Volume 7, Issue 6 │February 10, 2023
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What inspired you to become an optometrist?
I was born with strabismus, and from birth to the age of 13, I underwent seven strabismus surgeries. It was hard growing up with eyes that looked different from everyone else's. My ophthalmologist not only helped me avoid strabismic amblyopia but also instilled a high level of confidence in me at a socially critical time of my youth.
As you pursued your education and your career did you see yourself in your current role?
As I pursued my optometric education, I honestly did not foresee myself having a role in optometric education. I thought I would be a full-time, direct patient care optometrist for the totality of my career. However, pursuing residency after graduation, having an open mind and solid mentors, allowed me to try different modes of practice and see which appealed to my interests and goals. Additionally, it helped prevent me from getting burned out and bored. My teaching role at ICO is even better than I anticipated. In addition to interacting with patients, I get to interact and help shape the professional trajectory of students. It's rewarding.
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What inspired you to become an optometrist?
Prior to when I can remember, I was given my first pair of glasses. I began my eye journey at 15 months of age. My father, a health care provider, noted both my eyes turning in one morning, buried to my nose, and he had concerns, being more neurologic related. Thankfully, after seeing an eye doctor, it was a simple solution, I needed glasses. Through non-surgical means, glasses and patching, I made it through, with normal vision. I was thankful to have the care I did, at an early age, and was inspired to help others in that same way.
As you pursued your education and your career did you see yourself in your current role?
I knew I wanted to help others to pay it forward. Coming from a family of health care providers, I knew what that looked like! With my personal history, it was obvious how I was driven to optometry since I have lived that journey. Through many well-renowned mentors in the optometric circle, I also was inspired to help share my passion with other upcoming optometrists, and why I chose to do a residency. I have a passion for clinical care, and after many years in clinic, my next step was training and coaching others within a leadership role. I truly love the balance of being able to continue to share my passion with other optometrists, while keeping current in clinical care. The balance is truly fulfilling, as time allows. I enjoy getting in the exam lane with other optometrists in their office, as well as delivering care for my patients. I feel I am where I need to be, and this balance is ideal and envision myself continuing down this path.
I have been inspired by many people in my life, beginning with my grandfather who arrived from Italy at age 13 into a new country to make a life for himself. He was the epitome of servant leadership, as he helped others find their calling in a factory, their "why," when they came to the US; he would assess their skills, and place them to succeed in their career, by finding them their initial job here, in America.
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Celebrating the History of Black ODs
In recognition of Black History Month, the Berkley- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science shared an incredible timeline of Black History in Optometry created by Dr. Essence Johnson. The timeline begins in 1912 with Dr. William Lawson, the first Black optometrist in the U.S. and Canada; includes an entry in 1939 for Dr. Marvin Poston, the first African American admitted to Berkeley Optometry, and the first licensed to practice on the West coast; and concludes in 1988 with Dr. Tanya L. Carter, the first Black professor of SUNY College of Optometry. Check out Dr. Johnson’s Instagram page @houseof_optometrista, and the pages @blackeyecareperspective and @beppoc, where she will be posting daily black history facts on these platforms all month.
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Register Now the 2023 IOA CE Series
Registration is now open for 6-hour TQ courses on March 5, 2023, in Rosemont, IL, and March 19, 2023, in Alsip, IL.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 | Rosemont, IL
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm - 6 hrs TQ CE
Course: "New Technology Applications, Dry Eye Diagnosis & Management, and What’s New In Contact Lenses"
Speaker: Mile Brujic, OD
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Sunday, March 19, 2023 | Alsip, IL
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm - 6 hrs TQ CE
Course: "Maximizing Therapeutics and Imaging in the Management of Ocular Disease: What’s New and What’s Next?"
Speaker: Jessica Steen, OD
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September 28-October 1, 2023 - IOA Annual Meeting
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel | Schaumburg, IL
Up to 18 hours TQ CE
Registration opens mid-July
November 2023
Southern IL CE
6 Hrs TQ
Details coming soon!
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FVOS Society Meeting
This week, the Fox Valley Optometric Society held a meeting & CE in Woodridge, IL. Around 20 ODs attended the CE taught by Dr. Amjad Ahmad.
Pictured left (L-R): Ryan Edwards OD, Jency Elakkatt OD, Amjad Ahmad MD, Viktoria Loydall OD, and Toseef Hasan OD, FVOS President
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Young Professionals Event
Presented By: IOA Diamond Level Partner and Premier Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson Vision
When: Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 6:00 - 9:00pm
What: Food, drinks, fun, and networking! Food and open bar provided.
