Custom Stable Receives 510(k) Clearance
Valley Contax is proud to announce that we recently received 510(k) clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for our Custom Stable line of scleral contact lenses indicated for the therapeutic management of several ocular conditions.
To achieve this goal, the Custom Stable, which was manufactured in the Contamac line of Ultra High Dk, low-wetting-angle materials, went through a detailed clinical evaluation. The lenses were shown to effectively fit the eyes of patients who suffer from a multitude of ocular conditions, and also achieved clearance for the management of dry eye syndrome. Indications include the management of conditions such as degenerations that lead to an irregular corneal shape (e.g., keratoconus, keratoglobus, pellucid marginal degeneration, Salzmann’s nodular degeneration), dystrophies (e.g., Cogan’s dystrophy, granular corneal dystrophy, lattice corneal dystrophy), and corneal scarring. Indications also include post-surgery (e.g., corneal transplant, LASIK, radial keratotomy) use.
The lens may also be prescribed for the management of ocular surface diseases (e.g., dry eye syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca [graft-versus-host disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, filamentary keratitis], limbal stem cell deficiency, epidermal ocular disorders, neurotrophic keratitis, and corneal exposure/lagophthalmos). When prescribed for therapeutic use, the Custom Stable GP scleral lens is also indicated for correction of refractive error in persons with myopia, hyperopia, or presbyopia.
The clearance designated that eye-care practitioners may prescribe the lenses for frequent/planned replacement wear, assuming regular cleaning, disinfection, and scheduled replacement. When prescribed for frequent/planned replacement wear, the lens may be cleaned and disinfected using a chemical (not heat) lens-care system.
*****
Spectrum International to Launch Europa Scleral Lens in South America, Central America & the Caribbean Markets
Company: Visionary Optics
Date: May 2, 2017
Visionary Optics announces that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Spectrum International to distribute the Europa Scleral lens in the South America, Central America and Caribbean markets. “We are extremely excited about this partnership and impressed with the strategic launch plans Spectrum International has developed to introduce the Europa Scleral lens brand into these markets” stated Cassandra Gordon, VP of Sales & Marketing Visionary Optics.
Visionary Optics, based in Front Royal, focuses virtually all of its resources in the scleral lens market. Under the direction of Donald Sanders M.D., Ph.D, an ophthalmologist specializing in clinical research, Visionary Optics is the high-tech leader in the scleral lens arena. In early 2013, working with Dr. Greg DeNaeyer, Visionary Optics released the Europa Scleral lens, an enhanced second generation version of our highly successful Jupiter Scleral lens, meant to improve and simplify the fit and comfort of our most popular product. Europa offers customizations such as Presbyopia, Toric Haptics, Bi-Toric and notching. Visionary Optics also offers the sMap3D, a corneo-scleral topographer that simplifies and accelerates the scleral lens fitting process.
*****
Shamir Takes Forward Facing Step by Going 100% Digital Freeform®
Shamir removes themselves from molded products, focusing only on Freeform® designs
San Diego, CA – June 1, 2017 - After continually being at the forefront of technology in the optical industry, Shamir is taking a forward-facing measure, removing all molded product offerings and announcing the move to 100% digital, Freeform® lenses. No longer feeling it’s appropriate to support old technology, moving forward, Shamir will only offer semi-finished single vision lenses, focusing solely on advanced Freeform® designs.
Shamir has continually introduced new and innovative designs to improve vision for eyeglass wearers. The company has dedicated its focus on ways to implement their mission of ReCreating Perfect Vision® by offering the most advanced technological lens solutions available to the marketplace at any given time. Removing themselves from dated solutions, they are now able to focus on smarter, faster and more precise designs.
“Eliminating molded products from our offering was an easy decision for us. Labs and Eye Care Practitioners share our vision in providing patients top-tier solutions that include better customization, overall clearer fields of vision and less quality issues. Semi-finished PAL’s limit us to standard designs for every patient, and as a company we’ve set higher standards for ourselves. Our goal is to provide the most advanced customized solutions and removing ourselves from molded products allows us to do exactly that. As our technology and lens solutions advance it makes perfect sense to discontinue designs that are not the best solutions for patients.” Raanan Naftalovich, CEO, Shamir Insight.
