CooperVision has announced the completion of enrollment in its global MiSight® 1 day post-approval clinical studies in the United States and China, marking a milestone in the development of real-world evidence for pediatric myopia control.
According to the company, these studies, together with the seven-year clinical trial of ActivControl® Technology, make up the longest and most comprehensive clinical evidence program undertaken to date for contact lens-based myopia control in children. The program includes both randomized controlled efficacy trials and large-scale safety registries.
CooperVision said the combined post-approval study programs span more than 100 clinical sites and include over 3,000 children. The company noted that the resulting data will add to the existing body of research on MiSight® 1 day, which has already been widely published and cited in ophthalmology and optometry.
The announcement coincides with Myopia Awareness Week 2026, running from May 18 to 24, and aligns with the company’s broader focus on advancing understanding of pediatric myopia, a condition expected to affect nearly half the global population by 2050.
“Completing enrollment is a crucial step, allowing us to start analyzing data that will further illustrate how MiSight® 1 day performs in real-world settings over multiple years,” said Kathryn Richdale, OD, PhD, Director of Post-Market Clinical Affairs at CooperVision. “The findings will further strengthen the existing evidence supporting MiSight® 1 day, helping eye care professionals continue to make informed myopia management decisions and reinforcing long-term confidence for families.”
According to CooperVision, participants in the multi-year studies represent populations across both the U.S. and China, with final data expected to be released on a rolling basis between 2027 and 2030.
The company also announced the release of Progress in Focus: The Global Impact of MiSight® 1 day, a report that brings together evidence related to the MiSight product family and outlines its development, including the planned Canadian introduction of MyDay® MiSight® 1 day.
One year ago, OptikNOW featured Dr. Alexa Hecht in the article “ECPs with a Side Gig: The Power of Social Influencers,” highlighting how eye care professionals were building personal brands and reaching new audiences through social media.
For Dr. Hecht, however, social media has become much more than a side gig. It has been a core practice growth strategy — one that helped create the visibility, patient connection and professional momentum needed to launch her own independent optometry practice.
The first CE webinar, “From Content to Clinic: Social Media as Patient Education in Optometry” on June 24 at 8 PM EDT and features Dr. Alexa Hecht, who has fostered a significant online following, including more than 60,000 followers on TikTok and 36,000 followers on Instagram.
In this session, Dr. Hecht will explore how social media can move beyond simple awareness-building to become a meaningful driver of practice growth. Drawing from her own experience, she will discuss how optometrists can use social platforms to build trust, communicate expertise, connect with current and prospective patients, and support the growth of an independent practice.
The Optometry Practice Strategy Series is a new national webinar program designed to help Canadian optometrists strengthen the business side of practice ownership and management. The series will feature expert-led sessions on timely topics including social media marketing, tax strategy, practice valuation, operational systems, artificial intelligence tools, and high performance team management.
The course has been COPE qualified for 1 hour of continuing education credit under COPE ID #104574-GO. There is no cost to attend.
Designed for optometrists at different stages of practice life, the series will deliver practical, business-relevant information for those building a new clinic, growing an established practice, or planning for a future transition.
Registration for the series is available at no cost.
If eyes are the windows into the soul, perhaps ears are the doorway to the heart. Both vision and hearing play huge roles in enjoying life. Whether it is the ability to read or the ability to participate in conversations, both are central to day-to-day connection and independence. Like vision, hearing deteriorates with age. Early detection and timely intervention can improve long-term vision and hearing health and overall wellness.
One Stop for Vision and Hearing Care
At three of our five clinics at Cowichan Eyecare, we have integrated hearing services. My brother is a Doctor of Audiology and leads our hearing care division.
Our first instinct was to operate in a silo and simply share space. Some of that may have stemmed from a fear of being viewed as nepotistic if we more closely integrated the vision and hearing offerings. Over time, we have continued to integrate both services in a more intentional way, and patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The convenience of addressing hearing needs in a place you already trust for eyecare, or vice versa, has quelled our initial reservations about joint care.
There are also real economies of scale that create efficiency and cost savings with hearing and vision integration. We share a front desk and a call-answering system, which streamlines communication and scheduling. We use a common Practice Management System (PMS) for billing and recalls, which helps us keep patients on track with follow-up care. Shared restrooms and lunchrooms allow for efficient use of space, leaving more room for special testing or retail areas in the clinic.
One of the key differences between vision and hearing is that there is often a significant lag between the onset of hearing loss and the time a patient seeks corrective help. Increasing awareness in both disciplines, and cross-educating our teams, is a practical way to reduce that lag and get people the support they need sooner. In our experience, simply having both services under one roof creates more natural conversations about overall sensory health.
The Role of Hearing and Vision on Cognition
Hearing is inextricably linked to cognition. Audiologists often say the ears collect sound, but it is the brain that hears. There is substantial research highlighting a connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive disorders. More recent research is also showing that improving hearing can reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Keeping our hearing healthy is an important part of keeping our brain in an optimal state.
