Practice Tip: Create compelling content to market contact lenses
One way to market contact lenses to both current and prospective patients is to create compelling marketing content that is comprised of nonmedical language, short messaging, and a call to action. This suggestion is given by Clarke D. Newman, OD, FAAO, in his Jan./Feb. issue article, “Marketing contact lenses.” Regarding the call to action, he recommends embedding a URL for a video or a QR code on the practice web page that the patient can access for additional information. Read more.
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry publishes pass rate data
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), in collaboration with the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), published the pass rate data for every U.S. optometric institution on its website. The data include outcomes of the now-retired Part III CSE exam and the new Part III PEPS exam. The results are from calculations using the scores of optometry candidates who have both graduated during the 2023 to 2024 academic year and attempted all three parts of the exam at least once, according to a press release. Click here to access the data.
Bausch + Lomb and Glaucoma Research Foundation launch Faces of Glaucoma campaign
Bausch + Lomb (B+L) and Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) are launching the second annual Faces of Glaucoma campaign to highlight diverse patient stories and raise awareness of the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The campaign will occur throughout January in observance of Glaucoma Awareness Month and will spotlight educational resources and share stories of individuals and families living with glaucoma. The purpose: To raise awareness of the disease and encourage proactive eye health management. In addition, for the fourth consecutive year, B+L will match a fundraising challenge up to $20,000 to support GRF research.
Cleinman Performance Partners acquired by POD Marketing
Cleinman Performance Partners, a business development consultancy for large optometry practices in North America, has been acquired by POD Marketing. Pod Marketing is a Calgary-based firm that owns Marketing4ECPs. This acquisition was effective as of Jan. 1, 2025. As part of the transition, Cleinman Performance Partners will remain independent, with Alan Cleinman, founder and CEO, continuing to play an active role, and President Tim Aiken leading daily operations and collaborating with Marketing4ECPs to expand service offerings, according to a press release. For more information about this announcement, contact: Leslie Parmerter at lparmerter@cleinman.com.
Eyecare Business and Vision Council collaborate on frame buyers insight report out now
Focused inSights 2024: Frame Buyers is a new research report from the Vision Council on the motivations and choices of eyecare providers responsible for frame inventory purchases. Key findings include:
- 78% of providers display between 200 and 1,200 frames on their boards.
- 70% of providers update their inventory quarterly.
- Most frames are sourced through in-person sales representatives.
- Square and rectangular frames dominate inventories, comprising an average of 53% of available styles.
- 40% of providers prefer boutique brands.
The report is based on research conducted with Optometric Management’s sister publication, Eyecare Business, and informed 10 frame-focused findings, found here. The full report is available for download here .
Eyenuk appoints Chairman and CEO
Eyenuk appointed Mads Dall as chairman of the Board and Gaurav Agarwal as chief executive officer. As chairman, Dall brings extensive global experience from executive positions in private and listed companies within the pharmaceutical and MedTech industries, according to a press release. Agarwal was previously the head of Product and Customer Success at Eyenuk and a member of the leadership team since 2023.
GlobalData forecasts glaucoma market to grow to $2.5 billion by 2033
GlobalData, a data and analytics company, has forecasted the glaucoma market to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 2.1% billion across the seven major markets to $2.5 billion in 2033. This data comes from the company’s report “Glaucoma: Seven Market Drug Forecast and Market Analysis,” which also reveals that an aging population and the launch of pipeline products will be the primary drivers of this growth.
Heidelberg Engineering gets FDA clearance for imaging platform module
Heidelberg Engineering received FDA clearance of its Epithelial Thickness Module, available exclusively through the Anterion Cornea App. The module provides thickness mapping and data insights to support refractive surgery planning, assess ocular surface evaluation, aid in corneal ectasia assessment, and assist in a variety of other cornea diagnostics, according to a press release. Anterion is a modular anterior segment imaging platform that combines biometry, IOL power calculation, corneal topography and tomography, anterior chamber metrics, and high-resolution swept-source OCT imaging into a single device. Commercial availability of the Epithelial Thickness Module is set for February 2025.
Opthea Limited’s diabetic macular edema therapy undergoes phase 1b trial
Opthea Limited’s phase 1b trial of sozinibercept combination therapy in diabetic macular edema (DME) reveals the treatment was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities. Also, the trial showed a dose-response relationship of increased gains in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for ascending doses of sozinibercept, with the 2 mg sozinibercept combination arm demonstrating the highest BCVA gain. All sozinibercept doses demonstrated a meaningful CST reduction. Read the full results here in Translational Vision Science & Technology.
Optometry’s Meeting and World Council of Optometry call for abstracts
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and the American Optometric Association (AOA) are inviting eyecare practitioners to participate in the poster session for Optometry’s Meeting 2025 and the 5th World Congress of Optometry, respectively. The submission window is open through February 14. Poster abstracts must be submitted electronically, and primary authors must be a member of the WCO and/or AOA. More information can be found here .
SolidddVision showcases smartglasses as vision correction for macular degeneration
SolidddVision smartglasses, from Soliddd Corp. for patients who have macular degeneration were featured at CES 2025. The virtual reality smartglasses are lightweight and use proprietary lens arrays to project multiple separate images to the areas of the retina that are not damaged, according to a press release. As a result, they allow the brain to naturally construct stereopsis and a single full-field image with good acuity, says the company.
Study shows scleral lenses are a feasible option for the pediatric population
Scleral lenses are a viable choice for pediatric patients who have ocular surface disease and/or irregular cornea/refractive conditions, according to a recent study in Clinical Optometry. Specifically, most pediatric patients in the study continued scleral lens wear over a 21-year review period. Additionally, the mean final lens diameter was 18.2 mm, revealing that larger-diameter lenses may not be a deterrent or obstacle for successful long-term outcomes in this patient population. Click here for the full study.
Topcon announces new technology officer
Topcon Healthcare appointed Christian Odaker, PhD, to chief technology officer. In his 20-year healthcare and technology career, Dr. Odaker has held senior leadership positions at several global companies, including at Smart Reporting, Heidelberg Engineering, and ESI Group, according to a press release. Dr. Odaker will focus on accelerating the development of new applications and software solutions for the Topcon Harmony digital health platform. OM