Practice Tip:
One way to create a great practice culture is to pen a mission statement that both the practice’s leaders and employees comply with in everything they do, writes Dori M. Carlson, OD, MAL, FAAO, in her latest “Inspire. Lead. Succeed.” Column, at https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2022/october-2022/inspire-lead-succeed.
“Our practice’s mission statement is: Our mission is to provide the highest quality of life for you, your family, and our communities in the years ahead.
Alcon Celebrates Diamond Anniversary at AAO
During Academy 2022, Alcon celebrated its 75th anniversary with several onsite activities and product announcements. Specifically, the company announced that it will launch TOTAL30 for Astigmatism in the next few months. Alcon also announced that more than one million patients are now enrolled in its contact lens ordering platform MARLO, which the company will expand to provide greater access to eye care in 2023. Additionally, Alcon sponsored the event, “The Secrets to Success: Featuring Robert Herjavec and TOTAL,” to include Herjavec’s personal experience as a contact lens patient and lessons learned from his career as an entrepreneur, CEO, and his time on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” (See story at https://www.optometricmanagement.com/news/2022/a-shark-visits-academy-2022.)
Bausch + Lomb’s Dry Eye Disease Treatment’s NDA Gets FDA Acceptance
Bausch + Lomb and Novaliq GmbH announced that the FDA accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) filing for NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane). NOV03 is an investigational therapy to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease associated with meibomian gland dysfunction and has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of June 28, 2023.
CLI Announces Online Panel Discussions on Inflation and Eye Care
The Contact Lens Institute is hosting two online panels that will explore the intersection of inflation and eye care. Taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at 6 p.m. EDT and 9 p.m. EDT, the live online panels are open to all members of the eye care community. Free registration is available at SeeTomorrowNow.com. Four panelists will interpret the data to provide valuable clinical and practice management guidance, helping attendees navigate shifts being driven by economic pressures. They include: Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, FIAOMC, Melanie Denton Dombrowski, OD, Chris Lievens, OD, MS, FNAP, FAAO, and Caitlin J. Morrison, OD, FAAO, FSLS.
Heru Inc. Adds to Executive Leadership Team
Heru Inc. appointed Fred Drasner, as chairman of the board of directors, Terrell (Terry) Herring as chief commercial officer, has promoted Corey Nielson to chief business development officer, and has added Ron Williams and Chris Dewey to its board of directors.
Houston College of Optometry Professor Earns NEI Grant to Study Myopia
Professor Geunyoung Yoon, the Irvin M. Borish Chair Professor at The University of Houston College of Optometry, received a $2.1 million National Eye Institute grant to assess how peripheral vision may contribute to myopia. To make this determination, Professor Yoon will create and use optical tools, such as a compact scanning ocular wavefront sensor, an open view scanning adaptive optics vision simulator, and individually customized contact lenses, to track a child’s vision over 3 years, according to the press release.
IACLE Announces Menicon as New Bronze Sponsor
The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) Announced Menicon Co, Ltd is a new Bronze Sponsor. Senior Executive Officer of Menicon Hideki Koga commented, “Partnering with IACLE allows us to support contact lens education, research, and best practice evidence-based approaches for those teaching and aspiring the next generation of eye care professionals.”
IAPB Names Winners of 2022 World Sight Day Photo Competition
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness announced the winners of the World Sight Day 2022 Photo Competition: Kwame Yeboah for Photo of the Year, and Laite Tuiloma for Amateur Photo of the Year. The winners were selected from 960 images submitted from over 60 countries. The World Sight Day Photo Competition is supported by Bayer. Learn more about the images, and the 2022 judges panel by visiting www.iapb.org.
