JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION ACQUIRES SIGHTBOX

Johnson & Johnson Vision (J&J Vision) has acquired Sightbox, Inc., an online, membership-based subscription service for contact lens wearers in the United States. Sightbox helps patients connect with eyecare professionals and addresses a growing consumer preference for more convenient access to eye health services and products, according to J&J Vision.

Sightbox services include scheduling a comprehensive, annual eye exam and contact lens evaluation as well as an annual supply of contact lenses for members. The company’s growth has been primarily fueled by private pay patients who do not have vision insurance. This model encourages people who may not otherwise do so to visit an eyecare professional and enter the category.

While Sightbox will become part of J&J Vision, it will operate as a separate business, leveraging its own unique business model. Sightbox will continue to provide members with contact lenses from all major manufacturers.

The acquisition of Sightbox is complementary to J&J Vision’s strategy to become a broad-based, global leader in eye health, and it further enhances the company’s leading eye health portfolio, according to J&J Vision.

J&J Vision acquired Sightbox, Inc. through its Vision Care operating company, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. Sightbox sales will be reported through the Medical Devices segment, under Vision Care. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

In other company news, J&J Vision has completed its acquisition of TearScience, Inc., a medical device manufacturer dedicated to evaluating meibomian gland health and treating meibomian gland dysfunction. According to the company, the acquisition is another step in J&J Vision’s strategy to become a broad-based, global leader in eye health and further expands the company’s leading eye health portfolio.

DR. DOUGLAS BENOIT JOINS VISIONEERING TECHNOLOGIES

To better support the practice needs of eyecare professionals (ECPs), Visioneering Technologies, Inc. (VTI) has named Douglas P. Benoit, OD, to the newly created position of executive director, Professional Affairs. In his new position, Dr. Benoit will be responsible for interfacing with ECPs to increase awareness and use of the NaturalVue 1 Day Contact Lenses product line. He will also be working with professional organizations and educational institutions to raise awareness of VTI and its NaturalVue products.

Dr. Benoit’s leadership in the contact lens industry spans more than 30 years. For approximately 21 years, Dr. Benoit served on the executive committee for the American Academy of Optometry’s Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies, including chair of the Section in 2011 and 2012.

He is a Diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies Section of the Academy, a title earned by less than 170 eyecare professionals worldwide. He is a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow in the National Academies of Practice-Optometry Section and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. He has conducted multiple U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical studies, published numerous articles, and he lectures frequently on contact lenses and external disease. Dr. Benoit received his Doctor of Optometry degree from The New England College of Optometry in Boston.

SPECIALEYES APPOINTS KORINNE ANDREW AS LEAD CONSULTANT

SpecialEyes, LLC has promoted Korinne Andrew to lead consultant. In her newly expanded position, she will oversee toric and multifocal toric contact lens consultations with eyecare practitioners nationwide.

Ms. Andrew, who holds National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) certification, joined SpecialEyes in 2012 as a product specialist and will retain that role in addition to her new responsibilities. As product specialist, she analyzes contact lens data and outcomes and uses that information to develop product and consultative improvements.

AMPLEYE RECEIVES FDA CLEARANCE FOR THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF OSD

Art Optical Contact Lens has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its Ampleye Scleral lens for the therapeutic management of ocular surface disease from dry eye.

The specific therapeutic indications for Ampleye include ocular pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, symblepharon formation, graft-versus-host disease, persistent epithelial defect, exposure keratitis, neurotrophic keratopathy (herpes simplex, herpes zoster, familial dysautonomia), Sjögren’s syndrome, filamentary keratitis, limbal stem cell deficiency, atopy, and ectodermal dysplasia. The indication covers Ampleye lenses manufactured in roflufocon D, roflufocon E, hexafocon A, and paflufocon D.

COOPERVISION CALLS FOR BEST PRACTICES NOMINATIONS

CooperVision has announced its third annual call for submissions for Best Practices. All U.S. optometry practices currently fitting contact lenses are eligible to apply.

Best Practices candidates are encouraged to submit practice profiles and stories, sharing their insights and experiences in the areas of innovation, industry leadership, and patient experience. Candidates can choose to submit their stories via written response or video at EyeCareBestPractices.com. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31, 2017 and will be reviewed by a panel of judges including past Best Practices honorees, industry experts, and CooperVision leaders. The 2018 Best Practices will be announced in early 2018.

For more information about the Best Practices initiative, to see past honorees, or to apply, visit www.EyeCareBestPractices.com .

