By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, March 15, 2024 8:30 AM
On April 8, millions of people will have their eyes on the sky for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a rare total solar eclipse that will be visible throughout North America as it passes across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. The April eclipse will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. until 2044. Experts estimate that the solar eclipse will cover a lot of ground and has the potential to be viewed by millions of people. For several months, optical safety experts have been sounding the alarm about the upcoming eclipse, warning eyecare providers and their patients to take steps to avoid significant eye damage.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, February 23, 2024 8:30 AM
With March just around the corner, eyecare professionals (ECPs) are focusing their attention on Workplace Eye Awareness Month. Each year, thousands of Americans experience some form of workplace eye injury. These types of injuries can be the result of many things, ranging from chemical spills to sharp objects. Many ECPs are also trying to educate their patients about the risks of spending too many hours in front of the computer, which can cause digital eyestrain. According to the
American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 25,000 Americans are sent to the emergency room each year with a workplace eye injury.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, February 4, 2024 1:03 AM
The optical industry has never been more competitive. Consumers want the most advanced and effective technology, while eyecare providers want to ensure this is delivered on-time and with the highest level of patient satisfaction. Operating in this environment, optical labs need to ensure that the products they are producing are accurate, easily adaptable and error-free. Arizona-based GSRx recently upgraded its 12,000 square foot facility to ensure that they tick all three of these boxes.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, January 26, 2024 8:30 AM
As the U.S. population ages, the number of Americans with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) continues to rise. A recent study published in
JAMA Ophthalmology,
The Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the U.S. in 2019, found that the number of Americans with age-related macular degeneration has risen to nearly 20 million people. This is nearly three times previous estimates. There are many new treatment options available that, with early detection, can help slow the progression and make living with AMD easier for patients and their families. This is why eyecare professionals around the world are boosting their education programs to keep patients in the know when it comes to AMD diagnosis and treatment. Here are descriptions of some of those efforts posted on Instagram by ECPs.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Friday, December 8, 2023 8:30 AM
During the winter months, your eyes can be at increased risk for injury. Despite the sun spending more time hidden behind clouds and shorter days, vision health can still be at risk due to Ultraviolet rays. This is also known as snow blindness and many people who live in northern climates are at risk. There is also an increased risk for developing photokeratitis, a condition resulting from exposure to ultraviolet light or man-made sources such as UV lamps. Today, sports enthusiasts use modern snow goggles featuring the latest sun blocking technology to protect their eyes. ECPs are working with their patients, both in-office and online, to educate and provide the right resources to prevent photokeratitis including helping them better identify the warning signs.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 26, 2023 2:00 AM
NEW YORK—Each year, millions of Americans suffer severe eye injuries and even blindness associated with workplace accidents. According to 2023 Bureau of Labor statistics, there were 18,510 eye-related injury or illness cases that resulted in at least one day away from work in 2020, leading to an incidence rate of 1.7 cases per 10,000 full-time workers.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 26, 2023 1:59 AM
The shift to provide workers with better protection on the job has been felt at Hoya. The SafeVision by
Hoya program has seen a post-COVID surge in growth as employees head back to in-person manufacturing jobs. “There has been a significant shift across a multitude of industries to ensure that workers are well-protected while on the job, even across many job functions where safety eyewear has not been historically required,” said Bruce Scott, vice president of Hoya Global Safety and Hoya wholesale division.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 26, 2023 1:58 AM
Art-Craft has been a pioneer in prescription safety eyewear for more than 25 years. The USA Workforce Collection and recently added Hudson Safety Line feature plastic and metal frames for men and women with tasteful styling and fashionable colors, something that has continuously driven business growth.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 26, 2023 1:57 AM
Bollé Safety launched the Corporate Safety Rx program in 2023 to meet the needs of their industrial customers and expand their customer base.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, November 26, 2023 1:52 AM
The U.S. safety glasses industry was valued at just over $903 million in 2022, making it a vital part of any eyecare provider’s bottom line.
Wiley X safety eyewear has seen strong year-over-year growth and demand with both key partners and eyecare providers.
By Julie Bos, Contributing Editor
Sunday, October 22, 2023 12:58 AM
Growth strategies are often counterintuitive. For many optometrists, throwing a wide net to catch as many patients as possible may seem like the wisest idea, but there are plenty of specialized practices today that beg to differ.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 23, 2023 2:00 AM
WILKES-BARRE, Penn.—Mergers and acquisitions over the past 25 years have reshaped the wholesale optical lab business in the U.S., yet some family-owned, independent labs remain vital, despite competition from corporate-owned labs. Luzerne Optical Laboratories is a notable example.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 23, 2023 1:59 AM
ST. CLOUD, Minn.—Eye-Kraft has built a reputation around service and independence. As a result, the St. Cloud, Minnesota-based optical lab has seen a steady growth in business since it first opened 65 years ago. The lab has undergone several expansions over the past decade, installing their first AR coating facility in 2015. Nearly 10 years later, the lab has seen such an increase in demand that they have once again had to expand their coating facility to accommodate a growing customer base.
By Jeff Hopkins / Contributing Editor
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 2:00 AM
Mankind has been grappling with the problem of presbyopia ever since people started living long enough to experience it. We are roughly 750 years into the era of reading glasses, 250 years into the multifocals era, 70 years into the progressive lens era, and 20 years into the customized progressive lens era. With all of these advancements, and particularly the explosion of technology in the past few decades, eyeglass dispensers and wearers might be forgiven for expressing some cynicism about claims of new advancements in the cause of clearer vision for presbyopes and their aging eyes.