Safilo North America Names Gabriele Cusani Sodano President and Chief Commercial Officer

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.

Bausch + Lomb Reports Strong Revenue Growth in Q1 2024, Updates Full-Year Guidance

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.

Ocuco User Group Meeting Helps Lab Partners 'Seas the Day'

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.

STAAR Surgical Appoints Nancy Sabin as Chief Marketing Officer and Nathaniel Sisitsky as General Counsel

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.

RetiSpec Collaborates With Topcon Healthcare on AI-Based Diagnostic Tool

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.

EssilorLuxottica and WCO Release a Global Standard of Care for Presbyopia and the Aging Eye During Presbyopia Awareness Month

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.

EssilorLuxottica’s Annual Shareholders Meeting Approves All Resolutions, Reappoints Board

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.

Nominations Are Now Open for VM’s 2024 Most Influential Women in Optical

By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:27 AM NEW YORK—Women’s influence in optical is undeniable, and today more women are playing vital roles at all levels of our industry. In retailing, wholesaling, product design, manufacturing, distribution and vision care, talented women are shaping the direction of the companies and organizations they work for, and, in many cases, lead. This is why Vision Monday will once again be highlighting The Most Influential Women in Optical in our July-August issue, marking the 22nd year of our signature Special Report saluting women in the eyewear/eyecare industry.

Toku Inc. Secures FDA Breakthrough Designation for Technology That Identifies Chronic Kidney Disease Risk Through the Eye

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.

Innovative Eyewear Announces $1.025 Million Stock Offering

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.

Qlaris Bio Completes $24 Million Series B Financing Round to Advance QLS-111, an IOP-Lowering Drug Candidate for Glaucoma

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.

Glaukos’ Focus on Keratoconus Awareness Honored With Stevie Award

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.

Contact Lens Institute Issues Report on New and Returning Contact Lens Wearers

By Staff
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 12:27 AM WASHINGTON, D.C.—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 segmented by glasses-only wearers, new contact lens wearers, and former contact lens wearers, “Beyond Vision: Behaviors to Attract New & Returning Contact Lens Wearers" is the latest offering from CLI’s See Tomorrow initiative. The 26-page document includes multiple infographics depicting high-value takeaways that can be used for staff training.

Wiley X Expands Sales Team By More Than 100, Names Aaron Quigley Senior Vice President of Sales

By Staff
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 12:24 AM FRISCO, Texas—Wiley X has restructured and expanded its sales team to enhance the brand’s relationships and support across retail partners and customers.

Prevent Blindness Announces Recipients of the 2024 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health and the Rising Visionary Award

By Staff
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 12:21 AM CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, a nonprofit eye health and safety organization, has announced the recipient of the 2024 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health is Mission for Vision, a non-profit organization focused on social initiatives in health, education and poverty alleviation.