News from Alcon, Allergan, CooperVision, iRefract, Luneau Technology, Olympic Ophthalmics, Prevent Blindness, VSP, and more…
Practice Tip: In the April issue article, “Solve Staffing Shortages,” Nadia A. Virani, OD, vice president of operations for EVP-KE Eye Centers, in Texas, says the practice has re-energized its recruiting efforts to combat staffing shortages: “One of our primary strategies… is to promote our company culture and highlight the wonderful team that we have, as well as the events we take part in, and the success that we have had,” she explains. As an example, she says EVP-KE Eye Centers sponsors community events, such as golf tournaments, marathons etc., that take place locally. See https://bit.ly/3KiuIiH.
Alcon Releases MGD Thermal Pulsation System
Alcon introduced the Systane iLux2 Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Thermal Pulsation System, a handheld device that captures infrared photos and HD video of the meibomian glands to enable patients to see the need for treatment. Additionally, ODs can customize the device’s heat and compression across each treatment zone. For more information, visit iLUX@alcon.com.
Aldeyra Therapeutics Completes Enrollment in Phase 3 Trial of Dry Eye Disease Treatment
Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. announced completion of enrollment in its Phase 3 TRANQUILITY-2 Trial of 0.25% reproxalap ophthalmic solution (reproxalap) in patients who have dry eye disease. The multi-center, double-masked, parallel-group trial has enrolled 361 patients randomized to receive either reproxalap or a vehicle over two days. The primary endpoints of the TRANQUILITY-2 Trial are Schirmer test on the first day of dosing and ocular redness on the second day of dosing. Top-line results from the trial are expected this quarter, the company says. More information on TRANQUILITY-2 can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05062330).
Allergan’s VUITY Phase 3 Trial Meets Primary Efficacy Endpoint
Allergan, an AbbVie company, announced that its Phase 3 VIRGO trial (230 participants, ages 40 to 55), assessing the safety and efficacy of the investigational, twice-daily administration of VUITY (pilocarpine HCl ophthalmic solution) 1.25% in presbyopic adults, met its primary efficacy endpoint. Specifically, it improved near vision sans compromising distance vision at hour nine (three hours after the second drop on day 14). Vuity was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for once-daily use in October 2021.
CooperVision Impacts Millions with “Take Control: Myopia & You” Campaign
CooperVision shared initial results from its educational initiative, the “Take Control: Myopia & You” Campaign. Specifically, after three months, the campaign resulted in 330 million impressions and about 40 million engagements on social media, consumer media coverage, an online hub, and other online platforms, the company says. Also, nearly one in five parents who saw the campaign reported reaching out to their eye care provider to learn more about myopia, CooperVision says. The campaign to raise myopia awareness features actors Alan Kim and Madison Reyes, who share their own myopia experiences, plus stories from real MiSight 1 day lens wearers.
Envision Arts Gallery Opens New Exhibit Featuring Visually Impaired or Blind Artists
The Envision Arts Gallery, created by and for artists who have blindness or vision loss, opened its second exhibition on April 1, in downtown Wichita, Kan. The exhibition, “Where the Sky Touches the Sea,” features ceramic artwork from Erica Johnson and ceramic and washi paper installations from Tomiyo Tajiri. In addition to the exhibition, the gallery, features an interactive installation where visitors can fold Origami paper and add it to a community wall. The gallery space will rotate throughout the year.
Eyeoto Launches Lens Inspection System
Eyoto launched the Atlas Global platform, which inspects every job against critical prescriptive measurements as supplied by the LMS. These results are then checked to ensure they meet with local, or personalized, standards and tolerances, while the device also checks for surface defects and maps the power across the entire lens. Atlas Global checks un-cut, semi-finished, and finished lenses up to 80 mm diameter at any point in the production process, the company says.
iRefract Selects RevCycle as its Outsourced Revenue Cycle Management Partner
iRefract’s network of optometry clinics chose RevCycle as its revenue cycle management outsourcing partner. Specifically, RevCycle will provide billing and credentialing services for iRefract clinics. RevCycle services eye care practices with platforms including RevolutionEHR, Eyefinity, Compulink, and EyeCloudPro, among others.
Luneau Technology Rebrands Portfolio as Visionix
Luneau Technology completed an extensive rebranding effort to respond to its recent accelerated growth and renew its corporate vision, the company says. Specifically, the company changed its name to Visionix and adopted a new visual identity. In addition, Optovue transitioned to a product brand for Visionix’s OCT and OCTA line. According to the company, the rebrand also allows Visionix to improve its visibility and awareness worldwide and includes a new logo, which evokes upward movement to convey innovation, inspiration and speed, and is rendered in orange and blue to convey the company’s service to the medical field.
National Rosacea Society Declares April as Rosacea Awareness Month
The National Rosacea Society named April as Rosacea Awareness month, with the goal of educating the public on the condition and how to get diagnosed and treated. Rosacea can affect the eyes, causing redness, swelling, itchiness and blurry vision, the Society says.
Olympic Ophthalmics Announces FDA Clearance and Availability of ITEAR100
Olympic Ophthalmics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted its 510(K) request for its second-generation iTEAR100 device. This is an at-home prescription neuromodulation therapy to increase tear production in adult patients over a 30-day period that offers telehealth tools, including prescription download capability, and activation through a mobile phone app.
Optimum Infinite Lens Material Gets FDA 510(k) Clearance for Use in Ocular Surface Disorders
Contamac’s optimum Infinite (180 Dk) lens material in scleral contact lenses received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for therapeutic use in ocular surface disease (e.g., ocular Graft-versus-Host disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, dry eye syndrome, and filamentary keratitis) where the expanded tear reservoir and protection against an adverse environment provided by a scleral lens might prove beneficial.
Prevent Blindness Launches Toolkit for Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Prevent Blindness (PB) is offering complementary resources to eye care providers to mark April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. These resources include educational videos, fact sheets, social media graphics, and financial assistance information. The hope is to educate the public on women’s increased risk of vision health issues, including vision loss, PB says. The organization partnered with the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) to develop the toolkit and participated in SWHR’s recent webinar “20/20 Foresight: Understanding Women’s Eye Health and Supporting Patient Needs” to mark the month.
Transitions Optical Offers New Digital Toolkits to Promote XTRActive Lens Products
Transitions Optical has launched a digital toolkit designed to help eye care providers promote their XTRActive new generation and XTRActive polarized lens products. The toolkits include:
• Logos
• Digital banners
• Social media images and copy
• Shareable Instagram stories
Providers can download the resources at TransitionsPRO.com.
Researchers Identify How Several Genes Affect Vision Development and Result in Rare Vision Disorder
Researchers identified the spectrum of genetic changes behind foveal hypoplasia, and at which point they occur in the development of an unborn baby, reveals a study in Ophthalmology. The study combined data from more than 900 cases globally. The full study can be accessed here: https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(22)00126-9/fulltext.
VSP Global Rebrands with New Visual Identity
VSP Global has rebranded as VSP vision and has launched a new visual brand identity. The organization currently serves more than 85 million members and 41,000 in-network doctors in the areas of eye care services, eyewear, and practice solutions.
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.