By Staff
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 12:21 AM
PARIS—
EssilorLuxottica (Euronext: EL) announced that it has acquired Toronto-based
Cellview Imaging Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of ophthalmic imaging devices for early-stage eye disease detection.
By Staff
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 12:27 AM
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—
CooperVision has announced a series of investments designed to reinforce its worldwide leadership in myopia management, including actions to further bolster commercial infrastructure, pipeline growth, clinical study sponsorship and advocacy support. The company announced the appointment of Jennifer Lambert to the newly created role of vice president, myopia management and cornea care. Lambert has spent the past four years as senior director of global myopia management for CooperVision. In addition to Lambert's role, the company said it is adding managerial roles specific to customer engagement and new product market development, collectively designed to transform the myopia category for long-term success.
By Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025 12:27 AM
ORLANDO, Fla.—Following the recent U.S. FDA
approval of
EssilorLuxottica's (Euronext: EL) over-the-counter
Nuance Audio Glasses, the company has wasted little time in ensuring product is available to meet demands. On Wedneday, the company told
VMAIL that it shipped its first 25,000 units of Nuance Audio overnight to the U.S. once the approval came in, with additional shipments on the way. This news was also shared with audience members at the company's recent
Transitions Academy, held this week in Orlando, Florida.
By Staff
Monday, February 3, 2025 2:05 AM
PARIS—
EssilorLuxottica (Euronext: EL) announced on Feb. 3 that it had received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its over-the-counter Nuance Audio Glasses. The group has simultaneously achieved the CE marking under the medical devices regulation in the European Union, alongside the development of an ISO Quality Management System certification dedicated to hearing aids, which will allow Nuance Audio to launch in Europe, the company reported. Nuance Audio Hearing Aid Software is now the first FDA-cleared, preset software as medical device in the U.S., the company emphasized, delivering an open-ear hearing solution that is integrated into a pair of smart glasses. To read more about how EssilorLuxottica is rolling out Nuance Audio in the U.S. and European markets, click
here.
By Staff
Thursday, January 30, 2025 12:24 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The
Contact Lens Institute has named 18 established and emerging leaders in the eyecare community as 2025 Visionaries. The diverse group represents a range of practice settings, research interests and specializations from across the United States and Canada, according to the announcement. The honorees were selected based on their dedication to increasing awareness and promoting the advantages of soft contact lenses for both patients and practices. These individuals were also chosen for their ability to motivate and engage with their peers.
By Staff
Thursday, January 30, 2025 12:18 AM
NEW YORK—
AI Optics Inc., an AI-focused medical device company, announced that it has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its
Sentinel Camera, a handheld retinal imaging system that captures images of the human eye.
By Daniel Breeman
Sunday, January 26, 2025 1:00 AM
As the calendar turns to 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) continues to cast a wide net over nearly every industry, and the optical industry is no exception. Developing at a torrid pace, AI is being implemented by optometrists, ophthalmologists and primary care physicians as a means to increase efficiencies in their practices while still striving for optimal patient outcomes. As the technology continues to evolve, it is being used to enhance applications and perform a variety of tasks such as disease detection and diagnosis, screening and monitoring, expansion of telehealth, personalized medicine, virtual and augmented reality, administrative tasks, drug discovery, and perhaps most importantly, to improve access to care and patients’ overall health.
By Staff
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 10:00 AM
A new survey released at the Game Developers Conference shows that industry insiders are concerned about the impact of AI and recent layoffs. The annual
State of the Game Industry Survey found that developers continue to feel both direct and indirect effects from ongoing industry-wide layoffs, they also believe that generative artificial intelligence (AI) is hurting game development.
New data shows that 11 percent of developers reported being laid off in the past year, with roles in the narrative field seeing the most moves.
Additionally, 41 percent of respondents said they had felt the impact of these layoffs, with 29 percent observing their direct colleagues were being let go and 18 percent witnessing developers on other teams being let go.
More than half of developers noted that the companies they work for have implemented generative AI, while 36 percent reported they are now personally using the technology. Adoption of the technology is highest among older generations, with 47 percent of respondents over the age of 55 reporting they use these tools, compared with 28 percent in the 18 to 34-year-old age range.
PC platforms continue to be the most common form of gaming, with 80 percent of developers reporting they are working in this area of game development, up from 66 percent last year. Web browser games are increasing in popularity, according to the report, with 16 percent of developers reporting they are now working on releases for web browsers. Mobile game development increased 5 percent compared with last year, with 29 percent of respondents developing games for Android compared with 28 percent developing games for iOS.
By Staff
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 1:33 PM
CEOs remain optimistic about the global economic outlook, according to a new report from PwC, the brand name for PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwCIL), a multinational professional services network. The
PwC 2025 Global CEO Survey found that many executives plan to increase their number of employees. They are also focused on continuing with AI rollout in 2025.
Nearly 60 percent of respondents said they expect global growth to increase over the next 12 months, while 42 percent said they would increase their company headcount during the same period.
AI will continue to be a significant addition to many companies, with 56 percent of CEOs reporting efficiency gains already impacting their businesses. One-third of CEOs said they have seen increased profitability, and 32 percent have seen higher revenues.
In fact, many companies are seeing AI and innovation as a must investment in order to continue doing business, with 42 percent of CEOs reporting they believe their company will not be variable beyond 10 years without reinvention. Nearly 40 percent reported they have begun competing in new sectors over the past five years to stay ahead.
For many companies, however, this may not be fast enough. Approximately 50 percent of CEOs said they reallocate 10 percent or less of financial and human resources from year to year, while 75 percent said they reallocate less than 20 percent. According to the report, only 7 percent of revenue over the last five years has come from distinct new businesses.
By Staff
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 12:15 AM
OAKLAND, N.J.—
Topcon Healthcare, Inc., a provider of digital health care solutions and robotic diagnostic devices, has announced the appointment of Tilman Otto as the vice president of technology innovation and incubation.
By Staff
Friday, January 17, 2025 12:21 AM
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—
Tangible Science Inc. announced that Karen Havenstrite, Ph.D., MBA, co-founder, and former CTO, has been appointed chief executive officer, succeeding Victor McCray, MD, who will transition to the role of executive chairman of the board.
By Staff
Thursday, January 16, 2025 2:51 PM
Businesses are planning to invest in AI this year, according to a
new retail survey from Honeywell, a company that specializes in aerospace, building automation, industrial automation, and energy and sustainability solutions. New data shows that 8 out of 10 retailers plan to increase the use of automation and artificial intelligence across their operations, to adapt to changing consumer behaviors.
Many businesses also plan to enhance employee skills and improve efficiency for shoppers in the coming year. According to the report, 35 percent of major retailers are planning to make significant AI investments in 2025.
The survey found that more employers are tuned into the benefits of AI, with 52 percent of respondents reporting that the technology can help employees progress more quickly in their careers, expand their soft skills and continuously provide value to their jobs.
Additionally, 60 percent of retail executives said that AI tools make the job easier for employees, while 55 percent said they increase job satisfaction.
AI is being integrated into more aspects of the consumer experience, including access to information, improved translation times and better price comparison opportunities. Sixty-six percent of consumers who took the survey reported that they have used AI while shopping, including using chatbots, price comparison tools or customer reviews.
The most common use for AI among consumers is price comparisons at 53 percent, followed by checking product availability at 41 percent and a more seamless checkout experience at 34 percent.