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Contact Lens Spectrum

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NEWS SPECTRUM

Contact Lens Spectrum May 1, 2023 Vol 38, Issue May 2023 Page(s): 1, 2
  • The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) announced that Trish Shomion, CAE, has been appointed CEO. Ms. Shomion’s responsibilities at AAO will include supporting the Academy board and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation board in stimulating organizational growth, promoting innovative research, providing exceptional education, and disseminating knowledge to advance optometric practice and improve patient care.
  • In partnership with Contamac, Valley Contax announced the annual launch of its complimentary diagnostic scleral lenses for optometry graduates. By completing the basic and advanced Custom Stable training courses, graduates will receive a premium compact fitting set of Custom Stable Elite lenses manufactured in Optimum Extra. For complete details, 2023 graduates can visit the student portal page at valleycontax.com .
  • CooperVision has named its 2023 Best Practices honorees and student scholarship recipients. The 2023 Best Practices honorees are Bella Vision, Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care, The Chicago Lighthouse, City of Vision Eye Care, Clarity Vision Apex, Cornea & Contact Lens Institute of Minnesota, Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center P.C., National Vision, South Bay Family Eye, and TrueVision Eye Care. CooperVision also announced the 2023 Best Practices scholarship recipients: Emily Benson, The Ohio State University College of Optometry; Makayla Harr, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry; and Susmitha Narisetty, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University. To learn more, visit coopervision.com/practitioner/best-practices .
  • Contamac announced the appointment of John Clamp as director, strategic projects. In this role, Mr. Clamp will drive long-term strategic initiatives for the business in partnership with the company’s R&D group and operations team. Mr. Clamp joined Contamac after having spent 30 years at UltraVision as CTO and joint CEO. During this time, he was responsible for more than 10 patent families and numerous inventive developments within lathing, moulding, and hybrid manufacturing processes, as well as lens designs from soft keratoconic lenses to smart contact lenses incorporating liquid crystal layers and sensors. He has also developed software ranging from full system-wide applications to full contact lens 3D design and creation of machining files.
  • CooperVision Specialty EyeCare released the schedule for its 2023 Beyond the Limbus (BTL) scleral lens workshops. The dual-tracked series is broken into two parts: scleral lens accelerator training for eyecare professionals (ECPs) and scleral lens basics training for office support staff. The initial session was held on April 16 in Dallas. Upcoming workshops will be held on May 7 in San Francisco; May 7 in Chicago; June 4 in Denver; and June 11 in New York. ECPs also have the option to register for a virtual BTL workshop, so that they can access scleral lens training at their own convenience. To learn more or to register, visit marketing.coopervisionsec.com/beyondthelimbus .
  • The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon are launching a new practical tool to help with the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease. The May 9 “Dry Eye Spotlight 4: WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel” webinar is the culmination of an initial series of complimentary global dry eye disease education initiative online events. The WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, developed by professors Jennifer Craig, PhD, FCOptom; James Wolffsohn, PhD; and Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, is an interactive tool designed to easily reference the three pillars of mitigation, measurement, and management, and to be accessible for broadest possible use. The webinar will be independently presented in three time zones with live faculty-attendee interaction on May 9: 5 p.m. HKT/SST, 6 p.m. CET, and 9 p.m. EDT. Register for the webinar at bit.ly/DryEyeWheel .
  • The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) awarded Dr. Herbert Wertheim ASCO’s inaugural Herbert Wertheim Award, affectionately called “The Herbie.” The award recognizes remarkable individuals or organizations that have accomplished high-impact, groundbreaking, and innovative programs or initiatives, and contributed substantially, or have the potential to sustainably address, eye and vision health, and/or the social determinants of eye health and vision care, at the local, national, or global level.
  • Rick Weisbarth, OD, Alcon’s vice president of professional affairs, has announced his retirement, which became effective at the end of March. Dr. Weisbarth began his journey with Alcon in 1982, when he joined CIBA Vision as a clinical research optometrist. He also worked in progressively responsible roles for its global and North America franchises, in the U.S. and Switzerland, where he held a number of different positions in clinical research, professional development and partnerships, professional services, and, most currently, as vice president, professional affairs. Dr. Weisbarth will continue to serve as president of the Alcon Children’s Vision Center.
  • Euclid Vision Corp. announced the continued expansion of its U.S. sales team with the addition of Jon R. Hudson, ABOC, NCLEC, who has joined the company as account executive for Texas and Central and Southern U.S. territories. Mr. Hudson brings 24 years of experience in the eyecare industry to his new role.
  • Sight Sciences announced the appointment of Alison “Ali” Bauerlein as its CFO and treasurer. Ms. Bauerlein joins Sight Sciences from Inogen, a medical technology that she cofounded in 2001 and served as its CFO from 2009 through 2021. Ms. Bauerlein also has served as a member of the board of directors of Pear Therapeutics since December 2021 and as a member of the board of directors of Gelesis Holdings since January 2022.
  • CooperVision unveiled a multifaceted consumer and professional marketing campaign to protect children’s vision and advance myopia control education in the U.S. The “Make Children’s Sight Your Fight” initiative comprises several avenues to reach the U.S. parent and eyecare communities, including media advertising for widespread consumer outreach. According to CooperVision, ECPs can support the campaign by sharing a “Make Children’s Sight Your Fight” social frame with peers and patients on their channels. In addition, CooperVision is partnering with ECPs to raise visibility of the campaign across office settings nationwide.
  • Kala Pharmaceuticals appointed Francis Mah, MD, as chief medical advisor. In this new role, Dr. Mah will provide support for Kala’s clinical development and medical activities and will play a key role in interactions with ECPs. Dr. Mah will serve in this role on a part-time basis while continuing his ongoing position as director of cornea and external disease and the codirector of refractive surgery at Scripps Clinic.

