Here’s a quick look at some industry news you may have missed this week.
- A new industry report says the North American vision care market is expected to reach $39.7 billion this year for a 7.2 percent year-on-year growth.
- A new study found more than half of all Americans now have at least one chronic health condition, mental disorder or substance use issue.
- The Alliance for Aging Research, in partnership with BrightFocus Foundation, recently launched an educational awareness campaign aimed at getting older adults and their caregivers to "Take a Closer Look at AMD," featuring a short film that offers an overview of AMD.
- HelpMeSee recently held two Music for Vision concerts in Mumbai and Delhi, with proceeds being used to support cataract specialist training and surgeries in some of the neediest areas of India.
- Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh discovered a way to create visual hallucinations that would make it easier to study them objectively, potentially leading to new treatment methods.
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. took top honors on Science magazine's 2016 Top Employer list. Also in the top 20 are Genentech, Roche, AbbVie, Abbott, Bayer Novartis and Johnson & Johnson.
- In other Roche news, for the second year in the row the company ranked among the global leading companies for its performance in response to climate change. And Roche officials recently took part in a site dedication to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the company's campus transformation in Indianapolis.
- Bausch + Lomb recently collaborated with nonprofit organization Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity of Pennsylvania (VOSH-PA) to provide free eye exams and treatment to patients in Gonaives, Haiti, this past August.
- Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plans to provide more than 60,000 drug deactivation pouches to families in West Virginia to encourage the safe and responsible disposal of leftover prescription pain medications.
- Fujitsu Limited and QD Laser, Inc. recently received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for their Retinal Imaging Laser Eyewear. The eyewear is reportedly being developed to help support the visual function of people with low vision.
- CannaCure Florida is holding a peer-to-peer medical cannabis educational conference for physicians and medical professionals on November 18, 2016 in Tampa. The program will provide scientific research and clinical data behind medical cannabis, along with treatment information for medical practitioners about the use of medical cannabis for patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions such as glaucoma.
- Google reportedly acquired eye-interaction technology company Eyefluence, which reportedly developed the first user interface "to enable vision-driven, intuitive eye-interaction" through augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality devices.
- A new type of smartglasses called Vue are currently looking for Kickstarter backing. The glasses can be used as prescription, plano or sunglasses, and are designed for everyday use, combining listening capabilities, fitness tracking, and more.
- EyeQue™ recently launched its EyeQue Personal Vision Tracker™ as the first in-home vision testing solution that combines a cloud-based technology platform, a smartphone application, and a miniature optical scope.
- DiscountContactLenses.com recently launched an app that allows users to reorder contact lenses, receive reminders on when to see their eye doctor, and offers users a discount with orders placed through the app.
- European online contact lens retailer Vision Direct recently announced its first prescription eyewear range, featuring over 260 men's and women's frames.
- As October is National Home Eye Safety Month, the International Window Film Association (IWFA) issued a consumer-facing press release to recommend consumers consider having window film applied to the windows in their home to help protect their eyes from UV rays.
- And talk about practicing what you preach … the founder and CEO of augmented reality product maker Meta plans to eventually replace his employees’ desks and computer monitors with just the company's augmented reality glasses.