Partnership continues. Gerber Coburn Optical Inc. and Essilor Instruments have extended their strategic alliance for 3 more years. Gerber Coburn will continue to be the exclusive North American distributor for Essilor-manufactured lens finishing products. The companies will also develop and bring to market advanced ophthalmic lens processing systems.

New Web site. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and Essilor of America expect to launch VisionWeb, a new e-commerce portal and informational site for the optical industry, early next year. The broadly based site is also aimed at patients seeking eyecare information.

Telescopes implanted. Visioncare Ophthalmic Technologies began a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of implanting a miniature telescope in one eye of patients with dry AMD. The telescope provides central vision, while the patient's other eye is used for peripheral vision.

Acquisition. E-dr., a business-to-business online marketplace for vision care supplies and services, has agreed to purchase OpticalBuyer.com, a top Internet source for optical equipment sales and information.

Asset sale. Premier Laser Systems, currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, has agreed to sell its ophthalmic laser division to SurgiLight Inc. in a deal valued at about $3.7 million. The division's YAG laser technology is designed to treat glaucoma and cataracts but has not yet resulted in any commercial products.

Appointed. Neil T. Choplin, M.D., a recognized authority on glaucoma, has joined Laser Diagnostic Technologies of San Diego, Calif., in the newly created position of clinical director. The company develops eyecare diagnostic products.

Electrochromic eyewear. Test-marketing has begun for PPG's line of electrochromic eyewear, with lenses the wearer can change from clear to dark and back by means of an electric current generated by batteries in the temples. Suggested retail prices range from $1,200 to $1,400.

Retinal imaging. Pro-Laser has introduced a handheld retinal imaging camera, the Rodenstock Scanoscope, designed to assist in diagnosing glaucoma, retinal conditions associated with diabetes and AMD.

B&L buying. Bausch & Lomb has agreed to purchase German contact lens maker Woehlk Contact Lens GmbH from Carl Zeiss for about $26 million. The deal will make B&L the number two contact lens manufacturer in Germany.

Deal completed. CIBA Vision has completed the acquisition of Wesley Jessen, making CIBA Vision the world's second-largest contact lens company.

Image evaluation. Inoveon, which uses the Internet to transfer digital data for ophthalmic diagnoses, has opened an image evaluation center in Nashville, Tenn.

STAAR search. STAAR Surgical has retained executive recruitment firm Spencer Stuart to find a new CEO to replace William C. Huddleston, who resigned and is now serving as a consultant to STAAR.

Workstation OK'd. Paradigm Medical Industries has received FDA clearance to add a laser module to its Photon Workstation. The Photon now combines ultrasound and laser technology, enabling a surgeon to perform multiple procedures with a single device.

Low-vision device. Microvision, Inc., a leader in retinal scanning technology (RSD), will sell Telesensory 10 of its new Nomad head-worn, high-resolution display units for evaluation as a reading aid for persons with low vision.

Electronic claims. Eyefinity and WebMD are partnering in a new initiative that will enable the 14,000 eyecare professionals who use Eyefinity services to verify eligibility and submit electronic claims to a broad list of payers through the recently introduced eClaim system.