Indies Get Behind Contact Lens Safety This October

NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness has once again declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month, with the goal of educating the public on the proper use of contact lenses, both prescription and cosmetic. With Halloween on the horizon and some costumes calling for a change in eye color, October is an ideal time to reinforce the importance of proper and safe contact lens use; to do so, Prevent Blindness is offering a variety of resources including fact sheets, social media graphics and dedicated webpages. For ECPs, there are plenty of ways to prioritize contact lens safety this month. Here, we’re taking a look at the social media push that some indies are using to spread the word.

Eyes on Fremont

The team at Eyes on Fremont in Seattle and Bellingham, Wash., is raising awareness for breast cancer this October.

Silmo d’Or Awards Recognize Indie Designers

PARIS—The 2024 edition of the Silmo d’Or Awards, chaired by fashion designer Alexis Mabille, recognized impactful design from the past year—as always, these recognitions included a number of independent designers. This year’s categories were: Children, Sport, Vision, Vision — Optical System, Material & Equipment, Optical Frame — Brands and Labels, Sunglasses — Brands & Labels, Technological Innovation in Eyewear, Technological Innovation in Eyewear — Connected Products, Optical Frame — Eyewear Designer, Sunglasses — Eyewear Designer and the Jury’s Special Award.

Small Business Administration Cohosts Education Initiatives for Women Entrepreneurs

NEWARK, N.J.—The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that it is cohosting two education events this fall aimed at women entrepreneurs as a continuation of the 2024 National ChallengeHER road tour. The SBA will partner with Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and American Express (AMEX) on the education initiatives. ChallengeHer is a government contracting education initiative that aims to bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain, encourages participation in the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program and provides an avenue for government agencies to meet qualified women-owned small business contractors.

Jobson Optical Research’s ECP Income Study Showcases Financial Landscape for Independent ECPs

NEWARK, N.J.—Jobson Optical Research released its annual ECP Income Study this month, offering new insights into what ECPs across the country are earning. This extensive study includes the average income for optometrists, opticians/dispensers and optical office managers in the U.S—these metrics include independent ECPs, offering a helpful guidepost for other independents. In addition, a full comparison of males vs. females is broken out across all demographics.