WE WANT YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR MOST INFLUENTIAL IN MYOPIA MANAGEMENT
Contact Lens Spectrum’s 35th Anniversary is upon us, and we are doing some noteworthy things to commemorate this milestone. While we celebrate all aspects of contact lenses, it has become clear that certain lens designs are key to slowing the progression of myopia. In a future issue, we will run a feature article on the most influential people in the field of myopia management over the last 35 years (1986 to 2021). The list may include practitioners, researchers, educators, and/or industry leaders who have made a significant impact in the field of myopia management over the last 35 years. We are looking for people who have contributed or are contributing to the advancement of myopia management.
We are asking you to nominate people for this honor. If you have any comments about the specific accomplishments of your nominees, we welcome those as well. Please submit your nominations at https://forms.gle/Ct4JS9KqJ4k4BWTB7 . ■
WORLD COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRY LAUNCHES MYOPIA MANAGEMENT ONLINE RESOURCE
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and CooperVision have jointly developed an easy-to-use online resource that provides multilingual assets and approaches that will enable busy eyecare professionals—regardless of geographic location—to apply a standard of care to manage the condition. The resource site is live and can be accessed at https://myopia.worldcouncilofoptometry.info .
The site is organized around the three main pillars of the evidence-based standard of care unanimously adopted by the WCO board of directors—mitigation, measurement, and management. Each pillar provides a listing of papers and studies that have been distilled into one-page “Myopia Moments” that are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. ■
SYMPOSIUM SPOTLIGHT: GSLS EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS NOV. 1
Sign up today for the leading national contact lens conference in North America that focuses on the successful management of ocular conditions using today’s specialty contact lenses. Note: Early Bird Registration ends Nov. 1. Visit www.gslsymposium.com to register. ■
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.
ROGER ZIMMER, PUBLISHER OF CONTACT LENS SPECTRUM, RETIRES
Roger Zimmer, longtime publisher of Contact Lens Spectrum, retired as an active operator with PentaVision on Aug. 31. Over a long career in vision care publishing, Roger made an indelible and positive impact on the industry. Beginning with Viscom in 1990, Roger has been the guiding hand of Contact Lens Spectrum and has played an instrumental role in building the Global Specialty Lens Symposium into the world’s most important contact lens event.
Over the years, whether as an editorial or business leader on Contact Lens Spectrum, with E-media at PentaVision, as publisher of our sister publication Optometric Management, or with the Optometric Management Symposium, Roger has also contributed singularly to the development of some of PentaVision’s most impactful and important information resources for optometry.
Roger’s experience, know-how, and insight will be missed on a daily basis by all who knew and worked with him in optometry and at PentaVision. Still, he will continue to be present with more than a casual interest in PentaVision, because Roger will remain as part of the ownership group at PentaVision and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. His voice will continue to be a strong and influential advocate for product quality and editorial excellence.
Mark Durrick will now be group publisher of Contact Lens Spectrum, Optometric Management, and Eyecare Business. In addition, Michael O’Rourke has joined PentaVision as Director of Sales, Optometry. ■
AAOF ANNOUNCES GRANTS AND RESIDENCY, TRAVEL, AND ADDITIONAL AWARD RECIPIENTS
FREDRIC ROSEMORE LOW VISION EDUCATIONAL GRANT
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF), in collaboration with the Fredric and Marion Rosemore Family Foundation, announced Tracy Matchinski, OD, an associate professor at the Illinois Eye Institute – Rosenbloom Center, Low Vision Rehabilitative Services in Chicago, as the 2021 recipient of the Fredric Rosemore Low Vision Educational Grant. Her team includes Mallory McLaughlin, OD; Danielle Piser, OD; and Janis Winters, OD. Dr. Matchinski has been practicing optometry for 25 years and is an expert on low vision rehabilitation. She has published and assisted in updating education modules used internationally.
ALFRED A. ROSENBLOOM, JR. LOW VISION RESIDENCY AWARD
Stephanie Aigbe, OD, was named as the recipient of AAOF’s Alfred A. Rosenbloom, Jr. Low Vision Residency Award. Dr. Aigbe is a graduate and Low Vision Rehabilitation resident at the New England College of Optometry. This award is intended to promote the practice and development of the field of low vision by providing incentive and support to sustain talented optometric residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to practice, research, and education.
BERT C. AND LYDIA M. CORWIN CONTACT LENS RESIDENCY
Liandra Jung, OD, is the 2021 recipient of the Bert C. and Lydia M. Corwin Contact Lens Residency award. Dr. Jung is a primary care and contact lens resident at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. 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.
HOPKINS COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE AWARD
Jonathan D. Lam, MD, OD, is the 2021 recipient of the Hopkins Comprehensive Eye Care Award. Dr. Lam is a primary care/ocular disease resident at the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility in Chinle, AZ. The award is intended to promote the practice and development of comprehensive eye care by providing incentive and support to talented optometric residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to further clinical experience, research, and education.
