Optometry Schools, Graduation Season and a New Class of ODs

NEW YORK—Graduation season is officially upon us, with countless students across the country graduating from high school, college, professional schools and more. This season of celebration extends to the optical industry, too, as most Schools and Colleges of Optometry in the U.S. celebrate commencement in the month of May, welcoming hundreds of new ODs into the community. This weekend, we’re honoring these new graduates with a look at graduation ceremonies and celebrations from a number of optometry schools around the country.

Prevent Blindness to Host 12th Annual Focus on Eye Health Summit

CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, a leading eye health and safety nonprofit organization, will host the 12th annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit on July 12-13, 2023, as a virtual interactive event. Expert presentations related to this year’s theme, “Why the Eye?” will engage diverse voices in discussions around vision health as it relates to public health, stimulate conversations around the challenges to equitable access to eyecare, explore new and unique collaborations across stakeholders, and identify opportunities to integrate vision and eye health into public health policies, practices and research advancement.

Time Is Running Out—Nominate an Influential Woman in Optical by May 31 for Vision Monday's Special Report

NEW YORK—Vision Monday will once again be highlighting The Most Influential Women in Optical in our July issue, marking the 21st anniversary of our signature Special Report saluting women in the eyewear/eyecare industry. We are currently seeking nominations via an electronic survey form but time is running out—the deadline for submitting nominations is May 31. Women’s influence in optical is undeniable and today, more women than ever before are playing vital roles at all levels of our industry.  

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Increased for the Week of May 15 – 21, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week, May 15 – 21, when compared with the previous week at a rate of 1 index point. That places gross revenue at a level 7 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 21) when compared with last year (2022), 11 points above the same period in 2021, 31 points above 2020 (when COVID stay-at-home restrictions were in place), and 19 points above 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.

The Wearable Tech Effect

Once considered the stuff of science fiction, wearable technology in health care—including fitness trackers, smartwatches and other personal monitors—is now mainstream. And the demand is clearly growing. According to a report from Insider Intelligence, consumers’ use of wearable technology to track their health has more than tripled in the past four years, and this year, more than a quarter of the population will be wearing these devices.