Practice Tip: Use staff to help determine whether patients can benefit from ocular nutritional supplements
“Our staff members are integral to ‘fact finding’ with patients, to learn about the symptoms that are affecting them,” writes Mark E. Schaeffer, OD, in the October article, “Dispense Ocular Nutritional Supplements From Your Practice.” He explains that staff can be very helpful in collecting family history data from patients. Dr. Schaeffer adds that staff can also assist with administering tests. For the full article, visit https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2023/october-2023/dispense-ocular-nutritional-supplements-from-your.
American Academy of Optometry names new Fellows and Diplomats
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) welcomed 257 new Fellows, and 12 current Fellows earned Diplomate, according to a press release. AAO Fellows must submit written works for peer review that demonstrate their skills as an optometrist or vision scientist. Additionally, they must sit for an oral exam during the annual meeting. Currently, Diplomate programs are offered in Anterior Segment; Pediatric Optometry; Comprehensive Eye Care; Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies; Glaucoma; Low Vision; Optometric Education; Public Health & Environmental Vision; and Vision Science. The most recent meeting was held Oct. 11 to Oct. 14 in New Orleans.
Bruder Healthcare offers air-activated heat mask
Bruder Healthcare added the on-the-go, single-use moist heat eye mask, Eyedration by Bruder, for those who have dry, tired eyes. The mask, which starts heating once opened and exposed to the air, generates therapeutic moist heat to help maintain tear production, according to a press release. Eyedration is sold in a 10-mask pouch. Ordering is open now for eye care professionals at www.Bruder.com/pro, with delivery in November 2023. Patient ordering will be available by December 2023 at www.Bruder.com.
Harrow completes New Drug Applications transfer for five products
Harrow completed the transfer of the New Drug Applications (NDAs) for the following five products: (1) fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension 0.1%) (FLAREX), a corticosteroid; (2) natamycin ophthalmic suspension 5% (NATACYN), an anti-fungal; (3) tobramycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension 0.3%/0.05% (TOBRADEX ST), an antibiotic and corticosteroid combination; (4) cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.1%, (VERKAZIA), a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant; and (5) cetirizine ophthalmic solution 0.24% (ZERVIATE), a histamine-1 (H1) receptor antagonist.
International Sports Vision Association 2024 conference registration open
Registration is now open for Winning with Sports Vision, the 8th Annual International Sports Vision Association (ISVA) conference, which will occur Feb. 1 to Feb. 3, 2024 at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, in San Diego, Calif. The 2024 conference is scheduled to offer a minimum of 16 COPE-approved CE credits and will include a diverse offering of pre-conference lecture style and hands-on workshops, along with general conference educational sessions, according to a press release. For more information and to register, visit https://www.sportsvision.pro/professionals/2024-annual-conference/.
Lentechs secures funds for soft contact lens for presbyopia
Lentechs, a clinical-stage ophthalmic medical device company, announced the closing of a successful fundraise to further key development objectives for its investigational contact lens called APIOC for patients who have presbyopia. The round was led by Vision Vestments LLC, with additional significant investments from JobsOhio Growth Capital Fund, Ohio Innovation Fund, Bluestem Capital, and Rev1 Ventures. APIOC is suspended behind the upper eyelid, allowing for free, translational eye movement, behind the rotationally stable, centered contact lens. This enables wearers to access the specific prescription needed for each visual distance correction, according to a press release. Visit www.lentechs.com.
Lighthouse Guild presents 2023 awards for outstanding accomplishment
Lighthouse Guild hosted its 2023 lecture and awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding accomplishments in vision science, technological innovation, and advocacy, in New York City, on Oct. 19. The recipients included Dr. Wiley A. Chambers, The Alfred W. Bressler Prize for Outstanding Advancements in Vision Science; Mr. Saqib Shaikh, The Pisart Award in Technological Innovation; and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, the Dr. Alan R. Morse Lecture in Advocacy for people with vision impairment.
Optometry Giving Sight names Daniel McBride, Meng Meng Xu to board
Daniel McBride, executive vice president and chief operating officer of CooperCompanies, and Meng Meng Xu, OD, MSP, FAAO, joined the Optometry Giving Sight board of directors. Mr. McBride previously served as president of CooperVision from 2014 to 2021, along with holding multiple other positions within the company, according to the press release. Dr. Xu is an assistant professor of clinical optometry and director of vision care at South Boston Community Health Center. She has also served as the International Programs Coordinator at the New England College of Optometry for the past 10 years.
University of Houston College of Optometry joins service initiative
The University of Houston (UH) College of Optometry has joined UTHealth School of Dentistry and the UH nurse-managed clinic to offer health care to the city’s homeless population two days a week from.9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On the grounds of St. Pauls’ Methodist Church, nurses and nurse practitioners have helped 530 community patients since opening. Additionally, optometric students offer eye screenings and access to glasses for those in need.
Valley Contax adds Dr. Sheila Morrison to podcast
Valley Contax added Dr. Sheila Morrison to the Try Not To Blink Podcast hosting team, joining Roya Habibi. The podcast, at more than 250 episodes, focuses on the latest news, tips, and tricks for those who live the optometry lifestyle, according to a press release. Visit www.TryNot2Blink.com. In other news, the company, in partnership with Contamac US, announced the travel grant winner to attend the Global Specialty Lens Symposium in Las Vegas: Riley Parker, a third-year Michigan College of Optometry student.
Vision Council names director of shows
The Vision Council appointed Suzanne Krauss as its new director of Trade Shows. In this role, she will collaborate closely with The Vision Council’s strategic partners at RX, who co-organize Vision Expo East and West, with a focus on driving opportunities for growth and development at these events, according to a press release. Ms. Krauss’s previous role was Industry Relations Manager on the Vision Expo RX Global team, where she spent the past 16 years cultivating relationships with optometrists and opticians.
Vision Expo East moves to Florida in 2025
The Vision Council and RX, co-owners of Vision Expo, announced that Vision Expo East 2025 will take place in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center, Feb. 19 to Feb. 22, in 2025. The event’s final show in New York City will occur March 14 to March 17, 2024.
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.