Last updated 8/2/21.
COVID-19 resources
OM will continue to update this page with resources as they become available.
| Date added | News item(s) |
| 8/2 | If you are among the optometrists who sought out more education into new realms of practice amid the early pandemic shutdown, two articles in this month’s Optometric Management may help to continue that journey. Dr. Cecelia Koetting discusses her dry eye disease clinic while Drs. Janelle Davison and Chandra Mickles discuss their ocular aesthetics practice segment. Regardless of what form school will happen in this year, at home or in person, children will need to have their eyes examined and then to be provided with the eyewear that will set them up for the best success! This month’s Social Media Toolkit provides resources for you to reach those patients and remind them of just that. Bonus tip: Be sure to remind your parents about the benefits of children’s sunwear. From Contact Lens Spectrum: Nicholas Despotidis, OD, recalls a case of patient who was suffering from initially unexplainable red eye. From Eyecare Business: Opticians Association of America (OAA) president Dibby Bartlett recently sat down with Johnna Dukes, owner/optician of Optique in Spirit Lake, IA, (and incoming OAA president), to reveal the COVID-19 pandemic’s real effects for EB’s Share the Mic livestream-meets-the-magazine series. |
| 7/26 | As optometrists may be seeing an uptick in evidence of dry eye disease in their office due to a confluence of factors at this time, Dr. Kristin O’Brien urges new O.D.s and veterans alike to have the conversation with patients who are presenting with signs of this disease. Find her column here. The pandemic may have caused or exacerbated workplace stress among your staff. One method for decreasing this may be to demonstrate to staff how you value them. In this month’s Lessons from Practice, Dr. Jesslin Quint discusses how she does this in her practice. Courtesy of Eyecare Business: How are ECPs recovering and rebuilding as the pandemic loosens its grip? EB’s 2021 COVID-19 + Market Trends Report takes the pulse of practices nationwide and in your region. Courtesy of Contact Lens Spectrum: Nicholas Despotidis, O.D., recalls a case of patient who was suffering from initially unexplainable red eye. |
| 7/19 | While patients may experience dry eye due to mask wearing or increased screen time, which reduces blink rates, it is essential to get to the cause of each patient’s condition. In "Determining a Root Cause of Dryness," Dr. David N. Zucker offers a diagnostic procedure that provides tailored solutions to patients. After months of staying at home, people are now set to hit the roads, rails and sky for vacation and other trips. In this month’s "Viewpoint," editorial director Jim Thomas suggests tips to assist these patients’ with their eye care needs. Eyecare Business’s exclusive, recent 2021 COVID-19 + Market Trends Focus Group Study reveals key insights on eyecare professionals’ current mindsets, including critical takeaways on vaccinations, health concerns, and masking and COVID protocols. Read on to get a snapshot. And from Contact Lens Spectrum: One good thing to come out of this past year, is an increased awareness of the need for proper lens hygiene. |
| 7/12 | Mask wear and increased screen time during the pandemic may have caused an increase in dry eye disease in some patients. The July OM article, "Weathering the Perfect Storm," provides tips to help uncover and treat these new patients. Your website is often the first impression people have of you and your practice, especially during the pandemic. In "Give Your Website a Makeover," Dr. Steve Vargo offers three action steps to help your website grab and hold visitors’ attention. And from Contact Lens Spectrum: Dry eye issues are on the rise in children, as is myopia; both have a link with increased screen time. Kate Gifford, PhD, BAppSc(Optom)Hons, offers suggestions that physicians can implement in their practices. |
| 6/28 | When planning patient education and marketing, don’t forget social media channels, which have grown in importance for many Americans during the past year. Each month, you can find practical, effective social media tips and tools at OM’s Social Media Toolkit. As patients return to the office, it is helpful to remember that stress can exacerbate many physical ailments. In the "Eyelid & Ocular Hygiene" newsletter, OM’s Chief optometric editor, Dr. April Jasper, discusses how to approach the stress conversation which can be "so lifechanging" for patients. Via Eyecare Business: New findings from a national survey commissioned by VSP Vision Care of 1,500 individuals revealed that 80% of Americans say pandemic-prompted screen time put their eyes in "overdrive." Learn more. |
| 6/21 | With patients returning to the office in greater numbers, Dr. April Jasper, OM’s chief optometric editor, explains in the month’s "O.D. to O.D." how to create "raving fans." The key steps: determining how you envision your practice, discovering what the patient wants, and delivering "Plus One Percent." One trend picking back up from pre-COVID-19 days is private equity buying optometric practices, notes practice finance consultant Nathan Hayes. To determine your readiness to sell to any party, Mr. Hayes offers three questions to ask in a recent OM "Management Tip of the Week." Courtesy of Eyecare Business: As many practices across the country move to a by-appointment-only model due to COVID protocols, how are corporate opticals handling walk-ins and appointment scheduling today? Three O.D.s weigh in here. The workforce is changing. From cashier to coder to car salesman, all are reassessing priorities, courtesy of COVID-19. In EB's latest Staff Training column, author and former Neiman Marcus exec Steve Dennis shows how to lean into the value of human connection to reengage staff. |
| 6/1 | Is now the time to be conservative with technology investments, or is it time to consider new opportunities? This is one of the many pandemic-related questions Chief Optometric Editor Dr. April Jasper discusses in her "Florida Chat Room" video series. Dry eye disease continues to be a hot topic during the pandemic, due to factors such as a general increase in screen time. In the recent "Managing Dry Eye" e-newsletter, Dr. Douglas K. Devries discusses ocular surface disease therapies that often can be overlooked, such as punctal plugs and a variety over-the-counter products. In Eyecare Business, Raanan Naftalovich, CEO of Shamir North America, shares how the company supported ECPs in response to the pandemic, its unique lens tech serving as a fog-free solution, and more. COVID-19 boosted online shopping, but as brick-and-mortar locations revamp their store design, creating an appealing in-store experience is now more important than ever. Read on in EB. Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, continues her look into spontaneous self-face touch and discusses microbial symbiosis between the hands and face, in Contact Lens Spectrum. |
| 5/24 | Because lifestyle choices may have changed during the past 15 months, for example, not going to the fitness center, it is important to emphasize lifestyle education to patients, especially those who have diseases such as diabetes. Dr. Kathleen F. Elliot provides guidelines for educating diabetic patients in the article “Diabetes: Link It With Lifestyle.” Doctors today are often executives who must serve patients, run an organization and make a profit while following the rules of the government, insurance companies, the CDC and others. One key to success in this complex environment is to “know thy time,” as Dr. April Jasper, chief optometric editor of OM, explains in May’s “O.D. to O.D.” Contact lens prescribing in the United States is transforming, according to Contact Lens Spectrum. The underlying influences include Federal Trade Commission regulations, advances in consumer technology and e-commerce, the globalization of business, shifting consumer behavior, and COVID-19. According to Brian Chou, OD, practitioners need to prepare for inevitable changes in how contact lenses are prescribed and purchased. Eyecare Business editor-in-chief Erinn Morgan recently sat down with Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, to hear about updates for Vision Expo East 2021—including a virtual extension of the in-person trade show. To watch the livestream interview, head to EB’s Facebook page. “Consumers are demonstrating that when they feel safe, they are both willing and able to spend and are driving the economy forward,” says Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation. Head here for more intel on April retail sales. |
| 5/17 | In the May issue of OM, Senior Editor Shannon Simcox interviews ECPs on how advanced patient communications systems have helped their practices stay connected with patients, even under the constraints of COVID-19. While many people recently have gravitated toward an e-commerce environment, patients still want to interact with real people. In this month’s "CEO Challenge," Dr. Steve Vargo provides action steps for showing the practice’s human side. Our reliance on digital devices to meet our everyday needs has undeniably accelerated over the last year, and outdated digital devices have been exposed for their shortcomings. This quantum shift in consumer mindset has opened the door for premium progressive lens products. Expert optician and optical manager Sheena Taff shares why, in Eyecare Business. As the public continues to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, eyeglass wearers experience the uncomfortable–and potentially dangerous–situation of lenses fogging up. Learn about a new solution from Shamir via #EBNewProducts. Despite decades of research, spontaneous self-face touches remain a poorly understood phenomenon. In the last year, however, they have piqued interest for their role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. |
| 5/10 | With many practices closed at some point during the spring last year, fewer patients could be pre-appointed for exams this year. To help fill in any gaps left in the appointment schedule, see these tips from the May issue of OM. The American Diabetes Association reminds us that patients with diabetes are more likely to have serious complications from COVID-19. To help optometrists care for these patients, OM’s latest "Practicing Medical Optometry" (PMO) section focuses on diabetes. A summary of the PMO section is available in this month’s "Viewpoint." In Contact Lens Spectrum’s Editor’s Perspective, Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, asks how your life might differ post-pandemic. Read more here. Staff training has never been so crucial. During the COVID crisis, it has been challenging, and a bit of a moving target, as everything continuously changes. To provide a more in-depth look at ECP wants and needs, as well as the current state of training, Eyecare Business presents the findings of its exclusive Staff Training Focus Group Study. |
