Practice Tip: Err on the Side of Caution with GLP-1 Agonists
There is an established link between glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and worsening diabetic retinopathy (DR). As a result, optometrists should err on the side of caution and be in contact with primary care physicians on whether GLP-1/gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) agonists should be prescribed in patients who have existing DR, writes Dr. Reynolds in her May issue article, “Diabetic Retinopathy and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists.” Read about the recommended action steps here  

Azalea Vision Raises Series A Funds for Medically Intelligent Ocular Technology Platform
Azalea Vision, a HealthTech company, has raised over $10 million for a pilot clinical trial to establish the safety and performance of its medically intelligent ocular technology platform, according to a press release. The company’s goal is to receive Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), continue the clinical trials, and further advance commercialization efforts. In other news, Azalea Vision named Robert J. Dempsey chairman of the board to guide strategic growth in Europe and in the United States. 

Centre for Ocular Research & Education’s Contact Lens Update Focuses on Environmentally-Friendly Practices
On the heels of announcing its sustainability website www.sustainableeyecare.com, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) published a guide to help practice staff and manufacturers minimize environmental impact year-round. Specifically, Issue 83 of Contact Lens Update focuses on contact lens-related sustainability initiatives, wearer attitudes, and practical patient education, according to a press release. The bi-monthly publication is available at no charge by visiting ContactLensUpdate.com. To help increase patient awareness of sustainable contact lens practices, CORE created downloadable handouts for practitioners to use in this issue’s clinical insight column.

Foundation Fighting Blindness Partners with Mental Health Professional Network
The Foundation Fighting Blindness joined forces with Alma, a network of 25,000 mental health professionals dedicated to simplifying access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare, to enable individuals who are blind or have low vision to gain access to mental health services. In conjunction with this partnership, the Foundation has unveiled its new Mental Health Resource Center. The Center, available on the Foundation’s website (https://www.fightingblindness.org/mental-health), offers tools, resources, and connections to help individuals and families manage the unique emotional complexities associated with vision loss, according to a press release.

National Vision Holdings Names New Chief Executive Officer 
National Vision Holdings appointed Alex Wilkes as the company’s next chief executive officer. This goes into effect August 1, 2025. Wilkes was appointed president of National Vision in August of 2024. Before that, he served as president of the Americas at CooperVision and spent over a decade at EssilorLuxottica, in various roles. 

OKYO Pharma Reveals Plans to Accelerate Clinical Development of Neuropathic Corneal Pain Drug
OKYO Pharma announced plans to accelerate the clinical development of its drug urcosimod (formerly OK-101) to treat neuropathic corneal pain via the analysis of its data following the early closure of a related Phase 2 trial. The decision to close the trial now, with 17 patients having presently completed the study, is due to OKYO’s strong desire to access the currently masked data and use it to plan its expanded development program, according to a press release. Visit www.okyopharma.com. 

Prevent Blindness Declares May Inherited Retinal Disease and
Genetic Testing Month
Prevent Blindness has named May the second annual Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) and Genetic Testing Month. To educate the public and allied health professionals, the organization is offering several related free resources, including webpages, shareable social media graphics, fact sheets in English and Spanish, and educational videos. New this year is the Focus on Eye Health Series episode, “Stargardt Disease: A Conversation with Bryan and Bradford Manning of Two Blind Brothers.”

The Vision Council to Hold Managed Vision Care Report Webinar
The Vision Council has rescheduled its Managed Vision Care Report Webinar for May 8 at 2 pm ET. During this webinar, the Focused inSights Managed Vision Care report, recently released by The Vision Council’s Market Research team, will be discussed. Specifically, the report examines how U.S. adults enroll in managed vision care plans, their satisfaction with their current vision insurance providers, levels of coverage for various products and services, and how having managed vision care coverage affects consumer choices related to eyecare providers and optical purchases, according to a press release. Information will also be shared on how eyecare providers work with various managed vision care plans. To attend, visit https://thevisioncouncil.org/managed-vision-care-webinar-may-8. In other news, The Vision Council has kicked off its 2025 National Sunglasses Day Campaign. The day is June 27, 2025. To encourage participation from organizations and individuals across the country, the Foundation has released a free digital toolkit designed to make National Sunglasses Day celebrations easy and impactful, according to a press release. OM