CooperVision celebrated Academy 2023 in New Orleans last week with a series of distinguished leadership initiatives, educational endeavors, groundbreaking research presentations, and philanthropic contributions.
These significant events coincided with Optometry Giving Sight’s (OGS) annual World Sight Day Challenge, which provided CooperVision with a unique platform to reinforce its commitment to raise awareness and highlighted the pressing need for action in the fight against childhood myopia.
Myopia Luminary Event and Parade
Distinguished figures in the myopia space kicked off the week with CooperVision’s Luminary event, featuring a captivating presentation by renowned CooperVision Research Fellow, Arthur Bradley, Ph.D., on pioneering myopia research. VIP attendees also benefitted from insights shared by expert guest speakers versed in ortho-k, atropine, soft lenses, and spectacles.
The event wrapped up with a traditional New Orleans second line parade, guided by a six-piece brass band that led eye care professionals (ECPs), researchers, and CooperVision employees through the vibrant streets of the Big Easy, ending in front of a prominent CooperVision billboard illuminating the downtown skyline. The board marked the culmination of their expansive marketing campaign, prominently featuring MiSightâ 1 day messaging. MiSightâ 1 day is the first and only soft contact lens approved by the FDA* to both correct vision and slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment. 1†
“Taking a prominent stance in prioritizing children’s vision demonstrated our dedication to confronting the growing myopia epidemic,” said Alex Wilkes, President, Americas, CooperVision. “Sharing the latest innovations in the field and engaging in collaborative conversations with each other set an optimistic tone for our week in New Orleans.”
Free Vision Screenings in Commemoration of World Sight Day
CooperVision partnered with the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) on World Sight Day to provide complimentary vision screenings to museum visitors, staff, and employees of neighboring city institutions. All participants were encouraged to make contributions in support of the World Sight Day Challenge to “pay it forward.” To express gratitude for their hospitality and to support LCM in its role as a beloved community institution in the heart of the city, CooperVision made a charitable donation to LCM at the event’s conclusion.
“The event exemplified the spirit of unity and shared responsibility we have as ECPs to provide access to quality eye care to everyone,” said Felicia Timmermann, OD, MS, FAAO, Manager, Myopia Management, CooperVision. “I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Louisiana Children’s Museum for providing us with a venue that enabled us to offer free screenings to a diverse and deserving community.”
* U.S. Indications for Use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.
† Compared to a single vision 1-day lens over a 3-year period.
1. Chamberlain P, et al. a 3-year randomized clinical trial of MiSight® lenses for myopia control. Optom Vis Sci. 2019;96(8)556-567.
