12/15/2010

Novartis becomes global eye health leader as Alcon deal finalised

In gaining the last 23% of shares, and control of Alcon, the pharma company becomes the world’s number one in eye health at a total care of $51.6 billion. Full Story

12/14/2010

Annual Retirement Plan Compliance and Reporting Requirements

Every sponsor of an employee retirement benefit plan has certain responsibilities, and must take certain actions, to comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and federal income tax law. Full Story

12/13/2010

Optical Women’s Association to Host First-Ever Professional Development Webinar on Social Media

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced that it will host its first ever online professional development workshop, a new benefit offered by the group as part of its POWW series. Focusing on social media, the webinar is titled, “Facebook: Yes It’s Necessary, and What Your Entire Staff Needs to Know,” which will take place Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Full Story

12/10/2010

8 Factors Affecting Ophthalmologist Compensation

Mark Kropiewnicki, JD, principal attorney and president of Health Care Law Associates, vice president of The Health Care Group and regular presenter at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, discusses eight trends and factors affecting compensation of ophthalmologists. Full Story

12/9/2010

Optical Industry Purchasing Only Up Slightly, Per Latest VisionWatch Economic Survey

While purchasing activity for general retail goods is moving up significantly from 2009 levels, purchasing activity for the optical industry is only increasing slightly in response to the continued weak improvement in the economy, according to the latest VisionWatch Economic Survey, just issued by The Vision Council in a report to its members. Full Story

12/8/2010

Rodenstock Appoints Two Executives to Lead Company

German lens manufacturer Rodenstock has named two experienced global brand managers, Oliver Kastalio and Peter Körfer-Schün to top management positions. Full Story

12/7/2010

SECO 2011 to Offer OD Board Certification Review Courses

SECO International has announced it will offer a series of board certification review courses at SECO 2011 for optometrists planning to take the first board certification test in June 2011. Full Story

12/6/2010

Vision Included in Government’s New Goals With Healthy People 2020

Vision will play a prominent role in Healthy People 2020, a new government plan for promoting health and preventing disease in the coming decade. Full Story

12/3/2010

Gerber Coburn’s Management Team to Acquire Company

Gerber Scientific (NYSE: GRB) announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its ophthalmic lens processing business, Gerber Coburn, to Coburn Technologies, Inc. for $21.0 million. Coburn Technologies is a newly formed company controlled by Edward Jepsen, a former Gerber Scientific board member, along with Alex Incera, president of Gerber Coburn and Wayne Labrecque, vice president of sales. Under the new ownership structure, Jepsen will serve as chief executive officer of Coburn Technologies. Incera and Labrecque will have an ownership interest through the acquisition and will remain in their current positions with the company. Full Story

12/2/2010

J&J Vision Care Extends Voluntary Recall of 1-Day AcuVue TruEye in Europe, Asia-Pacific; U.S. Not Affected

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, a division of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) said that it had expanded in late October its August 2010 voluntary recall of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye (narafilcon A) brand contact lenses to include approximately 492,000 boxes of lenses due to the presence of residual traces of material in the manufacturing process which can cause stinging and redness. Nearly 75 percent of the affected product is in Japan and other limited distribution in countries within Europe and Asia Pacific, as well as Canada, a spokesperson clarified. Full Story

12/1/2010

ECPs Expect Personalized Lenses to Spark Customer Interest

Technology is everywhere these days, helping folks improve just about every aspect of their lives—and eyewear is no exception. In VisionMonday.com’s last Quick Poll, we asked ECPs which emerging eyewear technologies they anticipate generating the most interest in their customers. Full Story

11/30/2010

Prevent Blindness America Declares December Safe Toys and Gifts Month

As the holiday gift-giving season gets underway, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) is putting children’s safety at the top of everyone’s shopping list by declaring December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month. Full Story

11/24/2010

Optos to Acquire Australia’s Opto Global Holdings Pty Ltd

Optos plc (LSE: OPTS), a leading medical retinal imaging company, has announced the proposed acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Opto Global Holdings Pty Ltd, an ophthalmic device company based in Adelaide, South Australia, for up to US$14.75 million. Full Story

11/23/2010

Prevent Blindness America Elects Three New Members to National Board of Directors

event Blindness America, has elected Sandra S. Block, OD, of the Illinois College of Optometry, Tracy L. Dieterich, of Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc. and Michael R. Pender, CPA, of Cavanaugh & Co. LLP, to the PBA Board of Directors. The vote was held at the 2010 Annual Board Meeting in Chicago on Nov. 13. Full Story

11/22/2010

Local Eye Site and Jobson Increase Scope of Partnership With Four More Sites Added to LES Power Network

The scale of the partnership between Local Eye Site and Jobson Medical Information (JMI) has expanded with a number of additional Jobson brand websites now featuring job portals powered by Local Eye Site. Full Story

11/18/2010

College Students Seek Immediate High By Shooting Vodka Into Their Eyeballs

Students pour vodka into their eyeballs in the hopes of feeling a more direct and immediate high. Full Story

11/17/2010

VisionCare’s Macular Degeneration Telescope Implant Named ‘Best of What’s New’ 2010 by Popular Science

VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., a developer of advanced visual prosthetic devices, today announced the Implantable Miniature Telescope (by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz), designed to improve vision in patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is named “Best of What’s New” 2010 by Popular Science magazine. Full Story

