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Catch up on the top stories in optometry during the week of September 15-September 19.

Takeaways from this week in optometry: September 15- September 19

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IPV is defined as physical violence, sexual violence, stalking or psychological aggression that is committed by a current or former spouse or dating partners.

Ocular or orbital trauma increases risk of mortality in victims of intimate partner violence, study finds

The loans can be used for practice expansion and renovations, purchases of existing practices, funding for retinal imaging equipment, and more.

VSP Vision, Vision One Credit Union create loan program for private practices

The country currently has a goal of ensuring that more than 95% of patients with diabetes receive timely retinal examinations.

Norway first in world to deploy autonomous AI eye screening technology on national scale

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New findings confirm TearCare's long-term effectiveness for dry eye disease, showing significant patient improvements with minimal treatments over 2 years.

SAHARA trial demonstrates sustained TearCare benefits for evaporative dry eye

The partnership marks a major step toward expanding global access to targeted treatments for this vision-threatening condition, according to a news release.

Viridian partners with Kissei Pharmaceutical to advance thyroid eye disease therapies in Japan

Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, gives her insight on what makes EyeCon valuable for eye care providers.

EyeCon 2025: Soaking up the sun and taking in the CE in Florida

EyeCon faculty member Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, sat down with 

to discuss the upcoming conference focused on collaborative care between optometry and ophthalmology on September 26 and 27 in Hollywood, Florida. Coats expressed genuine excitement about the unique collaborative unity that EyeCon fosters, emphasizing how optometrists and ophthalmologists can learn from each other through networking and shared educational experiences. The centerpiece of Coats's participation will be a collaborative lecture with Rahul Tonk, MD, focusing on intraocular lens care and the entire cataract referral process. Coats aims to provide valuable clinical pearls that will benefit both specialties, particularly helping optometrists understand what to consider before patients reach the ophthalmologist's care or when optometrists handle preoperative care for ophthalmologists. This collaborative approach underscores Coats's belief that everyone is part of a larger team working toward better patient outcomes. 

The event setting adds an element of fun and relaxation to the professional development. At Margaritaville in Hollywood, Florida, the venue will embrace a luau theme that promises to make the educational experience more enjoyable. Beyond the conference activities, attendees will have opportunities to explore beautiful local beaches and restaurants, taking full advantage of the Florida location. 

Coats particularly emphasizes the critical importance of networking, crediting it as instrumental in their career development. The EyeCon conference presents an exceptional networking opportunity, bringing together optometrists, ophthalmologists, and key opinion leaders in 1 room, creating an ideal atmosphere for professional growth and relationship building. The event's hybrid format, offering both virtual and in-person attendance options, demonstrates thoughtful planning for accessibility. This flexibility ensures that professionals who cannot travel to Florida can still participate and benefit from the educational content and networking opportunities, making the valuable collaborative learning experience available to a broader audience regardless of geographical constraints.

Conference

Allen, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, plans to talk all things ocular surface for optometrists and ophthalmologists alike.

EyeCon 2025: Dr Joseph Allen on bringing a fresh, relevant perspective to his first EyeCon meeting

With EyeCon 2025 right around the corner, Joseph Allen, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, founder of Doctor Eye Health, discussed his upcoming participation in the conference at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. The conference runs from September 26 to 27. As a first-time attendee and faculty member on the educational committee, Allen expressed enthusiasm about EyeCon's strong reputation and the opportunity to contribute to relevant, practical education that attendees can apply directly to patient care. Allen will be presenting 2 key sessions. The first, "Orbiting the Globe: A Comprehensive Tour for the Comprehensive Optometrist/Ophthalmologist," will cover hot topics in optometry, including anterior segment care, dry eye management, new medications affecting the ocular surface, and emerging red light/photobiomodulation technologies. He's particularly excited about new presbyopia medications that differ from previous options and cutting-edge contact lens technologies. 

His second presentation focuses on the ocular surface and cornea, emphasizing that every eye care practitioner must understand tear film and corneal health. Allen highlights recent advances in dry eye pathophysiology understanding through the DEWS III report, new treatment options, and the importance of better patient communication. He notes that patients often don't connect visual difficulties, like the inability to read for extended periods, to dry eye rather than prescription issues. 