“In cases where vision is compromised such as macular degeneration optimizing hearing is even more important due to limited cognitive resource theory.”
Because we cannot fully close our ears the way we can close our eyes, the brain is constantly receiving and processing sound. This ongoing processing keeps the auditory centres of the brain engaged and “exercised.” When we hear, the brain chooses to pay attention to some sounds (for example, conversation) and to tune out others (for example, the hum of traffic). That filtering is work, and it is part of what makes hearing such an active, brain-driven process.
We all have a certain amount of cognitive capacity, or “brain power.” That resource is limited, and the amount we have available at any given time depends on many factors, including fatigue. When we have untreated hearing loss, we use cognitive resources, and often our vision as well, to fill in the blanks of what our ears are not giving us. In conversation, hearing is the first step before we can understand content. A hearing deficiency demands cognitive resources first, and whatever brain power is left over can then be used to process, remember, recall, think ahead, draw analogies, create and understand jokes, and stay engaged in the moment.
Research has shown a significantly higher incidence of cognitive disorder in people with untreated hearing loss. For example, individuals with hearing loss between the ages of 45 and 65 have been shown to have two to five times the risk of reduced cognition and dementia, depending on the severity of the hearing loss (Lin et al., 2011; Livingston et al., 2020). More recent research is beginning to show that when hearing loss is treated, cognitive performance can improve significantly (Jiang et al., 2023).
The primary advantage of correcting milder degrees of hearing loss may be the potential cognitive benefit. When missing sounds are filled in with assistive devices such as hearing aids, it reduces demand on limited cognitive resources. Those resources can then be deployed for higher-order tasks, including comprehension, memory, and social connection. In cases where vision is compromised such as macular degeneration optimizing hearing is even more important due to limited cognitive resource theory.
The Business Opportunity
Our metrics show that hearing care revenue represents about 30% of the eyecare revenue opportunity. That means that, with little added space, a significant additional source of revenue can be available in many eyecare clinic settings. A hearing booth is required, but the footprint is manageable and the impact can be meaningful. A hearing booth is simply a small, sound-treated room that allows accurate testing and fittings in a quiet environment. There are few eyecare subspecialties that can provide this amount of financial upside without major renovation.
Of course, the details matter. The revenue-sharing agreement needs to be worked out, and medical manpower needs to be accounted for, including appropriate compensation for the audiologist. When it is structured properly, the integration can be both clinically valuable and financially sensible.
Wearables as the Gateway
New eyeglasses are coming to market that will be hearing-assistive. These glasses will provide sound enhancement and refinement by cancelling noise and using directional microphones built into the frame. These hearing glasses will likely provide solutions sooner for patients with low to moderate hearing loss.
They will not replace customized hearing instruments, and they are not meant to. Still, as an entry point, hearing glasses can be assistive at a lower cost, while also delivering great vision with prescription lenses. For some patients, that may reduce barriers and normalize getting help earlier.
The Focus on Wellness
Optometry and eyecare will continue to evolve. Technological advancements in wearables, enhanced diagnostics, and individualized solutions will allow ECPs to support better overall health and wellness for our patients. Can you hear it? The future will be clear, and it sounds amazing!
If you have noticed the TV volume creeping up, or you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves more often, bring it up at your next eye exam. We can help you understand what is normal, what is not, and what the next step could be.
About the Author:
Dr. Trevor Miranda, OD
Dr. Miranda is a partner in a multi-doctor, five-location practice on Vancouver Island. He is a strong advocate for true Independent Optometry. As a serial entrepreneur, Trevor is constantly testing different patient care and business models at his various locations. Many of these have turned out to be quite successful. Dr. Miranda is a regular contributor to Eye Care Business Canada under the category “Independent SightLines”. His latest project is the Optometry Unleashed podcast.
Want to see more articles like this? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazine and newsletters!
FYidoctors is marking a notable year of corporate recognition, having achieved Platinum Club status as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies while also being named among Canada’s Best Workplaces™, in addition to earning distinctions as a Best Workplace for Women and for having one of the Most Trusted Executive Teams.
The Platinum designation reflects seven consecutive years of recognition in the Canada’s Best Managed Companies program, which evaluates private Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million or more. According to the program, participating businesses are assessed on areas including strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities, innovation, governance, and financial performance.
Canada’s Best Managed Companies – Platinum status (CNW Group/FYidoctors)
For FYidoctors, the latest recognition points not only to continued business growth, but also to the organizational culture it says it has been building across its clinics, home offices, and Delta lab operations nationwide.
“This is an extraordinary milestone for our organization,” said Dr. Alan Ulsifer, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of FYihealth group. “Achieving Platinum status as a Best Managed Company while also being recognized as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces™ speaks to the strength of our strategy and, most importantly, the strength of our people. These honours reflect the dedication of our teams across the country who are committed to delivering exceptional patient care while building a culture rooted in trust and collaboration.”
