Jul 2016

News
in brief
WHERE ARE MY GLASSES?
A question that may fall out of fashion, thanks to the folks at
iHuman who has launched a new range of ‘adaptable eyewear’
called FindMe, which allows you to find your glasses, thanks to a
simple smartphone application. Even more impressive, the system
works both ways, allowing your glasses to find your phone if you
lose it. Using the FindMe app and the integrated radar system, your
phone shows you the direction of your misplaced glasses, while a
button activates a buzzer present in the frame.
PHOTOBIOMODULATION IMPROVES BCVA
LumiThera announced a significant improvement in visual acuity,
contrast sensitivity and retinal drusen volume in patients with dry
age-related macular degeneration when treated with non-invasive
photobiomodulation, according to study results presented at
ARVO. Over a three-week course, an LED light comprising of red
(670 nm), yellow (590 nm) and infrared (790 nm) was applied to 24
subjects’ eyes. Researchers found a statistically significant mean
improvement in both ETDRS BCVA of +5.9 letters and contrast
sensitivity +0.11 log units at three cycles per degree, which lasted
for three months.
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN CME POST CATARACT SURGERY
Investigators from Imprimis Pharmaceuticals announced positive
clinical study results with its triamcinolone acetonide, moxifloxacin
HCl and vancomycin dropless therapy formation in patients after
cataract surgery at the ASCRS. The study prospectively compared
rates of post-operative cystoid macular oedema (CME) using
traditional steroid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drops
with triamcinolone acetonide, moxifloxacin HCl and vancomycin
dropless therapy (Tri-Moxi-Vanc) combined with an NSAID drop,
in a total of 1,200 consecutive surgeries. In the 600 patients in the
historical group using NSAID and steroid drops, the CME rate was
1.5%, while in the other group, the CME rate was 0.5%.
BLINDNESS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE BY 2050
The number of Americans with visual impairment or blindness
is expected to double to more than 8 million by 2050, according
to projections and studies funded by the National Eye Institute,
with another 16.4 million expected to have difficulty seeing due
to correctable refractive errors such as myopia or hyperopia.
Researchers estimated 1 million Americans were legally blind
in 2015.
FLYING EYE-DOCTORS LAUNCHED
Orbis has launched–quite literally–the world’s only mobile
ophthalmic teaching hospital located on an MD-10 aircraft. A
culmination of six-years of work, the Orbis plane features stateof-the-art
technologies to allow surgeon volunteers to teach
physicians in developing countries about treatments and safety
standards for cataract, glaucoma, refractive errors, diabetes-related
conditions, strabismus and more. The hospital is the only nonland-based
hospital that has been accredited by the American
Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities
International. The new teaching facility was unveiled on 2 June and
is currently touring the US before departing to Asia to conduct its
inaugural programme in Shenyang, China this September.
META-LENSES SET TO REVOLUTIONISE OPTICS
Researchers from Harvard University have developed a new type
of flat lens that could replace more cumbersome curved glass
optics currently used in a wide range of imaging appliances. The
planar lens is capable of processing images of objects smaller than
even the best microscopes, using a titanium dioxide-based array
of nanostructures. The new optic, called a metalense, also has
better focusing power than traditional glass lenses and measures a
fraction of a millimetre in thickness. Researchers say the technology
could have applications in virtual reality headsets, space telescopes
and even contact lenses.
ESSILOR AWARD
Essilor was named No.5 in Newsweek’s 2016 Green Rankings, which
assess the overall environmental performance of the 500 largest
publicly traded companies in the US and the 500 largest publicly
traded companies globally. In a statement announcing the placing,
Essilor said it had reduced water consumption by 40% and energy
consumption by 22% in its mass production plants over the last
seven years.
GLAUCOMA REPORT KEY FINDINGS ANNOUNCED
Spending on glaucoma drugs is expected to surpass US$6 billion
globally by the end of 2016 according to the just released Glaucoma
Drugs Market: 2016 – 2030 report. Generic variants of glaucoma
drugs, such as Latanoprost, continue to gain traction as patents of
innovator formulations expire. New glaucoma R&D programmes
are primarily focused on ROCK (Rho Kinase) inhibitors, adenosine
agonists and NO (Nitric Oxide) donors, among other therapies.
Some drug developers are also investing in sustained release
product candidates, for existing prostaglandin analogues and other
drugs, to address the issue of non-adherence. ▀
Changes afoot at GenOp
Brad Saffin, GenOp ANZ country managing director
General Optical, one of New
Zealand’s leading suppliers of
eyewear and services to the
country’s independent optometry sector
is closing its Christchurch-based New
Zealand office to improve its focus on
New Zealand.
“This change will give us greater capacity
to meet the needs of our New Zealand
customers by leveraging our significant
resources based in our Sydney office,”
New low vision clinic
A
new, private low vision clinic has
launched at Southern Eye Specialists
in Christchurch, to meet client
demand. The clinic, which launched in April,
is being run by Merivale optometrist John
Veale, who has worked with low vision
patients since 1986.
“The current waiting time for the free
clinic I run is about six weeks,” said Veale.
