SECO International Opens Nominations for 2025 Awards

ATLANTA—SECO International, an organization that provides optometric continuing education and professional development, has announced a call for nominations for its 2025 awards, to be presented here during the Southern Council of Optometrists (SoCO) House of Delegates on Saturday, March 1, 2025. These awards honor exceptional individuals for their outstanding contributions to the field of optometry, according to the announcement. Nominations must be submitted by November 30, 2024. According to SECO, nominations must include: the nominee’s name, award category, and state of practice; a letter outlining the reasons for the nomination; and the nominee’s biography or curriculum vitae (CV).

Eye Health America Announces Strategic Partnership With Florida-Based Bowden Eye & Associates

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Eye Health America (EHA), an integrated eyecare platform in the Southeastern U.S., has announced its strategic partnership with Bowden Eye & Associates, an ophthalmology practice in Jacksonville, Fla. This collaboration marks EHA’s 25th partnership and introduction into the Jacksonville market, according to the announcement. Founded by Dr. Frank W. Bowden III, a cornea specialist and surgeon, Bowden Eye & Associates has served Northeast Florida for more than two decades. With multiple Jacksonville locations, including Northside, Southside, St. Johns and Eye Surgery Center of North Florida, the practice offers a wide range of comprehensive and specialty eyecare services, including LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, corneal transplants, dry eye treatment, general eye exams and optical services, according to the announcement.

Vision Source Appoints Dr. Amir Khoshnevis as President and Chief Medical Officer

HOUSTON—Vision Source, a North American network of independent private practice optometrists, has announced the appointment of Amir Khoshnevis, OD, to the position of president and chief medical officer, effective immediately. Dr. Khoshnevis has served Vision Source and the broader optometry community for many years. Having brought his own practice into the Vision Source family in 2003, the company noted, Dr. Khoshnevis over time took on roles of increasing responsibility, eventually rising to the position of chief medical officer in 2019.

The Vision Council's inSights Report Shows Consumers Are Prioritizing In-Person, Budget-Friendly Eyewear Purchases

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council has released its third quarter Consumer inSights report, highlighting a continued trend toward more budget-friendly eyewear purchases, as consumers buying in-person increasingly opt for spending less than $100 out-of-pocket on eyewear. This movement away from higher out-of-pocket spending on luxury eyewear options has remained consistent over the past two years and became even more pronounced in the third quarter, according to the report. Online purchases, in contrast, are not following this budget-focused trend.

Industry Veteran Mike Daley Passes Away at 73

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla.—Longtime optical industry veteran R. Michael (Mike) Daley passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 73. Daley began his optical career as an instructor with Ferris State University in 1975, and soon joined Essilor in 1976 as a sales consultant for MultiOptics Corporation, which later became Varilux Corporation. Over the following 13 years, his responsibilities increased to include marketing, technical services, laboratory operations, and sales and ultimately resulted in his promotion to president of Varilux Corporation in 1989.