KEEP UP WITH INDUSTRY NEWS

between issues of Contact Lens Spectrum by subscribing to our e-mail newsletter, Contact Lenses Today. Visit the CLS site (clspectrum.com/newsletters ) to subscribe.

IN MEMORIAM

PROFESSOR BARRY COLE
Contributed by Professor Nathan Efron, AC

The father of modern Australian Optometry—Professor Barry Cole, AO—passed away in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 27, 2021. He was 86 years old. Barry was the first full-time optometry lecturer in Melbourne and engineered the transfer of the optometry course from a private college to the University of Melbourne in 1973. He was appointed the inaugural Professor and Head of School (Dean) of the Department of Optometry at the University of Melbourne in 1978. He was a charismatic leader and personally mentored the careers of around 40 professors and senior academic/researchers who went on to take appointments around Australia and in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, including well-known contact lens researchers Noel Brennan, PhD; Leo Carney, PhD, DSc; Nathan Efron, AC; Suzi Fleiszig, OD, PhD; Brien Holden, PhD, DSc; and Carol Lakkis, BScOptom, PhD. Barry co-founded the National Vision Research Institute of Australia. Following his retirement from full-time academia in 1998, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Australian optometry journal, Clinical and Experimental Optometry, and he steered the journal to a prominent position on the international landscape. He also authored the book History of Australian Optometry. In 1987, Barry was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)—one of the highest civilian honors in Australia—for services to optometry.

GINA SORBARA
Contributed by Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd

After a long illness, Luigina (“Gina”) Sorbara, OD, MSc, passed on Feb. 10; she was an individual who defined both passion and selflessness. A 1977 graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Research, she joined the faculty soon after graduation, rising to the rank of professor, and since 1984 has been head of the Contact Lens Clinic. She gained her Fellowship in the British Contact Lens Association and became a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry (AAO); she later gained distinction as one of the first individuals to obtain a Research Diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies Section of the AAO.

Gina published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and was a frequent presenter at prestigious scientific meetings. She was often honored at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) as a poster award recipient. I will personally miss her, as every year she was a dedicated research poster judge at GSLS.

She served as a co-investigator of the prestigious multicenter Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) study, from which she is remembered by one of her colleagues, Beth Kinoshita, OD, who commented: “I had the great honor to meet Gina at an AOCLE [Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators] meeting during my first year as an educator and then was able to work with her on the Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) study team a few years later...she was a wonderful role model and showed a great love for her family and profession.” Her research interests included corneal topography measurement and application as well as contact lens-induced dry eye. However, the emphasis of her efforts pertained to the area of GP contact lenses, in which she published extensively on corneal and scleral GP design, fitting, and applications for both healthy and irregular corneas. Her legacy, however, is her work behind the scenes with Desmond Fonn, MOptom, to build the Centre for Contact Lens Research, which became one of the most prestigious cornea and contact lens research centers in the world.

Gina will always be remembered for her passion and dedication to international contact lens education. Through her efforts on behalf of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE), she traveled worldwide to not only educate eyecare professionals and students but also to help those who will provide contact lens education where there was a great need for such education. Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, relates: “She was in great demand around the world for her educational lectures and traveled far and wide educating clinicians.” For her extensive efforts and dedication, she was recently awarded the IACLE Lifetime Achievement Award and was also honored with a 40+-minute video testimonial from her friends at IACLE and AOCLE; the video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxNiglOJziM&feature=youtu.be .

She was a devoted and popular teacher who served as a mentor to countless students and colleagues. The cornea and contact lens educators represent a very close-knit community, and Dr. Sorbara was an integral part of that as her AOCLE friend Vinita Henry, OD, comments: “Gina has always been a quiet person of strength in optometric contact lens education via her knowledge, her publications, her posters, and her research. With a ready smile, a thoughtful comment, and her wisdom, she has been a valued friend and colleague.”

She leaves us, not only as a beloved friend and colleague, but also with the knowledge that the memories of this warm and selfless person—in combination with her influence as an educator and clinical researcher—will continue on, and we are all so very blessed to have had Gina Sorbara in our life.

MILTON S. KALLAS
Contributed by Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd

The greatest compliment that people can receive upon their passing is that no one ever spoke anything but complimentary of them and that terms such as love of family, unparalleled dedication, incredible work ethic, exceptional customer satisfaction, and extreme competence are ascribed to them. This is the epitome of beloved long-time industry professional, mentor, and friend to so many in the contact lens world, Milton Kallas. Milt died peacefully on March 2, 2021 in Pleasanton, CA at the age of 77. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Marion; his son, Matthew; and his daughter, Mollie.

Milt began in the contact lens industry in the early ‘90s with Polymer Technology Corporation (PTC). After it was purchased by Bausch + Lomb, he served for 17 years as the regional sales manager for The Boston Group. He left B+L in 2008 but could never really leave the industry. Former associate Jonathan Jacobson relates: “I found myself in need of a trusted professional to run the day-to-day operations for Menicon America. Milt was available and our paths were again joined. I am eternally grateful for the hard work that Milt put in for Menicon America....”

On a personal level, Milt was defined by his very positive attitude and ever-present smile. As a result, he was affectionately known as “Uncle Miltie.” “Milt was truly loved by the many people he worked with,” states former co-worker David Moreira. “He was generous of heart, caring, and highly empathic. Milt’s unique ‘superpower’ was that he had the ability to make everyone he interacted with feel listened to and special.”

Milt did not invent customer service, but he certainly personified it. “Milt always made time to answer people’s questions and questions, no matter how busy he was,” stated Jonathan Jacobson. “And he reveled in getting back to people in record time (or shall we say in a Milt Minute), no matter how busy he was.” Former co-worker David Bland concurs: “If you want something done, ask a busy man...which is how we viewed Milt. He was always busy and when you wanted something done, he got it done without fail and usually faster than requested. During our days at PTC/B+L, Milt...did all the behind-the-scenes work that ensured that our customer support remained strong, that our programs functioned properly, and he taught the sales team how to use the various reports and computer programs.” This was especially impressive as computers were in their infancy. Former co-worker Jay Woychick says it best: “The way to explain what Milt did in those days...he was our ‘Google.’ Couldn’t figure something out, we called Milt at all hours of the day including weekends.”

As the consummate professional, well-loved by all of his colleagues, Milt never lost sight of his highest priority, his family. His caring nature, in general, will be a large part of his legacy. Craig Norman—who worked closely with Milt at PTC—says it best. “At the end of meetings, Milt would usually say to me, and I’m sure to others, “Is there anything more I can do for you?’ Well, my final response is no. Having Milt as part of my life was more than I could ever ask for.” Milt spent a lifetime making others better; there is no tribute great enough for an individual as selfless, caring, and dedicated as he was. ■

INDUSTRY BRIEFS

• The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) launched its new and refreshed website at www.optometriceducation.org . The home page is specifically designed to appeal to potential and future students and complements the futureeyedoc.org site, which is a component of ASCO’s public awareness campaign, Optometry Gives Me Life. The new website also appeals to ASCO faculty and administrators, practicing ODs, those interested in ASCO’s Career Center, and more. As before, sections on diversity, equity and inclusion; data and reports; awards and grants; and ASCO’s corporate contributors program remain easily accessible.
• Euclid Systems Corporation has announced expansion of its leadership team. According to the company, its hires fill a variety of key roles. Barry A. Rhein, vice president of manufacturing, joins Euclid with over three decades of experience in related positions. Guanrong (Gary) Ding, vice president of sales, China, previously held positions as commercial director at Abbott Medical Optics and Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision. Jackson Lau, OD, manager of clinical and scientific affairs, is a cornea and contact lens residency-trained optometrist with clinical research experience. Jim Rackley, senior director, product engineering, has a history of working in the highly regulated medical device and aerospace industries. Linda Chang, CFO, has more than 25 years of financial and operating experience in healthcare. Nitin Jain joined Euclid as global vice president of marketing. And, Zhang (Neo) Zhixang, vice president of marketing, China, has joined Euclid from Essilor, where he was senior marketing director.
• ABB Optical Group announced the introduction of resources, products, and services to help educate and equip eyecare practitioners (ECPs) on how to successfully treat their dry eye patients and help their practice specialize in the treatment of dry eye disease. In related news, Jordan Davidson, NCLEC, COA, has joined the ABB Specialty Vision Products consultation team as a Clinical Contact Lens Consultant and Dry Eye Specialist, and Rachel Tao joins the Specialty Vision Products team as Product Manager for the company’s dry eye category.
• Myopia Profile and Oculus have commenced a partnership to increase practitioner knowledge and clinical confidence in measurement and interpretation of axial length in myopia. Specific educational content, research summaries, and case studies will be developed, to be housed on MyopiaProfile.com and shared across the partnership’s multiple platforms.
• Valley Contax Vice President Josh Adams has been newly elected as the president of the Contact Lens Manufacturers Association (CLMA). Mr. Adams plans to work with all members to grow the custom contact lens industry and to enhance patient outcomes overall.
• Bausch Health Companies Inc. and Nicox announced that Vyzulta (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024%, has received regulatory approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea.
• CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has named Marie-Christine Blanchard as Global Lead, Irregular Cornea. Prior to the promotion, Ms. Blanchard was the scleral lens lead for the Americas region and was responsible for commercial and manufacturing operations for CooperVision Specialty EyeCare in Canada. Her work with the company began during her formative years, having grown up in the contact lens business with the guidance of her grandfather and father, Jean-Louis Blanchard and Jean Blanchard, respectively.
• IDOC announced a new strategic partnership with Dr. Darryl Glover of Durham, NC, and Dr. Adam Ramsey of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The two independent practitioners and founding members of Diversity Perspective will create and share strategic recommendations with the IDOC management team designed to increase the adoption of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Results of the partnership include two training sessions with IDOC employees titled “Unconscious Bias at Work” and “Courageous Conversations: Race in the Workplace.” More sessions are planned throughout 2021. In addition to this new partnership, IDOC also noted that CEO Dave Brown signed on to the CEO Action Pledge in 2020 (www.ceoaction.com ).
• Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) for OC-01 (varenicline) nasal spray for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for OC-01 (varenicline) nasal spray is Oct. 17, 2021. At present, the FDA has stated that it does not intend to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss this application.
• The State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry has announced a $30,000 gift from CooperVision. In recognition, SUNY Optometry named a specialized myopia examination room located in the College’s University Eye Center in the company’s honor.
• Four ocular researchers have developed a dynamic global ranking system to recognize the world’s top 200 optometry researchers. Updated automatically every 24 hours, the Global Optometrist Top 200 Research Rankings are available at optomrankings.com . Drs. Philip Morgan, Lyndon Jones, Jason J. Nichols, and Nathan Efron, along with programmer George Morgan, created the website. Inclusion on the list is determined through widespread global searches that identify optometrists who have published extensively in both optometry and other disciplines. All metrics are compiled through a custom tool that accesses the Scopus search engine. Ranking factors include h-index, number of publications, years of active publishing, and number of citations.