Centre for Ocular Research & Education

Canadian Eye Care Practices Encouraged to Participate in CORE-Led Clinical Studies

Organization Seeks More Sites to Meet Increased Demand for Contact Lens and Dry Eye Disease Research

WATERLOO, Ont., December 10, 2018—Anticipating continued growth in 2019, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) is seeking additional Canadian eye care practices to serve as clinical study sites. Eligible practices need to fit high volumes of contact lenses and/or have an interest in treating dry eye disease.

CORE has successfully collaborated with several Canadian practices in recent months, including Eyes on Sheppard Optometric Clinic in Toronto, Mission Eye Care in Calgary and Clinique D’Optometrie Bélanger in Montreal.

CORE Clinical Scientist Dr. Alison Ng and Dr. Andrea Lasby from Mission Eye Care in Calgary, Alberta, following a retrospective chart review collaboration in Fall 2018.

“We’re fortunate to have phenomenal eye care practices located across Canada, and CORE has worked with several in recent years on studies that have worldwide impact,” said CORE Director Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA. “Partnering with innovative sponsors and through our independent initiatives, CORE is helping advance ocular science and improve the vision of millions. We’re eager to collaborate with even more Canadian practices as the breadth and volume of our research expands.”

Studies may include new contact lens materials, solutions and designs, plus new dry eye management therapies incorporating pharmaceuticals, lubricants and devices. In addition to patient recruitment, some practices may be ideal for retrospective chart reviews and data collection. Practices do not require previous clinical trials experience.

For more information, contact CORE at (519) 888-4742 or CORE@uwaterloo.ca.

About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) – formerly known as the Centre for Contact Lens Research – was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE

aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838 | mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

CORE Predicts Future of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses at Academy ‘18

“Rapid Fire” CE Session Anticipated to Draw Significant Interest; Researchers also Presenting Six Posters in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, November 7, 2018—With silicone hydrogel contact lenses moving past the two-decade mark, is there still ground to cover for this game-changing material? The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), which has played key roles in multiple pivotal contact lens advancements, believes the future will be defined by new applications, designs, manufacturing platforms, and wearer benefits—and is sharing those predictions at the 2018 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting.

Its continuing education session, Celebrating 20 Years of Silicone Hydrogels: the Past, Present and Future, is expected to attract substantial interest across the profession. Using the analogy of a child growing from infancy to its college years, four CORE scientists will cover distinct time periods in the evolution of silicone hydrogel lenses, and share how practitioners’ understanding of how to optimize their use has changed over time. The rapid fire session is capped by an informed look to the future, addressing topics that include:

Improvements for additional comfort gains,
Reductions in corneal inflammatory events and microbial keratitis,
Capabilities to cost-effectively manufacture select designs at scale,
Myopia control designs and the advent of smart contact lenses,
Challenges of drug eluting contact lenses,
Biosensing technologies, and their ocular and systemic applications,
And the exploration of unique optical designs.

Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, director of CORE, is making these forecasts on Thursday, November 8, from 3 – 4 pm CST in Room 217 A-B. He will be joined by colleagues Jill Woods, BSc (Hons), MCOptom, FAAO, Karen Walsh, BSc (Hons), MCOptom, PGDip, and Doerte Luensmann, PhD, Dipl. Ing. (AO), FAAO.

“By understanding how silicone hydrogel materials have changed over time and what the future holds, eye care professionals will be able to deliver more optimal experiences for their practices and patients,” said Dr. Jones. “This includes complex interactions with the ocular surface and tear film, leading to better recommendations for material, design and modality.”

