TEACHING MATERIALS HAVE evolved from text-based instruction to videos to online courses and live webinars. During Vision Expo, The Vision Council and RX offer accredited continuing education materials to participants with the VisionEd optometry and opticianry program. This is one of several outreach programs that a handful of individuals and companies offer for opticianry education. OpticianWorks.com provides free YouTube training videos complete with certification for opticians at the end of six to 12 months. The ABO and NCLE provide certificates to participants for completing their online ed ..read more

FESTIVAL SEASON CARRERA launches the Festival Edition Capsule collection, featuring eight iconic sunglasses in diverse shapes for all genders, highlighting special iridescent lenses to echo the bubbly and magical festival spirit. Designed in Italy, these reimagined classics boast unique details, including “Carrera Festival Edition” branding. Each pair comes with a neoprene croakie, features an iridescent-colored Carrera logo and racing stripes celebrating Carrera’s racing heritage. us.carreraworld.com $139 – $199 ACTION PACKED American made eyewear engineered to excel in any environment, this ..read more

KIDS ARE GLUED to technology almost from the time they can hold a screen, making them all the more connected to what eyewear they want to wear. Enter a new generation of fashionable frames, stylish and smartly made with features that make them virtually indestructible. Jonas Paul A style for kids who want to mirror adult fashion sensibly, the Scout is a classic round, duel-toned, matte-finished TR-90 frame with 180-degree hinges. wholesale@jonaspaul.com Price upon request Lindberg Boldly colored, minimalistic silhouette, and impossibly lightweight, the Jackie (K199_90) is a wire titanium and ..read more

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, on NASA’s 30th Commercial Resupply Services mission, approaches the ISS on March 23, 2024. IMAGE CREDIT: NASA (PRESS RELEASE) When the Dragon capsule from NASA’s SpaceX 30th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission splashed down off the coast of Florida early Tuesday, it returned two investigations for vision loss sponsored by the ISS National Lab. Oculogenex tested a novel gene therapy to prevent and possibly even reverse vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, while LambdaVision built on results from previous investigations by studying layer ..read more

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK CITY, NY — Xenon Ophthalmics, a trailblazer in telehealth eye care solutions, and visuSolution GmbH, a stalwart in ophthalmic device distribution and development, have joined forces to announce a strategic partnership at the Vision Expo in NYC. This alliance is set to create a seismic shift in eye care throughout Europe, bringing forth an era of increased accessibility and innovation. In the bustling hub of the Vision Expo, the two companies declared its unified vision: to revolutionize the European eye care industry with advanced ophthalmic technologies and services ..read more

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — One billion people worldwide have vision impairment that could be helped with assistive technology. This number is expected to double by 2050, particularly due to age-related vision diseases like macular degeneration. While numerous assistive technology devices are now available, many people with vision impairment experience difficulties in finding the right device for specific needs. It is against this backdrop that Lighthouse Guild has received an AMDF Thrive Award of $75,000 to study the effectiveness of various assistive technology devices. The goal is to provide ..read more

(PRESS RELEASE) PINELLAS PARK, FL — Transitions Optical announces that Kayla Worthy, senior marketing manager, trade shows and events has been honored in the 2024 Smart Women in Meetings Awards by Smart Meetings magazine. The ninth-annual list is published by Smart Meetings magazine, a leading media company catering to meeting professionals. Its purpose is to celebrate extraordinary leaders who have made significant contributions to the meetings and events industry, inspiring others while helping shape the future of the profession. “I have learned so much in my current role collaborating with ..read more

BLENDING SEAMLESSLY WITH the natural environs of the Wiregrass region of the southeastern U.S. for which it is named, Wiregrass Eyecare of Ozark presents an image that owner Dr. Giselle Childers describes as both “organic and earthy” and “clean and crisp.” This appealing combination is in evidence from the wood tones, live plants and natural light that dominate its office, to its nature-derived brand.  Dark greens, browns, and neutral tones predominate, starting with the liberally used logo and extending to an array of branded items including business and dry eye protocol cards, cleaning ..read more

IT’S ALLERGY SEASON again: a perfect time to revisit the topic of dry eye disease treatment with your staff and patients. Addressing a common issue like dry eye syndrome can give a practice a competitive edge, generating revenue streams while boosting patient retention, word-of-mouth marketing and professional development. Clarity Vision of Apex in Apex, NC, has achieved all the above, particularly through the use of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. THE IDEA The reason for Clarity Vision’s adoption of IPL was simple, according to company president David Holler, OD. “The science behind IPL m ..read more

question: Do you require new employees to sign an employment contract? Yes: 13% Every employee starts with a 90-day probationary period. After that the employee is evaluated and either confirmed with the company or their probationary period is extended with goals that need to be met. — Stephanie P., Mount Vernon, OH Only OD associates. — Melanie J., Spring Hill, TN No: 87% No other employees besides myself. — Abe Z., Brooklyn, NY If it’s an hourly employee, it seems really silly to have them sign a contract. Maybe if it was a new doctor or something. — Kelsey B., Winston Salem, NC Our state ..read more