News from ABB Optical, BostonSight, Centre for Ocular Research & Education, Contact Lens Institute, Euclid Vision, IDOC, Treehouse Eyes, and more…
Practice Tip: With one FDA-approved presbyopia-correcting drop already available and others in the pipeline, how can you make patients aware of this latest treatment option? Dr. Jade Coats, of Fayetteville, Ark., says, “We [her practice] market all our presbyopia treatment offerings internally and externally. Internally, having staff, whether it be a front desk technician, clinical assistant, or scribe, who has experience with the drops is effective at championing them.” For more on how presbyopia-correcting drops will affect practice, visit https://bit.ly/3uVjbk9.
ABB Optical Group to Open National Logistics Center to Support Customers and Business
ABB Optical Group announced it will open a National Logistics Center (NLC) in Hebron, Ky. to enable the company to better support future customer growth and new business opportunities. Specifically, the 103,000 square-foot NLC, which is projected to be up and running by the fall of 2022, will be better equipped to handle an increased volume of smaller orders on behalf of the eye care provider (ECP), giving the ECP a competitive advantage to serve customers with a more efficient fulfillment process, ABB Optical Group says. Additionally, the NLC will provide approximately 100 jobs focused on ABB distribution activities, the company says.
BostonSight Launches Marketing Campaign for Scleral Contact Lens
BostonSight announced a marketing campaign for BostonSight SCLERAL. The campaign focuses on achieving relief from three conditions: dry eye disease, keratoconus, and post-LASIK ectasia, and includes basic education, such as, “What is a is a scleral lens?”, “Anatomy of a scleral lens,” and a “Healthy Lens Habits Guide.” To learn more about BostonSight SCLERAL and the marketing campaign, visit https://www.bostonsightscleral.org/what-is-a-scleral-lens.
Centre for Ocular Research & Education Names Clinical Research Associate
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) appointed Rosa Yang, OD, FAAO, as a clinical research associate. Dr. Yang is also a clinical instructor at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science and a practicing optometrist in the Toronto, Canada area.
Contact Lens Institute to Host Online Learning Event
On the heels of research that shows a disconnect among patients and U.S. eye care practitioners regarding contact lens wear, the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) will host the online learning event, “Revealed! New Consumer Data Shows What’s Holding Back Your Contact Lens Practice” at 6 p.m. EDT and 9 p.m. EDT. Free registration is available at https://bit.ly/Revealed-EastCoast and https://bit.ly/Revealed-WestCoast, respectively. The learning event’s panelists: Klaus Ito, OD, Essence Johnson, OD, FAAO, Elise Kramer, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FSLES, and Jennifer Lyerly, OD. CLI’s members include Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. For more information, visit contactlensinstitute.org.
Envision Conference East to Offer Vision Rehabilitation Sessions
The Envision Conference East, through Envision University, will provide two days of clinical education and research addressing optometry, occupational therapy, vision scientists, genetics, and neurology, among other areas. The conference will occur May 19 to May 21, 2022, at the Ohio State University, in collaboration with the College of Optometry, in Columbus, Ohio.
See the full program at university.envisionus.com/Conference. Register at https://bit.ly/385abzV.
Euclid Vision Announces Acquisition of Visionary Optics
Euclid Vision Corp. announced its acquisition of Visionary Optics, a specialty scleral contact lens design and distribution company. The acquisition signifies Euclid’s recognition of the value of joining forces with Visionary Optics, which concentrates almost exclusively on scleral contact lenses, according to the press release. The union of these two companies increases each establishment’s ability to provide comprehensive specialty contact lens care to more patients globally, the press release says.
Graybug Vision Adds Board of Directors Member
Graybug Vision, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, appointed Dirk Sauer, PhD, to its board of directors. He will serve as a member of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee of the board, and will chair the Science and Innovation Committee, the company says. Dr. Sauer succeeds Gerald Cagle, PhD, who is retiring from the Graybug board after eight years of service.
IDOC Launches Insurance Marketplace for Independent Practices
IDOC launched IDOC Benefits & Beyond, a marketplace-based solution created to help independent optometrists locate and provide quality benefits to their staffs. IDOC partnered with Alera Group, an independent national insurance firm, that will bundle options from the insurers, including medical, dental, life, and accident insurance, as well as access to a dedicated Alera insurance consultant for guidance.
Safilo Group Appoints New President and Chief Commercial Officer for North America
Safilo Group named Francesco Rinaldi Ceroni as its president and chief commercial officer for the North American market, starting June 1, 2022, following the retirement of Steve Wright. Since June 2020, Mr. Rinaldi Ceroni has served as global general manager at Safilo’s Smith Optics, and will become president of Smith Optics, while Mark Phares, director of Global Wholesale Channel for Smith, will be general manager for Smith Optics, reporting to Mr. Rinaldi Ceroni.
State University of New York College of Optometry Has 50th Birthday, Raises Scholarship Funds
The SUNY College of Optometry celebrated 50 years of optometric education, advancement of vision research, and patient care at an event, held by the Optometric Center of New York and hosted by actress and disability advocate Marilee Talkington. President Dr. David A. Heath was presented with the 2022 Eyes on Leadership Award. The event raised a $300,000 to expand scholarship opportunities and grant support for optometry students.
For additional information, visit www.sunyopt.edu/50years.
Treehouse Eyes CEO Named to List of Colorado’s Top 100 CEOs and C-Level Executives
Matt Oerding, CEO of Treehouse Eyes, was named a 2022 Colorado Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Colorado’s Top 100 CEOs and C-level executives using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. This year’s honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book and profiled exclusively online. Additionally, they will be honored at an awards ceremony on June 2, 2022.
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Confirms Theme for World Sight Day 2022
The IAPB confirmed it will continue the theme of #LoveYourEyes for World Sight Day 2022. This year’s campaign aims to continue to engage even more members of the public, according to an IAPB statement. IAPB says it’s shooting to get more than 5 million sight tests pledged for World Sight Day 2022. World Sight Day 2022 aims to raise awareness of blindness and vision impairment as major global public health and development issues.
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.