NEWS spectrum

In Memoriam: Keith Harrison

Keith W. Harrison, FCLSA(H) lost his battle with cancer and passed away August 21, 2012. Keith will be remembered as a visionary in the optical industry and a leader of the Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA). Keith leaves behind his wife Linda, son Bradley and wife Brigid, and daughter Courtney.

Keith thrived on helping patients, always welcoming the most challenging of cases, and took great pride in being able to help people see better. He was an ophthalmic dispenser and certified contact lens fitter in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where he was owner of Harrison Optical Services, a contact lens practice and optical business in the Toronto Western Hospital.

Keith was an imaginative leader and constant educator while donating his time, expertise, and passion for contact lens fitting throughout his 31-year tenure as a CLSA member. He served as a member of the CLSA Board of Directors, as CLSA Secretary/Treasurer, CLSA Foundation Chair, and as President of the Contact Lens Society of America. Keith was an Honored Fellow Member of CLSA. He was an everpresent educator at CLSA meetings.

He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Opticians Association as well as the Clifford R. Shorney 2012 Member of the Year Award. He held membership in the Canadian Guild of Dispensing Opticians. Keith was NCLE Advanced Certified, and while serving on the NCLE Board of Directors was instrumental in the creation of the ABO-NCLE National Opticians Conference.

CLSA has established a fund in Keith's name; donations will be directed to the charity or cause chosen by the family: CLSA Foundation, c/o The Keith Harrison Fund, 441D Carlisle Drive, Herndon, VA 20170.

Accu Lens Expands Consultant Team

Accu Lens has named Steve Cogger as the company's professional services consultant for the North East Region of the United States. Accu Lens says that Cogger's contact lens fitting expertise is a great asset and that his presence will allow the company to more efficiently service the north east region.

Cogger's functions will include assisting accounts in design, fitting, and office training in the utilization of Accu Lens' Maxim and Comfort SL scleral lens products.

The Comfort SL is an alternative to soft toric lenses for the correction of non-distorted ametropia. Only a patient Rx, K readings, and corneal size are necessary for the lens to be designed. The Maxim Scleral lens is indicated for managing ocular surface disease. Both designs are available in custom parameters manufactured in Boston XO₂ (Bausch + Lomb). Twenty-four lens Maxim trial lens sets are available free of charge. Call Accu Lens at (800) 525-2470 or go to www.acculens.com.

INDUSTRY BRIEFS

■ The 16th Symposium on the Material Science and Chemistry of Contact Lenses is scheduled to take place Nov. 14 to 16, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Astor in New Orleans, La. The symposium is designed to bring together academic and industrial researchers working in the contact lens field. Session topics include New Developments in Lens Materials, Tears/Solutions/Lens Interactions, and Comfort and Lens-Induced Dry Eye. Visit www.lsu-eye.lsuhsc.edu/symposium.aspx. ■ OcuSoft, Inc. recently promoted Patrick Ward, RPh, MBA, to president and chief operating officer. Cynthia L. Barratt, former president and chief executive officer (CEO), will remain CEO and will now also serve as cochairman with Nat Adkins. Stacy Foster will succeed Mr. Ward as executive vice president, and Troy Smith has been named vice president of Sales. ■ Salus University recently appointed James M. Caldwell, OD, EdM, FAAO, as its dean of Student Affairs. He will succeed Robert E. Horne, who is retiring after 36 years at the institution. Dr. Caldwell is an assistant professor and most recently also held the position of associate vice president of Academic Affairs at the institution. Salus University also recently announced that Rear Admiral Michael H. Mittelman, OD, MPH, will succeed Dr. Thomas L. Lewis as the University's next president once he completes his service in the Navy sometime in late spring or early summer 2013. ■ Ferris State University announced the appointment of Bruce Morgan, OD, FAAO, as interim dean of the Michigan College of Optometry (MCO) effective August 24. Most recently, Dr. Morgan has served as a professor in the MCO. He is chief of the Cornea and Contact Lens Service and director of Residencies and Externships. Dr. Morgan will replace the current dean, Dr. Michael Cron, who announced his retirement last fall. ■ The Brien Holden Vision Institute has taken a controlling share holding in U.S.-based Quantum Catch, a diagnostic technology development company that has focused on making realtime, high resolution systems, including retinal cameras, for detection and diagnosis of eye diseases and other conditions related to general health. The Quantum Catch team has extensive experience in design and development of products for the ophthalmic market, in software development, biomedical engineering, and in commercialization and distribution of medical technologies. ■ VSP Vision Care, the nation's largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services provider, recently announced that more than 775,000 adults and children throughout the United States have received free eye care and eyewear as a result of VSP charity care programs. Since 1997, VSP has invested nearly $150 million for the purpose of providing comprehensive eye exams and glasses if needed to lowincome, underinsured adults and children through VSP charity care programs. In addition, VSP supports communities across the United States affected by natural disasters by working directly with VSP network doctors, business partners, and relief agencies.