11/15/2010

ECPs Turning to Online Marketing in 2011

NEW YORK—In VisionMonday.com’s last Quick Poll, we asked ECPs where they were budgeting their 2011 spend and exactly half (50 percent) of respondents reported that marketing, including online, was front and center. With social media extending into practices and the online video ad industry projected to reach $1.5 billion in 2010, expect to spend more time, energy, and budget dollars reaching current and potential customers online via rich media. Full Story

11/11/2010

ECPs Go Online to Access Virtual Vision Expo Trade Show

Virtual Vision Expo, the online extension of International Vision Expo’s physical trade shows, took place yesterday. Full Story

11/10/2010

Genentech Offers Secret Rebates for Eye Drug

Genentech has begun offering secret rebates to eye doctors as an apparent inducement to get them to use more of the company’s expensive drug Lucentis rather than a less costly alternative. Full Story

11/9/2010

Vitamins E and C `have No Effect on Cataracts

A new study has revealed that consumption of vitamins A and C has little or no effect on the risk of age-related cataracts in men. Full Story

11/8/2010

AOA President Says Elections May Bring Changes in Health Care Agenda

As a result of the Republicans’ sweep of many national and state elections last week, the health care reform legislation passed in March may be facing some changes, according to Joe Ellis, OD, president of the American Optometric Association. Full Story

11/4/2010

Chips Allow Blind Patients to Recognize Letters and Words

Researchers at the Department for Ophthalmology at the University of Tuebingen, Germany, have shown in a study that a light-sensitive chip, implanted beneath the retina, is able to restore meaning images in blind patients, up to the point of recognizing letters and words. Full Story

11/3/2010

Creating Your Own Internal Practice Social Network With Yammer.com

There are new tools that are changing the way companies communicate internally, referred to as “Enterprise Social Networks.” Enterprise social networks offer private and secure social network you can set up for sharing within your company. Full Story

11/2/2010

Marcolin and Diesel Sign Eyewear Licensing Agreement

Marcolin Group (MCL-IT) has finalized a new exclusive eyewear licensing agreement with Diesel to produce and distribute Diesel sunglasses and eyeglasses worldwide. Full Story

11/1/2010

American Board of Optometry Prepares Board Certification Exam; Updates Web Portal

The American Board of Optometry (ABO) announced that results are in from the Job/Profession Analysis Survey, which the organization had sent out earlier this month. Full Story

10/28/2010

Continuing Education to Take Center Stage at Upcoming Academy 2010 in San Francisco

With the theme “All CE, All the Time,” continuing education will once again take center stage at the 88th annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry (Academy), scheduled to take place here at Moscone Center West from Nov. 17 to 20, the organization said. Full Story

10/26/2010

SoloHealth Partners With National Health Museum and Georgia Dept. of Community Health on First Personal Health Advisor Kiosk

The National Health Museum (NHM) of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and Duluth, Ga.-based SoloHealth are unveiling Georgia’s first Personal Health Advisor (PHA). The digital system is a new way for residents to learn about their health with the simple touch of a computer screen. Full Story

10/25/2010

14th Annual EastWest Eye Conference Draws 2,100 Attendees

Now in its 14th year, the EastWest Eye Conference was held here Oct. 7–10 and drew approximately 2,100 attendees, according to show organizers. Full Story

10/22/2010

Americans Not Properly Protecting their Vision, Shows New Lighthouse Int’l Survey From Harris Interactive

According to a new survey, an overwhelming 82 percent of Americans fear losing their vision more than any other of the five senses. Additionally, a majority of those surveyed reported getting an annual eye exam yet 86 percent of those who have (or are at-risk for) eye disease fear losing their vision and do not get an annual eye exam, according to Lighthouse International, the non-profit organization which released the survey, conducted by Harris Interative, yesterday. Full Story

10/21/2010

Anorexia Nervosa Can Cause Potentially Serious Eye Damage

Anorexia nervosa appears to cause potentially serious eye damage, suggests a small study published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Full Story

10/20/2010

Highlights of World’s Largest Ophthalmic Education Conference

Results of clinical research on new presbyopia treatments now available in Europe-and possibly available soon in the United States-were reported in today’s Scientific Program of the 2010 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and Middle East-Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO). Full Story

10/19/2010

Expanding Patient Numbers Continues to Challenge Ophthalmology, AAO President Says

Ophthalmology has seen a rapid growth in technology and treatment paradigms in the past three decades, but the field still faces significant external pressures that may significantly impact how eye care is practiced in the United States, the outgoing president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology said here. Full Story

10/18/2010

Independent ECPs’ Attitude Toward Biz Declines in September, per Jobson Research’s Optical Business Barometer

Following an uptick in August, independent ECPs’ attitudes about business declined in September to be the lowest of the year, according to the latest edition of Jobson Optical Research’s Optical Business Barometer (OBB) which is designed to gauge the optical business trends of eyecare professionals at independent optical locations. Full Story

10/14/2010

Carl Zeiss AG Integrates Carl Zeiss Vision as Business Unit

Following Carl Zeiss AG’s recent acquisition of Carl Zeiss Vision from private equity firm EQT, the Oberkochen-based parent company announced that from fiscal year 2010/11 onward, Carl Zeiss Vision will be integrated into the Carl Zeiss Group in the form of the “Vision Care” business group and, like the company’s other subsidiaries, will be legally and economically autonomous. Full Story

