By Daniel Breeman
Friday, September 6, 2024 8:30 AM
With the new school year underway and the fall sports season kicking into high gear, athletes of all ages are preparing to give their best on the field and maximize their performance. Keeping athletes safe and well-protected remains paramount, with eye safety at the top of the list. Similar to team sports, this task of protecting the eye health of athletes, whether amateur or professional, is a group effort, with optometrists playing a key role. “First and foremost, (ODs can) recommend sports eyewear and/or contact lenses whenever appropriate. Secondly, we should be educating our patients, coaches and trainers on the importance of sports eye safety,” said Fred Edmunds, OD, FAAO, who runs a sports vision only practice devoted to the visual performance enhancement of athletes.
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 Julie Bos, Contributing Editor
Friday, August 23, 2024 8:30 AM
When Michael Walach retired from his 30-year optical career at age 57, the last thing he expected was to start another business. Yet he followed an opportunity and his intuition—and today, countless full-service labs around the world are certainly glad he did. In 2004, Walach started Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab, a unique and highly specialized “lab’s lab” that has earned its claim to fame for making prescriptions that are either too tough or simply out of range for other labs. Today, as Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab celebrates its 20th anniversary, the lab deserves every ounce of pride for what they’ve accomplished as they continue serving full-service wholesale labs from more than 17 countries around the world. Here’s a look at some of the lab’s major accomplishments over the last 20 years.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, August 16, 2024 8:30 AM
Healthy Aging Month is almost here, and with it comes calls for those over 65 years old to get a thorough eye exam. As people age, several vision health concerns begin to emerge such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Not only can these vision problems lead to loss of sight, but they can also make day-to-day activities more difficult. According to the
BrightFocus Foundation, macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. As the senior population continues to grow, the number of older patients requiring vision care for common ailments will also begin to rise.
By Daniel Breeman
Friday, August 9, 2024 8:30 AM
With the middle of August comes the final few weeks of the summer season, a look ahead to Labor Day, the start of another school year and a busier time in general for most of us. But mid-August can also mean something else for allergy sufferers: an early start to the “fall allergy” season—a time when eye allergies can negatively impact the last few weeks of summer fun. “When fall allergies start really depends upon the location, climate and individual reactions to pollen levels and types,” said Susan A. Primo, OD, MPH, FAAO, director of Optometry and Vision Rehabilitation Services, program coordinator, Optometric Residency, Emory Eye Center and professor of ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
By Mary Kane
Friday, August 2, 2024 8:30 AM
NEWARK, N.J.—The 22nd edition of
Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical feature brings a class of leaders, changemakers and trailblazers who are as impressive and exciting as it gets. This past week,
Vision Monday announced its
2024 roster of 40 women of accomplishment who were selected by
VM’s editors from several hundred submissions. For this year’s Annual Report,
VM considered women who are making a difference in the following five categories: Executive Suite, Rising Stars, Mentors, Innovators and Above & Beyond.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, July 26, 2024 8:30 AM
August is Children's Eye Health & Safety Month, and eyecare providers and eye health organizations are taking steps to ensure parents and caregivers are aware of the risks. According to the
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, there are more than 1.4 million children globally under the age of 14 with blindness. Additionally, 22.6 million children suffer from moderate to severe sight loss, and 46.6 million children from mild sight loss. The agency noted that 40 percent of children are blind from eye conditions that could have been prevented.
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 Mary Kane
Friday, July 12, 2024 8:30 AM
It's official—summer has arrived. This past week, a large region of the United States was engulfed by a stubborn heat wave that just won’t seem to quit. The Western part of the country has been especially hard hit as the region suffered through triple-digit temperatures as high as 115 degrees in Las Vegas. As people head to pools, lakes and beaches to escape the scorching temperatures, the heat is not the only danger out there. According to the
New England College of Optometry (NECO), swimming can expose your eyes to various potential hazards, including chlorine irritation, eye infections and UV rays.
By Daniel Breeman
Friday, July 5, 2024 8:30 AM
July is Dry Eye Awareness month, calling attention to a disease that the
National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates affects nearly 16 million Americans—a number that is expected to grow. Symptoms of dry eye disease can include a stinging or burning feeling in the eyes, red eyes, sensitivity to light, blurry vision and itchiness. A broad range of treatment options are available, ranging from over-the-counter eye drops and nutritional supplements to prescription medications. And while it is highly treatable, dry eye disease does not discriminate; if left untreated, the NEI warns that it could lead to further medical and vision issues, especially in those with comorbidities. In light of these concerns, several initiatives are underway to help educate both optometrists and the general public about this common condition.
By Staff
Friday, June 28, 2024 12:56 PM
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to penetrate nearly every industry and aspect of our everyday lives, ECPs and optical retailers are taking a hard look at the technology, and appear to be in various stages of implementing it into their business models and strategies. It also appears that AI is ready to permeate the optical industry as well, with the promise of more efficient processes that can benefit both providers and patients/consumers. For this feature,
VM reached out to ECPs, optical retailers, eyewear companies, and contact lens companies to find out how they are applying AI in their businesses. The “potential of AI” was mentioned frequently, with some companies taking a more cautious approach to AI with concerns over security and privacy at the forefront.
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.
By Mary Kane
Friday, June 14, 2024 8:30 AM
This June 27 will mark 11 years for National Sunglasses Day (NSD), an initiative that began in 2014 with the goal of raising awareness among consumers about the dangers of UV rays to the eyes.
VMAIL Weekend sat down with Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, to talk about how the initiative started, where it’s going this year, and how the effort to promote healthy vision has grown in popularity these past 11 years.
By Daniel Breeman
Friday, June 7, 2024 8:30 AM
The good news is that cataracts is an easily treatable condition with simple and safe corrective surgery. But cataracts don’t go away on their own, experts warn, and ignoring the signs and symptoms could potentially lead to vision impairment or eventually vision loss. According to the National Eye Institute, cataracts affect more than half of all Americans aged 80 years or older. During June’s Cataract Awareness Month, ECPs should remind their patients, especially those over the age of 40, to have regular eye exams and to be aware of the symptoms related to the onset of cataracts. “The biggest risk factor is really age,” said Sila Bal, MD, MPH, a global ophthalmology fellow and a cataract, cornea and refractive surgeon.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Thursday, May 30, 2024 8:30 AM
With the summer months approaching, there are lots of reasons to celebrate, and one of the most popular ways to do so is with fireworks. Before lighting up the night sky, however, it is important to take the right precautions to avoid injuries, especially injuries to the eyes. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s
2022 Fireworks Annual Report, there were more than 10,000 injuries and 11 deaths that year resulting from firework injuries. Today,
VMAIL Weekend takes a look at why fireworks are so dangerous and how ECPs can educate their patients about staying safe this summer season.