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Contact Lens Spectrum

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NEWS SPECTRUM

Contact Lens Spectrum June 1, 2021 Vol 36, Issue June 2021 Page(s): 3, 5, 7, 9

IMI RELEASES 2021 WHITE PAPERS IN SPECIAL EDITION OF IOVS

The International Myopia Institute (IMI) announced that the 2021 edition of white papers and yearly digest have been released in a special issue of the peer-reviewed Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (IOVS) journal. The 2021 white papers follow the first series published in 2019 through IOVS. The IMI 2021 white papers and yearly digest update include IMI 2021 Reports and Digest – Reflections on the Implications for Clinical Practice (Chair James Wolffsohn, Aston University); IMI Impact of Myopia (Chair Padmaja Sankaridurg, Brien Holden Vision Institute); IMI Risk Factors in Myopia (Chair Ian Morgan, Australian National University); IMI Accommodation and Binocular Vision in Myopia Development and Progression (Chair Nicola Logan, Aston University); IMI Pathologic Myopia (Chair Kyoko Ohno-Matsui, Tokyo Medical and Dental University); IMI Prevention of Myopia and Its Progression (Chair Jost B. Jonas, Heidelberg University); and IMI 2021 Yearly Digest (Chairs Monica Jong, University of Canberra, and Earl Smith, University of Houston).

The IMI 2019 white papers and clinical summaries can be accessed at https://myopiainstitute.org/imi-whitepapers . The IMI 2021 white papers can be accessed at https://iovs.arvojournals.org/issues.aspx?issueid=938527 . The IMI 2021 clinical summaries will be available soon. ■

COOPERVISION FURTHER COMMITS TO MYOPIA MANAGEMENT EDUCATION

Certification for CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures Myopia Management Program featuring MiSight 1 Day contact lenses is now available to third- and fourth-year students at the 23 schools and colleges of optometry throughout the nation. Students were invited to attend a student certification launch kickoff, which was held on April 6 and 7, 2021. They will receive the same Brilliant Futures certification training as do practicing eyecare professionals, including access to a syllabus of five courses and optional engagement opportunities with peers and certified prescribers via Ask the Expert webinars. Students who successfully complete the curriculum and online exam will earn certification. Once students accept a position, they just need to update CooperVision, which will then deploy its myopia team to launch Brilliant Futures in their practice.

CooperVision has also added MiSight 1 Day to its list of products available through the existing Adopt-a-Patient program. The company has committed to allocating up to 12 MiSight 1 Day annual supplies to each participating school and college of optometry. ■

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THE VISION COUNCIL LAUNCHES VISION HEALTH ALLIANCE

The Vision Council announced that it will phase out its Think About Your Eyes campaign in June 2021 and will officially launch the Vision Health Alliance, an updated, multifaceted consumer education initiative, in August 2021. A new program of the Better Vision Institute, the related educational foundation of The Vision Council, the initiative will champion eye health as an important part of overall health and eye health exams as an essential component of healthcare; educate consumers about categories of industry products that are solutions to eye health, eye care, and lifestyle concerns; and position the vision care industry as part of the solution to healthcare access and equity, the Vision Council says. Companies interested in joining the Vision Health Alliance should contact Jane Balek at jbalek@thevisioncouncil.org. ■

BAUSCH HEALTH EXAMINES POSSIBLE SALE OF ITS EYECARE BUSINESS

According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Bausch Health Cos. is exploring a potential sale of its eyecare business. Last year, Bausch Health announced its intention to spin off its eye health business into an independent publicly traded entity (Bausch + Lomb – NewCo). At this time, Bausch Health has not made any final decisions as to which path it will take. ■

AAOF ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2021 JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN CONTACT LENS PATIENT CARE GRANTS

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announced the 2021 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.

Here are the 2021 recipients and institutions attended: Megan Sales, Chicago College of Optometry; William Skoog, Illinois College of Optometry; Taylor Spangle, Indiana University, School of Optometry; Armando Lugo, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry; Wiley Walls, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Optometry; Kaitlyn Arnold, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University; Eric Yoshinaga, Midwestern University Arizona, College of Optometry; Airi Ando, New England College of Optometry; Karli Weise, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry; Lara Bregman, Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry; Emily Weakland, The Ohio State University, College of Optometry; Anjali Rupela, Pacific University, College of Optometry; Kevin Feng, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University; Marisol Lauri, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University; Jesse Boles, Southern College of Optometry; Holly Knoechel, State University of New York, College of Optometry; Dana Shannon, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry; Shazib Haq, University of California Berkeley, School of Optometry; Isabel Deakins, University of Houston, College of Optometry; Bradley Cary, University of Missouri – St. Louis, College of Optometry; Ana Maria Sochirca, University of Montreal, School of Optometry; Cassidy Coleman, University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry; Elizabeth Trujillo, University of the Incarnate Word, Rosenberg School of Optometry; Christina Chen, University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science; and Alice Chalongwongse, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry. ■

BCLA RELAUNCHES NATIONAL CONTACT LENS CAMPAIGN

The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) is bringing back the national Love Your Lenses campaign, through which eyecare professionals are urged to sign up to spread awareness of the benefits of lenses. The campaign, previously run by the General Optical Council, has been taken over and revitalized by BCLA after lying dormant last year partly due to the pandemic.

