Practice tip: Educate patients about their financial responsibility regarding screenings
Screenings fall under preventive medicine, according to the Code of Federal Regulations, section 410.32 (a), so the patient is responsible for their related charges, writes Brandy H. Sperry, COMT, COE, OCS, in her latest “Coding” column. Therefore, ODs should educate patients about their financial responsibility regarding a screening in advance of the screening, she continues. “To avoid patient confusion about payment, I recommend providing the patient with an Advanced Beneficiary Notice or a Notice of Exclusion from a Health Plan Benefits form…” For the entire column, visit https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2023/september-2023/business-coding-strategy.
American Optometric Association announces survey to assess impact of Contact Lens Rule
The American Optometric Association (AOA) released a survey to assess the true impact and burden the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Contact Lens Rule has on practicing doctors of optometry. To access the survey, visit https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7486576/Complying-with-the-FTC-Contact-Lens-Rule. To further support members, the AOA has created a compliance toolkit for the rule (see https://www.aoa.org/AOA/Documents/doctor%20resources/Contact-Lens-Rule-Compliance-Toolkit.pdf), as well as resources to advocate for patient safety (see https://www.aoa.org/news/advocacy/federal-advocacy/are-you-adhering-to-the-contact-lens-rule?sso=y).
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry looks to match mentors with future ODs
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) announced the availability of Eye Opener Sessions, a complement to ASCO’s public awareness campaign, “Optometry Gives Me Life.” The sessions are a matching service for potential and future optometry students looking for an optometrist to shadow in person or virtually during a workday to learn more about the day-in-the-life of an optometrist. If interested in participating, visit https://www.eyeopenersession.org.
Bausch + Lomb launches line of hypoallergenic specialty eye care products
Bausch + Lomb Corporation launched Lumify Eye Illuminations, a line of hypoallergenic specialty eye care products scientifically developed to cleanse, nourish, and brighten the sensitive eye area, according to a press release. The line is comprised of Lumify Eye Illuminations 3-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water and Eye Makeup Remover, Lumify Eye Illuminations Nourishing Lash & Brow Serum; and Lumify Eye Illuminations Hydra-Gel Brightening Eye Cream. For more information, visit www.lumifyeyes.com.
Dopavision completes enrollment in trial for myopia-control spectacles
Dopavision successfully completed enrollment in its MyopiaX-1 trial. The 12-month trial is randomized and active-controlled to assess the safety, tolerability, and clinical outcomes of MyopiaX myopia-control spectacles in pediatric participants ages 6 to 14 who have progressive myopia and a refractive error between –0.75 and –5.00 D of myopia. The first clinical results are expected at 2024’s start, and the trial, which is being conducted at 10 clinical sites in Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, is scheduled to be completed in Sept. 2024.
Envision announces Fall virtual conference
The Envision Virtual Fall Conference 2023 will occur via a livestream webinar Sept. 29 (Friday) to Sept. 30, 2023. The conference, which covers low vision rehabilitation and related research, enables attendees to earn 16 hours of CE. To view the agenda and register, visit https://www.envisionuniversityevents.com/event/6921f8d7-9533-44a6-8aee-f0cdaa9d4981/websitePage:645d57e4-75eb-4769-b2c0-f201a0bfc6ce?RefId=agendaVirtual2023
EssilorLuxottica announces new company division
EssilorLuxottica launched Helix, a new division of the company focused on helping eye care practitioners leverage modern technology to improve the efficiency of their practices. Specifically, Helix will help doctors to reduce the amount of tech and administrative burdens associated with practice by harnessing the power of EssilorLuxottica’s US digital solutions, including VisionWeb, CLX, 4PatientCare, and Revenue Cycle Management, according to a press release. For more information, visit www.helixsolution.com.
Hilco Vision’s cleaning solution achieves Green Seal certification
Hilco Vision’s OptiPlus powered by SeeGreen earned Green Seal certification. It is packaged with recycled and recyclable bottles in four different sizes, according to a press release.
IDOC opens registration for The Connection 2024
IDOC’s The Connection 2024 will take place at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Austin, Texas, from Feb. 15 to Feb. 18, 2024. The three-day event will offer attendees over 30 hours of CE courses, a first-hand look at IDOC’s Bookkeeping and Marketing Services and growing lab, Three Rivers Optical, in addition to more than 60 vendors. Register at https://idoc.swoogo.com/connection2024.
