Optometry Times Staff Reports

Prevent Blindness America is leading the effort to secure federal funding for programs that prevent blindness and preserve sight.

Bausch & Lomb Vision Care (B&L) is reintroducing its ReNu line of eye-care products to consumers and eye-care practitioners in an effort to both meet customers' needs and rejuvenate its product line.

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The FDA Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee has recommended the approval of bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution 1.5% (Bepreve, ISTA Pharmaceuticals) for treating ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis.

Every online purchase of any new pair of Maui Jim sunglasses from www.mauijim.com through July 31 will result in the donation of a pair of new Maui Jim sunglasses to Unite for Sight, a non-profit group that has as its goal improving eye health and eliminating preventable blindness among severely impoverished people.

Switching patients to 1-day disposable contact lenses (CLs) may improve lens-wearing comfort for those who have seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, according to CooperVision.

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The inaugural "Opticians in May" education day was held in California to provide continuing education for opticians.

At the recent American Optometric Association annual congress, Astavita Professional introduced astaxanthin (AstaREAL, Fuji Health Science) for the relief and prevention of asthenopia.

Transcend Medical Inc. has closed a $35 million Series B round and is continuing the development of its Transcend CyPass System, a novel proprietary system for the minimally invasive treatment of glaucoma.