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 <strong>2016</strong> 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 <strong>2016</strong> according to the just released Glaucoma Drugs Market: <strong>2016</strong> – 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. ▀ www.nzoptics.co.nz | PO Box 106954, Auckland 1143 | New Zealand For general enquiries, please email info@nzoptics.co.nz For editorial and classifieds, please contact Jai Breitnauer, editor, on 022 424 9322 or editor@nzoptics.co.nz. For advertising, marketing, the OIG and everything else, please contact Lesley Springall, publisher, on 027 445 3543 or lesley@ nzoptics.co.nz. To submit artwork, or to query a graphic, please email lesley@nzoptics.co.nz. NZ Optics magazine is the industry publication for New Zealand’s ophthalmic community. It is published monthly, 11 times a year, by New Zealand Optics 2015 Ltd. Copyright is held by NZ Optics 2015 Ltd. As well as the magazine and the website, NZ Optics publishes the annual New Zealand Optical Information Guide (OIG), a comprehensive listing guide that profiles the products and services of the industry. NZ Optics is an independent publication and has no affiliation with any organisations. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of NZ Optics (2015) Ltd. 4 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS <strong>Jul</strong>y <strong>2016</strong>
©<strong>2016</strong> NIKE, INC. Become a stockist today Toll Free 0800 141 444 generaloptical.co.nz enquiries@genop.co.nz <strong>Jul</strong>y <strong>2016</strong> NEW ZEALAND OPTICS 5
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