By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, September 13, 2024 7:30 AM
NEWARK, N.J.—Jobson Optical Research released its annual
ECP Income Study this month, offering new insights into what ECPs across the country are earning. This extensive study includes the average income for optometrists, opticians/dispensers and optical office managers in the U.S—these metrics include independent ECPs, offering a helpful guidepost for other independents. In addition, a full comparison of males vs. females is broken out across all demographics.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 8:30 AM
LONGARONE and MILAN, Italy—
Marcolin has joined the
United Nations Global Compact, a global pact launched in 2000 with the aim of mobilizing businesses to align their strategies and operations with the UN’s Ten Universal Principles on human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. The pact also aims at achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Marcolin joins more than 20,000 other companies and 2,500 non-business signatories from 167 countries around the world, including more than 500 in Italy, where Marcolin is based.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—
Women In Optometry has announced that it will award nine women ODs with a Theia Award of Excellence on Thursday, November 7, 2024, during the American Academy of Optometry’s Academy 2024 in Indianapolis, Ind., according to an announcement from
WO. This is the ninth year for this annual awards ceremony. Each year,
Women In Optometry asks readers and friends to submit the names of women who have been extraordinarily influential in the industry. This year, more than 200 nominations were submitted; the
WO advisory board votes for the winners.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Sunday, September 1, 2024 1:31 AM
September is here, and for millions of Americans that means one thing in particular: back to school. Whether it’s students, caretakers, teachers, administrators, or anyone else who works alongside the school system, one of the busiest times of the year is kicking into high gear. And, of course, there are few things more important heading into the school year than ensuring students have the best possible eye health to help them succeed.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, August 30, 2024 8:30 AM
CHICAGO—September is here, bringing with it cooler nights, back-to-school business, and, of course, the fall sports season. In recognition of this,
Prevent Blindness has again declared September as Sports Eye Safety Month, in order to educate the public on the risk of painful and potentially blinding eye injuries that can occur while playing sports without the proper eye protection. According to
new data from the organization, there were more than 32,600 sports-related eye injuries treated in the United States in 2023, underscoring the importance of sharing this information.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 8:30 AM
AMSTERDAM and NEW YORK—For entrepreneurs establishing new eyewear companies in today’s landscape, there’s no question that sustainability is a non-negotiable. Thankfully, there are almost infinite ways to approach sustainability in eyewear design and production—and for
EveryWear Eyewear, located in the Netherlands, collaborating with
Tech Print Industries (TPI) was the perfect solution. Ruben van Bodegom and Alain Schutter founded EveryWear Eyewear in 2020, with the goal of combining “their love of adventure with sustainability,” according to the
brand.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—The back-to-school season is officially upon us. Across the country, students are headed back to the classroom; some have already started the fall semester, while others are in the last few days of their summer breaks, but either way, a large portion of Americans are thinking about the upcoming school year. As teachers, families and students get organized, it’s an important time for the optical community to remind them how important eye health is for a successful academic year. Here, we’re taking a look at what some independent ECPs are doing to get into gear for the school year.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, August 15, 2024 8:30 AM
TURIN, Italy—Italian eyewear company
Vanni presented its second Impact Report this June, which details the projects the company completed in 2023, particularly in relation to the objectives laid out in its 2022 Società Benefit. In 2023, Vanni
stated it was “particularly committed to sustainability,” and one of the focuses of the year was conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its products. According to Vanni, the LCA is “an analytical and systematic methodology for the assessment of the environmental impacts of a product—or the amount of CO2 released—throughout its life cycle: from the extraction of raw materials all the way to its disposal.”
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, August 8, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness has again declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, with the goal of educating parents, caregivers, professionals and policymakers on the important role vision and eye health plays in children’s development. As reported in
VMAIL, Prevent Blindness is marking this month with free materials on children’s vision, including fact sheets, social media graphics,
toolkits, videos and webpages on a variety of topics about children’s vision from infancy through adolescence. The NCCVEH provides
resources on getting children ready for school, taking a child to an eye doctor, preparing a child for wearing glasses or contact lenses and tips for preventing eye injuries.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 8:30 AM
PENNSAUKEN, N.J.—This week,
Windsor Eyes, Inc. announced an exclusive partnership to distribute
Mita Sustainable Eyewear to U.S. based eyecare professionals. All Mita products are made from recycled water bottles, recycled aluminum and sustainable lenses, and the company has been B Corp Certified since January 2024. Mita’s commitment to sustainable materials goes beyond just frames, too. Packaging is also produced with recycled materials: one cleaning cloth is produced from one water bottle; one frame case is produced from two water bottles; one soft pouch is produced from two water bottles; and one frame is produced from five water bottles, according to the company.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—It’s summertime and the weather is warm, which means many of us are spending more time than usual outside and in the sun—and that the sun is at its strongest. In recognition of this, July is recognized as UV Safety month across the industry, providing another opportunity for ECPs to educate patients and communities about the importance of keeping their eyes protected from UV rays. To close out July, we are taking a look at how some ECPs have used UV Safety Month to shed some light on UV light.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, July 19, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—It may still be the dog days of summer, and we may still be at the beach, but, with just a few days to go until August, the back-to-school season is creeping up on everyone. In fact, many have already gotten a head start on their shopping, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), who
reports that 55 percent of back-to-school and college shoppers already began their shopping as of early July—though there’s still plenty to do.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—On June 27, sunwear and summer enthusiasts alike celebrated National Sunglasses Day by breaking out their favorite pair of sunnies, snapping a selfie and posting on social media. National Sunglasses Day, which occurs on June 27 every year, is a fun and interactive holiday for everyone—but, most importantly, it creates the perfect opportunity for ECPs to remind patients and their communities just how important it is to keep our eyes protected from the sun. This National Sunglasses Day, independent ECPs took to local news stations, social media and more to educate the public and spread some sunny fun.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:30 AM
SAN RAMON, Calif.—
CooperVision announced in June that its manufacturing facility in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, received top honors at the 15th annual Puerto Rico Sustainability Best Practices, Health and Safety Summit. The Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (PRMA) recognized the site with six awards for its programs and practices relating to its sustainability, and occupational health and safety commitments, according to the announcement. The company was given the Platinum Recycling Award, which is presented to an organization that exemplifies best practice standards in alternate energy and sustainability by achieving greater than 90 percent recycling rates, as
reported in
VMAIL.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, June 21, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Juneteenth, our newest federal holiday,
has its roots in Galveston, Texas, dating back to 1865. On June 19, 1865,
enslaved people in Galveston were informed of their freedom, which had been
declared two years earlier when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation. Fast forward to 2021, when President Biden signed legislation
that made Juneteenth a federal holiday. Now, June 19 is celebrated as
Juneteenth nationwide with parades, parties, commemoration events and community
gatherings. This week,
VMAIL Weekend takes a look at the rich history
and growing importance of the Juneteenth holiday, including celebration posts
from members of the optical community.