By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:30 AM
SECAUCUS, N.J.—
Safilo North America has announced the appointment of Gabriele Cusani Sodano as president and chief commercial officer, effective April 2024. Cusani brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to succeed in this new role, which will focus on accelerating the implementation of the Group’s strategic plan in the North American market, the company stated. He joined Safilo in 2015 and has held various roles of increasing responsibility throughout his tenure, with experience that spans commercial strategy and planning, brand management, business development, sales operations and direct to consumer.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:27 AM
VAUGHAN, Ontario—
Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO), a leading global eye health company, has announced its first-quarter 2024 financial results. The company reported that revenue grew 18 percent (20 percent on a constant currency basis) compared with the first quarter of 2023, driven by growth across all business segments. The company also raised full-year 2024 constant currency revenue growth guidance to 13 percent to 15 percent and the full-year revenue range to between $4.600 billion and $4.700 billion.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:24 AM
LARGO, Fla.—More than 55 customers and industry partners recently gathered at the annual
Ocuco Innovations User Group Meeting (UGM). Held in April with the theme "Seas the Day," the event brought together optical lab professionals for three days of education and networking at the Sheraton Keys Resort in Clearwater, Fla. Dublin-based Ocuco is a leading provider of omnichannel solutions to the eyecare retail, optometry and lab markets worldwide. UGM featured nearly 30 workshops and presentations, including Innovations and Lablink Development Road Maps, Strategies to Enhance Online Presence, and Specialized Personnel Recruitment.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:21 AM
LAKE FOREST, Calif.—
STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA), developer, manufacturer and marketer of the EVO family of implantable collamer lenses (EVO ICL) for myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, has announced that Nancy Sabin has been named chief marketing officer and Nathaniel Sisitsky has been named general counsel. Both will serve on the company’s executive committee and report to Tom Frinzi, STAAR Surgical’s president and CEO, according to the announcement. “We are thrilled to strengthen the STAAR team with the addition of Nancy and Nate, two seasoned executives with extensive senior leadership experience," Frinzi said.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:18 AM
TORONTO, Canada—
RetiSpec, Inc., an innovator in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered eye diagnostics for brain health, and
Topcon Healthcare, Inc., a provider of medical devices and software solutions, have announced that Topcon has invested in RetiSpec, and the two companies are collaborating to bring RetiSpec technology to market. Among RetiSpec’s AI solutions, its clinically validated eye diagnostic AI aims to help health care providers predict amyloid burden, a core biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease even before symptoms emerge. Currently, the test is available for research use only; however, Topcon stated, once it is commercialized and integrated with Topcon Harmony, a device-inclusive and cloud-based clinical data management platform, it can facilitate early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and timely access to care.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:15 AM
CHARENTON-LE-PONT, FRANCE—To honor this year’s Presbyopia Awareness Month, the
World Council of Optometry (WCO), in partnership with
EssilorLuxottica, has announced the release of the global standard of care for presbyopia and the aging eye. According to the announcement, the aim of this resolution is to set a benchmark through evidence-based resources that center on the eyecare practitioner's attention toward the three pillars of mitigating, measuring and managing presbyopia.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 4:00 PM
Fewer Americans are finding their way onto the real estate ladder. A
new report from Clever Real Estate finds that the median home price in the U.S. is now $322,494, requiring homeowners to make an annual income of at least $119,769 to afford a 10 percent down payment.
The price of a home now exceeds the average household earnings of potential homeowners by more than $45,000. Currently, the average annual household income for Americans is $74,755 and Americans would need to earn at least $98,000 to afford a 20 percent down payment, according to the survey.
The last time a median buyer could put down 20 percent was 1989, 5 percent higher than the current median buyer who can afford around 15 percent.
Only four states fell within the affordability of meridian earners including West Virginia, Ohio, Iowa and Indiana. Out of the 50 largest metro areas in the country, only Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis, Memphis, Indianapolis and Birmingham fall within the affordability range for median earners.