Shamir believes strongly in their decision as technology is leading the world. The introduction of the revolutionary Spark MiTM measuring device is just another example of that. Customization is key and digital is the only way to provide that unique customization to each individual patient. From measurements with the Spark MiTM to individualized lens designs, Shamir wants to provide the most technologically advanced personal experience to patients. It will not be long before other companies follow in their footsteps realizing the importance of focusing on the way of the future.
Shamir is excited for their movement of offering only 100% digital Freeform® lenses beginning July 1, 2017.
If you have any question or would like more information, please contact your Shamir Account Executive or Shamir’s Admin department at 877.514.8330.
Shamir Insight, Inc., is a fully owned subsidiary of Shamir Optical Industry, Ltd., an Israel-based company, which is engaged in the development, design and manufacture of premium progressive lenses for the ophthalmic industry. Serving as the Sales & Marketing center for the USA and Canada, Shamir Insight specializes in the marketing of premium progressive lenses under product brand names such as Shamir Autograph III®, Shamir Autograph II®, Shamir InTouchTM, Shamir Spectrum +TM, Shamir ElementTM, Shamir FirstPALTM, Shamir GolfTM, Shamir RelaxTM, Shamir Attitude III®, Shamir DuoTM, Shamir ComputerTM and Shamir WorkSpaceTM, the industry’s leading occupational lens. Exclusively designed with proprietary, patented EyePoint Technology®, a groundbreaking software program that utilizes ray-tracing to compute optical properties and simulate human vision, this extensive product line is distributed through a network of over 300 Shamir ReCreating Perfect Vision® partnering optical laboratories. Shamir Insight employs a large national sales force of Account Executives, many of whom are ABO-accredited educators who speak on a variety of optical topics to Eye Care Professionals. Shamir Insight is a member of Vision Council (VC) and the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA). The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.
****
Alcon Media Alert
Alcon Announces Launch of New DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® Patient-Friendly Packaging
May 31, 2017
Today, Alcon launched new US-specific packaging for DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® (DACP) spherical contact lenses in 90-, 30- and 5-packs to assist patients with proper lens wear and care. This new packaging, the first of several planned packaging changes, reflects the commitment of Alcon to support successful lens wear, particularly in new lens wearers, and eye care professionals and their practices.
The new DACP box design, which replaces the current packaging, features new patient-friendly educational elements, including:
- Detailed insertion and removal illustrations
- A toll-free patient helpline and email address
- The DAILIES® website address for more at-home and online support
Additionally, the US flag symbol will appear on the new packaging to identify the boxes as specific only to US patients. US-specific lot numbers will also enhance supply chain tracking capabilities. By the end of 2017, Alcon also plans to launch US-specific packaging for AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde contact lenses.
“We’re excited to announce the launch of this new packaging design that reflects our commitment to innovating and evolving our business practices to better serve eye care professionals and their patients,” said Rick Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, Vice President of Professional Affairs for US Vision Care at Alcon. “Correct insertion and removal technique and proper lens care are crucial to successful contact lens wear, and this new instructional packaging, along with the telephone and web support, serves as additional reinforcement of the instructions patients receive in their doctor’s office, whenever they have a question or need a refresher.”
The new packaging will be the only DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® sphere packaging that Alcon sells into the US market. The previous, global packaging design will no longer be sold in the US after June 15, 2017. Eye care professionals or others who are concerned about sales of DACP lenses with global packaging, or have any other concerns about Alcon packaging, are asked to report the issues via the Contact Us page on MyAlcon.com.
It’s important to note that while the DACP packaging will look different, nothing is changing with the lenses themselves. The new box design will house the same trusted DACP contact lenses with Blink-Activated Moisture and gradually released moisturizing agent for built-in compliance.
****
SAFILENS A STAR PLAYER AT BCLA
The Italian company renews its commitment to participate in the leading European contact lens trade show where it will promote its patented afocal design for presbyopia and launch its new daily toric lens
Safilens makes a big comeback at the BCLA Clinical Conference & Exhibition, slated to take place June 9th to 11th in Liverpool. The Italian company re-ups its traditional presence at the respected international contact lens trade fair to promote its patented afocal design for presbyopia and the exclusive preview launch of the most recent Safilens innovation: the daily toric fusion 1day astigma lens.
fusion 1day astigma expands the family of daily contact lenses that incorporate the advantages of the company’s groundbreaking fusiontechnology™ system – the synergistic interaction between Hyaluronic Acid and TSP (Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide) that normalizes and stabilizes the physiological relationship between the tear film and the ocular surface, providing the wearer with natural, lasting eye comfort.
The new lens for astigmatism, which will hit the marketplace right after the event, features an innovative design, known as Sleekform, developed by Safilens. "This design" - explains Alessandro Filippo, R&D manager at Safilens - "was engineered to ensure precise, rapid and constant stabilization, while at the same time providing the comfort and practicality of daily contact lenses."
Sleekform stabilization is based on the pure prism, ensuring minimal thicknesses and an extremely uniform surface. In addition to limiting the mechanical strain associated with wearing contact lenses, this characteristic significantly reduces the issues related to differences in distribution of oxygen flow, typical of the designs currently available.
fusion 1day astigma will be available with more than 800 parameters (3 cylinders and 8 axes).
Safilens’ participation in BCLA – an exhibition known for its extraordinary scientific program that each year attracts prominent experts and international industry representatives – attests to the company’s ongoing and increasingly core-commitment to the Educational activities tied to its game-changing products.
Live fittings will be held at the Safilens stand throughout the duration of the show, with applications open to all visitors, who will be able to test the performance and benefits of afocal design and participate in an exclusive preview experience of the Sleekform design of fusion 1day astigma. And that’s not all. Also at BCLA, several works developed in conjunction with Italian and foreign universities will be presented as posters on the fusion 1day presbyo lenses; and on Sunday June 11th, Giancarlo Montani (Lecturer on Optometry, University of Salento) and Sergio Momini (Head of Professional Services at Safilens) will conduct a workshop entitled “Management of computer vision syndrome and digital eye strain with contact lenses”, that will also introduce additional assessments and results of the patented afocal design.
*****
SeikoVision and Mojo Media Labs Win Prestigious Marketing Award
DALLAS, TEXAS — Luxury eyeglass lens producer SeikoVision and inbound marketing agency Mojo Media Labs were recently named Marketer of the Year for Healthcare Marketing by the American Marketing Association’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter on May 4 at the Marketer of the Year Awards Gala 2017.
Mojo Media Labs, which is responsible for promoting SeikoVision and the Seiko Elite lens reward program, won the award based on the popular blue light infographic it developed for SeikoVision. Mojo Media Labs was also named the overall winner for Marketer of the Year.
“Mojo does such an awesome job for us,” said Heather Padgett, National Product Marketing Manager for HOYA Vision Care and SeikoVision. “We could not go as far as we are without the amazing work from the team. This award also goes to show that SeikoVision is an ideal partner for eye care professionals and empowering them with marketing tools to grow their practice.”
Eye care professionals can earn those free marketing tools and services by selling enough progressive lenses through the Seiko Elite Rewards program. SeikoVision also has a number of free resources for eye care professionals on its website, which Mojo Media Labs developed.
“We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with SeikoVision on this exciting project,” said Nikole Rose, President of Mojo Media Labs. “We look forward to creating many more award-winning campaigns in the future.”
About SeikoVision
SeikoVision is a world leader in premium progressive lenses, computer lenses and anti-reflective coatings. The company is part of the global HOYA Corporation.
About Mojo Media Labs
Mojo Media Labs is a HubSpot Platinum Partner and marketing agency located in Irving, Texas. The company specializes in inbound marketing and sales enablement.