REOPEN EYECARE WEBSITE LAUNCHES
Reopeneyecare.com , a digital platform designed to help eyecare providers navigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses, launched. Curated by a taskforce of vision community leaders and sponsored by The Vision Council, the website is intended to serve as a resource to help eyecare providers navigate the complex journey from shutdown back to “new normal” business conditions, with practical insights and a collection of best practices, protocols, tools, and tips for reopening a practice and maintaining its health until conditions improve.
“The Landscape” has detailed information on national COVID-19 data and trends. “Setting Your Course” provides tips on how to communicate with patients and strengthen relationships. “Financing the Journey” features an interactive cashflow calculator and explains how to calculate cash flow and how to manage and generate cash. “Roadmap to Reopening” details what eyecare providers need to know to begin seeing patients again while keeping both patients and staff safe. “Leading the Way” provides tips on how to manage, motivate, and compensate staff during a difficult time. “Rules, Regulations and Requirements” highlights state and local rules, professional guidelines, liability issues, and employment law. Finally, “Industry Data” contains industry research pertaining to the impact of the pandemic on the vision industry, with insightful analysis and key takeaways. ■
1-800 CONTACTS SETTLES CLASS-ACTION CLAIMS
1-800 Contacts has agreed to pay $15.1 million to settle a class action lawsuit claiming that the company unlawfully restricted search advertising. The plaintiffs, who make up a proposed class of consumers, revealed the settlement amount after alerting the U.S. District Court District of Utah, Central Division on May 15 that they had reached an agreement with 1-800 Contacts. The court then issued a proposed order that preliminarily approves the settlement. If approved, the agreement will end the four-year-old antitrust suit.
1-800 Contacts has denied any liability, fault, or wrongdoing in connection with any of the allegations in the suit. The core of the lawsuit, which was filed in 2016, was centered upon the purchase of search engine keywords by the online sellers of contact lenses and agreements among these companies that resulted in competition being stifled, according to the court papers.
1-800 Contacts is the last company to reach a settlement with the plaintiffs. 1-800 Contacts is appealing that ruling to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, which hasn’t yet issued a decision. ■
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ONLINE MYOPIA CERTIFICATE TRAINING AVAILABLE
CooperVision unveiled an online training curriculum so that eyecare professionals (ECPs) can certify to prescribe the Brilliant Futures Myopia Management Program featuring MiSight 1 Day contact lenses. Initially, CooperVision planned in-person trainings at partnering optometry schools throughout the nation but decided to postpone them and provide an online learning option due to the unforeseen circumstances associated with the onset and impact of COVID-19. The online option allows ECPs and their practices to become certified without meeting in-person so that they can prepare to offer the program to their patients and parents. The first online training session opened on April 20, with several more sessions planned through July. CooperVision is also suspending the $1,000 certification fee associated with the training.
The online training program uses an autonomous learning approach that allows ECPs to progress at their own pace and at the time and place of their choice. It includes a five-course syllabus; optional engagement opportunities with peers, faculty partners, and CooperVision’s Myopia Management Team via discussion boards as well as Ask the Expert conference call sessions on key topics; and an optional opportunity to gain Paragon CRT certification. Upon successful completion of the curriculum and online exam, ECPs will work with their dedicated CooperVision Myopia Management Specialist to activate their Brilliant Futures account. ■
AAOF ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS AND GRANT RECIPIENTS
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announced the recipient of the Joe and Janet Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award. Sidra Sarwat is a first-year PhD candidate at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales. Her research project, titled “In Vivo Labelling and Bioimaging of the Tear Film Using Silicon Quantum Dots,” was chosen out of the six applicants who applied for the award. The award provides a first- or second-year MS or PhD vision science or physiological optics student with a $2,000 research project seed fund in the area of cornea/ocular surface or contact lenses.
The AAOF also announced the 11 recipients of the 2020 William C. Ezell Fellowships. The Ezell Fellowship program is named after the founding president of the AAOF, William C. Ezell, OD. It was established to provide recognition and support to talented post-doctoral students who are pursuing an advanced degree in optometric research and education.
- AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies (CCLRT) Ezell Fellowship: Erin Tomiyama, OD, MS, University of Houston College of Optometry
- American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Ezell Fellowship: Eugene Appenteng Osae, OD, University of Houston College of Optometry
- Danne Ventura/Essilor Ezell Fellowship: Reynolds Kwame Ablordeppey, OD, State University of New York College of Optometry
- Facebook Ezell Fellowship: Lyndsey Ferris, OD, Indiana University School of Optometry
- Irvin M. Borish/Essilor Ezell Fellowship: Young Hyun Kim, University of California Berkeley School of Optometry
- John N. Schoen Ezell Fellowship: Justin Courson, University of Houston College of Optometry
- Merton C. Flom Leadership Ezell Fellowship: Kelsy Steele, OD, MS, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
- Mike Daley/Essilor Ezell Fellowship: Kwaku Osei, OD, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
- Michael G. Harris Ezell Fellowship: Afua Oteng Asare, OD, MPH, MSc, University of Toronto
- Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS) Ezell Fellowship: Billie Beckwith-Cohen, DVM, MBA, University of California Berkeley School of Optometry
- Rod Tahran/Essilor Ezell Fellowship: Rabia Mobeen, BOptom, MPhil, University of New South Wales
Finally, the AAOF announced the 2020 Johnson & Johnson Vision Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care Grant recipients. This award recognizes outstanding fourth-year student clinicians who have demonstrated skillful knowledge of the contact lens field. Each winner will receive a $500 educational award and a personalized plaque commemorating his or her accomplishment. A full list of the 2020 recipients and institutions attended can be found at https://www.aaopt.org/home/aaof/news-detail/2020/05/09/american-academy-of-optometry-foundation-is-pleased-to-announce-the-2020-johnson-johnson-award-of-excellence-in-contact-lens-patient-care-grant-recipients . ■
IMI SEEKS REPRESENTATIVES
The International Myopia Institute (IMI) announced a search for leading practitioners to help disseminate the evidence from its published white papers. Appointed country representatives will help to identify gaps and unmet needs in myopia education, research, and training as well as support the dissemination of the evidence through their professional networks. To apply, send your curriculum vitae and a statement about your professional experience and how you would be able to support the mission of advancing myopia research, education, and advocacy in your country to Dr. Monica Jong at m.jong@bhvi.org. ■
NEW SCLERAL LENS BOOK AVAILABLE
Dougmar Publishing Group announced a new book by Daddi Fadel, DOptom, titled Scleral Lens Issues and Complications: Their Recognition, Etiology, and Management. This book discusses all issues and complications that may occur during scleral lens fitting and will provide guidelines on their management.
The book defines scleral lens issues and differentiates between issues and complications related to scleral lens wear. It also describes all of the issues and complications that can ensue from fitting scleral lenses. The 350-page book is also illustrated with more that 370 images. Additionally, there is a “quick find” index that includes all issues and complications, their symptoms, clinical signs, etiology, management, and observation. ■
IACLE LAUNCHES TLC INITIATIVE
The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) has launched a new initiative to support educators, students, and industry and to help reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global contact lens education. Teach. Learn. Connect (TLC) is a new online education program and communications campaign that began in June and will supplement IACLE’s existing educational activities as the recovery from the pandemic continues.
The TLC Initiative will include a full program of live and recorded webinars on a global, regional, and national basis to help educators and students adapt to new ways of teaching and learning; a half-day virtual conference in September that will examine the way forward for education, practice, and for the contact lens industry; a new teaching online platform—IACLETOP—which will become IACLE’s central point to access all of IACLE’s online resources and teaching materials; opportunities for industry to connect with educators and students worldwide; and communications providing new information to support all sectors during the pandemic recovery, including IACLE’s first social media campaign. ■
FONTANA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SELECTED
VSP Global and the Heart of America Eye Care Congress announced Nicholas A. Holtzman, BS, MS, of the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry as the recipient of the inaugural Dr. Frank D. Fontana Memorial Scholarship. Mr. Holtzman received a $4,250 scholarship and a $750 travel grant to attend the 59th Annual Heart of America Eye Care Congress. Mr. Holtzman knew Dr. Fontana well and recalled in his application essay the influence that Dr. Fontana had on his career.