In addition to its CE session, CORE is presenting six posters at Academy ‘18:

Novel In-Vitro Method to Study Bacterial Interaction with Contact Lenses on Friday, November 9 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Board #140).
Validation of Multifocal Soft Lens Power Calculator in OptiExpert: Application for clariti 1-Day Multifocal Lens Fitting on Friday, November 9 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Board #158).
Method Optimization to Quantify Four Neuropeptides in the Human Tear Film on Friday, November 9 from 1 – 3 p.m. (Board #61).
Physical Dimension and Optical Assessment of Currently Marketed Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses after Exposure to Cosmetics on Friday, November 9 from 1 – 3 p.m. (Board #157).
Professional Collaboration for Patient-Centered Eye Care on Thursday, November 8 and Friday, November 9 (Board #20)
Centre for Ocular Research & Education: Mission and Capabilities Overview on Thursday, November 8 and Friday, November 9 (Board #21)

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) – formerly known as the Centre for Contact Lens Research – was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, McDougall Communications for CORE

aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838 | mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

Lyndon Jones, Jennifer Craig & Craig Woods Tapped to Present Dry Eye Detection Live at Scottish Optical Conference

Event Expected to Draw Several Hundred Eye Care Professionals to Glasgow

GLASGOW, October 24, 2018—When optometrists, contact lens opticians and ophthalmologists gather at next month’s Scottish Optical Conference (soc.scot) in Glasgow, they’ll have the opportunity to participate in one of the profession’s most acclaimed interactive training sessions.

Dry Eye Detection Live translates TFOS DEWS II diagnostic and treatment papers into a live demonstration with on-stage instrument instruction. The program has won rave reviews worldwide, including at recent American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry and British Contact Lens Association meetings. It is presented by internationally-renowned dry eye experts Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, director of CORE, Jennifer Craig, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, FCCLSA, from New Zealand and Craig Woods, PhD, MCOptom, DipCL, FAAO, FACO, FBCLA, from Australia.

“This not-to-be-missed session will be one of the highlights at the 2018 SOC,” said Caroline Christie, the conference organizer. “The interest in advances in dry eye diagnoses and treatment has been heightened by the TFOS DEWS II report, and this event provides an opportunity for every eye care practitioner to witness practice-changing strategies for managing dry eye. We’re privileged to have three prominent leaders in the field share their academic and clinical knowledge first hand from the stage, as well as through more personal conversations that our unique conference setting makes possible.”

The 2018 Scottish Optical Conference will be held on Sunday, November 25 at the Glasgow Radisson Blu Hotel. For more information and registration details, please visit soc.scot.

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA

McDougall Communications for CORE

aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838 | mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.545.1815

https://core.uwaterloo.ca/news/lyndon-jones-jennifer-craig-craig-woods-tapped-to-present-dry-eye-detection-live-at-scottish-optical-conference/

OcuBlink, Inc. Accepted into Velocity, Canada’s Most Productive Startup Incubator

WATERLOO, Ontario, October 18, 2018—OcuBlink, Inc., which is developing sophisticated in vitro eye models for ophthalmic testing, has been accepted into Velocity, widely acknowledged as Canada’s most productive startup incubator.

The move will allow OcuBlink access to increased laboratory space, advanced equipment for device prototyping, and an inclusive, interdisciplinary environment designed to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurial thinking and successful commercialization. It also provides a gateway to additional professional expertise and a network of emerging and developed Velocity-fueled businesses.

OcuBlink began as an initiative of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) and now operates as an affiliate, utilizing CORE’s staffing, counsel and laboratories. It intends to co-locate staff at CORE offices in Waterloo as well as the Velocity Garage complex in nearby Kitchener, Ontario.

“Our acceptance into the Velocity Garage will further accelerate our development path, benefitting fellow researchers and ophthalmic industry organizations who have shown interest in the technology,” said OcuBlink Chief Executive Officer Hendrik Walther, PhD, MSc, BSc Optom. “We expect to unveil a fully functioning prototype in early 2019, taking us to the next stage of testing and validation.”

Traditional ocular testing uses a vial or a test tube for early stage research, with later pre-clinical studies performed using an animal model. However, vials and test tubes do not remotely resemble the complex structure of the eye, leading to variable outcomes, and increasing regulation and public opinion is limiting animal experimentation. Incorporating OcuBlink to test concepts and prototypes at an earlier stage will minimize costs, reduce animal experimentation, and create deeper understanding of the underlying science of how new and existing products interact with the eye.

