LEADING OFF

TIPS, TRENDS & NEWS YOU CAN USE

FOOTBALL PLAYERS WITH VISION TRAINING GOT THEIR BELL RUNG LESS, SAYS STUDY

University of Cincinnati football players who had eye training via tracking drills, Dynavision D2 light board training and Nike strobe glasses during two weeks of pre-season camp through four consecutive years had less occurrences of concussion than players who didn’t undergo such training in the prior four chronological years, reveals a study in April’s Optometry & Visual Science.

“We suggest that better field awareness gained from vision training may assist in preparatory awareness to avoid concussion-causing injuries,” the study’s researchers say. “Future large-scale clinical trials are warranted to confirm the effects noted in this preliminary report.”

Specifically, 11 players who underwent vision training sustained concussions vs. 21 who didn’t undergo this training. Further, the reduction in the frequency of injury was linked with a reduction in decreased playing time. While the study is small, it highlights that vision therapy may, indeed, prevent concussive events.

“I do have a feeling that vision exercises help because they increase concentration,” explains Mike Peters, O.D., a Raleigh, N.C. sports vision specialist, author of “See to Play: The Eyes of Elite Athletes” and team optometrist for the North Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey team. “That said, I’d like to see some more studies on this.”

Dr. Peters has created a gaze stabilizer exercise that you can use in your practice by visiting bit.ly/SeeToPlay.

VISION COUNCIL UV REPORT CAN PROMPT CHILD SUNGLASS SALES

It’s no secret that sunglasses tend not to be on a parent’s list of summer “must-haves” for their children. In fact, almost 34% of parents of children younger than age 13 say their little ones rarely or never wear sunglasses, reveals “Protection for the Naked Eye: Sunglasses as a Health Necessity,” a 2015 report released from The Vision Council. (For the full report, visit thevisioncouncil.org.)

The good news: This same report contains compelling data you can use to increase the likelihood that parents will add sunglasses to their summer “must-have” lists.

Illustration credit and source: The Vision Council

Specifically, during the encounter with the young patient, ask the parent whether the child has UV-protecting sunglasses. If “no,” educate the parent that children’s eyes are particularly susceptible to sun damage because they spend a great deal of time outside in daylight hours during the summer. Also, explain that kids’ lenses are clearer than adult eyes, enabling a greater amount of UV to enter and reach the back of the eye, which makes them vulnerable to vision damage and eye diseases, such as AMD and cataracts.

Also, consider using marketing materials from The Vision Council. These can be found at thevisioncouncil.brandmuscle.net and placed in your reception and exam rooms and your optical. Finally, consider doing a special event, such as a trunk show, for June 27 — National Sunglasses Day.

The “Protection for the Naked Eye: Sunglasses as a Health Necessity” report was comprised of 2,000 adults who participated in a survey on UV Protection for the eye.

TIPS FOR HIRING

When it comes to whom to hire, small companies often do best with flexible candidates used to smaller environments. In many cases, the ideal candidate can operate with a great deal of autonomy and doesn’t require handholding. — “How to Hire Your First Employees,” guides.wsj.com/small-business/

Many service companies, including retailers, call centers and security firms, can reduce costs and make better hires by using short, web-based psychometric tests as the first screening step. Such tests weed out the least-suitable applicants, leaving a smaller, better-qualified pool. — “When Hiring, First Test, Then Interview,” hbr.org

Interview the candidate you like in three different places. The personality of a person can change when you move the interview setting from your office to a coffee shop across the street. Candidates will usually be at their very best in the first interview. If they were pretending, the veneer will quickly fade in subsequent meetings. — “Three Ways to Hire Great People and Avoid Hiring Disasters,” hiring.monster.com

Essential Interview Question #1: “Tell me what you learned from your very first paying job.” Ask this first because our earliest learning experiences set the patterns and expectations for later experiences. (Hiring Hint: Follow this up by asking the candidate to talk briefly about each successive job and what was learned at each.) — “How to Hire Great Employees (Not Great Applicants),” Mel Kleiman, hcareers.com

SURVEY FINDINGS CAN INCREASE MULTIFOCAL CL SALES

Maria Kourepenos had her first child later in life. So, when she went to restaurants with other new moms and took out her reading glasses — the only option she knew existed to correct her vision — to see the menu, she says she felt ancient. In addition, she says the younger moms would playfully tease her about her “readers.”

