News Blinks — August 26, 2016

 News Blinks — August 26, 2016

Here’s a quick look at some industry news you may have missed this week. 

  • The University of Pikeville has been awarded a $7.4 million grant to support the new Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO). The grant is reportedly the largest in the university's history and will be used to help alleviate the significant startup costs of launching the college of optometry.
  • According to an article in Globes, Israeli company EyeYon Medical has received U.S. marketing authorization for a new contact lens for the treatment of corneal edema. The product is reportedly undergoing clinical trials in both the U.S. and Europe.
  • CooperVision was recently honored by the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (PRMA) for outstanding environmental, health and safety practices at its Puerto Rico high volume production facility (see press release below). The company reportedly decreased its water demand for manufacturing purposes by 55 percent, and streamlined its manufacturing process to reduce landfill disposal.
  • Next week, Novartis will host 60 top students from leading universities around the world at its International BioCamp — a three-day seminar that brings together talented students from 18 countries to learn from and exchange ideas with biotechnology and business experts. The program gives students a crash course on the pharmaceuticals business and tests their ability to building a compelling business case, taking into account complexities such as data privacy and regulatory requirements.
  • Blackfin has renewed its partnership with Andrea Bocelli and the Associazione Teatro del Silenzio at the traditional annual concert in Teatro di Lajatico (see press release below). Additionally, Blackfin created four special, limited edition frames that were presented as a gift to Bocelli, the conductor of the orchestra Marcello Rota, and to all the guest artists appeared on the stage.
  • In observance of Healthy Aging Month in September, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recently issued a consumer-focused press release that reported nearly two out of three American adults report having eye vision issues, with 13 percent never seeking an examination by an ophthalmologist.  
  • A new study evaluating the use of protamine as a disinfectant for contact lenses was recently published in the journal Optometry & Vision Science. Researchers reportedly concluded their study results showed a potential for protamine "to be used for the development of effective multipurpose disinfection solutions," however further studies would be needed to examine stability, compatibility and in vivo toxicity.
  • A recent study published in the journal Bipolar Disorders has found the use of blue-blocking, orange-tinted glasses may be used as a potential treatment for bipolar disorder, as recent research has reportedly found bipolar episodes can be caused by light changes and symptoms are closely linked to abnormal circadian rhythms.
  • Researchers at RMIT University in Australia have found that over-the-counter green laser pointers hold a large risk to eyes. According to researchers, green lasers produce more infrared radiation, which does not trigger a person's natural blink and aversion responses, leading to a higher risk for retinal damage.
  • And researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder have won a $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to try and reconnect neural communication between parts of the brain where it has been severed, including restoring the connection between the retina and visual cortex that could be severed from neural problems.
Click here to read the full press release

Source: Various

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