By Staff
Monday, March 18, 2024 4:00 PM
NEW YORK—The Opticians Association of America (OAA), and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS), have completed a merger, with continuing funding provided by the American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO & NCLE) that has created a model opticianry association representing over 80,000 opticians and contact lens professionals throughout North America, according to a statement from the three organizations. OAA has proudly been committed to promoting a professional stature of opticianry through leadership education and communication since 1925, and NFOS has been dedicated to facilitating the development of formal educational programs, upgrading the standards of opticianry education, and working for uniformity of opticianry education since 1999.
Read More
By Staff
Monday, March 18, 2024 3:48 PM
The internet has long provided answers—of varying accuracy—to patients’ many health-related queries, and now artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT are in the mix too. How good is this information, though? New research published in
Ophthalmology Science suggests it has potential.1 Researchers assessed the quality, safety and empathy of responses to common questions from retina patients by human experts, by AI and by AI responses edited by human experts. They concluded that clinical settings might make good use of AI responses.
Read More
By Staff
Saturday, March 16, 2024 2:30 PM
On April 8, millions of people will have their eyes on the sky for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a rare total solar eclipse that will be visible throughout North America as it passes across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. The April eclipse will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. until 2044. Experts estimate that the solar eclipse will cover a lot of ground and has the potential to be viewed by millions of people. For several months, optical safety experts have been sounding the alarm about the upcoming eclipse, warning eyecare providers and their patients to take steps to avoid significant eye damage.
Read More
By Staff
Saturday, March 16, 2024 2:21 PM
If I told you to think of a champion, you would likely think of your favorite athlete winning it all. What about someone who fights for a cause on behalf of someone else? Is that person a champion? Whether in sports, academics or activism, a champion is characterized by their dedication, resilience and ability to inspire and lead others toward positive change. That is why our myopia management champion is not just one individual—it is a collection of our culture, communication, and shared journey.
Read More
By Staff
Friday, March 15, 2024 4:54 PM
NEW YORK—As the curtains rise on Vision Expo East 2024, the excitement is palpable, and the anticipation is electric. This year's event, co-hosted by The Vision Council and RX, promises to be a celebration of nearly four decades of eyewear and eyecare excellence in the heart of New York City. From March 14 to 17, the iconic Javits Center transforms into a bustling hub of industry activity, spanning an expansive 150,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Read More
By Staff
Friday, March 15, 2024 4:42 PM
Infectious keratitis is the leading cause of unilateral blindness worldwide, and fungal keratitis presents as a challenge in terms of treatment, often necessitating a therapeutic corneal transplant (TPKP) when conventional medical treatment falls short. “The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) regularly handles cases from across south Florida and the Caribbean, constituting approximately 28 percent of our annual microbiology isolates,” Salomon Merikansky, MD, part of BPEI, explains. “Fusarium species top the list as the most prevalent causative filamentous fungi, followed by other species like Aspergillus and Curvularia. Among yeast, Candida species is the most prevalent,” he adds.
Read More
By Staff
Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:30 AM
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP Vision has announced the extension and expansion of the Student Loan Repayment Program, including an additional $4 million investment to help optometry students, recent grads and doctors burdened with student debt. Combined with the $2 million investment in 2023, the program will pay out a total of $6 million over the next four years. The 2024 program asks applicants to undertake a new role in an underserved community for up to four years, but features even more qualifying locations. Applicants are able to choose from a variety of practice modalities including private practice, retail, corporate, medical or on-site clinics.
Read More
By Staff
Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:13 AM
Patients coming into your office these days may be less likely to spend money than they were a year ago. According to a recent
Wall Street Journal survey of business and academic economists, recession is highly unlikely in 2024. However, the National Retail Federation is calling for a consumer spending slowdown in 2024, speculation bolstered by the results of the New York Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Expectations, Household Spending Survey. How can your practice adapt to thrive in these uncertain times? What are the key metrics you should analyze to create the optimal cash flow sustainability strategy for your practice?
