candidate.
SUNY College of Optometry Lands $2 Million Retina Research Grant
The SUNY College of Optometry received a $2 million grant from the NEI to research regenerating retinal neurons to revive sight, the school says. Stefanie Wohl, PhD, who will oversee the research, will focus on an endogenous cell type, called Müller glia, that can function as a stem cell-like cell, replacing lost neurons after damage — a natural occurrence in some species of fish, but dormant in mammals, such as humans, the press release says.
Théa Completes Acquisition of Akorn’s Ophthalmic Products
Théa Pharma Inc. announced it has completed the purchase of seven branded ophthalmic products from Akorn Operating Company LLC. These products: Zioptan, Cosopt, Cosopt PF, Betimol, Azasite, Akten and AcellFX. In other news, Théa is getting ready to launch its line of iVIZIA OTC products for dry eye and eyelid hygiene, which will be distributed by Similasan Corporation.
Treehouse Eyes Names New Leadership
Treehouse Eyes announced a new leadership structure to support its growth, it says. Specifically, veteran executive Jamie Cassidy was promoted to chief operating officer; industry executive Rahul Patani was appointed senior advisor and global marketing consultant, and co-founder Gary Gerber, OD, leads the clinical and innovation teams working on new tools to aid Treehouse Eyes doctors in efficiently growing their myopia management practice.
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.