By Staff
Friday, March 31, 2023 2:58 PM
NEW YORK—The uncertain future of the economy for many ECPs, including continued, yet cooling inflation numbers and high business costs were among the concerns within the most recent ECPulse Survey conducted in March 2023 by Jobson Optical Research. Some 25 percent of the ECPs surveyed said their practice has been greatly impacted by the state of the economy versus 68 percent who said their business has been only slighted impacted by the uncertainty of the ever-changing economy. The new ECPulse Survey of eyecare professionals across the country was started by Jobson Research in June 2022, as a new quarterly research series which monitors a range of factors influencing ECPs' business.
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By Staff
Friday, March 31, 2023 2:46 PM
Before even completing her first year in practice, Nishan Pressley, OD, felt the burnout. She always had a passion for being the best she could be as an optometrist, earning an undergrad degree in biology and pre-med from Norfolk State University in Virginia. She was the first African American to be accepted into and to have graduated from Salus University’s three-year program, but she felt her passion depleting as she was just entering the workforce after her 2019 graduation. She worked at an MD/OD private office for more than two years, but it took less than half that time for her to feel like she was losing steam. “I was already so tired,” Dr. Pressley says. “I knew I had a passion for helping people, especially providing preventive eyecare in the Black community, but I was already questioning my choice in the profession.”
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By Staff
Thursday, March 30, 2023 5:03 PM
NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week, March 20 – 26, when compared with the previous week at a rate of 1 index point. That places gross revenue at a level 3 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 13) when compared with last year (2022), 5 points above the same period in 2021, 98 points above 2020, and 5 points above 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker. Most optical sales categories were up last week when compared with the previous week.
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By Staff
Thursday, March 30, 2023 5:00 PM
For most of spectacle history, people purchased glasses as an already assembled complete vision aid. Eyeglass “consumers” sampled a variety of lens strengths until they found one that complemented their vision. But would any contemporary eyecare professional suggest this approach when choosing proper prescription eyewear? I think not. Yet, many optical offices remain content to place their lens and spectacle orders using a comparatively similar system. Conceived over half a century ago, the use of PDs, OC and seg heights, along with basic boxed frame dimensions, are still used today to place a spectacle order via fax or phone. The familiarity and comfort of this method has helped prevent many ECPs from seeking better ways of placing their orders.
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By Staff
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 3:52 PM
LONGARONE and MILAN, Italy—On March 28, 2023, the board of directors of Marcolin Group presented the draft of the Group’s separate and consolidated financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2022, which will be subject to approval by the Shareholders' Meeting in April. In 2022, Marcolin's net sales amounted to €547.4 million (about $593.4 million USD), up 20.1 percent compared to the previous year at current exchange rates (+ 13.2 percent at constant exchange rates). Compared to 2021, Marcolin has improved its performance in all geographical areas and seen significant growth in several high potential markets.
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By Staff
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 3:49 PM
At 100% Optical, William Morris London exhibited with Design Eyewear Group for the first time in the U.K. since the merger between the two companies in Autumn 2022. In an interview at the event aboard the familiar London Bus at their exhibition stand, Robert Morris, founder, William Morris London and Lars Flyvholm, CEO, Design Eyewear Group talked to
20/20 Europe about working together and how they envisage evolving and developing the British company and its selection of brands going forward.
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By Staff
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 2:21 PM
NEW YORK—From recognizing men and women as major players in optical to celebrating company anniversaries and products, New York City was a busy place to be during Vision Expo East’s festivities. Here’s a look at some of the major parties that took place around town during Vision Expo East. Look for more show coverage and photos in Vision Expo Attendees Are Back…And So Is the Show’s Energy. To read all of the Digital Editions of the Show Dailies, go to the Issue Archives page on
VisionMonday.com.