10/13/2010

OLA Announces 2010 Awards of Excellence Winners

The Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) announced the 2010 Awards of Excellence Winners during a reception here on Friday afternoon in the OLA Attendees Lounge. Full List

10/12/2010

Treatments for Vision Loss are in Sight

Taina Rosario was only 12 when Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare immune condition, robbed her of her vision. After several surgeries aimed at correcting damage to the clear outer sheath of her eye, the cornea, Taina’s family moved from their home in Puerto Rico to the mainland United States in 2009 to seek more advanced medical care. She eventually landed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, where one of the procedures she underwent replaced a damaged cornea with an artificial one. Full Story

10/11/2010

American Academy of Ophthalmology Warns Against the Dangers of Transforming your Eyes this Halloween

As Halloween approaches, you may be thinking about finishing off your costume with zebra-striped or glow-in-the-dark decorative contact lenses or maybe the newest fad, circle lenses. But do you know the risks associated with these lenses? Full Story

10/7/2010

Jobson’s WEBSightNation Signs E-Commerce Deal With Essilor’s MyOnlineOptical

Jobson ECP Business Services has announced an agreement with MyOnlineOptical.com to provide e-commerce services for Jobson’s WEBSightNation. Full Story

10/6/2010

Ophthalmic Imaging Systems to Launch New Products at the International Vision Expo West and Annual AAO Conference

Ophthalmic Imaging Systems (OIS) (OISI 0.90, +0.05, +5.88%) , a leading digital imaging and informatics company, today announced that it will launch new diagnostic imaging and informatics products at the International Vision Expo West being held October 7-9 and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)’s joint meeting with the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) being held October 16-19. Full Story

10/5/2010

When It Comes to Eye Injuries, the Men’s Eyes Have It

Men suffer from nearly three times as many eye injuries as women, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT). Full Story

10/4/2010

American Academy Of Ophthalmology President-Elect Richard L. Abbott, MD, Receives Jose Rizal International Medal

The President-Elect of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy), Richard L. Abbott, MD, is the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Jose Rizal International Medal from the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO). Full Story

10/1/2010

Is photoscreening the best way to catch ‘lazy eye’?

Amblyopia, known as “lazy eye,” is a major cause of vision problems in children and a common cause of blindness in people aged 20 to 70 in developed countries. In amblyopia the person’s stronger eye is favored and his/her weaker eye gradually loses visual power as a result. When the condition is detected and treated before age 7, more than 75 percent of children achieve 20/30 vision or better, the Amblyopia Treatment Study reports. Full Story

9/30/2010

Mark Hammer, MD, Named President of American Retina Foundation

Mark E. Hammer, MD has become president of the American Retina Foundation (ARF) http://www.americanretina.org, the charitable arm of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). Full Story

9/29/2010

More Diabetics Likely to Develop Diabetic Retinopathy Today

Researchers from the Centers for Disease control and Prevention analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2009 and released an updated study showing around 30% of diabetics in the U.S. over the age of 30 may have diabetic retinopathy. Four percent of this group is in danger of losing the vision. Full Story

9/28/2010

Allergan Receives FDA Approval for OZURDEX as Treatment Option for Non-Infectious Uveitis Affecting the Posterior Segment of the Eye

Allergan, Inc. (AGN 66.17, -0.19, -0.29%) today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved OZURDEX (dexamethasone intravitreal implant) 0.7 mg for the treatment of non-infectious ocular inflammation, or uveitis, affecting the posterior segment of the eye. Full Story

9/27/2010

2010 Silmo Opens in Paris, D’Or Award Winners Named

The 2010 Silmo Optical Fair kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 23 in its new venue at the Paris Nord Villepinte exposition hall. Held from Sept. 23 to 26, and despite a strike of the Paris transit workers on the opening day, nearly 750 exhibitors were on display over the course of the four-day show. Full Story

9/23/2010

70 New Exhibitors Sign on for Vision Expo West Bringing Company Total to Over 450

With just two weeks to go before the start of International Vision Expo West, more than 70 new exhibitors will be making an appearance at this year’s show bringing the total number of exhibiting companies to over 450, according to show organizers. With this increase in exhibitors, the show floor will add approximately 10,000 net square feet, show organizers said. Full Story

9/22/2010

Visionary stem cell technique offers new potential to treat blindness

Scientists funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) are pioneering a stem cell treatment to replace diseased parts of the retina, which could lead to a future treatment for retinal diseases that affect around 3,000 children in the UK. Full Story

9/21/2010

In August, Attitude Toward Biz Continues to Improve for Independent ECPs, per Jobson Research’s Optical Business Barometer

Independent ECPs’ attitudes about business continued to improve in August, compared to July, according to the latest edition of Jobson Optical Research’s Optical Business Barometer (OBB) which is designed to gauge the optical business trends of eyecare professionals at independent optical locations. Full Story

9/20/2010

CIBA Vision Launches Education Campaign Around World Sight Day

In celebration of World Sight Day on Oct. 14, CIBA Vision is encouraging people worldwide to have their eyes examined during the month of October. As part of its educational efforts around World Sight Day, CIBA Vision said it is partnering with International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) by sponsoring the ‘Countdown to 2020’ event in Geneva on Oct. 11—a date which marks the halfway point in VISION 2020’s efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness and vision impairment by 2020. Full Story

