Practice tip: Get in front of the camera on your social media channels
To increase the chances that your practice’s posts will be engaging, and, therefore, create opportunities to help both current and prospective patients, these posts can’t look like an ad, which can prompt scrolling, writes Jennifer Lyerly, OD, in the Nov./Dec. issue article “Best practices for social media marketing.” To achieve this, the optometrist, their family, staff, pets, and/or patients (with their permission, of course), need to appear in posts, she points out. To see the statistics that bear this out and Dr. Lyerly’s personal approach to getting in front of the camera, see here.

AOA advocates for optometry with benefit manager probes, DOC
The United States Congress is ramping up scrutiny of the Vision Benefit Manager industry, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). It notes in a press release that the House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer, Kentucky, demanded documents from the Department of Justice to evaluate the patient effects of market consolidation among benefit managers in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Committee has initiated three previous investigations, and optometry advocates are working to increase support for access acts. 

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health puts $46 million into research, innovation toward whole eye transplantation
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, awarded the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the National Eye Institute, and five other research groups up to $46 million to support research and innovation in human whole eye transplantation. The award is part of the agency’s Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program.

Contact Lens Institute reveals 2024 Culture Award honorees 
The Contact Lens Institute named four U.S. and Canadian eye care professionals Contact Lens Institute (CLI) Culture Award winners. They are Jennifer Liao, OD, FAAO, FSLS, New England College of Optometry (NECO) Center for Eye Care, Boston; Chandler Mann, OD, Stone Oak Vision Source, San Antonio; Wes McCann, OD, Central Optometry & Upper Richmond Optometry, London, Ontario, Canada; and Jennifer L. Stewart, OD, Look New Canaan, New Canaan, Conn. The award recognizes fostering contact lens cultures that enhance patient experiences and business success. 

EyeCare Partners LLC appoints chief information officer
EyeCare Partners LLC named Brian Sawyer as chief information officer, a role he has been serving in since September in an interim capacity. Sawyer joined EyeCare Partners in December 2020 as vice president, digital experience and omnichannel product management, and most recently as vice president of digital products.

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals proceeds with trial for its wet AMD therapy
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced the first patient has been dosed in the phase 3 LUCIA clinical trial of Duravyu, formerly EYP-1901, for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. Duravyu is an investigational, sustained-delivery therapy that provides patent-protected vorolanib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor formulated in proprietary bioerodible Durasert E, according to a press release.

Johnson & Johnson appoints president of vision care in the Americas
Johnson & Johnson named Shawn Millerick as president, Vision Care, Americas, as of Nov. 11. Millerick is responsible for defining strategy and driving growth for the company’s vision care portfolio in North America and Latin America, according to a press release.

Latinos en Optometry, Transitions Optical seek to increase interest in optometry as a career in young learners
Latinos en Optometry partnered with Transitions Optical to launch “Eying the Future,” a free in-school educational program designed to inspire middle and high school students in Latino communities to consider a career in optometry. Working with Young Minds Inspired, a provider of free educational outreach programs for learners of all ages, “Eying the Future” will target more than 10,000 teachers at high schools and junior high/middle schools in markets around the country that have a high Latino concentration. 

Novoxel’s Tixel gets FDA clearance for MGD treatment
Israel-based Novoxel announced the FDA clearance of its Tixel device for the application of localized heat and pressure for patients who have evaporative dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Tixel is suitable for all skin types. Visit www.novoxel.com/index.php?todo=products. 

Opus Genetics to hold virtual event to discuss trial of LCA5-associated inherited retinal disease therapy
Opus Genetics, Inc., will host a virtual event Wednesday Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. featuring key opinion leaders who will detail six-month efficacy and safety data on OPGx-LCA5. OPGx-LCA5 is an adeno-associated virus–based gene therapy in phase 1/2 development for LCA5-associated inherited retinal disease. The speakers will also discuss the next steps in the development program, and the potential of Opus Genetics’ therapeutic approach. A live question-and-answer session will follow. To register visit here.

Regener-Eyes launches preservative-free back-flow prevention bottles
Regener-Eyes LLC, the distributors of Regener-Eyes Professional Strength and Regener-Eyes LITE eye drops for dry eye disease, recently launched preservative-free bottles with back-flow prevention after consulting with physicians and industry experts, according to a press release. Specifically, the new multidose bottles prevent the need for preservatives in the formulations and are designed to preclude bacterial contamination over treatment duration, the company says. Additionally, the company has voluntarily recalled any remaining stock of the previous bottles.

SECO 2025 registration open
SECO International will be returning to Atlanta for its 2025 meeting hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center. The event is set to take place Feb. 26 to March 2, and will feature a keynote titled “The Expansion of Eyecare: What’s New and What’s Next.” Registration is open at attendseco.com.

University of Detroit Mercy Able to Launch New School of Optometry
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) recently received pre-accreditation approval from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education for a new school of optometry. It will be the 25th school of optometry in the U.S. and second in Michigan. Applications will be accepted starting in December for the first class that begins in fall 2025 at the Novi, MI campus. UDM opened the Detroit Mercy Eye Institute on that campus and began accepting patients in April 2024.

Vision Council reveals key findings from consumer insights report
The Vision Council released the research report, “Focused InSights 2024: Consumer Choices,” which explores the consumer decision-making process related to selecting an eye care provider and purchasing vision care products and services between 2022 and 2024. The full report is available for download in The Vision Council’s Research Download Center. It is complimentary for members of The Vision Council, with a paid option for nonmembers.

Vision Council Foundation announces 2025 campaign
The Vision Council Foundation will launch the 2025 consumer campaign, “Better Vision for Better Lives,” with the goal of increasing access to vision care products and services, according to a press release. This is to be accomplished throughout 2025 by spotlighting critical aspects of vision care, including reading clearly, and success in school. To participate, join the conversation on social media using #BetterVisionBetterLives, or explore sponsorship opportunities by contacting Abigail Crosby, partnerships and business development manager, at acrosby@thevisioncouncil.org. OM