Mr. Holtzman, who is in his third year, is an active member of the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). He has parlayed his involvement with the AOSA into several leadership opportunities including assistant class president and president of the Private Practice Club. Prior to attending optometry school, Holtzman earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology and became an exercise specialist for people undergoing cancer treatment and then a clinical allergy specialist.
The Fontana Scholarship was created in 2019 in honor of St. Louis optometrist Frank D. Fontana, also known as Uncle Frank, who passed away in 2018. Dr. Fontana is considered a standard-bearer in the optometry industry. He founded the Contact Lens & Cornea section of the American Optometric Association and co-founded the Heart of America Contact Lens Society. The Fontana scholarship is awarded to third- and fourth-year optometry students actively engaged in patient care, and applicants are judged in four areas in which Dr. Fontana excelled: 1) clinical performance, 2) empathetic patient care, 3) ability and interest to adopt modern technologies, and 4) a strong interest in developing and participating in the optometry community. ■
MYOPIA MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE
A newly launched certificate in myopia management from the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) will allow eyecare professionals to translate the latest global myopia research findings to their clinical practice. The online course will feature six recorded lectures and will include the latest evidence-based research presented in an easily accessible format. The lectures are delivered by renowned myopia management experts from around the world, including Gillian Bruce, Professor Pauline Cho, Professor Ian Flitcroft, Dr. Nicola Logan, and Professor Kathryn Saunders. This program is open to all BCLA members.
The BCLA Principles of Myopia Management certificate will be issued on successful completion of the course and one relevant myopia or myopia management workshop or peer review and after passing a final Viva Voce style examination. This certificate, which is inclusive of BCLA membership, gives access to all course materials and additional resources and will need to be renewed every four years. ■
INDUSTRY BRIEFS
■ ABB Optical Group has commenced distribution of contact lenses to Canadian eyecare professionals (ECPs). ABB also offers other business solutions for the optical industry that it says could benefit Canadian ECPs in the future, such as lens fabrication, ophthalmic lens distribution, frames distribution, practice development strategies, a suite of business and technology solutions, and GP contact lens manufacturing. The company will be launching its Canadian B2B website in August.
■ Johnson & Johnson Vision unveiled the first-ever extension of the Acuvue brand name beyond contact lenses with the launch in Canada of its Acuvue RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution, which is now available at major retailers nationwide.
■ Visioneering Technologies, Inc. (VTI) shared its new MyChild & Myopia education materials to help facilitate a conversation between eyecare practitioners and parents on risks of childhood myopia. The new brochure helps parents better understand myopia, its causes, and ways that their practitioner may be able to help slow or manage their child’s myopia. The brochure is available at https://vtivision.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MyopiaBrochure.pdf .
■ Blanchard Contact Lenses launched its Onefit Spotlight program, which was designed to highlight those who are fitting the Onefit lenses. Submitted case reports will be posted to the Blanchard website and shared via social media channels, email blasts, and though partners such as Contamac (which is sponsoring the program). In addition, Blanchard will sponsor some of its favorite cases for poster submission to the 2021 Global Specialty Lens Symposium. Blanchard also launched a new patient-facing website for its Onefit lenses. Onefitlenses.com provides Onefit patients with an understanding of the design, features, benefits, and indications of the lenses as well as care and handling resources. Prospective patients also can find a Onefit fitter close to them through the interactive practitioner locator.
