NEW YORK—Building on the strong response to its two outreaches to ECPs across the U.S. seeking their views about the coronavirus' impact on their practices and optical businesses, Jobson Research is continuing to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and is issuing the third wave of its Coronavirus ECP survey today. The survey, which asks eyecare professionals to provide responses on a range of topics connected to the pandemic, is open today at this link. Read more »

PALM SPRINGS, Fla.—My Eyelab and Stanton Optical, said that in response to the COVID-19 crisis, they will be offering only telehealth eyecare at 119 participating locations. Read more »

LOS ANGELES—Second Sight Medical Products (NASDAQ: EYES) announced March 12 that Will McGuire, president and chief executive officer, is exiting the company, effective March 27, 2020, to pursue “another professional opportunity located closer to his family.” McGuire remains as a director on Second Sight’s board. Effective March 27, 2020, Gregg Williams, the company’s chairman of the board, will assume the role of acting CEO. Read more »

MENLO PARK, Calif.—Sight Sciences Inc., a growth-stage medical device company transforming two of the fastest-growing segments in ophthalmology and optometry (glaucoma and dry eye disease), announced the closing of a $30 million-plus Series E preferred stock financing round led by D1 Capital Partners.  The proceeds will be used for continued clinical and operational development and to support commercial expansion for Sight Sciences' OMNI and TearCare products, according to the announcement this week. "We are extremely excited to partner with D1 over… Read more »

NEW YORK—For ECPs, using telehealth is one way to help your practice get through the business challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to findings from a recent Jobson Research survey 17 percent of respondents said they expect increased interest by patients in accessing telehealth options as a result of the coronavirus. Telehealth options will be the subject of tonight’s “Power Hour” as host Gary Gerber, OD, discusses how using telehealth will help your practice and patients get through the current COVID-19 pandemic.… Read more »

NEW YORK—In light of the developments related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus), the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) and the National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE)  have composed an in-depth document on the precautions that eyecare professionals should take as they work with patients. The National Academy of Opticianry has shared these guidelines with their members. Here is a summary of those guidelines. Read more »

WATERLOO, Ontario—As containers of soap and hand sanitizer become limited in availability since the global spread of coronavirus, people are paying more attention to handwashing practices. While there is no suggestion of an association between COVID-19 and safe contact lens wear, for the millions of lens wearers worldwide, the increased focus on hand washing is a welcome message, experts have noted. A recent literature review from professor emeritus Desmond Fonn and the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) reports that proper… Read more »

NEW YORK—Now that the World Health Organization has officially declared the widespread outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, to be a pandemic, health care organizations around the world are stepping up efforts to inform their members about the rapid spread of the coronavirus while offering advice on how to prevent themselves and their patients from contracting it. Two of the leading professional organizations in the U.S. that represent eye doctors—The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Optometric Association (AOA)—are actively monitoring the situation… Read more »

ATLANTA—SECO International, a leading annual conference providing ophthalmic professionals with educational opportunities since 1923, has wrapped up its 2020 edition with a delegates meeting, award presentations and leadership transition. At this year’s meeting, which ran from March 4 until March 8, SECO offered more than 400 hours of continuing education, including facilitated workshops, exhibit hall education, lounges for peer-to-peer sharing, hands-on skill training, and a user-group discussion area. The SECO continuing education workshops were especially busy throughout the meeting and… Read more »

ELKINS PARK, Pa.—Salus University has partnered with National Vision to create a pilot program focused on training students on conducting remote eye exams utilizing high tech equipment and real-time secure HD video conferencing. The technology enables optometrists to see patients remotely in locations that do not have a doctor or when the doctor is not available. Doctors from the University launched the pilot program in January, conducting remote exams from The Eye Institute, the University’s main clinical optometric facility, for patients within a… Read more »