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TIPS, TRENDS & NEWS YOU CAN USE

AOA RELEASES SECOND VOLUME OF BRAIN INJURY MANUAL

The AOA has released “Volume 1B, Traumatic Brain Injury Visual Dysfunction: Optometric Management and Advanced Topics,” which includes the management of patients who have traumatic brain injury (TBI) visual sequelae and information on low vision management and contact lenses, sample case studies and a practice management discussion.

“There is a definitive need for optometrists to be aware of the visual sequelae associated with brain injury because the ocular-visual issues of this population are not being met,” explains Errol Rummel, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.C.O.V.D., F.N.O.R.A., F.I.A.L.V.S., who practices privately in Jackson, N.J. “In fact, many of these patients are incorrectly told that nothing more can be done or that the problem they have will dissipate in time. The AOA manual is an excellent starting point for primary care optometrists.”

Both volumes are available to AOA members at aoa.org/optometrists/membership/aoa-sections/vision-rehabilitation-section ■

GLAUCOMA DRUG’S NDA APPLICATION GETS FDA ACCEPTANCE FOR REVIEW

The New Drug Application for latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution 0.024% (Vesneo, Valeant Pharmaceuticals) has received FDA acceptance for review as a treatment for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The drug, licensed from Nicox to Bausch + Lomb, is a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin receptor agonist dosed q.d.

“VESNEO provides both the efficacy of a prostaglandin analogue and the trabecular meshwork-relaxing effects of nitric oxide in a single agent,” says Ben Gaddie, O.D., who practices in four Kentucky locations.

The FDA says it will complete its review of the NDA by July 21 ■

ONLINE CALCULATOR ASSESSES AMD RISK

SightRisk USA, from MacuHealth, is a logarithmic cloud-based software program that determines one’s risk of blindness from AMD via a lifestyle questionnaire.

Specifically, your practice emails an editable PDF questionnaire to patients before their exam. Patients then send their answers via email or fax before their appointment. Next, a staff member enters patient answers into the SightRisk portal, along with doctor answers to questions about clinical changes to the retina. (If the doctor doesn’t have the answers, default answers are used.)

After a staff member clicks “calculate,” the software’s algorithm prioritizes, compiles and weighs risk factors based on the patient’s answers, and you can review a print out of the calculation with patients to discuss recommendations to decrease the patient’s risk of blindness from AMD.

SightRisk was created by a team of researchers who documented both the modifiable (e.g. smoking, unhealthy BMI, etc.) and non-modifiable risk factors of thousands of AMD patients via a review of more than 300 published scientific manuscripts. For additional information, visit SightRiskUSA.com.

Caption ► SightRisk is an AMD calculator.

PRACTICE TIPS:
Digital Health

If digital health lives up to its promise, the next five to 10 years will change diagnosis, what diseases are treated where and perhaps even the definition of physician… Investors poured more than $6.5 billion into digital health in 2014, up from $2.9 billion in 2013. — “A Doctor in Every Pocket and Purse,” Lawrence M. Fisher, Korn Ferry Briefings, Vol. 6, 2015.

Health care-focussed smartphone interfaces, launched by Samsung and Apple, will be instrumental in propelling the global healthcare accessory hardware market to $3 billion by 2019. — Juniper Research, October 2014.

With innovative digital technologies, cloud computing and machine learning, the medicalized smartphone is going to upend every aspect of health care. The end result: The patient will take center stage for the first time. — “The Future of Medicine is in Your Smartphone,” Eric J. Topol, “The Wall Street Journal,” Jan. 9, 2015.

Smartphone plug-in devices appear to take biological measurements. Two of the latest can detect exposure to HIV, and diagnose other conditions. — “Technology Quarterly,” The Economist, May 7, 2015.

Cardiologist Leslie Saxon envisions, health devices won’t be worn; they’ll be implanted under the skin, collecting health information. “Be Well Connected: The Future of Digital Health Starts Here,” Josh Grossberg, USC Trojan Family, Spring 2015.