■ TearLab Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Accelmed Partners II (AP-II) will acquire TearLab. Post-transaction, TearLab will be a private company, and AP-II will be the controlling shareholder. As part of the transaction, Dr. Uri Geiger, founder and managing partner of Accelmed Partners, will become chairman of the board, and Accelmed Partners’ general partner, Lior Shav, who led the transaction, will join the company’s board of directors. Seph Jensen, TearLab’s CEO, will remain a board member.
■ Valley Contax released its new Boost Marketing Program that provides practitioners with complimentary professionally designed and custom branded marketing pieces. The program includes several media options from which to choose, most of which can be customized with the practice name, logo, photos, and other information. There’s no cost to order as long as the practitioner is a qualified Custom Stable fitter.
■ Olympic Ophthalmics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a De Novo request for iTEAR100, a prescription neurostimulation technology to temporarily increase acute tear production in adults. The iTEAR100 is a stand-alone, pocket-size device that will be supplied through eyecare provider channels for adults who would benefit from increased production of tears.
■ Alcon launched the “No Reason to Wait: Success Starts Now” program that will launch with an array of resources for ECPs interested in enhancing their practices by adopting the Systane iLux Suite. In addition, Alcon recently received clearance from the FDA to market the new Systane iLux2, which will combine high-resolution digital visualization, recording, and media storage; a built-in near infrared meibography camera; and white light surface imaging into a single, handheld, portable device. It will be available in late 2021.
■ Bausch + Lomb announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for Bausch + Lomb Infuse daily disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses, which are made from the kalifilcon A material. The lenses are expected to become available during the second half of 2020.
■ SynergEyes, Inc. announced that it has expanded empirical fitting for its more challenging irregular cornea patients to include the SynergEyes KC and the UltraHealth family of hybrid lenses. Eyecare professionals provide keratometry readings, eccentricity data, horizontal visible iris diameter, and a refraction, and a SynergEyes technical consultant will design a first lens for the patient.
■ Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. announced that, based on preliminary written comments and meeting discussion, agreement has been reached with the FDA for the use of RASP (reactive aldehyde species) as an objective sign for the treatment of dry eye disease. RASP are pre-cytokine pro-inflammatory mediators that are elevated in the tears of patients who have dry eye disease, and they correlate with dry eye disease symptoms and signs. According to the company, its investigational first-in-class RASP inhibitor, reproxalap, when administered topically to the eye, is thought to be more than 500-fold in excess of tear RASP levels and has demonstrated consistent statistically significant and clinically relevant activity in dry eye disease, allergic conjunctivitis, and other forms of ocular inflammation.
■ BostonSight announced that President and CEO Sara Yost, MBA, has been appointed to the board of directors of the GP Lens Institute. Ms. Yost joined the BostonSight staff in July 2002, holding several positions in administration, operations, and finance, including three years as CFO managing the financial well-being of BostonSight.
COVID-19 BRIEFS
■ Visionary Contact Lens is offering a free “Stay Well Kit” with the purchase of any specialty lens product made in Boston (Bausch + Lomb) materials to assist consumers during the COVID-19 crisis. This kit includes extra-deep-well lens cases, Boston Advance cleaning and disinfection solution, contact lens wear instructions, and disinfecting wipes, all conveniently packaged in a clear plastic travel bag.
