Mary Kane, Executive Editor
Mary helps to oversee the editorial coverage of
Vision Monday and its print publication,
VMAIL, e-newsletters,
VisionMonday.com and the
Vision Expo Dailies. She also covers general company news, industry developments and business trends, as well as professional associations news and features. She is also responsible for deadline queries and operational questions for
Vision Monday print editions and
VMAIL. Contact Mary at
mkane@jobson.com.
By Mary Kane
Friday, December 27, 2024 8:30 AM
As 2024 comes to a close, it is once again time to take a look back at
Vision Monday’s most read news stories of the year delivered by our
VMAIL e-newsletter. Against the backdrop of a year filled with uncertainty—from the presidential election to stubborn inflation numbers and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine—
VM’s readers remained loyal to our
VMAIL news brand, week in and week out. Our readers were especially interested in an ongoing issue in the eyecare industry as the FTC announced in June the final updates to its Ophthalmic Practice Rules, known as the Eyeglass Rule, aimed at promoting competition and consumer choice—the story “FTC Announces Final Updates to ‘Eyeglass Rule’” occupies the top spot for 2024. Here’s a look at the 10 most read news stories for 2024.
By Mary Kane
Friday, November 8, 2024 8:30 AM
When it comes to choosing a medical specialty, there are many factors to consider, including clinical interests, the price-tag and duration of an education, and of course, viable job opportunities. For those considering a career in optometry, new research now helps those individuals thoroughly evaluate their options and make a well-informed decision about entering the field. Nearly 325 optometrists participated in the “Career Considerations in Optometry” survey conducted by
Jobson Research in conjunction with
Latinos en Optometry and
Transitions Optical Limited. In part two of this series, we will reveal survey findings about stress, technology, income satisfaction and the future of optometry.
By Mary Kane
Friday, November 1, 2024 8:30 AM
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.—Many factors go into choosing a medical specialty such as optometry, including personal history, clinical interests, duration of the training involved, career opportunities, and financial and work-life balance considerations. New research now provides individuals who might be considering becoming an optometrist with information about the profession and how it might fit into their interests, skills, career goals and lifestyle aspirations. Nearly 325 optometrists participated in the “Career Considerations in Optometry” survey conducted by Jobson Research in conjunction with Latinos en Optometry and Transitions Optical Limited.
By Mary Kane
Sunday, October 27, 2024 1:31 AM
In 2022,
Vision Monday marked the 20th anniversary of our Most Influential Women in Optical (MIWO) Special Report, so we did what everyone else does for an anniversary—we threw a party. Actually, it was a luncheon held at Vision Expo West and it was such a resounding success, we decided to make it an ongoing tradition.
By Mary Kane
Friday, August 2, 2024 8:30 AM
NEWARK, N.J.—The 22nd edition of
Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical feature brings a class of leaders, changemakers and trailblazers who are as impressive and exciting as it gets. This past week,
Vision Monday announced its
2024 roster of 40 women of accomplishment who were selected by
VM’s editors from several hundred submissions. For this year’s Annual Report,
VM considered women who are making a difference in the following five categories: Executive Suite, Rising Stars, Mentors, Innovators and Above & Beyond.
By Mary Kane
Friday, July 12, 2024 8:30 AM
It's official—summer has arrived. This past week, a large region of the United States was engulfed by a stubborn heat wave that just won’t seem to quit. The Western part of the country has been especially hard hit as the region suffered through triple-digit temperatures as high as 115 degrees in Las Vegas. As people head to pools, lakes and beaches to escape the scorching temperatures, the heat is not the only danger out there. According to the
New England College of Optometry (NECO), swimming can expose your eyes to various potential hazards, including chlorine irritation, eye infections and UV rays.
By Mary Kane
Sunday, June 16, 2024 2:59 AM
It seems that artificial intelligence (AI) is touching many parts of our lives these days, especially in the workplace. Companies are trying to integrate AI into their workflows to save time and make workers more productive, allowing employees to take on new projects and responsibilities. As with any new and developing technology, workers are understandably skittish about adopting something they don’t fully understand. Let’s be honest, the power and reliability of AI can be daunting.
By Mary Kane
Friday, June 14, 2024 8:30 AM
This June 27 will mark 11 years for National Sunglasses Day (NSD), an initiative that began in 2014 with the goal of raising awareness among consumers about the dangers of UV rays to the eyes.