For more information, visit OcuBlink.com.

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About OcuBlink Inc.

OcuBlink develops sophisticated in vitro eye models for ophthalmic companies to accelerate research and development of products for the eye. These include devices for studying anterior and posterior eye disease and contact lens offerings, and its platforms have already been the subject of six conference abstracts and seven papers highlighting the technology. Ocublink is affiliated with the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE), based at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit OcuBlink.com.

About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Aimee J. Lewis or Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA

McDougall Communications for CORE

aimee@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.414.9838 | mike@mcdougallpr.com +1.585.434.2150

https://core.uwaterloo.ca/news/ocublink-inc-accepted-into-velocity-canadas-most-productive-startup-incubator/

PRESS RELEASE – Dr William Ngo OD PhD FAAO appointed Head of Biosciences

WATERLOO, Ontario, October 2, 2018— It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr William Ngo as Head of Biosciences at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), in the School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Canada.

Dr Ngo received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Waterloo in 2011. He undertook his PhD (entitled “Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye”) under the direction of Professor Lyndon Jones and Dr Sruthi Srinivasan at the University of Waterloo, graduating in October 2016. During this time he was a two-times American Academy of Optometry Foundation “Ezell Fellow” and was awarded the “Desmond Fonn Contact Lens Research” award. He was also awarded multiple grants from the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund.

He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, under the supervision of Professor Jason Nichols. Dr Ngo is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. His research interests include the clinical diagnosis and management of dry eye disease, contact lens discomfort, tear film biology and chemistry, and the mechanisms of oxidative stress in meibomian gland disease. He has authored over 40 scientific papers, posters, abstracts and presentations in these areas.

Dr Ngo will join CORE upon completion of his PDF, in early 2019.

Lyndon Jones PhD DSc FCAHS FCOptom DipCLP DipOrth FAAO (DipCL) FIACLE FBCLA
University Research Chair
Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science
Director, Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

PRESS RELEASE – OcuBlink, Inc. Wins Seed Funding from Two Prominent Business Accelerators

CORE-Affiliated Start-Up Developing Sophisticated In Vitro Eye Models for Accelerated Ophthalmic R&D

WATERLOO, Ontario, August 9, 2018—OcuBlink, Inc., which is developing sophisticated in vitro eye models for ophthalmic testing, has received funding from two prominent business accelerators. The company will use the funds and associated entrepreneurial coaching to scale its business, focused on assisting research centers, pharmaceutical and medical device companies validate ocular products more rapidly and cost-effectively.

AC JumpStart, funded by FedDev Ontario, awarded OcuBlink CAD$30,000 in seed capital and CAD$10,000 of in-kind mentorship. The accelerator helps technology start-ups establish and grow their business in Southern Ontario. OcuBlink was also named one of four winners in the annual Velocity Fund $5K competition, an entrepreneurship program at the University of Waterloo and the most productive start-up incubator in Canada.

OcuBlink began as an initiative of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) and now operates as an affiliate, utilizing CORE’s staffing, counsel and laboratories.

“We’ve been developing our novel in vitro platforms since 2014, working with industry partners and researchers to validate our technology. Now it’s time to bring our innovations to market, with the invaluable assistance of AC Jumpstart and the Velocity Fund,” said OcuBlink Chief Executive Officer Hendrik Walther, PhD, MSc, BSc Optom.

Traditional testing uses a vial or a test tube for early stage research, with later pre-clinical studies performed using an animal model. However, vials and test tubes do not remotely resemble the complex structure of the eye, leading to variable outcomes, and increasing regulation and public opinion is limiting animal experimentation. Incorporating OcuBlink to test concepts and prototypes at an earlier stage will minimize costs, reduce animal experimentation, and create deeper understanding of the underlying science of how new and existing products interact with the eye.

For more information, visit OcuBlink.com.

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About OcuBlink Inc.