FOR THE RECORD

In the Myopia Control with Ortho-k feature by Langis Michaud, OD, MSc, & Patrick Simard, OD, MSc, MBA, in the September issue, the equation on p. 21 for calculating the example patient’s myopia has an incorrect value in the denominator. The correct equation is:

The solution was correct, and the equation has been corrected in the online version.

GLOBAL CONTACT LENS FORUM OFFERS FREE EDUCATION TO VEW ATTENDEES

The Global Contact Lens Forum (GCLF) at International Vision Expo West once again broke previous attendance records: 333 attendees (a 10% increase over last year’s GCLF) gathered at this half-day symposium on the most current developments in the contact lens field.

Program Directors Drs. S. Barry Eiden and Louise Sclafani divided the GCLF into three sections. First was a state of the contact lens industry panel moderated by Dr. Scot Morris. The topic “Research and Development in the Contact Lens Industry” was discussed by representatives of the four major contact lens manufacturers, a speaker from the specialty lens area, and a speaker from a contact lens-related start-up technology company. Section two—Clinical Research Panel: Evidence-Based Eye Care and Clinical Practice—was presented by Drs. Robert Davis, Milton Hom, Christine Sindt, and Jeffrey Sonsino, who shared their personal journey of incorporating clinical research into their professional lives. The final section focused on various modalities of clinical practice and how they impact patient care. Drs. Eiden, Sclafani, Davis, and Clark Chang shared their experiences in diversified clinical practice environments.

This year’s GCLF was supported by Johnson & Johnson Vision, Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, and CooperVision. New and exciting content is being planned for the 2018 GCLF.

IACLE PRESENTS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT 2017 CONGRESS ON CONTACT LENS EDUCATION

The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) has presented the IACLE Award for Lifetime Achievement in Contact Lens Education to Australian educator and researcher Professor Deborah Sweeney. She received the award at the IACLE Congress on Contact Lens Education held in Hyderabad, India in September.

Prof. Sweeney’s contributions to global contact lens education include serving as IACLE president from 2000-2011 and as its secretary and treasurer for 10 years, having first become a member in 1990. She has held executive roles at the Cornea & Contact Lens Research Unit, School of Optometry and Vision Science University of New South Wales, Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Eye Research & Technology, and Vision CRC.

Her current role is pro vice chancellor Research and Innovation at the University of Western Sydney in Australia.

AAOF SELECTS CONTACT LENS RESIDENCY AWARD RECIPIENT

Jesus Gabriel Martinez, OD, cornea and contact lens fellow at the University of Houston, was chosen by a committee of members in the Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies Section of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) as this year’s recipient for the Bert C. & Lydia M. Corwin Residency Award.

The award is intended to promote the practice and development of the field of contact lenses by providing incentive and support to talented optometric residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to practice, research, and education. Of the 16 applicants who applied to the program, Dr. Martinez presented an impressive resume of experience in clinical, volunteer service, research, and lecture presentation. He will receive a $2,000 education award and a $750 travel fellowship to attend Academy 2017 Chicago in October.

PREVENT BLINDNESS DECLARES OCTOBER AS CONTACT LENS SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH

In an effort to educate the public on the best ways to obtain, care for, and use contact lenses, Prevent Blindness has declared October as Contact Lens Safety Awareness month. The non-profit group has a dedicated webpage with free information at www.preventblindness.org/wearing-contact-lenses .

Prevent Blindness chose October because of the risks associated with consumers buying contact lenses to enhance their Halloween costumes. The organization recommends that consumers visit an eyecare professional for contact lens fitting, care instruction, and follow-up exams.

IN MEMORIAM: MICHAEL PORT, PHD, MSC

Michael Port, PhD, MSc, a contact lens expert and academic, passed away on Aug. 24, 2017 after battling cancer.

Dr. Port completed his diploma in ophthalmic optics at Northampton College of Advanced Technology in 1963 (it later became City University). He then went into practice until the late 1970s. During this time, he was involved with the United Kingdom-based Association of Optometrists as well as his local optical committee. He also earned his MSc in Methods of Ophthalmic Investigation and his diploma in contact lens practice (DCLP) from Aston University.

In 1979, he became senior ophthalmic optician in the contact lens department at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Toward the end of his time at Moorfields, he received the British Contact Lens Association’s Dallos Award, a monetary award to fund a research project that is judged likely to further understanding of a topic related to contact lenses and/or anterior eye.

In 1983, he joined the academic staff in the optometry department at City University. In addition to teaching, his contact lens research led to his earning a PhD.

He was elected a College of Optometrists’ councillor in the 1980s and served a term as its president in the early 1990s. Even in retirement, Dr. Port still contributed to the development of British and international contact lens standards.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, daughter Eleanor, and three grandchildren.