“There was a demand for a private clinic
with a shorter wait time and Dr Jim
Borthwick asked me to be involved.”
Dr Borthwick admits to being very
interested in the area of low vision and has
been using a MAIA microperimetry machine
for around 18 months with very promising
results. Only the second machine of its
type in New Zealand, the MAIA machine
is used for visual function diagnosis and
improvement and in clinical trials has
shown itself to be particularly useful when
a patient has good visual acuity that gives
little clue to an underlying problem.
“I bought the machine to use in the
2RT trial we are currently running with
age-related Macular Degeneration (MD)
patients, as it provides very accurate
and repeatable test results,” explains Dr
Borthwick. “But I have been very pleased
with the scope of usefulness of the
machine.”
One key area of use for the MAIA machine
is retraining MD patients to use the edge of
their vision to read.
“The machine tests how well a patient
Luxottica closes Sydney distribution
The distribution centre (DC) for Luxottica
in Sydney will close from November
this year.
In a statement announcing the closure in
early June, the president of optical retail,
Australia and New Zealand, Anthea Muir
said: “At Luxottica we are constantly looking
at ways to improve our effectiveness and in
turn, serve our customers more quickly and
efficiently. On a local level, this means better
leveraging our master distribution hub in
Dongguan, China, allowing us to centralise
and strengthen our service to the important
Asia-Pacific region.
“Bringing the regional work into a single
facility will give us a tighter footprint and
ensure a strong position in stock levels
at all times, a critical tool in serving the
customer.”
Currently, the wholesale side of the
business is served directly from the Asia-
explains Brad Saffin, Australia and New
Zealand country managing director of
General Optical.
New Zealand customers will still have
support and product supplied through a
New Zealand-based sales team and product
will continue to be shipped from Sydney. But
the New Zealand customer service line will
now be answered by the customer service
team based in Sydney, which should improve
service by directly connecting New Zealand
optometry practices to GenOp’s main office
in Sydney, says Saffin.
The changes came into effect on 1 June,
but the company’s still working through
some of the details with its yet-to-be
finalised New Zealand-based sales team.
GenOp has also informed its existing New
Zealand customers of the changes in person
and via email, says Saffin, and has received
positive feedback for the changes.
The company is not just a frames supplier,
stressed Saffin, but prefers to consider itself a
partner to independent optometry practices,
providing a comprehensive integrated supply
chain, including practice management
software, a broad range of product offerings,
marketing support and educational training.
“General Optical offers a comprehensive
holds fixation,” says Dr
Borthwick. “The machine can
assess the area with the least
degeneration, that is most
visually sensitive, and you can
train patients to look in that
direction – to use the edge of
their vision, rather than their
central vision, to read.”
After 10 sessions with the
MAIA, patients are referred to
John Veale’s low vision clinic for
further visual rehabilitation.
“I’ve developed a piece of
acetate with a clock on it. The
hands point in the direction
the patient needs to look, and
they can place it on their TV,
book or device at home and it
shows them where to look,” says
Veale who has been using these
methods for a number of years
in his free clinic, which is run in
conjunction with the Lighthouse
Vision Trust.
Combining his methods with
the MAIA machine, Veale says
he’s hoping to achieve faster
and more measurable results
with patients who can then be
accurately monitored.
The clinic at Southern Eye Specialists is
a fortnightly programme, taking place on
Friday afternoons in their current building.
As well as providing patients with expertise
Pacific hub in China, while the retail side is
housed at the Sydney Revesby Distribution
Centre. The centre has been in operation
since 2004. All employees at the centre will
be provided with outplacement services,
said the company and, where possible,
offered opportunities within Luxottica
business solution for our customers. We offer
a supply and fit programme which reduces
costs from the supply chain and helps
customers compete with bigger retailers.”
Through its parent company, VSP Global—a
US-based group of five complementary
businesses combining eye care insurance,
high-fashion eyewear, customised lenses,
ophthalmic technology and retail solutions—
GenOp is at the forefront of innovation in the
wearable market, says Saffin. “We are also
continuing to look at ways we can work with
optometry to increase the consumer’s focus
on the value of comprehensive eye care.
“General Optical has a lot to offer
independent optometry and is committed
to both the Australian and New Zealand
market. As the optometric landscape
continues to evolve, it’s important that we
work together as an industry to find creative
solutions. We’re looking forward to continuing
to work with our customers in New Zealand
as we further expand our support for them
and are enthusiastic about the future of eye
care in both New Zealand and Australia.”
GenOp’s brands include Airlock, Calvin
Klein, Chloe, Skaga, Salvatore Ferragamo,
Dragon, Jones New York, Bebe, Joseph
Abboud, Etnia, Pilgrim and Nike. ▀
and advice for how they can make the most
of their vision, Veale also provides living
skills assessments and guidance on low
vision aids. The clinic also supplies a number
of these aids to patients. ▀
Retail Australia.
“Over the coming months, a global team
will be working on the transition to supply
Luxottica inventories from our distribution
centre in China and will work with local
suppliers to maintain our highest standards
of service,” said Muir. ▀
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4 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS July 2016