9/17/2010

Mastering IOL technology for improved outcomes

Leading experts gathered to share insights and information on merging technology and technique to improve patient outcomes at a session on new advancements in IOL technology held on Wednesday at the Alcon-sponsored event, “Ophthalmology Management Trends,” preceding the 25th APAO Congress. Full Story

9/16/2010

Dorzolamide, Usher Syndrome

Sustained topical dorzolamide therapy improves visual acuity and reduces central foveal zone thickness in some patients with retinitis pigmentosa or Usher syndrome, according to a study in the September issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. Full Story

9/15/2010

FDA Revises ‘Q&A’ Document on Lens Impact Resistance Guidelines

On Sept. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration issued a revised Q&A document regarding impact resistance guidelines for lenses. The document, which is based on a draft issued by the FDA on Oct. 26, 2007, represents the first changes to the FDA’s lens impact Q&A since 1987. Full Story

9/14/2010

Astrazeneca and UCL Start the Work on a Cure for Vision Loss

On Monday, AstraZeneca PLC, a UK pharmaceutical and biological Company, announced a collaborative research with the Institute of Ophthalmology at the University College London (UCL) on finding out a cure for the diabetic retinopathy (DR), the eyesight damages in diabetics. Full Story

9/13/2010

Academy for Eyecare Excellence Expands Online Education Offerings for ECPs and Staff

CIBA Vision’s Academy for Eyecare Excellence has expanded the reach of its professional education programs with three new online learning modules, the company said. Full Story

9/10/2010

Kids Playing With Laser Pointers May Be Aiming for Eye Trouble

A 15-year-old Swiss boy attempted to create his own laser show using a laser pointer he bought on the Internet and a mirror. Instead, he inadvertently beamed the laser into his eyes, creating permanent damage to his vision. Full Story

9/9/2010

National Vision Launches Charitable Foundation, ‘Frames For The World’

The National Vision chain, parent of America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses and other retail brands, is kicking off a new not-for-profit foundation called Frames For The World as a spinoff of the company’s previous philanthropic efforts. Full Story

9/7/2010

Oakley’s N3L Optics Opens First Factory Outlet Store

N3L Optics, the performance-sunglass chain Oakley launched in mid-2008, opened its first factory outlet store last week, in the Orlando Premium Outlets mall here. Full Story

9/6/2010

American Academy Of Ophthalmology Joins Forces With Middle East Africa Council Of Ophthalmology For Joint Meeting In Chicago October 16 To 19

The largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (Academy) 2010 Joint Meeting in conjunction with the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) will be taking place in Chicago, October 16 to 19. Full Story

9/2/2010

21st-Century Drug Discovery Tools to Fight Cancer, Blindness to be Discussed at UB Symposium

BUFFALO, N.Y. —Twenty-first-century pharmaceutical breakthroughs require 21st-century drug discovery tools, such as computational or in silico molecular design and high-throughput screening of effective, new compounds. That’s the theme of a University at Buffalo symposium to be held Sept. 11 on “Twenty-first Century Bioscience: In Silico Methods and High-Throughput Screening,” which will feature a variety of cutting-edge advances in the field developed by researchers in Western New York and throughout the US. Full Story

9/1/2010

New Data Will Help Predict Vision Loss in Glaucoma

Eye M.D.s are intent on finding better ways to diagnose and treat glaucoma, a complex, potentially blinding disease. September’s Ophthalmology journal includes new data from the Rootterdam Study that will help doctors better predict visual field loss (VFL) in glaucoma patients. Johannes R. Vingerling, MD, PhD, Erasmus Medical Center, The Netherlands, and his colleagues followed 6,630 participants for ten years. The patients had optic nerve damage but no VFL when they joined the study. Ophthalmology is the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Full Story

8/31/2010

Academy to issue new guidelines for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy screening

Updated guidelines for managing patients on hydroxychloroquine therapy will emphasize the careful monitoring with imaging of patients on therapy longer than 5 years. Full Story

8/30/2010

Essilor Int’l Sees Revenues Rise 15.8 Percent in First Half

With acquisitions fueling revenue growth as well as stronger sales in core lens and Rx products and services, Essilor International [ISIN: FR0000121667] reported total revenues rose 15.8 percent to €1,926.8 million in first-half 2010. Excluding FGXI and Signet, revenue growth stood at 10 percent. Full Story

8/27/2010

Biosynthetic Corneas Show Promise in Transplants

Swedish scientists report that they’ve successfully implanted “biosynthetic” corneas in 10 patients, potentially paving the way for more accessible treatment for those with cornea-related vision problems. Full Story

8/26/2010

14th Annual EastWest Eye Conference Set for Cleveland Oct. 7-10

Plans are set for the 14th annual EastWest Eye Conference to be held here Oct. 7–10. For the first time, the exhibit hall will be in the historic Public Hall Auditorium of the Cleveland Convention Center with nearly 100 vendors participating. The conference is sponsored by the Ohio Optometric Association (OOA) with all profits from the Conference going toward advancing the profession of optometry, according to organizers. Full Story

8/25/2010

Too Few Infants Get Comprehensive Eye Assessments; One in 10 Have Undetected Vision Problems