Taking place from June 14 to 20, the focus of this year’s Love Your Lenses campaign will be on safety and compliance, urging practitioners to suggest to patients that it’s “time to try” contact lenses—reinforcing the message that lenses are safe to wear, highlighting them to new wearers, and bringing back former wearers. There will also be a secondary message this year that looks at how wearing contact lenses, rather than spectacles, can stop the problem of glasses steaming up in the age of face masks.

Registration to the campaign is free to eyecare professionals. Participants will receive a printed resource pack, including t-shirts, posters, pens, and stickers. An online resource pack, containing digital animations, social media graphics, fact sheets, and a checklist, will also be shared to provide participants with everything that they need to stage their local campaign. Love Your Lenses is based in the United Kingdom, but the organization says that practices outside of that area are welcome to spread the message in their countries and/or regions. BCLA cannot provide printed materials internationally, but practices can use the digital resources. To register, visit www.loveyourlenses.com . ■

COOPERVISION SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR 2021 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARDS

CooperVision is now accepting submissions for its 2021 Science and Technology Awards program. According to the company, the longstanding program fosters partnerships between recipients and CooperVision scientists to explore new dimensions in vision care, with the goal of translating innovative ideas into practical solutions.

This year, submissions will be considered for the following subjects: new technologies for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of myopia, including understanding the impact of environmental factors and the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia progression as well as novel monitoring and tracking methods; sustainable materials and technologies for storage and transport of contact lenses and contact lens care solutions; contact lens technologies aimed at protecting the eye from common ocular conditions, including age-related changes, dry eye, digital eye strain, and environmental insults, with emphasis on beneficial ocular health compounds for delivery to the ocular surface, controlled release technologies to improve ocular moisture retention/eye health, wavelength-blocking/color additive technologies, understanding scleral lens benefits for dry eye and allergies, and other medical applications of contact lenses; and technologies to elevate visual performance with contact lenses, with emphasis on enhanced night vision, technologies to improve the optical quality of the tear film, and technologies to increase contrast and/or to reduce light scatter.

Proposals may span proof-of-concept through translational stages and are eligible for two types of awards. The CooperVision Seedling Award is intended for investigation of early-stage concepts for a one-year period, with a maximum grant of $100,000. The CooperVision Translational Research Award is a two-year grant for substantive projects, with funding of up to $400,000. It is intended to incentivize collaboration with CooperVision in new research areas.

CooperVision Science and Technology Awards are open to any researcher with principal investigator (PI) status holding an OD, MD, PhD, or equivalent degree. Applicants such as postdoctoral fellows with a waiver of PI status must submit appropriate documentation before funding can be disbursed.

Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent before June 25, 2021. If a letter is accepted, an applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. Additional information and the online application are available at www.coopervision.com/about-us/science-and-technology-awards . ■