Who: IOA members who graduated between 2013 and 2022
Please use the link below to RSVP for the event.
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The Private Practice Club at Illinois College of Optometry hosted a practice crawl to get to know a few of our Chicago area private practices a little better. It was great to see students and alumni connect!
They would like to thank their alumni for hosting and the students who showed up to make this a successful event!
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We want to hear your memories of the IOA! In celebration of our 125th anniversary in 2023, the IOA is collecting your stories about the organization.
Please share your thoughts on the importance of IOA membership, favorite memories from IOA, or your thoughts on the history of the IOA.
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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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3/18/2023: Young Professionals Event
Where: Kroll's South Loop - Chicago, IL
When: 6 - 9pm
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Newly renovated and expanded full scope private Optometry practice is looking to hire an Ophthalmic Technician ( Read more)
Rosin Eyecare is seeking candidates for a full time position in Wilmette, Illinois. (Read more) |
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According to the Pew Research Center, 93 % of consumers read reviews before they make a purchase or patronize a business. A Yelp business page is free to create and maintain, and if you use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) keywords, your profile may rank higher, exposing you to more potential patients.
With the growing importance of online reviews, you need to become proactive and encourage patients to share their experiences. Respond to existing reviews and address questions in a timely manner. While Yelp offers paid enhancements, a free account will work just fine. The first step is to claim your page and input the pertinent business information. Yelp offers free tutorials and instruction guides on their site, https://business.yelp.com/
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Senator Dick Durbin Talks Rural Illinois Health Care Workforce Shortages
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to discuss the challenges hospitals and health care providers in rural communities face.
During their meeting, Durbin heard more about how the health care workforce shortages are impacting hospitals’ ability to adequately meet the needs of patients.
“Every day, our health care workers risk their own health and face burnout in order to care for their patients. But with fewer people entering the health care workforce, Illinois hospitals, especially those in rural communities, are strained,” said Durbin.
“In my conversation with Illinois members of the National Rural Health Association today, we discussed how the federal government can offer support to the health care workforce to ensure that patients have access to the best care possible.”
Attending the meeting were representatives from:
Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (Princeton)
Illinois Rural Health Association (Columbia)
Genesis Medical Center (Aledo)
Gibson Area Hospital (Gibson City)
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital (Lawrenceville)
Franklin Hospital (Benton)
Taylorville Memorial Hospital (Taylorville)
Wabash General Hospital (Mt. Carmel)
University of Illinois’ National Center for Rural Health Professionals (Rockford)
Arukah Behavioral Health Institute (Princeton)
SIU School of Medicine (Springfield)
Illinois Health & Hospital Association (Springfield)
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6-Month Data from First-in-Human Trials Shows Promise for Bimatoprost-Eluting IOL
Feb 3, 2023
Emily Kaiser, Assistant Managing Editor
SpyGlass Pharma presented new data at the Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum that supports the use of their proprietary drug delivery platform to lower IOP in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Today, SpyGlass Pharma released 6-month data from a first-in-human trial investigating a proprietary drug delivery platform, which consists of a single-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL and bimatoprost-eluting pads attached to the haptics. The results indicated that the drug delivery platform lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The data was presented at Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum in San Francisco, CA, in a presentation by Malik Y. Kahook, MD, cofounder, president and executive chairman of the board at SpyGlass Pharma.
The first-in-human feasibility trial consisted of 23 patients, who were randomized to receive one of three doses of bimatoprost via the SpyGlass platform following cataract extraction. At 6 month followup, the mean reduction in IOP across all groups was 45% with no need for additional therapy. Visual outcomes were comparable to those achieved with commercially available IOLs, and no significant adverse events were reported.
“We’ve known for decades that patient adherence to daily drop regimens is an impediment to treating ophthalmic diseases,” said Kahook. “These data give a clear signal that the SpyGlass drug delivery system is a breakthrough platform technology with real potential to disrupt the way our most effective therapies are administered long-term.”
The device is implanted into the capsular bag during routine cataract surgery. It is designed to deliver bimatoprost therapy to lower IOP in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Thanks to its eluting design, the device will deliver the drug for up to 3 years.
“For decades, eye doctors have desired a way to help their glaucoma patients adhere to daily drop regimens to preserve vision,” said Patrick Mooney, Chief Executive Officer of SpyGlass Pharma. “These compelling results further demonstrate the SpyGlass drug delivery platform shows great promise for addressing this important unmet need in a meaningful way for patients. By offering a long-term drug delivery option, at the time patients are already scheduled for cataract surgery, we have a significant opportunity to revolutionize the care and management of patients living with chronic eye conditions."
