News Blinks — December 16, 2016

Here’s a quick look at some industry news you may have missed this week. 

• A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology reportedly links preeclampsia to an increased risk of maternal retinal disease, especially retinal breaks, traction detachments and diabetic retinopathy.
• Researchers at the University of Ghent are reportedly developing smart contact lenses that are able to automatically change from transparent to dark like a pair of sunglasses, providing relief for those who have limited iris ability.
• A Korean research team has reportedly developed a soft contact lens for treating glaucoma through the addition of vitamins that help improve drug delivery efficiency.
• Eight companies from the U.K. and Denmark are reportedly teaming up to develop a high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for glaucoma diagnosis. Called the "GALAHAD," the €4 million European project is reportedly funded through the Horizon 2020 innovation platform of the European Commission.
• The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced its final rule to ban powdered surgeon's and patient examination gloves, as well as absorbable powder for lubricating a surgeon's gloves, as these products present "unreasonable and substantial risk to health care providers, patients and other individuals."
• Researchers at Indiana University reportedly plan to launch a study to investigate the link between eye movement and subconcussive head impacts. For the study, researchers will reportedly use a device from EYE-SYNC to evaluate the ocular-motor system following a subconcussive head impact.
• Scientists from Australian National University have designed a nano crystal about 500 times smaller than a human hair that can create high intensity light and could be used to create lightweight night-vision goggles.
• The International Planetarium Society (IPS) is offering a free program called "Seeing!" to planetariums based on the PBS documentary "Sight — The Story of Vision."
• Glaukos Corporation has received regulatory approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for its iStent inject® Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent, making it indicated for use in Australia in conjunction with cataract surgery for the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in adult patients with mild-to-moderate glaucoma currently treated with ocular hypotensive medication.
• ReVision Optics is sponsoring the UC Irvine Health — Gavin Herbert Eye Institute's Pediatric Eye Mobile Program, which provides free vision screenings and glasses to children ages 3 to 5 in Orange County.
• A new study from the University of Surrey has found people’s energy towards colleagues has a major influence on how likely they are to leave their job voluntarily.
• And if your currently workplace is lacking in the fun department, you may want to see what you can do to change it — a new study has found having fun at work can help employees learn in an informal way, resulting in an improved job performance.