BostonSight^® officially announced that Lensy, an animated scleral lens, will be its ambassador.

Daniel C. Brocks, MD, BostonSight’s Chief Medical Officer, drew Lensy for his young children to explain his work. His 2D drawing was transformed into a graphic and has been brought to life as a 3D plush toy.

Education is a core component of BostonSight’s mission, and Lensy’s goal is to assist in educating young patients about scleral lenses and PROSE^® devices. Lensy is a quadrant-specific scleral lens, with lens applicators, known as plungers, for arms and legs. Her engaging smile and large eyes make her an exceptionally friendly tool for working with pediatric patients.

Lensy has slowly introduced herself to the scleral lens world. She attended BostonSight’s 2021 and 2022 FitAcademy^™ for Residents retreats, the International Congress of Scleral Contacts (ICSC) in 2022, and the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) in January of this year, where she made a lot of new friends, had her eyes “scanned” at sponsor booths, and “listened” to presentations. She has been warmly received by the eye care community, who look forward to Lensy helping introduce scleral lenses to their patients, especially in pediatric settings.

With input from Anna Maria Baglieri, OD, of Boston Children’s Hospital, who fits pediatric patients with scleral lenses, and Gail Windmueller, a Certified Child Life Specialist affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital, BostonSight developed Lensy: A Scleral Lens Story, a picture book about the basics of scleral lenses. In the story, Lensy follows her friend, Sophie Sheep, who needs scleral lenses due to extremely dry eyes.

BostonSight is running a fundraising campaign called Give (or Get!) the Gift of Lensy. A limited number of Lensy plushies and printed books are available for donation to pediatric patients at PROSE Network sites via the campaign. To Give (or Get!) the Gift of Lensy, please go to www.bostonsight.org/give-lensy.  The book is also available for digital download at the link.

Click HERE for the full press release.

The rich handmade tortoise acetate is articulated by a line of bright, fun colour around the eye rim, adding an extra layer of pop. This winning shape is transformed to the next level by its innovative colours. Available in Berry Stripe, Black/Lime Frost Stripe, Pink Frost Tortoise, and Teal Stripe.

Featured model: Kinda Spendy

Distributed by: www.ogieyewear.com  

Transitions has announced that Transitions Academy 2023 will be held from May 21 to 24, 2023 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.

Transitions Academy 2023 will provide industry professionals with the opportunity to expand their knowledge through expert presentations, inspiring guest speakers, and Transitions^® product and professional development workshops. The winners of the 2022 Transitions Innovation Awards will also be announced during the event.

Industry professionals who wish to attend Transitions Academy 2023 can do so through the following ways:

1. Become a Transitions Innovation Award Finalist – The awards are open to optical industry professionals, educators, retailers, optical laboratories and independent eyecare professionals and practices in the U.S. and Canada. The Transitions Innovation Awards categories include: 2022 Transitions Healthy Sight Ambassador (individual-only award), Retailer of the Year, Eyecare Practice of the Year, Channel Partner of the Year and Best in Training. Nominations for the Innovation Awards are open now through March 12, 2023. Additional details on the award categories and submission process can be found at Transitions.com/Awards.

• Request a Spot / Nominate Someone to Attend – Interested industry professionals from North America can request an invitation (limited spaces are available) at TransitionsAcademy.com.

Visit TransitionsAcademy.com for more info.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is marking World Glaucoma Week, March 12 – 18, 2023, with activities to raise awareness of glaucoma, the leading cause of preventable, irreversible blindness worldwide that impacts over 725,000 Canadians.

“While there is no cure for glaucoma, early detection and treatment can help prevent damage to the optic nerve, which can prevent loss of sight,” said Dr. Larissa Moniz, Director of Research and Mission Programs at Fighting Blindness Canada. “It is essential to have regular eye exams to monitor eye health and detect early signs of glaucoma.”

As part of World Glaucoma Week, Fighting Blindness Canada is inviting Canadians to participate in the following:

• Attend FBC’s View Point webinar: “Innovative Glaucoma Treatments” on Wednesday April 12, 2023, 3 p.m. EDT with speaker Dr. Patrick Gooi from the University of Calgary
• Watch pre-recorded View Point webinars featuring leading glaucoma experts.
• Visit FBC’s Glaucoma Resource Page and download the Glaucoma Tip Sheet to learn about glaucoma risk factors and early warning signs.
• Sign the petition to support Bill C-284 that calls for a National Eye Care Strategy; eensuring timely diagnosis and access to new treatments for people with glaucoma and other eye diseases.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has opened the call for applications for its 2023 grant cycle.

OGS funds organizations that focus on optometry-centric programs including the establishment or support of optometry schools, eye clinics, vision centers, and optical labs; the delivery of eye exams and low or no-cost glasses to underserved or marginalized populations;  integrated, long-term programs with a view toward providing sustained eye care to communities; and service delivery tied to the education and/or development of optometry.

“Hundreds of millions of people around the world do not have access to basic eye care, and as a result suffer from avoidable uncorrected refractive error. The organizations and projects we support are dedicated to providing more than short-term care; they expand optometry’s reach and long-term impact. By enabling people in underserved communities to pursue education and training in this field, they are able to deliver vision care to change the lives of thousands of others for years to come,” said Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Ret.), FAAO, OGS Executive Director, North America.

Grants average $25,000 to $45,000 USD/CAD, and can range up to $100,000. Awards are contingent upon the nature of the project, the amount of funds available, and the number and range of applications submitted. For the first time this year, OGS will consider applications for multi-year funding.

Domestic and international nonprofit organizations interested in applying for funding from OGS must complete a pre-qualification questionnaire by March 20. Organizations that qualify for further consideration will be emailed access to the full application by the end of the month. Funding decisions will be announced in July.

To be eligible for funding, organizations must qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or be a registered Canadian or international charity. For further information about eligibility and the OGS grant process, visit givingsight.org/funding.

Click HERE for the full press release.