One in 10 infants in the U.S. have undetected vision problems, ranging from crossed eyes to cancer. While most parents know eye and vision problems can be detected in children before they’re a year old, only 19 percent of those who participated in the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) annual Eye-Q® survey report taking their infant for a comprehensive eye assessment. Thirty-three percent of parents wait until their child is between one and two years of age, while 26 percent wait until their child is five years of age or older. Full Story

8/24/2010

EyeCare America Promotes Healthy Eyes During September’s Save Your Sight Month

EyeCare America, a national non-profit organization that provides eye exams and eye health information to medically underserved communities is exposing five common eye care myths in honor of September’s Save Your Sight Month. Full Story

8/23/2010

August is National Children’s Vision & Learning Month

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) is marking August as National Children’s Vision & Learning Month, the 15th year of the initiative which helps educate parents and educators about the critical link between vision and learning. Full Story

8/20/2010

Tony McClellan Named President Of The American Academy Of Ophthalmology’s Foundation Advisory Board

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) announced the appointment of Tony McClellan as president of its Foundation Advisory Board (FAB). Full Story

8/19/2010

Has Laser Photolysis the Potential to Postpone the Need for Cataract Surgery?

It turns out that laser photolysis with a femtosecond laser is being evaluated to photobleach human lenses and thus postpone the need for cataract surgery. Full Story

8/18/2010

Doctor: 3D Won’t Damage Gamers’ Eyesight

Despite current fears that 3D gaming will make us go blind, that’s probably not going to happen. Full Story

8/17/2010

Sunbed lovers are ‘risking their eyesight’

People who use sunbeds without protecting their eyes could damage their sight, experts are warning. Full Story

8/16/2010

Avatar Producer Tapped as Keynote Speaker for The Vision Council’s 2011 Executive Summit

Jon Landau, co-producer of the 3D blockbuster Avatar, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Vision Council’s 2011 Executive Summit, according to an announcement from the organization. The Summit is scheduled to be held Jan. 26 to 28, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, Fla. Full Story

8/14/2010

Epilepsy drug valproic acid could help in retinitis pigmentosa, study finds

A small preliminary study has found that valproic acid, a drug already used to treat epileptic seizures, migraines and bipolar disorder, may halt or even reverse the loss of vision produced by retinitis pigmentosa, researchers said Thursday. A team from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worchester is now organizing a clinical trial to confirm its observations. Full Story

8/13/2010

How Well Will You Adapt to the Future Eye Care Business Environment?

Streamlining operating expenses and enacting a disaster plan can help keep your practice flexible enough to adjust to an unstable economy. Full Story

8/11/2010

Medical Practices Prepare to Weather Regulatory Challenges

As a plethora of federal initiatives aimed at rooting out Medicare overpayment and fraud begin to take hold across medicine, ophthalmologists may soon find themselves burdened by more administrative functions. Fully Story

8/10/2010

Study Identifies Factors Associated with Rate of Visual Field Change in Patients with Glaucoma

Patients with glaucoma appear to have more rapid visual field change if they are older or if they have abnormal levels of anticardiolipin antibody (an antibody directed against a certain protein in the body), according to a report posted online today that will appear in the October print issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Reducing intraocular pressure—the pressure within the eyeball—modestly in these patients appears to ameliorate the rate at which they experience declines in visual field. Full Story

8/9/2010

Prevent Blindness America Launches Campaign to Raise Funds for Back-to-School Vision Screenings

Just in time for the back-to-school season, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) is stepping up its efforts to ensure children have healthy vision in the classroom through its Star Pupils Healthy Eyes for Healthy Futures, a PBA program that focuses on finding the one-in-four school-age children with vision impairments that in many cases go unnoticed and untreated, leading to possible learning issues. Full Story

8/6/2010

Excess Weight May Protect Women From Type of Glaucoma: But don’t gain weight to protect your eyes, experts say

While maintaining a healthy weight is linked to a lowered risk of heart disease and diabetes, being overweight may actually protect some women from a form of glaucoma, Harvard researchers say. Full Story

8/5/2010

AOA Plans ‘School Readiness Summit’ for April 2011 to Focus on Children’s Vision

The American Optometric Association ( AOA), with support from Hoya Vision Care, will host a national conference called the “School Readiness Summit–Focus on Vision” here on April 11 to 12, 2011, the organization said. The goal of the summit is to “to ensure all children in the country enter school with vision adequate to meet the demands of the academic environment.” Full Story

8/4/2010

Too Much Fun in the Sun can Cause Eye Damage

The danger for all eye damage from the sun is significantly greater in the summertime. In summer, people are closer to the sun, and its light is more intense, like when people visit the equator. Full Story

8/3/2010

HEALTHY EATING IS EASY ON THE EYES

Women who ate a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables had a 37 percent lower risk of cataracts than those who did not eat healthily according to a study in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology. Full Story

8/2/2010

PBA Designates August as Cataract Awareness Month, Joins with U.S. EPA in Environmental Awareness Campaign

Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has designated August as Cataract Awareness Month in an effort to educate the public on the disease. In addition, PBA has joined with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its “Sunwise” campaign, an environmental and health education program that teaches children and their caregivers how to protect themselves—and their vision—from overexposure to the sun. Full Story

7/31/2010

Special Computer Mouse Developed to Help People with Poor Vision

A special computer mouse has been developed here in Korea to help those with severely poor vision read better. Full Story

7/30/2010

Contact Lenses a Top Cause of Kids’ Injuries

They’re tiny, translucent and for kids, they’re a pain in the eye.