Read More
By Staff
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 1:49 PM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council, a trade association dedicated to supporting the optical industry, released Focused inSights 2024: Online vs. In-Person Purchase Patterns, offering a comprehensive examination of consumer shopping habits for eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses and readers. The report detailed both online and in-person buying trends, providing valuable insights for a variety of optical businesses. A summary, along with the full research report, is available in The Vision Council’s Research Download Center as a complimentary download for members of The Vision Council, with a paid option for non-members.
Read More
By Staff
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 1:37 PM
Just off the northeast coast of Florida sits Amelia Island, a chunk of land 13 miles long (about the length of Manhattan) and 4 miles wide, with a largely retired population of less than 40,000. When Tonia Bradley, OD, moved there seven years ago from Kentucky, she had sold her practice to private equity to chase “the coast and the sun.” When Dr. Bradley was ready, she found that buying a space would be cheaper in the long run than paying inflated rental rates. When a standalone building on the main road and just a mile from the ocean went up for sale, she applied for a business loan. She was denied. Dr. Bradley said, “I told myself, you’ll have to do this either without a bank loan or not do it at all.”
Read More
By Staff
Monday, March 11, 2024 3:04 PM
With an eye clearly focused on future scientific leaders, the National Eye Institute (NEI) is again inviting teens in grades nine through 12 to submit their best videos for the 2024 Eye on the Future teen video contest. Now in its third year, the contest is open to high school students and encourages the next generation of scientists to share why science is essential in today’s world. The deadline to submit videos is April 14, 2024. NEI encourages high school students from all backgrounds to participate. Bonus scoring points will be awarded to videos that are eye health or vision science related or focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA).
Read More
By Staff
Monday, March 11, 2024 2:46 PM
Coburn Technologies, Inc., one of the leading providers of ophthalmic lens processing systems and ophthalmic instruments, is celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary as a pioneering force in the optical industry and commemorating the milestone by reflecting on the company’s rich history and innovation. For seven decades, since their inception in 1954, Coburn Technologies has been at the forefront of innovation, driving advancements in eyewear technology and shaping the way the world sees, pushing the boundaries of optical solutions and setting new standards in lens processing.
Read More
By Staff
Friday, March 8, 2024 1:25 PM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council, the leading trade association for the optical industry, released new research featuring key insights into U.S. consumers’ experiences and preferences when purchasing frames for new glasses. Findings from the report, “Focused inSights 2024 Frame Trends,” underscore the diversity in eyewear preferences and purchase behaviors, highlighting opportunities for the optical industry to tailor product offerings and marketing strategies to meet consumer preferences. “Our latest Focused inSights report reveals a diverse landscape of consumer frame preferences, influenced by various factors such as shopping habits, eyecare product usage, and individual values pertaining to sustainability and technology,” said Alysse Henkel, vice president, research and inSights at The Vision Council.
Read More
By Staff
Friday, March 8, 2024 1:11 PM
Blackfin has announced what it describes as “a significant evolution in its business strategy in the United Kingdom and Ireland.” From January 1, 2024, the commercial development has been entrusted to Simon Gavin Hoare and Graham Lewis-Dale, two experienced executive accounts with backgrounds in the independent high-end eyewear segment. They will operate exclusively for Blackfin, covering the entire territory of the United Kingdom and Ireland. According to the company, this region plays a central role in Blackfin’s growth, and the opportunity to work with dedicated executive accounts reflects the company’s commercial investments strategy in the most strategic markets.
Read More
By Staff
Thursday, March 7, 2024 7:03 PM
NEW YORK—The Vision Council and RX, co-organizers of Vision Expo East, have announced new details on special events planned throughout the four-day Expo, scheduled for March 14 through 17 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The Expo is marking its final show in the Big Apple before heading to Orlando, Fla., in 2025, and will be paying homage to its history in New York. “Vision Expo East 2024 is shaping up to be a most memorable event as we look forward to bringing people together from all across the industry, country and globe to celebrate nearly four decades of success in New York City, before kicking off our next chapter,” said Fran Pennella, vice president, Vision Expo at RX.
Read More