By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, January 26, 2025 1:30 AM
Optical labs are always striving for the highest level of efficiency. In the past, traditional alloy systems, while still providing exceptional lens manufacturing capabilities, did not offer some of the environmental benefits and yields that lab operators demand today. Alloy Replacement Technology, also known as ART or the ART System, was developed by Satisloh, a global leader in ophthalmic and precision optics manufacturing technology, based in Germantown, Wis.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, January 26, 2025 1:29 AM
Having a pulse on the latest technological advancements in the optical industry has been key to the success of ABB Optical Group, a national provider of products, services and business solutions for the eyecare sector. This year marks the Coral Springs, Fla. company’s 35th anniversary, an event that showcases a history of innovation and service.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 8:30 AM
A recent survey conducted by Prevent Blindness indicates that caregivers of persons at risk of retinal disease lack knowledge about common types of diseases that affect older adults, with less than 30 percent of caregivers having heard about the most common types of retinal disease. With that in mind, the Gr8 Eye Movement, a disease awareness campaign from
Prevent Blindness and biotech company
Regeneron, helps caregivers access the resources they need to understand the risks associated with developing retinal conditions.
By Evra Taylor / Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 17, 2024 1:01 AM
How and where ECPs advertise job opportunities has evolved so dramatically over the years that the methods of outreach signify a totally new landscape. ECPs use omnichannel marketing driven in large part by social media and online job boards. There is consensus among the experts that, for the most part, traditional advertising modalities no longer apply.
By Evra Taylor / Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 17, 2024 1:00 AM
In the fast-changing world of recruitment, hiring and firing in the eyecare sector, a few things hold true: gone are the days when a competitive salary, bonus plan and matching 401K contributions were sufficient to attract and retain employees. These days, ECP practices and clinics have to sweeten the pot with incentives that address both hard and soft skill needs.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, October 25, 2024 8:30 AM
Halloween is around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to remind patients about the importance of vision safety, especially since many party goers and trick or treaters will be opting to wear contact lenses to round out their costumes. While the month is well known for the spooky holiday, October is also contact lens safety awareness month, which gives ECPs a perfect opportunity to educate their patients about the dangers of wearing costume contact lenses without a prescription. To ensure patients' eyes are protected, ECPs and government agencies are stepping up their education efforts and resources, so patients can fully understand the dangers of using decorative contact lenses.
By Evra Taylor, Contributing Editor
Friday, September 20, 2024 8:30 AM
Google X coined the term “glass explorers” when it released its Google Glass prototype in 2013, allowing wearers to communicate with the internet using voice commands. Since then, the smart glasses sector has become conspicuous for its rate of invention and iteration. What has emerged is a plethora of devices, proving it’s not only the technology that matters, it’s how you interpret it. Today’s smart glasses feature augmented reality displays, voice assistant-equipped headphones and live-streaming cameras, allowing users to answer phone calls, listen to music, reply to messages and enable a voice assistant. These days, the question isn’t “What can smart glasses do?” as much as “What can’t they do?”
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, September 13, 2024 8:30 AM
Fall will officially arrive on September 22, heralding the beginning of the conference and trade show season. As the business travel season begins and people start to gather in large numbers indoors, the risk of getting infected with influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increases. So what’s a trade show attendee to do? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new national campaign to inform the public about common respiratory viruses and available vaccines. The campaign, aptly titled
Risk Less. Do More., aims to increase the awareness of vaccines that reduce serious illness and limit the spread of these viruses among all Americans, HHS said.
By Evra Taylor / Contributing Editor
Sunday, September 1, 2024 1:00 AM
Google X coined the term “glass explorers” when it released its Google Glass prototype in 2013, allowing wearers to communicate with the internet using voice commands. Since then, the smart glasses sector has become conspicuous for its rate of invention and iteration. What has emerged is a plethora of devices, proving it’s not only the technology that matters, it’s how you interpret it.
By Julie Bos, Contributing Editor
Friday, August 23, 2024 8:30 AM
When Michael Walach retired from his 30-year optical career at age 57, the last thing he expected was to start another business. Yet he followed an opportunity and his intuition—and today, countless full-service labs around the world are certainly glad he did. In 2004, Walach started Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab, a unique and highly specialized “lab’s lab” that has earned its claim to fame for making prescriptions that are either too tough or simply out of range for other labs. Today, as Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab celebrates its 20th anniversary, the lab deserves every ounce of pride for what they’ve accomplished as they continue serving full-service wholesale labs from more than 17 countries around the world. Here’s a look at some of the lab’s major accomplishments over the last 20 years.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, August 16, 2024 8:30 AM
Healthy Aging Month is almost here, and with it comes calls for those over 65 years old to get a thorough eye exam. As people age, several vision health concerns begin to emerge such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Not only can these vision problems lead to loss of sight, but they can also make day-to-day activities more difficult. According to the
BrightFocus Foundation, macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. As the senior population continues to grow, the number of older patients requiring vision care for common ailments will also begin to rise.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, July 26, 2024 8:30 AM
August is Children's Eye Health & Safety Month, and eyecare providers and eye health organizations are taking steps to ensure parents and caregivers are aware of the risks. According to the
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, there are more than 1.4 million children globally under the age of 14 with blindness. Additionally, 22.6 million children suffer from moderate to severe sight loss, and 46.6 million children from mild sight loss. The agency noted that 40 percent of children are blind from eye conditions that could have been prevented.
By Julie Bos, Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 21, 2024 2:00 AM
When Michael Walach retired from his 30-year optical career at age 57, the last thing he expected was to start another business. Yet he followed an opportunity and his intuition—and today, countless full-service labs around the world are certainly glad he did.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 21, 2024 1:59 AM
Alaska has beckoned innovative and strong-minded individuals to set up businesses for centuries. Renowned for its outdoorsy ruggedness and beauty, in recent years it has also become a hub for technological advancement and an entrepreneurial-friendly place to start a business. With a keen understanding of an underserved Alaskan eyeglasses market, Robert Wiktorowicz, chief operations officer at Anchorage-based Custom Eye Lab Inc., and his business partner, optometrist Charles Vojta, set up the only full-service, independent prescription lab in the state.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 21, 2024 1:58 AM
CLEARWATER, Fla.—More than 55 customers and industry partners gathered here in April for three days of education and networking at the annual Ocuco www.ocuco.com Innovations User Group Meeting (UGM). The meeting featured nearly 30 workshops and presentations including Innovations and Lablink Development Road Maps, Strategies to Enhance Online Presence, and Specialized Personnel Recruitment.