Contact lenses are the most common cause of medical-device associated injuries among children over the age of 11, according to research published this week in Pediatrics. Full Story

7/29/2010

Latest Consumer Barometer Shows Total U.S. Vision Care Revenues Dipped 3 Percent, Exams Up 1.2 Percent for 12ME June 2010

The total U.S. vision care market’s revenues dipped 3 percent for the 12 months ending June 2010 to $31.7 billion compared to $32.7 billion in the prior year 12-month period, according to the newly-released Q2 Consumer Barometer. Full Story

7/28/2010

Ophthalmology Practices Select NextGen Healthcare to Meet Emerging Technology Needs

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced it has executed an agreement with EyeHealth Northwest to deploy NextGen® Ambulatory EHR (Electronic Health Record) and NextGen® Practice Management across its 11 offices, 11 optical shops and two surgery centers in Oregon. Full Story

7/26/2010

Pro Golfer Greg Norman and Aspex Eyewear Group to Launch Greg Norman Eyewear

Aspex Eyewear Group has signed a licensing agreement with professional golfer and entrepreneur Greg Norman, through his company, Great White Shark Enterprises, to develop a line of Greg Norman eyewear. Full Story

7/23/2010

Ophthalmology meet begins in Salalah

The two-day International Ophthalmology Conference kicked off yesterday in Salalah College of Technology under the auspices of Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al-Hosni, MoH’s undersecretary. Full Story

Optos reports dip in sales

Optos, a retinal-imaging technology firm, reported lower than expected sales for its third quarter after a fall in the number of installed eye-testing devices. Full Story

7/20/2010

Fish eaters show lower risk of age-related eye disease

Older adults who eat fatty fish at least once a week may have a lower risk of serious vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, a new study suggests. Full Story

7/19/2010

NAVCP User Survey Indicates Consumers with Stand-Alone Vision Plans Get More Eye Exams

Last week, the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) released more details about its first benefits-utilization survey, conducted with imput from 10 major managed-vision companies. The survey, previewed at the NAVCP’s annual conference in late April, indicates that consumers who belong to stand-alone vision care plans are twice as likely to get an annual comprehensive eye exam as those whose vision coverage is “bundled” with their major medical plan. Full Story

7/19/2010

3D a cutting edge for surgeons

In a scene that showcases how some surgery of the future might be performed — and certainly taught — a high-definition TV screen in a University of Michigan operating room shows larger-than-life 3D images of Wendy Sarna’s brain. Full Story

7/16/2010

Kids’ Vision Tests Don’t Catch Common Eye Problems

Eye tests commonly used in schools and pediatricians’ offices don’t do a good job of finding vision errors like farsightedness and astigmatism in school-aged kids, even though they’re great at catching nearsightedness. Full Story

7/15/2010

2010 US Ophthalmologists’ Assessment Of Eye Care Medication Brands – New Market Report Published

2010 U.S. Ophthalmologists’ Assessment of Eye Care Medication Brands provides a snapshot of opportunities, trends, and estimates in the market. In this research, expert analysts thoroughly examine the following: patient compliance with eye care medication instructions, factors impacting prescriptions for eye care medications, and preferences for eye disease medications including glaucoma medications. Full Story

7/14/2010

The Back Of The Eye: Vitreoretinal Surgical Teams Treat Disorders of the Retina.

Yogi Berra’s language may have been fractured, but he understood the importance of vision. About 85 percent of sensory input comes through the eyes, and any loss of vision greatly reduces a person’s quality of life. Full Story

7/13/2010

Some people will fudge the truth to become ophthalmologists

How honest are aspiring ophthalmologists? It’s not a question many people would think to ask. But that didn’t stop Dr. Michael Wiggins, of the Jones Eye Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He was curious about the veracity of applications sent to his institute by medical students who were interested in completing their ophthalmology residencies in Little Rock. Full Story

7/12/2010

Alcon acquires LenSx

Alcon continues its efforts to be a major player in all steps of the cataract procedures. Alcon is to acquire LenSx Lasers, Inc. for $361.5 million in cash plus maximum contingent payments of $382.5 million based on future revenue targets being achieved and exceeded. Full Story

7/9/2010

Sight and Synchronicity: Blindness averted for Armenian “premies”, due to good timing and good medicine

Five Armenian babies who might have been blind in a matter of weeks, now have chance at a normal life due to the humanity of some foreign doctors, the dedication of local ones, and to benefactors who may never know the life-changing impact of their benevolence. Full Story

7/8/2010

Sanofi-Aventis’ Potential Acquisition Targets

Rumours have emerged that French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis is in the early stages of planning a reported $20 billion acquisition with the potential target thought to be US-based. Full Story

7/8/2010

Lady Gaga-Inspired Lens Fad Draws Warning From Eye Docs

Cosmetic contact lenses that give wearers an exaggerated “doe-eyed” look are “an emerging and potentially dangerous trend among teenagers and young adults,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology warned in a statement released Tuesday. Full Story

7/7/2010

Could this NETRA Android app kill the optician business?

