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To mark World Sight Day, Alcon is focusing on its corporate giving and company-led initiatives focused on improving access to quality eye care.

The theme of World Sight Day 2020 is “Hope in Sight.” In the spirit of that idea, Alcon associates will help spark donations to global nonprofit organizations that advance eye health.

With that focus, the plan is to support people around the world in need of eye care, particularly as eye health issues, including vision loss, myopia, cataracts, refractive errors and more, have emerged or worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a release, Alcon CEO David J. Endicott noted that the Alcon team has seen firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic has made access to quality eye care even more challenging for communities around the world.

“Now more than ever, Alcon is proud to partner with nonprofit eye health organizations who are working toward a common goal of improving access to eye care, including offering free eye surgeries and eye care resources to patients, as well as providing training and education to eye care providers across the world,” he said in the release. “Through these impactful initiatives, we can help improve people’s vision and inspire hope in sight.”

World Sight Day is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to bring attention to the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

In its statement, Alcon noted it has a history of donating surgical equipment and medical supplies to NGOs and hospitals providing care to underserved patients.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many necessary eye surgeries and treatments were delayed, causing a backlog of surgeries and leaving people’s vision at risk for worsened conditions. Cornerstone Assistance Network’s Cataract Clinic— the nation's first free cataract facility for the uninsured, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—saw an uptick in patient requests for cataract surgeries since the pandemic began,” the company said in a release. “This World Sight Day, Alcon continues to lend support to Cornerstone Cataract Clinic by supporting surgical services for uninsured patients.”

Alcon associates also are participating in the Steps for Sight Challenge, global company initiative that challenges 2,020 associates to take 10,000 steps on World Sight Day to raise a total of $25,000 for three global eye health nonprofit organizations—long-time partner 

 and one surprise recipient to be chosen by an Alcon site.

The company announced in the release it has created a public service announcement (PSA) to remind people of the importance of eye health and encourage scheduling eye exams. During this year’s AAO Academy 2020 meeting, delegates will be encouraged to view the video and share it on their social media channels, with a call-to-action to generate more than 2,020 views to trigger a $25,000 donation to the American Academy of Optometry Foundation.

The video can be viewed on the Alcon Corporate YouTube 

Another company has released a survey on eye health that offers some interesting findings.

In a statement, Johnson & Johnson Vision announced findings from a comprehensive, large-scale global eye health survey in advance of World Sight Day. The global 

survey sheds light on people’s views around the importance of eye health as well as the barriers to care.

The company said in the statement the survey reveals both a disconnect in patient views towards the importance of eye health and how they prioritize it as part of their overall health, as well as unique barriers to care and varying attitudes towards eye health specific to different regions, generations, and genders.

According to the release, most adults surveyed (80%) said they view an eye exam as important for their overall health and recognized that healthy vision improves overall quality of life (68%) and keeps them safe (61%).

The release noted that despite the seeming awareness, fewer than half (46%) of respondents said they actually get an eye exam each year.

According to the release, the most common reason for skipping an eye exam is their vision hadn’t changed (32%), which opens the door for educating individuals on exactly how an annual eye exam can preserve and protect vision.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the importance of health, but has had an adverse affect on people’s willingness to seek out treatment, including ophthalmic care.

According to the release, 16% of respondents said they were reluctant or unable to schedule an eye exam due to the pandemic.

Cost also has proven to be a barrier for some groups, according to the release. Younger generations, including 24% of Gen Z and Millennials globally said they can no longer afford to see an eye doctor.

In a statement, Shlomi Nachman, company group chairman, CSS and Johnson & Johnson Vision, said the company is committed to changing the trajectory of eye health, which starts by addressing the biggest barriers to care—awareness and access.

“This survey has uncovered new insights and opportunities around how we, as an eye health community, can help people to prioritize their eyes by getting an annual eye exam,” Nachman said.

Moreover, fewer than half of people surveyed believed they could prevent their eyesight from deteriorating (47%) or responded that vision loss is a part of aging and they have no control over it (46%).

The survey also found that respondents did not recognize the potential benefits and impact of having healthy vision, including that it can impact learning and comprehension (39%) or is critical for healthy development in children (25%).

Respondents reported that they knew an exam could help diagnose early signs of chronic diseases, few were aware it could help detect diabetes (only 25% knew), cardiovascular disease (10%), or cancer (9%)

Articles

Through donations and activism, industry leaders are educating the public on the importance of eye health as a survey finds many people understand importance of exams, but don’t always seek treatment.  

Ophthalmic companies focusing on World Sight Day 2020


The leaders of four national healthcare organizations this week called on leaders in Congress to extend the current moratorium on Medicare sequester cuts into 2021 and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has run its course.

