Dec 2017

News
in brief
LIPOXINS FOR GLAUCOMA?
Vision scientists at UC Berkeley
and Toronto University have
discovered that naturally
occurring molecules, known as
lipoxins, have the potential to
halt the progression of glaucoma.
At 16 weeks, researchers
found lipoxin B4, in particular,
stopped cell degeneration
in mice with glaucoma and
neurodegeneration. The team’s
findings could lead to remedies
for glaucoma and other
neurodegenerative diseases, said
senior author, Professor Karsten Gronert.
Retinal ganglion cells (green) connecting
with astrocytes (red) and blood cells (white)
in the inner retina.
PATIENTS WANT SPECS ALTERNATIVES
A qualitative Flinders University study, published in RANZCO’s
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, has found many patients
are upset with being prescribed glasses for their refraction error,
claiming it affects their quality of life. “Patients want eye specialists
to have a broader perspective and present more options… (including)
some who voiced a clear preference for laser surgery, calling it a ‘life
changing solution’,” said lead researcher Dr Jyoti Khadka.
HOKI FISH SCALE CORNEAS
Massey University scientists have developed artificial corneas for
human transplant using a 3D printer and collagen from hoki fish
scales. Lead researcher, Associate Professor Johan Potgieter said the
aim was to make something affordable from a renewable resource
for a world market, and hoki fish scale corneas are accepted by
the human body. 3D printing has been used to create simple body
structures, like bladders and skin, but this is the first time it’s been
used for corneas, he told Stuff, adding he hoped a mass production
process would be ready for testing by the end of next year.
DEEP-SEA FISH REVEALS TWILIGHT VISION TRICK
In other fishy news, scientists have discovered a new type of cell
in the eyes of deep-sea pearlside fish, which have an unusual
visual system adapted for twilight conditions. The Queensland
Brain Institute’s Dr Fanny de Busserolles said, instead of using a
combination of rods and cones, Pearlsides combine aspects of both
cells into a single and more efficient photoreceptor, a “rod-like
cone”, tuned perfectly to the pearlsides’ specific light conditions.
NEW PHARMAC CEO
Pharmac’s director of operations, Sarah Fitt, a
former Auckland Hospital chief pharmacist, has
been appointed CEO, effective from January
2018. Pharmac chair Stuart McLauchlan said,
“Sarah is one of the most outstanding clinical
leaders in New Zealand. Her experience is
going to be vital for the continuity of Pharmac
and we wanted to ensure we retained that
talent.” Fitt replaces Steffan Crausaz who’s
Sarah Fitt
moving to the private-sector.
GENE THERAPY TO REVERSE BLINDNESS
A team at Oxford University has shown it might be possible to
reverse blindness using gene therapy to reprogramme cells at
the back of the eye to become light sensitive. Researchers used
a modified virus to inject a new gene, which expresses the light
sensitive protein, melanopsin, into the residual retinal cells in mice
which were blind from retinitis pigmentosa. The mice were able to
demonstrate a high level of visual perception for more than a year. .
G&M EXPANDS RAPIDLY
George & Matilda has acquired its 40th practice, just two years
after starting up. Chris Beer, G&M CEO, told local media the
Australian optometry chain’s growth is a credit to its business
model. “We have found by working closely with our partners to
maintain their independence while supporting them with their
back-office needs… is a winning formula for success”.
ALCON SPIN-OFF IN 2019?
A Novartis’ strategic review concluded a standalone Alcon, formed
via a capital markets exit, could create additional shareholder value,
but was “not likely before the first half of 2019”. Novartis said it
hopes to list Alcon, but will focus on a financial turnaround before
making a final decision.
OPTOMETRY IN AUSTRALIA SNAPSHOT
According to ODMA’s Eye Talk, a total of 3,884,835 pairs of spectacles
were dispensed in 2016/17, at an average price of A$305.65 a pair,
down from A$320 two years ago, with prescription spectacle sales
for the 2016/2017 year amounting to A$1.373 billion.
SOLUTION FOR NIGHT BLINDNESS
Hoya Surgical Optics has developed a wearable device to assist
night blindness patients in low light conditions. The wearable
glasses-type device, provisionally called Hoya MW and developed in
collaboration with Kyushu University and Tokyu Corporation, uses
image processing software, capturing images on a miniature highsensitivity
camera and projecting them on a display in front of the
wearer’s eyes. The device is undergoing trials in Japan.
PHOTOGRAPH: JEREMY SIVAK
Major honour for Kiwi doctor
Auckland-based
medical retina
specialist Dr Dianne
Sharp was honoured
at the 49th annual
Royal Australian and
New Zealand College
of Ophthalmologists
(RANZCO) Scientific
Conference in Perth for her
distinguished service to
ophthalmology.
