Practice Tip: Provide Financing for Annual Contact Lens Dispensing
One way to make annual contact lens dispensing more appealing to the patient is to provide financing, writes Jason Compton, OD, in his Jan./Feb. article, “Boost Annual Contact Lens Dispensing:” “... One large, upfront payment may not be feasible for every patient,” he writes. “Many companies can work with practices to offer patients the opportunity to break off the payments over time.” ODs should carefully review these contracts, as the financing charges could be taken on by the optometrist, the practice, the patient, or a combination, Dr. Compton points out. See https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2023/january-february-2023/boost-annual-contact-lens-dispensing for the entire article.
 
Centre for Ocular Research & Education Lists its Top Research Articles of 2022
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) announced its Top 10 of 2022 publications list. The papers were selected from 26 peer-reviewed manuscripts developed by the organization over the last year. The Top 3 publications: 
1. “Effect of a Novel Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid Supplement on Dry Eye Disease: A 3-month Randomized Controlled Trial.” Optom Vis Sci 2022; 99;1: 67-75. Ng A, et al.;
2. “Testing Drug Release From Medicated Contact Lenses: The Missing Link to Predict In Vivo Performance.” J Control Release 2022; 343 672-702. Pereira-da-Mota A, et al.
3. “Long-term Effect of Dual-focus Contact Lenses on Myopia Progression in Children: A 6-year Multicenter Clinical Trial.” Optom Vis Sci 2022; 99;3: 204-212. Chamberlain P, et al.
 
CooperVision Expands Plastic Neutrality Initiative
CooperVision expanded its net plastic neutrality initiative to include its Biofinity family and MiSight 1 day contact lenses in the United States. To do so, the company announced in 2021 its partnership with Plastic Bank, which collects, processes, and reuses plastics. Previously included in this initiative: clarity 1 day and MyDay. To date, the company has reached a significant milestone, globally preventing the equivalent of more than 100 million plastic bottles from entering the oceans, according to CooperVision. 
 
CooperVision Sponsors Ocumetra’s mEYE Guide and mEYE Gauge to Promote
Childhood Myopia Awareness
CooperVision is sponsoring Ocumetra’s mEYE Guide, a tool for eye care professionals to simplify the conversation with parents regarding myopia, and mEYE Gauge, an axial length estimator. This partnership will broaden access to these tools with additional languages, such as Chinese, Italian, and Spanish, according to the company. Ocumetra’s mEYE Guide and mEYE Gauge are available on a subscription basis. A free trial (and its terms and conditions) is available at cvi.ocumetra.com.
 
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Launches Fitting Platform for Paragon CRT Contact Lenses; Becomes Exclusive Provider of SynergEyes ScanFitPRO
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare launched Visavy (pronounced Vee-SAH-vee), a web-based fitting software (https://marketing.coopervisionsec.com/visavy) that incorporates topography-guided algorithms to aid in the design and choice of Paragon CRT orthokeratology contact lenses for myopia management. Additionally, the company is now the exclusive provider of ScanFitPRO, which maps topographical data from patients’ eyes to create custom scleral lens designs sans diagnostic lens fitting or physical impressions.
 
IDOC and Three Rivers Optical Announce Merger
Independent optometric alliance IDOC, and Three Rivers Optical, an independent optical laboratory, have combined to bring a suite of practice enhancement and lab services to eye care professionals. The two companies will continue operating in the marketplace under their existing names. The management teams of IDOC and Three Rivers Optical will continue as the leaders and owners in the combined company. Details of the merger are not disclosed.
 
Love Eyewear Award Finalists Announced
The finalists of this year’s Love Eyewear Awards have been revealed by the organizers of 100% Optical, occurring Feb. 25 to Feb. 27, in London. The finalists include Carolina Herrara, Scotch & Soda, David Green Eyewear, JFrey, Vysen, Tomato Glasses, and Feb31st. Winners will be announced on Feb. 25. For more information visit: www.100percentoptical.com/whats-on/love-eyewear-awards.
 
Myopia Management Study Shows Promising Results for Orthokeratology
The Clinical Algorithm for Myopia Progression (CAMP) study analyzed the results from 342 myopic children who were treated and followed over a three-year period at Treehouse Eyes. The most prescribed modality was orthokeratology, with 188 of 342 children initializing treatment. Euclid designs were prescribed to 84%. The findings indicate minimal axial elongation in 70% of patients and a reduction in the amount of myopic refractive error. 
 
Now Optics Offers Hearing Services Online and in 20 Stores
Now Optics retail brands My Eyelab and Stanton Optical are now offering FDA-regulated OTC hearing aids and services to customers both nationwide — at stantonoptical.com and myeyelab.com — and in 20 stores in California, Texas, and South Carolina. Both brands are partnering with hearX Group, a smart digital health solutions company, for this offering, according to the press release. 
 
Olleyes Earns ISO Certification
Olleyes, Inc., earned its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 13485:2016 certification from the Societe Generale de Surveillance, an inspection, verification, testing and certification organization. The certification demonstrates the company’s compliance with medical device quality management system requirements under the Medical Device Single Audie Program.
 
Percept Corp. Names Chief Operating Officer
Percept Corp., a developer of eye tracking, eye control, and perceptual optimization technology, named Jim McGrann as its president and chief operating officer. Mr. McGrann comes to the position with a wealth of experience as a C-level executive in the eye care industry, most recently as CEO Of Professional Eye Care Associates of America, or PECAA. He will report to the company’s CEO and founder Dr. Scott Lewis. 
 
Southeastern Educational Congress of Optometry International Launches Certificates for CE in Atlanta
SECO is launching a series of certificate programs to debut March 1 to March 5, in Atlanta. By taking targeted course hours in a particular subject, the certificate demonstrates the attendee has gained a baseline knowledge of that topic. Upon completion of the required five course hours in each area, the attendee will receive a high-quality, printable certificate to frame and display. 
 
The Vision Council Holds Executive Summit, Inducts Board
From Jan. 9 to Jan. 11, The Vision Council welcomed attendees to its Executive Summit in Austin, Texas. In addition to providing networking and leadership development for 300 industry professionals, The Vision Council also inducted its 2023 Board of Directors. 
 
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.