The World Council of Optometry (WCO) launched two new membership categories at their most recent Governing Board meeting in Maputo, Mozambique.

 

The two new categories are “Individual” and “Corporate” membership. This will make the organization accessible to people who want to support their work.

 

Individual membership will be open to individual optometrists, vision scientists, faculty, researchers and eye care industry professionals. For $100 ($50 in developing countries), they can become members of the WCO.

 

The Corporate category is open to commercial organizations that are not otherwise eligible for Associate or Affiliate membership and have a recognized and approved business relationship with an Associate or Affiliate. The cost of membership for a year is $900.

 

Both Individual and Corporate members must endorse the WCO concept of optometry (http://worldoptometry.org/en/about-wco/who-is-an-optometrist/index.cfm).

 

“You do not have to be an optometrist to be interested in our mission which is to promote eye health and vision care as a human right through advocacy, education and public policy development,” says Canadian optometrist Susan Cooper, president of the WCO.

Source:

http://www.worldoptometry.org/en/news/index.cfm/WCO-new-membership-categories   

 

On September 19, 2014, Google Glass and other new wearable technology devices will be the theme in a series of continuing education sessions at Vision Expo West, in Las Vegas.

 

For a total of six hours, the Wearable Tech Track session will update participants on Google Glass, the future of digital vision and of the marketing of wearable technology, and how the field of view is maximized through the integration of GPS and Bluetooth heads-up display technology into frames. The session will also include a discussion on the latest developments in wearable optical technology, ranging from smart glasses and smart contact lenses to augmented and virtual reality systems. Finally, visitors can attend a demonstration of products that increase contrast, comfort and focus for the digital generation.

 

In addition, Vision Expo West will offer over 38 hours of continuing education on the various ways eye care professionals can integrate new technologies into their practice for better patient outcomes and financial results. The 20 courses range from imaging or surgical applications to new marketing or management strategies.

 

Vision Expo West will be held this year at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, from September 17 to 20. Registration is open at www.visionexpowest.com.

Source: Vision Expo West

 

 

Optician Nicolas Tountas is the new CEO of the Quebec Cooperative Regard Action and its subsidiaries.

 

With more than 15 years of experience in the optical sector, Tountas has worked as entrepreneur and manager in both manufacturing and sales. He has held the position of deputy CEO at Regard Action since 2013.

 

This appointment follows the retirement of Gaston Boucher. Boucher held the position for eight years. He will nonetheless remain closely associated with the Cooperative, acting as strategic consultant for the management team and the various boards of directors at Regard Action. In his new role, he will study innovative opportunities in the optical industry, while taking part in strategic discussions within the group’s entities and acting as a mentor for their managers.

 

In April 2014, optician Jean-Pierre Côté stepped into the role of Chairman of the board. Regard Action had also created a development coordinator position, filled by optician Josée LeBlanc.

 

The Cooperative has 175 optometrist and optician locations.

Source: Regard Action

 

High blood pressure drugs may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

 

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin conducted a long-term study between 1988 and 2013 involving 5,000 residents of Beaver Dam, aged 43 to 86 years. They found that using any vasodilator (such as Apresoline or Loniten) was associated with a 72% greater risk of developing early-stage AMD. An estimated 8.2% of the people who were not taking vasodilators developed AMD symptoms, compared to 19.1% of those who were.

 

A similar increase (+71%) in the risk of neovascular AMD was found in people using oral beta blockers such as Tenormin and Lopressor. An estimated 0.5% of non-users developed this form of the condition, compared to 1.2% of users.

 

While the study provides risk estimates of associations between blood pressure lowering medications and AMD at various stages, it was not able to provide any direct indication of the effects of the medications themselves or the conditions for which participants were taking the medications. “It is important that these results be replicated and tested in a clinical trials setting before changing anyone’s medication regimens,” cautioned lead researcher Dr. Ronald Klein.

Source:

http://www.aao.org/newsroom/release/blood-pressure-drugs-may-be-associated-with-AMD.cfm

 

In a major transaction for the Canadian optical industry, New Look Eyewear has acquired Greiche & Scaff for $17.75 M.

 

The assets and business to be acquired by New Look include 49 corporately owned stores in Quebec, including 42 in the greater Montreal region, as well as an integrated lens processing facility located in Montreal. Founded in 1976, Greiche & Scaff posted revenues of approximately $30.7 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.

 

New Look entered into various financing arrangements to finance the acquisition, including a $10 million increase of its senior secured debt facility with its bank syndicate and a private placement agreement for the issuance of 500,000 subscription receipts at a price of $20 per receipt with a syndicate of Canadian investment firms led by GMP Securities L.P. Each receipt will allow its owner to acquire a share of New Look on the acquisition closing date, which is expected to be on or around October 1, 2014.   

 

“We will continue to operate the Greiche & Scaff business as a separate banner and store network within the New Look/Vogue Optical umbrella”, stated Martial Gagné, President of New Look. “We very much look forward to working with the Greiche & Scaff employees, associated optometrists and opticians and welcoming them to our group.”  

 

Source : http://www.newlook.ca/data/pdf/press/2014/fr/BCI-communique-presse-5-aout-2014.pdf