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By Staff
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 2:07 PM
Cherie Archambeault, OD, knew she wanted to provide care for others in some way, but she wasn’t sure which medical route to take. She spent some time shadowing optometrists in various settings, including corporate-affiliated and private practice, as well as in full-time and part-time positions; she quickly realized the options were more overwhelming than expected. Even before graduating from Indiana University School of Optometry in 2003, she knew that she would want a job that provided her flexibility in scheduling. In one office where she had shadowed an OD, she was discouraged by the grueling schedule and the inefficiencies created by their long hours. She was looking ahead, knowing that there might be times in her life when she’d want to work less and times when she could work more.
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By Staff
Monday, March 27, 2023 2:22 PM
Nearly three years to the day of when lockdowns began during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Javits Center opened its doors on March 17 to thousands of vendors, buyers, eyecare professionals and industry leaders. “This is the first year where it feels like the energy is back,” VSP Vision’s Stevie Mitchell keenly observed. Vision Expo East was the largest gathering of ophthalmic professionals in the U.S. in recent years. The Show, which ran from March 16 -19, welcomed thousands from the international vision care industry. Attendees included optometrists, opticians, contact lens professionals, allied ophthalmic professionals, optical assistants, office managers, frame buyers, lab technicians, students and other leaders in eyecare and eyewear.
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By Staff
Monday, March 27, 2023 2:04 PM
Professor Dr. Jens Ellrich has been named the new chief scientific officer at Dopavision, a clinical-stage company pioneering the development of digitally delivered light-based therapeutics. Dr. Ellrich brings a wealth of scientific knowledge and extensive experience in digital therapeutics, including new product development. He will spearhead Dopavision’s ambitious research and development activities for the company’s lead product, MyopiaX, Dopavision’s leading-edge digital therapeutic for childhood myopia control. The first-in-human clinical investigation of MyopiaX is ongoing across Europe. Jens Ellrich, MD, PhD, is an expert in translational medicine with a strong background and track record in basic and clinical neurosciences, including various eye diseases and the development of digital therapeutics.
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By Staff
Friday, March 24, 2023 3:22 PM
NEW YORK—Rock ‘n’ roll fans danced and sang along to some of their favorite tunes last Saturday night at Rock4Sight, the fundraising concert for ECN Purpose, a 501c3 charity dedicated to providing both eye health education and connection to vision care to the underserved. The show, which took place at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square, featured optical industry performers who volunteered their time and talent. With the support of corporate sponsors and revenue from ticket sales, the show raised $172,402 for ECN Purpose.
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By Staff
Friday, March 24, 2023 3:10 PM
Since the Physician Payments Sunshine Provision of the Affordable Care Act in 2013, medical supply manufacturers (i.e., industry) must report specific payments to physicians and medical teaching institutions. To ensure transparency, the information is centralized on the public US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Open Payments database. A research team recently assessed payments reported by authors of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAOph) Practice Pattern Guidelines compared with payments reported by industry to have been given to these authors to evaluate the disclosures’ accuracy and authors’ compliance to the Council of Medical Specialty Societies’ Code for Interactions with Companies. Industry reported physician guideline authors to have received significant industry payments, some of which were not disclosed within information of the guidelines.
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By Staff
Thursday, March 23, 2023 3:32 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop on May 18, 2023, in Washington, D.C., 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, is free and open to the public, and pre-registration is not required. In December 2022, the FTC announced a proposal to update the Eyeglass Rule, which 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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By Staff
Thursday, March 23, 2023 3:22 PM
Hiring has always been hard, and only became harder over the last few years. Employees recognized that the demand for their services had increased, that they had more choice than ever before, and either left their jobs or demanded higher pay. In our practice, a few creative, or “out-of-the-box,” hiring strategies are enabling us to be equally, or even more efficient, with less staff time and resources required. I rehired four former employees over the past 15 months. I considered them “rock-star” status employees and felt that they would have all continued their first employment with us under different life circumstances.
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By Staff
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 11:50 AM
SAN RAMON, Calif.—Following its annual nationwide search for current and future leaders in optometry, CooperVision named its 2023 Best Practices honorees and student scholarship recipients. The initiative—now in its eighth year—honors eyecare practices across the U.S. that advance the profession through innovation, industry leadership, and providing exceptional patient care. The scholarship program provides third-year optometry students the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with some of the best in the profession, according to the company.
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