CooperVision Launches Contact Lenses That Reportedly Fight Digital Device Fatigue

"CooperVision has announced the launch of a mass-market contact lens designed specifically to combat digital device-related eye fatigue, according to sources in the industry." The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported last week. "Biofinity Energys, the name for the silicone hydrogel lens created to help thwart dry and irritated eyes, blurred vision, eye strain and other symptoms associated with technology use, was launched at the American Optometric Association’s annual meeting Wednesday in Boston....The Biofinity Energys lens combines CooperVision’s proprietary Aquaform Technology, which prevents eye dryness, with a new optical design called digital zone optics, which integrates layers of aspheric curves across the front of the lens. The layers distribute more positive power across the center of the lens to help wearers shift between on-screen and off-screen activities without any impact to their distance vision." The lenses are available in the United States starting this month. Read more.

CooperVision Releases MyDay Silicone Hydrogel Daily Disposables in U.S.

CooperVision, Inc., has introduced its MyDay silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses to the U.S. market, noted the company in a emailed press release. The new daily disposable lenses are made with Smart Silicone chemistry, a technology that delivers the benefits of both hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses, according to CooperVision. Smart Silicone optimizes oxygen permeability in a lens that is just 4.4% silicon—the lowest percentage of silicon found in a silicone hydrogel, daily disposable lens. By using less silicon, Smart Silicone leaves more room in the lens for built-in channels of comfort-enhancing moisture. It also enables a modulus of only 0.4 MPa—lower than any other 1-day silicone hydrogel lens—to make MyDay the softest silicone hydrogel daily disposable available. And while the lens provides the optimal softness of a hydrogel, it remains strong enough to ensure the exceptional handling of a silicone hydrogel lens.

With a smooth lens surface and rounded edge, MyDay daily disposable lenses reportedly provides a more natural feeling as the eyelid glides effortlessly over the lens. Testing shows that the lenses not only have immediate comfort at insertion, but they have excellent comfort over the course of the day. MyDay lenses are naturally wettable, unlike surface coated lenses. Built-in UV protection filters 85% of UVA and 96% of UVB rays, helping promote long-term ocular health. CooperVision first introduced MyDay lenses in Europe in June 2013, then rolled out distribution to Australia and New Zealand in early 2014.

MyDay daily disposable lenses feature sphere powers from +6.00D to -10.00D (0.50 steps after +5.00D and -6.00D); a base curve of 8.4mm; a diameter of 14.2mm; a Dk/t of 100 (@ -3.00D); and a modulus of 0.4 MPa.

Louisiana Contact Lens Wearer Sues Manufacturers

"A woman has brought an anti-trust lawsuit against several major optical suppliers, alleging unfair trade practices dating to 2013," reports the Louisiana Record. "Jennifer L. Crose filed a class action complaint against CooperVision Inc. of Pleasanton, Calif.; Alcon Laboratories Inc. of Fort Worth; Bausch and Lomb Inc. of Bridgewater, N.J.; Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla.; and ABB/Con-Cise Optical Group LLC (a.k.a. ABB Optical Group) of Coral Springs, Fla., in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 31. According to the lawsuit, the defendants engaged in conspiratorial behavior to artificially control the price of contact lenses. Seeking to represent herself and class members who purchased contact lenses sold by the defendants collectively, Crose alleges that the manufacturers, who allegedly control more than 97 percent of the market, sought to fix, raise, maintain and/or stabilize the product prices by imposing price floor policies (PFPs) originating in mid-2013." Read more.

Utah Bans Unilateral Pricing on Contact Lenses

Utah has become the first state to ban contact lens manufacturers from using Unilateral Pricing Policies (UPP) to set prices for contact lenses. Its legislators signed into law the Contact Lens Consumer Protection Act, according to a press release from 1-800 Contacts. The law will go into effect in May 2015.

UPP programs also are under investigation both by the Federal Trade Commission and by several State Attorneys General. During the past two weeks, attorneys are said to have filed 15 consumer class-action suits against the manufacturers.

