- Bausch + Lomb Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc., launched as a publicly traded company under the “BLCO” symbol on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange on May 5. Pricing of the initial public offering of 35,000,000 common shares was $18 per share. The Bausch + Lomb executive management team includes Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO; Christina Ackermann, executive vice president & general counsel, and president, Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals; Dennis Asharin, executive vice president, chief global manufacturing and supply chain officer; Sam Eldessouky, CFO; Joseph (Joe) Gordon, president, Global Consumer, Surgical and Vision Care; Yehia Hashad, MD, executive vice president of Research & Development and chief medical officer; Louis Yu, PhD, executive vice president, chief quality officer; and Kelly Webber, executive vice president, chief human resources officer.
- Innovega Inc. announced the issuance of two U.S. patents and the filing of two international patents that expand their portfolio to 56 patent cases. The first recently issued U.S. patent, Transparent Projection Screen, protects novel technology for speckle-free augmented and mixed reality displays. The second issued U.S. patent, Contact Lens and Method and Systems for Constructing a Contact Lens, has broad claims for delivery of oxygen to the eye with smart contact lenses containing components having limited or no oxygen transmissibility. The new international filing, Display eyewear with auditory enhancement describes a novel system and apparatus to couple gaze tracking with directional microphones in extended reality eyewear to assist the hearing impaired in noisy environments and to deliver the respective voice to text to the visual display. The second international filing, Display eyewear with adjustable camera direction, protects image shifting in smart eyewear as a function of camera position and natural head-tilt and gaze changes for the diversity of visual tasks undertaken by smart eyewear users.
- CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has announced a new exchange policy and manufacturing guarantees for customers in the United States and Canada. The new exchange policy offers unlimited, no-charge exchanges on the company’s scleral contact lenses for up to 90 days, helping to remove the pressure of addressing harder-to-fit patients, according to CooperVision. In addition, Paragon CRT and Dual Axis contact lenses are now guaranteed to be shipped in 72 hours or less to customers in the United States. For an additional $10 fee (added to the applicable product price), all CooperVision Specialty EyeCare lens orders can be produced and ready to ship within 24 hours.
- The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has confirmed it will continue the theme of #LoveYourEyes for World Sight Day 2022 on Oct. 13. This year’s campaign aims to continue that important work of previous years by attempting to engage even more members of the public, according to an IAPB statement. The “Love Your Eyes” campaign encourages individuals to take care of their own eye health and draws attention to more than 1 billion people worldwide who have vision loss and do not have access to eyecare services.
- Euclid Vision Corp. announced its acquisition of Visionary Optics. According to Euclid, the union of these two companies increases each establishment’s ability to provide comprehensive specialty contact lens care to more patients globally. It also noted that each company will retain their unique individual brand, while being positioned to reap the benefits of shared future endeavors.
- BostonSight has launched a patient marketing campaign for BostonSight Scleral, its commercially available scleral lens product. The intent of the campaign is to provide patients with easily accessible content about scleral lenses and to promote confidence that scleral lenses might be the right solution for their eye condition. According to BostonSight, the campaign focuses on finding relief from three conditions for which scleral lenses are often used: dry eye disease, keratoconus, and post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia. The campaign also includes scleral lens basics such as, “What is a is a scleral lens?” “Anatomy of a scleral lens,” and a “Healthy Lens Habits Guide.” The Healthy Lens Habits Guide promotes safe lens handling and use and includes write-in space for eyecare providers to recommend cleaning, disinfecting, and preservative-free solutions for patients.
- The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has appointed Rosa Yang, OD, as a clinical research associate, a move that CORE says supports the growing use of specialty contact lenses worldwide. Dr. Yang also serves as a clinical instructor at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science and is a practicing optometrist in the Greater Toronto Area.
- The International Myopia Institute (IMI) has launched a global practitioner survey on the uptake of myopia management. In recent years, the IMI has developed key evidence-based resources that can be used by eyecare practitioners to implement the best myopia management practices. While there has been a growing academic interest in myopia management over the past years, IMI is also interested to know what is happening in clinical practice around the globe. The International Myopia Institute survey on myopia control attitudes and practice will build on data published in 2016 and 2019 to establish adoption of the latest evidence to address the myopia epidemic and how it varies across the world. The English language version of the survey can be accessed at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/IMI2022 .