Johnson & Johnson Vision enlists celebrated photographer and author
to prompt eye health conversations
Johnson & Johnson Vision enlisted professional photographer/director and New York Times best-selling author Kate T. Parker for “Vision Made Possible,” a global effort to raise awareness and ignite conversation about the importance of eye health across all ages and stages of vision. Ms. Parker, who’s known for her modern, highly stylized approach to visual art, will capture the real-life stories of patients for the effort. For more information, visit https://www.jjvision.com/.
Mati Therapeutics names chief operating officer
Mati Therapeutics Inc. promoted Chris Muller to chief operating officer. He formerly held the position of chief commercial officer. Mr. Muller will oversee broad management of all operating activities, and preparation for and execution of the commercial launch of the company’s proprietary Evolute sustained ocular drug delivery platform. A drug-eluting core is inserted into the company’s proprietary punctal plug, which allows medication to be continuously released into the tear film of the eye over time. To learn more about Mati Therapeutics, visit www.MatiTherapeutics.com.
PPG, Flō-Optics announces exclusive supplier agreement for digitally applied optical coatings
PPG (NYSE:PPG) announced an exclusive supplier agreement with Flō-Optics, a developer of digital manufacturing technology for the ophthalmic industry, for the application of PPG HI-GARD scratch-resistant coatings using Flō’s proprietary digital printing technology. The agreement allows for digitized lens-coating solutions using additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, technology, according to a press release.
SightGlass Vision releases paper on Diffusion Optics Technology
SightGlass Vision published a white paper on the company’s Diffusion Optics Technology (DOT 0.2) spectacle lenses. The lenses use thousands of light-scattering elements called dots, designed to mimic the more natural contrast on the retina — a mechanism of action to slow myopia progression in children. The paper explains the relationship between artificially high-contrast signals at the retina and myopia progression. It can be downloaded at https://www.sightglassvision.com/resources-for-eye-care-professionals.
State University of New York College of Optometry president announces retirement
David A. Heath, president of State University if New York College of Optometry, announced his retirement after 16 years, which becomes effective at the end of the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Under his leadership, Dr. Heath led the college through a series of strategic initiatives, including expanding enrollment by 30%, growing the residency program from 27 to 43 positions, building the research enterprise to $4 million annually in extramural funding, and he initiated several collaborations to ensure value-added opportunities for students, according to a press release.
Thea Pharma launches preservative-free drug for primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension
Thea Pharma Inc. unveiled latanoprost ophthalmic solution 0.005% (Iyuzeh). It is a preservative-free treatment for patients who have primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). In the U.S. randomized, controlled clinical trials of POAG patients or OHT patients who had a mean baseline IOP of 19 mmHg to 24 mmHg, Iyuzeh lowered IOP by 3 mmHg to 8 mmHg. For more information, visit www.iyuzeh.com.
World Council of Optometry names president for 2024 to 2025 term
The World Council of Optometry’s (WCO) board of directors named Dr. Sandra S. Block as its president for the 2023 to 2025 term. Dr. Block served in various positions on the WCO Board since 2015 and is a professor emeritus at Illinois College of Optometry. Her past leadership roles include co-chair of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health and as a global clinical advisor to the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program from 1995 to 2022. She has authored numerous publications and conducted presentations worldwide.
World leaders meet to raise awareness for vision issues
The Value of Vision, held Sept. 21, in New York, gave the opportunity to world leaders to meet to discus the value of vision to the world. The meeting, held in the margins of the annual United Nations General Assembly, focused on raising the profile of eye health as a fundamental development issue critical to achieving sustainable development goals. The event comes nine months after over 60 countries from the UN Friends of Vision group and over 150 organizations from the eye health sector called for a UN Special Envoy on Vision.
Vision Council reports on consumer interest in smart eyewear
The Vision Council released a new report delving into consumer awareness, interest, and sentiment toward smart eyewear products. The report, “Focused inSights Smart Eyewear 2023,” found that more than a third of Americans intend to purchase tech eyewear within the year, with men ages 18 to 44, those in urban communities, and early adopters of technology especially likely to purchase. The full report is available in The Vision Council’s Research Download Center as a complimentary download for members of The Vision Council, with a paid option for non-members. In other news, The Vision Council offers the report “Focused InSights Telehealth 2023.” The full report is available via the same means as the Smart Eyewear report.
OD 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.