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EyeOnVision December, 2022
December Issue, 2022 – Certification of Examiners & Lanes
IN THE NEWS
Solutions for the Certification of Examiners & Lanes
- Site certification of BCVA examiners and exam lanes
- Training and certification of numerous assessments
- Site readiness evaluation of equipment
- Development and delivery of custom testing assessments
Background: There was a need to validate and calibrate portable acuity screening tools so amblyopia could be detected quickly and effectively at school entry.
Precision Vision Clinical Trial Solutions (PVCTS) provides Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) certification of examiners and exam lanes for ophthalmic clinical trials around the world. With our in-depth equipment knowledge, PVCTS provides a high-quality assessment of site readiness. Our extensive research experience gives us a unique ability to provide an individualized approach to a wide range of clinical trials in numerous subspecialties including Retina, Neurology, and Pediatrics to name a few. For over 50 years, our customized approach has ensured a high level of confidence in the research for the studies we support.
- Over 20 years of ophthalmic trials & research certification experience
- Site Evaluation Service for CRO’s, sponsors, certifying groups, & sites direct.
- The most streamlined approach to certification, activation, logistics, and fulfillment.
- Direct services & shipping to sites in over 60 countries
- Worldwide solutions for trials from feasibility to phase III/post-market, for 3 to 350 sites.
- Development of customized modalities to support the sponsor’s objectives.
Effective & Efficient Single Point of Communication
for Equipment, Examiners, & Lanes.
One Source, One Solution.
PRODUCT PROFILE
Training and Certification of numerous assessments including but not limited to: BCVA, BRVT, IReST, LCVA, MNRead, Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity, Teller Acuity Cards, and so much more!
SEE PV
India Society for Clinical Research
February 24-25, 2023
New Dehli, India
ARVO
April 23 – 27, 2023 New Orleans, LA
Chat with our specialists and pick up a complimentary Conversion Card. Quickly convert contrast values, ICD-9 and ICD-10 vision loss reporting values, as well as world-wide notations with this handy pocket card.
ASK PV
Q: Do you turn away trials in the feasibility phase or which are too few sites?
A: Absolutely no trial is too small or too big! PVCTS proudly serves all studies worldwide from feasibility to phase III/post-market, for 3 to 350+ sites.
PEOPLE OF PV
Welcome to the Precision Vision family! Take a moment to get to know us!
This month’s spotlight is on Melissa Cowen, our Head of Clinical Trial Solutions. Melissa has been involved with ophthalmic trials & research certification for over twenty years. In that time, she has served in numerous global ophthalmic clinical trials while working with sponsors, CROs, certifying groups, and with the site directly. While building a strong foundational relationship with study members, Melissa has diligently trained, and certified examiners & sites, as well as developed customized study training manuals, data collection documents, and standard operating procedures. She has ensured proper documentation and collection of study data in accordance with each sponsor’s requirements and in accordance with regulations. Melissa does all this with an incomparable level of professionalism and a welcoming demeanor!
Here is a little more about Melissa that you may not know:
Name: Melissa “Mel” Cowen
Department: Clinical Trial Solutions
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cowen-6b65005
What is the most rewarding thing about serving the eye care industry?
My career in ophthalmology started when I was hired as a technician in a single-physician general ophthalmology practice after college. Patients would come in with many different problems, but they all had one thing in common; they were afraid they’d lose their eyesight. Eyesight is the one sense that people generally fear losing the most, and this doctor helped alleviate that fear and gave them hope. I learned so much from him. Years later when I worked for a small corneal device company, we developed an artificial cornea that was implanted in patients that were legally blind but had some visual potential. We treated an older patient who had been blinded due to bilateral chemical burns when young. This patient had never seen the faces of their spouse or children. After surgery, for the first time in this patient’s life, they were able to see the faces of family members, the home they lived in, and the garden where they would sit and listen to the birds. These are things many people take for granted. This patient said they never gave up hope that someday they would be able to see again.
For me, the most rewarding thing about working in eye care, especially research, is the ability to give hope and help preserve/improve vision.
Hobby: I love traveling to faraway lands (or not-so-distant places) to feed my wanderlust and to learn about new/different cultures. My next big pleasure trip will be to Costa Rica for a holistic retreat and scuba diving. When my schedule doesn’t allow for travel, I spend time outside and gardening, trying to prevent my dog from killing the plants, listening to live music at small venues, and exploring open spaces close to home. When the weather warms up, I look forward to giving overlanding a try.
Birth Month: September (Virgo)
Favorite Movie: I Origins is the first film that comes to mind; its science, suspense, and supernatural all rolled into one. The “windows to the soul” play a key part of this film.
Favorite Food: Oh, there’s so many… this Midwest girl likes to eat and try new things. Out of respect for the state I currently live in (Idaho), I’ll say my favorite food is potatoes. They are super versatile and served breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour. What more could you want?!?
Favorite Precision Vision manufactured product?: ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) charts and illuminator cabinets! These cabinets and charts have been an integral part of my life for the past 2 decades.
My first experience with ETDRS equipment was when I was certified as a BCVA visual acuity examiner and researcher at Southeast Clinical Research in Charlotte, NC. The cabinets and charts became an even bigger part of my life when I worked as a BCVA trainer and certifier for Emmes OPTYM for nearly a decade. These charts and cabinets have been a constant reminder of quality regardless of where I was in the world.
What is your favorite Precision Vision core value?:
“Driven to make a difference” aligns with my personal mission in life: to leave the world a better place than when I was brought into it.
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