A US study shows that multivitamins may lower cataract risk, but do not have the same effect on macular degeneration.

 

The researchers followed 14,641 male doctors in the United States. Half of them were taking daily multivitamins, as well as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene supplements, whereas the other half took a placebo.

 

In the placebo group, 945 cases of cataract developed over the years, compared to 872 cases in the doctors who took multivitamins, which is a 9% decrease in risk. This risk dropped by as much as 13% for nuclear cataract. Given the extremely high number of patients with cataracts, even a modest 10% drop in risk “would nonetheless have a large public health impact,” said Dr. William Christen, researcher at Harvard Medical School and the study’s lead author.

 

Mmultivitamins, however, did not produce the same results for AMD prevention. The researchers even found more cases of AMD in patients who had taken the vitamins (152), compared to the placebo group (129). Though it was a finding deemed to be statistically insignificant, it nonetheless raised some concerns. “Clearly, this finding needs to be examined further in other trials,” concluded Dr. Christen.

Source:

http://www.aao.org/newsroom/release/daily-multivitamin-supplement-use-decreases-cataract-risk-in-men.cfm

The Aspex Group just signed with the German company BMW a worldwide distribution agreement for its eyewear collection. Aspex and BMW had already signed a distribution agreement in Canada and the United States less than a year ago.

 

Signet Armorlite and Riverside Opticalab have signed a distribution agreement for Kodak lenses in Canada. The agreement takes effect February 27.

 

Riverside Opticalab has been licensed to produce the Kodak Clean’N’CleAR^TM coatings and Free Form lenses, namely Kodak Unique^TM, Precise^® PB, and Precise^® Short PB digital lenses.

“This is very much aligned with our corporate mission to expand our commitment to offering and developing the best optical solutions to the eyecare professionals in Canada,” said Roland Laplante, president of the Riverside Opticalab group.

“With Riverside Opticalab’s license and qualification to produce these lens designs and anti-reflective coating, more Canadian eyecare professionals will be able to offer these various lens technologies with a recognized brand name,” stated Brad Staley, president of Signet Armorlite.

The KODAK Unique^TM and KODAK Precise^® PB full backside progressive lenses are designs created by Signet Armorlite, Inc. They offer ease of dispensing and a high rate of adaptation.

Sources:

Riverside Opticalab, Signet Armorlite

 

The probability of glaucoma leading to blindness has fallen by half since 1980, according to a study published in Ophthalmology.

 

In the last 34 years, changes to diagnostic criteria, new therapies, innovative tools and improved glaucoma management techniques have helped patients immensely. However, the Mayo Clinic study presented in the article was the first to evaluate the changes in the risks of glaucoma progression over an extended period of time and the incidence of blindness related to this illness.

 

After studying 857 cases of open-angle glaucoma diagnosed between 1965 and 2009 in Minnesota, the researchers found that the risks of going blind after 20 years was 25.8% for patients who were diagnosed between 1965 and 1980, compared to 13.5% for individuals diagnosed between 1981 and 2000.

 

Nonetheless, 15% of patients still end up going blind. “The percentage of people who continue to develop blindness is still too high,” says Dr. Arthur J. Sit, associate professor of ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic. “This is generally due to a late diagnosis and to our incomplete understanding of glaucoma, so it is crucial to continue research into this devastating disease, and all eyecare professionals need to be vigilant in detecting it very early.”

Source:

http://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(13)00808-7/abstract

 

Essilor has entered into an agreement with Coastal Contacts Inc. to acquire Coastal.com, a transaction worth about $430 million.

 

The purchase price of $12.45 per share to be paid by Essilor represents a premium of 43% over the three-month average price for Coastal.com on the TSX ($8.73) and 84% over the six-month average price ($6.78).

 

“Essilor shares Coastal.com’s focus on customers, innovation and growth,” said Roger Hardy, Coastal.com’s founder and CEO. “The combination will enhance Coastal.com’s ability to achieve its goals while realizing a significant all-cash premium for our shareholders. I am confident this transaction is the right decision for Coastal.com, our employees and our shareholders.”

 

The agreement remains to be approved by shareholders and the relevant authorities. It has already been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. Since the sale has not yet been completed, the Board could receive a better offer from another buyer, in which case Essilor would have the right to match the new offer. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.

Source:

http://investors.coastal.com/Press-Room/News-Releases/Press-Release-Details/2014/Essilor-International-Agrees-to-Acquire-Coastalcom-for-430-Million/default.aspx