By Staff
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:03 PM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill today that would have prevented optometrists from calling themselves “physicians” or “doctors” in interactions with patients or advertisements. The governor vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 230. DeSantis’ official veto message does not explain why he vetoed either bill. The bill first passed in the House with a 111-13 vote on May 3 but was sent back to the Senate after the addition of an amendment that would have allowed optometrists to continue to use the term “physician.” However, the Senate refused to concur on the amendment, and the House passed it with a 79-34 vote. The Florida Optometric Association (FOA), along with the American Optometric Association (AOA) and other OD groups as well as individual ODs from around the country, advocated intensively against the legislation and many have been gearing up to fight similar proposed legislation in other states, including Texas and Connecticut.
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By Staff
Friday, June 2, 2023 4:00 PM
People are naturally curious whenever they meet anyone new. For most people, our instinct is to try and develop a bond with this stranger. We try to find common ground. Generally, we do this by asking friendly questions to try and learn information about the new person we have encountered. We may ask questions like “Where did you grow up?”, “When did you graduate?”, “Do you have children?” or “Where is your family from originally?” While these questions are all acceptable in our personal lives, if you are interviewing a prospective new employee, these questions can get you into trouble.
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By Staff
Thursday, June 1, 2023 3:03 PM
BENTONVILLE, Ark.—As part of what it described as "Our ongoing effort to recognize the great work of our health and wellness associates while investing for the future," Walmart said it will be investing in the careers, training and in some cases, licensing for 4,000 opticians and 3,700 pharmacists. In an announcement and corresponding corporate Walmart blog post issued late yesterday, co-written by David Reitnauer, vice president, Walmart Health & Wellness, optical, and Kevin Host, senior vice president, Walmart Health & Wellness, pharmacy, the executives noted, "In many communities, Walmart’s pharmacy and vision center associates are the most accessible health care providers for busy families.
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By Staff
Thursday, June 1, 2023 2:51 PM
Congratulations to all optometry students who graduated with the class of 2023! Each year,
Women In Optometry recognizes the top graduates at the schools and colleges of optometry in North America. This year,
WO also honors the most ties for top graduate that
WO has ever featured, with New England College of Optometry holding the top spot with a five-way tie.
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By Staff
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 12:45 PM
NEW YORK—The nominations deadline for VM's Most Influential Women in Optical special report has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 4.
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. Women’s influence in optical is undeniable and today, more women than ever before are playing vital roles at all levels of our industry.
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By Staff
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 12:31 PM
With the option to purchase eyewear online, it’s interesting to note that the significant majority of prescription glasses are purchased at brick-and-mortar locations. Why? The modern consumer retail journey is highly experienced and brand driven. “Drive-thru efficiency does not appeal to luxury optometry consumers who want to be at the heart of the experience,” notes Ariel Resnik, founder of Glassworks in Tel Aviv, in a recent article in
Forbes. The article continues, “The experience of trying on a new pair of glasses and perfecting its fit remains intimately human.” As a crucial part of that experience, brands have power, and brand recognition plays an important role in providing patients with confidence in their purchase decision.
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By Staff
Tuesday, May 30, 2023 3:43 PM
NEW YORK—Graduation season is officially upon us, with countless students across the country graduating from high school, college, professional schools and more. This season of celebration extends to the optical industry, too, as most Schools and Colleges of Optometry in the U.S. celebrate commencement in the month of May, welcoming hundreds of new ODs into the community. We’re honoring these new graduates with a look at graduation ceremonies and celebrations from a number of optometry schools around the country.
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By Staff
Tuesday, May 30, 2023 3:33 PM
After what was described as a long negotiation process, the De Rigo Holding Shareholders' Meeting has carried out the approval of a treasury share purchase plan which sees Roberto and Giorgio De Rigo transfer to De Rigo Holding their own shares representing 50 percent of the company's capital. Ennio De Rigo and Emiliana De Meio are now therefore the sole shareholders of the company and of the Group. The operation was financed in part with De Rigo Holding's own resources and in part with the dividend of De Rigo S.p.A. Ennio De Rigo, chairman of the De Rigo Group said, "It was a transition managed with great serenity together with all the parties involved, since the common goal was for everyone to make the most of an extraordinary adventure that began more than half a century ago.”
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By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 2:03 PM
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 at 11:59 p.m. Women’s influence in optical is undeniable and today, more women than ever before are playing vital roles at all levels of our industry. In retailing, wholesaling, product design, manufacturing, distribution and vision care and managed care, talented women are shaping the direction of the companies and organizations they work for, and, in many cases, lead.
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By Staff
Friday, May 26, 2023 2:00 PM
In 1997, Mary Schmich, a Pulitzer-prize winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune, wrote a column that read as a “hypothetical” speech to that year’s graduating class. The idea was to impart wisdom accumulated after decades of life to a younger generation just starting out, to clue them in on things the author wished she had known when she was a fresh-faced 22-year-old. One of her nuggets was, “Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.” Unfortunately, our lives in general, and medicine in particular, are full of examples of things that we just took for granted as safe but which turned out to surprise us with some negative effect.
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By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 2:44 PM
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.
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By Staff
Thursday, May 25, 2023 2:33 PM
This year’s new co-chairs of the Marketing Committee for the GMAC are Layna Mendlinger, global head of marketing for Visioneering Technologies, and Nitin Jain, chief commercial officer for Euclid. To find out what promotional social media campaigns they have in store for GMAC this year, John Sailer, editor in chief of
Review of Myopia Management interviewed them in this next installment of a series of interviews with the organization’s new leadership. Access the interview
here.
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By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 2:48 PM
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.”
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By Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 2:30 PM
It is estimated that more than one in five adults 18 and older in the United States live with a mental illness—nearly 57.8 million, representing 22.8 percent of all adults—and this increases to nearly 50 percent for adolescents. Given these staggering statistics, ODs will see psychological issues in the exam chair often, and points to why our role of screening and participation in full-scope care is critical for our patients. We are not trained psychotherapists, but as primary care physicians (PCPs) for the eye, how do we navigate these issues that manifest in our patients during an exam?
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By Staff
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 6:00 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.
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