- CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has named Weiwen Chen as business manager, Asia-Pacific. In this newly created role, she will lead the organization’s rapid growth and category expansion across the region, except for China, which is managed by a separate team. Ms. Chen was most recently a consultant to Visioneering Technologies. Prior, she was senior director of myopia business development for Essilor. She is the founder of Eyeviser, which promotes eye health and early eye disease detection.
- The Contact Lens Institute has released new research that was commissioned as part of its See Tomorrow initiative. Select data spanning consumer trade-off preferences, spending shifts, and behavioral changes among contact lens wearers were presented at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas. The panelists emphasized that eyecare professionals must get ahead of these potential behavioral shifts, proactively advising contact lens patients not to make changes to their regimen.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision announced U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval of an expanded range of Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management, now up to 6.00D (previously 4.00D). Abiliti Overnight lenses are orthokeratology lenses and are worn overnight to temporarily reduce refractive error and, subject to an eyecare professional’s myopia management plan, may eliminate the need to wear contact lenses or glasses during waking hours after the lenses are removed. The lenses are available in two different lens designs: Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management and Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management for Astigmatism.
- Symposium Spotlight: GSLS Photo Contest. The Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) is seeking interesting photographs of conditions, diseases, or other occurrences from your clinical practice, with a special interest in contact lenses and the anterior segment. All submissions must be sent through the online portal. Three winning photos will be selected by the GSLS planning committee and be featured on a future issue of Contact Lens Spectrum. Submit your entry no later than Dec. 31, 2022. https://bit.ly/3S5pFXm
- TearLab announced that it will be expanding its position in corneal health under the new name Trukera Medical. The rebranding reflects the company’s vision and future growth strategy targeting a broader set of unmet needs across corneal health. The first new product under the Trukera Medical brand will be announced later this month and launched at the upcoming World Cornea Congress and American Academy of Ophthalmology.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending payments totaling more than $1.9 million to 30,172 consumers nationwide who bought Hubble brand contact lenses from Vision Path Inc. The FTC alleged that the company substituted its own brand of lenses for those prescribed by the consumers’ eyecare practitioners in violation of the Contact Lens Rule and violated the FTC Act by deceiving consumers about whether their practitioners had approved the substitution, among other things. The average refund amount is $63. Refund checks were mailed to affected consumers starting Sept. 1. The deadline for cashing the checks is 90 days from the date they are issued. Consumers who have questions about their refund or who did not get a refund but think they may be eligible, should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 855-914-4722.
- Registration is now open for the Eaglet Eye Big City Tour, a new free educational resource for eyecare professionals. Starting this fall, Eaglet Eye will be holding in-person interactive workshops throughout the United States featuring the Eye Surface Profiler (ESP). According to the company, this program focuses on data-based specialty lens fitting and aims to help practitioners to familiarize themselves with the power of profilometry. The Big City Tour started in October in Seattle and Portland, continues to Chicago and St. Louis this month, and will finish in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., in December. Each workshop will be presented by ESP users/leading specialty lens fitters to create a space for sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices. They will be typically held from 6-8 p.m., and refreshments and snacks will be available. To learn more or to register, visit eaglet-eye.com/big-city-tour .
- On Jan. 18, 2023, the International Forum of Scleral Lens Research (IFSLR) will host its annual pre-conference forum from noon to 4:30 p.m., featuring lively discussions between experts and clinicians dedicated to scleral lens research. To learn more about the IFSLR and register, visit eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-ifslr-meeting-tickets-417928113237 .
- The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have named three global experts as lead faculty for their new dry eye disease education initiative. The worldwide evidence-based program is designed to raise optometrists’ understanding of dry eye etiology and prevalence, diagnosis, and practical management. Professors Jennifer Craig, PhD, FCOptom; Lyndon Jones, DSc, FCOptom; and James Wolffsohn, BS, MBS, PhD, FCOptom, will distill the growing amount of research and clinical evidence into accessible educational content. This will begin with a series of online events and content.
- Tarsus Pharmaceuticals announced that it has submitted a new drug application to the FDA for TP-03 (lotilaner ophthalmic solution, 0.25%) for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis. TP-03 (lotilaner ophthalmic solution, 0.25%) is a novel, investigational therapeutic designed to resolve the signs of Demodex blepharitis by targeting and eradicating Demodex mite infestation by selectively inhibiting the GABA-Cl channels. It is a highly lipophilic molecule, which may promote its uptake in the oily sebum of the eye lash follicles where the mites reside.In unrelated news, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of the “Look at the Lids” disease education campaign for Demodex blepharitis. The novel campaign is designed to encourage ECPs to screen for Demodex blepharitis in all eyecare patients to identify and diagnose the disease sooner. “Look at the Lids” features real Demodex blepharitis patients and will include educational tools and resources for ECPs, including an informative website (lookatthelids.com), social media channels, webinars, launch events, and interactive activities at the academy conferences.
