Practice Tip: Consider giving employees a small gift card, voucher, or celebrating them via a social media post for a job well done, writes Tonya M. Reynoldson, OD, in her article, “Incentivizing Employees: What Really Matters.” Doing so shows you appreciate their contributions, which, in turn, the employee appreciates. Another suggestion: Use a “comment jar” where employees can anonymously recognize a fellow employee who went beyond normal expectations to help a patient or colleague, she writes. See https://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2023/january-february-2023/incentivizing-employees-what-really-matters for the entire article.
American Optometric Association Business Credit Card Benefits Members
The American Optometric Association (AOA) Business Card, a MasterCard World Elite credit card designed for doctors of optometry, has reimbursed AOA member cardholders over $143,000 in membership dues as a sign-up bonus, according to AOAExcel. The AOA Business Card is available to any business entity owned by an AOA member, regardless of that business’s affiliation with optometry.
Axon Optics Joins Avulux Family
Axon Optics will now operate as the online retail division of Avulux. Avulux lenses are now available to customers on the Axon Optics website at www.AxonOptics.com.
Essilor Instruments Offers Espansione Group Products
Essilor Instruments is now the official distributor for the North American market of Espansione Group’s full portfolio, including Light Modulation low-level light therapy, and Optimal Power Energy intense pulsed light.
Global Specialty Lens Symposium Names Rising Star Award Recipient
The Global Specialty Lens Symposium announced Stephen J. Vincent, BAppSc(Optom)Hons, PhD, as the winner of its Rising Star Award, intended to recognize an emerging leader in the field of cornea and contact lenses. Dr. Vincent is an associate professor at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and international relations chair of the Scleral Lens Education Society.
Harrow Closes Acquisition of Five Ophthalmic Products
Harrow closed on acquisition of the exclusive U.S. commercial rights to five branded ophthalmic products: Ilevro, Nevannac, Viagamox, Maxidex, and Triesence. Harrow and the seller entered into an estimated six-month transition period, during which the seller will continue to sell the products in the United States and transfer all net profits to Harrow. In that time, the product non-disclosure agreements will be transferred to Harrow as well.
IDOC: Last Chance to Register for National Conference
Today (Wednesday, Jan. 25) is the final day to register for The Connection, IDOC’s national conference, which will be held at SeaWorld, in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 16 to 19. Highlights of the conference include a Universal CityWalk block party, roundtables, business management courses, COPE-approved education, classes for every practice role, a marketplace with 50-plus vendors, complimentary on-site childcare, and keynote speakers Alison Levine, Chris Goede, and Sharon Carter. For more information or to register, visit https://idoc.swoogo.com/connection2023.
University of Houston Researcher Awarded $1.6M for Gene Therapy Research
A University of Houston researcher is expanding a method of gene therapy with the hopes it will restore vision loss in Usher Syndrome Type 2A (USH2A), a rare genetic disease. Specifically, the National Eye Institute has awarded Muna Naash, John S. Dunn Endowed Professor of biomedical engineering, $1.6 million to support her work. Usher Syndrome Type 2A, caused by mutations of the USH2A gene, can include progressive loss of vision, prompting retinitis pigmentosa; currently no treatment exists.
World Council of Optometry Accepting Abstracts for Upcoming World Congress
The World Council of Optometry’s Program Committee is accepting poster abstract submissions for the Fourth World Congress of Optometry, occurring Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. The abstract submission window is open through Feb. 28. Poster abstracts can be up to 350 words. Scientific posters should provide a conventional structured abstract (Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusions), whereas other poster types may use an unstructured abstract, if appropriate. In addition to the abstract, submitters are required to provide three learning objectives, plus a curriculum vitae, and a headshot for the presenting author suitable for use in promotional material. Visit https://www.omega-event.org/call-for-abstracts.
World Council of Optometry to Host Dry Eye Disease Webinar
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon will host “Dry Eye Spotlight 2: Measurement,” the second in a series of global dry eye disease (DED) education webinars. The Jan. 31 webinar, featuring Professors James Wolffsohn, Jennifer Craig, and Lyndon Jones, explores the signs and symptoms of DED and how to confirm a diagnosis. Register for the webinar, which will be presented in three time zones worldwide with live faculty-attendee interaction, at https://oaandgap.eventsair.com/wcodydmeasurement/reg/Site/Register.
World Council of Optometry to Host Second Global Myopia Management Virtual Event
The World Council of Optometry (WCO), in partnership with CooperVision, will present the virtual event, “Myopia Management: Advancing the Global Standard of Care,” on Feb. 16. The complimentary online event features industry experts sharing their insights on the global standard of care, and how myopia management has become an integral part of their work. Register for the second annual WCO virtual event, delivered in multiple time zones worldwide, at bit.ly/WCOMyopiaEvent223.
OD Notebook is published weekly on Wednesdays. Unless otherwise noted, the information presented is based on press releases and/or announcements by the respective organizations. Find earlier editions here. To submit a press release to be considered for publication, click here.