According to Allen, what distinguishes EyeCon from other conferences is its full integration of optometry and ophthalmology, reflecting the strong collaboration between these professions. This integration provides diverse perspectives and deep educational content from both specialties. For residents, Allen emphasizes the value of hands-on workshops covering advanced skills like scleral lens fitting, punctal plugs, and amniotic membrane procedures—techniques he learned post residency that transformed his practice. The conference offers residents access to leading specialists and practical training opportunities often unavailable during residency programs.

Dr Allen, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, plans to talk all things ocular surface for optometrists and ophthalmologists alike.

 EyeCon® 2025 Conference, scheduled for September 26 and 27, 2025, at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Hollywood, Florida, is a golden opportunity to enjoy the last hurrah of summer in splendid style.

The beauty of this conference is its collaborative and comprehensive nature. EyeCon sets the scene for uniting ophthalmologists and optometrists with the expressed goals of sharing insights, fostering partnerships, and advancing eye care together. In addition, residents, the future of the specialties, are invited to attend to carry on the shared legacy and celebrate accomplishments at the Resident Awards ceremony.

Participants will have a wealth of information available to them at this venue, located on Florida’s Gold Coast just north of Miami.

The educational opportunities offered at EyeCon were put together by the 4 members of the educational committee, 2 MDs and 2 ODs, and all experts in their respective fields.

Founder, Doctor Eye Health
Associate Optometrist
Grove Eye Clinic, Richmond, VA

Assistant Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta

Optometrist
McDonald Eye Associates
Bentonville, AR

Attending Physician and Surgeon
Glaucoma Associates of Texas
Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas

The following sessions map out the participants’ tour around the eye with various Educational Committee members and faculty members. These presentations will provide insights into the latest diagnostic strategies and clinical trial evidence from the front to the back of the eye for treating corneal diseases, glaucoma, myopia, ocular oncology, ocular trauma, retinal diseases, uveitis, and more.

9:40 AM: Orbiting the Globe - Comprehensive Tour of the Eye for the Comprehensive Ophthalmologist/Optometrist with the Educational Committee

11:05 AM: Tour of the Eye-- Stop 1: Treating Ocular Surface/Cornea Disease with Dr Allen and Rahul Tonk, MD

2:15 PM: Tour of the Eye -- Stop 2: Therapeutic Agents and Laser Surgery for Glaucoma with Dr Smith and Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO, Dipl-ABO

3:40 PM: Tour of the Eye -- Stop 3: Surgical Options for Glaucoma with Dr Smith and Dr Steen

4:40 PM: Tour of the Eye -- Stop 4: Managing Ocular Trauma with Thomas Albini, MD; and Alison Bozung, OD

5:40 PM: Tour of the Eye -- Stop 5: Myopia Control with Mark Bullimore, MCOptom, PhD; and Vashakha Thakrar, OD

10:00 AM: Experts in Margaritaville I -- Erie Retina for MDs

10:00 AM: Experts in Margaritaville II—Trust Your Intuition with Dr Arepalli

11:25 AM: Searching for My Lost Shaker of Salt: Diagnosing and Managing Uveitis/Retina Disease with Dr Arepalli and Lana Rifkin, MD

3:35 PM: Some People Claim That There's Neurology to Blame: Neurologic Disease and the Retina with Prem Subramanian, MD, PhD; and Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO

4:35 PM: But I Know It's Nobody's Fault: Reimbursement Tips with Lana Rifkin, MD

Three such sessions are scheduled that can be viewed in person or virtually.

1:15 pm: Spotlight CE Symposium: Improving Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction from Toric IOLs with Dr Coats and Dr Tonk

12:25 PM: Evolving Strategies for Extended Dosing in Neovascular Retinal Disease – From Data to Decision-Making with Sruthi Arepalli, MD; Julie Rodman, OD; Nicholas Yannuzzi, MD

2:35 PM: Navigating Ocular Toxicities: A Multidisciplinary Roadmap for Managing Adverse Events in Targeted Cancer Therapy with Basil Williams, MD; and Maura Di Nicola, MD

In addition, a variety of hands-on workshops will be available. The conference also provides networking opportunities with the EyeCon faculty and peers.

