Practice Tip: Enable dry eye treatment accessibility
“Some patients cannot afford bare minimum, necessary treatments, such as artificial tears, lid hygiene supplies, and warm compresses, for their ocular surface disease (OSD),” writes Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, in her latest “Dry Eye” column. Dr. Koetting provides action steps to overcome this issue. Click here.
Contact Lens Manufacturers Association provides members with new resources
The Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA) is delivering, via a members-only portal on www.clma.net, a range of exclusive publications and resources to provide manufacturers with the knowledge they need to make strategic decisions and drive growth, according to a press release. Examples include an annual statistical report, and a CLMA Government, Technology, and Regulations (GTR) newsletter.
Eyefinity integrates with Dr. Contact Lens
Eyefinity, a VSP Vision company that provides cloud-based practice management and EHR software, has partnered with Dr. Contact Lens to offer patients access to their prescription and order contact lenses through their independent optometrist. To learn more about Eyefinity and schedule a demo of the Dr. Contact Lens platform, visit Eyefinity’s list of Certified Partners.
Hilco Vision brings on new chief executive officer
Hilco Vision appointed Girisha Chandraraj as its new chief executive officer. Chandraraj replaces Ross Brownlee. Chandraraj previously served as CEO at Marbes: The Brain Store, Elite Sportswear, and Careismatic Brands, according to a press release.
Oasis introduces Soft Plug Extended Duration 180-T Tapered Plug
Oasis Medical launched the Soft Plug Extended Duration 180-T Tapered Plug, designed to address dry eye syndrome. The plug is designed with a 0.25 mm tapered end. It then gradually widens to a 0.60 mm diameter at the top end. After insertion through the punctal opening and into the canaliculus, it degrades in approximately 180 days. For more information, visit https://www.hilcovision.com/f/Oasis-Soft-Plug-Extended-Duration-180.
Ocuphire doses first patients in anticipatory trial to support presbyopia drop new drug application
Ocuphire Pharma’s VEGA-3 Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating phentolamine ophthalmic solution 0.75% for presbyopia has dosed its first participants, according to a press release. Ocuphire says it anticipates using data obtained from the VEGA-3 trial to support a supplemental new drug application with the FDA. VEGA-3 is a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial. The primary end point is the percentage of participants with 15-letter improvement in photopic binocular distance-corrected near visual acuity on the eighth day following their first visit.
Opthea announces leadership changes
Opthea announced executive leadership changes in its commercial and finance departments and senior hires for its biometrics, clinical operations, and market access departments: Daniel Geffken, co-founder and managing director, Danforth Advisors, will become chief financial officer on an ad interim basis reporting to Frederic Guerard, PharmD, CEO, Opthea; Mike Campbell was appointed chief commercial officer, reporting to Dr. Guerard; Dayong Li, PhD, was appointed senior vice president, Biometrics; Jen Watts was appointed vice president global clinical operations; and Anthony Bonifazio was appointed vice president, market access.
Prevent Blindness releases vision health map and related report
Prevent Blindness (PV) is debuting the Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Health Map, an online interactive tool that displays geographic variations in common children’s vision problems, as well as visual impairment and blindness. The map is accompanied by a comprehensive report, which includes such findings as one out of every 122 children in the United States has uncorrectable vision loss. Data from the map provides new information for advocates to help advance the recently introduced Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act. To access the Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Health Map and the report, visit PreventBlindness.org/childrens-vision-map. For information on the EDVI Act, email advocacy@PreventBlindness.org, or visit https://preventblindness.org/edvi-act.
University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology Researchers to assess vision changes in astronauts
During SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn's multiday high-altitude mission, which rocketed to space on Sept. 10, the crew will wear Triggerfish “smart” contact lenses (Sensimed), so University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology researchers can monitor changes to the astronauts’ eyes to better understand spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), according to a press release. Additionally, the team is sending a device called the QuickSee (PlenOptika) to measure refractive error, when the shape of the eye changes and keeps light from focusing correctly on the retina.