Practice Tip: Perform optical coherence tomography on any drusen found during ophthalmoscopy
OCT provides a baseline to monitor for future change in age-related macular degeneration, and it can help in identifying subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD), also known as reticular pseudodrusen, writes Amanda S. Legge, OD, in her article “Preventing Conversion to Advanced AMD. SDDs are extracellular deposits located anterior to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as opposed to typical drusen, which are located beneath the RPE. SDDs carry the highest risk for AMD progression and are a strong independent risk factor for developing late AMD, she adds. For the entire article, see https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2023/october-2023/preventing-conversion-to-advanced-amd.
Alimera Sciences names chief operating officer
Alimera Sciences, Inc. appointed Jason Werner, chief operating officer (COO), effective Oct. 2, 2023, according to a press release. In conjunction with this news, Dr. Philip Ashman, Alimera’s prior chief operating officer and senior vice president, Commercial Operations Europe, was named president of International Operations. Mr. Werner served as a director of Alimera since Q2 2023.
CooperVision appoints global professional affairs leader
CooperVision named Karen Walsh, MCOptom, PGDip, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA, head of its Global Professional Affairs organization, according to a press release. Specifically, she will serve as senior director in conjunction with the organization’s development. Prior to joining CooperVision in 2021, she was an educator, researcher, and author at the Centre for Ocular Research and Education at the University of Waterloo. Additionally, she served with Johnson & Johnson Vision as professional affairs manager for the UK and Ireland. Dr. Walsh is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and the British Contact Lens Association.
Harrow Health, Inc. becomes Harrow, Inc.
Harrow changed its corporate name from “Harrow Health, Inc.” to “Harrow, Inc.” to align with its current five-year strategic plan, which includes an exclusive focus on eye care pharmaceuticals, according to a Harrow press release.
Horizon Therapeutics reveals lengthening time between thyroid eye disease treatment can increase need for additional treatment
Horizon Therapeutics announced new data showing that disrupting the recommended Tepezza (thyroid eye disease) treatment regimen by lengthening the amount of time between infusions can increase the need for a second course of treatment, according to a press release. The drug is to be given as an infusion every three weeks, for a total of eight infusions. Additionally, data show a 5% increase of proptosis among disrupted patients vs. a 19% reduction in the undisrupted group pre- to post- treatment with the drug. Most treatment disruptions (96%) were related to the short-term supply disruption that occurred in late 2020 due to government-mandated COVID-19 vaccine production orders.
PlenOptika’s handheld wavefront aberrometry-powered autorefractor wins award
PlenOptika's QuickSee Free handheld wavefront aberrometry-powered autorefractor won the Silmo D'Or prize in the Material & Equipment category at the 30th Silmo D’Or awards in Paris, on Sept.30, according to a press release. QuickSee Free is designed to make accurate, objective refraction measurements more accessible. The Silmo D'Or prizes are given annually at the Silmo international optics and eyewear exhibition. In addition to the equipment category, prizes are given for lenses, children's eyewear, eyewear technology innovation, sunglasses brands and designers, eyewear frame brands and designers, and sport and protective eyewear.
Prevent Blindness declares October Contact Lens Safety Month
Prevent Blindness has once again declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month. Optometrists can refer their contact lens-wearing patients to the organization’s website (https://preventblindness.org/october-2020-contact-lens-safety/) for education on the proper use of contact lenses and ways to avoid serious vision issues, particularly with Halloween fast approaching.
Professional Eye Care Associates of America celebrates its collaboration with VSP Vision
Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) announced it is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its collaboration with VSP Vision by announcing record PECAA Max membership, a new lineup of community-based events and virtual CE opportunities, as well as expanded investment in private practice. The VSP Vision Exam Rebate, which pays PECAA Max members a rebate of $5 for every VSP commercial patient exam, has been extended through 2024. For more information on PECAA benefits, visit www.pecaa.com.
Report shows less than 50% of eye care providers quantify the business impacts of contact lens patients
“The Culture Calculation: Data-Backed Behaviors for Contact Lens Success,” from the Contact Lens Institute and The Vision Council, previewed during Vision Expo West, shows that 47% of eye care providers quantify the business impacts of contact lens patients. Additionally, of those respondents who say they perform some type of business assessment, 56% report that contact lens patients are more profitable. The report, comprised of 173 members of the U.S. eye care community (optometrists, opticians, ophthalmologists, and practice administrators), with additional reporting categories and analysis, will be published in the middle of this month (Oct.) 2023, according to a press release.
Viatris Eye Care Division to launch campaign for anti-dry eye disease nasal spray
The Viatris Eye Care Division is rolling out a nationwide, multi-channel campaign for its varenicline solution nasal spray (Tyrvaya) used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), according to a press release. Titled “It’s Not Another Drop,” the campaign, which is for both consumers and eye care providers, will show authentic experiences of patients managing DED who are made aware of Tyrvaya, to help motivate them to talk with their eye care professional about the treatment. In other news, Viatris and Ocuphire Pharma announced the FDA approval of phentolamine ophthalmic solution 0.75% (Ryzumvi) for the treatment of pharmacologically induced mydriasis produced by adrenergic agonists (e.g., phenylephrine) or parasympatholytic (e.g., Tropicamide) agents. Ryzumvi is expected to be commercially available in the United States in the first half of 2024.
Vision Expo West Wraps Up in Las Vegas
Vision Expo West 2023 concluded on Saturday, Sept. 30, following four days of new product discovery, accredited education sessions, networking events, and business meetings. Highlights from the meeting, held at The Venetian Convention Center & Expo in Las Vegas include:
• The launch of EYEnovate, a content series highlighting technological innovations in the optical field.
• The first ever EYEnovate Ocular Horizons Award, given to InflammX for its therapeutic approach to treating retinal diseases with an orally administered tablet capable of treating both eyes simultaneously.
• An expanded Career Zone, with resources and networking opportunities for young professionals across the eye care industry.
• OptiCon @ Vision Expo, which offered an education program and exhibit hall experience for opticians, contact lens professionals, allied ophthalmic professionals, optical assistants and office managers, frame buyers, and lab technicians, The OptiCon General Session featured a conversation with Rebecca Alexander, LCSW-R, MPH, who shared her inspiring story about losing both her vision and hearing due to Usher Syndrome (type 3).
Zeiss and Boehringer Ingelheim to develop predictive analytics for early detection of eye disease
Zeiss Medical Technology and Boehringer Ingelheim, a research-driven biopharmaceutical company, announced a long-term strategic collaboration to create predictive analytics to enable the early detection of eye diseases and more personalized treatments to prevent vision loss for people who have serious eye diseases, according to a press release. Specifically, the two entities will focus on identifying markers of early stages of retinal diseases by leveraging Zeiss Medical Technology’s cloud-connected devices and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis of massive image data sets.
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.