INDUSTRY BRIEFS

  • Acuity Polymers announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for expanded indications of its Acuity 200 ultra-Dk daily wear GP contact lenses. Acuity 200 contact lenses may now be prescribed for daily wear in otherwise non-diseased eyes that require a rigid contact lens for the management of irregular corneal conditions such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, or following penetrating keratoplasty or refractive (e.g., laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis [LASIK]) surgery.
  • Johnson & Johnson Vision announced that the FDA has approved Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses. This is the first and only FDA-approved orthokeratology (ortho-k) contact lens for the management of myopia. According to the company, Abiliti Overnight contact lenses are optimized by the use of corneal topography, refractive error, and other measurements connected to an innovative fitting software. Abiliti Overnight contact lenses are expected to be available in the United States by the end of 2021.
  • Treehouse Eyes announced a series of recent expansions. The latest practices to join the growing Treehouse Eyes family are Dr. Claudio Lagunas, Lifetime Eyecare Associates, The Woodlands, TX; Dr. Susan Jong, Advanced Eye Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Dr. Stuart Mann, Simpson and Mann Optometry, Ontario, CA; Dr. Tony Lieu, Eagle Glen Optometry, Corona, CA; Dr. David Hunyady, Twinsburg Eye Associates, Twinsburg, OH; Dr. Neshia Rudd, Today’s Vision, Tyler, TX; Dr. Gina Devlin, Quakertown Eye Associates, Quakertown, PA; Dr. Nguyet-Cam Nguyen, Bellflower Optometry, Bellflower, CA; Dr. Tina Tsai, The Eye Studio, Portland, OR; and Dr. Sarbjit Virk, Advanced Eyecare Solutions, Bellevue, WA.
  • Essilor announced that the FDA has granted “Breakthrough Device” designation to its Essilor Stellest spectacle lens, the company’s new-generation lens developed to correct myopia and to slow down the progression of myopia in children. The Essilor Stellest lens has been designed with an exclusive technology called “H.A.L.T.” (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target). The H.A.L.T. technology consists of a constellation of aspherical lenslets spread on 11 rings and was designed to create a volume of signal that slows down the elongation of the eye, according to the company. Essilor also noted that the power on each ring has been determined to guarantee that a volume of signal is always in front of the retina and following its shape to achieve consistent myopia slowdown.
  • SynergEyes, Inc. announced two new patient resources for SynergEyes ID hybrid contact lenses: the SynergEyes ID Just For You Patient Starter Kit and the Application and Removal Resource page. The SynergEyes ID Just For You Patient Starter Kit includes SynergEyes ID lenses, a SynergEyes ID reusable bag, a SynergEyes ID pocket mirror, and a SynergEyes ID Lens handling and care brochure. It will also have space for a lens case and care solution. According to the company, the SynergEyes ID Application and Removal Resource Page (https://info.synergeyes.com/id-application-and-removal-resources ) is designed to provide eyecare professionals and their patients with tools for success when prescribing SynergEyes ID hybrid contact lenses.
  • Menicon Co. Ltd. announced that it is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2021. According to the company, it got its start with Kyoichi Tanaka’s creation of Japan’s first practical corneal contact lens from scratch in 1951.
  • CooperVision announced its acquisition of No7 Contact Lenses, which designs and manufactures specialty contact lenses distributed primarily in the United Kingdom. The company will operate within the CooperVision Specialty EyeCare group. No7 customers should continue to work with their current representatives. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
  • Johnson & Johnson Vision received Health Canada approval for Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen, a daily disposable lens for vision correction in patients who experience itchy allergy eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis. The lens contains an H1 histamine receptor antagonist for the prevention of itchy allergy eyes associated with allergic conjunctivitis experienced by contact lens users to promote comfortable contact lens wear. In March 2021, the lens received its first regulatory approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
  • Art Optical Contact Lens Inc., in collaboration with the Katt Design Group, introduced the MoonLens Fast-Fit Tutorials video series to help eyecare professionals learn more about MoonLens, a myopia management orthokeratology lens system. The content was developed and is narrated by Randy Kojima and is targeted by topic for quick reference to specific areas of the MoonLens fitting process. Conscious of practitioners’ busy schedules, each video is under 10 minutes. To become MoonLens certified and to receive a link to the new MoonLens Fast-Fit Tutorials, visit artoptical.com/mooncertification .
  • Lumenis Ltd. announced that the FDA has granted De Novo authorization for Lumenis’ newest intense pulsed light (IPL) device for improving signs of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Subsequent to the FDA approval, Lumenis is launching OptiLight with Lumenis’ patented Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT) technology, which is designed for a consistent, precise, and controlled light-based treatment of signs of dry eye disease.
  • CooperVision Specialty EyeCare is offering an ongoing series of minute videos as well as educational webinars. The video series and webinars are aimed at boosting eyecare professionals’ confidence with Paragon CRT lenses and with Onefit scleral lenses, designed by Blanchard, by providing tips for fitting, consultation, and practice management. The first four Minute videos are now live, featuring Kelly Voltz, OD, senior manager, Professional and Academic Affairs, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare as well as Leah Johnson, OD, director of Professional Affairs, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. Myopia Minutes are available at https://vimeo.com/showcase/myopiaminute , and Onefit Minutes can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/showcase/onefitminute . In addition, the company will host one webinar per month throughout the remainder of the year. Each webinar will be presented by an orthokeratology or scleral lens expert.
  • Alcon announced an agreement that provides it with exclusive rights to sell the BlephEx technology and accompanying products from BlephEx, LLC in the United States. The BlephEx eyelid cleaning device and LashCam iR WIFI camera will join Alcon’s Systane iLux technology in meeting the in-office, ocular surface health needs of patients, according to the company.
  • Quantel Medical has launched a new website designed to provide the general public with information on dry eye disease. The website will be updated each month with a news item relating to dry eye and the season or another topical issue, such as the increase in patients suffering from dry eye as a result of wearing a mask or dry eye and screen use. This website is available in English at www.mydryeyedisease.com , in Spanish at www.miojoseco.es , and in French at www.masecheresseoculaire.fr .
  • BostonSight has elected Dr. Howard Purcell and Mr. Ron Remy to the BostonSight board of directors. Dr. Purcell is the current president and CEO of the New England College of Optometry (NECO). Mr. Remy is CEO at Mobile Heartbeat, a software company that improves clinical collaboration by connecting patients’ care teams through a single, unified platform.
  • Nicox SA announced that its exclusive global licensee Bausch + Lomb has launched Vyzulta (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution), 0.024% in Taiwan and Qatar. It also received regulatory approval from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA – Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária). In unrelated news, Nicox has signed an exclusive license agreement with Laboratorios Grin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lupin Limited, for the registration and commercialization in Mexico of Zerviate (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24% for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.
  • CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has promoted Ledonna Buckner to Head Technical Advisor. Ms. Buckner is replacing Robert Martin, who held the position since the founding of Blanchard in 1986. The company also hired Christine Moufarrej as Head of Marketing, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). In her newly created role, she is responsible for further developing the CooperVision Specialty EyeCare marketing strategy and operations across EMEA.

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