Researchers at MIT’s media lab have come up with a prototype Android app which lets users check their own eyesight by viewing their mobile phone screen through a special plastic lens device. Full Story

7/6/2010

VisionCare Announces FDA Approval for First-Ever Implantable Telescope for End-Stage Macular Degeneration

VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., a developer of advanced visual prosthetic devices, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s Implantable Miniature Telescope (by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz) to improve vision in patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). VisionCare’s first-of-kind telescope implant is integral to a new patient care program, CentraSight, for treating patients with end-stage macular degeneration – the most advanced form of AMD in the U.S. and the leading cause of blindness in older Americans. Full Story

7/4/2010

New Inspire CEO shakes up leadership

Inspire Pharmaceuticals’ new CEO, Adrian Adams, is putting his stamp on the company’s top management team. Full Story

7/2/2010

Tear osmolarity may function as a biomarker of dry eye severity

Clinical testing of an osmolarity screening device designed for in-office use showed strong correlation with a diagnosis of dry eye based upon composite clinical signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, particularly in mild to moderate disease. Full Story

7/1/2010

Study Finds New Key to Corneal Transplant Success

Though corneal transplant surgery is already one of medicine’s most successful procedures, researchers are always looking at ways to improve the corneal transplant. Researchers have found a new treatment approach that could improve success rates even more. Full Story

6/30/2010

Some Blind Patients Regain Sight via Stem Cells

Italian researchers reported last week that dozens of people blinded or suffering from severe eye damage have had their sight restored to near normal with transplants of their own stem cells. Full Story

6/29/2010

Blind student regains sight at Ekiti festival of surgery

What could be described as “a medical miracle” has been performed by doctors at the Ophthalmology Centre of the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti where a blind student of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), had her sight restored after undergoing a surgery. Full Story

6/28/2010

Presentation of Preclinical Data for NicOx’s Ophthalmology Candidate NCX 434

NicOx S.A. announced today that the new preclinical results for NCX 434 were presented at the Retina International World Congress in Stresa, Italy. It was shown to reduce retinal damage due to ischemia (restriction of blood flow) and reperfusion (return of blood supply following ischemia) in a preclinical model. Full Story

6/24/2010

Stem Cell Cornea Fix: Better Vision May Be In Your Own Eyes

More than 1.2 million Americans suffer cornea damage from injuries and more than 40,000 people a year undergo cornea transplants to repair otherwise irreversible eyesight damage, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Full Story

6/22/2010

Quick Study: Healthful eating may keep cataracts at bay

THE QUESTION Might the foods people eat affect whether they develop cataracts? THIS STUDY analyzed data on 1,808 women 50 to 79 years old who had not had cataracts. In a four- to seven-year span, 736 developed a cataract. Full Story

6/21/2010

AAO remains focused on relief efforts in Haiti

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has received more than $500,000 in in-kind donations for ongoing relief efforts in Haiti. Full Story

6/18/2010

Healthy diet ‘can lower cataract risk’

Following a healthy diet can help women lower the risk of developing cataracts in later life, new research has suggested. Full Story

6/16/2010

Rand Paul’s Dissident Ophthalmology Group Still Certifying Doctors

It seems that Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul’s rogue ophthalmology certification outfit, the National Board of Ophthalmology, is still recertifying doctors even though the group has virtually no public footprint. Full Story

6/15/2010

Potential Exists to Modify Some AMD Risk

Early manifestations of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may involve modifiable risk factors, including smoking and HDL cholesterol, data from a prospective cohort study suggest. Full Story

6/14/2010

Local Eye Site and Jobson’s ECP Business Services Collaborate to Form Online Recruiting Solution

NEW YORK—A new partnership that will provide eyecare-related organizations online recruiting and professional development has been signed by Jobson Medical Information’s ECP Business Services Division and Local Eye Site. Via the new agreement, effective June 14, 2010, Local Eye Site’s recruitment information and career search will appear exclusively on Jobson Optical Group websites, debuting initially on SightNation and appearing over the coming months on Vision Monday, 20/20, Review of Optometry, Review of Optometric Business and Review of Ophthalmology websites. Full Story

6/11/2010

Ophthalmology’s greatest lessons from the Great Recession

Is the Great Recession over? Raw economic growth trends seem to say yes. Stubbornly high unemployment and slumping consumer confidence say, “Not so much, not yet.” Full Story

6/10/2010

Intravitreal implant reduces DME effects in vitrectomized eyes

In a phase 3b study, a dexamethasone intravitreal implant improved central retinal thickness and vision in previously vitrectomized eyes of patients with diabetic macular edema, according to a poster presented here. Full Story

6/9/2010

Schoolgirl’s life saved by optician who spotted rare brain condition that could have blinded her within days

A schoolgirl’s life was saved after a routine eye test revealed a potentially deadly condition. Samantha Meehan, 16, went to her opticians after suffering from severe headaches which doctors had put down to the stress of studying for her GCSEs. An eye test revealed she had a potentially deadly brain condition which would have left her blind within days. Full Story

6/8/2010

Eye Test May Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis

No single test can by used, by itself, to diagnose multiple sclerosis. Now researchers have discovered a quick eye test that has the potential to diagnose multiple sclerosis in its very early stages and also monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Full Story

6/7/2010

Women Get Inadequate Eye Care

Women have higher rates of vision loss than men. The Centers for Disease Control has published a report that women at risk often do not get eye health care that could preserve their vision. The main reasons for this, according to their data, are cost factors and inadequate information. Full Story

6/4/2010

Health Risk: Could 3-D TV’s cause lasting eye problems?