COALITION MEMBERS OF WORLD SIGHT DAY CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED

Optometry Giving Sight has released a list of its coalition members for this year’s World Sight Day Challenge, which is held annually on the second Thursday of October to raise awareness of global blindness and vision impairment.

This year’s industry members are A&A Optical, ABB OPTICAL GROUP, Advance Optical, Alcon, AllAboutVision.com, Allergan, Art Optical, Bard Optical, ClearVision Optical, Contamac, CooperVision, DAC Vision, Demandforce, Essilor, Essilor Canada, Europa, Eyefinity, Eye Pros, Eye Recommend, FYidoctors, Gateway Professional Network, GPLI, Hilco, Marchon Eyewear, Match, Menicon, Modern Optical, Oasis Medical, Optos, OSI, POG Labs, RX Optical, Reptile Sun, Ron’s Optical, Signet Armorlite, SynergEyes, Tura, Vision Source, VSP Global, Wave Contact Lens System, Westgroupe, ZeaVision, ZEISS (USA & Canada) and Zyloware, all of whom are participating in the Challenge in some way.

World Sight Day is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness as part of the VISION 2020 Global Initiative, and it’s part of the official World Health Organization calendar. This year, the call to action for World Sight Day is Eye Care for All ■

COMPANIES ANNOUNCE AWARDS PROGRAMS

CooperVision and Transitions Optical each recently announced initiatives to recognize excellence and innovation in eye care practices.

The CooperVision Best Practices Initiative seeks to recognize contact-lens fitting U.S. eye care practices that have found novel ways to make their businesses thrive. Specifically, such practices should submit stories in one or more of these categories: Innovation, Patient experience and Business culture. The Best Practices recipients will be announced in January and will have the opportunity to assist in the education and elevation of optometry throughout the United States through their stories. In addition, CooperVision may invite honorees to serve on high-profile panels, meet eye care and medical news media members and contribute to white papers. Further, honorees will be able to be involved with enhanced training and educational meetings at CooperVision facilities or other locations. Best Practices submissions are due Monday, Nov. 23 at eyecarebestpractices.com.

The Transitions Innovations Awards Program for 2015 recognizes practices that have used innovation to support the Transitions brand through the past year.

To enter, candidates must complete a nomination form and describe their efforts in commitment, inspiration, goals, planning, creativity, impact and results in one or more of the following categories: 2015 Transitions Brand Ambassador (individual-only award), Best in Growth Achievement, Best in Training, Best in Marketing and Best in Patient Experience. Nominations will be accepted at TransitionsPRO.com/Awards until Oct. 31. For additional information, visit transitionPRO.com/Awards ■

NOVABAY FORGES DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH ALLDOCS

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., maker of Avenova, a prescription daily lid and lash hygiene product that helps in the management of eye conditions, such as blepharitis, has forged a distribution agreement with the Association of LensCrafters Leaseholding Doctors (ALLDocs), so ALLDocs O.D.s. have access to the product.

The Emeryville, Calif. pharmaceutical company also has distribution agreements with Alphaeon, McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen and Vision Source ■

ALLERGAN TO BUY GLAUCOMA DEVICE COMPANY

Allergan has entered into an agreement under which the pharmaceutical company will purchase AqueSys, the maker of a minimally invasive implantable glaucoma shunt called XEN45, for $300 million upfront and milestone payments for regulatory approval and commercialization for AqueSys’ development programs.

XEN45 is implanted in the subconjunctival space via a single-use pre-loaded proprietary injector. AqueSys says it lowers IOP by facilitating aqueous fluid flow and also safeguards patients from hypotony. The device has a CE mark in addition to approval in Canada, Switzerland and Turkey. It is undergoing a Phase III clinical trial.

FDA approval of XEN45 is expected by late 2016 or 2017 ■