Prevent Blindness to Host 12th Annual Focus on Eye Health Summit

By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:27 AM CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness, a leading eye health and safety nonprofit organization, will host the 12th annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit on July 12-13, 2023, as a virtual interactive event. Expert presentations related to this year’s theme, “Why the Eye?” will engage diverse voices in discussions around vision health as it relates to public health, stimulate conversations around the challenges to equitable access to eyecare, explore new and unique collaborations across stakeholders, and identify opportunities to integrate vision and eye health into public health policies, practices and research advancement.

EyeCarePro Announces Winners for Practice Manager of the Year Award

By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:24 AM NEW YORK—EyeCarePro, a marketing agency exclusively serving eyecare providers, has announced the winners for the 2nd Annual Practice Manager of the Year Award.

Percept Sponsors Major Latin American Headache Symposium, Science Behind MiWear to Be Presented by International Experts

By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:21 AM LAS VEGAS—Percept Corp. has announced the company’s sponsorship of AMCEMIG 2023, the Asociacion Mexicana de Cefaleas y Migranaa, a high-profile international headache symposium in Latin America organized by the Mexican Association of Headaches and Migraines in collaboration with the International Headache Society (IHS).

Time Is Running Out—Nominate an Influential Woman in Optical by May 31 for Vision Monday's Special Report

By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:18 AM NEW YORK—Vision Monday will once again be highlighting The Most Influential Women in Optical in our July issue, marking the 21st anniversary of our signature Special Report saluting women in the eyewear/eyecare industry. We are currently seeking nominations via an electronic survey form but time is running out—the deadline for submitting nominations is May 31. Women’s influence in optical is undeniable and today, more women than ever before are playing vital roles at all levels of our industry.  

Scheduling Note for May 29, 2023

By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 12:15 AM NEW YORK—Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, there will be no VMAIL on Monday, May 29, 2023. Look for VMAIL to resume its daily schedule on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. To catch up on all the week’s news, look for VMAIL Weekend coming your way on Saturday with all of its regular features including Today’s Read, ICYMI, Optical on Main Street and Editor's Pick.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Increased for the Week of May 15 – 21, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 12:27 AM NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week, May 15 – 21, when compared with the previous week at a rate of 1 index point. That places gross revenue at a level 7 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 21) when compared with last year (2022), 11 points above the same period in 2021, 31 points above 2020 (when COVID stay-at-home restrictions were in place), and 19 points above 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.

IRIS, The Visual Group and DIAGNOS Launch IRIS-ai,an Artificial Intelligence Tool for Ocular Disease Screening, in 20 Stores Across Quebec

By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 12:24 AM MONTREAL—IRIS The Visual Group, a banner of the New Look Vision Group, has launched IRIS-ai, a breakthrough artificial intelligence technology for the optometry industry in Quebec, in partnership with Montreal-based DIAGNOS.

Black Pearl Vision Acquires Contact Lens Manufacturer PolyDev

By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 12:21 AM SARASOTA, Fla.—Black Pearl Vision, a Black-owned and woman-owned contact lens manufacturer, has acquired Ireland-based color contact lens manufacturer PolyDev, and expanded its signature product line to include opaque color contact lenses in toric, plano and spherical parameters.

Alcon in Action Initiative Advances Social Impact Through Global Volunteerism

By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 12:18 AM GENEVA—Working together to make an impact in the communities where they live and work, thousands of Alcon associates from 57 locations around the world are participating in Alcon in Action (AiA), a company-wide volunteering initiative.

ISVA Launches ‘Ask a Sports Vision Expert’ Website Feature

By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 12:15 AM MONROE, N.J.—To help athletes, parents, and others interested in learning how improving visual function and skills may help lead to improved performance in the sport(s) they play, the International Sports Vision Association (ISVA) has launched “Ask A Sports Vision Expert” on its website. Optometrists, athletic trainers, researchers, and others with expertise in sports vision assessment and training will respond to questions related to how the visual system can help athletes gain optimal performance in a variety of sports and leisure activities.

Transitions Optical Announces Winners of the 2022 Transitions Innovation Awards

By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 12:27 AM PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Transitions Optical, Inc. has named the winners for its annual Transitions Innovation Awards program, which recognizes both individuals and organizations who have shown the highest level of commitment to innovating their business over the past year. “The commitment and remarkable achievements from the 2022 Transitions Innovation Award winners have not only earned them well-deserved recognition, but have also helped elevate the industry,” said Drew Smith, senior director, North America channels, Transitions Optical. “We are privileged to have them as award winners and champions of our brand, and we congratulate them on their outstanding success.”

Ascend Vision Partners Joins With Central Florida Eye Care

By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 12:21 AM ORLANDO, Fla.—Ascend Vision Partners, a leading administrative service provider for ophthalmology practices, announced its partnership with Central Florida Eye Care, an ophthalmology practice serving Central Florida.

Optometry Giving Sight Names Susy Yu, OD, to Board of Directors

By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 12:18 AM GOLDEN, Colo.—Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has announced the addition of Susy Yu, OD, MBA, FAAO, to its board of directors. Dr. Yu has served for more than 20 years as director of strategy and operations support at Vision Essentials by Kaiser Permanente.

Today Is the Deadline for Submissions to VM's 2023 Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers Report

By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 12:15 AM NEW YORK—The deadline for submissions to Vision Monday's signature Annual Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers Report is today, May 24, at 11:59 p.m. The report and ranking will be published in VM's upcoming June print/digital edition this year. The annual survey spans regional and national retailers and ECP groups for the exclusive report, which will collect and present sales and operations data for the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2022. Noted Marge Axelrad, SVP/editorial director of Vision Monday, "Given the still-challenging business climate of the past year, it’s important that we collect information directly from as many optical retailers as we can, so we can best manage the task of developing VM estimates for companies and their businesses.

FTC Hosts Public Workshop on ‘Eyeglass Rule’

By Staff
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 12:27 AM WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a public workshop on May 18 to examine proposed changes to its Ophthalmic Practice Rules, also known as the Eyeglass Rule. The workshop, titled A Clear Look at the Eyeglass Rule, was held in conjunction with the Commission’s regulatory review of the Eyeglass Rule. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NRPM) was issued in January 2023 announcing proposed changes to the Rule. The Eyeglass Rule, in place since 1978, is designed to facilitate consumer choice and promote competition in the eyeglass market by requiring ophthalmologists and optometrists to provide patients with a copy of their prescription immediately after the completion of an eye exam.