Brian Chou, OD.
NEW YORK—Vision Monday announced today that Brian Chou, OD, a prominent independent optometrist, will join the roster of speakers at Vision Monday’s dba LIVE conference in Las Vegas on Oct. 2.

The conference is a two-hour event to be held in Las Vegas from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 2, 2013, just prior to the start of International Vision Expo West (Oct. 3-5). Dr. Chou will be one of four experts offering fresh perspectives on the theme, “Technology Reinvents the Retail Experience.” He will explain how he and his partners at EyeLux Optometry in San Diego, Calif. employ an array of technologies to engage and educate patients in the exam lane, dispensary and other areas of their practice.

Dr. Chou, an ophthalmic industry consultant is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Optometry, Dr. Chou completed fellowship training at Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, in the cornea and external disease division. He has over 75 published manuscripts including book chapters on keratoconus, cataracts, and laser vision correction. Dr. Chou received the Nuemueller Award in Optics from the American Academy of Optometry, and serves on the editorial review board for Review of Optometry and the editorial board for Review of Cornea & Contact Lenses. He is a consultant to several ophthalmic companies and is an expert witness for medico-legal cases.


  Barbara Barclay.
The other three speakers will each address different aspects of how technology is enhancing the customer experience. Barbara Barclay, general manager, Tobii Technology North America, a leading provider of eye tracking technology, will discuss the latest developments in Tobii’s mobile eye tracking. The company’s new technology and design enables unobtrusive, time-efficient and accurate mobile eye tracking studies in real-world retail environments, according to Tobii.


Joe Pflanz.
Speaking about the interaction of digital and traditional retail will be Joe Pflanz, senior director, omni-channel customer experience at LensCrafters. In his 12 years with Luxottica, Pflanz has worked on various brands and in various roles focused on marketing, digital and customer-centricity. He has led the launch/re-launch of 10 websites and countless digital customer experiences earning recognition and awards from many organizations.

Last year, Pflanz led the formulation of an omni-channel customer experience department for LensCrafters, which he currently heads. The omni-channel team is responsible for all of LensCrafters websites, digital advertising, social media and the convergence of experiences across channels.


John Bonizio.
Also talking about the potential of transforming the optical retail experience will be John Bonizio, owner and president of Metro Optics, Bronx, N.Y. A licensed optician, with degrees in computer science, business management and economics, Bonizio joined Metro in 1992 and helped to build it into a prominent New York regional optical retailer.

Bonizio is planning the 2014 launch of an exciting new flagship location which
will house a range of boutique and electronic eyewear and a state-of-the-art exam facility in a center next to the new Trump Golf Center in the Bronx.

The premier sponsor of the first VM dba LIVE is Adlens. Registration, at $95, for “Technology Reinvents the Retail Experience” is open by going to the registration page. Seating is limited.

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