By Staff
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 12:27 AM
NEW YORK—With 20 days in a row of more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases per day throughout the U.S., according to
The COVID Tracking Project, optical sales nationwide remained flat over the past week. For the week of Nov. 16-22, only two categories—gross revenue and lens pairs—showed an uptick of 1 index point, according to the Jobson COVID-19 Practice Performance Tracker. Regionally, optical sales were either flat or changed by only 1 index point up or down.
By Staff
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 12:24 AM
SAN DIEGO—
CovalentCareers wrapped up its
Eyes On 2021 on Sunday, Nov. 22. The three-day virtual event was one of the largest virtual optometry events of 2020 with over 6,000 eyecare registrants, 4,500+ attendees and more than one million minutes of content watched across three days, the organization said.
By Staff
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 12:21 AM
WATERLOO, Ontario—The
American Public Health Association has recognized the work of five of the world’s most prominent ocular scientists with its 2020 Vision Care Section Outstanding Scientific Paper Award. Two papers published by the group as the COVID-19 pandemic took root provided timely, evidence-based guidance to address and correct misinformation regarding safe contact lens wear.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 3:18 PM
ST. LOUIS—It was over 100 years ago, in 1879, when A.P. Erker arrived in the U.S. from Germany and founded
Erkers in St. Louis, Missouri. Within a few years, A.P.’s brother August joined the business, and the rest, as they say, is history. Erkers is officially the first optical laboratory west of the Mississippi River, and also served as the official photographer for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The company is a steadfast and integral part of both St. Louis’ history and American optical history—and that stands true to today.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 1:10 PM
A new report from
Optum, the pharmacy benefit manager and care services unit of
UnitedHealth Group, that examines the crucial role of data sharing in optimizing patient care. As Optum observed, “The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the idea that optimized care for patients can be achieved through communication, collaboration, and data sharing across health care organizations. But this linkage has been otherwise difficult to accomplish.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 12:30 PM
NEW YORK—Like almost everything else that’s happened in 2020, this year’s Thanksgiving celebrations are going to be very different from what we’re used to. Although we’ve been battling COVID-19 for months now, the passage of time hasn’t actually made missing out on events and gatherings with our loved ones much easier, and Thanksgiving is no exception. This time of year is associated with spending time with loved ones who we might not get to see otherwise—but this year, experts including the
CDC have heavily discouraged travel and gathering with people outside our immediate households. While these sacrifices are imperative for protecting physical health, there’s no question they have an effect on our mental health—positive in some ways, and negative in others.
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By Staff
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 4:00 AM
We’re nearing the nine-month mark of the pandemic in the U.S., and it’s no wonder many of us have hit what some have called a “pandemic wall.” With crisis fatigue setting in, your staff may need a morale boost. Here are signs morale is flagging, and some of the ways I keep my employees’ spirits up so they are primed to provide the best care possible to our patients. When we first reopened, both doctors and staff were excited to be back, energized that we didn’t have to lay anyone off permanently, and eager to serve patients again.
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By StaffL
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 12:27 AM
NEW YORK—
Vision Monday and
20/20 Magazine are pleased to announce the selections in the 12th annual EyeVote Readers’ Choice Awards, a special survey aimed at identifying readers’ favorite products and companies of the year. Optical retailers and ECP readers of the two Jobson Medical Information publications were asked to identify their “favorite” products in 19 distinct categories.
By StaffL
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 12:21 AM
SOUTHAMPTON, U.K.—A new study led by the
University of Southampton in the U.K. showed how simple, non-invasive imaging at the point of care can aid the diagnosis of corneal infections, reducing the risk of sight loss and helping a patient’s vision return to its pre-infection level.
By StaffL
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 12:15 AM
ATLANTA—
OneSight, a leading global vision care nonprofit, and
North Fulton Community Charities, an organization that empowers North Atlanta residents through emergency assistance, partnered to offer free eye exams and glasses to more than 275 children and adults from Nov. 17 through Nov. 19.
By Staff
Monday, November 23, 2020 11:38 AM
Looking at all the trends and indicators, we expect that Covid-19 will make this a tough holiday season for retailers’ brick-and-mortar channels, even for those who have seen stronger than expected performance. Shoppers themselves will remain wary of physical commerce touchpoints. This can further depress or stop foot traffic altogether. Instead, companies should be preparing to meet the demands of much higher online sales.
By Staff
Monday, November 23, 2020 10:00 AM
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.—By now, many of us have accepted that face masks will likely be around for a while. One good thing that comes out of accepting that fact is embracing the concept of fashionable face masks—ones that can show off your personality and keep you and those around you safe at the same time. There are countless face masks out there now, from over-the-top high fashion to your basic classics, and, now, ECPs have the opportunity to design their very own. Throughout the month of November, ClearVision Optical is hosting a face mask design contest specifically for ECPs.
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By Staff
Monday, November 23, 2020 12:24 AM
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—In time for Diabetes Awareness Month this month,
VSP Global is deploying a new program for doctors as part of an ongoing commitment to support and reinvest in private practice optometrists. Doctors and staff who complete
Premier Academy360 education courses, such as those offered in the Diabetes Education Track, can now attain and display the badges they earn on the VSP Find a Doctor Directory, which receives over three-million-member visits per month. The badging program is intended to highlight the unique strengths and abilities of practices to enhance the patient experience, the company said.