Practice Tip: Customize a risk assessment for age-related macular degeneration and cognitive decline
“A personalized risk assessment for both AMD progression and cognitive decline can guide decision making on the frequency and need for surveillance of intervention,” writes Roya Attar, OD, MBA, DHA, FAAO, in her October article, “Acting on AMD and cognitive decline.” The factors to consider for the assessment are cardiovascular health history, poor lifestyle habits, and cognitive reserve. For more specifics, read the full article here.
Alcon Children’s Vision Center is the Bonnie Strickland Champion for 2024
The 10th annual Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award has been given to Alcon Children’s Vision Center. The award, from the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness, recognizes significant efforts by an individual or group of individuals to improve public health approaches to children’s vision and eye health. The award was established in 2014 by the NCCVEH to honor Bonnie Strickland, former director of the division of services for children with special health needs, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, for her work to establish a comprehensive system for children’s vision in the United States.
Bausch + Lomb unveils digital marketplace, Opal
Opal, from Bausch + Lomb, (B + L) is a digital e-commerce marketplace that provides eyecare practices with a streamlined ordering process for the company’s contact lenses, according to a press release. The platform includes features, such as order tracking and history, appointment reminders, and automated prescription reminders. All contact lens orders made through the platform are delivered with free shipping to a patient’s home or the eyecare practice. In other news, B+L hosted an educational event at Vision Expo West, during which actress Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”) shared her personal story about her dry eye and her use of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5% (Xiidra).
Contact Lens Institute’s presentation on contact lens dropout now available
A recording of the “Disrupting the Dropout Dilemma: Bold Moves to Keep Patients in Contact Lenses” panel, which took place at Vision Expo West 2024 in Las Vegas, is now available for viewing at here. Presented on the Innovation Stage, the 30-minute discussion previews new Contact Lens Institute consumer research that points to action steps eyecare practices can take to increase retention rates among new and long-term contact lens wearers, according to a press release.
Eschenbach unveils video magnifier compatible with smartphones
Optaro, from Eschenbach Optik of America, is a video magnifier specifically made for a smartphone. It attaches to an iPhone and turns two devices, a video magnifier and a phone, into one. Attached either via a custom-fit, integrated case or through a MagSafe Universal Stand, the Optaro camera module attaches to the iPhone to use as an integrated unit, providing a full high-definition image, 3.3 times to 15 times magnification. Learn more at www.eschenbach.com/optaro/.
EssilorLuxottica participates in scientific dialogue at International Myopia Conference
At the International Myopia Conference 2024, held Sept. 23-28 in Changsha and Sanya, China, EssilorLuxottica presented a scientific program that focused on holistic myopia management (i.e. awareness, education, prevention, and long-term follow-up, in addition to treatment); the latest research and advancements in diagnosis, prevention, and management of myopia, including the company’s Stellest lenses; a discussion on myopia prevention; and innovations and future directions in myopia management.
Eyenovia proceeds with testing after feedback from FDA
Eyenovia has commenced manufacturing of Mycombi in registration batches as a key step in the approval process for the Gen-2 Optejet dispensing platform. Mydcombi will undergo 12-month stability testing and other functional testing in the Gen-2 Optejet device that is consistent with feedback from the Type-C meeting on Eyenovia’s device qualification plan that the company received from the FDA in July. Eyenovia anticipates completion of testing of its Mydcombi registration batches by the end of next year, with a potential Supplemental New Drug Application filing in early 2026, according to a press release.
Hoya announces spectacle follow-up results at International Myopia Conference
HOYA Vision Care provided the results of its eight-year follow-up clinical study to evaluate the long-term myopia control effect and user experience in patients wearing the company’s Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses. Specifically, the subject of Poster B32 revealed a significant proportion of participants who joined the two-year DIMS randomized controlled trial continued to wear DIMS spectacle lenses for as long as seven years, and all participants were satisfied with the lens benefits, according to a press release.
MaximEyes integrates with IRIS Registry
MaximEyes, ophthalmology EHR and practice management software from First Insight Corp., announced the integration of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s IRIS Registry. This integration allows customers to participate in the IRIS Registry via Verana Health, the company’s partner in data configurations, according to a press release.
AI assists in medical documentation with NextGen Ambient Assist
NextGen Ambient Assist is now available to eye care professionals. The tool saves medical professionals documentation time by transcribing patient-provider conversations in real time. The latest release is tailored to support the workflows of eye care professionals, including intelligent capture organized into fields for every section of the eye, according to a press release. Doctors can edit the record from, for example, their smartphone, to review and adjust as needed.
NIH awards funding to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for retina research
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine researchers received a $4.7 million award from the National Institutes of Health to support the creation of imaging techniques to identify precise changes in capillary function by measuring blood flow in retinal capillaries. The purpose of the funding is to detect and characterize cerebral small vessel disease, a prevalent central nervous system disorder that contributes to cognitive impairment and dementia. To learn more, visit www.bascompalmer.org.
Prevent Blindness shares resources on contact lens safety
Prevent Blindness, honoring October as Contact Lens Safety Month, is providing free resources, including fact sheets, social media graphics, and webpages, on how consumers can use contact lenses correctly and safely. The campaign also comes at that time of year when decorative contact lenses are popular with costume wearers.
Transitions webinar series began this week
Superpower Your Learning, from Transitions Optical, is a virtual education series hosted by Transitions Optical that aims to expand attendees’ knowledge with insights from experts on photochromic lenses, solutions for younger patients, style trends, light management, and the latest Transitions lens innovations, according to a press release. Eyecare professionals in the United States can earn ABO credits for each course. The series began this week with “What Is Good Vision on Wednesday,” and continues on Oct. 15 for “Transitions Certified Live + The Bright Side of Kids.” Learn more and register free of charge for the series here.