About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

Download the press release (.pdf)

PRESS RELEASE – CORE Enhances ContactLensManagement.com Guide; Site Helps Practitioners Better Identify and Manage Contact Lens-Related Issues

Searchable database features conditions, management, photos and videos

WATERLOO, Ontario, June 13, 2018—Eye care professionals can now access a free, fully-searchable database which includes descriptions, images and videos to help identify and manage contact lens related issues. Now under the direction of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), with significant enhancements and new content, the Clinical Contact Lens Management Guide (ContactLensManagement.com) will serve as an indispensable resource for established and new practitioners, as well as students.

The site lists conditions in four sections: cornea, limbus, conjunctiva and lid. Each entry is also cross-referenced by contact lens, signs, symptoms and biomicroscope categories. Clicking through, each item presents a detailed description of the condition, its signs, symptoms, prevalence, differential diagnosis, and management, along with photos and videos to aid in diagnosis and resolution.

“ContactLensManagement.com is intended to be an easy-to-use, compact summary and searchable reference for contact lens practitioners, covering both common and low-grade conditions as well as more rare and serious issues,” said Lyndon Jones, director of CORE. “Early response to its redesign and substantial new content indicates the site will likely see rapid adoption and widespread use worldwide in clinical and academic settings.”

First conceived in 1993, the Clinical Contact Lens Management Guide has been edited in its many forms by renowned professionals. Now, as a fully-independent resource hosted by CORE, and supported by an independent medical education grant from Alcon®, the site includes enhancements such as a rich search feature to help practitioners easily filter conditions by their presenting signs and symptoms. New content includes instructional information on biomicroscope techniques, including unique CORE-produced, high-resolution videos designed to help optometry students, newly qualified optometrists and practitioners in developing markets.

The content will continue to be updated by CORE, with new information added over time. Later this year expect to see updated sections on Demodex along with incorporation of information from the recent DEWS II dry eye report.

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About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

Download the press release (.pdf)

McDougall & CORE Receive PR Industry’s Highest Award

NEW YORK, June 8, 2018—The Public Relations Society of America recognized the launch of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) brand with its highest honor—the 2018 Silver Anvil—last evening during a gala at Manhattan’s Edison Ballroom. Developed by McDougall Communications, the campaign introduced CORE to ophthalmic researchers, executives, eye care practitioners and students worldwide.

Of 116 finalists, only 51 Silver Anvils were awarded at the ceremony, which was hosted by CBS Sunday Morning contributor Nancy Giles. Other top honorees included P&G, DuPont, HP, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Frito Lay, Heineken, Johnson & Johnson, REI, and Universal Pictures. Members of the McDougall Communications team have now received 12 Silver Anvils and Awards of Excellence, often referred to as the Oscars® of the public relations industry.

One high-visibility aspect of the CORE launch encouraged attendees at last October’s American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting to co-create a large-format mural that celebrated vision. The resulting work, titled Collected Insight by Los Angeles-based artist John Park, is now installed at CORE’s headquarters within the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

“It’s an honor to share the Silver Anvil with everyone at CORE, who worked with us for months to conceive its new brand, then agreed to an unconventional launch that matched their extraordinary energy and collaborative values,” said Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, president of McDougall Communications, who accepted the award.

Since its launch at Academy ‘17, CORE has continued to reach out to ophthalmology and optometry communities in unexpected ways. This includes the introduction of CORE Knowledge (COREKnowledgeGame.org), the ultimate eye science game, which debuted in late April. Produced by McDougall Communications, it has already attracted players from every corner of the globe.

The CORE brand reflects its evolution over the past three decades to become a preeminent center for advanced biosciences, clinical research and education relating to the eye. Originally named the Centre for Contact Lens Research, CORE’s uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment.

McDougall Communications, founded in 2011, is focused on helping clients across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific meet their business objectives through a range of communications services, including strategic planning, media and influencer relations, reputation and crisis counsel, and social media management. Its work in optometry and ophthalmology is widespread, having represented organizations such as CooperVision, Optometry Giving Sight, the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE), Labtician Opthalmics, the Contact Lens Institute, as well as other medical device and biotechnology entities.

