News from ABB Optical group, Abbvie, Bausch + Lomb, C. Light Technologies, Euclid Systems, Hubble Contacts, Keeler USA, and more…
Practice Tip: A total of 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the start of February, reports Forbes. As we are on the cusp of that month, your colleagues provide their 2022 resolutions to keep you motivated at https://bit.ly/3fSwoCa. An example: Optometric Management’s “New OD” columnist, Kristin S. O’Brien, OD, is focusing is on smart scheduling.“This means asking additional questions while on the phone with patients to proactively schedule them as efficiently as possible,” she explains.
ABB Optical Group Broadens ABB Cares Program
ABB Optical Group expanded its charitable giving program for 2022 to four fundraising events and two giveback programs throughout the year at all five of its locations nationwide.
Additionally, the program will provide employees with paid time off to volunteer and give back to their communities. Following December’s tornadoes in the South and Midwest, ABB Cares donated over $10,000 to the American Red Cross. To learn more about ABB Cares and the program’s expansion, visit abboptical.com/ABBCares.
Abbvie Makes Changes in Leadership at Allergan Eye Care
Jag Dosanjh, formerly senior vice president, Medical Therapeutics, is now president, U.S. Neuroscience and Eye Care; Ramin Valian, formerly vice president, Glaucoma and Reimbursement, is vice president, Eye Care; and Glen Curran, formerly vice president, Anterior Segment, is now vice president, Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) Therapeutic.
Bausch + Lomb Names Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer
Bausch Health Companies Inc. appointed Dr. Yehia Hashad executive vice president of Research & Development (R&D) and chief medical officer (CMO), effective Jan. 31, 2022. Dr. Hashad comes from Allergan/AbbVie, where he held various roles over 11 years, including leading Allergan's global clinical development program for its eye care portfolio.
ASCO Updates “Optometry Gives Me Life” Campaign with Fresh Faces
ASCO updated its national public awareness campaign to feature two additional ODs: Dr. Linda Pham, of NECO Center for Eye Care in Boston, and Dr. Vishal Patel, of Milan Eye Center in Atlanta. The campaign, intended to boost the number of highly qualified applicants resulted in a 10% increase in year one of the campaign of Black and Latino/Hispanic applicants to optometry programs, and an 18% increase in year two.
Canadian Association of Optometrists Gives Thumbs Up to World Council of Optometry Myopia Management Standard of Care Resolution
In a position statement, the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) said it supports the World Council of Optometry (WCO) resolution and endorses evidence-based myopia management as a standard of care for all at-risk patients. The WCO and CooperVision introduced the resolution in April 2021, defining evidence-based standard of care as comprising three main components: mitigation, measurement, and management.
C. Light Technologies Names Chief Commercial Officer
C. Light Technologies appointed Lon Dowell chief commercial officer (CCO). Mr. Dowell has over 30 years of experience in strategic planning, operations, and leadership in global medical device companies, including at Zeiss, Leica, and Topcon, among others. As CCO, Mr. Dowell will head the company’s commercial strategy, including marketing and sales, as well as build business relationships with research organizations, clinicians, and pharma.
EDGEPro Practice Analytics Partners with MaximEyes.com
EDGEPro, by GPN Technologies, and MaximEyes.com, by First Insight, are integrating to provide eye care professionals with real-time practice analytics. Specifically, the integration enables doctors and staff to use an application programming interface (API) that automatically pulls data from the practice management system into EDGEPro nightly, so it’s accessible when needed.
Euclid Systems Announces Interactive, Web-based Customer Portal
Euclid Systems Corporation launched MyEuclid, a new interactive, web-based customer portal created to aid in driving practice efficiency and optimizing Euclid Ortho-K fits. Fit flexibility, data-driven algorithms for precise curve selection and optic zone optimization, and expert order verification are among MyEuclid’s key features, the company says. A full launch of MyEuclid to U.S. customers is planned for March 2022.
Hubble Contacts Names Chief Marketing Officer
Vision Path, Inc., the parent company of Hubble Contacts and ContactsCart hired Elliot Baldini as chief marketing officer. Mr. Baldini joins Hubble from the Massachusetts-based School of Rock where he led all global and domestic B2B and B2C marketing efforts, as well as
the company’s retail business, Vision Path, Inc., says.
Keeler USA and Avellino Partner to Expand Access to Genetic Eye Test
Keeler USA and Avellino have entered into a distribution agreement for AvaGen, the first genetic test to identify patients’ risk of keratoconus and pinpoint TGFBI corneal dystrophies. The test, which gives a genetic risk score by examining more than 2,075 keratoconus-related genes and gene variants, allows for an earlier diagnosis, potentially protecting a patient’s vision.
LKC Technologies Annnounces Enhanced PhNR Protocol for RETeval Device
LKC Technologies released an enhanced PhNR protocol for its RETeval® Device — a portable full-field ERG non-mydriatic testing device that's FDA cleared. This new protocol provides a 4-times improvement in test/retest variability, and a normative reference range that's 1.7-times narrower. The result is a more sensitive tool helping to detect abnormal ganglion cell function, the company says. LKC Technologies released of a short explanatory video about the technology, which can be viewed here.
SynergEyes and EyePrint Prosthetics Join Forces for Exclusive Distribution Agreement
SynergEyes, Inc. has an exclusive distribution agreement with EyePrint Prosthetics, which allows the former to offer the latter’s ScanFitPRO. Specifically, SynergEyes customers will have access to the ScanFitPRO process, which designs a scleral lens using freeform manufacturing technology and 3D imaging. The ScanFitPRO design software is compatible with Oculus Pentacam’s Corneal Scleral Profile (CSP) Report and the Eaglet Eye’s Eye Surface Profiler (ESP). SynergEyes says it is planning to commercialize the SynergEyes ScanFitPRO lens in the third quarter of 2022.
Transitions Optical and OneSight Join Forces for a Free, One-Day Vision Clinic for Students
Transitions Optical and OneSight partnered to give students at Deerwood Elementary School, in Kissimmee, Fla., a free vision clinic that included eye exams and dispensing services. The event, which occurred Jan. 14, 2022, was held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In addition to the vision clinic, which included 15 eye care providers, Transitions Optical Diversity Advisory Board members and OneSight staff members, launched a video, posted on the company’s social media pages, sharing insights on fostering diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Vision Council Shares Vision for 2022 at Virtual Annual Business Meeting
At The Vision Council’s Annual Business Meeting, held virtually Jan 24, Ashley Mills, CEO of the organization, announced that the 2023 Executive Summit will take place from Monday, Feb. 6 to Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, just outside of downtown Austin, Texas, and that The Vision Council is planning several member-focused regional events to be held throughout 2022 leading up to the 2023 Executive Summit. Additionally, Alysse Henkel, The Vision Council’s director of Research Data and Analytics, shared that the organization’s market research program is being redesigned for 2022. The Vision Council’s 2021 Annual Report is now available and can be viewed here.
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.