The leaders of the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Health Care Association, and National Association for Home Care & Hospice all signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Leaders Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, and Chuck Schumer seeking the extension.

The leaders noted that health-care professionals, agencies and facilities have all been hit hard by the pandemic. As a result, they also have experienced significant expenses to treat patients. They also have lost money as a result of the decrease in inpatient and outpatient services.


AMA supports House plan to ease Medicare loan repayment terms

“We are concerned that persistent high COVID-19 rates will continue to stress the entire health care system,” they wrote. “Our members provide health care to the more than 62 million Medicare beneficiaries. We urge you to pass legislation that would extend the congressionally-enacted moratorium on the application of the Medicare sequester cuts into 2021 and through the duration of the public health emergency (PHE).”

Medicare sequester were part of a 2011 deal to prevent the country from hitting the federal debt ceiling. The deal known as the Budget Control Act has reduced Medicare reimbursements to providers by 2 percent across the board since 2013.

Congress paused Medicare sequester cuts through the end of 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law in March 2020.

“Given that the PHE is certain to continue into 2021, it is a safe assumption that America’s health care providers will continue to face the overwhelming financial challenges and pressures associated with higher overhead costs due to personal protective equipment and other safeguards, lost revenue due to delayed elective procedures and/or forgone routine visits, and hazard pay to staff,” they wrote.



COVID-19 pandemic driving jump in Medicaid enrollment 

The leaders also expressed their gratitude that Congress since May has provided much-needed reprieve from the Medicare sequestration.

“This relief helped to improve what was, and continues to be, the relatively dire financial outlook for many of our members,” they wrote.

The organizations noted that in some cases, the 2% cut would essentially negate the Medicare inflation adjustment health care providers depend on and would otherwise receive in 2021.

“Clearly the cost of providing care to patients continues to increase. Without future sequestration relief, America’s health care safety net could be at further risk of collapse,” they concluded. “As such, we respectfully ask that Congress pass legislation this year that further postpones the application of this harmful 2% cut for the duration of the PHE in 2021.”

Congressional leaders have been working to pass another COVID-19 relief package to boost the economy amid the pandemic. Efforts to pass a package stalled and talks likely won’t resume until after Election Day.


Congress paused Medicare sequester cuts to offer relief amid the pandemic. Now, the leaders of the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Health Care Association, and National Association for Home Care & Hospice are urging congressional leadership to keep the pause in place. 

Medical professionals urge Congress to retain Medicare sequester pause

For nearly four decades, Alan S. Crandall, MD, was a fixture at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. A skilled surgeon, he focused on the medical and surgical management of glaucoma and cataract surgery as well as anterior segment surgery.

Crandall, who was the senior vice chairman and director of glaucoma and cataract at the center, died Oct. 2 following a sudden illness, Randall J. Olson, MD, CEO, John A. Moran Eye Center, and professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, announced in a statement.

In the statement, Olson remembered Crandall as a “brilliant, caring surgeon who dedicated his many talents to helping others in Utah and around the world.”

“His boundless compassion and deep commitment to improving the lives of his patients forever impacted everyone who knew him,” Olson said in the statement. “Over his 39 years in our department, his care and consideration for his colleagues shaped a culture of family at Moran. We will miss him dearly.” 



Olson noted that Crandall often “handled the most challenging cases, and his surgical skills were legendary.”

Crandall gave lectures and trained ophthalmologists around the globe. He also pioneered several surgical techniques and participated in numerous clinical studies, which earned him accolades as a thought leader.

Olson noted in the statement that as a teacher and mentor, Crandall was exacting in his training.

“His goal was to produce the best surgeons possible, and he was never too busy to assist and encourage the physicians, technicians, and staff around him,” Olson wrote. “He took special pride in seeing his students excel and become leaders in the field.”

As the founder and senior medical director of Moran’s Global Outreach Division, Crandall traveled the world to train surgeons and perform countless free surgeries to restore sight. He also performed free surgeries in Utah, including on the Navajo Nation. His travels took him to more than 20 countries, including Ghana, Nepal, and South Sudan.

Crandall was recognized for his humanitarian efforts, receiving the American Glaucoma Society Humanitarian Award, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Humanitarian Award, the ASCRS Humanitarian Award, and the inaugural ASCRS Foundation Chang Humanitarian Award. He also received the Health Care Heroes Award for Excellence in Health Care—Community Outreach and the Vocational Excellence Award for Humanitarian Service by Rotary International. He also was a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Born June 13, 1947, Crandall graduated from the University of Utah in 1969 and the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1973. He completed his ophthalmology training at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. He also held the John E. and Marva M. Warnock Presidential Endowed Chair of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. He is a past president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

“Crandall was a friend to everyone who knew him and was universally respected and adored,” Olson concluded in the statement. “To know him was to love him, and we grieve with everyone whose life he touched.”

Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD, FACS, FARVO, who is a d

istinguished professor in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Utah

, and the Calvin S. and JeNeal N. Hatch Presidential Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, said Crandall was loved by all.

“He had a way of making everyone feel special, important and had a calming demeanor,” she said. He supported all – women, underrepresented groups, people of all walks of life and gave himself to teach and help.”

Hartnett said Crandall was a giant in his accomplishments and surgical skill, but he was also gentle, noting that he worked hard despite pain at times.

“Whenever I questioned my ability to accomplish something, I thought of Alan and knew he would plug on and continue, so I could also,” she said. “It is so hard to lose him, but I will always remember his kindness, his support, and his strength and believe he would want us all to push ahead in gaining the knowledge to best serve our patients.”

Crandall also impacted ophthalmologists around the country.

Robert Osher, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the College of Medicine of the University of Cincinnati, and medical director emeritus, Cincinnati Eye Institute, recalls meeting Crandall on a panel in the early 1980s. The group was a mix of veteran ophthalmologists and younger, up-and-coming surgeons.

“We were the young, hungry, aggressive surgeons,” Osher said.

Osher noted that even early in his career, Crandall stood out as a leader in the field. Despite his celebrity status, Alan was approachable by all. osher noted that he would patiently stay long after our courses had ended, patiently answering question after question until the last attendee was satisfied.

“He was the consummate gentleman,” Osher said. 

“He was an innovator. He was the first the first surgeon in the country to do small-incision glaucoma surgery.”

Osher also cited Crandall’s humanitarian efforts.

“He devoted so much time to making the world a better place,” he said.

Osher noted that where Crandall may have shone brightest was in the operating room.

“He was a superb surgeon and made even the tough cases look easy,” he said.

Osher noted that Crandall also was athletic, excelling at football. He was an avid skier.

“He loved to teach and share information,” he said. “He was a good friend to everybody. We are all grieving and we are touched that we had the opportunity to know Alan. He was a unique treasure to ophthalmology and he will be missed.”

Terri-Diann Pickering, MD, recounted how she had the chance to meet Crandall several times during Glaucoma 360 meetings in San Francisco. While the interactions were usually brief, he made an impression.

“His youthful energy, cheerful generosity with his time and expertise, and limitless enthusiasm for the surgical care of patients were remarkable,” she said. “Most importantly, his deep humanity shone through his compassion and appreciation for those less fortunate. He really felt their pain and became emotional when he described their situations -- there was no pretense at clinical objectivity. It was an honor to have known him, and there will never be another person like him.”

Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH, professor of ophthalmology and director of Glaucoma Service at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California, noted that Crandall is regarded by many as the most skilled ophthalmic surgeon of his generation.

“When I think of Alan, 5 words come to mind: excellence, commitment, resilience, humility and most of all, friendship,” he said. “He used these skills to tirelessly combat blindness throughout the world and did so with unmatched humility.”

Singh said he met Crandall met on the basketball court at an eye meeting in the 90s and became good friends after Crandall invited him to give a talk as a visiting professor at Moran in 2004. 

“I often sought his advice on both clinical and personal matters,” Singh said. “After Keith Barton and I had our first Ophthalmology Futures meeting in Milan back in 2012, Alan was very supportive, attending most of our subsequent meetings, and commonly arriving right from the airport after an overnight transatlantic journey.

“We have lost one of the true greats in Alan Crandall but his legacy will live on and continue to be spread by the countless people whose lives he touched throughout the world,” Singh said.

Like many, William W. Culbertson, MD, professor of ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, cited Crandall’s efforts in education, service, and innovation in the field of ophthalmology.

"Dr. Crandall's contributions to ophthalmology in teaching, innovation and service to his fellow man will resonate for generations to come,” he said. “What an example for us all that we will never forget.”

chair of the Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, in Houston, Texas, remembered

 Crandall as a world-renowned cataract and glaucoma expert, noting that they often shared the same platform for speaking across the country and around the world.

“Alan had a wonderful way of explaining complex and complicated surgical topics in a way that even a non-surgical neuro-ophthalmologist like me could understand the information,” Lee said.

More importantly, Lee noted that Crandall was a genuinely sincere, generous, and kind person who will be missed.

“His global impact was in ophthalmic surgical education but his local impact was in regions of the world where he would perform free, life-changing eye surgery on patients in need in Ghana, Nepal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Nairobi/Rwanda, Guatemala and many other locations,” he said.

Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, is in private practice at Devgan Eye Surgery in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, and clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the UCLA School of Medicine and Chief of Ophthalmology at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. He remembered Crandall as “an amazing leader, gifted surgeon, and generous humanitarian who improved the lives of countless patients through his charity work and surgical teaching.”

“His legacy will live on and will play an important role in training future generations of cataract and glaucoma specialists,” Devgan said.

Mark Packer, MD, recalled Crandall’s humanitarian efforts.

“Alan Crandall personified the best in humanity and in ophthalmology: genuinely caring, generous, intelligent, honest, a kind man with a big heart, a ready wit and real courage,” he said. “He is missed.”

Even ophthalmologists who were not directly connected to Crandall knew his reputation in the field.

"Although I didn’t know Dr. Crandall personally, he was a pioneer in our field and seemed to think ahead to improve ophthalmology care for our patients,” said Ranya Habash, MD. “A mind like his was a real benefit to our field.”

The John A. Moran Eye Center will live stream a Celebration of Life for Alan S. Crandall, MD, at 5:15 pm MST on Friday, Oct. 9. 

The event will be streaming live on YouTube at 

The ophthalmic community is mourning the loss of Alan S. Crandall, MD, a fixture at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah for nearly four decades. 

Alan S. Crandall, MD, remembered for impact on ophthalmology

Queen Elizabeth II and the Countess of Wessex on Thursday marked World Sight Day during a video chat with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and eye health professionals.

The Queen and Countess spoke with Natrajan Vengadesan, from Aravind Eye Care System in India; Jennifer Merryweather, who works with the Indigenous Australia Program at The Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia; Jalikatu Mustapha, MD, who works with UK-based NGO Sightsavers and is one of only four ophthalmologists practicing in Sierra Leone; and Peter Holland, chief executive of IAPB.

The call took place via video call on Wednesday to mark World Sight Day on Thursday.

“It was a real honor to mark World Sight Day with the Queen and the Countess of Wessex and to join some amazing eye health professionals working to ensure everyone in the world has access to good quality eye health services,” Holland said in a release.

In the release, Holland also noted that there are more than a billion people globally who experience some form of sight loss and do not have access to treatment.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has made this situation worse, with many people not being able to access the care they need,” he said.

The theme for World Sight Day 2020 is “Hope in Sight.’ Holland said in the statement this is important as “we need to be optimistic for the future and reflect the hope and opportunity that good eye care can bring to people.”

Holland explained that something as simple as glasses or a cataract operation could be a life-changing event for a person.

“We need good eye health to ensure children are able to benefit from going to school, for people to reach their full potential in their work life and for older people to be able to stay active members of our community,” he said in the release.

Holland also thanked the Queen and Countess for their participation. He noted that the Countess has been the Global Ambassador for the VISION 2020 program and for Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. These organizations have helped fund eye health projects across the Commonwealth in the name of the Queen.

Following the call, Mustaphe expressed gratitude in being able to have the opportunity to talk about eye health and explain the impact it can have on lives.

“It feels this opportunity could give us real leverage to do more work and help more people,” she said. “I was nervous, but they really put me at ease with a really personal touch. It felt like family history repeating itself when I got the invitation, because I grew up hearing stories of how my grandfather met Her Majesty in 1961 when she visited Sierra Leone. The photo of them meeting was a centerpiece in our family room all my life, so for me to follow in his footsteps felt extra special.”

Natrajan Vengadesan said “the call has given me real energy to keep motivated and work forward with hope in sight.”

Merryweather participated in the call from Australia, where it was held in the early hours of the morning.

“It is such a privilege for me to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organizations to advocate for change in our eye health care system,” she said in the release. “It was an incredible experience to be able to share this work with Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness.”

The release noted that during the call, Queen Elizabeth mentioned how difficult it must be for people in remote areas to access eye health services.

“It was great to be able to share some of these barriers with Her Majesty,” Merryweather said. “The barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples face include long distances, a lack of public ophthalmology services, and the ‘hidden costs’ involved in accessing surgery.”

Queen Elizabeth II and the Countess of Wessex on Thursday marked World Sight Day during a video chat with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and eye health professionals. 

Author | David Hutton

Articles

Medical professionals urge Congress to retain Medicare sequester pause

Alan S. Crandall, MD, remembered for impact on ophthalmology

Queen Elizabeth II, Countess of Wessex mark World Sight Day during video chat with eye health professionals

Ophthalmic companies focusing on World Sight Day 2020