The beauty of this conference is its collaborative and comprehensive nature. 

EyeCon 2025: A comprehensive tour of the eye for the comprehensive ophthalmologist/optometrist

Recently reported results showed that longer-term use of atropine to treat myopia in schoolchildren was associated with a higher risk of development of ocular complications. The study, led by first author Yao-Lin Liu, MD, noted that this risk may be confounded by myopia severity and warrants further investigation. Liu is associated with the Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, and the Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, both in Taipei, Taiwan.

The investigators published their findings in 

Because of the increasing prevalence of myopia, investigators worldwide are searching for ways to control the vision-threatening epidemic.

Liu and colleagues commented, “Slowing myopia progression by just 1 diopter might reduce the likelihood of developing myopic maculopathy by 40%,

 underscoring the potential importance of preventive strategies.

 Atropine has been shown to reduce the risk of myopic progression in some studies but not others."

In addition, the drug’s long-term safety is uncertain without studies with relatively long durations of follow-up, and a gap remains between clinical trials and practice.

The researchers conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study using longitudinal data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2021). They collected data on the prescription of atropine.

The study included children aged 8 to 15 years with newly diagnosed myopia; the study also included matched children without myopia in the period between 2001 and 2015.

The goal was to determine the ocular risks associated with atropine prescription in clinical practice for myopia control in Taiwanese children. The children were categorized by the cumulative duration and dose of the drug.

The main outcomes were the diagnoses of cataracts, primary open-angle glaucoma, and maculopathy during the observation period. The incidence rates of ocular complications after a minimum 5-year follow-up period were reported.

This large study included 1,213,846 Taiwanese children (mean ± standard deviation) age at myopia diagnosis, 10.4 ± 1.9 years; 633,440 [52.2%] female). Of them, 606,923 children had myopia, and 406,383 (67.0%) were prescribed atropine.

“The incidence of ocular complications (cataracts, glaucoma, and maculopathy) was higher in the myopia group (1.54/10,000 person-years) compared with the nonmyopia group (0.96/10,000 person-years; adjusted HR [aHR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.36-1.64),” they reported.

A comparison of the incidence of ocular complications between children with myopia who were treated with atropine and those who were not showed no difference between the users and nonusers (both 1.54/10,000 person-year; aHR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.93-1.18).

The investigators did see an increased risk of development of ocular complications in children who used atropine for longer than 3 years (aHR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.17-1.94). However, they pointed out, this trend was not present in children with high myopia (aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.56-2.19). No increased risk was found among children with the highest quartile of cumulative atropine dose (aHR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.89-1.25).

Liu and colleagues concluded, “This study found that longer-term atropine prescription for myopia control was associated with an increased risk of ocular complications among school-aged children; however, this risk may be confounded primarily by myopia severity and warrants further investigation. Notably, this study did not find an association of cumulative doses of atropine with an increased incidence of ocular complications. The risk of ocular complications from myopia may exceed that associated with long-term atropine use. These findings support monitoring of children receiving atropine for myopia treatment if these results are confirmed by future studies that address the limitations of this investigation.”

Liu Y-L, Tsai J-T, Chiu K-Y, et al. Ocular risks of topical atropine prescriptions among Taiwanese children. 

 2025; published online September 11. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.3090

Bullimore MA, Brennan NA. Myopia control: why each diopter matters. 

Bullimore MA, Ritchey ER, Shah S, Leveziel N, Bourne RRA, Flitcroft DI. The risks and benefits of myopia control. 

Shih YF, Chen CH, Chou AC, Ho TC, Lin LLK, Hung PT. Effects of different concentrations of atropine on controlling myopia in myopic children. 

Chua WH, Balakrishnan V, Chan YH, et al. Atropine for the treatment of childhood myopia. 

