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January 29, 2025January 29, 2025

Transitions and the OAC Announce the 2024 Students of Vision Scholarship Winners

Transitions Optical and the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) announce the winners of the 2024 Students of Vision Scholarship program: Forouzan Zare, Natasha Reyes and Konan M’Boya Grâce Divine.

All three winners will receive a complementary pair of Transitions^® lenses, and the first-place winner will also receive an invitation to Transitions^® Academy 2025 in Orlando, FL.

Forouzan Zare, a student optician at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), will be awarded a grand prize scholarship of $2,000.
Natasha Reyes, a student optometrist at the University of Waterloo, will be awarded a scholarship of $1,500.
Konan M’Boya Grâce Divine, an optics and eyewear student at the Cégep François Garneau, will be awarded a scholarship of $1,000.

This year’s scholarship emphasizes the need for greater awareness that prolonged UV exposure from the sun can cause serious eye diseases, potentially leading to vision loss.

Entrants were tasked with developing a project demonstrating how one would educate younger patients about the importance of protecting their eyes from UVA, UVB and blue-violet light. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges based on the following criteria: creativity, strategic thinking and ethics.

Be a Vision Hero winner 2024 Transitions OAC contest — Grand prize winner Forouzan says, “For me this project means more than the scholarship, it’s the foundation of something I want to dedicate my career to. My dream is to create a real, professionally produced book that inspires kids to care for their eyes while having fun.”

Forouzan created a children’s book titled “Be a Vision Hero, Protect Your Eyes in Style” to inspire young readers to adopt healthy vision habits in an engaging and accessible way.

Natasha produced a short video offering valuable statistics and insights on how optometrists can better educate patients about eye health.

Konan’s presentation demonstrated an interaction between her and a young consumer where she gave a thorough explanation of how the eye works and the types of protection needed.

Transitions OAC winner 1 Forouzan Zare — Forouzan Zare

Transitions OAC winner 2 Natasha Reyes — Forouzan Zare

“At Transitions, we’re committed to empowering the next generation of optical professionals to advocate for proper eye protection. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship winners, your dedication to protecting youth vision is truly commendable!”

Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing and sales manager, Transitions Optical Canada

“We were inspired by the creativity, passion and attention to detail demonstrated in this year’s applicants. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Transitions Optical to support future eye care professionals in promoting early vision protection ensuring lifelong eye health.”

Robert Dalton, Executive Director, OAC

Click HERE for the press release.

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January 27, 2025

CooperVision Names Steven Robins as President, Americas

CooperVision Steven Robins president Americas

CooperVision has appointed Steven Robins as President, Americas, effective immediately. He is a three-decade healthcare veteran, with several previous high-profile corporate leadership and consulting roles in the vision care industry.

Robins was most recently Managing Partner and Principal for New England Consulting Group, where he worked with a range of Fortune 500 organizations across the medical device, pharmaceutical, and OTC/vitamin sectors. Among these were strategic engagements with CooperVision, including the U.S. introduction of its MiSight^® 1 day contact lens^† for myopia control.

He has also served as Chief Marketing Officer and President of North American Vision Care for Bausch + Lomb, General Manager of Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Healthcare business in Canada, and Group Marketing Director for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

“Steven has been working with CooperVision for a number of years on strategic, priority projects including our MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses. I am impressed with his strategic thinking as well as his passion for the industry and our customers. He is a charismatic, engaging leader who undoubtedly will drive positive impacts throughout our Americas business.”

Debbie Olive, Chief Commercial Officer, CooperVision

“Since my first foray into ocular health almost 20 years ago, I have known that there’s something special about this industry, shown by the way its professionals and products come together to make the world better for millions of people every day. There are big opportunities in vision care, and CooperVision is a clear leader in several. It’s a privilege to join the company that has its sights set on becoming an even greater part of people’s lives through remarkable innovations and partnerships,” said Robins.

Robins holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bates College and has participated in the Pfizer Global Leadership Program with Harvard University. He plans to relocate to Rochester, N.Y., a community that he called home for several years.

Click HERE for the press release.