Nearly 40 million Americans spend $4.2 billion annually for contact lenses. Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb, Alcon, and CooperVision began using UPP in 2013. Since then, contact lens wearers reportedly have seen some online prices increase as much as 150%. Read more.

CooperVision Expands U.S. Availability of clariti 1/Donates $115K to World Sight Day Challenge

CooperVision, Inc. has expanded U.S. availability of clariti 1 day with the of Sauflon. Customers can order clariti lenses through CooperVision. Fitting set availability will continue to grow in December, as well as availability of the lenses through authorized distributors.

Meanwhile, the company and its employees at more than 25 locations donated $115,000 to Optometry Giving Sight in support of the 2014 World Sight Day Challenge.

CooperVision Raising Money for World Sight Day

Starting in October, U.S. contact lens wearers who purchase CooperVision lenses with rebate offers can donate a portion or all of their rebates to Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), and through October 31, CooperVision will match all rebate donations, according to a company press release. In addition, company’s worldwide employees are fundraising for OGS’s World Sight Day Challenge. CooperVision, its employees, and its parent The Cooper Companies have donated $100,000 towards Optometry Giving Sight’s World Sight Day Challenge in 2012 and 2013.

Patients Order Contact Lenses Online thru CooperVision

CooperVision, Inc., is beta-testing a program that enables patients to order replacement contact lenses from any manufacturer via their mobile device, tablet or computer. Through the program, called LensFerry, ABB Optical ships the lenses to the patient’s home, and the prescribing practice receives sales revenue as if ECPs office ordered the lenses for the patient. The service will be part of WebSystem3’s EyeCare Prime suite later this year. The ECP needs to follow four steps:

1. In conjunction with selecting and prescribing contacts, the practice enrolls a wearer and verifies the prescription.
2. The wearer selects his/her insurance benefits and applicable rebates.
3. ABB Optical ships the contact lenses to the wearer’s home or business.
4. The ECP also can send the wearer custom-branded email and/or text reorder reminders via LensFerry.
5. If a wearer is not immediately interested in placing a lens order following an in-office appointment, LensFerry can send ECP-customized follow-up messages to encourage enrollment and online ordering, build wearer loyalty and maintain relationships.

Cooper to Buy Sauflon, a Producer of CLs

"The Cooper Companies announced it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Sauflon Pharmaceuticals, a European manufacturer and distributor of soft contact lenses and solutions, in a transaction valued at approximately $1.2B," reports Yahoo! Finance. "Sauflon forecasts revenue of approximately $210M for FY14, up approximately 22% year-over-year. Excluding one-time charges and deal-related amortization, the transaction is expected to be accretive to EPS in FY15. The acquisition will be financed with off-shore cash and credit facilities." Read more.

CooperVision Releases Consumer App in U.S.

The new app for consumers from CooperVision, Inc. provides ways to find a nearby optometrist, to identify potentially ideal lenses, and a customizable reminder that will sound when it's time to replace CLs. Features of the CooperVision app include:

• Doc Finder — Using the mobile device’s GPS or a zip code, the app will find nearby eye care professionals with a tap of a finger.
• Lens Finder — By choosing from a variety of eye conditions and lifestyle factors, app users can identify the CooperVision best suited for them.
• Lens Reminder — Users can set up reminders for the replacement of their contact lenses.
• FAQ's — What are astigmatism and presbyopia? How does the eye convert light to an image? What is the proper way to clean and care for contact lenses? How do you put contact lenses in your eyes? All of these common questions and more are answered within the app.
• Products — Users can delve into the information about CooperVision’s family of contact lenses. They can save their favorite products, share them with others via email, and discuss them with eye care practitioners.

“This is the third launch of our consumer app,” said Catherine Muriel, vice president of marketing North America, CooperVision. “The app was previously launched in the U.K. and China.”

