Blog

September 15, 2016April 24, 2018

RightEye Developing Eye-tracking Tests for Autism and Parkinson’s Disease

RightEye LLC, a health technology company using eye tracking to revolutionize vision performance and patient care, announced today that it has acquired the exclusive rights to two internationally recognized eye movement tests that help doctors more accurately and objectively identify early stages of autism in children 12 to 40 months old, and detect Parkinson’s disease in patients of all ages. The tests, which are based on extensive clinical studies, help identify both disorders earlier and more accurately, which can lead to earlier and more appropriate intervention.

“RightEye has consistently pioneered the use of eye-tracking technology to help solve some of health care’s greatest challenges,” said Barbara Barclay, president of RightEye. “Acquiring these tests has implications that reach far beyond our business — as our eye movement technology platform will now enable parents, patients and providers to get reliable and objective answers they need, when they need them, anywhere in the world at a lower cost.”

RightEye’s newly acquired test to identify autism is the GeoPref Autism Test, developed by Dr. Karen Pierce, which uses eye-tracking technology to compare the amount of time children spend looking at videos of people with the amount of time they spend looking at videos of geometric shapes. According to peer-reviewed research, children with healthy brains will spend more time looking at the videos containing faces. This new test results in identifying in one in five cases, and identifies children for further testing in nearly half of cases, allowing for early therapy intervention, which can have a profound impact on outcomes. The American Pediatric Association recommends intervention before age 3, yet often children are not diagnosed until later.

“In developing the GeoPref Autism Test, my goal was to make it easier, faster and more affordable to identify toddlers at risk for autism,” said Dr. Karen Pierce, the developer of the test and a leading researcher in understanding autism. “By partnering with RightEye, I knew that I would be able to make my test more accessible to health care providers and parents of young children seeking answers about an often-misunderstood and late-diagnosed disorder.”

RightEye’s POM (Parkinson’s and Other Movement) Disorders Test identifies Parkinson’s and other rare movement disorders, including Huntington’s disease and Essential Tremor. Developed by a neurologist and researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the test accurately identifies and assesses patterns of eye movement that are affected in patients with movement disorders. The test, which offers more accuracy than traditional diagnostic methods, takes only five minutes and has a dramatically lower cost than the extensive, costly PET scans and MRIs usually required for diagnosis.

September 15, 2016April 24, 2018

Carl Zeiss Meditec Appoints Global Sales Leader for Ophthalmic Devices

DUBLIN, CA USA / JENA, GERMANY- In August 2016, Carl Zeiss Meditec consolidated its ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical business into a single Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Global Ophthalmic Devices headed by Jim Mazzo. ZEISS announces that the Global Sales organization for the newly consolidated SBU, comprised of Surgical Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Diagnostics and Refractive Lasers, will be led by Andrew Ihan Chang.

Prior to joining ZEISS, Chang was General Manager and Senior Vice President for Bausch + Lomb Surgical where he led the sales, marketing, operations and business development for the US. Previously at Optimedica Corporation / Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Chang led the marketing and launch of new laser systems and new indications globally. At ISTA Pharmaceutical / Bausch + Lomb, Chang held various marketing, sales and product development roles and led the market introductions of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals.

For full press release, click HERE.

September 15, 2016April 24, 2018

Optometry Giving Sight Leads Coalition in Support of World Sight Day

Denver, CO – Leading North American optometric companies, networks, schools and practices will once again join forces in a coalition led by Optometry Giving Sight in support of World Sight Day (October 13^th) and the World Sight Day Challenge, which runs throughout September and October.

This is the 10^th year of the Challenge, which encourages all members of the vision care community to make a donation or participate in a fundraising event to help fund sustainable eye health projects for people who are needlessly blind or vison impaired. This year will have a specific focus on the need for effective, sustainable eye health initiatives for children and adolescents as part of the Our Children’s Vision campaign.

