By Staff
Thursday, November 21, 2019 12:27 AM
GENEVA—
Alcon (SIX/NYSE:ALC) reported third-quarter financial results showing a 6 percent sales increase (at constant currency) for the period ended Sept. 30 and also announced a plan for “a multi-year transformation program” designed to reorganize and reinvest savings into “strategic growth initiatives supporting long-term financial goals.” The company also noted its successful recent U.S. launches of PanOptix and Precision1 contact lenses. For the third quarter, worldwide sales rose 4 percent on a reported basis to $1.8 billion.
By Staff
Thursday, November 21, 2019 12:21 AM
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., and JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—
FIS (NYSE: FIS) and
Eyefinity, a
VSP Global company, announced yesterday an agreement to offer leading-edge new payment solutions to eyecare practices across the U.S. Eyefinity said it will integrate the Worldpay from FIS payment processing platform into its network of Eyefinity Practice Management, OfficeMate, and AcuityLogic optometric practices, which provide eyecare services across the nation. FIS acquired Worldpay in July 2019. By working together, FIS and Eyefinity look to deliver a more seamless and secure payments experience for both caregivers and patients, according to the announcement.
By Staff
Thursday, November 21, 2019 12:15 AM
CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—
Essilor has been awarded the title of “Diversity Leader 2020” by the Financial Times, recognized in the publication’s new
annual ranking of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Essilor Group is listed 62nd out of a total of 10,000 companies scanned as part of this first-of-its-kind ranking which assesses companies’ success in promoting all types of diversity. “The award is an endorsement of Essilor’s continuous commitment and concrete initiatives towards greater diversity and inclusion within the company,” Essilor said in a statement.
By Staff
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 12:24 AM
DURHAM, N.C.—
Aerie Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AERI) announced the signing of an agreement to acquire
Avizorex Pharma (AVX), a Spanish ophthalmic pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of dry eye disease. “This acquisition bolsters our pipeline with a clinical-stage dry eye product candidate, and we are excited to expand our footprint in ophthalmology. This product has a novel mechanism-of-action for treating dry eye and we believe that, if approved, it could nicely complement the currently approved drugs for this indication. Since the majority of our efforts in 2020 will be focused on supportive non-clinical studies, we do not currently expect to meaningfully increase our R&D expenditures next year,” said Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD, chairman and chief executive officer at Aerie.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 10:08 AM
NEW YORK—Today,
Warby Parker moves into new optical territory as it enters the contact lens arena in the U.S., with the debut of a branded daily wear contact lens called Scout. The new daily lens was developed by the company, executives said, with a Japanese contact lens manufacturer. The lens is described as "made from a super-moist, breathable material that resists drying for lasting hydration. The lenses incorporate Centraform technology for wearing comfort." The lenses will be priced $55 per eye for a 90-day pack, $110 for a 90-day supply of two lenses, or approximately $440 a year. Each Scout lens comes in an innovative, space-saving flat pack that’s easier to transport and store than a traditional contact blister pack, the company noted, adding that it uses almost 80 percent less packaging than traditional contact packs. Dave Gilboa, co-ceo of Warby Parker, told VMAIL, "We have been thinking about contact lenses for several years. Being a direct-to-consumer brand, we get a lot of feedback from our end customers, and roughly 40 percent of them wear contact lenses. We're hopeful that they will love the opportunity to get their contact lenses prescriptions from us, when they see our ODs. In addition, he said, " If you are a customer not near one of the WP stores, or want to go to a doc you've been seeing, that doctor, outside of the WP system, can request one of the six-day trial kits as well." Warby has been piloting contact lenses in some of its offices during the past year, he noted (the company currently operates 112 locations and has 80 optometrists.)
By Staff
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 12:21 AM
NEW YORK—
Authentic Brands Group and
Electric Visual Evolution have announced a global partnership for
Volcom eyewear. Under the agreement, Electric will design, develop, produce and distribute both eyewear and snow goggles for the lifestyle brand. The first collection of Volcom Eyewear will debut in 2020 at Volcom stores, key departments stores and action sports specialty accounts worldwide, as well as online on Volcom.com. A company spokesperson told VMail that the collection will include prescription sunglasses, but there are no plans for optical channel distribution or optical frames at the moment. Southern California born, Volcom’s lifestyle brand is rooted in art, music, film and board sports.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 12:15 AM
ST. LOUIS—The
World Optometry Foundation (WOF), the
World Council of Optometry’s Foundation, has announced the first-ever recipients of the World Optometry Foundation Student Travel Fellowships. This program was started in 2019 as a way to encourage optometry students to further their education by providing a $1,250 stipend for travel expenses for the 3
rd World Congress of Optometry and Academy 2019 Orlando joint meeting held October 23-27, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. WOF Student Travel Fellowships were presented during the International Reception on Friday, October 25, 2019 during the joint meeting.
By Staff
Monday, November 18, 2019 12:30 AM
NEW YORK—The healthcare industry is being shaken by powerful forces that are creating new forms of competition and transforming patients into consumers who are seeking pathways to wellness that offer convenience, affordability and personalized care. New market leaders are emerging, and established brands are reinventing themselves with fresh approaches and enhanced customer experiences. Doctor-patient relationships are being redefined. How will these transformative changes impact vision care providers and payors? Suppliers? VM’s 14th annual Global Leadership Summit will explore these and other pivotal questions as part of its program, “The Future of Healthcare: Beyond 2020.” Thought leaders and influential thinkers will share their visions of healthcare’s future and discuss how the optical industry can play a broader, more significant role in it. Attendees will take away actionable ideas and practical strategies that will help them compete in today’s consumer-centric business environment.
By Staff
Monday, November 18, 2019 12:27 AM
SILVER SPRING, Md.—The FDA announced on Nov. 15 that it has approved the first contact lens to slow the progression of myopia in children.