The Battle Against Cataracts Marches On

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one million cataract surgeries are performed each year and more than half of Americans over the age of 80 are living with cataracts. Cataract is the leading cause of vision loss in the U.S., as well as the leading cause of blindness worldwide, the CDC said. VMAIL Weekend recently sat down with Dr. David Litoff, a corneal specialist and surgeon specializing in both cataract surgery and refractive surgery. Here’s what he had to say about the early signs of cataract, how patients can protect themselves from developing cataracts and what's involved in cataract surgery.

Novaliq Announces FDA Approval of Vevye 0.1% for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease

HEIDELBERG, Germany and CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Novaliq GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on ocular therapeutics, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vevye (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution) 0.1% for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Vevye (development name CyclASol) is the first and only cyclosporine solution indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease with efficacy demonstrated after four weeks of treatment, according to the company.

Prevent Blindness Launches Efforts to Provide Education and Resources on the Effects of Vision Loss and Blindness on Mental Health

CHICAGO—Because individuals with vision loss can experience a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues as compared to their sighted peers, Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading nonprofit eye health and safety organization, has engaged experts from around the country to raise awareness, provide education and offer newly developed resources for patients, care partners and health care service professionals. The second day of the upcoming 2023 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit, set for July 13, will be dedicated to presentations and forums addressing mental health and vision.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Decreased for the Week of May 29 – June 4, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations decreased last week, May 29 – June 4, when compared with the previous week at a rate of -18 index points due to the Memorial Day long weekend. That places gross revenue at a level 7 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 23) when compared with last year (2022), 12 points above the same period in 2021, 5 points below 2020, and 5 points below 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.

Optical Retailer Fielmann Group Enters U.S. Market, Acquires SVS Vision and Befitting.com, to Establish Fielmann USA, to Be Headed by Former EyeMed Exec, Lukas Ruecker

HAMBURG, Germany, and DETROIT—The Fielmann Group (ETR: FIE), a leading European eyewear provider, announced that it is entering the U.S. market with two complementary acquisitions. The company stated this is an important milestone in the internationalization that the German family business is pursuing with its "Vision 2025 growth strategy." The Fielmann Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent equity ownership of SVS Vision, an optical retailer that operates more than 80 stores across nine U.S. states.