| 5/3 | During the pandemic, increases in screen have been well documented. In April’s Nutritional Insights for Clinical Practice newsletter, Dr. James Stringham discusses strategies, including nutritional supplementation, that may help patients who complain of the ocular and physical effects often associated with excessive screen time. Many people, including those with low vision, are returning to activities they enjoyed pre-COVID. In this month’s Managing Low Vision newsletter, Drs. Jarrod Long and Richard J. Shuldiner discuss several options to help low vision patients participate in recreational activities, which "are necessary for quality of life and mental health." Eyecare Business editor-in-chief Erinn Morgan sat down for a LIVE interview with Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, to learn about what's in store for the upcoming Vision Expo East, taking place June 2-5 in Orlando. Watch here. |
| 4/26 | While the practice landscape has changed drastically during the pandemic, Dr. Gary Gerber’s April "Business Strategies" column reminds us of four timeless principles: do what you say you will, be available when patients want you, relentlessly train staff and keep the practice spotless. With the risk of dry eye disease on the rise due to mask wearing and increased screen time, both attributed to COVID-19, OM’s "Ocular Surface News" e-newsletter can provide a regular source of research, commentary and practical management advice. Read the latest issue here. Contact Lens Spectrum: During these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been encouraged to evaluate best practices for specialty contact lens fitting. Here’s a look at the best practices for scleral lenses. With a pandemic pivot to woo eyewear customers in the Zoom-o-sphere, some opticians have added expert virtual fittings to their repertoire. Here, Eyecare Business has two highly innovative pros outline their own hybrid fitting methods. Also from EB: In response to the pandemic and the need for enhanced cleaning and sanitization solutions, Hilco Vision conducted an extensive study on frame disinfection in collaboration with COLTS Laboratories. Here, we check in with John Lakey, Hilco’s global head of marketing, to learn more. |
| 4/19 | With more organizations considering the resumption of outdoor activities in some capacity, patients will benefit from sport and safety eyewear. Dr. Kenneth Daniels provides simple steps on how to choose eyewear to help protect eyes. We know that Demodex has been associated with meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, and keratitis? Now, Demodex has been brought into current events because it has been suggested to be a vector of SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission, via Contact Lens Spectrum. Blenders Eyewear, a San Diego-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce startup, has been very involved in philanthropy. In 2020, the company pivoted to make PPE by converting its production to make FDA-approved goggles donated to front-line health care workers. Learn more about this do-good, surf-culture-inspired brand in Eyecare Business. Also in Eyecare Business: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread need for enhanced cleaning and sanitization solutions, Hilco Vision has conducted thorough research in collaboration with COLTS Laboratories to unveil a catalog of cleaning and disinfecting products for the optical space. |
| 4/12 | When life is not fair, we can change outcomes by changing our perspective. Dr. April Jasper, OM’s chief optometric editor, explains how to make this shift in perspectives work in this month’s "O.D. to O.D." column. Life in business over the last year has been much like a bouncing ball. Closing. Reopening. Furloughing. Rehiring. And more. As the fog slowly begins to lift, you may be asking: What should I do next and are there any positive takeaways from the COVID experience? Here, Eyecare Business asks two veteran O.D.s those very questions to unveil a few key practice management tips. With an edge of high-tech performance features paired with mod style directions, the new wave of sports sunwear has a serious edge. Add to the mix the fact that today’s quarantine-weary consumers are getting active outside in droves like never before, and you’ve got a win-win situation for sports sunwear business. Gear up with our roundup of key trends here, also via Eyecare Business. |
| 4/5 | Face masks are an important, efficacious means of reducing the risk for acquiring droplet-associated COVID-19...but wearing them also has the potential to impact the ocular surface. Read on from Contact Lens Spectrum. Howard Purcell, O.D., FAAO, president and CEO of the New England College of Optometry, sat down with Derrick Artis, O.D., former COO of Vision Source, to discuss, among other things, the biggest takeaways from COVID-19 via Eyecare Business. In an effort to help eye care professionals to handle work-life balance in a pandemic world, Eyecare Business provides weekly checklists to keep your business running smoothly. Access the here. |
| 4/1 | The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a slew of new services from alliances and buying groups. Lindsey Getz talks to a few of them about their offerings here. Dr. Carol Logan shares a path to building an e-commerce platform, based on our practice’s experiences, should you choose to venture into today’s booming mode of commerce. Given how rapidly and unrelentingly COVID-19-related changes get hurled upon us, it’s difficult to keep up-to-date. But even if you don’t know every small clinical or practice management nuance of those changes, eventually you’ll organically assimilate the changes and be able to hold your own, says Dr. Gary Gerber. Read on here. In Leading Off, a news report on the eight states that have authorized their optometrists to administer the COVID-19 vaccines. Read more from that report here. |
| 3/29 | At a time when regular work patterns can be disrupted, it’s important to ensure high levels of productivity. In the "Management Tip of the Week" e-newsletter, Dr. Gina Wesley offers steps to ensure staff stay productive and avoid idle time. In this month’s "Viewpoint," Editorial Director Jim Thomas offers insights from the March issue of OM on the critical importance of helping patients keep up with regularly-scheduled doctor visits. Read the full article here. Via, Contact Lens Spectrum, S. Barry Eiden, OD, explains why contact lens compliance has been the same or worse during the pandemic. "Doctors have shared that COVID-19 really clarified what is important when selecting a partner: one that has stepped up to provide resources and support during this difficult time and one that shares their values and invests in their success." For more from VSP Ventures president Tiffanie Burkhalter, head to the #EBConvo. The MIDO international eyewear exhibition 2021, originally scheduled for June 5-7 at Fiera Milano exhibition and trade center, will now be presented in a digital platform. "It’s now more than a year since the beginning of the pandemic in Italy, and, regrettably, the public health situation, not only in our country, is still critical." Read on. |
| 3/24 | The COVID-19 pandemic may be linked with significant myopic shift in elementary school children, reveals a recent study in JAMA Ophthalmology. Read the full write up in O.D. Notebook. |
| 3/22 | During the pandemic, some high-risk patients may fall off the schedule or recall list, which may lead to claims of patient abandonment or negligence. Here, Dr. Katie Gilbert-Spear lists measures practices can take to help avoid claims and ensure patients continue to receive the care they need. Dr. April Jasper explains that in today’s environment, while it’s easy to focus on problems, it’s much healthier and more productive to look for ways to make a positive difference. Read more in this month’s "O.D. to O.D." Learn how adapting to COVID-19 has made Dr. Nicholas Despotidis’ practice better by changing his focus from testing to the patient experience, via Contact Lens Spectrum. Another aspect of pandemic preparedness? Helping patients address today’s digital device overload. In Eyecare Business, the inside line on talking with patients about Rx lens blue light solutions–plus a must-keep lineup of 16 of them. Following the announcement of the VisionSAFE program last month, The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, organizers of Vision Expo, have updated the health and safety guidelines, policies, and resources designed to support a safe experience at Vision Expo East 2021. Learn more, also via EB. |
| 3/15 | Eaglet Eye announced a new e-learning platform, the Eaglet Eye Academy. This platform, hosted by the Eaglet Eye’s corporate website academy.eaglet-eye.com, is accessible to all eyecare practitioners (ECPs), with a library of additional resources. A new initiative from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) is addressing questions that may keep people from seeking proper eye care. CORE has designed two infographics (available at https://core.uwaterloo.ca/covid-19) that eyecare professionals can incorporate into ongoing patient communications, such as through newsletters, email campaigns, website content, social media and in-office displays. The pandemic has often demonstrated the need for an effective patient recall system. Dr. Lisa Green explores how to implement such a system, which can help improve patient retention, in the March issue of OM. Read the full article here. Dr. Kristin O’Brien asked three recent graduates about the effects of COVID-19 on their practices, finances, outlook and more. Find the answers in March’s "New O.D." column. This Contact Lens Spectrum article details a safe way to fit cosmetic contact lenses during a pandemic. The time is ripe for a refresh—and, here, Eyecare Business serves up 5 eye-opening strategies to position your practice for growth right now. According to EB’s most recent wave of COVID-19 + ECPs research, almost 100% of eyecare professional respondents are either already inoculated (69%) or plan to get vaccinated (28%). Read on. |
| 3/8 | Dr. Chris Wroten’s experiences in leading his Louisiana practice through hurricanes and floods has helped him prepare for other threats, including pandemics. Here, Dr. Wroten discusses how proper preparation is crucial to a practice’s survival when faced with business interruptions. Can employers mandate employee COVID-19 vaccinations? The answer, for the most part, is yes. However, employers need to be aware of exceptions and guidelines at the federal, state and local levels. For more information, read Senior Editor Jen Kirby’s article in the March issue of OM. Via Eyecare Business, The National Retail Federation has issued a statement in response to several states lifting mask mandates amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One veteran O.D. shares with EB how her practice pivoted to stay safe during the unique–and unexpected–challenges of COVID-19 (front door "bouncer" included). |