■ Johnson & Johnson Vision (J&J Vision) is deploying solutions around the world to help address the challenges facing eyecare professionals (ECPs) and their patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is working to minimize new burdens placed on ECPs to allow them to focus on their patients, businesses, and families. This includes offering payment terms extensions, contract extensions, and rebate programs, as appropriate. Second, J&J Vision is introducing new virtual professional education resources, providing live trainings, webinars, and on-demand podcasts to help practitioners stay up-to-date on product innovations, clinical techniques, and resources for small business owners. Third, it is collaborating with professional bodies worldwide to support students. Finally, J&J Vision is collaborating with experts in all regions to develop educational resources and materials for ECPs, consumers, media, and government officials, offering educational content on contact lens safety at acuvue.com/coronavirus, hosting a Live Chat Agent to address real-time patient questions, and providing a full program of expert webinars for ECPs in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
■ X-Cel Specialty Contacts added a free Atlantis Scleral Patient Kit to its Bounce Back to Business program. The Atlantis patient kit is a travel-sized, mirrored kit that contains application and removal devices, a contact lens case, and Addipak (Teleflex Inc.) unpreserved saline. The patient kit will be included free of charge with any Atlantis spare pair purchase. As part of the Bounce Back program, X-Cel has also removed the 90-day window from its spare pair program and will honor the spare pair pricing for any Atlantis lenses purchased within the last year. The spare pair program extension and free kit will run through Aug. 31, 2020. X-Cel Specialty Contacts has also launched the Choose Your Heroes program. It has chosen eyecare professionals as its heroes and wants to give back and say thank you. Now through July 31, 2020, X-Cel is giving practitioners the opportunity to honor the medical workers, first responders, police, fire fighters, teachers, and military who walk through their practice doors by taking 50% off of their specialty contact lenses that are manufactured and purchased direct from X-Cel.
■ ABB Optical Group introduced ABB Revitalize, which includes special offers to help eyecare practitioners with reopening their doors and increasing patient satisfaction and retention both now and long term. Through ABB Business Solutions, customers can sign up for ABB Analyze, ABB Verify, and EyecareLive, ABB’s recently added telemedicine business solution, all at no cost for 60 days. EyecareLive’s patient-friendly app allows for easy appointment scheduling, video conferencing, messaging, and for a variety of patient reminders and notifications. The platform also provides patients the ability to take app-facilitated tests for visual acuity, dry eye, contact lens comfort, and macular degeneration. ABB’s Yourlens online ordering platform, ABB Analyze Lite (a reduced version of ABB Analyze), and ABB AutoShip also remain available to customers at no cost. In addition, ABB Specialty Vision Products customers may take advantage of a free Hydra-PEG coating on one pair of any ABB-manufactured lenses in Contamac materials as well as extended warranties on all ABB specialty product designs.
■ Frontline staff at a number of hospital trusts around the United Kingdom have benefitted from the donation of hundreds of bottles of eye drops from Avizor. The global eye-care manufacturer has handed out more than 1,000 bottles of Lacrifresh Ocu-Dry Eye Drops, a product designed to provide prolonged relief of dry eye symptoms. According to Avizor, the donation, worth almost £9,000, will help ease any dry eye symptoms being experienced by healthcare staff. The products were donated to staff working on the wards of hospitals including Northampton General Hospital and the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, United Kingdom.
■ I-Med Pharma Inc. announced that it is collaborating with KMG International Limited to manufacture and supply personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 diagnostic tests to help respond to the urgent need for these products in Canada, the United States, and Europe. I-Med Pharma has secured, through KMG Group, the manufacturing of face masks, face shields, protective isolation gowns, examination gloves, hand sanitizers, digital clinical thermometers, and SARS-CoV-2 antibody diagnostic testing kits to help with the increasing demand for these products.
■ SimulEye has joined forces with Haag-Streit to create the Lenstar Shield, which is made for Haag-Streit’s Lenstar biometer. The shield is made from thick-gauge and durable materials that can be easily sanitized, according to the companies. Additionally, it uses a proprietary magnet system that facilitates installation, removal, and cleaning.
■ Quidel announced that it has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA to market its Sofia 2 SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA), a rapid point-of-care test for the detection of COVID-19. The Sofia 2 instrument offers two workflows: the Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA cartridge is placed inside Sofia 2 for automatically timed development (Walk Away Mode); or test cartridges can be placed on the counter or bench top for a manually timed development and then placed into Sofia 2 to be scanned (Read Now Mode), allowing users to markedly increase testing throughput per hour, according to Quidel. Healthcare professionals can purchase the Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA through distribution representatives for Cardinal Health, Fisher Healthcare, Henry Schein, or McKesson.