NEWS spectrum

B+L Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Renu

In July, Renu, the first multipurpose contact lens solution brand, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Bausch + Lomb (B+L) first introduced Renu in 1987. As the original single-bottle regimen, the brand revolutionized the contact lens solution category and introduced its breakthrough ingredient, Dymed, for its time to make Renu the leader in its category around the world. Today, Renu is part of a daily routine for millions of people around the world.

As the No. 1 contact lens solution brand for a decade and sales of more than $2.5 billion in the United States alone, B+L says that the Renu brand continues to lead the market in more than 10 countries, including Japan, India, and Brazil. The Renu brand continues to evolve and innovate to meet the demands of consumers, according to the manufacturer. Renu is now available in a clear bottle, making it easy to track how much solution remains.

Contamac Celebrates 25th Anniversary

More than 350 people from six continents, 27 countries, and nearly 100 businesses and organizations attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Contamac Ltd. The party in June at the Tower of London in The Pavilion facility located in the North Moat section of the historic structure celebrated Contamac's achievements of the last 25 years in the contact lens and IOL materials manufacturing industry.

The company welcomed a variety of customers, industry friends and associates, current and previous staff members, and its network of global distributors from India, China, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, and the American partner company Contamac U.S. Attendees from as far away as Australia enjoyed a late afternoon champagne reception, followed by a private tour of the Crown Jewels, dinner and dancing.

ASCRS Forms OD/MD Task Force

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) has formed an Integrated Ophthalmic-Managed Eye Care Delivery (IOMED) Task Force to investigate and recommend ways in which the organization and its membership can advance an eyecare delivery model based on a synergistic collaboration between optometry and ophthalmology.

The IOMED Task Force is chaired by ASCRS Governing Board Member Stephen S. Lane, MD, of St. Paul, Minn. The IOMED Task Force members are: Jeff Azus, OD, of Altos Eye Physicians in Los Altos, Calif. and Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, Calif.; Marlane J. Brown, OD, FAAO, of Minnesota Eye Consultants in Minneapolis, Minn.; Derek N. Cunningham, OD, FAAO, of Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, Texas; Richard C. Edlow, OD, of Katzen Eye Group in Lutherville, Md.;

Howard Fine, MD, of Oregon Eye Associates in Eugene, Ore.; David I. Geffen, OD, FAAO of Gordon Weiss Schanzlin Vision Institute in San Diego, Calif.; David A. Karcher, executive director of ASCRS, in Fairfax, Va.; and Douglas D. Koch, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

In addition to completing a comprehensive membership needs assessment, the IOMED Task Force will consider creating new educational tracks at the ASCRS Annual Symposium as well as an entirely separate society designed to meet the educational needs of integrated eyecare practitioners.

The IOMED model, which is endorsed by the ASCRS Executive Committee and Governing Board, encourages arrangements in which optometrists employed by ophthalmologists, as well as optometrists employed by the military or industry, play a role in the delivery of non-surgical eye care. This patient-centered model is designed to encourage greater efficiency and coordination of care with ophthalmologists and optometrists working together to meet the growing demands for service and to address the pending changes in Medicare and general healthcare delivery.

AOA Honors ODs With Awards

The American Optometric Association (AOA) presented its annual awards to five recipients at the 115th Annual AOA Congress & 42nd Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting in Chicago in June.

Rear Adm. Michael Mittelman received the Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy and Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

Tony Carnevali, OD, received the Optometric Educator of the Year Award. He is a tenured associate professor and is an instructor in ethics and on state laws relating to the practice of optometry, has acquired extensive experience in delivering full-scope optometric services, and mentors students by providing career guidance and counseling.

Melvin Shipp, OD, Dr.PH, MPH, was named Optometrist of the Year. Since 2004, Dr. Shipp has served as Dean of The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Dr. Shipp is currently the president of the American Public Health Association and is the first optometrist to serve in this position.

Chris Wroten, OD, was named Young Optometrist of the Year. In 2005 he joined what is now the Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic, a multi-location group practice. He is co-chair of the Optometry Association of Louisiana Education Committee, continues to serve on numerous other committees, is the keyperson for several state legislators, and has been an instrumental part of numerous legislative victories for organized optometry in Louisiana.

Vera Kohler, CPOA, was named Paraoptometric of the Year. She currently serves as the financial advisor and chair for the Constitution and Bylaws committee for the Pennsylvania Paraoptometric Association.