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References:

† Indications for Use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, among others, statements regarding the potential impact of new management and CooperVision’s opportunities in the Americas region. Forward-looking statements necessarily depend on assumptions, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise and are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Among the factors that could cause actual results and future actions to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements are risks relating to challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products; risks relating to research and development, regulatory requirements, clinical studies, sales, marketing, and distribution plans and capabilities; potential product performance and quality issues; intellectual property risks; competition; and other factors described in CooperCompanies’ Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the “Business”, “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in Cooper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, as such Risk Factors may be updated in annual and quarterly filings. CooperCompanies cautions investors that forward-looking statements reflect the company’s analysis only on their stated date. CooperCompanies disclaims any intent to update them except as required by law.

January 24, 2025January 24, 2025

Bausch + Lomb Bolsters Pipeline with Acquisition of Whitecap Biosciences

Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced an affiliate has acquired Whitecap Biosciences, LLC, which is currently developing two innovative therapies for potential use in glaucoma and geographic atrophy (GA). The acquisition strengthens Bausch + Lomb’s expanding clinical-stage pipeline.

“We’re focused on finding treatments that address unmet needs or significantly improve upon the current standard of care. Glaucoma and geographic atrophy are two areas where we believe that dramatic improvement is possible. Whitecap Biosciences’ investigational medicines show real promise when it comes to slowing vision loss and perhaps even improving vision for patients with glaucoma, which would be a long-overdue breakthrough.”

Yehia Hashad, MD, chief medical officer and executive vice president, Research & Development, Bausch + Lomb

Whitecap Biosciences was founded in 2015 to develop novel therapies for ophthalmic diseases with a focus on glaucoma, GA and other serious eye diseases. The company successfully completed Phase 2 clinical trials for WB007, a highly potent alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, in glaucoma. Additional clinical trials are planned for both glaucoma and GA.

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs when excessive eye pressure or other causes lead to damage of the optic nerve. As one of the leading causes of preventable blindness, glaucoma affects about four million people in the United States, but if caught early, it is possible to help slow and potentially prevent vision loss.^1-3 GA, also known as advanced dry age-related macular degeneration, affects approximately one million people in the U.S.⁴

“Glaucoma and geographic atrophy can cause severe vision loss, with many patients experiencing progressive deterioration,” said Scott Whitcup, MD, a founder and former chief executive officer, Whitecap Biosciences. “By joining a global leader like Bausch + Lomb, we hope Whitecap’s assets will be developed into effective treatments that improve visual outcomes for patients.”

References

National Eye Institute. Glaucoma and Eye Pressure. Retrieved from https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/glaucoma-and-eye-pressure. Reviewed on Nov. 12, 2024.
John Hopkins. Glaucoma. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma. Reviewed on Nov. 12, 2024.
Ehrlich JR, Burke-Conte Z, Wittenborn JS, et al. Prevalence of Glaucoma Among US Adults in 2022. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(11):1046–1053. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.3884
Saundankar V, Borns M, Broderick K, et al. Annual prevalence of geographic atrophy and wet age-related macular degeneration among Medicare Advantage enrollees in a US health plan. J. of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy 31(1). doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2025.31.1.88

Click HERE for the press release.

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January 24, 2025January 24, 2025

Step Into Bold Style: The New Icon Lacoste Collection

Voila Optik Jan-Feb 2025 Marchon Lacoste L6056S_749

The oversized unisex acetate model (L6056S) from the New Icon Lacoste collection commands attention with its bold lines and refined details. The acetate frame features a striking double bridge on the front, delivering a daring aesthetic.

Transparent temples reveal a metal core adorned with Lacoste’s signature pattern, further elevated by a printed logo in elegant gold and silver tones.

Distributed by Marchon: www.marchon.com

About Marchon:

Working with leading brands to constantly push the envelope through distinct designs, innovative materials and clever constructions, Marchon Eyewear’s goal is to consistently design distinctive eyewear that offers accessible quality, style and value.

Marchon is proud of its diversified portfolio of brands, covering key demand segments in the premium end of the market.

