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SYMPOSIUM SPOTLIGHT: 2021 GLOBAL SPECIALTY LENS SYMPOSIUM

Thursday Jan. 21 * 4:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Eastern
Friday, Jan. 22 * 12:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 23 * 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern

WORKSHOPS

• ORTHOKERATOLOGY
  Throughout this virtual format, we will follow Maria Lui, OD, as she performs the actual baseline/fitting examinations, as well as the 24-hour and the one-week follow-up examinations, of three children who are fitted with orthokeratology lenses. Three different orthokeratology techniques will be reviewed: fitting by Ks and prescription, diagnostic fitting, and corneal topography and design software.
• SCLERAL LENSES: co-hosted with the Scleral Lens Education Society
  This two-hour presentation is an interactive virtual workshop in which practitioners will learn how to fit scleral lenses on patients who have irregular corneas, post-surgical status, or ocular surface disease. A short lecture reviewing the principles of advanced scleral lens fitting will be presented. Video demonstrations that include design principles, imaging the sclera with scleral topographers, and assessing the lenses with the slit lamp will be dispersed throughout the workshop. Instructors Matt Kauffman, OD; Robert Ensley, OD; Dan Fuller, OD; Karen Lee, OD; and Maria Walker, OD, who are Fellows of the Scleral Lens Education Society, will facilitate the workshop experience using scleral lens designs from several different lens companies.
• IRREGULAR CORNEA
  There are many contact lens options available for management of irregular cornea patients, especially for keratoconus. A brief overview of keratoconus will be presented initially. A series of five irregular cornea patients will be presented—each wearing a different type of GP or hybrid lens design—live from one of the instructors’ office. Attendees will view the fits followed by a discussion pertaining to lens evaluation and troubleshooting. Instructors include Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd; Elise Kramer, OD; and Stephanie Woo, OD.

GENERAL SESSIONS

#1 Innovations in Contact Lenses: From Beginning to Present Day – Pat Caroline (moderator); Lynette Johns, OD; and Craig Norman

#2 Scleral Lens Supersession – Lynette Johns, OD (moderator), John Gelles, OD; Sheila Morrison, OD, MS; Muriel Schornack, OD; Maria Walker, OD; and Christine Sindt, OD

#3 Customizing the Treatment of the Myopic Child – Eef van der Worp, BOptom, PhD (moderator); Kate Gifford, PhD, BAppSc(Optom)Hons; Langis Michaud, OD, MSc; Scott Read, BAppSc(Optom)(Hons), PhD; and Jan Roelof Polling

#4 Keratoconus and the Irregular Cornea: Is the Paradigm Shifting? – Karen DeLoss, OD (moderator); Jan Bergmanson, OD, PhD, PhD hc, DSc; S. Barry Eiden, OD; Carina Koppen, MD; and Christine Sindt, OD

The 2021 GSLS will also feature breakout sessions, sponsor talks, a sponsor marketplace, and trivia and prizes with Craig Norman and Jason Jedlicka, OD, hosts of May Eye Interrupt.

For a full agenda, visit https://na.eventscloud.com/website/10665/agenda . ■

CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR IACLE 2021 EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) is offering educators worldwide the chance to become IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year and to travel to a major international meeting, providing COVID-19 restrictions allow. IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year will be awarded to three individuals, one from each of IACLE’s three global regions (Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe/Africa – Middle East).

These awards recognize and reward achievements in contact lens education and are sponsored by CooperVision. The winners will each receive a bursary of up to $3,000 toward the cost of attending an international meeting and permission to use the title 2021 IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year for their region.

The IACLE Educator Awards are open to all contact lens educators who have been IACLE members for at least three years. Applicants can either nominate themselves or be nominated by another member, their IACLE regional/country coordinator, or IACLE staff. Educators must demonstrate impact on their institutions and the ways that they inspire their students to become future contact lens practitioners.