CooperVision Sponsors Nationally Ranked Triathlete-OD

CooperVision, Inc. is sponsoring OD Steven Rosinski's second year as a nationally ranked, professional triathlete. He wasn't always a triathlete, and it was his quest for his OD that opened up the opportunity.

He ran cross country and track while at Lehigh University. After he graduated with a degree in behavioral neuroscience, he pursued his doctorate in optometry at The Ohio State University--where his triathlon career began. He finished eighth in the 2010 Collegiate Triathlon National Championships. After graduating three years ago, he trained and raced, eventually earning an Elite Triathlete license within a year. In 2013, Steve completed his first professional season. This year, he plans to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 world championships.

About seven years ago, Rosinski switched to Proclear 1 day lenses from monthly and two-week lenses. He experienced dryness with his other lenses because of allergies and his training. “As an athlete and an allergy sufferer, I like the feeling of a fresh pair of lenses every single day,” said Rosinski. “When I’m training and racing, I’m in the elements—sweat, dirt and wind. My lenses need to withstand this level of activity, and my Proclear lenses do just that.”

CooperVision has sponsored other athletes, such as three Team Great Britain athletes in the U.K., including a half pipe skier, ice hockey player, and mogul skier.

CooperVision Runs Leadership Program in Istanbul

CooperVision, Inc.’s Inspirational Leadership Program recently hosted a select group of  leaders for five days on the campus of Bogazici University’s College of Business in Istanbul. There they delved into issues relating to entrepreneurship, governance, national culture and institutions, financial management, and  a high -caliber workforce. In designing the leadership program at Bogazici (ranked among the world’s top 200 institutions of higher education), CooperVision worked with Dr. Jerry Estenson, professor of Organizational Behavior at Sacramento State University, Dr. Larry Bienati, vice president, Organization Development at CooperVision’s parent company, The Cooper Companies, and a host of world-leading subject matter experts.

Digital Marketing for ECPs Made Simple

CooperVision's subsidiary WebSystem3 LLC recently created a program that provides digital marketing to eye care practices. Called Eye Care Prime Premier, the program provides a consultant who creates a digital quarterly marketing program that spans social media, the Web, and other forms of digital marketing. The program reportedly does the following:

• Engage more with patients on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
• Ensure that a practice’s website works seamlessly on laptops, desktops, and smartphones and tablets. 
• Monitors digital reviews of a practice and coaches how to request referrals and feedback.
• Offers methods to attract new patients and resolve complaints.
• Manage appointment scheduling, automated reminders, e-mail marketing, and social media-enabled cross-selling.
• Analyze the progress against an industry index.

For more information, visit WebSystem3.com or call 1-888-218-4777.

Optometry Students Adopt Patients and Fit Them with Contacts

:Program logo from AOSA website.

CooperVision, Inc., along with the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), are promoting the company’s Adopt-a-Patient SM program. The initiative gives optometry students an opportunity to provide eye care in communities near participating universities.

AOSA will create an Adopt-a-Patient page on its website as well as presence on its Facebook page, will publish an article about the program in AOSA's Foresight, and will provide administrative support.

The seven-year-old program allows third- and fourth-year optometry students to examine and fit eligible patients in CooperVision's contact lenses. The students also provide follow-up care. Patients receive a complimentary year’s supply of their prescribed lenses from CooperVision. Vision Service Plan (VSP) subsidizes the cost of the exam.

Optometry school students and faculty who want to take part can email Mark Andre (mandre@coopervision.com) for more information.

CooperVision Sponsors CL Educator Award

CooperVision, Inc. has become the lead sponsor of the first IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year Awards for the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE), according to a company press release on Herald Online. The award will recognize an individual's achievements and the association will give out one for each of its three regions:  Asia Pacific; Europe, Middle East and Asia; and Americas. The IACLE will present them at the British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference & Exhibition in Birmingham, United Kingdom, June 6-9, 2014. Individuals, companies, or associations must submit entries by February 28, 2014. Read more.

