Google introduced its smart contact lens project to the public in its official blog, http://googleblog.blogspot.com. According to the blog, Google is testing a smart contact lens that's built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. The company is testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second. Google is also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer by exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds.

Sauflon announced that it is entering the U.S. contact lens market with its award-winning clariti 1 day silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses. As the world's first and only family of sphere, toric and multifocal silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses, clariti 1 day is able to satisfy a broad range of practitioner and patient needs. According to the company, Sauflon's breakthrough AquaGen technology produces high quality silicone hydrogel lenses that provide exceptional comfort and affordable convenience for the wearer.

To streamline and simplify the fitting and ordering of multifocal lenses for eyecare practitioners, Art Optical has introduced their "FlexFit Multifocal Management Program." When working with a professional fitting consultant, the FlexFit program allows ECPs unlimited fit adjustments and design changes in a 6-month fitting period, with full cancellation/money back privileges. For added convenience and to save the practice handling time and return shipping expense, refit lens returns are no longer required and instant credit processing has been implemented.

The portfolio of proprietary lens designs offered in the FlexFit program include the Renovation series, which is the nation's leading GP multifocal; as well as Art Optical's mPower! and CLASIKcn GP designs; and their Intelliwave Multifocal & Multifocal Toric custom soft lenses.

According to Art Optical, the goal of the FlexFit program is to reduce the risk involved with multifocal fitting so ECPs can feel confident introducing the multifocal option to a broader range of their presbyopic patients. The flexibility of the lens design platform and the simplification of policies are geared toward improving fitting success, saving chair time, reducing return handling and making multifocal patient management easier and more efficient.

For information, contact Art Optical at 800-253-9364.

This past year marked the beginning of something new for EyeCarePro and the greater optometric industry: virtual conferencing. Last January brought Seeing is Believing (SiB), optometry's virtual eye care conference dedicated to educating ECPs and their staff about the power of online tools, techniques and technology. Following that success, CEing is Believing, optometry's virtual COPE approved continuing education conference, was held in July, featuring 24 online CE courses from some of the industry's top speakers.

Get ready for an even better virtual conferencing experience when SiB 2014 returns to computers and tablets everywhere January 29-30. The two-day conference will run live from 12PM to 9PM EST and on demand for 90 days following. This year, SiB will feature 30 presentations with topics focused on matters of interest for each of your optometric staff members, including ten clinical CE COPE approved courses, ten courses focused on practice management, five more for staff, and five for opticians. There will also be a grand exhibition hall featuring exhibitor booths where vendors will be available with live support for assistance throughout the conference. Additionally, SiB's specialty booths will provide visitors with topical content on a wealth of educational subjects such as dry eye, patient communication tools, employment, glaucoma, practice management software, and more. These 'unmanned' booths ensure that you can read and download content, browse information from various vendors and even watch an educational video - all at your own pace and convenience.

EyeCarePro offers three different conference passes: a Solo Pass for $139, a Practice Pass that allows you to register everyone from a single office location for a flat fee of $279, or a Society Pass that allows unlimited registration for multiple office locations for $995. For information and registration, visit www.sib2014.com.

Industry veteran Bernie Hallatt has joined Alden Optical to lead QA and Regulatory functions. In his 34 years in the contact lens industry, Hallatt successfully led QA, Regulatory and Manufacturing teams, and most recently was Director of Manufacturing Operations at CooperVision. He assumes full responsibility for Alden Optical's Quality System and Regulatory Affairs department.

Alden Optical (www.aldenoptical.com) was established in 1969 by Charles "Pat" Creighton, OD. The company is known for manufacturing premium specialty and custom made-to-order soft and gas permeable contact lenses while offering unparalleled customer service.

Optical Polymer Research, Inc., aka OPRI, announced the completion of the company's rejuvenation plan and the launch of their new manufacturing plant in Mesa, Arizona. OPRI's mission is to develop and deliver high-quality and innovative contact lens polymers to custom finishing laboratories, eyecare providers and their patients. According to the company announcement, OPRI will offer enhanced, FDA-approved technology in their polymers that is unavailable from any of their competitors. This will allow global custom lens manufacturers new material choices to enhance the laboratories' capabilities and success. In addition, OPRI can and will provide turnkey systems in the areas of plasma surface cleaning treatment, lens laser marking, specialized GP lens design and even hydrogel lens manufacturing and sterilization experience. Secondarily, OPRI will be engaged in developing optical polymers that have a variety of uses beyond that of contact lenses.

Hank Stute and Krist Jani lead OPRI's management team. Stute has over 30 years of entrepreneurial, innovative product and manufacturing achievements in medical devices, and consumer products. He has a wealth of knowledge about this industry within the United States and internationally. Jani, as well, is a veteran of 30 years of marketing, sales, domestic and international business development experience within the ophthalmic marketplace. For full biographical information on either principle, along with information on the company, please visit www.OPRI.net.

Oasis Medical Inc., U.S. manufacturer and distributor of high quality disposable surgical instruments and ocular lubricating and cleansing solutions, jointly with Spain-based AJL Ophthalmic, S.A., manufacturer of ophthalmic implants, announced an exclusive relationship for the sales and distribution of Intacs corneal implants for the treatment of keratoconus and FDA approved for the treatment of myopia

AJL Ophthalmic announced the acquisition of Addition Technologies in January 2013. Addition Technologies will continue the manufacturing and remain the FDA approved Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) holder of the Intacs device.

Intacs is a unique corneal implant option that restores the natural shape of the cornea improving the patient's vision and potentially avoiding corneal transplants, according to the company. The minimally invasive procedure has a recovery period of days rather than months when compared to a corneal transplant procedure.