For more than 60 years, Silver Anvils have been awarded to the world’s most comprehensive, creative and effective public relations programs. Candidates are evaluated by senior professionals drawn from corporate, non-profit, military and agency communications teams, as well as from academia.

Feed your addiction! Play the ultimate eye science game—Now free online

It was thrilling to unveil CORE Knowledge, the ultimate eye science game at ARVO 2018. Hundreds stopped by our booth to play and they were hooked in seconds to the rapid-fire, two-minute trivia game.

But the fun doesn’t have to stop just because ARVO has ended. CORE Knowledge is available for free online for you to continue to challenge your colleagues and friends from around the world. And newbies are welcome—if you haven’t played, this is one game you don’t want to miss! Go now to COREKnowledgeGame.org

Top scores will be displayed online for you to challenge and beat—will you make the cut?

Clinicians, researchers, journalists, students and industry professionals answered more than 14,000 questions during ARVO 2018. High scorer Rajini Peguda from the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW Sydney, emerged the grand champion, and Will Ngo, University of Alabama School of Optometry, and Eric Carlson, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, came in second and third, respectively. Match wits with ARVO winners and challenge others to see your name reign on the board!

Got a Question for CORE Knowledge 2.0?

CORE Knowledge was born out of 30 years of working with partners to make great contributions to advancing vision science and research. With the first edition now played by members of the optometry and ophthalmology communities around the world, we invite you to submit questions to future editions of CORE Knowledge. Questions may be submitted, along with four multiple choice options (including the correct answer indicated) via email to COREgame@uwaterloo.ca.

Play, Play, Play!

CORE Knowledge is free and can be played online without downloading any software or applications. And there’s no limit to how often or how long you play. Go to COREKnowledgeGame.org

Learn more about CORE’s advanced biosciences, clinical research and education expertise at core.uwaterloo.ca

PRESS RELEASE – CORE Donates Digital Displays to ‘Iolani School as ARVO 2018 Comes to a Close

HONOLULU, May 4, 2018—At the conclusion of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) donated 4K flat screen displays, mounts and other supplies to the ‘Iolani School, a K-12 independent school located in Honolulu. The equipment was used at the annual ARVO meeting as CORE debuted the ultimate eye science game, CORE Knowledge, a digital, multiple choice trivia competition.

“We are grateful to CORE for thinking of us and making this donation to ‘Iolani,” said Tim Cottrell, Ph.D., head of school. “It’s likely that some of our students may some day attend ARVO themselves, as many make their way into medicine and research, helping bring positive change to the world.”

“If this donation helps spark the imagination and curiosity of even one student, it will be worth it,” said Lyndon Jones, PhD, FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, director. “Continued advances in ocular science require savvy people who can think independently, collaborate with peers, and ask questions that may never before have been posited. Perhaps we will have the pleasure of working alongside an ‘Iolani alumnus in the not too distant future.”

After being experienced by thousands of ARVO attendees, CORE Knowledge is now available for online play, using tablets, laptops and other mobile devices. Researchers, students, clinicians and others in the ophthalmology and optometry fields can simply visit COREKnowledgeGame.org, register with a few keystrokes, and take on peers around the globe.

CORE is the former Centre for Contact Lens Research (CCLR), having adopted the new brand in January 2018 to reflect its evolved and broadened scope of work. The Waterloo, Ontario, Canada-headquartered organization collaborates with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and professional education, providing uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality. It serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment.

Founded in 1863, ‘Iolani School is situated on a 25-acre campus and serves 1,900 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. A culturally diverse, co-educational, college preparatory school with approximately 317 full-time faculty and staff, ‘Iolani is rated among the best independent schools in the country for its academic, arts and athletics programs. www.iolani.org

ARVO is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Its members include nearly 12,000 researchers from more than 75 countries, comprising clinical and basic researchers, many of whom are MDs and PhDs, as well as optometrists, osteopaths and veterinarians.

Download the press release (.pdf)