The 2020 winners, Professor Renée Reeder (United States), Professor Bariah Mohd Ali (Malaysia), and Jo Underwood (United Kingdom), will also receive their awards at meetings in 2021, when restrictions allow.

The deadline for entries for the IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year 2021 awards is midnight (EST) on Jan. 31, 2021.

The IACLE Travel Awards are bursaries of up to $3,000 allowing IACLE Educator Members to attend international meetings. The IACLE Travel Awards are sponsored by IACLE through the support of all of IACLE’s sponsors (Alcon, CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Bausch + Lomb, and Euclid). Three 2020 Travel Award recipients, Dr. Elizabeth Chetty (South Africa), Professor Martín Guzmán (Venezuela), and Associate Professor Nirav Mehta (India), will receive their awards at an international meeting in 2021, providing COVID-19 restrictions allow. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no IACLE Travel Awards for 2021. ■

INDUSTRY BRIEFS

• Mojo Vision and Menicon announced that both companies have entered into a joint development agreement. Through the agreement, Mojo and Menicon will conduct a series of feasibility studies that tap the expertise of each company. Areas of collaboration will center around contact lens materials, cleaning, and fitting, among other topics. If the feasibility studies prove successful, Mojo and Menicon may consider a more extensive working relationship in the future.
• Tangible Science, Inc. announced that Tangible Boost has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance and will be commercially available in January 2021. Tangible Boost is a monthly treatment that restores the Tangible Hydra-PEG coating and maintains the wettability of Tangible Hydra-PEG treated fluorosilicone acrylate rigid GP lenses.
• Fraser Horn, OD, became the dean of the Pacific University College of Optometry, effective Jan. 1. Dr. Horn has served as interim dean since November 2019, following the departure of Jennifer Coyle, OD, MS. Dr. Horn started his Pacific career as an undergraduate studying biology before earning his doctor of optometry in the College of Optometry. In 2005, he joined Pacific’s faculty, and he also has served as director of Pacific EyeClinics in Washington County and as associate dean of academic programs. Dr. Horn has led the College of Optometry’s Sports Vision Club in offering screenings to Pacific athletes, and he serves as team optometrist on the Boxer Athletics sports medicine team.
• CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has named three executives to regional leadership roles: Arthur Kung was appointed head of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare China, based in Shanghai; Alex Lamse became head of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare EMEA, based in Eerbeek, Netherlands; and David Raimondo became head of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Americas, based in Phoenix. In addition, two industry veterans have moved into part-time roles with the company. Both will continue to lend their globally recognized expertise to the company while transitioning over the next year toward retirement: Jean Blanchard has shifted from running operations at his eponymous company to leading development and evolution of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare lenses for irregular corneas; and Rich Jeffries, who formerly led the Paragon business, is now working alongside the recently acquired GP Specialists team as part of their CooperVision Specialty EyeCare onboarding, while also developing Asia-Pacific markets outside of China.
• ScienceBased Health (SBH) announced additions to its Clinical Advisory Panel. Tracy Doll, OD, is an assistant professor at Pacific University College of Optometry (PUCO), where she teaches courses in the field of ocular surface disease and procedures. In addition, she established and coordinates Pacific Dry Eye Solutions, an ocular surface dryness center of excellence at PUCO. Scott Hauswirth, OD, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he is coordinating director of the Ocular Surface Clinic. Justin Schweitzer, OD, specializes in advanced glaucoma, refractive surgical clinical care, and anterior segment pathology at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, SD.
• Craig Hershoff has invented the Cliara Lens Robot, a device that helps scleral lens-wearing patients who have dexterity issues; Cliara is an acronym for Contact Lens Insertion and Removal Apparatus. The invention stems from personal experience of a shaky hand that made application and removal of his scleral lenses difficult. The robot uses suction cups to measure the precise amount of force needed to apply and remove the lenses. The Cliara Lens Robot is currently undergoing clinical trials, and the company hopes to have the device ready for commercial use as soon as next year; U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval is also required.
• CooperCompanies announced that its Board of Directors elected Teresa S. Madden to the board as an independent director, effective Dec. 1, 2020. Ms. Madden is an independent director of Enbridge, Inc. at which she serves on the governance committee and as chair of the audit, finance, and risk committee. Additionally, A. Thomas Bender and Allan E. Rubenstein, MD, have decided to retire and will not stand for re-election to the board.
• SynergEyes announced a new Application and Removal Training Resource for SynergEyes VS scleral contact lens wearers. Developed as part of an ongoing strategy to provide impactful tools for practitioners, the Application and Removal Resource will support successful dispense visits and outcomes for practices and their SynergEyes VS-wearing patients. The new resource can be accessed at https://info.synergeyes.com/vs-application-and-removal-resources .
• The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (APS) announced Alcon as its newest member. Alcon joins APS as an Associate partner alongside CooperVision and Leadership partners Johnson & Johnson Vision and the American Optometric Association. Alcon’s membership in APS became effective Dec. 1, 2020.
• The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) and Myopia Profile announced an alliance. The affiliation will grow CORE’s clinical research capabilities, adding expertise in specialty, GP, orthokeratology, and scleral contact lenses; provide Myopia Profile with priority access to a clinical research site; and further extend the professional and patient education capabilities for which each team is internationally known, including the areas of myopia management. CORE and Myopia Profile will maintain their individual identities, facilities, and staffing while pursuing projects together.
• Oculus, Inc. announced that William Tullo, OD, joined the company as a medical director on Nov. 2, 2020. In this newly developed role, Dr. Tullo will provide clinical guidance and will educate medical eye professionals on Oculus, Inc. diagnostic devices. He will continue to see patients at his private practice. Dr. Tullo is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry’s Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies and is a member of the American Optometric Association.
• NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. signed an agreement with Paragon Care Group Australia Pty Ltd. for the exclusive distribution of Avenova in Australia. Paragon Care Group will begin distributing Avenova directly to consumers under its Designs For Vision brand beginning in early 2021. Avenova previously received approval from the Australian Government Department of Health and was provided an Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods Certificate for distribution in that country.
• Sifi announced the recent appointment of Jelle Kleijn, PhD, as global head of Acanthamoeba Keratitis. Dr. Kleijn will lead the efforts aimed at developing and making polihexanide monotherapy available to Acanthamoeba keratitis patients. He will lead a newly established dedicated team to accelerate the launch in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere around the world. ■

