The Cooper Companies, Inc. announced it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Sauflon Pharmaceuticals for approximately $1.2 billion. Sauflon forecasts revenue of approximately $210 million for its fiscal year ending October 31, 2014, up approximately 22 percent year-over-year.

Nicox Inc. is launching expanded access to Sequenom Laboratories’ RetnaGene portfolio of genetic tests-RentaGene AMD and RetnaGene LR-which asses an individual’s risk for advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Alcon has released a compliance kit will help eyecare professionals educate their patients on how to take care of their contact lenses while also providing consumers with a clear doctor recommendation.

Santen Pharmaceutical recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with Merck & Co. to purchase Merck's ophthalmology products-Cosopt (dorzolamide/timolol), Cosopt PF, Trusopt (dorzolamide), Trusopt PF, Timoptic (timolol maleate ophthalmic solution), Timoptic PF, Timoptic XE (timolol maleate ophthalmic gel), Saflutan (tafluprost), and Taptiqom(tafluprost timolol)-in Japan, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

A recent report from BCC Research, a publisher of technology market research reports, projects the contact lens market to grow from $18.9 billion in 2013 to $20.1 billion by 2018, a compound annual growth rate of 1.2 percent over the five-year period.

It was my second “real” job. It was an opportunity when Alcon was building its optometric sales organization, it’s first endeavor as Vision Care. I was one of the first hires back in 1986. I was previously working in consumer products, totally unrelated area with Oscar Meyer.

In the previous articles in this series, the focus of lowering your practice’s financial risk was through maximizing cash flow and retaining key employees. Risk avoidance and risk mitigation may seem like common sense, but sometimes are not always intuitive when your day-to-day concentration is on patient care and running a practice. Identifying your practice’s risk should be a disciplined and creative process that includes brainstorming and creating lists of negative financial implications. All thoughts and ideas are welcomed during this evaluation, and the more thorough your checklists and evaluations are, the easier it is to make decisions to accept the risks of each activity.

During the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting, Diana Shechtman, OD, FAAO, and Jeffry Gerson, OD, FAAO, addressed some of the controversies surrounding the results of the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS2), including fish oil, lutein/zeaxanthin, and genetic testing.

During the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting, Jay Binkowtiz, CEO of Gateway Professional Network, shared his tips for being profitable in the age of managed vision care plans.

During the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting, Mile Brujic, OD, moderated a debate on contact lenses among Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, David Kading, OD, FAAO, and Jack Schaeffer, OD, FAAO. Topics ranged from lenses from lens discomfort to mitigation of microbial keratitis to the use of daily disposable lenses.

Alcon announced the launch of its Air Optix Colors silicone hydrogel color contact lenses at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Philadelphia-With new products coming onto the market all the time, Joy Gibb, ABOC, highlighted some of the latest options in ophthalmic lenses at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Baush + Lomb announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued marketing clearance for Biotrue ONEday for Presbyopia (nesofilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) daily disposable multifocal contact lenses at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Philadelphia-Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, and Jill Autry, OD, RPh, shared chalazion and preseptal cellulitis management pearls with attendees at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Optometry Times Editorial Advisory Board members Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, and Diana Shechtman, OD, FAAO, discussed the benefits of genetic tests for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Tom Quinn, OD, FAAO, and Shalu Pal, OD, FAAO, discussed the contact lens market at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Philadelphia-Johnson & Johnson Vision Care announced its plans to discontinue the Acuvue Advance brand contact lenses next year, and also announced the availability of a six-month supply pack of Acuvue Oasys at the American Optometric Association Meeting 2014.

Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, and Jill Autry, OD, RPh, shared Acanthamoeba management pearls with attendees at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.

Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, and Jill Autry, OD, RPh, shared Fuch's dystrophy management pearls with attendees at the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting.