NEWS spectrum

FTC Settles With Internet Cosmetic Lens Sellers

Three Internet marketers of cosmetic, “circle” contact lenses, which make wearers' eyes appear larger, have agreed to resolve Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges by entering into settlements that will stop their alleged illegal practices. The settlements bring the FTC's total number of contact lens enforcement actions to 10 since the agency issued the Contact Lens Rule in 2004.

According to the FTC, Jamil Hindi (Royal Tronics Inc.) sold prescription contact lenses and circle cosmetic lenses online through his Florida-based company. New York-based Gene Kim and Minnesota-based Thy Xuan Ho, also known as Brandon Lee, sold circle contact lenses online. The FTC charged that the defendants violated federal law by selling contact lenses without obtaining consumers' contact lens prescriptions or verifying their prescriptions directly with the prescribers, and by failing to keep adequate records.

According to the settlement, the defendants are prohibited from selling contact lenses without a prescription from a consumer or verifying prescriptions by communicating directly with prescribers. They must maintain records of prescriptions and verifications and adhere to the Contact Lens Rule to continue selling lenses.

Jamil Hindi and Royal Tronics received a $68,000 civil penalty, which will be suspended upon payment of $20,000. Civil penalties against Gene Kim and Thy Xuan Ho were suspended because of their inability to pay.

If it is later determined that the financial information the defendants provided the FTC was false, the full amount of their civil penalties will become due. The settlements also contain various record-keeping provisions to assist the FTC in monitoring the defendants' compliance.

Dr. West Joins Vision Source Leadership Team

Walter D. West, OD, FAAO, was named vice president of practice development for Vision Source, a network of private practice optometrists. In his new role with the company, Dr. West will spearhead its practice management education for member doctors and staff. That will include content development and management of the Vision Source Experience program, as well as providing content for the network's online educational programs.

Dr. West, who is chief optometric editor for Optometric Management magazine, most recently served as program director for The Vision Care Institute LLC.

Streaming Video Through a Contact Lens?

New contact lens technology may not only provide crisp vision but stream data, as well. In the December 2011 issue of the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, researchers at the University of ashington discussed their long-term goal to create a display that can be comfortably worn in the form of a contact lens.

The researchers demonstrated the operation of a contact lens display powered by a remote radiofrequency transmitter in free space and on a live rabbit. Researchers said they believe their demonstration verifies that antennas, radio chips, control circuitry and micrometerscale light sources can be integrated into a contact lens and operated on live eyes. They noted that although their display has only a single controllable pixel, they provided the first proof-of-concept technology demonstrations for producing multipixel and in-focus images using a contact lens. They believe this technology they used in their emonstration points toward the potential of integrating other passive and active micro-optical components on a contact lens for vision correction and enhancement.

The researchers also noted that significant improvements are necessary to produce fully functional, remotely powered, high-resolution displays.

Also an issue, they reported, are the limitations of the lens material and its low oxygen permeability. They are currently working on the technology with GP and hydrogel lenses.

McEvoy Named J&J Vision Care Group Chairman

Ashley McEvoy was named company group chairman of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., effective Jan. 1, 2012, according to a company spokesperson. Ms. McEvoy succeeds Michael Sneed, who will become vice president, Global Corporate Affairs, Johnson & Johnson.

Most recently, Ms. McEvoy was worldwide president of Ethicon Products. Prior to joining Ethicon, she held various positions with McNeil Consumer Healthcare, including vice president of marketing for its consumer over-the-counter (OTC) business, general manager of the OTC business and president of McNeil Consumer Healthcare.

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson in 1996, Ms. McEvoy managed branding and advertising for consumer products, such as Jif Peanut Butter and Clairol, and product lines for Unilever and Procter & Gamble.

Menicon Acquires Contact Lens Chain in Japan

Menicon Co. Ltd. acquired W.I. System Inc., one of Japan's leading contact lens retail chains. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Tokyo-area based W.I. System, with annual gross sales of $130 million, ranks fourth in contact lens retail sales in Japan.

Menicon officials said the acquisition will significantly bolster Menicon's retail presence in greater Tokyo and will expand opportunities for the company to reach users who do not currently use Menicon products. W.I. System stores will continue to provide lenses and lensrelated products from Menicon and other manufacturers. Company officials said the acquisition will strengthen the company's and the industry's capabilities for developing and marketing lenses and lens care products that meet diverse needs in the broader global market.

W.I. System operates 68 Tokyo-area retail stores and one franchise store that do business under the name Ace Contact or Ekicon. The stores offer primarily contact lenses, and also sell eyeglasses, hearing aids and nutritional supplements for pets.