RHONDA S. ROBINSON CONTACT LENS RESIDENCY
Elizabeth Cho, OD, is this year’s recipient of the inaugural Rhonda S. Robinson Contact Lens Residency award. Dr. Cho is a cornea and contact lens resident at Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) at Marshall B. Ketchum University. 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.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION RESIDENCY AWARDS
The recipients of the 2021 Johnson & Johnson Vision Residency Awards are: Sheldon Wechsler Contact Lens Residency Award–Connie Chen, OD, University of Houston College of Optometry; Sheldon Wechsler Contact Lens Residency Award–Cori Jones, OD, George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center; George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award–Alyssa Invergo, OD, Pacific University College of Optometry; and George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award–Grace Tseng, OD, University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. These residency awards support post-graduate advanced training in optometric clinical care, education, and research methods specific to the fields of children’s vision and contact lenses. The 2021 residents were selected by peer review conducted by members from the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies and from the Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry Section. Each recipient will receive $2,000 toward his or her graduate education and a $750 travel grant to attend Academy 2021 Boston in November.
2021 STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GRANT RECIPIENTS
The American Academy of Optometry and AAOF announced the recipients of the 2021 Student Travel Fellowship Grants. These travel fellowships will allow students to attend Academy Boston in November. The 2021 Student Travel Fellowship Grant recipients are:
AAO STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIPS
Yvonne Adu-Agyeiwaah, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Elizabeth Day, The Ohio State University
Angelica Echiverri, University of Houston
Esther Senanu, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Allison Wirt, Southern College of Optometry
ARIZONA CHAPTER STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Tysen Bringhurst, Midwestern University, Arizona
BRAZELTON LOW VISION STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Chrysanthi Stevens, New England College of Optometry
BRETT G. BENCE CLINICAL STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Joseph Trinh, University of Houston
BENCE FAMILY LEADERSHIP STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Amber Sarver, Illinois College of Optometry
BSK STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Julie Lin, State University of New York College of Optometry
EDWARD I. GOODLAW TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Meredith Fry, Southern College of Optometry
ELMER H. EGER MEMORIAL STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Ewa Kowalczyk, State University of New York College of Optometry
Rebecca Phung, Southern California College of Optometry
FRANK W. WEYMOUTH STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIPS
Sampson Abu, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
Curt Fritts-Davis, The Ohio State University
IRVIN M. BORISH STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIPS
Tiffany Luu, University of California, Berkeley
Keyur Salva, University of Alabama at Birmingham
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VISION STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIPS
Funded by an educational grant from Johnson & Johnson Vision
Onyekachukwu Amiebenomo, Cardiff University
Bright Asare-Bediako, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Khob Bhandari, University of Houston
Samantha Blanke, Southern College of Optometry
Joshua Canavan, The Ohio State University
Ariel Hsuan Chao, University of Montreal
Deepa Dhungel, University of Houston
Sara Javidinejad, Chicago College of Optometry
Allison Jussel, University of Houston
Andrew Kageyama, State University of New York College of Optometry
Wei Hau Lew, University of Houston
Anusha Mathew, University of Houston
Hiral Patel, Chicago College of Optometry
Sanjana Saksena, State University of New York College of Optometry
Alexa Scalia, University of Montreal
Alina Shahid, Illinois College of Optometry
Logan Skrobarecek, Rosenberg School of Optometry
Elizabeth Stern-Green, The Ohio State University
Rachel Wang, University of Houston
Jia Zhou, Nova Southeastern University
KIRSCHEN FAMILY STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Matthew Hepworth, Midwestern University at Arizona
LOIS SCHOENBRUN STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Jenny Xiang Jun Liu, Illinois College of Optometry
LUXOTTICA STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIPS
Melissa Huynh, Illinois College of Optometry
Neda Tahvilian, Rosenberg School of Optometry
MICHAEL G. HARRIS STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Ryan Funai, Southern California College of Optometry
N. REX GHORMLEY STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Jin Zhao, Nova Southeastern University
ROBERT D. NEWCOMB STUDENT TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Jaime Antonio, The Ohio State University
IN MEMORIAM: HAROLD E. DAVIS, OD
Harold E. Davis, OD, passed away recently at the age of 98. Dr. Davis established one of the first contact lens specialty practices in the country and practiced optometry for almost three-quarters of a century, retiring recently after beginning practice in 1946. He graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry and founded Davis EyeCare in Oak Lawn, IL.
He was a prolific clinical researcher who served as past president of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists. He was awarded the Achievement Award from the American Optometric Association (AOA) Contact Lens & Cornea Section, the Lifetime Service Award from the Illinois College of Optometry, and the Distinguished Practitioner recognition from the National Academies of Practice.