“The SpyGlass drug delivery platform with bimatoprost is designed to enable every cataract surgeon the ability to provide unprecedented, multi-year glaucoma therapy at the time of routine cataract surgery,” continued Kahook. “This is a potential game changer for ophthalmic patients globally. Every cataract surgeon will be able to use their existing intraocular lens (IOL) implantation technique to both improve vision due to cataracts and deliver multiple years of bimatoprost therapy for patients who also have glaucoma.”
“We continue to be excited about the possibilities to improve the lives of patients. Our vision is to enable all cataract surgeons to restore sight for patients living with cataracts, and to provide years of IOP-lowering therapy within the same procedure,” continued Mooney. “Approximately 1 in 5 patients treated for cataracts in the United States and Western Europe also suffer from glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The SpyGlass platform will empower cataract surgeons with the ability to solve patient adherence challenges associated with chronic use of topical therapy without any significant changes to their standard cataract procedure.”
SpyGlass intends to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their drug delivery platform. Following clearance, they plan to begin enrollment for a U.S. Phase 1/2 combined clinical trial later in 2023. The company also hopes to explore use of the drug delivery platform to treat a variety of ophthalmic conditions, such as chronic uveitis and macular degeneration.
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FDA Approves EYLEA for Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity
Feb 9, 2023
Emily Kaiser, Assistant Managing Editor
Kassi Jackson, Editor
Aflibercept, a VEGF inhibitor previously indicated for a variety of retinal diseases, is the first pharmacological treatment for retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants.
Today, Regeneron announced that EYLEA (aflibercept) injection was approved by the FDA for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Aflibercept is the first pharmacological treatment to be approved by the FDA for ROP and is the first pediatric indication for EYLEA. With this new approval, EYLEA is now approved to treat 5 retinal diseases linked to ocular angiogenesis.
“Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Until now, the only FDA-approved treatment in common use was laser photocoagulation, a complex and lengthy procedure that permanently ablates retina tissue and is stressful not only for infant patients but also the family navigating a delicate time after a preterm birth,” George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron, and a principal inventor of EYLEA, said in a press release. “For the first time, physicians will now have an FDA approved medication in EYLEA to treat this heartbreaking disease in these smallest of patients. We thank the investigators and the many families who participated in the clinical trials.”
ROP affects between 1,100 and 1,500 preterm infants, generally born before 31 weeks of pregnancy and weighing less than 3.3 lbs (1,500 grams) in the US every year. Retinal blood vessels develop when the infant is full-term (around 9 months of pregnancy), thus preterm births increase the risk of abnormal blood vessel development (retinal neovascularization) and possibly retinal detachment and irreversible vision loss. While mild cases of ROP may improve without pharmaceutical intervention, moderate to severe cases need treatment to prevent visual impairment or vision loss.
“With no existing FDA approved guidance for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity with anti-VEGF therapies, there was a significant need for research to understand how best to treat the disease in a manner that puts patient safety first and preserves vision for a lifetime,” Jeff Todd, Chief Executive Officer of Prevent Blindness, said in a press release. “Regeneron’s trials investigating EYLEA in retinopathy of prematurity have advanced our understanding of how to treat this disease and provided a needed evidence-based treatment option to potentially help preterm infants preserve their vision.”
About the ROP phase 3 program
This FDA approval comes supported by data from two randomized global phase 3 trials—FIREFLEYE and BUTTERFLEYE—which evaluated EYLEA 0.4mg against laser photocoagulation (laser) in infants with ROP. Around 80% of EYLEA-treated infants between the two trials reached an absence of active ROP, as well as the absence of unfavorable structural outcomes at 52 weeks of age. These results are better than expected without treatment, and no new EYLEA safety signals were observed in either trial.
Comparing EYLEA to laser, ocular adverse events (AEs) among patients occurred in 39% versus 37% in FIREFLEYE and 18% versus 26% in BUTTERFLEYE. Serious ocular AEs occurred in 8% for both groups in FIREFLEYE and 6.5% versus 11% in BUTTERFLEYE. AEs in both phase 2 trials were consistent with infant prematurity or to the injection procedure, and saw AEs consistent with similar ROP trials.
The results of FIREFLEYE were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and data from BUTTERFLEYE were presented at the ROP Update 2022 meeting held in the United States. Both respective trials were conducted pursuant to FDA Pediatric Written Request, receiving a Pediatric Exclusivity Determination granting by the FDA in October 2022. This grant extends the US market exclusivity for EYLEA by an additional six months through May 17, 2024.