Los Angeles was named the least affordable city in the country—home buyers would need to earn nearly $250,000 a year to afford a median-priced home, three times the current $87,743 median income for the city.
According to the
National Association of Realtors, overall homeownership has dwindled significantly over the past 40 years, falling from 38 percent in 1981 to 32 percent in 2022.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 11:02 AM
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has published an in-depth report on everyday actions that the eyecare community can take to draw interest from potential and former contact lens wearers. Based on research with more than 1,000 vision-corrected adults, “Beyond Vision: Behaviors to Attract New & Returning Contact Lens Wearers” is the latest offering from CLI’s See Tomorrow initiative.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:30 AM
CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—
EssilorLuxottica held its annual shareholders meeting yesterday in Paris, the company announced, where shareholders approved all 34 resolutions submitted by the board of directors to the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting. These included the distribution of a €3.95 dividend per share for the financial year 2023, the compensation policy applicable to the company’s executive corporate officers and the reappointment of all previous directors to the new board of directors. “On behalf of the board of directors, we would like to extend warm thanks to our shareholders for their continued support and trust," said Francesco Milleri, chairman and CEO, and Paul du Saillant, deputy CEO at EssilorLuxottica.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:24 AM
SAN DIEGO—
Toku, Inc., a commercial medical device company specializing in imaging technology and artificial intelligence, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation to its MyKidneyAI technology, which uses AI to analyze retinal images collected at routine eye exams to detect elevated chronic kidney disease risk in people with diabetes.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:21 AM
MIAMI—
Innovative Eyewear, Inc., developer and seller of smart eyewear, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the issuance and sale of 4,200,822 shares of its common stock at a purchase price per share of $0.244 in a registered direct offering.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:18 AM
DEDHAM, Mass.—
Qlaris Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company targeting unmet needs in debilitating ophthalmic diseases, has announced the close of a $24 million Series B financing round.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:15 AM
ALISO VIEJO, Calif.—
Glaukos, an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company with a focus on patient education about keratoconus (KC), announced it has been honored with a Stevie Award for Marketing Campaign of the Year for its multifaceted KC Consumer Awareness Campaign. The bronze level distinction from the American Business Association recognizes the consumer awareness focus of the campaign, created with agency partner PRECISIONeffect. The campaign, centered around its
“Living With KC” website, is supported by social media and collateral materials breaking down KC signs and symptoms, risks, and possible rapid progression.
By Staff
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 2:29 PM
Public school spending per student rose in 2022, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. On a national basis, per student spending increased 8.9 percent from $14,358 in fiscal year 2021 to $15,633 in fiscal year 2022. The report, titled the
Bureau’s 2022 Annual Survey of School System Finances, details the largest increase in public school spending per pupil in the United States in more than 20 years, the report said.
New York and the District of Columbia topped the list for most money spent per pupil at $29,873 and $27,425, respectively. The New York City School District had the highest spending per pupil among the 100 largest school systems at $35,914, followed by Washington Schools in the District of Columbia at $27,425. Utah and Idaho had the lowest spending per pupil at $9,552 and $9,670 respectively.
Despite rising debts, school revenue from all sources in both elementary and secondary education rose by more than 8 percent, reaching $878 billion, with 13 percent coming from federal government contributions and 42 percent coming from local sources.
Just over $362 billion was received from property taxes, accounting for 65 percent of revenue from local sources, and $383 billion was contributed by state governments.
Total expenditures also grew in 2022, up 7.8 percent, reaching $857 billion in fiscal year 2022. The largest expenditure for public and secondary schools were salaries at $266 billion, equaling 31 percent of total expenditures.
By Staff
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 9:05 AM
In the heart of New Brunswick, a unique collaboration between an optician and a food bank is lighting the path for a brighter, more inclusive future for community health and well-being. This initiative, known as the Groceries and Glasses Program, has become a beacon of hope for those in need, blending essential vision care with vital food support.