By Staff
Sunday, August 11, 2019 12:24 AM
NEW YORK—A practicing optometrist and the CEO of a fast-growing retail/eyecare group will share their views about telehealth's potential in eyecare and how such new technologies can build bridges from the ECP to their patients in a session that's now part of the upcoming VM LIVE forum, "Smart Solutions at the Speed of Sight," to be held in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Sept. 18 just prior to the opening of Vision Expo West in Las Vegas.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 12:24 AM
NEW YORK—Three innovative optometry innovators will discuss the ways they are bringing new ideas to both vision care environments and retail to address today’s customers and patients who expect easy, seamless interactions, speedier, more convenient service and new experiences in both retail and health care environments. Brief presentations and a conversation among the three practices will be a featured highlight of Vision Monday's Sept. 18 VM LIVE forum, "Smart Solutions at the Speed of Sight," to be held just prior to the opening of Vision Expo West in Las Vegas.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:18 AM
CALGARY, Alberta—
FYidoctors, an optometrist-owned eyecare company, has acquired Edmonton-based Alberta Eye Health Clinic, according to an announcement Tuesday. The acquisition, which marks the fifth FYidoctors location in the Edmonton area, brings Dr. Aaron Patel, Dr. Rajan Mistry and their staff to the FYidoctors family. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Alberta Eye Health Clinic has a special interest in low vision options, such as specialty contact lenses (known as scleral lenses), as well as dry eye treatments, and “prides itself in using the latest technology to monitor, diagnose and educate on eye diseases,” the announcement noted.
By Staff
Monday, July 15, 2019 12:18 AM
BEDFORD, Mass.—Biopharmaceutical company
Ocular Therapeutix has appointed Patricia Kitchen as chief operations officer. Kitchen brings nearly 25 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical experience, including roles managing global operations and manufacturing relating to complex product development, technology transfer, supply chain management, and process-scale up and validation. Prior to joining Ocular, she held a number of senior management positions at Mundipharma, including global director of technical operations (ex-U.S.) where she was responsible for leading the transformation of manufacturing operations, supply chain, technical services, and other technical development teams across Mundipharma’s global markets and manufacturing suppliers.
By Staff
Monday, July 8, 2019 12:18 AM
ATLANTA—
EyeSouth Partners has completed an affiliation with
Montgomery Eye Physicians and Prescription Eyewear, which marks the firm’s first partnership in Alabama, according to an announcement late last week. EyeSouth also noted that Alabama “will be a priority growth state for the company in the future.” Montgomery Eye Physicians will continue to operate under its brand, with no changes to its staff, physicians or locations, according to the announcement. EyeSouth, an eyecare-focused management services organization committed to partnering with leading physicians in the Southeast, is backed by
Shore Capital Partners, a lower middle-market health care private equity firm.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 12:21 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—
Covenant Surgical Partners here said it has formed a new partnership with Los Angeles-based
De La Pena Eye Clinic, A Medical Group, one of the largest private eyecare practices in Southern California. De La Peña Eye Clinic offers a full spectrum of ophthalmologic, optometric and optical services, according to the announcement earlier this week. Whereas typical eyecare clinics only focus on one or two elements of eyecare, De La Peña Eye Clinic offers multiple services in its one facility, including ophthalmology, optometry, optical and surgical capabilities, among others, the announcement noted. Covenant is acquiring the majority ownership of De La Peña Eye Clinic through this partnership transaction, a spokeswoman told
VMAIL.
By Staff
Monday, July 1, 2019 12:24 AM
CINCINNATI—
OneSight, a vision care nonprofit organization, and The Gambia government signed a Memorandum of Understanding transitioning oversight of the country’s sustainable vision care infrastructure.
