Blog

June 23, 2020May 19, 2026

Two ARVO Papers Provide New Insights for Contact Lens-Based Myopia Management with Children

Two scientific papers being presented as part of the ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) 2020 virtual conference proceedings provide eye care professionals (ECPs) with new insights to aid contact lens-based myopia management with children. Both can be accessed from the ARVO Media library catalog within ARVOLearn. Abstracts will be published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science next month.

ReCSS Study Examines Safety of Pediatric Soft Contact Lens Wear

Robin Chalmers, OD, FAAO, Principal Investigator for the ReCSS study (Retrospective Cohort Study of Safety of Pediatric Soft Contact Lens Wear), led the effort on behalf of CooperVision as part of its FDA approval for MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses.^* The study retrospectively reviewed 4,611 clinical charts from 782 children across seven geographically and ethnically diverse private eye care practices in the United States and from 181 children in two randomized longitudinal clinical trials.

The record review included any clinical visits of children through age 16 who were first fit with soft contact lenses when 8 to 12 years old. Clinical records involving adverse events were assessed and classified by an independent expert medical panel. The annualized rate of infiltrative adverse events was very low (0.66%/year with a 95% CI 0.39–1.05) as was the annualized rate of contact lens papillary conjunctivitis (0.48%/year with a 95% CI 0.25-0.82). The study estimated a microbial keratitis rate of 7.4/10,000 years (95% CI 1.8–29.6) in soft contact lens wearers aged 8-16 years, comparable to the estimated rates in adult wearers.

Population-Based Centile Analysis Affirms MiSight^® 1 day* Contact Lens Clinical Trial Outcomes

Ian Flitcroft, MA, DPhil, FRCOphth, organized a population-based centile analysis of refractive development to assess outcomes from the CooperVision MiSight 1^® day contact lens myopia management three-year clinical study in the context of known growth rates of European children. Progression rates for refraction and annual progression were assessed for 113 children participating in the MiSight^® 1 day study in Portugal, the United Kingdom and Canada. These were compared to centile calculations for 9,092 Irish children aged 8 to 17, derived from an anonymized sample of optometric health records.

The authors found that treatment led to less progression of myopia than would normally be observed in a standard European optometric practice, and that the control group behaved in the way that would be expected for a typical patient under an ECPs care.

Both studies were supported by grants from CooperVision.

Click HERE for the full press release.

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

Macular Degeneration Diagnostic Tool Hidden in Plain Sight

An experiment that began by testing the properties of quantum entanglement has led to the discovery of a new diagnostic tool that could help optometrists detect macular degeneration much earlier than was previously possible.

University of Waterloo researchers from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) set out to test the human eye’s ability to perceive one of the properties of quantum entanglement but quickly realized that the tool they created to test their theory had an immediate practical use.

The IQC researchers then teamed up with researchers from the School of Optometry and Vision Science to use their work to design a unique form of light that is visible to people with healthy eyes, but not to people whose eyesight is degenerating.

“This started as an experiment to see how people can directly perceive a quintessential property of quantum entanglement,” said Dusan Sarenac, lead IQC researcher on the project. “But the collaboration quickly showed that these quantum applications can help humans right now.”

A person with healthy eyes can detect polarized light in the form of a blurry spot in their field of vision – a phenomenon known as Haidinger’s brush. But those with unhealthy eyes – macular degeneration – can’t see it at all.

People with an increased risk of developing macular degeneration would have a harder time seeing and tracking the polarized light profiles, the researchers reasoned. Intrigued by the hypothesis, the team prepared a unique form of light that would have particular polarization capabilities not commonly found in nature.

Using this quantum technology, the vision science team, led by Andrew Silva, ran an experiment with human participants. While a camera would only see a spot when looking at the light, the majority of participants were able to discriminate and respond to the profiles that are filtered by the healthy macula in the human eye.

Based on these findings, the team is currently developing a structured light microscope that will allow optometrists to image and track physiology of the eyes and in particular macular degeneration in patients. It is important, though tricky, to detect macular degeneration early in order to achieve the best treatment outcomes. Researchers aim to explore if this test will enable the disease to be caught earlier than current tests.