- ABB Optical Group has announced that it will be opening a national logistics center (NLC) in Hebron, KY. ABB has procured a 103,000-square-foot facility and the NLC is projected to be up and running in the fall of 2022. The company anticipates the creation of approximately 100 jobs focused on ABB distribution activities. According to ABB, this will also allow it to expand its SKU coverage and build the operational infrastructure needed to enable future growth, including the increased volume of contact lens orders from the company’s new Abby ecommerce platform.
- Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) announced that Lois Schoenbrun has been appointed interim executive director. Ms. Schoenbrun formerly served as executive director of the American Academy of Optometry and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation from 1996 to 2019. She is now president of Schoenbrun Consulting LLC, providing fundraising, strategic planning, governance, and executive coaching services to such other clients as the Sport and Social Industry Association, the World Council of Optometry, and the World Optometry Foundation. OGS expects to launch a search for a new executive director in 2022.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. (J&J Vision) has agreed to pay $55 million to end an antitrust case in U.S. federal court over the pricing of disposable contact lenses, marking the largest settlement in the private class action and the last defendant to resolve claims. The settlement amount was shown in a court filing from the plaintiffs’ lawyers leading the case in Tampa, FL, federal court. They are seeking preliminary approval of the deal, which was first announced last month but without any details about the settlement amount. J&J Vision reached an agreement on the eve of a trial scheduled in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Separately, eyecare device company Alcon Vision LLC agreed to pay $20 million to settle antitrust claims in the case also shortly before trial was set to begin on March 28. Three other companies earlier reached settlements that collectively totaled $43.2 million: CooperVision Inc, ABB Con-Cise Optical Group LLC, and Bausch & Lomb Inc. The companies all denied liability as part of the settlements.
- Bausch + Lomb celebrated the 50th anniversary of the technology behind Boston GP lens materials. Since the technology’s inception in 1972, Boston materials have transformed into a large product portfolio that can be made into a variety of special designs for demanding visual needs, according to the company. The materials are also part of an extensive authorized lab network that includes more than 35 countries.
- CooperVision has launched its new ECP Viewpoints Online Success Center, a one-stop digital education platform. According to the company, the center’s content can be utilized by everyone in a practice, from optometrists to technicians and staff, as well as optometry students and health care professionals. Based on requests and feedback from eyecare professionals, the Online Success Center features nine key focus areas: myopia control; silicone hydrogel daily disposables; toric contact lenses; multifocals science of contact lenses; technicians, opticians, and staff; technology in the eyecare practice; digital device use; sustainability in practice; and webinars and podcasts. To access CooperVision’s Online Success Center, register at onlinesuccesscenter.com.
- CooperVision and the World Council of Optometry (WCO) have committed to a second year of their partnership. A myopia management standard of care resolution, a multilingual online learning resource for eyecare professionals , and a virtual event that drew interest from more than 100 countries and more than 1,200 ECPs are among early achievements that have laid the foundation for the year ahead. Planning is now underway by CooperVision and WCO for a new series of clinical education resources and initiatives in the coming months, extending the partnership’s first-year successes.
- Valley Contax Inc., in partnership with Contamac US, announced the winner of their student travel grant. The grant has been awarded to Cory Zwahlen, a second-year student from the Southern College of Optometry. He was selected from several applicants, all of whom submitted a short essay describing why they chose optometry as their career. Mr. Zwahlen will be using his travel grant to join fellow optometry students and attendees of this year’s Optometry’s Meeting in Chicago.
- Visioneering Technologies Inc. has announced several changes to the commercial organization within the company. Brian Lane has been named chief operating officer in addition to his current role as CFO. Mike Tilleli has been named national sales director. Layna Mendlinger has been promoted to global head of Marketing. Lynne Meyer has been named strategic account director. Pam Pritchard has been promoted to executive director of Sales Operations. JP Rechach has been named inside sales manager, reporting to Ms. Pritchard. Mr. Rechach will manage the company’s expanded inside sales team with two new market managers, Sydney Higginbotham and Parker Bergsagel.
