NEW YORK—With private equity’s interest and investment in the vision care space continuing at a rapid pace, there is much interest and many questions about the implications for optometrists and ECPs, the companies and practices. A special event to examine the subject, “Private Equity Takes Root – What Does It Mean for Optometry?” will be held at the upcoming Vision Expo East on March 17. The special live event is being presented in cooperation with Review of Optometric Business, Vision Expo and Vision Monday. Registration is now open here for the two-hour program, which will be held on Saturday afternoon, from 2:45 to 4:45 pm at the Javits Center. Registration is free and open to all registered show attendees.

Attendees at this special session will hear an overview of the changing economics that guide an OD’s decision to partner with private equity or to remain independent. They will also receive a comprehensive, printed report on the market dynamics driving today’s private equity investment in optical. Optometrists will describe the pros and cons of partnering with private equity.

In addition, a panel of executives from four leading private equity companies and management groups in optical will address their philosophies and value propositions and take questions from the audience.

Finally, attendees will receive guidance to formulate a “decision tree” about the issue for their practice.

Stated Melissa Ashley, Reed Exhibitions’ executive vice president, “Vision Expo is constantly adding to the topics covered in our educational programming to ensure attendees have access to all of the medical and business information they need to be best equipped to run their practices and make informed business decisions. In response to the strong interest generated by the ROB special report ‘Private Equity and the Investment Effect’ and Vision Monday’s recent cover story on the trend, we will be offering this timely topic in collaboration with Review of Optometric Business and Vision Monday. As the only event that aggregates the entire vision community, Vision Expo is the ideal platform to facilitate conversations on the topics impacting the future of the profession.”

“Private Equity Takes Root – What Does It Mean for Optometry?” will be held at the Vision Expo Partner Pavillion, Level 1 in Hall 1E, Room 1E16.