Practice Tip: New ownership is a fresh opportunity to reinvigorate staff and get them excited about the positive changes to come, says Jessilin Quint, OD, FAAO, in the April article “Onboard Existing Staff for New Owners.” Specifically, she says that she and her fellow new owners planned and executed various social activities, such as bowling, paint nights, movie nights, yoga classes, and family dinners, that encouraged team bonding. For more tips in this area, see https://bit.ly/3v3ZlCe.
ABB Optical Group Organizes Ukraine Fundraiser
ABB Optical Group announced it has organized a fundraiser with the international organization Caritas, to raise funds to help with health care, food, and shelter for those fighting for freedom and basic human rights in Ukraine. Specifically, the company says it intends to donate thousands of dollars, will be matching, dollar for dollar, all employee donations, and is looking to match a portion of industry donations. Anyone looking to help can donate at: https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/nUOUCpYzrkc9jRzzFPRqDf?domain=charita.darujme.sk.
Alcon Partners With “Emily in Paris” Actress Kate Walsh to Promote Drops for Dry Eye Disease
Alcon joined forces with actress Kate Walsh to share her journey with dry eye disease around the company’s launch of its Systane Complete Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops. Specifically, through the “Make Every Look Count” campaign, Ms. Walsh will discuss how her dry eye disease symptoms affected important moments for her — on and off-screen — and how Systane helped her. Systane Complete Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops provide eight hours of consistent symptom relief via one drop, Alcon says. The formula hydrates and supports all layers of the tear film, the company says.
Aurion Biotech Secures Financing
Aurion Biotech announced it secured $120 million financing from Deerfield Management, Petrichor Healthcare Capital Management, Flying L Partners, Falcon Vision, and Visionary Ventures. Aurion Biotech says it intends to use the financing to advance its cell therapy program for corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction. The company says it’s preparing to submit a J-NDA for market approval in Japan, and an IND to initiate clinical trials in the United States.
Bruder Introduces Two In-Office Package Options for Moist Heat Eye Compress
Bruder announced two new in-office package options for its moist heat eye compress. Specifically, a new box and counter display offer an attractive, small-footprint way to showcase the Bruder Eye Compress in high-traffic, point-of sale locations throughout the office, the company says. The compress aids in clearing oil glands, enabling natural oils to flow back onto the eye to relieve discomfort, Bruder says.
Cognivue Names Vice President of Clinical Sciences
Cognivue, Inc. appointed Dr. Douglas L. Beck, Au.D. as vice president of Clinical Sciences. Dr. Beck will be responsible for, among other duties, providing ethical and responsible clinical advice for the use and interpretation of Cognivue products, participating in the development of clinical paradigms, representing Cognivue in a broad arena of clinical fields, and creating manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, among other professional health care publications.
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Announces New Exchange and Manufacturing Policies to Better the Patient Experience
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare announced a new exchange policy and manufacturing guarantees for customers in the United States and Canada to improve both the eye care provider and patient experience, the company says. The new exchange policy offers unlimited, no-charge exchanges on the company’s scleral contact lenses for up to 90 days. Also, the Paragon CRT and Dual Axis contact lenses are now guaranteed to be shipped in 72 hours or less to U.S. customers. Further, for an additional $10 fee (added to the applicable product price), all CooperVision Specialty EyeCare lens orders can be made and ready to ship within 24 hours.
Fera Pharmaceuticals Receives FDA Orphan Designation for Stargardt Disease Treatment
Fera Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA granted orphan drug designation for its phospholine Iodide (echothiophate iodide for ophthalmic solution) treatment for Stargardt disease.
Haag-Streit Introduces Slit Lamp
Haag-Streit announced the availability of its Imaging Module 910 slit lamp, which has been designed to acquire outstanding images, the company says. Specifically, the device features a performant auto-exposure mode and automatic aperture control to guarantee great illumination, Haag-Streit says. Also, the slit lamp’s image selection algorithm chooses the best image possible, the company says. Visit https://www.haag-streit.com/haag-streit-usa/.
Luxottica to buy 91% of Packaging and Eyeglass Cases Company
Luxottica Group S.p.A. announced it has entered into a preliminary sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of a total of no. 1,727,141 shares of the company Giorgio Fedon & Figli S.p.A, a packaging and eyeglass case company. The acquisition is expected by the end of June 2022, Luxottica Group says.
OcuBlink Polymer-Based Eye Model Used by Students
OcuBlink’s OcuBall polymer-based eye model is now being used by optometry educators and students at nearly 12 colleges and universities in five countries — Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K, and the U.S. OcuBall uses a biocompatible material that eliminates safety concerns, such as handling and disposal of biological tissue, cross-contamination, spoilage and odor. OcuBlink, created as an initiave of the Centre for Ocular Research, created OcuBall to feel like a human eye and simulate a realistic response to embedded foreign bodies, including the formation of a rust ring.
Prevent Blindness Names Recipients of 2022 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health and the Rising Visionary Award
Prevent Blindness announced the recipient of the 2022 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health as VOSH International. Additionally, the organization announced the co-recipients of the third annual “Rising Visionary Award” as Marissa K. Shoji, MD, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Hursuong Vongsachang, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
SUNY College of Optometry Expands Clinical Space for Pediatric Eye Care
The SUNY College of Optometry, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary tomorrow, April 14, 2022, expanded the Barbara Saltzman Center for Pediatric Eye Care using a $1.6 M grant from the State of New York and donations from the Our Vision for Children campaign. The facility now has the capacity to perform up to 10,000 pediatric patient visits annually in its over 5,000 sq. ft space. The center is named for Barbara Saltzman, a former president of the Optometric Center of New York Board of Trustees who also served on several nonprofit boards, including the Optometric Center of New York.
UPNEEQ Wins Beauty Award
UPNEEQ, from RVL Pharmaceuticals, won the Best in Innovation product for 2022 and The Best Secret for Wide Awake Eyes by the industry and consumer publication, New Beauty. Product winners of the New Beauty Awards Seal must deliver on their claims, solve aesthetic concerns, and fulfill the rigorous testing process of editors and experts, the magazine says. UPNEEQ is a treatment that lifts lids in patients who have acquired ptosis.
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.