By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, November 10, 2023 8:30 AM
For many visually impaired people, receiving medical treatment can be complex. Not being able to access educational materials can make it difficult to be a personal advocate and leaves people reluctant to seek help. A new partnership between The New England College of Optometry (NECO)
Center for Eye Care and New York-based
Tactile Images is ready to transform the way patients get care with a new interactive experience featuring a tactile image of the visual system on display at 930 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston, Massachusetts.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, September 29, 2023 8:30 AM
Millions of people will have their eyes on the sky on October 14 for a solar eclipse, which will be visible across parts of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and parts of South America. Best viewing will be in Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas which sit in the path of annularity. People are often tempted to have a look at a solar eclipse without taking into consideration the risks involved. Not only can looking at a solar eclipse damage your eyes, it can also lead to long-term damage.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, September 15, 2023 8:30 AM
Fall means the launch of new products and styles across all sectors of the optical industry. Whether shopping for the latest frames to carry in your office or finding the most cutting edge equipment to improve production times in your lab, now is the time to check out what’s new in optics. In this week’s Today’s Read, we talk to industry insiders who are sharing what they see as this fall's hottest trends in design and technology. We will be highlighting these and many more new and innovative fashion and equipment trends in upcoming issues as we report on
Vision Expo West, scheduled to take place September 27–30 at the Venetian Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, August 18, 2023 8:30 AM
With the end of summer fast approaching, many in the optical industry are focused on professional development and experiencing an exceptional roster of learning opportunities. Events like Silmo and Vision Expo West offer learning and continuing education opportunities that help industry members grow their knowledge base and explore new products. Many companies also offer their own in-house learning opportunities for clients to build their practice. Here are just a few of the learning opportunities some eyecare industry members are taking part in this fall.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 23, 2023 2:00 AM
WILKES-BARRE, Penn.—Mergers and acquisitions over the past 25 years have reshaped the wholesale optical lab business in the U.S., yet some family-owned, independent labs remain vital, despite competition from corporate-owned labs. Luzerne Optical Laboratories is a notable example.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 23, 2023 1:59 AM
ST. CLOUD, Minn.—Eye-Kraft has built a reputation around service and independence. As a result, the St. Cloud, Minnesota-based optical lab has seen a steady growth in business since it first opened 65 years ago. The lab has undergone several expansions over the past decade, installing their first AR coating facility in 2015. Nearly 10 years later, the lab has seen such an increase in demand that they have once again had to expand their coating facility to accommodate a growing customer base.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, July 14, 2023 8:30 AM
This month marked the launch of Meta’s new social media platform Threads. Designed to be a more positive experience than its rival Twitter, the platform has already seen significant buy-in and generated threats of lawsuits from Twitter owner Elon Musk. In an age where traditional forms of print advertising have been passed over for social media marketing strategies, many companies are feeling confused about which medium is right for them.
VMAIL Weekend asked industry several experts what social media platforms they find most effective in growing sales and reaching their target audience. Here’s what they had to say.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, June 16, 2023 8:30 AM
The optical industry was built by many families who started out as small dispensaries or labs and grew into globally respected leaders in optics. Today, many of these pioneering companies have been passed onto second, third and even fourth generations. With the passing of the torch comes advice on how to keep the business going and keep the family legacy alive. In today’s edition of Today’s Read, we are pleased to share with you the advice that a few industry leaders and colleagues have received from their own fathers, many of whom started the businesses that have become iconic in the optical world.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Sunday, May 14, 2023 12:56 AM
Consumers are using their buying power to change the world for the better. According to a GreenPrint survey, 64 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products. Meanwhile, 78 percent of people are more likely to purchase a product if it has been clearly labeled as environmentally friendly.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, May 12, 2023 8:30 AM
Prevent Blindness, America's leading eye health and safety nonprofit organization, has named May as UV Awareness month. According to the
World Health Organization, as many as 20 percent of cataracts are the result of overexposure to UV radiation.
Overexposure to UV rays can occur from spending too much time in the sun, and even from the glare of the snow.
To help spread the word about the dangerous effects of UV light and about the importance of protecting patient’s eyes, the eyecare community is taking to social media with the hashtag #uvawarenessmonth.
Here are some of the creative ways eyecare professionals are sharing information and resources for their patients on social media.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Sunday, April 23, 2023 12:27 AM
NEW YORK—Businesses strive to stay ahead of trends to maximize sales. But what is being done to maximize human capital? That was the question posed at the Vision Monday Leadership Summit featuring guest speaker Kraig Eaton, principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP, who examined Deloitte’s 2023 Global Human Capital Trends report.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Sunday, April 23, 2023 12:24 AM
NEW YORK—Artwork can transport the viewer into a whole new world of understanding and inspiration. When you are color blind, artwork can seemingly be out of reach as vibrant colors appear faded and dark. As a result, many people are unable to fully experience exhibits by masters such as Van Gogh or Pollack—that is until organizations like Visit Seattle partnered with adaptability tools to help provide color-blind visitors with an authentic experience.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, April 14, 2023 8:30 AM
Professional development is the fastest and easiest way to stay ahead of trends and innovations in the optical industry. As new procedures and products hit the market, it is important to stay on-top of the latest advancements. Additionally, people who want to climb the corporate ladder or become better leaders understand how critical it is to develop new tools and strategies to help grow their company and the bottom line.
VMAIL Weekend asked a group of optical professionals from several sectors of the industry how they are planning to add to their skills this spring. Here’s what they had to say.