News from Allergan, American Optometric Association, Centre for Ocular Research & Education, Contact Lens Institute, CooperVision, Eschenbach, EssilorLuxottica and more…

Practice Tip: Although the Centers for Disease Control recently changed its mask recommendation, they can be commonplace in optometric practices and have been causing overestimated IOP measurements, as the tonometer’s sensor rods touch the mask. One way to prevent this is to have the patient who wears a stiff, dome-shaped mask to either adjust it or flatten that part of it, recommends Robert Wooldridge, OD, FAAO, of the Eye Foundation of Utah, in Salt Lake City. For additional tips, see “ODs Provide Practical Tips to Thwart Mask-Caused Incorrect IOP Measurements,” at https://bit.ly/3M5LdAa. 
 
American Optometric Association Announces Members-Only Business Credit Card
AOAExcel launched the AOA Business Card, a credit card, issued by Hatch Bank, that provides unlimited 2% cash back rewards on all purchases and a one-year reimbursement on national AOA dues after a spending threshold of $15,000 is met. Additional features: no annual fee and no personal guarantee for individual cardholders.

Centre for Ocular Research & Education’s Contact Lens Update Covers Patient Behaviors
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)’s Contact Lens Update Issue 64, explores the risks linked with lens wear non-compliance and provides insights to better patient behaviors, CORE says. The publication receives support from the educational arms of Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. See www.ContactLensUpdate.com.

Contact Lens Institute Names 2022 Visionaries
The Contact Lens Institute announced that a dozen eye care community leaders were named Contact Lens Institute 2022 Visionaries. All visionaries are committed to helping raise awareness of contact lens prescribing benefits, as well as encouraging healthy wear and care habits, the Contact Lens Institute says. The 2022 Visionaries are: Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, FIAOMC; Darryl Glover, OD; Klaus Ito, OD; Essence Johnson, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO; Elise Kramer, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA; Chris Lievens, OD, MS, FNAP, FAAO; Jennifer Lyerly, OD; Caitlin Morrison, OD, FAAO, FSLS; Mark Schaeffer, OD; Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FEAOO; Jason Tu, OD, and Jennifer Wademan.

CooperVision’s Plastic Neutral Contact Lens Program Makes Positive Environmental and Social Impact
One year after CooperVision created a plastic neutral contact lens with Plastic Bank, the equivalent of nearly 28 million plastic bottles have been prevented from polluting the oceans, and 171 coastal communities have benefited from exchanging ocean-bound plastic for necessities, such as clean water, groceries, cooking oil, school tuition, and health insurance, the company says.

Eschenbach Launches Acunis FL-41 Filters
Eschenbach Optik of America, Inc. introduced its Acunis FL-41 filters designed for patients who have light sensitivity, due to migraines and traumatic brain injury, among other eye conditions. Specifically, the filters decrease the transmission of select light wavelengths responsible for glare, thereby providing a more comfortable viewing experience for patients, the company says. Three tints are available: (1) Light (25% light absorption), (2) Medium (50% light absorption), and (3) Dark (75% light absorption), in a choice of four Acunis frames, two stainless steel frames and two acetate frames. Visit www.eschenbach.com/products/fl-41-filters.asp.

EssilorLuxottica Officially Acquires Walman Optical 
EssilorLuxottica announced it closed its acquisition of U.S.-based lab network Walman Optical. The acquisition will draw on EssilorLuxottica’s focus on product and service innovation to create growth opportunities for Walman Optical, the company says.
 
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Gets FDA Nod for Drug-Eluting Contact Lens
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ACUVUE Theravision with Ketotifen (etafilcon A drug-eluting contact lens with ketotifen), daily disposable contact lenses indicated for the prevention of ocular itch resulting from allergic conjunctivitis that provide 
vision correction in patients who do not have red eyes, who are suitable for contact lens wear and who do not have more than 1.00 D of astigmatism, the company says. Visit www.acuvuetheravision.com. 
 
Lighthouse Guild to Launch Technology Center
Lighthouse Guild is set to open its Tech Center on March 8, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT, in NYC. Specifically, the Center, located at 250 West 64^th St., is designed for people who have vision loss to access the latest devices and for technology creators to test future innovations, Lighthouse Guild says. Device demonstrations, tours and demonstrations of a high-tech Smart Home will be available.

Optometrist Publishes Second Novel
Ernie Bowling, OD, published his second novel, “Hellier,” about a teenage orphan baseball phenom forced to return to a small Appalachian coal town that shares the name of the book. The book is available at on Amazon at  https://amzn.to/3Hx7KCy. Dr. Bowling’s previous novel, “Coal Blooded,” is available at https://amzn.to/3C48wpm.

Prevent Blindness Declares March Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Prevent Blindness (PB) named the month of March Workplace Eye Wellness Month. The organization offers fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, and online resources on ways to keep eyes healthy in the workplace: “Practicing eye healthy habits in the workplace today, like wearing proper eye protection, and decreasing the amount of screen time whenever possible, can help save our sight now and for years to come,” says Jeff Todd, president, and CEO of PB.

Sleep Tite/SleepRite Lid Sealer Now Available for Purchase
Ophthalmic Resources Partners announced the availability of SleepTite/SleepRiteTM for purchase by ECP offices and their patients via www.eyesleeptite.com. SleepTite/SleepRite keeps the eye lid sealed during sleep, enabling it to function normally to protect the cornea and conjunctiva all night long, Ophthalmic Resources Partners says. It is sold is boxes of 30 and has a porous latex-free design, the company says.    

VEO Ophthalmics Joined Forces with Aniridia Foundation International to Promote Rare Disease Day
On Monday, Feb. 28, VEO Ophthalmics, LLC, collaborated with Aniridia Foundation International to raise awareness for aniridia and its treatment options and made a donation in honor of Rare Disease Day. VEO Ophthalmics is the U.S. distributor for the Customflex Artificialiris, a custom-made artificial iris implant that addresses both symptomatic and cosmetic aspects of iris defects, the company says. Visit www.veo-ophthalmics.com. 

The Vision Council Report Reveals 2021 ECP Survey Results 
The Vision Council released its 2021 Eyecare Provider Insights Report, which shows exam counts and practice revenue was normal or better in 2021 vs. previous years; capture rates continued to be normal or better than pre-pandemic levels; more than half of ECPs have a positive economic outlook for future months; and a total of 20% of practice owners report lower staffing levels and difficulty filling open positions. In other news, The Vision Council and RX extended the deadline for eye wear exhibitors to March 10 to participate in NOW by Vision Expo, a new eyewear showcase that displays curated selections of eyewear that align with current industry trends and show themes. Visit https://east.visionexpo.com/en-us/exhibit/submit-your-product-for-now.html. 
 
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.