SightGlass Vision announced positive outcomes of multiple studies designed to evaluate the performance of its Diffusion Optics Technology^™ spectacle lenses, which are designed to slow the progression of myopia in children. All are being presented this week at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Most prominent is the reporting of 42-month data from the company’s pivotal CYPRESS study extension. Results reinforced the safety and efficacy of Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lenses in children aged 6–10 at the study’s start. The latest investigation re-enrolled 98 participants from the original three-year, double-masked, randomized, multi-site clinical trial to generate six additional months of data. Outcomes again demonstrated statistically significant improvements in axial length (AL) and cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (cSER) between the test and control groups.

Separate work calculated age-independent myopia AL growth to evaluate Diffusion Optics Technology^™ spectacle lens efficacy. Because AL growth occurs even in persistently emmetropic eyes as a child develops and is most rapid before preadolescence, deriving an age-adjusted measure is valuable for clinicians and researchers. Physiological AL growth was determined based on age-matched emmetropic eye growth data from the Orinda Longitudinal Study of Myopia, then compared to AL growth observed in the original three-year CYPRESS study. Children in the test lens group showed 0.23 mm (73%, p=0.003) less pathological AL change than the control group (test: 0.08 ± 0.06 mm; control: 0.31 ± 0.05 mm).

“The extensive and rigorous science we are communicating at ARVO 2023 demonstrates the depth of our commitment to advancing myopia control, while also building additional confidence in the efficacy, safety, and overall performance of Diffusion Optics Technology^™ spectacle lenses,” said Andrew Sedgwick, CEO of SightGlass Vision.

In addition to the featured CYPRESS presentations, SightGlass Vision and its research partners will display several scientific posters at the meeting. A study from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) shows that Diffusion Optics Technology^™ spectacle lenses have no significant effect on accommodative lag after short-term wear. Work from Indiana University suggests that Diffusion Optics Technology^™ contrast-reducing micro-dots do not limit high quality spatial details and good visual performance, while another Indiana investigation concludes that wearers are unlikely to notice substantial contrast decreases when looking through the spectacle lens treatment zone.

A SightGlass team also examined the effect of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia progression in North American children who participated in the CYPRESS study.

Spectacle lenses with SightGlass Vision™ Diffusion Optics Technology™ use thousands of micro-dots to softly scatter light to reduce contrast on the retina, a unique mechanism of action to control myopia progression in children. Over the last 18 months, this patent-protected technology with clinically proven efficacy made its commercial debut in several markets, including China, the Netherlands, and Israel, as well as through preliminary market trials in other countries. The company operates as a joint venture of CooperCompanies and EssilorLuxottica.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) today announced the appointment of Nikki Earich to Development Director, North America. In her new role, Earich is responsible for developing and managing the organization’s fundraising initiatives, while building and strengthening partnerships with optometric practices, eye care professionals, and other key industry stakeholders.

After beginning her career in eye care working as an assistant at her father’s optometry practice, Earich partnered with her mother in 1995 to open the Eyeland of St. John’s, an optical shop in Highland Park, Ill. Soon after, Earich’s brother joined the family business and less than a year later, they opened a second location. In the following years, the company was acquired and came to be known as Spex, where Earich was responsible for all training operations as it expanded to 24 locations across Chicagoland. Since 2016, Earich has served as a staff development consultant for independent eye care professionals and other retail optical shops.

“OGS is truly optometry’s charity. We’re able to give the gift of sight only with the support and partnership of eye care professionals dedicated to the expansion of optometry around the world,” said Lois Schoenbrun, Executive Director, Optometry Giving Sight. “Nikki is one of our own. Her decades of history in optometry and her extensive nonprofit experience will be an invaluable asset as we continue our work to end preventable blindness and vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error. We are excited to have Nikki on our team.”

Prior to joining OGS, Earich served as the Director of Development and Fundraising at The District 75 STEAM Foundation in Mundelein, Ill. During this time, Earich succeeded in raising funds and securing grants that ultimately enabled the foundation to award thousands of dollars to teachers and staff to create programs for students to further their professional development in the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) disciplines, and granted more than 100 scholarships to low-income families to attend STEAM camps and programs.

“It is exciting to make a full-time return to eye care in this capacity,” said Earich. “I have always been invested in changing lives with better vision and look forward to continuing to make an impact with OGS.”

Click HERE for the full press release.