AAO Announces Award Winners

Each year the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) recognizes distinguished individuals who have made contributions to advancing the profession of optometry. The following award winners will be recognized at the Academy 2012 Phoenix Awards Ceremony from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Oct. 26, in North Ballroom A of the Phoenix Convention Center, and at the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies Symposium:
• Larry N. Thibos, PhD, FAAO, Charles F. Prentice Medal and Lecture Award
• Susana T.L. Chung, OD, PhD, FAAO, Glenn A. Fry Award and Lecture (American Optometric Foundation award)
• Melissa D. Bailey, OD, PhD, FAAO, Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award
• Olanrewaju Matthew Oriowo, BSc(Optom), MSc, PhD, FAAO, AAO-Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry
• P. Sarita Soni, OD, MS, FAAO, William Feinbloom Award
• Roger J. Wilson, OD, FAAO, Carel C. Koch Memorial Award
• Kenneth Headington, OD, MS, Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics (American Optometric Foundation award)

ABB Concise to Offer KeraSoft IC

ABB Concise announced that its laboratory in Pinole, Calif. is now authorized to manufacture Bausch + Lomb's KeraSoft IC silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The technology behind the KeraSoft IC lens enables authorized laboratories to custom-make contact lenses for patients who have irregular corneas, including patients who have keratoconus. Interested eyecare professionals may visit www.abbconcise.com to complete the necessary training to become a certified KeraSoft IC professional. Upon completion of the online training, practitioners may contact ABB Concise's Contact Lens Consultation at (800) 772-3911 (Calif.) or (800) 225-1812 (Mass.) and choose option 4 for trial set information and to place orders.

• Dennis L. Smith, OD, MS, FAAO, Michael G. Harris Award for Excellence in Optometric Education (American Optometric Foundation award)
• Richard E. Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, and Joe Yager, OD, FAAO, Eminent Service Award
• John F. Amos, OD, MS, FAAO, Life Fellow Award
• Susan I. Eger and James F. Jorkasky, Honorary Fellow Award
• Fiona Stapleton, BSc, MSc, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, Lisa Keay, BOptom, PhD, Isabelle Jalbert, OD, PhD, FAAO, and Nerida Cole, MSc, PhD, Garland W. Clay Award

Awards of the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies:
• Fiona Stapleton, BSc, MSc, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, Schapero Memorial Award
• Lester E. Janoff, OD, MSED, FAAO (posthumously), Founders' Award.

The AAO's 90th annual meeting, Academy 2012 Phoenix, will take place Oct. 24 to 27 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Az.

OGS Challenges Practitioners

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) is calling on all members of the optometric community to join the global movement to eliminate avoidable blindness by taking the 2012 World Sight Day Challenge. Oct. 11 is World Sight Day.

The World Sight Day Challenge is an opportunity for eyecare practitioners to make a personal donation and help raise funds to support sustainable visioncare projects in underserved communities around the world. Optometrists and their practices are once again invited to donate a day of eye exam fees in October, make a small donation per frame sold or exam given, and to invite patients to donate during the month.

In 2012 OGS committed funding to support 42 projects and 24 countries—including, for the first time, projects in the United States that will provide access to eye and vision care for underserved populations in this country.

To donate, register for a practice kit or receive more information, please visit www. givingsight.org.

Moro Joins RevitalVision

RevitalVision has named Glenn Moro as vice president and general manager, with responsibility for amblyopia therapy. He comes to RevitalVision after a long career at Alcon, where most recently he served as global director of Marketing for the Opti-Free contact lens care business. RevitalVision company officials said his expertise will factor heavily in expansion of the FDA-approved amblyopia therapy into the optometric market. John D. Hunkeler, MD, chairman of RevitalVision said that the hiring is another step forward for the company as it expands product usage through eyecare providers. RevitalVision represents a new category in vision improvement with a non-invasive technology that enhances eyesight neurologically. This computer-based neural vision therapy is designed to improve the vision outcomes for post-cataract, post-refractive (LASIK), presbyopia, night vision, adult low near sighted (myopic), sports vision patients, and amblyopic patients.