NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Now in its third year, the Seeing is Believing virtual conference (SiB 2015) is returning with 20 COPE-approved CE credits for Jan. 28 to 29, 2015, 12 pm-7 pm EST. The two-day virtual event is billed as an alternative to conventional trade shows where “traditional booths are now a thing of the past,” according to show organizers. Also hosting virtual exhibitors, SiB 2015 will introduce a new vendor video theater, where virtual attendees can “watch a vendor video, pass a special quiz and earn a vendor special show offer.”

On Jan. 30, 2015, the conference will shift to on-demand mode when the 20 COPE courses and tests will be available online for 90 days. The last two virtual conferences, SiB 2013 and SiB 2014, had over 1,000 attendees who took over 5,000 online COPE-approved continuing education credits, according to show organizers.

To help boost attendance this year, the Energeyes Association for corporate-affiliated optometrists has agreed to sponsor optometry students and first year new graduates to attend SiB 2015 free of charge. “Being sponsors of Seeing is Believing this year is in keeping with one of our core missions of education,” said Mark Uhler, OD, president of the Energeyes Association, a 501(c)6 not-for-profit based in Nashville and serving the needs of optometrist working within or adjacent to a corporate optical department.

SiB, and its sister virtual conference CEiB, which is held in July, are owned by Alan Glazier, OD, FAAO, founder of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care in Rockville, Md., and Daniel Rostenne, who is also CEO and an owner of EyeCarePro, a provider of web-based marketing services to optometrists that also spearheaded the creation of SiB. EyeCarePro’s COO, Michael Porat, is also executive director of the Energeyes Association.