By Staff
Monday, July 1, 2019 12:18 AM
DURHAM, N.C.—Biomedical engineers at
Duke University have developed a low-cost, portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner that promises to bring the vision-saving technology to underserved regions throughout the U.S. and abroad. Thanks to a redesigned, 3D-printed spectrometer, the scanner is 15 times lighter and smaller than current commercial systems and is made from parts costing less than a tenth the retail price of commercial systems—all without sacrificing imaging quality. In its first clinical trial, the new OCT scanner produced images of 120 retinas that were 95 percent as sharp as those taken by current commercial systems, which was sufficient for accurate clinical diagnosis, according to Duke.
By Staff
Friday, June 28, 2019 12:15 AM
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif.—
NuSight Medical announced that the U.S. Patent Office has issued a patent for its NuLids System for the treatment of dry eye/ocular surface disease, blepharitis and related conditions. “The patent protects our entire NuLids system – the device and methods for its use, the disposable soft-tips, and product safety features” said Robert Foster, CEO of NuSight Medical. All 29 claims in U.S. Patent No. 10,314,763 were approved providing key declarations that involve stimulating the meibomian glands to effectively treat dry eye.
By Staff
Thursday, June 27, 2019 12:24 AM
ST. LOUIS—
The American Optometric Association wrapped up its annual
Optometry’s Meeting here on Saturday with new president Barbara L. Horn, OD, of South Carolina, and four other executive committee members and six trustees being sworn into office for the 2019-20 year following the tabulation of election results. The elections took place in the AOA’s House of Delegates as the four-day Optometry's Meeting neared its close. AOA’s trustees help establish association policy and advocates for the profession of optometry, both in state and federal government offices.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 12:21 AM
DULUTH, Ga.—
National Vision Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE), one of the nation’s largest optical retailers, hosted more than 1,000 optometrists from its affiliated practices during the company’s annual continuing education symposium, which was held June 1 through 4 in Dallas. The company’s growing community of optometrists gathered for continued education, recognition for notable tenure and accomplishments, and conversations surrounding the state of the optical industry, according to a company announcement. In addition, the record-number of attendees heard from a respected lineup of speakers, giving all COPE-approved lectures.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 12:15 AM
PEMBROKE, Ontario—
FYidoctors, the optometrist-owned eyecare company operating in Canada, announced this week that it has taken its first step toward expanding into Pembroke, Ontario. The practice of Dr. Vernon Prentice, OD, and his staff have officially joining the FYidoctors organization, according to the announcement. This acquisition marks the third for FYidoctors in Ontario within the last two months, the announcement noted. “FYidoctors has shown me that after the 37 years I've spent in practice, it is possible to operate at the highest level of care without the mental overhead private practice constantly demands,” Dr. Prentice said in the announcement.
By Staff
Monday, June 24, 2019 12:24 AM
ST. LOUIS—
Illinois College of Optometry's (ICO) Nora Kuby took home top honors at this year's AOSA (American Optometric Student Association) Student Bowl (OSB), powered by Essilor of America, the 28th annual edition of the competition. The Student Bowl is always a major event for the students, faculties, friends and supporters of the national's optometric school. This year, for the first time in its history, the OSB was held offsite at The Pageant, an iconic concert hall in the heart of Delmar Loop, held here during
Optometry's Meeting.
By Staff
Friday, June 21, 2019 12:18 AM
BETHESDA, Md.—
RightEye announced that it is working with
USA Baseball for the third consecutive year to provide baseline sports vision assessment to all athletes entering the Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP), a collaboration between USA Baseball and
Major League Baseball (MLB). For the first time, RightEye will also recommend local optometrists who can help athletes correct functional vision issues and improve performance on the field.
By Staff
Friday, June 14, 2019 12:21 AM
CHICAGO—
Sheridan Capital Partners announced its investment in Atlantic Vision Partners (AVP), a vision practice management company. In the transaction, Sheridan invested alongside AVP’s founders and management, who will retain “a meaningful ownership stake” in the business, according to the announcement. “AVP has achieved meaningful scale in its geography,” said Jonathan Lewis, partner of Sheridan Capital Partners. “The company has grown significantly due to the team’s focus on clinical excellence and its ability to attract strong provider talent to the platform.”