| 3/1 | With meetings shifting to virtual platforms during the pandemic, many events now offer access to content and vendors well beyond the official meeting dates. For example, the Global Specialty Lens Symposium has extended access to content and exhibitors through the end of April. For more information, see OM’s GSLS review here. Via Eyecare Business: The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, organizers of Vision Expo, have launched VisionSAFE, an initial set of health and safety guidelines, policies, and resources designed to support a safe experience at Vision Expo East 2021. Mykita introduces the Mylon Guard One, fusing its award-winning design aesthetic with high-quality protection. For more on this PPE-certified style, head to #EBNewProducts. |
| 2/22 | The stress of the pandemic can cause staff management problems. In this month’s "CEO Challenge" Dr. Steve Vargo explains that poor communication is the cause of many of these problems. He explains how one-on-one discussions with the staff can begin to address these management challenges. With patients reportedly spending more time in front of a screen during the pandemic, it may be a good time to review your practice’s social media efforts. One resource to consider is OM’s "Social Media Toolkit," which includes a variety of resources to help boost your online presence. In response to the public’s increased usage of digital devices amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lighthouse Guild is holding a free virtual vision forum. Read more about it in Eyecare Business. This Contact Lens Spectrum article looks at how the wear issues directly related to the pandemic are making the case for practitioners to offer daily disposable contact lenses to their patients. |
| 2/16 | During the pandemic, Dr. Carl Abbott, a fourth-generation optometrist, decided to put his woodworking skills to the test by creating a gift for his first grandchild. Read about his unique take on a rocking horse here. In his recent "Business Strategies" column, Dr. Gary Gerber anticipates the time when a sizeable portion of the U.S. will have had their COVID-19 vaccinations. He then presents steps to promote a healthier new normal, which include overcommunication, telehealth and more. In this month’s Contact Lens Spectrum, David L. Kading, OD, asks: "How are you dealing with the new pandemic?" in Contact Lens Practice Pearls column. Received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and now looking to transition your practice? With a second round of PPP funds available, Tiffanie Burkhalter, president of practice transition partner VSP Ventures, and Denis Humphreys, O.D., help clarify this nuance of the transition process in the time of COVID-19 in Eyecare Business. |
| 2/8 | The COVID-19 pandemic crucially changed our working environments, and how we connect with–and train–staff. Eyecare Business shares how one director of eyewear retail shares is emphasizing your team sets a proactive tone for 2021. Also from Eyecare Business: One undeniable outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic: more screen time for children. In the latest #EBTrendspotting, actress Sarah Michelle Gellar dishes on her children’s screen time, coping amid COVID, and more. In Contact Lens Spectrum: Karen Walsh, BSc, MCOptom, PGDip, and Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, ask: What have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and are we prepared for the months and years ahead? |
| 2/5 | In her latest “O.D. to O.D.” column (here), Dr. April Jasper discusses the grief she experienced last year and how she was able to move forward with a new vision by finding meaning in the challenges of 2020. In the January/February issue of OM, Dr. Jessilin Quint explains that one way to address the uncertainty and shifts in consumer mindset brought on by the pandemic is to implement a virtual stylist optical program. For tips on getting started, read the full article here. |
| 2/1 | In the recent Optometric Management Ocular Surface News e-newsletter, Dr. Kelly Nichols explains how the Sjögren’s Foundation website has communicated its recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccination for patients who suffer from Sjögren’s Syndrome. Read the full newsletter here. In a normal year, it can be challenging to track the many moving pieces impacting global demand for contact lenses. But add in a global pandemic, and the process becomes exponentially challenging. In this year’s Annual Report, read about how the pandemic impacted the contact lens industry, via Contact Lens Spectrum. In 2020, 33% of ECPs told Eyecare Business they did not communicate office safety protocols with patients. Problem? In EB’s debut column of this new series, practice management thought leader Jerry Hayes, O.D., lays out 3 ways to reenergize your communications. ECPs across the country are putting the pieces of 2020 back together and getting back to work–in a whole new way–in 2021. Here, EB pinpoints 10 critical market trends culled from its extensive ECP research that will define your business–with vision–in 2021. |
| 1/25 | All signs point to wearing masks to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, explains why pulling down the mask can sometimes be necessary to get a better diagnosis. Read more in Contact Lenses Today. |
| 1/22 | The AOA is offering a webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. ET titled "Student Loan Refinancing 101: What Every O.D. Should Know." More information can be found here. |
| 1/18 | The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) will examine how clinical care has needed to adapt private and hospital practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactive online session, to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (GMT) on Feb. 2, will be hosted by Rakesh Kapoor and Ankur Barua. Signaling the start of a series of digital learning activities hosted by the BCLA throughout 2021, the webinar will explore how, despite the upheaval caused by the pandemic, eyecare professionals have been able to provide a credible service to their patients by taking into account the updated and adjusted clinical advice given by the professional bodies. Click here for more information about these events. Citing its ongoing response to serving members during the COVID-19 pandemic, VSP Global announced it will extend access to essential medical eyecare services for VSP Vision Care insured members and their covered dependents through June 30, via Eyecare Business. The U.S. Small Business Administration will reopen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. ET, again via Eyecare Business. OM’s "Eyelid and Ocular Hygiene Newsletter" recently discussed mask-related ocular surface issues that affect both patients and health care providers. The article, written by OM’s chief optometric editor, Dr. April Jasper, can be found here. Winston Churchill once said "Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." See how this lesson applied to specialty lens practitioners in 2020, via Contact Lens Spectrum. |
| 1/11 | A number of factors, including COVID, can contribute to staff disengagement that results in reduced productivity and morale. One way to improve engagement is through effective communication, as human resources consultant Amy Alvarez, SHRM-CP, discusses here in a recent Optometric Management "Management Tip of the Week" e-newsletter. With so many children still doing school at home in 2021, we are sure to see more parents concerned about their children’s vision. David L. Kading, OD, says he will not be surprised if we see research published in five years that shows a surge of myopia that started in 2020, via Contact Lens Spectrum. CooperVision has released the January schedule for its ECP Viewpoints Peer-to-Peer Virtual Learning Series, a collection of educational sessions presented by eyecare professionals for eyecare professionals. Topics include "Road to Recovery: Covid and SiHy 1-Days" and "Digital Eye Strain in a Global Pandemic." Learn more via Eyecare Business. The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, co-owners of Vision Expo, are revamping the trade show’s continuing education offerings with the launch of VisionEd Direct, a new, virtual CE platform offering on-demand accredited courses, and plans for a new education area to debut at Vision Expo East 2021, also via Eyecare Business. |
| 12/21 | If you are waiting until COVID-19 is in our rearview mirror before you get started on myopia management, you are doing both your practice, and more importantly your patients, an extreme disservice. Here is what you should be doing doing now, via Contact Lens Spectrum. |
| 12/17 | The AOA supports optometrists receiving administration authority for the COVID-19 vaccination, as well as prioritizing the vaccination for optometrists and their staffs. Senior Editor Jennifer Kirby reports on the news here. |
| 12/1 | A record number of responses form the foundation of 2020's Q&A issue, among the questions include those related to the pandemic. Read more here. Find questions and answers to some of the popular COVID-19-related questions asked by respondents to the Q&A survey in December's Viewpoint. Dr. Bryan M. Rogoff answers the question, which arose to the top of respondents concerns for the first time this year: "What information should I consider before selecting a telemedicine technology?" Read it here. |
| 11/30 | In Eyecare Business, two shops from two very different cities have weathered the challenges of 2020 while sharing the revitalizing joy of new eyewear with their clients. Though these two cities are quite different, the challenges of maintaining an independent business, particularly through COVID-19, are the same. Read it here. Also, Eyecare Business recently covered The Vision Council's new Market Insights, revealing that eye care professionals report increased local and state COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions. In the "Management Tip of the Week" newsletter, consultant Nathan Hayes considers how to evaluate the right number of staff for your practice during uncertain times. |
| 11/25 | The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) launched a new campaign, #StopTheSteam, to "eliminate the fogging experienced by spectacle wearers while donning face masks." More details and an infographic are available at www.bcla.org.uk. |
