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June 14, 2021June 14, 2021

CooperVision Presents Expansive Scientific Research During 2021 BCLA Virtual Conference

CooperVision announced its scientific research program for the 2021 British Contact Lens Association Virtual Clinical Conference and Exhibition, which began Sunday, June 13. For the first time, the biennial event is streamed live over the course of 30 hours, welcoming members of the global eye care community to experience and discuss the latest category advancements.

More than 20 CooperVision-authored and sponsored investigations were accepted by the conference committee. The papers and posters span a range of topics that underpin the contact lens industry’s evolution, including new data and insights on the complex lifestyle factors involved with addressing presbyopia, misperceptions surrounding soft toric lens fitting, and understanding children’s acceptance of innovative optical interventions for slowing the progression of myopia.

“Our commitment to developing evidence-based approaches for many of the world’s toughest vision challenges involves sharing the underlying research with peers. It’s a privilege to present this work at the 2021 BCLA Conference, especially with its extension to an even more diverse group of eye care professionals (ECPs), scientists, and educators participating virtually,” said Gary Orsborn, Vice President, Global Professional, Medical & Clinical Affairs for CooperVision.

Among several CooperVision presentations regarding presbyopia is an exploration of the daily complexity involved in dealing with the condition, and how this may affect ECP choices. Ethnography Research to Understand the Vision and Switching Experiences of Living with Presbyopia defines three usage personas based on lifestyle choices and self-perception, as well as ranking the activities and locations in which near vision needs were paramount—not all of which were anticipated.

As a leader in soft toric contact lenses, CooperVision continues to discover and tackle ECP hesitancies that present obstacles to successfully fitting people with astigmatism. This dedication is reflected in two papers being presented for the first time at BCLA.

A CooperVision-sponsored project with Eurolens Research delved into the impression that prescribing toric and multifocal soft contact lenses consume more of an ECP’s time compared to sphere options. Chair Time Required for the Fitting of Various Soft Contact Lens Designs employed a retrospective chart review from a large, multi-practitioner optometric practice, examining time stamp data for fitting spherical, multifocal and toric lens designs with the same silicone hydrogel material. The authors found no differences in fitting times, allowing ECPs to cast aside perceptions that have become outdated as soft lens designs and related tools have evolved.

CooperVision’s myopia management studies have set a high bar for the category. During BCLA, three papers across the optical intervention spectrum will add to the profession’s body of knowledge about children’s acceptance:

Myopia Progression and Slit-Lamp Findings in Children: MiSight^® 1 day Clinical Trial
Experience with a Novel Myopia Management Spectacle Lens Technology
Evaluation of Children in the Netherlands Fitted with Custom-Made Ortho-K Contact Lenses

In addition to its scientific program, CooperVision has organized several educational workshops and sessions as part of the application and skills development tracks. It is also a co-sponsor of the BCLA Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR) initiative, which will factor prominently into the conference.

Click HERE for the full press release.

June 11, 2021June 10, 2021

New Look Vision Group Regains Its Freedom

In the May-June issue of Optik Magazine, contributor Jean-François Venne had a chat with Antoine Amiel from New Look Vision who will soon no longer be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company will go private again following its acquisition by the American private equity firm FFL Partners and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ).

The new set of shareholders also includes the family of Dr. H. Doug Barnes, founder of the Eyemart Express chain in the U.S. The purchasers have agreed to pay $50 CDN per share for all of the Class A common shares. The transaction is valued at approximately
$800 million.

New Look Vision’s decision will therefore provide liquidity to the former controlling shareholder Benvest Capital and the other shareholders. However, the transaction is mainly motivated by strategic considerations. Being listed on the stock exchange requires a company to perform what Antoine Amiel, the President and CEO of New Look Vision, describes as a “quarterly striptease.” Every three months, the company must publish its financial statements, detail its performance, acquisitions and even reveal, to some extent, its strategic orientations.

Privatization will also provide more financial leeway. It is very difficult for a publicly listed company in Canada to maintain a debt level that exceeds three times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for any length of time.

Read the full interview in Jean-François’ article in the May-June issue of Optik Magazine.

Check out more articles from Jean-François Venne HERE!

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021

MIDO Sets February 2022 Date for In-Person Edition

The date is set for February 12, 2022, to finally gather again in person at MIDO. With the launch of the next major exhibition, the doors closed on MIDO 2021 | Digital Edition, in an online version.

Almost 50,000 interactions on the business platform, 438 display pages, over 5,700 registered users, 50% international attendance. These are the numbers of the “transition” edition – between the pandemic and February 2022. MIDO’s B2B trading continues on the platform, puttingbuyers and exhibitors in contact until the next edition.

Geographically speaking, the majority of participants in this edition were European, followed by Americans and Asians. This digital format offered more than 30 exclusive events – all available online – and 60 speakers, an array of prominent guests who alternated throughout the show.

“The first ever MIDO 2021 I Digital Edition has closed, and we are extremely pleased with the outcome, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the entire team,” stated MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni. “Despite the very turbulent year that put us to the test, we were able to strengthen and build new confidence and trust, and we produced a digital trade show that came as close as possible to an in-person fair.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021

Essilor, New Official Partner of 24 Hours of Le Mans and MissionH24

With the next 24 Hours of Le Mans fast approaching (21-22 August), race organizer the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) announces a three-year partnership with Essilor, the ophthalmic lenses world leader, to promote the importance of optimal vision on the road, 24 hours a day.

Up to 90% of the information needed to make good decisions on the road is related to our eyesight. Optimal vision at every moment is key to enjoy the road safely in all conditions, whatever the means of transportation. Safe mobility therefore calls for the best corrective and protective lenses, 24/7.

As official partner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and MissionH24, Essilor will offer its expertise to correct and protect the vision of racing drivers and everyday motorists, improve precision and field of vision, adjust to levels of brightness and weather conditions, reduce fatigue, and adapt to night driving – all factors that significantly influence reaction times on the road.

Associating vision with the future of mobility, the partnership agreement includes the MissionH24 program, which aims to create a class for prototypes with an electric- hydrogen powertrain at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024.

Discover the reveal video:

Over the next three years, the partnership will involve numerous joint initiatives on the topic of “24-hour vision” through both trackside events and public awareness campaigns, in line with the engagement of both partners for safe mobility.

Click HERE for the full press release.

June 9, 2021June 2, 2021

Cholesterol Lowering Statin Drug May Promote Retinal Neuron Regeneration

FBC funded researcher Dr. Philippe Monnier has published a study in the journal Neurobiology of Disease that shows that cholesterol inhibition increases neuron regeneration and survival. The team used two approaches: the drug lovastatin and a genetic editing approach to lower cholesterol levels in an animal model of optic nerve damage. The optic nerve is made up of many cells that send signals from the light sensing photoreceptors to the brain.

In these experiments, cholesterol lowering treatments increased optic nerve regrowth after injury. Researchers also saw that lowering cholesterol in the eye increased survival of both optic nerve cells and photoreceptor cells. Interestingly, previous studies have not shown such strong effects of cholesterol inhibition on neuron regeneration.

More experiments will be important to understand what conditions promoted this effect in this study. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that individuals with retinal
degeneration should start taking statins! One important thing to note is that the drug treatment was given by intravitreal injections to the eye, meaning that a very concentrated dose of lovastatin was being given to a small region of the eye. There is no data to suggest that individuals who take cholesterol-lowering drugs have better
vision or less retinal degeneration. However, this does suggest that there might be a new use for a currently existing and tested drug, and future work from Dr. Monnier’s team will explore this possibility.