Dr Sharp, pictured here
receiving her Distinguish
Service Award from
RANZCO president,
Associate Professor
Mark Daniell at the
RANZCO 2017 graduation
celebration, said the award
was a huge honour.
For full story and all the
news from RANZCO’s 49th
Congress turn to p10-17.
CR invests large in Perfection
Christchurch and Australia-based optical laboratory, CR
Surfacing is gearing up for growth with a complete overhaul
of its technology and processes to ensure it remains at the
cutting edge of lens production in today’s high-tech world.
Linton Dodge, CR Surfacing’s New Zealand general manager, says
it’s an exciting time for the company, which has grown significantly
in the last year and is banking on growing far more due to recent
changes in the industry.
To this end, after months of investigation and deliberation, CR
Surfacing has unveiled details of a million-dollar plus investment in
its future, with the company installing a new state-of-the-art lens
processing manufacturing suite, from German company Schneider,
at its headquarters in Melbourne. Dodge, who went to see the new
installation and be briefed on its capabilities in October, said it was
amazing. “It’s just crazy. All automated conveyor belts… just very, very
advanced.”
The new Schneider installation marks the end of CR Surfacing’s
long-standing Signature brand of lenses, which will be phased
out and replaced by its new Perfection Lens Series over the next
year. The new Perfection range is completely compatible with the
Schneider machinery and will ensure the company can offer the
highest accuracy possible for progressive lenses, said Dodge. “It’s all
about the end result. You can pretty much get a freeform lens from
anywhere. You can get one from China or Germany; you can buy the
best freeform lens in the world, but if it’s designed on a lower quality
machine, you are not going to get the result you want.”
CR Surfacing’s tech investment has been driven by two factors:
first, and foremost, it’s commitment to being entirely independent to
best serve the needs of the independent optometry market in New
Zealand and Australia; and the looming Essilor-Luxottica merger,
which is creating opportunities in the market, said Dodge.
The company was selected as the preferred lens supplier to Australia’s
largest network of independents, ProVision, at the beginning of this
year, he said. “Doors, that in the past, we thought would be shut to us
forever are now opening… and it’s that independence that drives us.
Right from day dot, CR Surfacing
has been 100% independent,
that’s why the Signature series
came about years and years ago
because we said if we’re going to
be truly independent we need to
have our own product. It was a
bold move at the time, but we’ve
never looked back and now we’re
looking forward again.”
In July, Eyepro, the New
Zealand independent
optometry group run by Chris
Clark, also announced CR
Surfacing would be its preferred
lens supplier (see story in NZ
CR Surfacing’s Linton Dodge
Optics’ August issue).
CR Surfacing’s Kiwi HQ in Christchurch is also undergoing some
changes to accommodate the changes, with Dodge and his team
welcoming a new state-of-the-art Mei Ezfit all-in-one edger. The
EZfit allows the operator to control the power and cut of a lens
without the use of centring blocks, reducing production costs and
increasing the accuracy of lens centring. Fully automated, E3fit uses
a patented vacuum system to hold the lens in place, reducing the risk
of breakage during milling.
It’s a massive job changing from one production system to another,
but CR Surfacing hopes to have all the bugs ironed out and the new
Perfection Lens Series range in place to begin showing to selected
customers by the beginning of December, said Dodge. “CR Surfacing
is investing millions of dollars for the growth and success of the
independent market. That’s why we are so excited, and the interest is
there for us to do it.” ▀
For details about CR Surfacing’s new Perfection Lens Series range,
please refer to the Lenses Rx section of the 2018 OIG, out soon.
NovaTears launches in NZ
NovaTears, a new treatment for evaporative
dry eye disease (DED) has been launched
in New Zealand and Australia.
NovaTears manufacturer, German speciality
pharma company Novaliq, described the new
product as “the first and only water-free topical
eye drop treatment specifically developed to treat
patients with DED. (It) immediately stabilises
the lipid layer without causing vision blurring.
Clinically validated in four clinical trials… showed
that NovaTears is safe and efficacious for treating
the signs and symptoms of DED and meibomian
gland dysfunction (MGD).”
NovaTears will be distributed by Kiwi company AFT
Pharmaceuticals in Australasia under an exclusive
licensing arrangement.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer patients a
novel ophthalmic treatment that addresses signs
and symptoms of evaporative DED and MGD,”
said Hartley Atkinson, AFT CEO. “NovaTears is a
first-in-class, water-free and preservative-free
treatment that strengthens the lipid layer of the
tear film thereby preventing evaporation. It is a
welcome addition to our eye care line, one that
will provide superior benefits to patients.”
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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
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4 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS December 2017