| 11/23 | During holiday season, especially with the pandemic, patients can become distracted. The result: Patients may appear to listen to the doctor, but then decline any recommendations. One solution is for the doctor to ask more questions, as Dr. Steve Vargo writes in “CEO Challenge.” The National Retail Federation shares that retail sales have largely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, as the sphere gears up for the holiday shopping season. Alessandro Baronti, president + CEO of De Rigo REM, checks in exclusively with EB Editor-in-Chief Erinn Morgan to share the company’s roster of new programs and initiatives to help eyecare professionals navigate the COVID-19 crisis. Eyecare professionals have had pressure for change from all directions in the past and even more so now. Read all about it in Contact Lens Spectrum. |
| 11/18 | Bausch Health announced the results of new investigational in vitro data showing that two benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preserved eye drops, Lumify (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.025%) and Besivance (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6%), indicated complete inactivation of against SARS-CoV-2. According to Joseph C. Papa, chairman and CEO, Bausch Health, the clinical relevance of the data is not known. Neither Lumify nor Besivance have been proven to prevent or treat COVID-19 in humans nor have they been approved for those uses by the FDA. |
| 11/17 | The American Public Health Association recognized several ocular scientists for their work via the 2020 Vision Care Section Outstanding Scientific Paper Award, for two papers, The COVID-19 Pandemic: Important Considerations for Contact Lens Practitioners and The Ocular Surface, Coronaviruses and COVID-19, published in June for Contact Lens and Anterior Eye and in April for Clinical and Experimental Optometry, respectively. Links will take you to the publications. The authors were honored with the award during APHA's 2020 Annual Meeting in late October. |
| 11/16 | Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, brings up yet another ocular issue caused by mask wearing. Head to a recent Contact Lenses Today and scroll down to "Ocular Surface Update" to read in full. In 2020, spending a copious amount of time on digital device screens has simply become a way of life. The effects of this downward spiral are clear– and many are experiencing the effects on their eyes. Learn more via EB Trendspotting. Today’s new reality is fundamentally changing the way optometrists will train their staff for success. Here, two optical experts serve up 6 ideas to remake your staff training plan, via Eyecare Business. |
| 11/11 | SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may not replicate in the human cornea, say Washington University School of Medicine researchers in the journal Cell. Read more about this in News. |
| 11/9 | Arko Ghosh, B.S., and Andrew G. Lee, M.D., explain how telehealth can help enhance triage, provider communication and education/training. Read the full article here. With some patients’ concerns over office visits, due to COVID-19, tools for at-home monitoring of patient conditions are particularly timely, writes Damon Dierker, O.D., in this month’s OM. Here, Dr. Dierker offers his perspective on tools for self-monitoring posterior segment disease. Mile Brujic, OD, and David L. Kading, OD, make a case for the opportunity that safely used contact lenses can provide for patients while they wear masks, via Contact Lens Spectrum. Could Gary Gerber, OD, be correct that COVID-19 was a good thing for myopia management? Read the article in Contact Lens Specturm. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the economy–and practice bottom lines–this year but Brian Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics, predicts a rise in 2021. Here, he shares why the worst is over and lays out advice for preparing for the year ahead, via Eyecare Business. |
| 11/3 | SECO International has announced new dates for its 2021 meeting. Previously taking place on February 24 to 28, the meeting will now take place April 28 to May 2 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event will be in-person and offer options for virtual attendance. Registration for the meeting opens early next month. All details can be found at attendseco.com. |
| 11/2 | Annual AAO Meeting Goes Virtual and Vision Expo East Rescheduled for May 2021: Read about both of these in November's Leading Off section. In the Focus department, Dr. Candria E. Krywko discusses here experience with Dr. Contact Lens platform, which has aided her during the pandemic. As COVID-19 has generally increased the amount of time consumers spend in front of a screen, now is an opportune time to update your practice website. In the "Management Tip of the Week" newsletter, Dr. Gina Wesley offers four small changes that can help boost site traffic and improve SEO. Some schools opted for in-person school, while others went with fully virtual or hybrid schedules. Regardless of the setting, Jason J. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, stresses the importance of eyecare for children and teens during these times, via Contact Lens Spectrum. With unforeseen stresses arising for patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the perfect time to ensure that your practice’s contact lens services are seamless. Here, we check in with two eye care pros to pinpoint three innovative strategies for selling contact lenses in a COVID world, via Eyecare Business. Prevent Blindness has unveiled its Screen Time-Out campaign, a response to the public’s increased virtual activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how ECPs can share important info on screen time, with Eyecare Business. CooperVision has instituted a new collection of educational sewssions called ECP Viewpoints Peer-topeer Virtual Learning Series. Each webinar will feature practitioners hosting discussions about best practices and other eye care topics. The first series of scheduled sessions (and links to register for them) include: Taking Action Toward Recovery: COVID and SiHy 1-Days All sessions presented by Jennifer Stewart, OD, of Norwalk Eye Care and Micaela Crowley, OD, of Lexington Eye Associates |
| 10/26 | The Global Myopia Symposium (GMS), which was held Sept. 25 and 26, has now made all of the sessions available on-demand at gms2020.myconexsys.com. O.D.s can earn up to 12 enduring distance learning COPE credits. To access the on-demand sessions, go to the "Agenda" page and select the session you would like to watch. If you already registered/added this session to your agenda, the ondemand video will pop up automatically. If you did not attend a session, click the “Register and Add to Agenda” button. The ondemand sessions will be available on the GMS platform until Dec. 26. In addition, registrants can visit the Sponsor Marketplace for education and information from GMS supporters in the fight against myopia. What are the "new" tools in the dispensary that should be in any optician’s arsenal? Optical Manager Sheena Taff unpacks her own toolkit to reveal what’s inside, including COVID-19-focused tools for safe dispensing, via Eyecare Business. EB’s latest Low Vision column explores how to help patients cope with social isolation coupled with vision loss during the pandemic, and shares 8 patient resources to help staff become more familiar with offerings. The Global Specialty Lens Symposium planning team has decided that the 2021 program will be completely virtual on Jan. 21 to Jan. 23, 2021. Registration for the 2021 program will be opening soon at gslsymposium.com. Facing fewer patient visits per day due to COVID-19, how can practices handle an anticipated increase in appointments from those patients who rush to use all their insurance benefits by the end of the year? In OM’s "Tip of the Week" newsletter, Evan Kestenbaum, M.B.A., recommends a 10-step approach that emphasizes safety, technology and communication. |
| 10/16 | Due to the pandemic, the annual American Academy of Optometry meeting ("Academy 2020 At Home"), is being held virtually this month with a variety of online events and nearly 80 hours of COPE-approved CE credits. Senior Editor Shannon Simcox provides coverage of the AAO press conference, which included a total of 20 scientific papers and industry presentations. Now more than ever, it is critical to educate the patient and parents on the safety and proper care of the orthokeratology lenses. Online tools are useful considering that an office visit may be more challenging for some families currently, from Contact Lens Spectrum. Despite reports to the contrary, many still question whether contact lenses are safe to use during the coronavirus pandemic. Understanding the relationship between contact lenses and biofilms can help practitioners provide the appropriate lens care advice to their patients, via Contact Lens Spectrum. Two optical industry trade shows, Opti and Mido, have shared updates on their plans for 2021. Read more about it in Eyecare Business. Many practices, states and localities require masks. Here's how three ECPs are handling noncompliance, via Eyecare Business. |
| 10/6 | The AOA has created an AOA Foundation Recovery Fund, part of the organization's broad recovery plan for COVID-19 pandemic. The fund is established to help ensure providers continue to make available vision and eye care to communities in need by minimizing the financial stress for those doctors during this time. Apply, and read up on guidelines, via aoafoundation.org/aoa-foundation-recovery-fund/ by Oct. 31. |
| 10/5 | With so much uncertainty in the world, Clark Newman, O.D., offers ideas to get some things under control in your practice, via Contact Lens Spectrum. |
| 10/1 | The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, organizers of Vision Expo, announced that Vision Expo East 2021, originally scheduled to take place March 18 to March 21, will take place May 25 to May 28 at the Javits Center in New York City. All up-to-date information on Vision Expo East can be found here. Dr. Gary Gerber outlines six basic lessons from COVID-19 in October's Business Strategies column. Dr. Jason Miller discusses providing a solution to spectacle fog that is a result of mask use in the Contact Lenses column. Optometrist Danielle Feder has launched an O.D. job site, dailydoc.net, with COVID-19 in mind. Read more about it in October's Leading Off section. The Practicing Medical Optometry section covering diabetes provides a blueprint to O.D.s for managing patients who have diabetes and resulting eye care issues, with special consideration to the current pandemic. Begin reading it with the introduction, by Dr. Chris Wroten, here. |
| 9/28 | VSP Global has introduced the COVID-19 Patient Care Program, which offers grants to help practices of VSP-network doctors offset expenses and financial hardships due to the pandemic. Read more via Eyecare Business here. Also from EB: To continue to connect with ECPs virtually, ClearVision Optical is hosting digital experiences and promotions. Learn about special offers, scheduling Zoom appointments with the ClearVision sales team. Read more here. |
