- Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen (etafilcon A drug-eluting contact lens with ketotifen). Each lens contains 19mcg ketotifen, an antihistamine. Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen are daily disposable contact lenses indicated for the prevention of ocular itch due to allergic conjunctivitis and provide vision correction in patients who do not have red eyes, who are suitable for contact lens wear, and who do not have more than 1.00D of astigmatism. Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen is current available with select providers in Canada and nationally in Japan. The company has plans to release it in the United States soon.
- U.S. Representatives Angie Craig, D-MN, and John Joyce, MD, R-PA, led a bipartisan group of 28 lawmakers in urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide detailed information on their efforts to prevent and combat a sudden rise in childhood vision challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the members requested information from the CDC on the level of outreach done at the CDC to inform parents, children, educators, and/or providers about prevention techniques, symptoms, and treatment of childhood myopia; official recommendations for providers about childhood myopia; and information on any outreach plans or recommendations that are under discussion for the future. Reps. Craig and Joyce were joined in sending the letter by Reps. Cindy Axne, D-IA; Don Bacon, R-NE; Troy Balderson, R-OH; Karen Bass, D-CA; Ami Bera, D-CA; Tony Cárdenas, D-CA; Jim Costa, D-CA; Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA; John Garamendi, D-CA; Carlos Giménez, R-FL; Michael Guest, R-MS; Diana Harshbarger, R-TN; Ron Kind, D-WI; Annie Kuster, D-NH; Rick Larsen, D-WA; John Larson, D-CT; Al Lawson, D-FL; Tom O’Halleran, D-AZ; Steven Palazzo, R-MS; Mark Pocan, D-WI; Rodney Davis, R-IL; Guy Reschenthaler, R-PA; Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-CA; John Rutherford, R-FL; Kim Schrier, D-WA; and Lauren Underwood, D-IL.
- PentaVision LLC announced the reorganization of the editorial departments for Eyecare Business and Contact Lens Spectrum. Effective immediately, Kerri Ann Raimo has been promoted to managing editor for both publications reporting into Editorial Director Erinn Morgan. For the past seven years, Ms. Raimo has distinguished herself both on Eyecare Business in print as well as in the digital area. Deborah Fisher will continue as senior/social media editor dedicated exclusively to Contact Lens Spectrum. Ms. Fisher has been with PentaVision since 2013 with responsibilities on both ophthalmology and optometry publications. She will now dedicate her time to Contact Lens Spectrum and Contact Lenses Today and will also assist with editorial-based projects for the magazine’s associated newsletters and conferences. The team is rounded out with the addition of Veronica Daub, who just recently joined PentaVision as associate editor of Eyecare Business.
- The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) hosted members of the eyecare community from the United States, Canada, and beyond on March 3 to discuss a persistent question: How can practitioners encourage better contact lens compliance among patients? The online learning event—Making Contact Lens Compliance Stick: EASY Insights, Tips & Tools—is now available for on-demand viewing at youtu.be/uFKBtVNUKKE . Contact Lens Institute Board Chairperson Bill Reindel, OD, MS, and Board Member Michele Andrews, OD, were joined by Drs. Chris Lievens, Southern College of Optometry; Mark Schaeffer, MyEyeDr; Bridgitte Shen Lee, Vision Optique; and Jason Tu, Invision Optometry for the one-hour webinar.In other news, CLI named its 2022 Visionaries. They have all committed to help raise awareness of contact lens prescribing benefits, as well as encouraging healthy wear and care habits. 2022 Visionaries include the aforementioned practitioners (Drs. Lievens, Schaeffer, Shen Lee, and Tu) as well as the following: Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD, Bright Eyes Family Vision Care; Melanie Denton, OD, Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear; Darryl Glover, OD, Black EyeCare Perspective; Klaus Ito, OD, University of Virginia Department of Ophthalmology; Essence Johnson, OD, Black EyeCare Perspective; Elise Kramer, OD, Miami Contact Lens Institute; Jennifer Lyerly, OD, TrueVision Eye Care and Defocus Media; Caitlin Morrison, OD, In Focus: Specialty Contact Lens & Vision Solutions; and Jennifer Wademan, OD, Bidwell Optometry.
