Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association Appoints New Executive and Advisory Board Officers

By Staff
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:27 AM BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.—The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International (NORA) announced the appointments of its new executive and advisory board members. Charles Shidlofsky, OD, FCOVD, assumes the position of president, succeeding DeAnn Fitzgerald, OD, who now joins the NORA Advisory Board. Dr. Shidlofsky is clinical director of Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas, a specialty clinic serving children and adults with neurological vision issues. He is a member of the medical staff at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation in Frisco, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

Inflation and Staffing Remain Top Concerns of Eyecare Providers, According to The Vision Council’s Q3 Provider inSights Research Report

By Staff
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:24 AM ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Today, the Vision Council released Provider inSights Q3 2023, a new research study exploring eyecare provider sentiments related to daily operations of their practices, the eyecare industry and the American economy. Report findings show that the outlook for the U.S. economy among eyecare providers—including opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, eyecare practice managers, eyecare practice owners and other professionals—has worsened compared to Q2 of 2023, with providers less confident in meeting their revenue goals for the year.

EssilorLuxottica and Moncler Announce Exclusive Licensing Agreement

By Staff
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:21 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France and MILAN, Italy—EssilorLuxottica and Moncler have announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement that includes the design, production and global distribution of Moncler eyewear.

VSP Vision Donates $150,000 to Helen Keller Intl and $50,000 to Regional Food Banks in Celebration of Giving Tuesday

By Staff
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:15 AM RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—In celebration of Giving Tuesday, VSP Vision announced it is donating $150,000 to Helen Keller Intl and $50,000 to five regional food banks across the U.S., in addition to free eyecare and eyewear.

Clinical Trial Is Launched to Test New Drug for AMD and DME

By Staff
Monday, November 27, 2023 11:00 AM Fighting Blindness Canada funded researcher Dr. Sachdev Sidhu (University of Waterloo) has developed a novel antibody therapy that will now be tested in a Phase 1/2 human clinical trial. An intact blood-retinal barrier is important for proper retinal function. This is disrupted in eye diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

The Holidays Are Driving Consumer Spending

By Staff
Monday, November 27, 2023 11:00 AM Shoppers are cautiously returning to the stores, with pre-holiday spending reaching new levels. A new report from Adobe Analytics found that consumers spent nearly $77 billion online in October 2023, up approximately 6 percent from 2022. This rose to $88.6 billion in November.

Prime Day was one of the main drivers of online consumer spending, along with flexible payment options such as buy now, pay later. More than $6 billion in buy now, pay later purchases were made online, an increase of 6 percent over 2022.

Since January, consumers have spent more than $58 billion using buy now, pay now programs, up 14.5 percent over 2022, with peak usage expected in November and on Cyber Monday.

Purchases using mobile devices reached nearly $40 billion, up 46 percent over 2022. Consumers are also continuing to take advantage of curbside pickup, with 18 percent of purchases made using this method. This is up from 17 percent from October 2022.

An increase in spending is driving down online prices after months of inflationary pressure. The Adobe Digital Price Index shows prices online have fallen consecutively for 14 months.

North American Coating Laboratories Is Closing Prescription Coating Department

By Staff
Monday, November 27, 2023 12:21 AM MENTOR, Ohio—After 50 years of leadership in providing a comprehensive range of coatings for eyeglasses and sunglasses, North American Coating Laboratories has announced the closure of its Rx prescription ophthalmic coating department.

Ocuco’s Innovations User Group Meeting to Be Held April 11-13, 2024 in Florida

By Staff
Monday, November 27, 2023 12:18 AM LARGO, Fla.—Ocuco, a leading provider of OmniChannel solutions to the eyecare retail, optometry and lab markets worldwide, has announced the dates for its “Innovations User Group Meeting 2024: Seas The Day.”

EyeSouth Partners’ Scott Bullock Honored as 2023 'Person of Vision' by Prevent Blindness Georgia

By Staff
Monday, November 27, 2023 12:15 AM ATLANTA—During their annual Night for Sight Gala, Prevent Blindness Georgia recognized as their 2023 Person of Vision, Scott Bullock, the co-founder of EyeSouth Partners and 2021 & 2022 board of directors chair for Prevent Blindness Georgia.

‘Tis the Season to Give the Gift of Sight With OGS

By Staff
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 12:38 PM Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has kicked off its holiday campaign, ‘Tis the Season to Give the Gift of Sight. The appeal showcases the personal stories of people whose lives have been changed through the long-term initiatives the organization supports, which is possible thanks to the generosity of individual, practice, and corporate donors.

The 2024 Economy Will Outperform the Previous Year With Improved Income Growth

By Staff
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 12:03 PM The global economy may be on the path to recovery, according to a new Goldman Sachs Report, Macro Outlook 2024: The Hard Part Is Over. Experts believe the 2024 economy will outperform the previous year with improved income growth. Worldwide GDP is forecast to expand 2.6 percent next year on an annual average basis, which is in contrast to the 2.1 percent consensus forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. 

Experts believe GDP growth and employment have improved and that overall “inflation is now cooling across the G10 and emerging market economies.”

Experts believe the 2024 economy will outperform the previous year with improved income growth. Worldwide GDP is forecast to expand 2.6 percent next year on an annual average basis, which is in contrast to the 2.1 percent consensus forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. 

Experts at Goldman Sachs believe the U.S. will continue to outpace other countries in economic growth, predicting 2.6 percent global growth in 2024. Growth challenges and ongoing geopolitical risks will continue to impact the economy and put upward pressure on yields and downward pressure on valuations. 

“We think those concerns are likely to remain a feature of the near-term outlook, at least until inflation eases enough to settle them,” the report stated.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Increased for the Week of Nov. 13–19, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

By Staff
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 12:27 AM ECPs’ gross revenue increased, Jobson Tracker says; Services to be held for Standard Optical's CEO Aaron Schubach; WCO launches Pediatric Resource for optometrists; iCare Health Solutions achieves HITRUST certification; and Marcolin launches Leadership Academy session dedicated to women’s leadership all topped this week’s VMAIL news feed. Click on the headlines below to catch up on anything you might have missed.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Increased for the Week of Nov. 13–19, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

By Staff
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 12:24 AM NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week Nov. 13–19 when compared with the previous week at a rate of 1 index point. That places gross revenue at a level 5 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 47) when compared with last year (2022), 16 points above the same period in 2021, 9 points above 2020, and 15 points above 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.

Services to be Held for Standard Optical's CEO Aaron Schubach, 47

By Staff
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 12:21 AM SALT LAKE CITY—Services will be held here next week for Standard Optical's CEO, Aaron Schubach, 47, who passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 16. Aaron Richard Schubach was the fourth generation in the role of CEO at the optical company, one of the largest retailers and eyecare services providers in the state of Utah and the U.S. Standard Optical was started by his great grandfather in 1911. Schubach joined the company as VP marketing in 1999 and became CEO in 2017, succeeding his father, Stephen Schubach, who himself had followed in his father Richard's footsteps.

Salus University Presents the 2023 Lighthouse Award to Dr. Susan Oleszewski at Annual Fundraiser Event

By Staff
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 12:18 AM ELKINS PARK, Pa.—Dr. Susan Oleszewski, professor emeritus, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, received the Lighthouse Award at Salus University’s 16th annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser on Nov. 11, 2023, at the Switch House at the Battery in Philadelphia.