Giving Sight Gets $100K from CooperVision and Its Employees

CooperVision, Inc., has donated $100,000 to Optometry Giving Sight in support of the 2013 World Sight Day Challenge. Employees from more than 30 locations participated in a global fundraising campaign. They also raise fund by organizing local activities. The Cooper Companies, the parent company of CooperVision, matched employee donations. Read more.

CooperVision Expands Its Avaira Toric Lens Parameters

On the heels of significantly expanding its Avaira toric lens parameters with plus powers this summer, CooperVision Inc. is launching a -2.25 cylinder power to further broaden the brand’s range and potential wearer base. This allows potential contact lens wearers with more significant astigmatism to enjoy the end-of-day comfort that Avaira toric lenses provide. With this addition, Avaira toric lenses are available in sphere powers of -6.00D to +6.00D in 0.25 steps; -6.50D to -10.00D in 0.50 steps; cylinder powers of -0.75, -1.25, -1.75, and -2.25; and axes from 10 degrees to 180 degrees in 10 degree steps. Avaira toric lenses now have the most parameters of any two-week silicone hydrogel toric lens offering on the market. Read more.

CooperVision Launches Biofinity XR

CooperVision, Inc., have launched Biofinity XR contact lens. This extension to Biofinity (comfilcon A) silicone hydrogel lens reportedly allows practitioners to fit patients with significant hyperopia and myopia. The XR version of the line reportedly combines high oxygen permeability with all-day comfort characteristics. "The availability of Biofinity XR gives eye care practitioners another reason to make it a monthly lens of choice, whether transitioning Proclear wearers, upgrading from a competitive lens, or introducing a broader span of spectacle wearers to soft lenses," said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragon, senior vice president, Global Professional & Clinical Affairs, CooperVision.The new lens is made with Aquaform, which the company says makes the lens material highly breathable so more oxygen reaches the eyes with less irritation. It also ensures that the lenses are naturally and uniformly wettable for smoothness and comfort, and maintains softness and flexibility for more gentle wear from the first day to the last. Read more.

Cooper Vision Launches Photo Contest

Let your patients and customers know that CooperVision invites fans to celebrate summer with its #no2views social media photo contest. During the next four weeks, CooperVision will announce a new summer theme on its Facebook page every Monday. Participants only need to post an image or photograph on Instagram that best describes their unique view of the theme and include the hashtag #no2views. Fans can vote for their favorite image via CooperVision's Facebook page, and the entry with the most "likes" will win one of four weekly prizes including a movie night package, digital camera, professional photo shoot or $500 shopping spree, plus where applicable a six-month supply of CooperVision contact lenses. At the end of the contest, the four weekly winners will be posted on CooperVision's Facebook page, and the fans will vote for the most unique image overall. The grand prize winner will receive an iPad with Retina Display and where applicable a year's supply of CooperVision contact lenses. Read more

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CooperVision Expands Parameters for Avaira Toric CLs

Starting this month, CooperVision Inc. is expanding its parameters for its Avaira toric contact lenses with new +0.25D to +6.00D sphere powers to correct for hyperopia. A 2011 study indicated that 15.7 percent of hyperopes were also astigmatic. These new options join the existing parameter range, including sphere powers of plano to -6.00D in 0.25 steps; -6.50D to -10.00D in 0.50 steps; cylinder powers of -0.75, -1.25, and -1.75; and axes from 10 degrees to 180 degrees in 10 degree steps. Read more.;

CooperVision Introduces MyDay CL

CooperVision announced its newest contact lens development at the British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference earlier this month. New MyDay daily disposable contact lenses are made with a material it’s calling Smart Silicone, maximizing oxygen delivery to the cornea, according to a company spokesperson. In addition to oxygen permeability, the disposables reportedly offer high wettability, making for a softer lens and a comfortable wearing experience. According to the company’s clinical research, two weeks of the new lens contributed to less eye redness, resulting in whiter looking eyes. They also report that nine out of 10 patients were satisfied with the comfort of MyDay lenses. Read more.