Coalition members include ABB Optical Group, Alcon Foundation, AllAboutVision.com^®, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Essilor, EyePromise, FYidoctors, Vision Source^®, VOSH International and VSP Global^®.

They will be joined by A&A Optical, Acuity Pro, Advance Optical, Allergan, Amcon, Art Optical, Bard Optical, Clearvision, DAC Vision, De Rigo REM, Europa, Eye Recommend, GPLI / CLMA, Heidelburg, Hilco, Jobson, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Canada), Linden Optometry, Match Eyewear, MODO, Nikon/Elaine Turner, Optos, OSI, PECAA, Primary Care Optometry Magazine/Slack Inc., Reptile Sun, Ron’s Optical, RX Optical, Signet Armorlite, Synergeyes, Texas State Optical, Tura, Vision One Credit Union, VmaxVision, Wave Contact Lens, Westgroupe, White Ophthalmic Supply Ltd, Wiley X, and ZEISS (Canada), all of whom are participating in the Challenge in some way. More companies, networks and practices are signing up every day.

“We are excited to be leading this industry based coalition in support of the 10^th Anniversary of the World Sight Day Challenge in North America,” said Clive Miller, CEO of Optometry Giving Sight. “We are grateful for the support that we receive and encourage all eye and vision care companies, networks, schools and practices to take the Challenge and make a donation so that we can help end avoidable blindness and give sight and hope to the millions of people – including children and adolescents – in need.”

For more information about the World Sight Day Challenge, or to make your donation today, please visit givingsight.org

To read full press release click HERE.

September 15, 2016April 24, 2018

Essilor Enters Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Charenton-le-Pont, France –Essilor International enters the extra-financial international reference Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe. This ranks Essilor among the world’s best performing companies in terms of sustainable development.

Entering DJSI places Essilor among the companies considered to be the most sustainable in the «Health Care Equipment & Supplies » sector worldwide, and acknowledges the Company’s continuous efforts in terms of social, societal and environmental responsibility.

Essilor is in particular recognized for its performance in terms of innovation and product quality, combined with the acceleration of its activities to improve access to visual health for underserved populations, namely through its inclusive business and strategic giving initiatives. The Company’s human capital development policy and its environmental approach are further strong assets underlined by DJSI.

With 61,000 employees in 63 countries, nearly 540 production sites on five continents and more than $2.4 billion (€2 billion) in purchasing, Essilor has a global and diverse “footprint”. The Company’s significant growth in recent years, along with changes in regulations and stakeholders’ expectations, have led Essilor to raise the bar in terms of its corporate and social responsibilities. Its focus is to engage employees and partners worldwide in a continuous improvement approach in areas such as innovation, developing talents, reducing water consumption and aligning suppliers and customers with the Company’s mission.

To read full press release, click HERE.

September 12, 2016April 24, 2018

Safilo Launches New Fall-Winter 2016 BOSS Eyewear Collection

The Fall/Winter 2016 BOSS eyewear collection commemorates the craftsmanship and innovative functionality that defines the brand. Each piece in the new collection offers authentic understatement, ultimate wearing comfort and a very special attention to detail.

LIGHTWEIGHTNESS AND INNOVATION
Styles: BOSS 0838/S sunglasses and BOSS 0842 optical frame

These men’s sunglasses and optical frames are ultra-lightweight and flexible. The retro-inspired yet modern shapes are equipped with an unscrewed patented hinge as well as distinctive details like the slim double-bridge on the sunglasses and the exclusive nose-pads with a subtle “BOSS” lettering.

The sunglasses come in an attractive male color palette: matte black/matte gold with brown lenses; matte burgundy/Ruthenium with brown grey lenses; matte blue/matte Palladium with green lenses; matte black/ matte dark Ruthenium with grey blue lenses and matte mud/matte dark Ruthenium with grey polarized lenses.

The lightweight stainless steel of the optical frames are refined in masculine colors: matte black, matte brown and matte dark Ruthenium.

Distributed by Safilo: www.safilo.com