IDOC Launches Benchmarking Charts; Opens Registration for National Conference
IDOC is making available benchmarking charts on several practice metrics. The service, an exclusive feature of IDOC’s Books & Benchmarks service, integrates full-service bookkeeping, QuickBooks, and payroll into its benchmarks, enabling ODs to sharpen their competitive edge, IDOC says. Learn more at www.IDOC.net/finance. In other news, registration for IDOC’s annual national conference, The Connection, occurring in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 16 to Feb. 19, is now open. The event, with the theme “Explore the Possibilities,” will take place at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld. To register, visit www.idoc.swoogo.com/connection2023.
ISVA Annual Conference Now Open
Registration is now open for the 7th Annual International Sports Vision Association (ISVA) conference, occurring Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, 2023, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center, in Frisco, Texas. Titled “Unlocking Athletic Potential,” this year’s ISVA conference is scheduled to offer up to 16 COPE-approved CE credits and includes discussions on contact lens considerations in athletes, presbyopia and visual snow syndrome, and concussion, among others. To register for the conference and see a full list of scheduled speakers and presentations, visithttps://www.sportsvision.pro/professionals/2023-annual-conference/.
Nicox Glaucoma Drug Nets Favorable Results in Study
Nicox SA’s NCX 470 0.1%, a nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost eye drop, met the primary objective of non-inferiority in lowering IOP in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension patients compared to the standard of care treatment in the 691-patient Mont Blanc Phase 3 clinical trial.
Prevent Blindness Declares November Diabetes-Related Eye Disease Month
Prevent Blindness named November Diabetes-related Eye Disease Month and is offering a variety of tools to increase disease awareness, including videos, fact sheets, social media graphics, and presentations. Additionally, a new episode of Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series will be dedicated to diabetes-related eye disease and health disparities this month. Visit https://www.preventblindness.org/diabetes-and-eyes-educational-toolkit.
Rocky Mountain University Opens College of Optometry
After receiving preliminary accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU), an accredited graduate health care education institution in Provo, UT, will commence its Doctor of Optometry program in May 2023. An advanced modern medical curriculum, combined with flexible interactive in-person and online courses will prepare students to provide exceptional eye care, while helping to meet workforce demands, according to RMU. For additional information, visit https://rm.edu/optometry/.
Topcon Announces OCT Certification Course
Topcon Healthcare announced the new Maestro2 Robotic OCT + Color Fundus Camera Certification Course — free for all device owners until Jan. 31, 2023. The course covers topics, including how to operate the Maestro2 OCT, tips for capturing high-quality scans, basic retinal and optic nerve anatomy, and common retinal and optic nerve diseases, the company says. Upon course completion, participants will receive 2 IJCAHPO credits. For more information or to register for the Maestro2 OCT Certification Course, visit www.topconhealthcare.com/certification.
Vyluma Announces Positive Study Results of Myopia Progression Treatment
Vyluma, Inc. announced its NVK002, a proprietary, investigational, low-dose, preservative-free atropine eye drop administered nightly for the treatment of myopia progression, achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful differences from placebo in the Phase 3 Childhood Atropine for Myopia Progression (CHAMP) study in areas such as responder analysis, mean change from baseline in spherical equivalent refraction, and mean change from baseline in axial length at month 36. Additionally, it demonstrated efficacy at several time points, including a statistically significant mean change in axial length compared to placebo at 36 months. Vyluma says it plans to submit a New Drug Application for NVK002 as early as Q1 2023.
World Council of Optometry Survey Shows Desire for Myopia Standard of Care
As part of a virtual event, “Myopia Management: Putting it Into Practice” attended by 1,245 individuals representing 95 countries earlier this year, the World Council of Optometry conducted pre- and post-event surveys to assess the impact of the educational content of the program on clinical practice. A total of 83% of the pre-survey group responded that they “strongly agreed” and 13% “somewhat agreed” that the form of myopia management presented (i.e., mitigation, management, and measurement, developed with CooperVision) should be the standard of care, while on the post-survey, 87% “strongly agreed” and 9% “somewhat agreed.” For more information, visit www.worldcouncilofoptometry.info
OD 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.