Click HERE for the full press release.

June 23, 2020June 29, 2020

Alberta College Partners with OneLocal for COVID Safe Services

The Alberta College and Association of Opticians (ACAO) has announced a partnership with OneLocal, a Toronto-based company providing a free resource to small businesses across the country called CovidSafe.Services.

A study conducted by OneLocal of over 1,000 respondents, found that 89.6% of people won’t enter a business unless the business clearly lists all of the safety precautions they have taken to keep customers safe. OneLocal built the COVIDsafe program so that business owners can easily acknowledge all of the safety precautions they are taking and to market those safety precautions to all potential customers, in order to increase the chances that a consumer will engage with the business.

The COVIDsafe’s website has an impressive compilation of industry specific best practices based on public health guidelines from both federal and local authorities. Site visitors can search the guidelines by specific industry, including opticians and optometrists.

Businesses are able to create a profile and confirm which best practices they are following to keep their customers, employees, and community safe, and upload supporting pictures. Upon registration, a COVIDsafe badge is provided that retailers place on their website which all of your visitors can view. The service provides a searchable directly of businesses that have implemented COVID safe services.

The Association has urged its members to sign up for this free resource in 10 minutes so that clients will be able to see all of the precautions they are taking to keep them safe.

The CovidSafe Services are available to optical retailers upon sign up at https://covidsafe.services/get-approved

Questions may be directed to info@covidsafe.services.

View the Announcement on the ACAO website.

About ACAO

The Alberta College and Association of Opticians (ACAO) serves both the pu b lic and our members. ACAO regulates opticians in the province of Alberta under the Health Professions Act and provides continuing education opportunities, seminars, events, and more to its members. (www.acao.ca)

About COVIDsafe Services

COVIDsafe Services is an initiative built by OneLocal. OneLocal provides small to medium-sized businesses with an array of marketing services to help companies create long-lasting and sustainable customer relationships. (Www.covidsafe.services)

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

The Optical Industry and COVID-19

Jessie Strype, Optik Magazine contributor, discusses how the COVID pandemic affected businesses. Like many other professions, opticians were left wondering how to move forward.

After the initial blow of stores closing and jobs put on hold (or lost completely), came the days of interpreting what exactly “essential service” meant and how we were able to apply it to our industry. As the days and weeks progressed, live webinars and group forums offered insight as to how our colleagues were adjusting and innovating, it was still evident that the theme was confusion about what lay ahead, and discussions of practice that left many uncomfortable.

Such a large part of our core as licensed opticians is the battle against big online chains. We have strived to create the “experience” for our patients and educate on the advantages and benefits of buying eyewear in-store with a professional. We spend time cultivating lasting relationships with our patients. We love to share design features on a frame from a collection that we have painstakingly curated over time. A child-like happiness accompanies the feeling of a perfect dispense and our patients appreciate the extra time we spend with them.

We want ultimate control to ensure fit, measurements, and final adjustments. When COVID-19 appeared, many offices were left to dispense glasses without some of the characteristics that separate the figurative wheat from the chaff. Glasses were being left on front porches, sent in the mail, or handed through car windows with the promise of a proper fitting when “things return to normal.”

Not only did we see huge changes in our dispensing lives, but also with regards to communication and continuing education. Inside Optics was held virtually, with huge attendance. A generous amount of time was spent talking about the challenges of COVID-19 while navigating the trials and tribulations of technology.

Find out how some industry professionals feel about the shift to technology and PPE and safe practices.

The full article by Jessie Strype is available in the June-July Issue of Optik Magazine.

Click here to read the full article.

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

Safilo and Max Mara Announce Termination of Eyewear License Agreement

Safilo and Max Mara have mutually agreed on the termination of their license agreement for the Max Mara collections of sunglasses and optical frames. The agreement will end on October 31, 2020.

In 2019, the Max Mara license represented less than 2% of Safilo Group’s net sales.

Click HERE for the press release.