Disclosures: EYLEA is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Bayer The lead sponsors of the trials were Regeneron for BUTTERFLEYE and Bayer for FIREFLEYE. Bayer and Regeneron are collaborating on the global development of EYLEA. Regeneron maintains exclusive rights of EYLEA in the US. Bayer has licensed the exclusive marketing rights outside of the US, where the companies share equally the profits from EYLEA sales.
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LasikPlus Agrees to $1.2M Fine After FTC Levels Deceptive Advertising Allegations
FTC complaint says the nation’s largest LASIK surgery chain ‘lured customers in’ with ‘bait-and-switch’ ads.
February 7, 2023
By Jens Carlson
The Federal Trade Commission and LCA-Vision recently agreed to settle a case involving allegations of deceptive advertising practices.
The Ohio-based company behind LasikPlus and Joffe MediCenter will pay $1.2 million in response to the FTC complaint.
The settlement did not require the company to either admit or deny the charges. However, an LCA-Vision attorney released a statement defending the company, saying its ads were “within normal industry standards.”
The FTC alleges the nation’s largest LASIK surgery chain misled consumers into believing they could get corrective eye surgery for less than $300. After an initial free eye consultation, only 6.5 percent of consumers were deemed eligible for the promotional price in both eyes. The FTC says the company typically would quote consumers prices between $1,800 and $2,295 per eye.
The national average cost for LASIK eye surgery is $4,400, according to the American Refractive Surgery Council. Health insurance company VSP Vision Care estimates the cost to range between $1,000 and $3,000 per eye.
According to the FTC:
“…between 2015 and 2020 LCA’s LasikPlus centers ran ads on television, radio, in print, in shopping flyers, and digitally offering the procedure for a promotional price of as low as $250. During much of the same time its Joffe MediCenters ran ads offering to provide LASIK surgery to consumers for $295. But both the LasikPlus and Joffe MediCenter ads failed to adequately disclose the stringent requirements consumers had to meet to get the discounted promotional price.”
To settle the complaint, LCA-Vision agreed to update its advertising to clearly show what a typical consumer pays for its services and what requirements need to be met to get the discounted price.
The FTC voted 3-1 to issue the administrative complaint and to accept the consent agreement.
Commissioner Christine S. Wilson cast the lone dissenting vote. Wilson said in a statement that she was “not convinced that the claims here constitute deceptive” advertising. She agreed the company could have been more clear in its promotional ads. However, she suggested that the free eye exams included helped offset any harm.
The FTC complaint comes just more than a year after The Wall Street Journal published an explosive story (subscription required) in which LasikPlus doctors, both current and former, alleged the company “put profits over patient care.”
The company strongly denied those allegations.
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Five Federal Illinois Lawmakers Seek to Expand Family and Medical Leave
Five Illinois Democrats joined colleagues last week to introduce a proposal to expand family and medical leave.
The bill would expand protections to those working for smaller employers by reducing the current federal coverage threshold from 50 employees to one employee as well as eliminating the requirement that an employee work 1,250 hours at a single workplace over the previous year. It would also cut the amount of time an individual must have worked at their workplace to receive protections from 12 months to 90 days.
Lawmakers that have signed on include Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Reps. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove; Danny Davis, D-Chicago; Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston; and Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville.
Underwood introduced the proposal last week, ahead of Sunday's 30th anniversary of the original legislation mandating that certain employers provide family and medical leave.
“(Co-sponsor Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn.) and I are introducing the (bill), the largest expansion of the (Family and Medical Leave Act) since its enactment, so that working people can provide for their families and care for their loved ones without having to worry about their job security or putting their career plans on hold,” Underwood said in a statement.
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As Pandemic-Era Provisions Lapse, Millions of Americans to Lose Medicaid
Phil Galewitz - Kaiser Health News
States are preparing to remove millions of people from Medicaid as protections put in place early in the COVID-19 pandemic expire.
The upheaval, which begins in April, will put millions of low-income Americans at risk of losing health coverage, threatening their access to care and potentially exposing them to large medical bills.
It will also put pressure on the finances of hospitals, doctors, and others that rely on payments from Medicaid, a state-federal program that covers lower-income people and people with disabilities.
Almost three years ago, as COVID sent the economy into free fall, the federal government agreed to send billions of dollars in extra Medicaid funding to states on the condition that they stop dropping people from their rolls.
But legislation enacted in December will be phasing out that money over the next year and calls for states to resume cutting off from Medicaid people who no longer qualify.
Now, states face steep challenges: making sure they don’t disenroll people who are still entitled to Medicaid and connecting the rest to other sources of coverage.
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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