NEWS spectrum
Alcon Launches PureMoist
At the recent American Optometric Association annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, Alcon launched its new Opti-Free PureMoist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution in the United States. Opti-Free PureMoist contains the wetting agent HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix [EOBO-poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxybutylene)], which Alcon says demonstrates the ability to provide 16 hours of lens wettability. It also contains the dual disinfection system of Polyquad and Aldox found in other Opti-Free solutions as well as EDTA.
“In clinical trials, Opti-Free PureMoist MPDS with HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix provided comfort and moisture from contact lens insertion to removal for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. This claim substantiates the work we've done on our next generation within the Opti-Free family of brands,” said Howard Ketelson, PhD, director of Vision Care Product Research, Alcon.
More information on Opti-Free PureMoist is available in this month's Product Spectrum.
CooperVision Launches Biofinity Multifocal
CooperVision launched its new Biofinity Multifocal lens at the recent American Optometric Association meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The lens combines the Biofinity Asphere and Toric lens material with the company's Balanced Progressive Technology multifocal design.
In addition, CooperVision also introduced a new streamlined fitting approach developed with the input of eyecare practitioners.
“One of the most important considerations for us in developing Biofinity Multifocal was listening to eye care professionals,” said Richard Clompus, OD, VP, Global Professional Relations at CooperVision.
“We are proud to offer our eye care practitioner partners another great tool to help improve their patients' everyday lives with an easy-to-fit multifocal lens with superior comfort,” said Dennis Murphy, president, the Americas, CooperVision.
More information on Biofinity Multifocal is available in this month's Product Spectrum.
Alcon US Sets Management
The recent merger of Novartis and Alcon has united Alcon, Ciba Vision, and Novartis Ophthalmics into one eyecare business. At the recent American Optometric Association meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, further information was provided on the progress of integrating these entities.
Alcon US Vision Care umbrellas the company's Surgical, Pharmaceutical, and Vision Care products. The Vision Care Product portfolio includes Air Optix, Dailies, and FreshLook lenses; the Opti-Free and Clear Care lens care products; as well as ICaps dietary supplements, Vitalux nutrient supplements, and Ciprodex optic suspension. Dry eye, glaucoma, ocular allergy, anti-infection, and anti-inflammation products fall under Pharmaceutical.
Jim Murphy was named vice president and general manager for the Alcon US Vision Care business. Murphy previously served as vice president/general manager of Alcon Consumer Products and U.S. Optometry. Murphy has global marketing responsibilities for Alcon's Lens Care product portfolio and Consumer and Pharmaceutical sales in the U.S. optometry markets.
Francesco Balestrieri, formerly president of Ciba Vision's Americas Region, is now area president Americas and general manager, U.S. for Alcon. Richard Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, who formerly held several positions in Clinical Research and Professional Services for Ciba Vision, is now Head of Professional Affairs for Alcon Vision Care.
B+L Updates Site, Names New Manager and Program
While Bausch + Lomb (B+L) is celebrating the achievement of bringing the first soft contact lens to market 40 years ago, company executives also are looking ahead.
B+L has enhanced its Web site, www.bausch.com, to provide patients and professionals with in-depth information and resources. The site includes improved navigation and content organization for an easy, user-friendly web experience as well as the addition of mobile and social media links that provide access to additional online resources.
B+L also announced the hiring of Benjamin Chudner, OD, as the training manager for the North America Vision Care, Learning + Development Team. Company officials said the decision to hire Dr. Chudner was part of its ongoing commitment to vision and to helping practitioners better address their patients' vision needs, as Dr. Chudner will bring the perspective of the practicing physician to training throughout B+L's Vision Care Division. Dr. Chudner is charged with helping B+L better communicate company product innovations to practitioners.
Most recently, Dr. Chudner was an optometrist in private practice in the Seattle area. Previously, Dr. Chudner purchased The Eye and Contact Lens Clinic, where he served as president and was one of two optometric physicians, managing high volume patient care and overseeing the administration and business operations.
Additionally, Bausch + Lomb announced plans to offer its SofLens daily disposable contact lenses at a cost of less than $1 per day in time for the start of the new school year. “The Daily Score” will give eyecare practitioners the opportunity to offer patients instant savings on SofLens.