| 9/21 | Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) continues in its efforts to educate eye care professionals and the general public about mask-associated dry eye (MADE) by providing infographics in 22 language, available at COVIDEyeFacts.org. Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, discusses trends and possible complications of dramatic eye makeup in a mask-clad world in a recent Contact Lens Today. Scroll down here to "Ocular Surface Update" to read it. Luxottica Group has repurposed a part of its factory in Orange County, Calif., to supply face shields to meet the growing demand for protective coverage amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Eyecare Business. Marchon Eyewear President Nicola Zotta sits down exclusively with EB Editor-in-Chief Erinn Morgan to share an inside look at how the company has engineered new programs and initiatives to help ECPs navigate the COVID-19 crisis. |
| 9/11 | As Americans work and learn remotely, an increase in screen time is apparent. To help address this with your patients, Dr. Pinakin G. Davey provides a primer on digital eye strain in the September edition of Optometric Management titled "Tackle Digital Eye Strain." Chief Optometric Editor Dr. April Jasper encourages readers to persevere when faced with challenges, doubt and anxiety that many are feeling as a result of the pandemic in O.D. to O.D. Editorial Director James Thomas expands on charting a course through crisis in Viewpoint. Optometrists Kristin O'Brien and Whitney Hauser discuss COVID-19 cleaning efficiencies in Leading Off. |
| 8/31 | VSP Global announced that it will delay implementation of the new ophthalmic formulary, originally set to start Sept. 1, to Jan. 1, 2021, to provide more time for practices to prepare, according to the company. Additionally, VSP has launched a new grant program to help offset expenses of doing business during a pandemic. To be eligible, the practice must be a Premier Program practice. More information on both of these announcemenets, when avaialble will be at vspproviderhub.com/covid-19. Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) is advising eye care professionals on how to recognize mask-associated dry eye (MADE) and methods to mitgate the condition this emerging issue. To find graphics and information, visit COVIDEyeFacts.org. |
| 8/24 | Recent stories talk about the downside of wearing masks. However, in a recent issue of Contact Lenses Today, Katherine M. Mastrota, M.S., O.D., wonders if "this mask-wearing situation that we are in might be a good thing for our dry eye patients." Read the issue here. Additionally, in this Sunday's Contact Lens Today, S. Barry Eiden, O.D., writes in Research Review on the evidence-based understanding the transmission of COVID-19 throuhg the ocular surface. Also in the issue, Katherine M. Mastrota, M.S., O.D., asks if there has been an uptick in chalazia in mask-wearing Rosacea patients? Read the whole issue here. |
| 8/17 | American Academy of Optometry announced that Academy 2020 Nashville will be held as a virtual meeting, called Academy 2020 at Home. The program will offer nearly 300 hours of CE and participants will be able to earn up to 80 hours of CE credits. It will be held Oct. 7 to Oct. 22 during select periods, the broadcast schedule will be available soon. More information can be found here. Clarke D. Newman, O.D., looks at three principles that all practitioners should understand if they are to reopen their practices successfully, via Contact Lens Spectrum. Amidst the continued rising cases of COVID-19, the United States federal government launched its $10 billion-plus initiative called "Operation Warp Speed" that partners various federal agencies and departments and private partnerships to "deliver a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021." Learn more here. |
| 8/10 | Healthy Eyes Advantage reports more than 1,800 HEA members have taken advantage of the company's offer for no-cost, COVID-19-related regulatory legal advice from Kyle Haubrich. These interactions have focused on aspects of the CARES Act, specifically the Paycheck Protection Program. Based on this information, HEA has entered into a partnership with SPIN, a collaboration offered by Mr. Haubrich's firm, Sandberg Phoenix, and North Short Computer Inc. The collaboration will deliver a unique approach to regulatory compliance (HIPAA, MACRA/MIPS, OSHA, Anti-Kickboack, etc.) to thoroughly assess practices' risks from both a legal and IT perspective. The program is avaialble to HEA members at exclusive discounted pricing. Be sure to check out this month's Business Strategies column, where Dr. Gary Gerber discusses top lessons learned during the pandemic. Eyecare Business checks in with two eyecare professionals for their tips on training staff and caring for kids in today's environment. Also from EB, our sister publication has partnered with GPN to present data from exams, frames, lenses and contact lens sales across the country. View the information up to Aug. 4 here. |
| 8/4 | International Association of Contact Lens Educators have launched an online student trial exam to support educators whose students are currently unable to attend institutions. Available via a new teaching online platform, IACLETOP, revamps a previous paper assessment available to educators, with some enhancements including a choice between the 100 multiple-choice question exam or a reduced 50, randomized questions and smartphone compatibility. To learn more, visit iacle.org/programs/student-trial-exam/. |
| 7/27 | Essilor Custom Contact Lens Specialists’ “Focus on Education” webinar series is offering a free webinar on Aug. 13, 8 p.m. EST on navigating COVID-19 with a specialty lens practice. The program is sponsored by Contamac and hosted by Dr. Howard Purcell, president and CEO of New England College of Optometry. This group panelist discussion webinar—with Dr. Anita Gulmiri, Dr. Katie Greiner, and Dr. Melanie Frogozo—will cover topics such as utilizing telemedicine for contact lens cases during the lockdown period, changes made to working with medically necessary contact lens patients during the pandemic, navigating working with children wearing contact lenses to adults wearing scleral lenses, and more. Register here. |
| 7/20 | The founder of Optical Success Academy Conor Heaney shares advice for how to net positive change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic via Eyecare Business. |
| 7/9 | The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, organizers of Vision Expo meeting announced the decision to cancel Vision Expo West 2020, originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas Sept. 23 to 26. Attendees and exhibitors who had registered for the meeting will receive separate, personalized communications in coming days. More information on The Vision Council's offerings at west.visionexpo.com/. |
| 7/7 | CooperVision has extended the deadline for its essential hospital workers program, whereby front-line workers can be offered complimentary lenses by their eye care providers. The new deadline is Aug. 31. |
| 7/2 | Two optometrists share their COVID-19 early days experience. One, Dr. Emmylou Swartz, tried her hand at being a writer while the VA medical center that employs her saw fewer patients during the shutdown. Two, Dr. Alan Arabi, saw several action items during shelter-in-place orders that improved his overall practice. Find both under "News" or click here. |
| 6/30 | EyeBridge Consulting Associates and ImageMark Business Services are offering COVID-19 signage and related resources specifically designed for eye care practices. If interested, visit safe-distance-products.com. CooperVision has begun producing hand sanitizer at its manufacturing sites. A portion of this supply supports internal requirements, however, additional volumes are being donated to community organizations and customers. Columnists and professionals related to Contact Lens Spectrum and its products offer words of encouragement through COVID-19 and its related changes to daily life, including Drs. Edward S. Bennett, and Shalu Pal. View them here. Eyecare Business editor Kerri Ann Ramo gathers information from one optometrist who chose to reopening progressively. For example, scheduling patients one per hour while staff members get new protocols under their belt. Read it all here. |
| 6/22 | With your patients doing more tasks virtually, it is an opportune time to make sure your practice's social media presence is updated regularly. To help in this effort, Optometric Management offers the "Social Media" page written by Senior Associate Editor Shannon Simcox. View the June page at https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2020/june-2020/business-social-media. Due to continued state restrictions and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines related to COVID-19, the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) has made the decision to extend the temporary rules modification to allow COPE administrators and providers to present CE activities through an interactive online format and give Live COPE CE credit through Dec. 31. COPE previously announced a temporary modification to the rules through June 30. Will pandemic-beleaguered patients focus on watching their wallets in the optical? Eyecare Business tapped three ECPs for their expert outlook on spectacle savings and presenting product in light of the pandemic. |
| 6/15 | Dr. Melanie Frogozo discusses the benefits of empirical fitting of specialty contact lenses in a recent issue of Contact Lens Spectrum. Specifically as it relates to COVID-19, this process means a new, unworn lens will be fitted to one patient only. Read more about it here. Also via Contact Lens Spectrum, Drs David Kading and Courtney Melchione make the case that telemedicine is here to stay. Read that article here. Allergan has partnered with eye care professionals to produce a video on patient safety. It is designed to be shared by physicians to their patients to alleviate their anxiety. View and share it here. International Association of Contact Lens Educators launched a new initiative, called "Teach. Learn. Connect." It is an online education program and communications campaign including live and recorded webinars, a half-day virtual conference in September, a new online platform, and a social media campaign. For more information visit IACLE.org. |
| 6/10 | Clerio Vision's COVID-19 promotional pricing program, which financially supports independent eye care practitioners via supplies and Extreme H20 six-pack products at $5 per box, has signed up nearly 200 customers. It runs through July. Insights into Sports Vision newsletter discusses "The Athlete in Your Chair You May Have Overlooked" touching on esports athletes as game sites have seen increased traffic amid the pandemic. View it here. |
| 6/9 | Southern College of Optometry plans to reopen two of its three patient clinics, The Center, located on the Madison Avenue campus, and FocalPoint, at the Crosstown Concourse, on June 15. |
| 6/8 | Eyecare Business's "Inside the Front Lines" describes how two veteran eye care professionals have reopened their businesses. Read it here. Contact Lens Spectrum's "Fog Away" provides tips for this annoying problem for masked spectacle and sunglass wearers. Read it here. The Vision Council has added new content to its website Reopeneyecare.com, including a "Road to Reopening" section. Visit the link to view. |
| 6/4 | X-Cel Specialty Contacts has launched the Choose Your Heroes program. Through July 31, the company is extending 50% off specialty contact lenses for patients who are medical workers, first responders, police, fire, teachers and members of the military. For more information, visit xcelspecialtycontacts.com. CooperVision has extended the deadline, to July 3, for its Essential Hospital Workers Complimentary Contact Lens Program, which allows optometrists to offer free lenses to patients who are essnetial hosptial workers in their community. Find out more information about the program at bit.ly/3gSnHXz. |
| 6/1 | Via Eyecare Business, 54% of eye care practitioners are now open for business and more via its most recent wave of a COVID-19 survey. Dr. Melissa Barnett reviews some tools and procedures that can help in adjusting scleral lens fitting during the pandemic via Contact Lens Spectrum's Scleral Lens Monthly. |
| 5/29 | Dr. Ruth Bush, associate dean for medical education at University of Houston College of Medicine, provides tips proper mask use, including those for storing and cleaning at bit.ly/2AjTWOG. |
| 5/26 | Dr. S. Barry Eiden addresses how telehealth has allowed practices to address some less serious and even severe urgent eye care situations during stay-at-home period in Contact Lens Today. Follow the link and scroll down to "Research Review" at bit.ly/2X28ATC. Eyecare Business editor-in-chief Erinn Morgan sat down for an exclusive interview with Luxottica N.A. leader Fabrizio Uguzzoni to share an inside look at how the company has pivoted to help optometrists navigate the COVID-19 criss at bit.ly/36I958R. |
| 5/22 | The Lighthouse Guild provides tips for patients who are blind or have low vision in practicing social distancing. View them at bit.ly/2LTitwK. ABB Optical has collaborated with EyecareLive, a telemedicine technology, at no cost for two months. Visit eyecarelive.com/abb/. |
| 5/21 | ABB Optical Group has introduced ABB Revitalize initiative with services, special offers and other resources to support optometrists in returning to practice. For more information and to sign up, visit abboptical.com. CooperVision will host a series of webinars to provide "Best Practices to Get You Back to Practice" beginning on May 28 at 9 p.m. with "Making Schedule Changes an Integral Part of Reopening" with Drs. Carrie Alfieri and Elizabeth Muckley leading the disucssion. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/CooperVisionBestPracticesWebinars. X-Cel Specialty Contacts is now offering free Atlantis Scleral Patient Kit via it's Bounce Back to Business program. The kit is included with any Atlantis spare pair purchase through Aug. 31. More information can be found at xcelspecialtycontacts.com. |
| 5/20 | The Vision Council's research team will present an updated view on consumer, member and eyecare provider sentiment on Thursday at noon EST. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Register here. The British Contact Lens Asssociation (BCLA) has released guidance on contact lens wear and coronavirus—one for eyecare practitioners and one for consumers—as well as a "Returning to Practice in COVID-19" guidance sheet. All three guidance documents can be found on its website here. IDCases published a case report detailing five cases of non-remitting conjunctivitis, the sole sign and symptom of COVID-19 in these patients. Read it here. Reopeneyecare.com is a digital platform designed to help optometrists navigate the reopening process, launched today via The Vision Council. |
| 5/19 | The Treasury Department released the Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application and detailed instructions for it at home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1010. |
| 5/18 | CooperVision is now offering eyecare professionals the opportunity to complete the Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management certification training online. The online training program uses an autonomous learning approach that allows optometrists to progress at their own pace, at the time and place of their choice. Head to coopervision.com/practitioner/myopia-management and fill out the information form for more information. |
| 5/15 | Optometric Management columnists offer their well wishes as the entire industry weathers the storm. View them all from the likes of Drs. Gary Gerber, Austin Lifferth and Steve Vargo at bit.ly/3bH3kZX. Johnson & Johnson Vision is offering its eye care professional partners several resources to help them through the pandemic including term extensions, education and digital resources. All the details are available at bit.ly/2ZcK2ZP. Eyecare Business provides a round up of points to consider communicating to patients before in-person care, such as that a staff member witll text to let the patient know when they can enter the building and that everyone age 10 and up has to wear a mask. More at bit.ly/3fQpCLS. Contact Lens Spectrum is offering a no-fee CE course "Key Considerations for Contact Lens Practitioners During the Coronavirus Pandemic." Professionals involved include Drs. Lyndon Jones, Karen Walsh, Mark Willcox, Philip Morgan and Jason J. Nichols. To register or for more information: bit.ly/2Ly3KH8. Contact Lens Spectrum also provides a discussion on guidance that may be provided to patients regarding the application of multiuse cosmetic products in terms of pandemic infection control in Contact Lenses Today. Follow the link and scroll down to "Ocular Surface Update" at bit.ly/2WYPUTt. |
| 5/14 | Amid the crisis, Caitlin J. Morrison, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.S.L.S., shares five tools optometrists may to look to in order to manage their offices from anywhere at bit.ly/3bzI2wW. |
| 5/12 | The AOA is set to hold virtual learning livecast sessions on June 24 to 27, which will include 60 CE and professional development courses for attendees. Space is limited. Members can pre-register and more information can be found at aoa.org/virtuallearninglivecast. Dr. Jason Miller provides tips for adjusting the contact lens fitting process in the wake of COVID-19 at bit.ly/3ctctX1. |
| 5/11 | Now, is the perfect time to review the managed vision care plans in which you participate to discern how to make them profitable when you return to full-time practice. One way to accomplish this, with regard to frames: “Don’t set fees based entirely on what the vision plan pays. Make sure your practice isn’t losing money in the process. To determine the ‘lowest end,’ in terms of pricing, assess the reimbursement and dispensing fee for the various frame-pricing categories. Consider shipping and handling costs, as well. Make a strong effort to dispense second pairs (e.g. occupational lenses, prescription sunglasses, nighttime driving glasses, fashion glasses and sports glasses) . . .” For additional tips, see “Maximize Your Vision Plan reimbursement,” at bit.ly/2WkQVVC. "While I don’t underestimate the scale of the current problem, I’m confident that industry will support practices and that the demand for eye care and eyewear will still be there when we come through this." This and more from Dr. Gary Gerber in looking to the future at bit.ly/2yLD2bo. "If you had asked me in December 2019 whether the practice that I have spent my adult life building—over the last 35 years—could be at risk of failure at the end of March 2020, I would have said that it was inconceivable." Dr. Clarke D. Newman continues at bit.ly/3dBc4lo. Essilor Vision Foundation is providing free resources to help optical practices let patients know thier eye doctor's office is open. They can be found at www.evfusa.org/ODkit. ABB Optcal Group has introduced a national industry trends report through ABB Analyze, powered by Glimpse. The report compiles data from users across the country and aggregates key industry metrics optometirsts can mointor during COVID-19. View it at glimpselive.com/national-trend.php. |
| 5/8 | Clerio Vision will offer all of its Extreme H2O six-pack products for $5 per box to independent eyecare practitioners who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Orders will be shipped directly to patients at no cost. The program is running through July 2020. Clerio has also begun selling N-95 masks and hand sanitizer at its own cost to help Extreme H2O customers to affordably get back up and running. |
| 5/7 | CooperVision announced that they will provide essential hospital workers with complimentary contact lens refills. To obtain, eye care professionals must submit the application form, availble for download at the link, and email it to CVcares@coopervision.com. Once the application is processed the lenses will be shipped directly to the address for the patients. For more information: bit.ly/3dqgQCc. |
| 5/6 | Management Tip of the Week newsletter discussed possible solutions to bringing staff members back to the office, specifically when factors involving the CARES Act are involved. Dr. Scott A. Colonna's piece can be found here. Subscribe for the newsletter to receive it in your mailbox every Wednesday at bit.ly/TOTWsubscribe. |
| 5/5 | Are you gearing up to add a new vendor to your existing product selection to increase traffic in your practice after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides? If so, Carey A. Patrick, O.D., offers several steps to make the negotiation successful, including taking a look at the frame company’s billing terms: “For example, if the practice’s accounting cycle is 30 days, but billing terms require the practice to pay for the product 15 days after delivery, also known as net 15, the practice may incur finance or late fee charges, depending on when the invoice arrives. Consider negotiating, so that these coincide.” See “Negotiate Successfully With Frame Vendors,” at bit.ly/2VSzfl8. |
| 5/4 | Contact Lens Spectrum's Amber Gaume Giannoni, O.D., looks into whether there is a connection between COVID-19 and conjunctivitis: bit.ly/3b3tCoO North Carolina Optometric Society, in partnership with the AOA, sent out a press release that cautioned patients against visiting the emergency room for primary eye care services during the coronavirus pandemic. Read it at nceyes.org/ncos-cautions-against-er. The Vision Council is discussing sanitation of frames and eyewear at bit.ly/2YsfhQ6. The webpage provides guidelines for sanitizing as well as links to manufacturer's disinfection guides. |
| 5/1 | Dr. Sherrol Reynolds answers questions regarding the three U.S. clinical trials on the antimalarial drugs hydrochloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate: bit.ly/3bXOYoL. X-Cel Specialty Contacts has launched Bounce Back program to support specialty contact lens practices and patients. For more information visit xcelspecialtycontacts.com/. |
| 4/30 | Florida Room Chats tackle the question "What specific marketing ideas do you have that we can work on for the rest of the year?" View this and other episodes at bit.ly/2z7IFR4. Two advantages of offering online patient communication are: 1) More and more patients are using email, apps and texts to reach out to their health care providers; and 2) Automated communication can make your practice more efficient. Dr. Mile Brujic discusses this technology in more detail at bit.ly3bNdmt8. The Vision Council sent a letter to congressional leadership on behalf of its members to request more support in the next stimulus package. Read the full letter here. Centre for Ocular Researach & Education (CORE) has updated it's resource website COVIDEyeFacts.org with more evidence-based guidance for eye care professionals. |
| 4/29 | Optical Women's Association newest podcast covers "The 5 Pillar Business Approach to Surviving COVID-19" with guest Alessandro Baronti, president and CEO of De Rigo REM. Listen at www.opticalwomen.com/podcast.asp. Eyecare Business will host a Facebook Live discussion today at 12:30 EST to discuss reopening protocols with Drs. Jerry Hayes, Adam Ramsey and Art Epstein. Tune in at facebook.com/eyecarebusiness. |
| 4/28 | The AOA has released guidance for post-COVID-19 reactivation. Find it here: bit.ly/2KT01E1. Noting the explosion of web traffic during the pandemic, you might focus your marketing efforts on social media. If that’s the case, check out OM’s “Social Media Toolkit” series, which includes ideas, tips, and downloadable resources: bit.ly/35a4HP4. |
| 4/27 | Sister publication, Eyecare Business, has put together a roundup of resources available via optical companies, managed care partners and others at: bit.ly/2yMokRa. Dr. Karen DeLoss shares her experiences in quarnatine at her office, as part of Contact Lens Today. Scroll down to "Columns" to read: bit.ly/2yMoI24. Katherine Mastrota, MS, OD, explains how the pandemic has made her and her coworkers better, more understanding caregivers. Again, as part of Contact Lens Today. Scroll down to "Columns" to read: bit.ly/2VECwVk. Visibily will provide eyecare practitioners free access to its virtual vision test technology. To find more information, visit govisibly.com/. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with Shenzhen Microprofit Biotech Co., has become the exclusive U.S. distributor of a rapid, finger prick test to determine the presence of COVID-19 or a potential indication of antibody immunity to the disease. The company has submitted the test kit for emeregency use authorization via the FDA and says it will also submit thekit for 510(k) clearance. CooperVision, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is providing free shipping for direct-to-patient contact lens delivery. Read more about it in O.D. Notebook: bit.ly/3cT9CXi. Walman has introduced a "Grand Reopening Playbook" billed to be a guide to reopening safely with topics covered like practice management, equipment, dispensary, financial, etc. The guide is avaialble at walman.com/grand-reopening-playbook. |
| 4/24 | The CARES Act included money intended to help providers, read more from Ophthalmology Management's Managing Dry Eye newsletter at bit.ly/2S4T2M3. |
| 4/22 | Setting up or maintaining an e-commerce platform for your practice could be a valuable use of your time during a slowdown in patient appointments. Dr. Brianna Rhue reviews factors to consider when implementing one here, perhaps it's a starting point for your platform! Consider these 10 action steps to keep yourself mentally strong during the coronavirus pandemic at bit.ly/2VQHrkF. Over the next three Mondays, MacuLogix will offer a series of three webinars, titled Marketing Mondays, to connect practice owners and optometrists with the company's marketing brain trust. Registration and more information available at maculogix.com/marketing-mondays/. |
| 4/21 | U.S. gaming has increased significantly during the pandemic. According to Verizon, video game usage during peak hours has gone up 75% in the first two weeks of stay-at-home measures. Consider how you might best serve these patients in the future. Dr. Amanda Nanasy provides a rundown on esports athletes and their visual needs at bit.ly/esportsom. World Glaucoma Association members have shared their tips for practicing in the pandemic environment. View it here: https://vimeo.com/407916163. Management Tip of the Week encourages optometrists to consider marketing efforts during an office closure or slow down. Maddie Langston, IDOC consultant, offers options for contact lens orders and social media content. Read more at bit.ly/2XVq4SG. CMS, which previously announced a deadline extention from March 31 to April 30 to submit 2019 data for MIPS Quality Payment Program, has indicated that "MIPS eligible clinicans who have not submitted data by the extension will qualify for automiatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy and will receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year." This and more information at go.cms.gov/3ardJYX. |
| 4/20 | Drs. Jason Nichols, Lyndon Jones, Karen Walsh, Philip Morgan and Mark Wilcox discuss via video roundtable the paper they recently had published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, titled "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Important Considerations for Contact Lens Practitioners." Read the full text of the article at bit.ly/2RQyK95. View the video at bit.ly/2VN6GVj. Eyecare Business has been polling its readers to find out the impact the virus is having on them. Their results show an increase in offices that are only seeing emergency patients, that are expecting the virus to have a significant financial impact and that are creating novel ways to interact with patients: bit.ly/2VWVuFJ. |
| 4/17 | Euclid will host two upcoming Facebook live sessions related to coronavirus pandemic. The first, occurring on Tuesday from 1:30 to 2 p.m. EST, is titled "Rebounding from COVID-19 from an Optometrist CEO Perspective." The second, occurring Thursday, again from 1:30 to 2 p.m. EST, is titled "Home Alone: Remotely Managing Patients, Parents Staff and Myself." The sessions feature moderator Craig Norman, F.C.L.S.A., and speakers Joe Boorady, O.D., F.A.A.O., Rob Gerowitz, O.D., and Trevor Fosso, O.D., F.A.A.O. No registration is required. Attend by tuning into Euclid's Facebook page, at facebook.com/euclidsys/ at the time of the event. |
| 4/16 | Been wondering about how much inventory of contact lenses you actually need. To be sure your inventory isn’t costing you, use this time away from your practice or your decreased hours to “Choose your workhorse lenses,” or those that you fit the most, and “Ask Your Sales Rep Which Powers to Inventory.” For more, visit “Get The Most From Your Contact Lens Inventory:” bit.ly/2XeeFNl. Dr. April Jasper answers the question "what are some lessons you have learned so far in this first couple weeks of social distancing?" in Florida Room Chat, a video series. See this and previous installments at bit.ly/2z7IFR4. |
| 4/15 | Y. Shira Kresch, O.D, provides tips for optometrists who are diving into telehealth: bit.ly/3cmfFn0. |
| 4/14 | Does your practice have “balances 90 days to 120 days outstanding and whole insurance balances or remaining patient balances written off for avoidable reasons, such as missed deadlines to submit the correct insurance claim or a desire to avoid patient conflict?” If you are unable to fill your schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, why not focus on collecting outstanding debts and talking with your office manager about implementing the 10 tips offered by Ann Rea Miller, O.D., in “10 Steps to an Efficient Accounts Receivable:” bit.ly/2XdRnar? |
| 4/13 | VSP Global announced it has waived program criteria check-in for its Premier Program. Practices participating will keep their current status and benefits as of April 10 through the end of 2020. Additionally, all VSP network practices now have access to Premier Academy360, the library of education and training resources, including "Applying for Small Business Administration Loans 101." Visit vspproviderhub.com/premier/academy360.html. The Centre for Ocular Research & Education has launched COVIDEyeFacts.org, which consolidates research, info sheets, resources, and more about contact lenses and COVID-19. |
| 4/9 | CMS issues new infection control and guidance for non-emergent, elective medical services and treatment recommendations at go.cms.gov/2y4rIpT. American Optometric Association has canceled Optometry's Meeting, schedued for June 24-28 in Washington D.C., due to the coronavirus pnademic. The AOA has answered frequently asked questions related to the cancelation here. |
| 4/8 | April Jasper, O.D., F.A.A.O., discusses what's next after the coronavirus pandemic in her Eyecare During the Coronavirus Pandemic contribution at bit.ly/2xVCWNJ. Drs. Ed Bennet and Stephanie Woo report on how practitioners and laboratories are working in synergy during this time to maintain specialty contact lens patients’ vision. Read it here: buff.ly/3aUe4nZ. Frequently asked questions and answers from practice owners on the CARES Act and PPP loans, compiled at bit.ly/2JO9ziK. |
| 4/7 | The British Contact Lens Associaton's Contact Lens and Anterior Eye journal has expedited publication of a new open access evidence-based review of the current situation with contact lenses and COVID-19. Check it out at www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367048420300552. Solutionreach is offfering a free 4-part "Practice Combeback Plan" webinar series starting on April 9 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. PT. Register at register.gotowebinar.com/register/2156376904025421580. CMS hosted a webinar on Tuesday providing more information on the US Department of Health and Human Services 1135 waiver. The presentation can be found at go.cms.gov/3e2sqo9. The Vision Council is set to host a webinar titled "What your business needs to know to successfully plan, respond and navigate coronavirus" on Thursday, April 9 at noon EST. It is open to all and registration is found at bit.ly/2XeA0Gt. Vision Expo's partner Reed Exhibithions is producing a live webinar, titled Navigating the CARES Act for Small Businesses, and taking place on Wednesday at 11 a.m. To participate, register for limited spaces at https://bit.ly/3e7z0Kq. If now is an opportune time to analyze the patient care process in your practice, consider reviewing Dr. Neil Gailmard’s seven-part “Pick One Thing” series in the Optometric Management Tip of the Week newsletter. Beginning with the front desk greeting, each installment in the series addresses one portion of the patient care process. Tip No. 769 discusses how to analyze pretesting. |
