By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—
Women In Optometry has announced that it will award nine women ODs with a Theia Award of Excellence on Thursday, November 7, 2024, during the American Academy of Optometry’s Academy 2024 in Indianapolis, Ind., according to an announcement from
WO. This is the ninth year for this annual awards ceremony. Each year,
Women In Optometry asks readers and friends to submit the names of women who have been extraordinarily influential in the industry. This year, more than 200 nominations were submitted; the
WO advisory board votes for the winners.
By Staff
Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:20 AM
GOLDEN, Colo.—In August, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) issued its 2024 World Sight Day Challenge in support of its mission to eradicate uncorrected refractive error through the growth and expansion of optometry around the world. The Challenge is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. This year’s theme is Giving Together, Seeing Forever, which OGS said celebrates the collective power of the optometry community to give the gift of sight to millions of people in need. The Challenge runs from now through the end of October, with World Sight Day scheduled to be celebrated on October 10.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—The back-to-school season is officially upon us. Across the country, students are headed back to the classroom; some have already started the fall semester, while others are in the last few days of their summer breaks, but either way, a large portion of Americans are thinking about the upcoming school year. As teachers, families and students get organized, it’s an important time for the optical community to remind them how important eye health is for a successful academic year. Here, we’re taking a look at what some independent ECPs are doing to get into gear for the school year.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 8:15 AM
Nine-in-ten small businesses surveyed are optimistic that their company will achieve its goals this year, according to American Express’ fourth
Amex Trendex: Small Business Edition. "At the mid-point of 2024, we asked small businesses to look back on the goals they set for the year, and we found that they’re satisfied with their progress and successes over the first half,” said Gina Taylor Cotter, executive vice president and general manager of small business products at American Express. “Younger and digitally-native business owners are feeling particularly energized by the possibilities and resources available to them, and they’re thinking creatively about new ways to grow their businesses.”
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, August 8, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness has again declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, with the goal of educating parents, caregivers, professionals and policymakers on the important role vision and eye health plays in children’s development. As reported in
VMAIL, Prevent Blindness is marking this month with free materials on children’s vision, including fact sheets, social media graphics,
toolkits, videos and webpages on a variety of topics about children’s vision from infancy through adolescence. The NCCVEH provides
resources on getting children ready for school, taking a child to an eye doctor, preparing a child for wearing glasses or contact lenses and tips for preventing eye injuries.
By Staff
Thursday, August 8, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—From now through the end of September, aspiring eyewear designers have the chance to see their dreams become a reality with Europa’s seventh annual DB4K Design Duel, a design contest with one winning design that will be produced and appear in an upcoming DB4K collection. As in past years, the contest is easy to enter: ECPs can download the Design Duel coloring sheets for free from Europa
here, and their patients can design to their hearts’ content.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—It’s summertime and the weather is warm, which means many of us are spending more time than usual outside and in the sun—and that the sun is at its strongest. In recognition of this, July is recognized as UV Safety month across the industry, providing another opportunity for ECPs to educate patients and communities about the importance of keeping their eyes protected from UV rays. To close out July, we are taking a look at how some ECPs have used UV Safety Month to shed some light on UV light.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:20 AM
BARCELONA—Independent eyewear brand
Etnia Barcelona has launched Moi Aussi, a new art and design project that aims to support artists and bring their work to an international stage. This project begins at the Abbazia Della Misericordia church in Venice, Italy, recently acquired by Etnia Barcelona, which will become the Moi Aussi Creative Lab. Etnia Barcelona will invite two international artists each month to create their own work of art using eyewear at the Creative Lab. These art pieces will then be exhibited in different galleries and museums around the world, Etnia Barcelona said.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—On June 27, sunwear and summer enthusiasts alike celebrated National Sunglasses Day by breaking out their favorite pair of sunnies, snapping a selfie and posting on social media. National Sunglasses Day, which occurs on June 27 every year, is a fun and interactive holiday for everyone—but, most importantly, it creates the perfect opportunity for ECPs to remind patients and their communities just how important it is to keep our eyes protected from the sun. This National Sunglasses Day, independent ECPs took to local news stations, social media and more to educate the public and spread some sunny fun.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—
Prevent Blindness announced at the beginning of July that it is joining in support of July as Dry Eye Awareness Month, with the goal of educating the public and health care professionals about dry eye disease. For the fourth consecutive year,
OCuSOFT Inc., a privately held eye and skin care company specializing in eyelid hygiene and ocular health, is partnering with Prevent Blindness in support of Dry Eye Awareness Month. The National Eye Institute estimates that dry eye affects nearly 16 million Americas, as
reported in
VMAIL; in recognition of this, Prevent Blindness is offering a number of resources to help ECPs make the most out of educating their patients on dry eye this July.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—On June 6, members of the eyecare and eyewear communities celebrated the ninth annual National Eyewear Day, a day founded by Zyloware Eyewear that is dedicated to bringing awareness to comprehensive eye exams and overall eye health. As
reported in
VMAIL, Zyloware kicked off National Eyewear Day with a number of resources to help everyone get involved, and partnered with Optical Academy to provide free eye exams and eyewear as part of a community event. In addition, many ECPs across the country took part in National Eyewear Day in their own communities, through fundraising, special events and more. Here, we’re taking a look at how some indies celebrated eyewear this June 6.
By Staff
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Summer has arrived, bringing warmer weather, longer days, kids out of school, and, of course, new eyewear. As we head into these hot days of July, August and some of September, there’s no better time than now to start thinking about how to refresh your practice or online presence to welcome in the new season. There are countless ways to bring some summer energy into your work life, from special sales to in-store décor and everything in between—so, we’re taking a look at how some indies are celebrating the start of summer. Get inspired—and stay cool out there.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 4:05 PM
When Jessica Yannelli, OD, looked for a home for Precision Eye Care, her new cold start practice 10 years ago, location and affordability were at the top of her list. She found a small space in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and began building a practice that allowed her to provide comprehensive eyecare to her patients. About four years later, she acquired a second location in West Chester, about 15 miles away. Having a second location allowed her to bring on an associate and start growing the two businesses. But the original space began to feel crowded with its one exam lane. “I wanted to stay in Downingtown, so I cast a small net around where I was,” she says.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness has again declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. In recognition of the month, Prevent Blindness offers a variety of free informational resources in English and Spanish including fact sheets, social media graphics and a listing of vision care financial assistance programs. The group also offers a dedicated
web resource, and the “Understanding Cataract” episode in the “Focus on Eye Health Expert Series,” featuring Albert Cheung, MD, cataract, cornea and anterior segment specialist with Virginia Eye Consultants and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology.
By Staff
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—This month, seven eyewear designers, many of which are independent, united to launch the third annual edCFDA Pride Eyewear Initiative. The designers Blake Kuwahara (Blake Kuwahara Eyewear), Christian Roth (Christian Roth Eyewear), Gai Gherardi and Barbara McReynolds (l.a.Eyeworks), Jeff Press (PRESS), Patty Perreira (Barton Perreira), Selima Salaun (Selima Optique) and Stirling Barrett (KREWE), are each offering a limited edition sunglass design, with a portion of the proceeds collectively benefiting
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), an organization dedicated to ending stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.