Prevent Blindness Holds 13th Annual Focus on Eye Health Summit

By Staff
Monday, July 15, 2024 12:24 AM CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, a nonprofit eye health and safety organization, hosted its 13th annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit on July 10 and 11, 2024. This year’s Summit included a variety of presentations related to the theme “Being Seen and Heard.” More than 800 registrants of the free, virtual and interactive two-day event were able to access an exhibitor hall, participate in “coffee chats” with fellow attendees and attend presentations on a variety of vision and public health topics led by leaders from across the country.

DocGo and Spect Announce Partnership to Improve Mobile Vision Health Screenings

By Staff
Thursday, July 11, 2024 12:15 AM NEW YORK—DocGo Inc. (Nasdaq: DCGO), a provider of technology-enabled mobile health services, has announced its partnership with Spect, a provider of comprehensive digital services for eye exam screenings, including diabetic retinopathy.

New Study Finds Children May Be Overprescribed With Antibiotics for Pink Eye Treatment

By Staff
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 12:21 AM NEW YORK—Medical experts are sounding the alarm about overprescribing antibiotics for children suffering from pink eye, according to a new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Pink eye is an inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball.

ECPs Expect Changes to Workload, Bottom Line in Response to Eyeglass Rule's Final Updates, Jobson Research Survey Finds

By Staff
Monday, July 8, 2024 12:24 AM NEW YORK—A Jobson Research poll of opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists in response to recent updates by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the Eyeglass Rule shows that the changes will have moderate to significant impact on practices' workload and bottom line. As recently reported in VMAIL, the FTC announced final updates late last month to its Ophthalmic Practice Rules, also known as the Eyeglass Rule, in what the organization stated was an effort to increase compliance with the requirement that ophthalmologists and optometrists provide patients with a free copy of their prescription immediately following a refractive eye exam. Among the updates are the requirements that ECPs must now ask patients to sign a statement confirming they received their prescription, keep a record of that confirmation for at least three years, and offer patients the option of a digital prescription.

VSP Vision Names Scholarship Winners of Its Premier Edge Student Business Challenge

By Staff
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 12:21 AM RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP Vision has named Malia McDowell, of the University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Optometry, and Nastasya Liem, of UC Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, as the 2024 VSP Premier Edge Student Business Challenge winners.

Prevent Blindness Georgia to Honor 2024 Person of Vision at 8th Annual Night for Sight Gala

By Staff
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 12:15 AM ATLANTA—Prevent Blindness Georgia has announced that their 8th annual Night for Sight Gala will be held on October 26, 2024, at The Whitley Hotel Buckhead. During the event, PBGA will recognize their 2024 Person of Vision, Dr. Stephanie Vanderveldt, a leader in ophthalmology in Georgia.

In-Depth Report From The Vision Council Unveils the Realities of Life With Low Vision

By Staff
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 12:21 AM ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council has released a new research report featuring a comprehensive analysis of the experiences, diagnoses, information sources and treatment options for patients with low vision, as well as the impact on their caregivers. The report, Focused inSights 2024: Low Vision, combines qualitative data from two focus groups with quantitative data from a nationally representative survey of patients and primary caregivers of children with low vision, according to an announcement from The Vision Council.

The Ohio State University College of Optometry’s Tyson Montgomery Wins AOSA Student Bowl Powered by EssilorLuxottica

By Staff
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 12:15 AM DALLAS—On Thursday, June 20, student representatives from 26 schools and colleges of optometry gathered at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville for the 33rd annual American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Optometry Student Bowl powered by EssilorLuxottica.

As Remote Eyecare Gains Traction, Patients and Practitioners See Many Advantages

By Staff
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 12:15 AM NEW YORK—In the May feature story Remote Eye Exams, Vision Monday examines how ocular telehealth has become an essential component in the eyecare ecosystem in just over a decade. The feature explores the growth of remote, comprehensive eye exams as seen through the eyes of eyecare technology executives, eyecare practitioners and optical retailers.

Eyes On Eyecare Announces Third Annual Optometry Innovation Awards

By Staff
Monday, June 3, 2024 12:15 AM SAN DIEGO—Eyes On Eyecare, a digital publication that provides clinical and career education for ODs and ophthalmologists, has announced its third annual Optometry Innovation Awards (OIA).

Remote Eye Testing Adds New Dimensions

By Evra Taylor, Contributing Editor
Thursday, May 23, 2024 2:30 AM Originating from basic teleconferencing models, technology-enabled tele-optometry has revolutionized the optical industry creating both a more patient-centric model of care and expanding ECPs’ practices in a quintessential win-win. With remote eye testing, optical companies are focusing their gaze on a novel approach—involving the consumer in their own health care journey, increasing their access to eyecare and reducing wait times, two major pain points in eyecare. In addition to self-administered, online visual acuity testing for prescription renewal, these companies are increasingly providing remote diagnostic services, expanding their reach into previously uncharted territory such as ultra-wide field digital retinal imaging. At the same time, eyecare providers have established effective guardrails to protect patients’ eye health, ensuring patient referrals to a specialist when needed, for example.

The Vision Council Launches 2024 National Sunglasses Day Campaign With Spotlight on Sports Eyewear

By Staff
Monday, May 20, 2024 12:27 AM ALEXANDRIA, Va.—With the summer Olympics, warmer weather and more outdoor time on the horizon, The Vision Council has kicked off its National Sunglasses Day 2024 campaign, with a focus on raising the visibility of sunglasses for their protection, fashion and sports benefits. National Sunglasses Day will be celebrated on June 27. The holiday is entirely devoted to creating awareness around the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect people’s eyes from the sun’s powerful rays. This year, the campaign is spotlighting sports sunglasses, inspiring outdoor lovers to gear up with shades on before participating in their favorite activities.

Prevent Blindness Launches ‘It Started With an Eye Exam’ Campaign to Encourage, Educate and Empower the Public to Make Eye Health Part of Their Overall Health Care

By Staff
Monday, May 20, 2024 12:21 AM CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, a nonprofit eye health and safety organization, is launching a new campaign titled, “It Started With an Eye Exam” to encourage consumers to share their stories of how eyecare had a positive impact on their health and well-being.

Zyloware Encourages Eyecare Professionals to Celebrate National Eyewear Day on June 6

By Staff
Monday, May 20, 2024 12:18 AM PORT CHESTER, N.Y.—Zyloware is inviting all eyecare professionals and eyewear enthusiasts to once again join the company in celebration of the 9th annual National Eyewear Day on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

WestGroupe Partners With University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science to Fuel Innovation in Vision Care

By Staff
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 12:18 AM MONTREAL—WestGroupe, a family-operated optical company headquartered here, has announced a donation of $15,000 (CAD) and ongoing partnership to support the efforts of the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI).