Scientists from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) are poised to unveil multiple advancements in 3D printing next week during the ARVO 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. These innovations have widespread applications, with the potential to accelerate development of drug delivery systems, biodegradable contact lenses, and pharmaceuticals.

“Our multidisciplinary team has created one of the most sophisticated 3D printing environments for ocular research in the world,” said Alex Hui, OD, PhD, FAAO, head of Biosciences at CORE. “This investment in people and technologies is opening doors for new discoveries, product validation, and clinical insights, with so many implications for enhancing vision.”

CORE’s scientific poster presentations at ARVO span several interlinked aspects of three-dimensional modeling. Three related works focus on a new, CORE-developed method to rapidly fabricate PDMS (polydimethyl siloxane) microfluidic chips at a low cost and with high throughput. These chips are used to test ocular cellular responses to various conditions, formulations, and materials. Researchers were able to incorporate human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), which showed strong adherence, metabolic activity, and growth capability, indicating the viability of chip-based cell biological studies.

CORE also fabricated a PDMS microfluidic chip for evaluating contact lens-based drug release. ARVO organizers have designated “Fabrication of a Microfluidic Chip for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Studies Using 3D Printing” (Ramasamy M., et al.) as a scientific highlight for the entire conference.

Another CORE program to be shared in New Orleans developed a biodegradable bioink for fabricating ophthalmic devices. A novel gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)-centric formulation was used with a commercial masked-stereolithography (mSLA) 3D printer, with the resulting material assessed for degradation. Investigators also fabricated a contact lens from the same material, without requiring any support structures during printing.

In a quest to better evaluate ocular drug delivery, CORE scientists designed a soft hydrogel eye model, including an upper and lower eyelid, a frontal surface to mimic the cornea and sclera, and an internal chamber to mimic the interior of the eye. The eyeball and the lower eyelid were 3D bioprinted, then fit to a CORE-created in vitro OcuBlink device for automated blinking and tear collection. The outcomes supported the method for testing that more closely mimics a human ocular system, especially for drug absorption through the cornea.

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Transitions Optical has released a new trends report that highlights five trends for the optical industry in 2023. The report and trends were curated based on research and insights that resulted from in-depth conversations with Transitions Pro Forum members in the United States and Canada.

The report from Transitions provides an overview of five optical industry trends that today’s eyecare professionals can leverage to enhance patient and staff engagement, improve overall satisfaction, and grow their practices.

The five trends are:

• Do more with every patient: understanding impacts of the pandemic.
• Keep employees engaged: addressing needs with a people-first approach.
• Focus on community: making a difference hyperlocally.
• Keep an eye on a sustainable future: offering products to meet demands hyperlocally.
• Embrace a hybrid approach: connecting with patients online and off.

“The optical industry has evolved significantly in recent years, as have the needs and desires of patients and employees,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing and sales manager, Transitions Optical Canada. “The trends we identified, as well as the report that followed, were created to highlight actionable changes that eyecare professionals can implement to gain a competitive advantage in the future.”

To learn more about the five trends or view the report, visit Transitions.com/en-canadapro/education-product-knowledge.

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Blue Point Capital Partners announces the acquisition of eyebobs, a market leader in premium reading glasses. The investment is part of the firm’s broader plan to build a unique eyewear platform designed for B2B and B2C growth.

eyebobs joins Blue Point’s newly formed eyewear holding company following the firm’s March 2023 platform investment in Europa Eyewear.

Recognized for its distinctive style and art-worthy eyewear, eyebobs was founded in 2001 to address the gap between inexpensive readers sold in the mass market and designer frames sold by optical retailers. eyebobs began with a mission to “create original readers for original people” and has since transformed into a successful omnichannel brand with an exceptional product design aesthetic and a highly engaged customer base.

“We see tremendous opportunity for growth in the eyewear market and could not be more pleased to have Europa and eyebobs as part of our portfolio. The combined strength of these well-established companies will allow us to unlock growth for both organizations by leveraging their proprietary brands, leading design capabilities and differentiated B2B and B2C models,” said Blue Point Partner John LeMay.

“Europa and eyebobs have highly complementary capabilities, as well as like- minded cultures and values, making this investment a natural next step in the development of our eyewear platform,” said Blue Point Operating Executive Holly Rush. “eyebobs’ distinct brand and value-proposition truly resonate with consumers. With the capabilities and strengths of Europa, we believe this is a powerful combination poised to expand the brand’s reach and capture significant growth opportunities.”

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Marchon Eyewear and Paul Smith, Britain’s leading independent design company, announced that they have entered into an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement.

Marchon was previously responsible for the distribution of Paul Smith eyewear in North America. Under this new partnership, Marchon now oversees the design, manufacturing, and global distribution of the brand’s eyewear collection since January 2023.

Paul Smith sun and optical styles are designed with a classic yet modern approach, with a focus on craft and attention to detail – featuring the distinct signature styling and the organic colour palette Paul Smith is known for.

“Marchon is very proud to partner with Paul Smith, an iconic brand with timeless styling,” said Thomas Burkhardt, President of Marchon Eyewear, Inc. “We look forward to contributing to the brand’s future growth around the world, while strengthening our offering within the luxury eyewear segment. The new collections will be offering new eyewear styles that will uniquely capture the essence and exceptional quality of the Paul Smith brand.”

“We are delighted to be embarking on a new global eyewear partnership with Marchon. Harnessing their expertise in manufacturing and distribution and bringing our own unique approach to design and creativity, we have every confidence it will be a prosperous collaboration.” Ashley Long, Managing Director, Paul Smith Ltd.

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