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RECENT FDA ALERTS & GUIDANCE

A new report from the FDA alleges that Global Pharma Healthcare, manufacturer of the recalled EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops, did not follow the proper protocol to prevent product contamination at its production facilities. The recalled drops have been linked to the rare bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 68 patients across 16 states, leading to three deaths, four eye removals, and eight cases of vision loss.

After visiting Global Pharma’s India-based plant several weeks after the recall, the FDA inspection resulted in 11 observations, including a “manufacturing process that lacked assurance of product sterility,” according to the report (fda.gov/media/166739/download ). The lack of sterilization specifically impacted products manufactured between December 2020 and April 2022 that were shipped to the U.S.

The FDA has finalized a guidance that allows some manufacturers to submit 510(k) applications for soft contact lenses based on their performance criteria rather than by comparison to a predicate device. The guidance outlines what kinds of soft contact lenses are eligible to use the alternative pathway. More specifically, the agency says soft daily wear prescription contact lenses that are meant to be worn directly against the cornea and adjacent limbal and scleral areas of the eye for myopia or hyperopia with or without astigmatism could qualify. The FDA has also added a number of new standards that sponsors can use to show their product fulfills requirements such as those to demonstrate certain mechanical properties, sterilization, and biocompatibility. Read the final guidance at bit.ly/3zHDgfw .

In a recent safety communication issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency noted that manufacturers are marketing and distributing amniotic fluid eye drops to treat, mitigate, or cure diseases or conditions such as dry eye disease without the required premarket review and approval, raising potential significant safety concerns.

There are currently no FDA-approved amniotic fluid eye drops to treat, mitigate or cure eye diseases or conditions, and in order for a health care practitioner to offer these products to patients, there must be an investigational new drug application (IND) in effect. The FDA issued two untitled letters in late 2022 to manufacturers of these products that are available on the FDA website (bit.ly/413TSu4 ).

The FDA also advises health care professionals to report any adverse events related to the use of amniotic fluid eye drops to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (bit.ly/404Hs3I ).

AOA ANNOUNCES 2023 AWARD WINNERS

The American Optometric Association (AOA) honored several members and one national organization with awards and thanked Visionary Supporter Johnson & Johnson Vision.

  • The Distinguished Service Award recognizes Glen Steele, OD, for his unusually significant contributions to the profession of optometry.
  • The Optometrist of the Year Award recognizes Jon Pederson, OD, for his outstanding service on behalf of the profession and the visual welfare of the public.
  • The Young Optometrist of the Year Award recognizes Amy Puerto, OD, who has been in practice less than 10 years and demonstrates remarkable leadership when serving the profession, patients, and her community.
  • The Optometric Educator of the Year Award recognizes George Veliky, OD, for outstanding service on behalf of the profession, optometric education, and the visual welfare of the public.
  • The Student of the Year Award recognizes Caitlin Parks for her leadership skills in serving the profession, patients, and her community.
  • The Paraoptometric of the Year Award recognizes Brandy Yeack, CPOA, for her significant contributions to the profession of paraoptometry.
  • The Paraoptometric Community Service Award recognizes Brianne Speaks, CPOA, for generously donating her time and talents to the profession of optometry, patients, and the public.
  • The AOA honored three winners of the Paraoptometric Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes Roberta Beers, CPOT; Beverly Roberts, CPOT; and Erlinda Rodriguez, CPO, for serving the profession of optometry by continually giving in the areas of patient eye care, office management, mentoring colleagues, and in service to the paraoptometric profession.
  • The Apollo Award recognizes the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety. The highest award presented to the general public by the AOA, the Apollo Award honors persons or organizations for distinguished service to the visual welfare of the public.
  • The National Optometry Hall of Fame recognizes and honors optometrists who are luminaries of the professions—those who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the optometric profession. The award is administered through Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation. This year’s winners include Joseph Shovlin, OD; Siu Wong, OD, MPH; and Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD.
  • Optometry Cares also awarded the Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. InfantSEE Award, recognizing an individual doctor of optometry who has made significant contributions to optometry or the community for outstanding public service involving the InfantSEE program. This year’s winner is Andrea Thau, OD.

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