The World Health Organization Launches WHO Eye Care in Health Systems Guide, at the 75th World Health Assembly

LONDON—The 75th World Health Assembly launched the WHO Eye Care in Health Systems Guide for Action this week at an event hosted by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). The Guide is a new and important set of tools to support countries to include eye health in their national health programs. Launching the tools, Dr Bente Mikkelsen, director, non-communicable diseases, WHO said "We need 'all hands on deck' to take this forward," noting, “it's outrageous that in 2022 we have one billion people with vision impairment, and we have the oldest program in WHO standing since 1970.”

PECAA Annual Meeting Shines Bright in Palm Springs

BOCA RATON, Fla.—After a three-year hiatus and for the first time since combining with Healthy Eyes Advantage (HEA), Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) welcomed more than 900 members, strategic vendor partners and industry thought leaders to reconnect in person for three days of camaraderie, education and idea exchange during its annual meeting, held from May 19-21 in Palm Springs, Calif. The event delivered a multitude of opportunities for PECAA members and their staff to connect with peers, as well as to learn more about new tools and resources now available to grow and sustain successful practices.

EssilorLuxottica to Launch Unified Foundation to Accelerate its Global Mission Activities

CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—EssilorLuxottica (Bloomberg:EL:FP) announced today the launch of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, "marking a new chapter in the group’s journey to achieve its unique mission to help everyone in the world see more and be more. This comes as a major pillar in EssilorLuxottica’s sustainability strategy and supports its commitment to advocate for good vision as a basic human right." The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation unites many of the group’s global advocacy and philanthropic actions and will play a leading role in the fight against poor vision.

MacuLogix Moves to Wind Down Operations as a 'Going Concern,' as Liquidity Issues Become Insurmountable

MIDDLETOWN, Pa.—MacuLogix Inc., a company founded a decade ago to support ECPs with the tools and resources needed to diagnose and monitor patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is winding down operations and has assigned its assets to a firm that specializes in working with creditors in business liquidation processes, according to a filing in the Delaware Court of Chancery late last week. This assignment of assets includes patent rights and related intellectual property. Maculogix, which conducted a months-long search for a buyer or new investors, owes approximately $23 million to secured creditors, according to the court filing.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Decreased for the Week of May 16-22, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations decreased last week, May 16-22, at a rate of -2 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 4 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 21) when compared with last year and 12 points above 2019. During the beginning of the pandemic, gross revenue had reached a level of 84 points by Week 21 of 2020 as it continued emerging from the pandemic-related low of 14 index points it had reached during Week 15, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.