As 3-D television and video games are quickly gaining popularity and a place in many consumers homes, some are becoming concerned that the new technology could be creating headaches, eye strain and other health problems, as reported by USA Today. Full Story

6/2/2010

Online Resources for Human Resources (in eye care)

Of all the challenges of a small business none may be more daunting than keeping current with all the legislation related to employee relations. Fortunately, there are a number of resources online to assist you with understanding the complexities of your labor issues: Full Story

6/1/2010

Diabetic eye disease may be curbed with help of computer programs

Computerized systems may be able to detect early eye problems related to diabetes, according to a University of Iowa analysis. Full Story

5/30/2010

Statement From the American Academy of Ophthalmology Regarding “Vodka Eyeballing”

A dangerous drinking game called “vodka eyeballing” is attracting public attention on YouTube. Full Story

5/30/2010

Smoking Can Cause Uveitis of the Eye – Latest Research Finding in Ophthalmology

Smoking causes age-related macular degeneration, cataract and thyroid eye disease. Now, researchers at the University of California report that smoking can cause uveitis of the eye too. Results of their findings is published in the March 2010 issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This article tries to gain further insight on this topic. Full Story

5/28/2010

Micro-device allows ab interno reduction of IOP

Preliminary results with the CyPass micro-device for glaucoma management show stable pressure reduction, according to one presenter here. Full Story

5/26/2010

Resistance to antibiotics is a growing concern for ophthalmology

The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is increasing worldwide, and several strategies should be implemented to delay or prevent this from occurring among ocular isolates, according to a presenter here. Full Story

5/24/2010

Femtosecond laser cataract surgery shows encouraging results

Preliminary results of femtosecond laser cataract surgery are promising, according to a presenter here. There are currently three femtosecond laser systems by three companies — LenSx, LensAR and OptiMedica — that have been developed to perform cataract surgery. “A new addition to LenSx is the [optical coherence tomography] that helps visualize the capsule. Patients undergo an image-guided laser procedure prior to completion of the manual steps of the procedure,” Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, said at the annual joint meeting of Ocular Surgery News and the Italian Society of Ophthalmology. Full Story

5/21/2010

A Protein Links Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome. Amyloid-beta accumulates in eyes of Down-affected patients, spurring cataracts, study finds

Researchers say a kind of protein that clogs the brain in Alzheimer’s disease also accumulates in the eyes of Down syndrome patients and causes cataracts. The finding is leading the researchers to develop an eye test for early signs of Alzheimer’s in both disorders. Full Story

5/18/2010

LEVEL Study Published in British Journal of Ophthalmology Evaluates Macugen as Maintenance Treatment for Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Eyetech Inc. announced today that the British Journal of Ophthalmology (BJO) published online results from the LEVEL study evaluating Macugen™ (pegaptanib sodium) as a maintenance therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Full Story

5/17/2010

The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Museum of Vision Announces New Oral History Series

The Museum of Vision is proud to announce the publication of a new oral history series recorded in partnership with the Academy Seniors Committee of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and StoryCorps, a national project of Sound Portraits Productions. In conjunction with the Academy’s October 2009 Joint Meeting with the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology held in San Francisco, 12 prominent Eye M.D.s were selected to participate in this oral history project, recording a total of six conversations, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. The first two conversations to be published are between Drs. Stanley Truhlsen and Melvin Rubin, and Drs. H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr. and Alice McPherson. Full Story

5/14/2010

New tool may spot eye diseases early

A new tool may enable people to diagnoses eye disease early, often before symptoms have even developed, according to experts. Specialists at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School in Boston showed that they have created a noninvasive tool that detects signs of disease at early molecular stages before symptoms can be seen using traditional methods. Full Story

5/13/2010

Refractive surgery steadily increasing in Europe

The future of European ophthalmology will witness an increase in the volume of refractive surgery, according to a specialist here. “Looking at the distribution of refractive errors, we can see that there is only a very small group of emmetropic people. About half of the European population are hyperopic, and 25%, more than 100 million now, are myopic, 64% of which is mild, 32% moderate and 4% high,” Thomas Kohnen, MD, said at the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology. Full Story

5/12/2010

Femtosecond laser is future of cataract surgery, ophthalmologist says

Within 5 years, cataract surgery may be all femtosecond, a surgeon said here. “We are in the early days of this new technology. One case of femtosecond-assisted cataract surgery has been performed by Stephen Slade in the U.S., and a few cases have been performed in Mexico and Hungary. In Bordeaux, France, we are experimenting a new laser, but we are still in the preclinical stages,” Joseph Colin, MD, said in an interview with Ocular Surgery News during the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology. Full story

5/11/2010

Surgical lens might not be best treatment for congenital cataracts

Surgically implanting lenses in the eyes of infants born with cataracts might increase the rate of surgical complications, said a Baylor College of Medicine eye specialist who took part in a study comparing the use of a contact lens with surgically placing a plastic lens in the baby’s eye after removing the cataract. She advised caution in considering the placement of an intraocular lens in infants.