Mary Kane, Executive Editor
Mary helps to oversee the editorial coverage of
Vision Monday and its print publication,
VMAIL, e-newsletters,
VisionMonday.com and the
Vision Expo Dailies. She also covers general company news, industry developments and business trends, as well as professional associations news and features. She is also responsible for deadline queries and operational questions for
Vision Monday print editions and
VMAIL. Contact Mary at
mkane@jobson.com.
By Mary Kane
Monday, October 25, 2021 2:01 AM
Screen time over the last 18 months has indeed skyrocketed, especially for children, resulting in a concerning uptick in myopia, digital eye strain and screen addiction. Childhood myopia is increasing at a rapid rate, with 1 in 3 children now affected, and the recent shift in lifestyle as a result of COVID-19 has worsened the issue.
By Mary Kane
Monday, August 2, 2021 1:31 AM
Back in 2018,
Vision Monday took a deep dive into how ECPs could educate patients on how to eat healthier and take care of their eyes at the same time. We found that eating healthy foods is a big part of a cleaner lifestyle—not only will it improve your overall health, but there are some vitamins and minerals that can have a direct effect on healthier vision. Things like beta-carotene, zinc, Vitamin C and lutein can protect cells in the eyes. But are there foods and beverages out there that can pose a hazard to your eyes?
By Mary Kane
Sunday, April 25, 2021 8:15 AM
Do you ever get the feeling that you’re spending too much time on your phone? It’s no secret that people have been glued to their electronic devices during the pandemic and our reliance on our screens in general—including laptops, iPads and TVs—is off the charts. According to new data from Eyesafe, a leader in screen time and blue light solutions, and LG Display, a cutting edge display company, people have been spending 13+ hours per day on screens since COVID-19 emerged—up 30 percent from last year. As a result, eye strain has become the #1 pain point for device users, with 59 percent of people experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain (DES).
By Mary Kane
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 12:00 AM
While nothing about 2020 has seemed “normal,” VM soldiered on with a virtual version of its Global Leadership Summit. I’m sure the lessons learned will help our industry endure and eventually prosper. Here are a few of my favorite pearls of wisdom from the event.
By Mary Kane
Wednesday, July 15, 2020 12:00 AM
SUNNYVALE, Calif.—For years now, the eyecare sector has been experiencing a steady surge of interest in telehealth options, both from patients and ODs. Fast-forward to the onset of the pandemic, the ensuing lockdowns and phased-in reopenings have only speeded up the popularity of telehealth as ODs find new ways to interact and communicate with their patients and provide them with a more meaningful eyecare experience.
By Mary Kane
Monday, June 15, 2020 3:00 PM
Over the past few weeks, as eyecare practices and optical retailers have begun the reopening process, the questions many eyecare patients have been asking include “How safe is it to return to my local optometrist and dispensary? What precautions have been taken and what will my eye exam experience be like in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis?”
By Mary Kane
Monday, May 18, 2020 12:00 AM
Falling asleep with your contacts in is never a good thing, especially during a pandemic when most eye doctors are closed. When I woke up that morning in April and tried to remove my CLs, I knew I was in trouble. Once I removed the lenses, my eyes were already showing signs of redness and were sore.
By Mary Kane
Monday, January 20, 2020 12:00 AM
For anyone who’s ever undertaken a home improvement project, the colors you choose can make all the difference. Two years ago, we did a complete renovation of our circa 1970s kitchen. Selecting a new floor, cabinets and countertops was a pleasure but when we got down to choosing a color for the walls we were stumped. After several trips to the Lowe’s paint department and half a dozen tester pints of paint later, we finally hit on a winner—Onion Powder OL689.2 turned out to be the final touch we had been searching for. It literally “finished” the job and completely tied together the look, feel and design of our new space. Who knew color could be so important?
By Mary Kane
Monday, January 20, 2020 12:00 AM
Managing finances better, eating healthier and moving more topped Americans’ New Year’s resolutions list for 2020, according to a recent survey by Ipsos for Urban Plates, a San-Diego-based restaurant chain. In 2020, it seems Americans are intent on tightening their belts (literally) when it comes to the important things in life—money, food and exercise.
By Mary Kane
Thursday, December 26, 2019 3:46 PM
Vision Monday started the Voices + Views department in
VMAIL Weekend back in January of 2018. Voices + Views was originally conceived as a way for
VM to cover ECPs who had a social media presence on blogs, vlogs and Instagram platforms. At the time, most of the V+V features were written by our associate editor Stephanie Sengwe. Stephanie left us in May of 2018 when she returned to graduate school to pursue a film career. However, she continued to write the Voices + Views features for us on a contributing editor basis, and we’re very happy she did. Through the years, Stephanie wrote over 50 ECP profiles for us in the
Weekend Edition. Here are a few of her most popular V+V stories.
By Mary Kane
Monday, June 10, 2019 1:00 AM
Growing up in the ‘60s, I watched a LOT of television with friends and family. We were riveted by shows like “That Girl,” “Rat Patrol” and “Dark Shadows” and we spent countless hours on the living room floor in front of the TV. My Mom used to refer to it as the “Boob Tube” and she was constantly yelling at us to “go outside and play.”
By Mary Kane
Monday, February 11, 2019 12:30 AM
During a recent visit to my doctor for a yearly check-up I was handed an iPad at the desk and was asked to review my medical history. Under my current medications, I was a little surprised to see my flu shot listed since I had received it in our N.Y. offices as part of a wellness program at Jobson.
By Mary Kane
Monday, October 22, 2018 12:00 AM
As I write this column, people around the world are celebrating World Sight Day—ECPs, optometric companies and sight-related organizations are turning out in impressive numbers to support the 1.2 billion people worldwide who are in need of vision care. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 80 percent of vision impairment globally is avoidable—the leading causes of vision impairment are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts
By Mary Kane
Monday, August 13, 2018 12:00 AM
It’s been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul but in these tech-driven times, the eyes can also function as a diagnostic tool for our health. Something as simple as an eye exam can detect serious disease, such as high blood pressure, the onset of diabetes or a life-threatening condition.
By Mary Kane
Monday, April 16, 2018 12:00 AM
It’s hard not to feel a sense of community during Vision Expo. Seeing friends and colleagues from the industry, exchanging ideas at panels and Pop Ups and networking deep into the night brings people together. Although we are all in the “business” of vision care and eyewear, at the end of the day we are all helping people see better.