In hopes of regaining her youthful appearance and her youthful vision, Maria visited her optometrist, explained the situation and asked whether she could do eye exercises to regain her near vision. That’s when her optometrist told her about multifocal contact lenses.

Excited at the prospect of looking younger and achieving optimal vision, Maria ditched her reading glasses and says she’s been thrilled with her contact lenses. She shared this story during Alcon’s unveiling of its “Age Perception Impact Survey” at the end of May in New York City. The study reveals that you, the optometrist, can increase your multifocal contact lens wearers by pointing out that the lenses can help the wearer look younger. Alcon offers Air Optix Aqua and Dailies AquaComfort PLUS multifocal contact lenses to meet this desire.

SURVEY FINDINGS

The survey shows that one in four Generation X-ers (ages 38 to 54) say readers can make someone look 10 years older, 74% say eyeglass ropes/cords make someone look older, 29% of active online daters say they think removing glasses is the easiest step to take to look younger in a dating profile before wearing a new outfit (14%) and applying new make-up (10%). And, when asked in general whether they think someone looks older or younger wearing reading glasses, at total of 83% of Generation X-ers replied “older.” In addition, the reported perceptions of those who wear readers were “not able to see,” “old and uptight,” “deficient,” “past age 40” “older,” “Granny” or “Gramps.”

Despite these findings, while Generation X-ers dye their hair (42%) and wear youthful outfits (37%) to look young, a majority have overlooked ditching their reading glasses as a means of achieving a youthful appearance, the survey shows. Finally, almost half say they would consider avoiding reading glasses if they knew these glasses made them look older.

“The Age Perception Impact Survey” was funded by Alcon and conducted in partnership with Jacksonville University in Florida and looked at the attitudes and perceptions Generation X-ers have regarding aging. It was comprised of 1,067 adults who live in the continental United States.

Heather Hausenblas, an expert on aging and professor in the College of Health Sciences’ School of Applied Health Sciences at Jacksonville University, studied the online survey data and performed 50 live interviews, which included asking interviewees to guess the ages and personal attributes of those in photos wearing and not wearing readers.

USING THE FINDINGS

To harness this data to increase your multifocal contact lens wearers, Carla Mack, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O., director of Professional and Clinical Support for U.S. Vision Care at Alcon, recommends you educate patients on the cusp of presbyopia about what presbyopia is, the multifocal contact lens options and the benefits of being reader free.

“You could highlight on a poster or pamphlet in your reception and exam rooms, for instance, that one in four adults say reading glasses can make someone look 10 years older,” she explains.

Another reason to mention multifocal contact lenses to each and every one of your pre-presbyopic and presbyopic patients: Of presbyopes who don’t wear contact lenses, almost two-thirds (62%) say they are interested in learning how multifocal contact lenses can correct their presbyopia, reveals Alcon research.

VISION SOURCE HOSTS RECORD-SETTING ANNUAL MEETING

Some 3,000 doctors, staff and vendors attended the Vision Source annual member meeting, “The Vision Source Exchange.” Held recently at the Phoenix Convention Center, it was the largest Vision Source Exchange meeting to date, including nearly 200 exhibitors, 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, eight hours of complimentary CE, the Optical Dream exhibit, updates on Vision Source’s healthcare initiatives and two celebrity keynote speakers.

During The Exchange, Vision Source provided updates on its relationships with more than 100 integrated healthcare organizations. The meeting also provided attendees with in-depth information on the progress of the Vision Source managed care initiative, its outreach to diabetic patients and how to work with primary care doctors on early detection and treatment.

The Vision Source Exchange included nearly 200 exhibitors.

In the exhibit Hall, attendees had the opportunity to meet Walt West, O.D., Vision Source’s vice president of practice management. Dr. West created “The Optical Dream,” a Vision Source program that provides practices with online training and incentives to increase patient satisfaction and optical revenue. Nearly 2,000 practices have registered for the Optical Dream.

Keynote speakers Robert X. Fogarty and comedian/impressionist/actor Frank Caliendo provided entertainment and inspiration for attendees. Mr. Fogarty is a photographer and founder of Dear World (dearworld.me). He is known for his photos in which subjects write messages on their skin to tell stories, including surviving the Boston Marathon bombing, cancer and Hurricane Sandy.

Mr. Caliendo is best known for his impressions of celebrities, politicians and professional athletes.

For more information, visit visionsource.com