He is survived by Terry Davis, Robert (Cathy) Davis, Susan Davis, and Richard (Elizabeth Mayer-Davis) Davis as well as by 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; dear companion of Joy Landan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Academy of Optometry Foundation.
INTERNATIONAL MYOPIA INSTITUTE DEVELOPS INFOGRAPHIC FOR PRACTITIONERS
The International Myopia Institute (IMI) has developed the IMI Facts and Findings Infographic for practitioners; it is based on the IMI White Papers published in 2019 and 2021. According to the IMI, the infographic will create more awareness about myopia as a public health issue while providing a useful chairside reference of key myopia management evidence-based information easily accessed by practitioners.
The IMI Facts and Findings Infographic can be downloaded for free at https://myopiainstitute.org/resources . ■
VISION HEALTH ALLIANCE LAUNCHES FIRST CONSUMER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Vision Health Alliance, The Vision Council’s new consumer education initiative, launched its first consumer education movement. The “Let’s Be Clear” campaign features direct, to-the-point messages that highlight the importance of annual comprehensive eye exams. The campaign aims to speak to consumers directly about the important role that eye care plays in healthcare and in overall wellbeing as a primary source of early detection of dozens of illnesses, identifying childhood vision issues, and maintaining quality of life. ■
INDUSTRY BRIEFS
- Johnson & Johnson Vision received approval from Health Canada for Acuvue Abiliti 1-Day Soft Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management. Earlier this year, the company also introduced Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management in the United States. Abiliti 1-Day lenses are expected to become available in select areas of Canada starting as early as this year and expanding beyond in 2022.
- The Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), which regulates medical devices and pharmaceuticals, has approved CooperVision MiSight 1 Day contact lenses for use within the country following a priority review. MiSight 1 Day contact lenses are now available in more than 25 countries.
- The GP Lens Institute (GPLI) elected contact lens industry leaders John Hibbs of Contamac (North America) and George Mera of TruForm Optics to its board of directors. They join the existing GPLI board of directors including Dr. Ed Bennett, president; Josh Adams, vice-president; Derrell James, secretary-treasurer; Jan Svochak; Chris Pantle; Sara Yost; Dr. Rob Davis; Daren Nygren; and Kurtis Brown.
- NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced an agreement with Okra Limited to distribute Zocular dry eye products alongside Avenova in NovaBay’s physician-dispensed sales channel. Products sold under the Zocular brand were developed by Okra Limited CEO Peter Pham, MD. They are formulated with Zokrex, a patented technology that has activated natural okra polysaccharide complexes, and they are designed to gently and effectively clear Demodex, scurf, and residue from eyelids.
ZocuKit for ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Technology) is a 10-minute, in-office procedure. According to the release, ZEST requires no capital equipment or topical anesthetic and is well tolerated by patients. At-home consumer dry eye maintenance products include ZocuWipe, a once-daily disposable towel that neutralizes and removes oil, dirt, and debris; ZocuFoam, a gentle eyelid cleansing and moisturizing foam; and ZocuShield, an easy-to-apply gel-filled syringe. - Complexity Gaming announced a partnership with Alcon that will designate Alcon’s Systane eye drops as the first-ever Official Eye Care Partner of Complexity Gaming. According to Complexity Gaming, the partnership aims to raise awareness of the impact of extended digital device usage on the eyes.
- SynergEyes, Inc. announced the expansion of SynergEyes ID hybrid contact lenses into Europe and the United Kingdom. According to the company, SynergEyes ID hybrid lenses are individually designed to each patient’s unique ocular anatomy utilizing keratometric readings, horizontal visible iris diameter, and refraction to personalize precise lens parameters.
- Luneau Technology USA announced that Jessica Masters is joining its North American team as a clinical technology specialist (CTS), focused on its Visionix line of products. As a CTS, Ms. Masters will lead consultative dialogue with eyecare practitioners to help them choose the right mix of refraction and screening technologies to elevate the patient experience and to meet their ROI (return on investment) goals. In this newly created role, she will be reporting to Milbien Medina, brand marketing director for North America, and will work cross-functionally with a team of regional clinical application specialists to help eyecare practitioners navigate Visionix’s product line to connect with their patients in a whole new way.
- Azura Ophthalmics Ltd., a clinical-stage company developing innovative therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and related eye diseases, announced the appointment of Steven M. Altschuler, MD, as chair of its board of directors. Dr. Altschuler brings more than 20 years of experience building, scaling, and leading world-class healthcare and biotechnology companies. He currently serves as managing director of Healthcare Ventures at Ziff Capital Partners. Previously, he co-founded Spark Therapeutics and served as board chair through its progress from private company to IPO and later acquisition by Roche in 2019.
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