- CooperVision has introduced a suite of practice support tools for its Clariti 1 day family of silicone hydrogel lenses. The toolkit provides resources for engaging prospective contact lens wearers before their scheduled exam, during their time in the office, and throughout their first few months of wear. According to the company, the toolkit features a streamlined consumer tips website (coopervision.com/wearers/new-wearer ) that helps first-time contact lens wearers easily adapt to the routine with step-by-step instructions and an interactive video tutorial for applying and removing lenses. The site also includes informational articles on topics such as how to use makeup or eye drops with contact lenses and how to travel with contact lenses. The toolkit also includes a variety of practice resources that can be downloaded at coopervision.com/practitioner/build-your-practice/marketing-support/marketing-materials/clariti-1-day .
- Treehouse Eyes announced the release of a new tool for its partner practices. The online tool, called the Myopia Treatment Decision App (MY-TDA), is available exclusively to Treehouse Eyes practices. MY-TDA helps practitioners discuss and track myopia progression with parents. According to the company, MY-TDA allows practitioners to show parents projected progression without treatment and with treatment, displaying both refractive error and axial length.In unrelated news, Treehouse Eyes announced a new leadership structure to support its rapid growth. As part of this new structure, veteran executive Jamie Cassidy is promoted to chief operating officer, responsible for clinic operations, licensing, and business development. Industry executive Rahul Patani is appointed senior advisor and global marketing consultant, supporting company strategy and leading set up and expansion of the marketing function. Co-founder Gary Gerber, OD, leads the clinical and innovation teams working on new tools to help Treehouse Eyes practitioners efficiently grow their myopia management practice.
- Heru Inc. has announced that veteran tech industry executive, Brandon Barber, has joined the company as chief marketing officer, effective Feb. 14. Mr. Barber brings over two decades of experience in the digital space as an entrepreneur and as an executive in both marketing and operations. According to the company, Mr. Barber will lead Heru’s marketing strategy and accelerate the company’s mission to democratize access to vision care for all through the power of technology.
- Waldo announced the acquisition of Placid0 and unveiled details on Easy, an eye assessment system mobile application. Led by Dr. Darius Moshfeghi, chief of the Retina Division at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, and Dr. Zach Bodnar, a Stanford-trained retina specialist, Placid0 has created Easy, a technology that the company says addresses all aspects of eye health: vision, quality of life, and objective assessments of eye function. Dr. Moshfeghi will also join Waldo as chief medical advisor along with Dr. Mark Blumenkranz, professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University.
- EyeYon Medical appointed Sharon Bakalash, MD, PhD, as chief medical officer. Previously, Dr. Bakalash headed several biotechnology companies in the ophthalmic space, including TissueGen. She also served as the chief medical officer of Beyeonics Surgical and Beyeonics Vision for several years and is the founder of SB Strategic Development Consultants Group.
- EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the appointment of Isabelle Lefebvre as chief regulatory officer. Ms. Lefebvre brings more than 30 years of global regulatory affairs experience across all phases of drug development including ophthalmic and ocular conditions. She is succeeding John Weet, PhD, who be leaving his role as senior vice president, Regulatory, following a transition period. Prior to joining EyePoint, Ms. Lefebvre was vice-president, head of Regulatory Science at Hengrui USA, where she was responsible for overseeing U.S. and E.U. regulatory strategies for clinical programs in various phases of development. Previously, she spent 10 years at Bausch Health Companies Inc., where she held roles of increasing responsibility and led the approvals of two ocular drug products, Lotemax gel and Vyzulta.
- Symposium Spotlight: The Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) Program Committee invites you to submit one-hour continuing education (CE) breakouts and two-hour CE workshops for consideration for GSLS 2023, which will take place in Las Vegas from January 18-21, 2023. The committee seeks the submission of new and innovative courses on all aspects of contact lenses (such as materials, designs, and lens care) in addition to related topics such as corneal and ocular surface disease, diagnosis and treatment approaches, myopia management, and practice management. The submission window opens on March 15 and will close at 5 p.m. ET on April 15, 2022. Submissions can be made at na.eventscloud.com/website/35541/call-for-ce-courses .
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GSLS WELCOMES NEW PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Dr. Wallace-Tucker
The Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) welcomes a new program committee member, Ashley Wallace-Tucker, OD. Dr. Wallace-Tucker is an owner-partner at Bellaire Family Eye Care in the Houston area where she primarily focuses on specialty contact lenses and myopia management. She is also director of The Contact Lens Institute of Houston, a branch of the practice. In addition, Dr. Wallace-Tucker is a visiting assistant professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Scleral Lens Education Society. Dr. Wallace-Tucker joins existing program committee members Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD (GSLS chair); Karen DeLoss, OD (vice chair); Pat Caroline; Lynette Johns, OD; and Eef van der Worp, BSc, PhD.
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