- The FDA granted Ocuphire Pharma a small business waiver of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act fee of $3.1 million for the 505(b)(2) NDA for Nyxol (0.75% phentolamine ophthalmic solution). Ocuphire Pharma says it remains on track to file the NDA in late 2022. The once-daily, preservative-free eye drop formulation of phentolamine mesylate, a nonselective alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist designed to reduce pupil size, is being developed for several indications, including reversal of pharmacologically induced mydriasis, presbyopia, and dim light or night vision disturbances.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND GSLS?
Hear why from some members of the planning committee. Press play in the CLS digital edition to view.
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.
CONTACT LENS SPECTRUM CONTINUES ITS RESIDENTS PROGRAM
Contact Lens Spectrum is once again working with residents and post-graduate students to give them experience with trade journal publishing and an opportunity to attain a greater understanding of the latest information in CLS. Participants will help the CLS editors review clinical information and references of manuscripts submitted for publication. This will help increase their knowledge in those topic areas, and it will also help ensure that CLS is publishing the most accurate and timely information available. Participants of the 2022-2023 program include:
- Alia Cappellani, OD, cornea and contact lens resident, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
- Emily Gottschalk, OD, cornea and contact lens resident, Michigan College of Optometry
- Melody Kordnaij, OD, primary care/cornea and contact lens resident, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
- Shazib Haq, OD, medical contact lens fellow, Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University
- Fareedah Haroun, OD, contact lens and ocular disease resident, Ohio State University Department of Ophthalmology–Havener Eye Institute
- Cindy Lam, OD, cornea and contact lens resident, Southern California College of Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University
- Jordan Ladnier, OD, cornea and contact lens resident, University of Alabama School of Optometry
- Sharon Qiu, OD, MS, The Dr. Gina Sorbara cornea and contact lens resident, University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science
- Becky Su, OD, cornea and contact lens fellow, The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute–CLEI Center for Keratoconus
- Kori Watkins, OD, MS, primary eye care/cornea contact lens resident, Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Allison Jussel Zagst, OD, MS, cornea and contact lens resident, University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry
IN MEMORIAM: ART EPSTEIN, OD
Contributed by Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSEd
On Sept. 27, the optometric profession suffered a great loss with the passing of Dr. Art Epstein at the age of 71 after prolonged, serious health issues. That said, his loss still came as a shock to everyone who knew him and learned from him via his lectures, publications, and editorials. Proud of his Jewish heritage, it is perhaps very appropriate that his passing occurred during Rosh Hashanah, which indicates that he was a righteous person, according to Jewish tradition.
Dr. Epstein grew up in New York where he received his BS degree in psychology from City College of New York and his OD degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he became the first individual to complete SUNY’s ocular disease residency program. For 28 years, he served as president and chief clinical officer at North Shore Contact Lens & Vision Consultants in Roslyn, NY. In 2013, he and his wife, Dr. Shannon Steinhäuser, founded Phoenix Eye Care in Arizona, where he served as director of cornea and external disease as well as director of clinical research for The Dry Eye and Ocular Disease Center.
Dr. Epstein was a well-respected authority in the areas of dry eye, allergies, and specialty contact lens applications. He was widely published, and his numerous articles in Contact Lens Spectrum—notably those pertaining to dry eyes and allergies—were a “must read” for anyone desiring to manage these important conditions.
He has been a well-recognized leader in the optometric profession, having served as chair of the Contact Lens & Cornea Section of the American Optometric Association (AOA), and as founder and past president of the Optometric Dry Eye Society. He served as a founding board member of the American Optometric Society and was founder and president of the American Board of Clinical Optometry. He was a fellow of both the American Academy of Optometry and the British Contact Lens Association and a diplomate of the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry. He was a distinguished practitioner of the National Academies of Practice and a full member of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists.
Dr. Epstein has received numerous honors including the AOA Contact Lens & Cornea Section Legends Award and was an inductee into the Oklahoma Optometry Hall of Fame. His most notable honor, however, occurred just this past year, when he was ranked No. 1 among America’s Eye Doctors by Newsweek magazine.
He was truly optometry’s “lightning rod,” the likes of which we will never see again. His editorials during his 21-year history as chief medical editor of Optometric Physician—a journal that he founded, which represented the first e-journal in optometry—served as a perfect platform for him to inspire thought, opinion, and controversy.
Whether you agreed with him or not, every profession needs an Art Epstein. He will be greatly missed.
![]({"src":"/media/abqgvfmz/cover_cls_1122.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})