- The American Academy of Optometry announced the recipients of the 2022 ARVO Student Travel Fellowship Grants. These $750 travel fellowships provided funding for students to attend the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Denver on May 1 to 4, 2022. The 2022 ARVO Student Travel Fellowship Grant recipients are: Prince Kwaku Akowuah, OD, University of Houston College of Optometry; Deepayan Kar, BSOptom, MS, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry; Kierstyn Napier-Dovorany, OD, Indiana University School of Optometry; Augustine Nyarko Nti, OD, University of Houston College of Optometry; and Raman Prasad Sah, BOptom, Indiana University School of Optometry.
- Alcon has earned the GreenCircle Zero Waste to Landfill Certification for three of its ophthalmic drop and solutions manufacturing facilities—two in Fort Worth, TX, and one in Singapore. Each of the three facilities, which supply Alcon products to markets around the world, diverted 100% of total waste from landfills. With this achievement, Alcon is the first health care company to be GreenCircle Certified for Zero Waste to Landfill operations. GreenCircle Certification is recognized as a valid third-party certification entity by the U.S. Federal Government, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).
- Johnson & Johnson Vision announced the appointment of Peter Menziuso as company group chairman. Mr. Menziuso now leads the full Johnson & Johnson Vision portfolio. Mr. Menziuso has spent half of his career in roles outside of the United States and has deep experience across the health care industry—spanning pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical devices in a variety of therapeutic areas. Prior to his appointment as company group chairman, he was worldwide president for the company’s Vision Care division. He also previously served as U.S. president for Vision Care.
- ABB Optical Group announced that it has become an authorized distributor of Eyeris contact lenses. Eyeris currently offers a daily disposable soft contact lens with a prescription range of +6.00D to –13.00D (in 0.25D steps from –4.75D to –7.50D). According to the company, the lenses are comprised of 59% water, which allow them to flex and conform with each patient’s eye shape and stay soft all day long through a unique blend of time-released emollients. The company also states that this lens material has the lowest stiffness rating of any lens material on the market and utilizes advanced cross-linking procedures to ensure consistent power across the optical zone. They were designed by Dr. Lynn Winterton, the designer for the DT1 Family of lenses.
- Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) announced the launch of Myopia Awareness Week for 2022, a global initiative relaunched in 2021 to bring attention to the growing epidemic of myopia in children across the world. This year, Myopia Awareness Week is from May 23 to 28. A range of educational resources for practitioners, parents, and advocates of myopia awareness will be provided by BHVI, with a focus on “Make Your Eye Moves”—a driver to engage in activities that promote eye health and reduce risk of myopia. Along with content for social media, globally recognized individuals from the eyecare field will be providing their tips and recommendations for parents and children on “Eye Moves” that help reduce the risk of onset or progression of this debilitating ocular disorder. Resources and campaign information can be found at bhvi.org/myopia-calculator-resources/myopia-awareness-week-2022 .
- CooperVision is now accepting submissions for its 2022 Science and Technology Awards program. 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. 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 up to $400,000. Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent before July 15, 2022. If a letter is accepted, an applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. Additional information and the online application are available at coopervision.com/about-us/science-and-technology-awards .
- ABB Optical Group has unveiled a comprehensive rebranding of Concise Custom Soft contact lenses. In response to the custom soft category growth, the complete product line redesign incorporates key brand elements of the company and reflects its leadership position as an innovative business partner to eyecare professionals nationwide, according to the company. ABB stated that the initial rebranding rollout includes many new visual assets such as a modern logo with a distinct brand icon, a unique product tagline, patient-friendly product packaging, along with an array of valuable practice support tools and educational resources.
- Valley Contax Inc. announced the 200th episode of “Try Not To Blink” (TN2B), a podcast geared toward modern-day optometrists that has become a major hit with students and seasoned practitioners alike. Jimmy Deom and Roya Habibi have hosted the podcast since 2018 through low-key and light-hearted weekly episodes. Recent episodes have featured guests such as Dr. Kristen O’Brien talking about opening her second cold-start practice, and Ray Chartier, a fourth-year student discussing his optometry school experience. To listen to episodes, visit trynot2blink.com or search Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR GSLS VIRTUAL
The virtual Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) is taking place online June 9 to 11. With a high-powered international faculty and in-depth discussions on specialty contact lenses, this digital event serves as a complement to the in-person GSLS meeting in January 2023, taking place in Las Vegas. The GSLS Virtual educational program is free to attend and offers sessions based around global perspectives so participants can stay up to date on the best practices for managing ocular conditions with contact lenses. Learn more at bit.ly/3vYYrsy or via the QR code below.
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