Services to be Held for Long-Time Contact Lens and Marketing Exec, Thomas Steiner

By Staff
Tuesday, December 11, 2018 12:21 AM LAKE ZURICH, Ill.—Services are planned for long-time contact lens and marketing executive, Thomas F. Steiner, 73, who passed away on Dec. 6 after a long illness. Steiner spent 35 years as a visionary marketing executive in the optical industry with Wesley Jessen and CIBA Vision, and later started a business as a marketing consultant. Among his many accomplishments was his involvement in the launch of cosmetic color contact lenses, and the creation of several unique strategic programs for educating optometrists about the business aspects of practice. He was a mentor to many in the industry.

OcuMedic Inc.’s Contact Lens Drug Delivery System Granted European Patent

By Staff
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 12:18 AM MULLICA HILL, N.J—OcuMedic, Inc., the first developer of therapeutic lens for the delivery of drugs for the global ophthalmic market, announced their Contact Drug Delivery System, received a patent by the European Patent Offices, according to a release from the company. The patent will cover all intellectual property of the company’s timed-released delivery of drugs directly to the eye through prescription soft-contact lenses. President and CEO of OcuMedic, Inc., Keith D. Ignotz, said, “The European patent extends the company’s intellectual property coverage to the important European market valued at $16.7 billion annually, growing by 5.6 percent CAGR by 2023, according to Allied Market Research.

Planned Spin-Off Will Allow Alcon to Better Focus on Growth Strategies, CEO Endicott Says

By Staff
Thursday, September 13, 2018 12:24 AM FORT WORTH, Texas—The “new” Alcon that emerges from a planned spin-off from Novartis (NYSE: NVS) in the first half of 2019 will look much like “a $7 billion start-up” with a rapt focus on innovation and R&D as it attempts to address ongoing changes in the delivery of eyecare, chief executive officer David Endicott said this week at the company’s Innovation for Better Vision session.

J&J Cites Pharmaceutical Segment for Driving a 10.6 Percent Increase in Second-Quarter Sales

By Staff
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 12:21 AM NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.—Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) on Tuesday reported that its sales rose 10.6 percent to $20.8 billion in the second quarter, due in part to a 19.9 percent sales increase in its pharmaceutical business segment. On an operational basis, the company’s overall sales increase was 8.7 percent, and the positive impact of currency was 1.9 percent, according to the announcement. Domestic sales increased 9.4 percent, while international sales rose 11.8 percent, reflecting operational growth of 7.9 percent and a positive currency impact of 3.9 percent.

Alcon’s New CEO Endicott Says Eyecare Company Is Committed to Fort Worth

By Staff

Thursday, July 12, 2018 12:24 AM FORT WORTH, Texas—Alcon expects to build upon its 70 years of history in this Texas metro area following its spinoff from parent company Novartis in 2019, the eyecare group’s new chief executive officer has said. “Fort Worth is where Alcon was born more than 70 years ago, and we look forward to building on our legacy here following the proposed spinoff,” chief executive officer David Endicott said in a statement to the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth earlier this week.

SynergEyes Appoints Bob Ferrigno as CEO; Prepares to Boost Specialty Business

By Staff
Friday, July 6, 2018 12:24 AM CARLSBAD, Calif.—The board of directors of SynergEyes, Inc. has appointed Bob Ferrigno as chief executive officer, effective June 27.

Bausch + Lomb Announces Licensing Agreement With Tangible Science for Use of Custom Contact Lens Coating Technology

By Staff
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 12:18 AM BRIDGEWATER, N.J.—Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company, announced that it has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Tangible Science, LLC, a company whose mission is to create technologies that improve the contact lens wearing experience.

SynergEyes and Brien Holden Vision Institute Partner on Contact Lens Development

By Staff

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 12:18 AM CARLSBAD, Calif.—SynergEyes, a leading hybrid specialty contact lens company, announced a new partnership with the Brien Holden Vision Institute,  the leading translational vision correction center which delivers advanced, customized vision correction for myopes and presbyopes. The exclusive worldwide licensing agreement will enable the manufacturing of design technologies developed by Brien Holden Vision Institute, augmenting the SynergEyes presbyopic package by offering the latest designs on the hybrid contact lens platform. With around half of the world’s population predicted to be myopic by 2050, and with the U.S. Baby Boomer generation now fully presbyopic, it is crucial that technological innovation in contact lens design and manufacturing is translated into high performance products to manage these visual deficiencies, the announcement said.

ABB Optical Group National Sales Meeting Focuses on Opportunities for ECPs

By Staff

Tuesday, June 5, 2018 12:18 AM CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.—ABB Optical Group recently hosted its national sales meeting in Orlando with a focus on the growth of the eyecare industry.

ABB Optical Group Agrees to Acquire Glimpse Live

By Staff
Monday, June 4, 2018 11:45 AM CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.—ABB Optical Group, which supplies optical products and services for the eyecare industry, has agreed to acquire Glimpse Live, according to an announcement.

Simple Contacts Secures $16 Million in Funding

By Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 12:18 AM NEW YORK—Simple Contacts, an eyecare telemedicine company, announced $16 million in funding from Waypoint Capital Partners, with participation from returning investors Goodwater Capital, Steven Cohen, executives from Flatiron Health and some ophthalmologists.

Eyeglass Lens Sales Help Boost Hoya’s 4Q 2017 Revenue

By Staff
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 12:24 AM TOKYO—Hoya Corp. (TOKYO: 7741) reported that sales for the Hoya Group during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2018 rose 7.6 year on year, reaching 135,923 million yen.

California Optometric Association Takes Issue With Online Eye Tests in the State

By Staff
Thursday, May 10, 2018 12:27 AM SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Optometric Association (COA) said that it is advising consumers in the state that online vision tests “come with significant safety concerns.”

E-Vision Develops Platform to Demo Its Electronic Contact Lenses

By Staff
Thursday, May 10, 2018 12:15 AM SARASOTA, Fla.—E-Vision, an optical technology company based here that is developing an autofocusing contact lens, recently announced that it has successfully completed an electronic contact lens platform device to demonstrate the ability to its lens to electronically change diopters in real time. The device electronically shifts focus on demand utilizing e-Vision Smart Optics patented technology, the company said in a press release. “People are amazed as they see the lens in action, realizing how this technology can impact our industry by offering electronic diopter control. Our first-in-category electronically controlled features must be seen to believe,” said Joel D. Zychick, E-Vision’s president and CEO.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals Announces Name Change to Bausch Health Companies Inc.

By Staff
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 12:24 AM LAVAL, Quebec—It’s time to say “adieu” to Valeant.  Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., based here, reported Tuesday that it will change its in July to Bausch Health Companies Inc.