| 4/6 | ABB Optical Group has introduced an online Virtual Resource Center, available to ABB customers, with tools, focusing on helping eye care practitioners with patient outreach, provider education and practice process and strategy tools. Visit abboptical.com to check it out. CMS has extended the deadline for 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data submission to April 30 at 8 p.m. EST, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Find the update and more information from CMS at qpp.cms.gov/participation-lookup. |
| 4/3 | With the down time created by COVID-19, it’s an opportune time to address frame board management? One idea for approaching inventory is to view frames as renters that reside on the frame board, write Jay Binkowitz, creator of GPN and founder of the EDGE software, and Yvonne Pelkey, a business services trainer with Total Eye Care Partners. See “Manage Frame Boards,” at bit.ly/2F3IOqM. |
| 4/1 | Nathan Hayes, IDOC consultant, provides actionable steps for making the most of this time to the benefit of your practice in Tip of the Week. View the newsletter here and subscribe at bit.ly/TOTWsubscribe. American Foundation for the Blind is providing guidance for those students, who are blind or low vision, and now find themselves being schooled at home: bit.ly/AFBedresources. |
| 3/31 | Walman Optical has introduced a complimentary help line to aid independent eye care practices during the pandemic. Ask Walman is available to everyone, and is a confidential service. It's open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST at (855) 868-1076 or walman.com/AskWalman. Dr. Scot Morris provides a business checklist in his Eyecare During the Coronavirus Pandemic series: bit.ly/ScotMorris. Additionally, Dr. Pamela Miller provides tips on being precautious while operating as normal, also in Eyecare During the Coroavirus Pandemic series: bit.ly/PJMiller. |
| 3/30 | Eyecare During the Coronavirus Pandemic series continues with Dr. Justin Bazan offering the tip to send an email to patients reminding them of the impending grace period deadline to FSA spending and how they can utilize those funds at the practice: bit.ly/JBazan. Eyecare Business is hosting a Facebook Live panel discussion on Wednesday, April 1, at noon. The topic: “Leading Through Uncertainty: Critical Business Strategies for Eyecare Professionals During COVID-19.” Panelists include Drs. Eric White and Bridgette Shen Lee as well as Sheena Taff, optical manager and optician. Tune in at facebook.com/eyecarebusiness. Power Hour podcast hosted a special, two-night event titled #Save2020Eyecare. On Wed., March 25, and Thurs., March 26, executives from ABB Optical, Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, ClearVision, CooperVision, DeRigo Rem, Essilor, EyeMed, HEA, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Luxottica, NECO, Sanitas Advisors, Visioneering Technologies, VisionOne, VSP and Walman Optical gathered in a town hall environment to discuss how the industry can band together during the pandemic. You can listen to the episodes in full at powerpractice.com/the-power-hour/previous-episodes/. Contact Lens Today compiled reader commentary from contact lens practitioners throughout the world in this week's edition of the newsletter. Read it here: bit.ly/CLT329. Additionally, from Contact Lens Spectrum, "Weatheirng the COVID-19 Storm: Expoerts discuss strategies for managing their contact lens practices during COVID-19 pandemic" by Edward S. Bennett, OD, MSED, is available at bit.ly/CLSweatheringCOVID19. |
| 3/27 | In a letter to its membership, the AOA announced it is mobilizing to support and serve its members through a comprehensive plan to “fully assemble the AOA for the existential crisis our profession is now facing.” The letter contains links to updated information on practice guidance, resources and expanded member benefits, as well as a summary of the AOA’s actions taken so far to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Read it in full at bit.ly/aoa327letter. Eyecare During the Coronavirus Pandemic series continues with co-foudner of Treehouse Eyes, Matt Oerding sharing his tip to utilize videoconferencing: bit.ly/2QNyBCC. |
| 3/26 | Eyecare During the Coronavirus Pandemic series continues with Dr. Gina Wesley providing business survival steps, at bit.ly/2Uk4o07, and Dr. Sheldon Kreda provides information about social distancing in practice, at bit.ly/2Uo1jfL. Contact Lens Spectrum reached out to a number of prominent eyecare professionals to obtain their input on how they are managing contact lens patients during this challenging time: bit.ly/2UkOEtH. |
| 3/25 | ZEISS Medical Technology has launched a new website, ZEISS MED Support Now, to provide acccess to resources, such as continuing education and how to properly disinfect its devices. The website can be found at bit.ly/ZEISSMed and will be updated regularly. The Vision Council has added a “coronavirus implications” page to its website that includes each state’s guidelines for essential operations: thevisioncouncil.org/coronavirus-implications. Eyecare During the Coronavirus Pandemic, a limited series from Optometric Management, provides tips from our editorial board members on navigating eyecare during the crisis. In the first installment, Dr. Andy Gurwood offers his how-to steps from the Philadelphia area. Read it at bit.ly/Gurwood. O.D. Notebook opens with tips on communicating contact lens wear concerns to patients, available at bit.ly/ODN325. |
| 3/24 | Industry podcast, Power Hour, from Dr. Gary Gerber will host a special two-night town hall on Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, at 9 p.m. The town hall will feature a panel of industry experts discussing the steps the eyecare industry can take in the face of COVD-19 pandemic. More information and how to join: buff.ly/2lJnZbn. |
| 3/23 | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is offering resources for clinics and healthcare facilities during this pandemic: bit.ly/2wze1Po. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the first emergency use authorization for a point-of-care COVID-19 diagnostic for the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test. Additional details are avaiable on the FDA site: bit.ly/2QGPw9X. The FDA also provided a guidance document on "Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products during COVID-19 Pandemic": bit.ly/2UbS1mH. COPE temporarily changes rules for CE through May 31. The organization's guidelines can be found at bit.ly/39dnEAK. The International Association for Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) is offering all educators access to online resources for remote teaching during the pandemic. Visit iacle.org and navigate to the "Free Resources" area. |
| 3/16-3/20 | The American Optometric Association published "News for the optometric professional and general public," which can be found at aoa.org/coronavirus. American Academy of Ophthalmology released, and is updating, "Alert: Important coronavirus updates for ophthalmologists" which may be pertinent to optometry offices as well: bit.ly/3b42FBx. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid released "COVD-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet" that can be found at go.cms.gov/2wesi3Q. Additionally, CMS also published an article on the steps it's taking, "CMS Takes Action Nationwide to Aggressively Respond to Coronavirus National Emergency," accessible at go.cms.gov/3cZJtXA. The Centre for Ocular Research and Education published a special issue of its educational Contact Lens Update, with resources for practitioners regarding COVD-19: contactlensupdate.com/. The AOA has issued a Health Policy Institute statment, which can be found at bit.ly/2UeFCgH. Quidel receives emergency authorization for COVD-19 Test. Read more: bit.ly/2Qs5DIn. IDOC's Steve Vargo, O.D., and Nathan Hayes, finance consultant, released a podcast on how to weather the financial storm today: bit.ly/IDOCvargohayes. |
The coronavirus has now infected 1,031,659 individuals in the United States, with total deaths at 60,057, reports the CDC. What can O.D.s do to protect from the condition, which masquerades as a common cold and develops into lower-respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia?
“Any time you’re dealing with a patient with a potentially infectious virus, doctors of optometry and other health care providers should make sure they have a clear understanding of the proper protocols to prevent the spread of infection,” says AOA President Barbara L. Horn, O.D. “Vigilance and just using good hygiene — thorough handwashing, using gloves, disinfecting equipment and other recommendations provided by the CDC — in the office when in contact with bodily fluids, such as tears, will go a long way toward preventing infection. It is important to proactively reinforce such infection mitigation techniques with doctors and staff. . .”
In addition to handwashing (see https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html ), the CDC also urges avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands and close contact with those who are ill.
Paul Kellam, a professor of Virus Genomics at Imperial College London, told the Daily Mail he suggests health care workers wear eye protection, in addition to face masks, as the flu and other viruses can be transmitted to the eye via droplets from a sneeze, for example.
Dr. Horn encourages doctors to be aware of potential coronavirus activity in their area. If they live in any of the currently affected areas, they can minimize the risk of exposure by encouraging patients to stay home if they have cold, flu or respiratory symptoms. (Also, see https://bit.ly/39IktBK .)
The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. There are now (Feb. 18) 72,436 confirmed cases and 1,868-related deaths in mainland China. OM
Additional resources:
To receive regular updates, delivered to your inbox, on the news and resources offered by industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, be sure to subscribe to our newest newsletter, PentaVision COVID-19 News Roundup, and Contact Lens Today, a newsletter for our sister publication, Contact Lens Spectrum.
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