VMAIL Weekend sat down with Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, to talk about how the initiative started, where it’s going this year, and how the effort to promote healthy vision has grown in popularity these past 11 years.
By Mary Kane
Friday, April 19, 2024 8:30 AM
Just how valuable are a pair of reading glasses? According to a recent study, having access to a pair of readers can make all the difference, especially if you are presbyopic and live in a part of the world with limited access to eyecare and eyewear products. This past week,
VisionSpring, a nonprofit provider of affordable eyeglasses to people in need,
BRAC, an international development organization that works with marginalized communities, and
Queen’s University Belfast released the findings of their collaborative THRIVE study, which found that a pair of reading glasses increases the earnings of people in low-income communities by 33 percent. Ella Gudwin, CEO of VisionSpring, summed it up best when she said, “THRIVE strengthens the case that it’s not about the eyeglasses—it’s about everything that comes after.”
By Mary Kane, Executive Editor
Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:57 AM
NEW YORK—John Whyte, MD, MPH,
WebMD’s chief medical officer and one of the most influential voices in the health sector, discussed how patients are learning to trust chatbots, how doctors are integrating generative AI into their practices, the need for transparency and other practical aspects of AI implementation. During a session titled, “How AI Is Reshaping the Future of Health Care,” Dr. Whyte said, “AI is a work in progress, and we have just started to scratch the surface of how we can use AI to improve health care and vision care outcomes.”
By Mary Kane, Executive Editor
Sunday, April 14, 2024 1:52 AM
NEW YORK—Six optometry students, each representing a different school of optometry, were recipients of this year’s Student Innovator of the Year Award. Named after Rick Bay, former publisher and president of Jobson’s Review of Optometry and Review of Ophthalmology, the Foundation’s Student Innovator of the Year award aims to support optometry’s next generation.
By Daniel Breeman, Mary Kane
Friday, March 22, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—After nearly four decades of showcasing some of the best eyewear products, eyecare technologies and countless hours of continuing education at Vision Expo in New York City, attendees at this year’s Show soaked in every moment and celebrated Expo East held for the final time at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. More than 450 leading eyewear and eyecare companies showcased their latest products and technologies, and attendees were again treated to VisionEd, the accredited educational program of Vision Expo featuring nearly 200 sessions, new product launches, special events and company anniversary celebrations. Read on for a review of special events and photo highlights from the Show.
By Mary Kane
Thursday, February 8, 2024 8:30 AM
The Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program is on the cusp of making whole functional eye transplantation to restore vision for the blind and visually impaired a reality in our lifetime. Last month, the
Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced that the THEA program intends to transplant whole human eyes to restore vision by reestablishing visual connection to the brain. Dr. Calvin W. Roberts, president and CEO of
Lighthouse Guild, is the program manager of ARPA-H’s transplantation program.
VMAIL Weekend reached out to Dr. Roberts to get his thoughts about how the THEA program will work and what it will mean to the millions who are experiencing severe vision loss.
By mary kane
Sunday, February 4, 2024 1:29 AM
The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the role it can play in helping doctors to detect and diagnose diabetic retinopathy—a common complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness—has the potential to become a real game changer. A recent study by eyecare nonprofit Orbis International has found that AI can accurately detect diabetic retinopathy in children and young adults, an important breakthrough that can mean the difference between healthy sight and irreversible vision loss for youngsters with diabetes.
By Mary Kane
Friday, December 29, 2023 8:30 AM
We can’t take a look back at
Vision Monday’s most read stories of the year without considering
VM’s Latest News features, the backbone of our
VMAIL e-newsletter. Even against the backdrop of a year filled with rising inflation and fears of a recession the optical industry still got down to business despite the personal and business hurdles they faced due to an uncertain financial landscape.
VM readers were especially interested in an ongoing problem in the eyecare industry concerning unsafe eye drops—the story “Dry Eye Foundation Reports Potentially Unsafe Eye Drops to FDA” occupies the top spot for 2023. Other stories in the most read category included features about business mergers and acquisitions, company reorganizations, a new location for Vision Expo East in 2025, and a perennial
VM favorite with readers, VM’s Most Influential Women in Optical. Here’s a look at the 20 most read stories for 2023.