Marchon Eyewear distributes its products through a global network of subsidiaries and distributors, serving over 80,000 accounts in more than 100 countries.

Whether helping people access quality care, supporting eye care providers in managing their practice, or partnering with local organizations to aid our communities, VSP Vision™ is there with a comprehensive portfolio of brands that keep health at the center of everything we do. As the first not-for-profit eye health company, care and compassion have led our growth for nearly 70 years. Today, our focus remains on helping those we serve bring their best vision to life.

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January 24, 2025January 21, 2025

Childhood Myopia (part 2 of 4)

Close-up photograph of a smiling child holding a contact lens on the tip of their finger. Childhood myopia remedies include specialty contact lenses.

By Thomas Weissberger, RO

There are three key rules for childhood visual environment

Children and young teens should spend at least two hours per day outdoors. While this can seem hard to achieve, it may be mostly achieved at school for primary school aged children, when this intervention is most crucial to prevent or delay myopia.
Sun protection without excessive risk of sun exposure e.g. wearing hats, sunglasses, and seeking shade, are vital for eye health.
Kids should be physically active for at least 60 minutes per day. This should be moderate to-vigorous level activity spent outdoors which is all the better for their visual development. For primary school aged children, this may be mostly achieved during break times.

As important as lifestyle management is, compliance is difficult to adhere to, and thus we need to look at corrective actions. First, let us look at the two main contact-lens based treatments.

Contact-lens based childhood myopia remedies

Orthokeratology: (ortho-k) is a non-surgical treatment method for ametropias, that involves using specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea. By reshaping the cornea, ortho-k lenses can temporarily correct the refractive error allowing patients to see clearly without the need for glasses or contact lenses during waking hours.

An infographic describing orthokeratology as one of the childhood myopia remedies. It shows three diagrams: "Before" with the focus behind the retina, "During" with the lens reshaping the cornea, and "After wearing" with the focus corrected on the retina. The text at the bottom explains that orthokeratology corrects the shape of the cornea by wearing lenses at bedtime. All of the text also appears in French.

Ortho-k lenses are worn overnight and removed in the morning, and the cornea retains its reshaped curvature throughout the day. The reshaping effect is believed to be achieved by redistributing the cornea’s epithelial and stromal cells, which causes a temporary change in the shape and thickness of the cornea. It is important to note that ortho-k is not a permanent solution and requires ongoing treatment to maintain the effect.

Atropine: Although the specific mechanism of atropine in myopia management is not fully understood, it is thought to inhibit scleral thinning or stretching, and hence eye growth. Low doses of atropine in 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.05% concentrations have been found to be effective in slowing down myopic progression.

What childhood myopia remedies can opticians offer?

As Opticians, treatment options include specially designed contact lenses and spectacle lenses, as well as an innovative new idea based on contrast theory (currently only available in Japan).

Contact Lenses:

MiSight® contact lenses from Coopervision are daily disposable, soft CLs designed to control myopia progression in children ages 8 to 15 years.

MiSight® lenses are uniquely designed with concentric rings etched into the lens periphery. This design helps to focus light directly onto the retina and corrects the refractive error without causing the eye to grow longer.

Glasses: All the various treatments involve some type of concentric design in the lenses that create defocus effects on the peripheral retina without involving central vision.

The two largest developers/manufacturers of specialty lenses designed as childhood myopia remedies are Hoya and EssilorLuxottica. Each has developed their own lens design using slightly different technology. ZEISS also launched a new design in June, ZEISS MyoCare lenses.

The Practical Professor: Optical Solutions for the Real World

I am a second generation optician and have made all aspects of opticianry and optics my life. I have over 10 years of teaching experience as a former professor in the Dispensing Opticians’ program at Seneca College and at Georgian College. I was also responsible for
modernization of the optical curriculum.

I am a trainer and trainee (One never stops learning!), and I am available to share my knowledge and experience with today’s eye care professionals. As the owner of Special Eyes Optical Services, I am dedicated to supporting the optical industry. You can reach out to me at Tom@SpecialeyesOpticalServices.com.

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