Chia A, Chua WH, Cheung YB, et al. Atropine for the treatment of childhood myopia: safety and efficacy of 0.5%, 0.1%, and 0.01% doses (Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia 2). 

Chia A, Lu QS, Tan D. Five-year clinical trial on Atropine for the Treatment of Myopia 2: myopia control with atropine 0.01% eyedrops. 

Repka MX, Weise KK, Chandler DL, et al; Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. Low-dose 0.01% atropine eye drops vs placebo for myopia control: a randomized clinical trial. 

Zadnik K, Schulman E, Flitcroft I, et al; CHAMP Trial Group Investigators. Efficacy and safety of 0.01% and 0.02% atropine for the treatment of pediatric myopia progression over 3 years: a randomized clinical trial.

Zhang XJ, Zhang Y, Yip BHK, et al. Five-year clinical trial of the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) study: phase 4 report. 

Loughman J, Lingham G, Nkansah EK, Kobia-Acquah E, Flitcroft DI. Efficacy and safety of different atropine regimens for the treatment of myopia in children: three-year results of the MOSAIC randomized clinical trial. 

Long-term atropine use to treat myopia associated with increased risk of ocular complication in schoolchildren in Taiwan

HOYA Vision Care has announced the launch of VisuPro All Day and VisuPro Flex advanced focus eyeglass lenses for those with early signs of presbyopia.

 The lens will be available to order on September 17 in the US, according to a news release.

HOYA plans to launch the lens in Canada later this year.

"Current eyewear often overlooks the unique needs of younger individuals facing early presbyopia," said Samy Lauriette, vice president of strategic marketing for HOYA, in the release. "Early intervention is essential to maintain visual clarity and comfort. VisuPro represents a new standard in personalized vision care, offering proactive support and innovative lens technology."

The VisuPro lenses are designed to support young presbyopes aged 36 to 44 years, utilizing Focus Max Optimization and Bincoular Harmonization Technology (BHT) in order to provide clear vision throughout the day. Focus Max Optimization works to provide additional vision support at a close distance to aid in near-distance activities and digital usage. Additionally, the lenses help reduce eye strain or visual fatigue when working on digital devices. HOYA research has found that 53% of existing spectacle wearers and 60% of non-spectacle wearers aged 36 to 44 years report increasing difficulty seeing clearly at near distances and when using digital devices. For BHT, the technology considers the prescription for the right and left eyes to “calculate and harmonize” the prescription in the lens to allow for improved focusing, stability, and enhanced depth of vision, the release stated.

Other findings from HOYA research found that single vision lenses often become insufficient for spectacle wearers in the targeted age group, with many patients showing hesitancy to adopt progressive lenses due to concerns with adaptation or their perceived age inappropriateness. Emmetropes, contact lens users, and patients who also require near-vision support after refractive surgery may also fail to meet the needs of non-spectacle wearers.

"The launch of VisuPro exemplifies our commitment to delivering exceptional value and innovation to eye care professionals," said Eduardo Martins, president of HOYA Vision Care, North America, in the release. "VisuPro is more than a lens; it's a testament to our dedication to enhancing clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction."

In terms of lens offerings, the All Day lens offers versatile vision correction in all distances and is designed for existing spectacle lens wearers or spectacle wearers who wear glasses throughout the day. For Flex, support is given for near vision tasks while also addressing vision correction at other distances. Those who use their spectacle lenses primarily for near-distance activities, patients who were emmetropes, and contact lens wearers and patients after refractive surgeries are the best candidates for this lens, according to HOYA.

HOYA Vision Care announces the launch of VisuPro advanced focus lenses for emerging presbyopes. News release. HOYA Vision Care. September 15, 2025. Accessed September 15, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hoya-vision-care-announces-the-launch-of-visupro-advanced-focus-lenses-for-emerging-presbyopes-302554488.html

VisuPro. HOYA Vision Care. Accessed September 15, 2025. 

https://www.hoyavision.com/vision-products/advanced-focus-lenses/hoya-visupro/

The lens will be available to order on September 17 in the US.