The company said the workplace recognitions reinforce its focus on creating an environment in which employees across clinical, administrative, and lab settings feel supported and able to contribute at a high level.
Together, the honours position FYidoctors as an organization being recognized not only for its presence in Canadian eye care, but also for its broader approach to leadership, workplace culture, and operational performance.
Doyle Optometrists and Opticians marks its entry into the Outaouais region with the recent opening of its 27th location in the Aylmer sector. This opening is part of the company’s continued, sustained growth.
Two well-established local professionals are joining the project as co-owners: Dr. Janie Boucher, optometrist, and Édith Métayer, dispensing optician.
“We are very pleased to continue our development by establishing ourselves in the Outaouais region, a rapidly growing area, while remaining true to our business model founded on collaboration,” said Patrick Doyle, President.
This partnership reflects a core pillar of Doyle’s business model, which aims to allow professionals to focus fully on their patients and clientele. This approach has enabled the company to grow steadily across Quebec while maintaining strong local roots.
“This model, which combines autonomy with support, allows each co-owner to be actively involved in their boutique while benefiting from the expertise and guidance of our head office.”
This opening is part of a rigorous expansion strategy combining organic growth and targeted acquisitions. Additional projects will be announced in spring 2026 under the leadership of President Patrick Doyle and Vice-President Karl Brousseau, Optometrist.
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released an updated version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, adding TFOS DEWS III recommendations, dry eye etiological drivers, the OSDI-6 questionnaire and refined management options.
The Vision Council Foundation and the United Opticians Association are partnering for National Sunglasses Day to promote UV safety awareness and highlight the role of opticians and eyecare providers in sunwear education.
EyeRide 2026 returns June 20, bringing cyclists together from Vaughan to Alliston and Collingwood to raise funds for programs supporting people who are blind or partially sighted.
Modern Optical International has launched Modern Vision for All, a charitable initiative that contributes $1 from every qualifying frame purchase to support access to vision care through EyeCare4Kids and GoodVision.
Riyadh will host a major global optometry and optical gathering from April 2 to 4, 2027, bringing together OptiVision, the 6th World Congress of Optometry, SSO 2027 and SILMO Riyadh.
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released an updated version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, adding TFOS DEWS III recommendations, dry eye etiological drivers, the OSDI-6 questionnaire and refined management options.
The Vision Council Foundation and the United Opticians Association are partnering for National Sunglasses Day to promote UV safety awareness and highlight the role of opticians and eyecare providers in sunwear education.
EyeRide 2026 returns June 20, bringing cyclists together from Vaughan to Alliston and Collingwood to raise funds for programs supporting people who are blind or partially sighted.
Modern Optical International has launched Modern Vision for All, a charitable initiative that contributes $1 from every qualifying frame purchase to support access to vision care through EyeCare4Kids and GoodVision.
Riyadh will host a major global optometry and optical gathering from April 2 to 4, 2027, bringing together OptiVision, the 6th World Congress of Optometry, SSO 2027 and SILMO Riyadh.
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released an updated version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, adding TFOS DEWS III recommendations, dry eye etiological drivers, the OSDI-6 questionnaire and refined management options.
The Vision Council Foundation and the United Opticians Association are partnering for National Sunglasses Day to promote UV safety awareness and highlight the role of opticians and eyecare providers in sunwear education.
EyeRide 2026 returns June 20, bringing cyclists together from Vaughan to Alliston and Collingwood to raise funds for programs supporting people who are blind or partially sighted.
Modern Optical International has launched Modern Vision for All, a charitable initiative that contributes $1 from every qualifying frame purchase to support access to vision care through EyeCare4Kids and GoodVision.
Riyadh will host a major global optometry and optical gathering from April 2 to 4, 2027, bringing together OptiVision, the 6th World Congress of Optometry, SSO 2027 and SILMO Riyadh.
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released an updated version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, adding TFOS DEWS III recommendations, dry eye etiological drivers, the OSDI-6 questionnaire and refined management options.
The Vision Council Foundation and the United Opticians Association are partnering for National Sunglasses Day to promote UV safety awareness and highlight the role of opticians and eyecare providers in sunwear education.
EyeRide 2026 returns June 20, bringing cyclists together from Vaughan to Alliston and Collingwood to raise funds for programs supporting people who are blind or partially sighted.
Modern Optical International has launched Modern Vision for All, a charitable initiative that contributes $1 from every qualifying frame purchase to support access to vision care through EyeCare4Kids and GoodVision.
Riyadh will host a major global optometry and optical gathering from April 2 to 4, 2027, bringing together OptiVision, the 6th World Congress of Optometry, SSO 2027 and SILMO Riyadh.
