By Staff
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 12:24 AM
DURHAM, N.C.—
Aerie Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AERI) announced the signing of an agreement to acquire
Avizorex Pharma (AVX), a Spanish ophthalmic pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of dry eye disease. “This acquisition bolsters our pipeline with a clinical-stage dry eye product candidate, and we are excited to expand our footprint in ophthalmology. This product has a novel mechanism-of-action for treating dry eye and we believe that, if approved, it could nicely complement the currently approved drugs for this indication. Since the majority of our efforts in 2020 will be focused on supportive non-clinical studies, we do not currently expect to meaningfully increase our R&D expenditures next year,” said Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD, chairman and chief executive officer at Aerie.
By Staff
Monday, November 18, 2019 12:21 AM
NEWARK, Calif.—
EyeQue, a supplier of vision wellness devices, has been honored with a CES 2020 Innovation Award for its
EyeQue Vision Monitoring Kit, a convenient, low-cost eye wellness system designed for everyone from children to adults. EyeQue will feature the system at
CES 2020, the mega technology exhibition which will take place in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2020. This is the company’s third CES Innovation Award in the last four years and its second in the category of “Tech for a Better World.”
By Staff
Monday, November 18, 2019 12:18 AM
TUCSON, Ariz.—Scientists in the
University of Arizona Department of Physiology have identified a potential molecular mechanism that may hold the key to understanding how pressure is regulated in the eye. Funded by a $2.3 million five-year grant from the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Eye Institute, this research could help to develop future treatments for glaucoma and other diseases. Current treatments focus on lowering eye pressure with eyedrops and oral medications. However, these drugs lose their effectiveness over time. More than three million Americans suffer from glaucoma, the second-leading cause of blindness in the U.S., according to
Prevent Blindness America.
By Staff
Friday, November 15, 2019 1:38 PM
"It's so important to make sure our employees feel appreciated!" shared a recent
Women In Optometry Pop-Up Poll participant, and the overwhelming majority of respondents seem to feel the same: 77 percent stated that they host a party or event and give presents to their team during the holiday season. What's the best gift to give? Fifty-two percent said cash, and another 23 percent said that they give the same gift to everyone such as a tumbler, jacket or gift certificate. Twelve percent said that they research individual gifts for each team member. A number of respondents shared that they enjoy a white elephant-style gift exchange or that they spread out their celebration over the course of a week.
By Staff
Friday, November 15, 2019 12:27 AM
NEW YORK—Optometry, like many medical professions, is being reshaped by the specialization trend. Modern living has changed the way we use our eyes, and many optometrists, particularly those in private practice, have responded by developing specialties to address specific patient needs. Some specialties, such as pediatrics and low vision, have been long established in optometry, while others, like dry eye management and neuro-optometry are more recent additions. Yet all seem to be benefitting from the advent of new technologies and treatment methods which are bringing exciting changes to vision care. VM explores this Megatrend and looks at 10 paths to practice differentiation in its
Cover Topic.
By Staff
Friday, November 15, 2019 12:21 AM
HARRISBURG, Pa.—
MacuLogix Inc., a company that equips eyecare professionals with instruments, tools and education to effectively diagnose and treat patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), appointed Christine Silverberg, MBA, BSN, RN, as director of national accounts. In this role, Silverberg will lead business development and partnerships across the industry to make “dark adaptation” testing more readily available to consumers across the U.S., according to an announcement earlier this week. “Christine brings a depth and breadth of experience calling on the C-Suites of major independent delivery networks and accountable care organizations in the U.S.,” president and chief executive officer William McPhee said in the announcement. “Her knowledge of population health, business operations and data analytics to execute successful programs in corporate settings will be invaluable in supporting our mission.”
By Staff
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 12:21 AM
DALLAS—
Eyecare Services Partners (ESP), a leader in integrated eyecare services, has announced the appointment of Dakon H. Montgomery as chief operating officer, effective Monday (Nov. 11). Montgomery comes to ESP with 12 years of leadership experience in outpatient health care services. Most recently he was a senior vice president in the ambulatory surgery division (ASC) of HCA Healthcare in Dallas, where he was responsible for four divisions encompassing seven markets and 37 ambulatory surgery centers, according to the announcement.
By Staff
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 12:18 AM
ST. LOUIS—Citing the significant public and economic burden posed by diabetes in the United States, the
American Optometric Association (AOA) has issued its revised, evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the disease for doctors of optometry and other health professionals who deliver care to patients with diabetes. The AOA's
“Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: Eye Care of the Patient with Diabetes Mellitus, Second Edition” recommends 31 actions doctors of optometry can take to enhance the care they provide to patients with diabetes. The guideline represented two years of revision by the AOA's Evidence-Based Optometry (EBO) Committee, using a systematic and rigorous clinical review process. The previous evidence-based AOA guideline on diabetes was published in 2012, according to an announcement this week.
By Staff
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 12:15 AM
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.—
ABB Optical Group, a leading national provider of optical products, services and business solutions, has announced that seven non-profit organizations will receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for outstanding programming and community impact. The grants are issued under the auspices of the Sixth Annual ABB Cares Program, and all of the grant-winners were nominated by eyecare professionals from across the nation. Since the program’s inception in 2014, ABB Optical Group has donated more than $65,000 in grants to non-profit organizations in the United States, according to the company’s announcement this week.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 12:21 AM
BEDFORD, Mass.—
Ocular Therapeutix Inc. (NASDAQ: OCUL), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye, announced an operational restructuring plan. Upon its completion, the plan is expected to result in an estimated $11 million in annualized savings through personnel reductions and approximately $14 million in one-time program deferrals. The company estimates that it will record costs associated with the restructuring of approximately $0.7 million in the fourth quarter, according to its announcement.
By VM Staff
Monday, November 11, 2019 12:45 AM
NEW YORK—Did you know that more than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work every day? And of these injuries, an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent will cause temporary or permanent vision loss, Prevent Blindness points out. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) believes that the right eye protection can lessen the severity of those injuries and even prevent 90 percent of them.