“The Daily Score” builds upon a 2010 promotion that encouraged trial of SofLens daily disposable lenses by motivating parents and children to participate in the “Seeing Eye to Eye” contest together. According to B+L data on file, feedback to this promotion showed that 98 percent of parents agreed that SofLens daily disposable lenses provided their children with crisp, clear vision, and 96 percent agreed that the lenses fit into their child's busy lifestyle.
| CLASS in Print and Online |
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| The 2011 Contact Lenses & Solutions Summary, Contact Lens Spectrum's annual listing of soft contact lenses, GP lens materials, and soft and GP lens care products that is sponsored by Vistakon, is now available both in print and online. The print edition is included with this issue of CLS, and a downloadable PDF of the supplement is available at www.clspectrum.com/CLASS. |
| AOF, Vistakon Announce Residency Awards |
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| The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) and Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., have announced recipients of the 2011 Dr. Terrance Ingraham Pediatric Optometry Residency Awards, the Dr. George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Awards, and the Dr. Sheldon Wechsler Contact Lens Residency Awards. The 2010-2011 winners are as follows: Dr. George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Awards: Christen Kenrick, OD, New England College of Optometry; Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. Dr. Sheldon Wechsler Contact Lens Residency Awards: Michael Rebarchik, OD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University; Steven J. Warne, OD, University of Alabama at Bloomington School of Optometry. Dr. Terrance Ingraham Pediatric Optometry Residency Awards: Jenelle L. Mallios, OD, New England College of Optometry; Yos M. Priestley, OD, New England College of Optometry. Each will receive $4,000 toward their graduate education that includes a $750 travel fellowship to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry in Boston, October 12 to 15, 2011. |
| Metro Optics Offers Free Lens Exchanges |
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| All Metro Optics soft lens designs and all materials, including custom lenses, now have unlimited free exchanges for 90 days with no cancellation charges. This new policy means practitioners will not pay cancellation fees and exchange fees. The Definitive (Contamac) silicone hydrogel material is included in this policy change. Metro Optics soft lens designs include spheres, torics, multifocals, multifocal torics, and an FDA-cleared post-refractive surgery lens. More information about the new policy is available at www.metro-optics.com or by calling (800) 223-1858. |
| INDUSTRY BRIEFS |
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| ■ OcuSoft, Inc. recently announced an exclusive multiyear agreement with Ardeo Health, LLC to distribute Nova23041, a novel dry eye therapy under license from Novagali Pharma SA of Evry, France. Nova23041 will be marketed and distributed in the United States as Retaine MGD Ophthalmic Emulsion under a brand license from OcuSoft, Inc. Utilizing Novagali's Novasorb Technology—a proprietary cationic process of binding positively charged ions to the negatively charged ocular surface, Retaine MGD will prolong corneal contact time resulting in enhanced comfort. As a preservative-free oil-in-water emulsion, Retaine MGD will target individuals suffering from meibomian gland dysfunction. ■ A new study sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care showed that nearly half of patients requiring vision correction are significantly astigmatic in at least one eye. Data from the study also showed that the frequency of astigmatism is almost double in patients who have myopia compared to those who have hyperopia. The findings were recently published in Eye & Contact Lens, the peer-reviewed journal of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists. ■ New data from the Needs, Symptoms, Incidence, Global eye Health Trends (NSIGHT) study indicate that about half of the spectacle and contact lens wearers surveyed reported suffering from symptoms of halos (52 percent and 56 percent, respectively) and glare (47 percent and 50 percent, respectively) more than three times a week. More than four out of five patients who experienced these symptoms found them bothersome (84 percent for halos and 89 percent for glare). Moreover, a similar rate of patients (89 percent for halos and 87 percent for glare) expressed an interest in an intervention that more adequately addresses these symptoms. The NSIGHT study was commissioned by Bausch + Lomb and conducted by an independent market research firm, Market Probe: Europe. ■ Vistakon has launched, "Healthy Vision with Dr. Val Jones," supported by Acuvue Brand Contact Lenses. This audio program is designed to educate and improve the eye health of Americans. Dr. Val Jones, MD, is CEO of Better Health, LLC, a network of health bloggers, and author of Dr. Val and the Voice of Reason. On the inaugural show, Dr. Jones is joined by eyecare professionals from around the country to look at areas vital to maintaining eye health and wellness including the eye exam, lens compliance and protecting eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Free podcasts are available in the iTunes Store. A link is also available at www.acuvue.com/healthyvision. You can listen to the show in its entirety (approximately 23 minutes) or via individual segments. ■ The American Optometric Association (AOA) launched the EyeLearn education web portal at its recent annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. An exclusive member benefit, EyeLearn is a centralized learning resource providing optometrists with improved access to a full range of professional education opportunities—from traditional classroom continuing education to new, online learning options. Visit www.aoa.org and click on EyeLearn. ■ C&E Vision Services, Inc, a national buying group, has announced the introduction of its Social Media Center on the member's only section of its Web site. The Social Media Center will initially include step-by-step guides for practitioners to create, grow, and be successful using their own FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites for their practices and to take advantage of Social Check-In sites such as Foursquare as well as a selection of videos on social media. A Forum section is also available. C&E plans to gradually add to and update the content over time. ■ Dr. Mary Anne Murphy of Front Range Eye Associates, PC, in Broomfield, Colo. will lead Optometry Giving Sight's (OGS) efforts in the United States to raise funds for people who are blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error. She will replace Vic Conners, OD, as the organization's chair of the U.S. National Committee. Dr. Murphy will help OGS meet its goals over the coming years to procure funding for projects that will provide affordable and accessible eyecare services to people in underserved communities. |
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