Artificial Tears
Program Supplies First Responders With Eye Drops
Because first responders often work in conditions that can cause dry eye symptoms, Allergan is announcing the Refresh America campaign to help first responders alleviate their discomfort from dry eye. Every purchase of specially-marked packages of Refresh Optive between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016 will lead to donations of Refresh eye drops to certain first responder groups nationwide, the company says. 

Allergan’s partnership with the U.S. First Responders Association will help designate where donations will do the most good for our nation’s best, the company says.

Visit www.helpRefreshAmerica.com.

Contact Lenses
New Daily Disposables
Contact lens wearers can now consider CooperVision’s MyDay silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses.

The lenses are designed to improve oxygen permeability with only 4.4% silicon, according to CooperVision. The lenses feature sphere powers from +6.00D to -10.00D; a base curve of 8.4mm; a diameter of 14.2mm; a Dk/t of 100 (at -3.00D); and a modulus of 0.4 MPa.

CooperVision has begun limited distribution and expects to begin shipping nationwide by fall 2015. 

Visit www.coopervision.com.

Ophthalmic Lenses
New AR Coatings
Eye care professionals have three new anti-reflective lens coatings from Zeiss to offer spectacle wearers. The company’s DuraVision line includes platinum, blueprotect and silver options. The platinum coating has a low residual reflectance (0.8%), better durability and an oil- and water-repelling topcoat and an anti-static layer, Zeiss says. Blueprotect also aims to reduce high-energy blue light often associated with digital device use. The silver is an affordable option for patients interested in anti-reflective coating.

Visit www.zeiss.com/vision. 

Progressive Lenses 
The new Varilux progressive lens designs are now available on managed vision care plans offered by VSP. The two new lenses are designed with technology that identifies and reduces aberrations, according to Essilor. 

The Comfort W2+ lenses offer sharp vision even in low light, and the Physio W3+ lenses provide sharp vision and smooth transitions from distance to near fields of vision even in low light, Essilor says.

The company will provide ECPs with comprehensive training that includes a new ABO course, complementary dispenser training through ECP University and in-office sales training.

Visit www.varilux.com.

Lens Series Renamed
Kodak-branded lenses and services are now reorganized under the new Kodak Lens Professional Series name, according to Signet Armorlite.

The Kodak Lens Professional Series includes Kodak progressive lenses, digital single vision lenses, softwear lenses and anti-reflective lens coatings.

 All Kodak lenses and lens coatings in the professional series will be available exclusively through independent eye care practices, Signet Armorlite says. This includes a new dual-side progressive lens design scheduled for release in August 2015, according to the company.

Visit www.kodaklens.com. 

Patternless Edger
The latest finishing product from Coburn Technologies, the HPE-810 patternless edger, is now available. It provides users an accurate look with detailed images of bevel/groove positions, and faster processing allows users to modify the next job while a current job is under way, the company says. 

It features customizable bevel heights for frames with short groove depth, concave shape processing and a clip editing function that allows far and near sight glasses, and even sunglasses, to be used on a single frame, according to Coburn. 

Visit www.coburntechnologies.com.