COVID-19 BRIEFS

• The American Public Health Association (APHA) has recognized the work of five prominent ocular scientists with its 2020 Vision Care Section (VSC) Outstanding Scientific Paper Award. Two papers published by the group as the COVID-19 pandemic took root provided timely, evidence-based guidance to address and correct misinformation regarding safe contact lens wear. “The COVID-19 Pandemic: Important Considerations for Contact Lens Practitioners” and “The Ocular Surface, Coronaviruses and COVID-19” and authors were honored with the award during APHA’s 2020 Annual Meeting in late October for contributing “significantly to the advancement of eye/vision care in the public health field.” Lyndon Jones, DSc, director of the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo, initiated the project and was lead author of the first paper. Mark Willcox, DSc, director of research at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) (Sydney), headed up the second paper. Contributing to both articles were Karen Walsh, MCOptom, professional education team leader and clinical scientist at the CORE; Jason Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, associate vice president for research and professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry (and editor-in-chief of Contact Lens Spectrum and Contact Lenses Today); and Philip Morgan, PhD, director of Eurolens Research at the University of Manchester.
• The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) hopes that the #StopTheSteam campaign, which includes a downloadable infographic, will raise the profile of contact lenses and will encourage eyecare professionals to discuss the option of trying contact lenses with patients left frustrated by steam on their glasses while wearing a mask. More details and an infographic are available at www.bcla.org.uk . ■