By Staff
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:19 AM
PHOENIX—The FDA has approved
Paragon Vision Science’s newly constructed contact lens manufacturing site in suburban Phoenix, “paving the way for the company’s ongoing domestic and global expansion,” according to a
CooperVision announcement Thursday. Paragon is part of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. The facility in Gilbert, Ariz., will produce advanced ortho-k products, including
Paragon CRT for use in the U.S. The new site is more than double the size of the company’s current plant in nearby Mesa, Ariz., according to the announcement. The Mesa location will continue to fabricate lenses for global markets after U.S. production is transferred to Gilbert over the next several months.
By Staff
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:17 AM
PARADISE, CALIF.—As schools reopened in Paradise for the first time since the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history,
VSP Eyes of Hope and
GLAM4GOOD hosted an “unforgettable back-to-school experience for 300 students and teachers, many of whom lost everything in the Camp Fire,” according to a VSP announcement earlier this week. Many residents have been so focused on rebuilding their lives that they have had to deprioritize items like new clothing and eyecare, including relying on out-of-date prescriptions or just doing without glasses at all, the announcement noted.
By Staff
Friday, August 23, 2019 12:10 AM
ORLANDO, Fla.—The
Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) has announced its
annual meeting for 2019. The meeting will take place on Oct. 27, 2019, in Orlando, Florida, and this year’s theme is “BIG VISION, small world.” This will mark the 27th annual VOSH meeting, where VOSH members and partners can participate in a day of learning, networking, and discussion. The meeting occurs during the World Council of Optometry (WCO) and the American Academy of Optometry’s 3rd World Congress of Optometry in Orlando from Oct. 23 to 28, 2019.
By Staff
Thursday, August 22, 2019 12:00 AM
It’s that time of the year again, when parents are on the run getting school supplies and shopping for new outfits in order to get their children ready for the new school year. As parents ready their preparations, ODs on social media are pushing awareness for Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month and encouraging parents to get their little ones’ eyes checked before they embark on their new journey.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 12:00 AM
In simpler times, schoolchildren who failed to do their homework would make the excuse, “My dog ate it.” But what if the dog has the homework? Teachers training companion animals for the visually impaired don’t typically send their canine students home with assignments, but that doesn’t mean the work they do is any less important than classwork in other educational environments. In fact, it’s arguably more vital, given that these dogs need to be prepared to help their owners navigate the world.
By Staff
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 12:15 AM
NEW YORK—World renowned experts in myopia management will take an in-depth look at this timely and topical area of vision care during a one-day educational program for clinicians. Hosted by Gary Gerber, OD, co-founder of Treehouse eyes, The Myopia Meeting is scheduled to be held in Newport Beach, Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The meeting’s six hours of continuing education will be delivered by the following presenters:
By Staff
Monday, August 19, 2019 12:18 AM
CHICAGO—To educate consumers on the one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness,
Prevent Blindness has created a new resource, the
“Diabetes and the Eyes” toolkit, which includes materials in both English and Spanish, according to the organization’s announcement earlier this week. The materials were made possible by funding from the
Allergan Foundation, the announcement noted. "Diabetes can have a tremendous impact on vision, which affects everything from the ability to work to quality of life,” Prevent Blindness president and chief executive officer Jeff Todd said. “Thanks to the generous support of the Allergan Foundation, we can educate the public on the steps that can be taken and the resources that are available to help protect the gift of sight.”
By Staff
Monday, August 19, 2019 12:15 AM
NEW YORK—Vision Expo West offers attendees the latest in technology and fashion, as well as a space to connect with colleagues and earn continuing education all in one place at their meeting in Las Vegas this Sept. 18-21. The
early bird prices for Vision Expo Weset 2019 end at midnight tonight, show organizers point out. New education at Vision Expo West 2019 will offer attendees a wide range of tracks, courses, workshops and competitions featuring the latest in leadership, marketing, patient care and more with real-time planning and interactive demonstrations. With over 300 hours of educational content available, attendees will have the opportunity to fulfill multiple aspects of their professional aspirations. More information about Vision Expo West education is posted at
west.visionexpo.com.
By Staff
Friday, August 16, 2019 10:03 AM
Maria Briceno Martin, OD, vividly recalls the moment when she decided she would take the leap forward on her dream of practice ownership. It was August 2017, and her second daughter was just one year old. As she was feeding the baby on a Friday afternoon, Dr. Briceno Martin’s husband Greg poised the question if opening an office was still her plan. “I was happy and stable, and I had a great job,” Dr. Briceno Martin says of the position she’d held for the past decade with an OD/MD group. “It was an ideal experience but I always felt like something was missing.” By Monday morning, she was ready to have a conversation with her employers about her future plans. And six months later she opened Lakes Family Eye Care.
By Staff
Thursday, August 15, 2019 12:27 AM
PEORIA, Ill.—
Maui Jim the sunglass and eyewear supplier, announced "a significant step forward in its ongoing relationship with
VSP Global" yesterday, reporting that Maui Jim will officially be available within the VSP formulary and will be included in the VSP contract lab network. With a VSP account, users will now have a more streamlined way of placing Maui Jim orders for patients utilizing their VSP benefit. Accessing patented Maui Jim lens technologies like PolarizedPlus2, and proprietary lens materials like MauiBrilliant and Maui High Blue Light Protect will be easier, Maui Jim's announcement said.
By Staff
Thursday, August 15, 2019 12:24 AM
DENVER, Col.—
Jobson Medical Information has officially joined the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) as the group’s official North American media sponsor. Jobson and the 12 other members of GMAC aim to promote public awareness of childhood myopia as a treatable disease through direct to consumer channels and government awareness, NGOs, and other healthcare associations. Jobson will use its platforms—
Review of Myopia Management,
Review of Optometric Business,
Vision Monday,
20/20 Magazine—to share information about GMAC’s activities and mission with its community, with
Review of Myopia Management leading this initiative.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 12:18 AM
TARRYTOWN, N.Y.—
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Prior-Approval Supplement (PAS) for its Eylea (aflibercept) injection prefilled syringe. The 2 mg, single-dose, sterilized prefilled syringe provides physicians with a new way to administer Eylea that requires fewer preparation steps compared to vials. Market supply of the Eylea prefilled syringe is expected to be available to physicians and patients this year, the company said in a statement.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 12:15 AM
ATLANTA—
Visioneering Technologies, based here, has received a Certificate of Listing from Hong Kong’s Medical Device Control Office, Department of Health. Listing No. 190176 applies to the NaturalVue (etafilcon A) Multifocal and NaturalVue (etafilcon A) Sphere currently marketed by Visioneering, as well as the NaturalVue (etafilcon A) Toric and NaturalVue (etafilcon A) Multifocal Toric products that Visioneering plans to market in the near future. The registration covers the use of the company’s NaturalVue Multifocal for myopia progression control.
By Staff
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 12:19 AM
NEW YORK—This year, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual Contact Lens Health Week will take place from Aug. 19 to 23. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Contact Lens Health Starts With You,” and is aimed to encourage ECPs to share healthy wear and care recommendations with their contact lens patients. Together with the
American Optometric Association, the CDC will promote Contact Lens Health Week through a variety of channels, including a Facebook live stream on Monday, Aug. 19, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.