Optometry Times

Optometry Australia (OA) has recently endorsed the World Council of Optometry (WCO) myopia management standard of care resolution. In the organization’s position statement, OA affirmed the WCO resolution and “supports a significant shift in clinical practice form merely correcting vision to employing strategies that slow myopia progression,” according to a news release. The OA supports the need for eye care providers to focus on assessing myopia risk and offering preventative counseling in addition to regular comprehensive eye examinations. In April 2021, WCO partnered with CooperVision to introduce its myopia management standard of care, defining evidence-based standard of care comprising of mitigation, measurement, and management. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dJe9MyKr

This week ushered in Bausch + Lomb's new lens fitting system for orthokeratology lens design process. Learn what else of note happened in this week's optometric recap: https://lnkd.in/erh3tBUd

The Frances G. Scaife Foundation recently donated a $100,000 grant to the Lighthouse Guild in an effort to aid in the expansion of programs to teach technological skills and provide training for patients with visual impairments. The donation was unveiled on February 5 by the private foundation, which has been a longtime donor to the Lighthouse Guild, according to a news release. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eG5TPRYu

EyeSouth Partners has announced a partnership with Retina Institute of Illinois, joining over 40 other eye care groups, more than 330 doctors providing medical and surgical care, and more than 220 locations that are affiliated with the management services organization. Affiliated eye care service organizations and practices are located throughout Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New York, according to a news release. Read more: https://lnkd.in/esAeEyve

Geographic atrophy presents unique challenges for optometrists, from early detection to patient education. Stay up to date on the latest clinical insights, research, and expert guidance with Optometry Times. Click here to explore our geographic atrophy coverage: https://hubs.li/Q03bLX8F0 #GeographicAtrophy #Optometry

??? Could Demodex be the hidden culprit? A panelist shares how treating Demodex blepharitis successfully reversed contact lens intolerance in a young patient—proving the power of addressing underlying ocular surface conditions. Watch the discussion here: https://ow.ly/feOH50Vafh7 #ContactLens #Demodex #OcularSurfaceDisease

In part of its 70th anniversary, VSP Vision has added a new mobile clinic to its VSP Vision Eyes of Hope fleet that will be traveling across the US to bring no-cost eye examinations and prescription glasses to communities in need. The organization now touts four mobile clinics in its fleet and will be travelling across the nation in part of VSP’s 70-event tour, according to a news release. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g2gsSmFx

Harrow has announced a new initiative, VEVYE Access for All, in hopes of removing obstacles to dry eye therapy via a partnership with PhilRx, a national mail-order pharmacy partner, which will help expedite prescription fulfillment with no prior authorization and flat-rate refill program. This program is in place for prescriptions of cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.1% (VEVYE, Harrow) and promises a $59 price tag per bottle, effective immediately. Patients whose prescriptions are covered by commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 through this program. Read more: https://ow.ly/uvFi50Vka7m

Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Schmidt College of Medicine researchers received a 5-year, $1.9 million grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) for the treatment of degenerative disease by replacement of dysfunctional cells with new cells. The research team, led by principal investigator Marc Kantorow, PhD, associate dean of graduate programs and a professor of biomedical science, and Lisa A. Brennan PhD, research professor at the FAU Schmidt College of Medicine, will work to determine the novel mechanisms that convert immature eye lens precursors cells into functional transparent cells, according to a news release. These replacement cells can be genetically engineered in FAU’s laboratory through programming of embryonic stem cells that can act as universal precursors for formation of mature cells and tissues. However, a proven point of difficulty has been identifying all the requirements for adult cell formation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dJqQKiWu

Optometry has had an exciting week with the FDA's acceptance of the NDA for Sydnexis for the treatment of myopia progression in pediatric patients. Read more from this week here: https://lnkd.in/ekmSc6Jf