Myopia Awareness Week to be Held May 13-19
Myopia Awareness Week (#maw2024) will be held May 13-19 and will feature the theme “Act Now, See Tomorrow.” The campaign intends to spread the word that myopia is affecting children worldwide but that practitioners have treatments to slow its progression. Eyecare professionals can access resources at bhvi.org/maw24.
CooperVision and AOA Join Forces to Launch The Myopia Collective
CooperVision and the American Optometric Association (AOA) launched The Myopia Collective, a partnership to rally the optometry profession and its allies to elevate the standard of care for children with myopia, shifting focus from mere correction to embracing comprehensive treatment.
The backbone of The Myopia Collective will be Change Agents—ambassadors who will receive specialized training in myopia management within their practices and lead legislative and community advocacy efforts. One or two Change Agents will be appointed per U.S. state and several territories, ensuring cross-country representation. Practitioners interested in integrating myopia management into their practices and driving positive change for children and their families are encouraged to apply by May 17.
Additionally, every individual within the optometric profession, regardless of credential or role, is encouraged to join The Myopia Collective as a member. Members will gain access to relevant educational opportunities and resources.
What Do You Want to See in Contact Lens Spectrum?
Each year, we survey our readership to solicit ideas for columns, articles, and continuing education and it is that time of year again! We really value your input as we get our most creative (and desired) content from each of you. We ask that you please take a few moments to complete the survey found here and thank you very much for your feedback.
WCO and CooperVision Partner on Myopia Management Navigator Educational Resource
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) is partnering with CooperVision to introduce an interactive, educational resource for eyecare practitioners worldwide. The WCO CooperVision Myopia Management Navigator (myopianavigator.info) takes practitioners on a journey through the three Ms of myopia management: mitigation, measurement, and management.
Each of the three sections of the website is linked to various elements of content and filled with advice and practical actions to explore in the form of “Myopia Moments,” webinars, and much more. The Navigator also serves as a ready resource in clinical settings to provide guidance for patients and families in discussions about myopia management.
In addition, they have appointed a team of ambassadors for their education, outreach, and practice-building initiatives. All four ambassadors serve a global role, representing a diverse set of regions, and are leading optometrists with extensive experience in myopia management in both clinical practice and educational settings.
Euclid Webinar Offers Tips to Attract Patients to Your Myopia Management Practice
On May 7 at 8 p.m. ET, Euclid will host a webinar titled “How to attract more patients for your myopia management and orthokeratology practice.” Rob Gerowitz, OD, will uncover the strategies for expanding myopia management in your practice and attracting more patients. Moderated by Christie Yee, NCLEM, COA, this discussion will guide you through the process of identifying candidates for myopia management and knowing when to initiate conversations with parents. Register here.
CooperVision Launches MiSight1 day QuickStart Program
CooperVision announced its new MiSight 1 day QuickStart Program to simplify the process of prescribing those lenses for eyecare practitioners (ECPs). The MiSight 1 day QuickStart program, accessible via CooperVision’s Online Success Center, includes written guides, a series of short videos, and amplified support from CooperVision’s Myopia Management Specialist team members, allowing ECPs to tailor their learning experiences. The topics span from essential clinical information required for initiating treatment to effective communication strategies with parents, ensuring their entire practice is engaged in supporting patients.
Additionally, the company has expanded its dedicated myopia management team. Priscilla Chang, OD, has joined CooperVision as senior manager, myopia management. Dr. Chang previously served as a clinical sales consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision. She joins Leah Johnson, OD, and Felicia Timmermann, OD, MS, senior managers, myopia management. The ambassadors are Nicola Logan, PhD, MEd,MCOptom; Jagrut Lallu,MSc Specialty Lenses, BOptom; Síofra Harrington, PhD; and Ashley Wallace Tucker, OD.
PolyU Forms Global Partnership with ZEISS Vision Care
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is partnering with ZEISS Vision Care to expand the global impact and speed up the market penetration of PolyU’s proprietary myopia control lens technologies through global partnership involving IP licensing and joint research and development. Furthermore, this partnership paves the way for a long-term collaboration in research and development between PolyU and ZEISS, focusing on myopia control and other ophthalmic technologies.