HOYA launches VisuPro lenses for younger presbyopes

Inflammasome Therapeutics’ first inflammasome inhibitor Kamuvudine, K8, was recently found to have reduced geographic atrophy (GA) lesion area growth by more than 50% in its first human clinical trial.

 K8 is one of many Kamuvudines that the company is developing for ophthalmic and neurological conditions, according to a news release.

The multicenter, 30-patient, 6-month, safety and dose-escalation trial was split into 3 cohorts with patients with bilateral GA receiving low, medium, or high dose implants at baseline and 3 months in 1 dye, with untreated eyes serving as controls.

 The reduced GA lesion area growth findings were taken from the initial cohort of patients, which was a single-center, open-label, 26-week study that worked to evaluate the safety and treatment efficacy of K8 in patients with GA due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Up to 5 subjects were slated to receive study medication via intravitreal injections, with 7 scheduled visits. Those visits occurred at screening with baseline (injection), safety visit 2 days after injection, week 4, week 13 (injection), safety visit 2 days after injection, week 17, and week 26.

Examinations in the study look for continuous changes in visual acuity, change in area of GA lesion in diagnostic imaging, response measured by multifocal electroretinogram, change in reading speed, and change in microperimetry response.

“Patients receiving the 3-month, low-dose implant showed an average 53% reduction in lesion growth compared to untreated eyes at 3 months after a single injection,” said Paul Ashton, PhD, CEO and cofounder of Inflammasome Therapeutics, in the release. “The trial is relatively small (10 treated eyes in the first cohort) and was not designed to show statistical significance, so achieving such a large effect with a 

 value of .03 (mixed effect model) is extremely encouraging. Vision trends were also positive: eyes receiving the K8 implant had essentially stable vision.”

Ashton also stated in the release that best corrected visual acuity increased an average of 1.4 ETDRS letters in K8-treated eyes, whereas untreated eyes continued to deteriorate. Specifically, untreated eyes lost an average of 1.9 ETDRS letters.

 “GA is a slowly progressive disease and, over time, we would expect vision in untreated eyes to continue to deteriorate,” Ashton said in the release.

“GA affects approximately 1 million people in the US and more than 8 million worldwide,” said Jayakrishna Ambati, MD, cofounder of Inflammasome Therapeutics, in the release. “We are encouraged by both the increased magnitude and duration of the effect seen so far with the K8 implant.”

Now the mid-dose cohort has completed enrollment in the study.

 “That group will be followed by a high-dose cohort, which is currently enrolling,” Ashton said in the release.

Inflammasome activation may also be a key element in other neuroinflammatory and ocular diseases, including Alzheimer disease, ALS, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, and diabetic macular edema, according to the news release. Inflammasome Therapeutics’ Kamuvudines are derivatives of a class of anti-HIV drugs, NRTIs, but are designed to be safer for treatment, the company stated.

“GA is a multifactorial disease in which many inflammatory toxic factors, such as various forms of complement, amyloid beta, retrotransposons, and oxidative stress, are upregulated in the diseased eye, which causes upregulation of the inflammasome pathway and atrophy of cells in the macula. Over time, the area of atrophy grows and can lead to vision loss,” said Ambati in the release. “We believe the impressive result seen in this clinical trial and in numerous preclinical studies is due to the unique mechanism of K8, which inhibits activation of multiple inflammasomes and thereby blocks the effects of numerous inflammatory toxins, including complement.”

Inflammasome Therapeutics’ K8 implant cuts lesion growth by more than 50% in geographic atrophy after 3 months. News release. Businesswire. September 11, 2025. Accessed September 12, 2025. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250911932452/en/Inflammasome-Therapeutics-K8-Implant-Cuts-Lesion-Growth-by-more-than-50-in-Geographic-Atrophy-after-Three-Months-in-Multi-Center-Trial

University of Kentucky. Evaluation of Kamuvudine-8 in subjects with geographic atrophy (K8 for GA). NCT06164587. Last updated August 7, 2025. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06164587?locStr=United%20States&country=United%20States

The lesion area growth was reduced by more than 50% in its first human clinical trial of K8.

Abigail Lewis, intern

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