Practice Tip: Make a strategic plan for implementing new items
“Without strategic planning, implementation won’t happen; I promise you,” writes Chief Optometric Editor, April Jasper, in her latest “OD to OD” column. Making a strategic plan can be as simple as carving an hour a week out of our schedules over a month after an industry meeting to determine “how” we can use the latest eye care data and technologies in practice, she explains. For further action steps on this topic, visit https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2023/november-december-2023/od-to-od.
Alimera Sciences names president of stateside operations
Alimera Sciences, Inc. appointed Todd Wood as president U.S. operations, effective immediately. Mr. Wood spent most of his career at Allergan, an AbbVie company, where he held a variety of roles, including vice president of U.S. Sales, Eye Care, area director, Facial Aesthetics, and senior product manager, Lumigan (glaucoma product). He most recently served as chief commercial officer at Dermtech International, a genomics company in dermatology.
CooperVision launches extended myopia treatment pilot program
CooperVision has partnered with some optometry schools to offer extended myopia treatment to children in need via a pilot group beginning in 2024. The multidisciplinary program is a partnership among CooperVision and optometry school faculty, residents, and students at New England College of Optometry, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services, and Illinois College of Optometry. The program will offer MiSight 1-day soft contact lenses and Paragon CRT orthokeratology contact lenses at no cost for as long as these children require myopia management, according to a press release.
InfantSEE to join American Optometric Association mobilization for pediatric visual wellness
InfantSEE will contribute and collaborate with the American Optometric Association (AOA) in their upcoming campaign focused on pediatric eye health. During Optometry’s Meeting, held in June, AOA President Dr. Ronald L. Benner announced the “Call for National Pediatric Eye Health and Vision Mobilization,” an initiative that will work to remedy the pandemic’s acceleration of screen time and lack of access to community resources found in a traditional school environment. Set to take place over multiple years, the campaign will garner support across various sectors of the industry to establish momentum and enact widespread mobilization.
Oculus makes progress in phase 2b trial
Oculis announced the first patient and first visit in its phase 2b RELIEF trial of licaminlimab, an anti-TNF alpha biologic eye drop for the treatment of dry eye disease. RELIEF is a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of licaminlimab for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe DED.
Optometry Giving Sight garners high rating from charity organization
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. This rating designates Optometry Giving Sight as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that OGS is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is an independent charity evaluator that analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators, referred to as beacons: (1) Impact & Results, (2) Accountability & Finance, (3) Culture & Community, and (4) Leadership & Adaptability beacons.
ProQR divests ophthalmic assets
ProQR Therapeutics has completed a transaction divesting late-stage ophthalmic assets, sepofarsen and ultevursen, to Laboratoires Théa. Under the terms of the agreement, ProQR has received an initial payment of $8M and may be eligible for up to $165M in further development, regulatory, and commercial earn-out payments upon related achieved milestones.
RetinalGeniXTechnologies hires interim chief financial officer
RetinalGeniX Technologies Inc. has hired Virender Ahluwalia as interim chief financial officer. Mr. Ahluwalia joins RetinalGeniX Technologies Inc. with over 15 years of experience in finance and operations across public and private organizations, according to a press release.
Sight Science’s GEMINI 2 trial set for publication
Clinical Ophthalmology is set to publish the prospective, mutlicenter, 3-year, GEMINI 2 trial with long-term clinical outcomes for patients treated with OMNI Surgical System technology, according to Sight Sciences. The company anticipates publication Dec. 31. GEMINI 2, a prospective, multi-center, medication washout trial designed to obtain 36-month follow-up data of patients treated in the original 12-month GEMINI trial, has been completed. Results demonstrated sustained and clinically significant IOP reduction of greater than 20% and clinically significant IOP-lowering medication reduction at 36 months.
Vision Council releases report on parents’ view of myopia
The Vision Council released a research report highlighting parents’ awareness and experiences with childhood myopia. The report, “Focused inSights 2023: Parental Perspectives on Myopia,” suggests there is a significant gap in parental understanding regarding childhood myopia, and ample opportunity for eye care providers to better educate families about the causes and risks associated with the condition. A one-page summary, along with the full research report, is available in The VisionCouncil’s Research Download Center as a complimentary download for members of The Vision Council, with a paid option for non-members.
OD Notebook is published weekly on Wednesdays. Unless otherwise noted, the information presented is based on press releases and/or announcements by the respective organizations. Find earlier editions here. To submit a press release to be considered for publication, click here.