By Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025 8:30 AM
DAKOTA DUNES, S.D.—When we think of AI in health care, we often think of it on the large scale—how the biggest, most technologically advanced are using it with vast swathes of patients. And while that does happen, AI is not out of reach, or out of the realm of possibility, for independent ECPs either. As reported in
Vision Monday’s recent cover story
“The AI Connection With Eyecare,” the team at
Dunes Eye Consultants in Dakota Dunes, S.D., are on the verge of adopting AI technology to help streamline patient scheduling tasks—and there’s more to come. Practice owner Steven Ferguson, OD, spoke to
VM’s Stefani Kim.
By Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025 8:25 AM
Nishan Pressley, OD, Essential Eyecare & Optical, Apopka, Fla., shared her most memorable moments of January 2025, including being named part of the Contact Lens Institute 2025 Class of Visionaries.
By Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and love is in the air. No matter if it’s romantic, platonic, familial, or love for the work you do, February 14 is a day to celebrate love in all its forms—both in your personal life and in the office. This week, we’re taking a look at how some independent ECPs are gearing up for Valentine’s Day, from heart-themed office décor to special promotions and more. Take a look and grab some inspiration wherever you feel the love—there’s still plenty of time to get your office ready for Cupid to stop by.
By Staff
Thursday, February 6, 2025 8:15 AM
NEW ORLEANS—While the 2024 holiday shopping season data revealed an 8.7 percent increase in sales compared with last year and a notable surge in mobile shopping, an untold story is the growing consumer preference for local retail. According to data from
Locally's real-time network of more than 55,000 retailers worldwide, 71 percent of consumers preferred local retailers, and nearly 50 percent of online shoppers abandoned carts when a local pickup wasn't an option.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, January 23, 2025 8:30 AM
PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—
Transitions Optical has announced the finalists for its annual Transitions Innovation Awards program, which recognizes individuals and organizations from North America who have shown commitment to implementing innovative programs and technologies over the past year. Drew Smith, senior director, North America channels, Transitions Optical, said, “We are proud to recognize the exceptional achievements of this year’s finalists. They have set new standards of excellence in our industry while demonstrating commitment to our core values of quality, education, service and innovation, and we look forward to celebrating their incredible work at Transitions Academy in February.”
By Staff
Thursday, January 23, 2025 8:25 AM
The team at Kastl Family Eyecare in Northfolk, Neb., celebrated optician Brad who has been working for 30 years.
Image via kastlfamilyeyecare on Instagram
By Staff
Thursday, January 23, 2025 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—This year, as it is every year, January is National Optician Month, a time to celebrate the opticians who make our industry go round. In addition to educating the general public about the work opticians do and their importance in a comprehensive eye exam, National Optician Month also presents other ECPs to show some love to the opticians they work alongside. With some time still left in January, we’re taking a look at how some ECPs have been celebrating opticians this month—and how you can too.
By Staff
Thursday, January 23, 2025 8:15 AM
The
2025 Business Leaders Outlook survey by Chase Insights revealed that small businesses are navigating economic uncertainty with strategic planning in the New Year. The survey reflects a deeper focus on stability, as business leaders are turning inward, concentrating on their operations and areas within their control. The survey showed that economic uncertainty remains a significant consideration for business leaders, but many are meeting it with cautious optimism. More than two-thirds of respondents (68 percent) believe that small businesses will continue to be the driving force of economic growth, reflecting confidence in their resilience and adaptability.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, January 16, 2025 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, an initiative to provide patients, care partners and professionals with education surrounding glaucoma, and to spread awareness within the general public. As
reported in
VMAIL, Prevent Blindness is taking an active role in Glaucoma Awareness Month by providing a collection of free educational resources including fact sheets, information about financial assistance organizations, social media graphics, a dedicated webpage and more. On a grassroots scale, independent ECPs are also doing their part to raise awareness this month, and to encourage patients to get their eyes checked.
By Staff
Thursday, January 16, 2025 8:25 AM
Abby Jakob, OD, of
Abby Jakob Eyes in Ontario, Canada, shared her 2025 eye health “ins and outs.”
By Staff
Thursday, January 16, 2025 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—It’s a new year, with 12 fresh months ahead of us to celebrate and be thankful for the important things in life. In addition to Glaucoma Awareness Month, January is also used to celebrate National Eyecare Month, a time to both recognize the important work eyecare providers do, and to raise awareness surrounding the importance of regular, consistent eyecare. With more than half of January still to come, there’s plenty of time for ECPs to celebrate this month dedicated to them and the work they do. This week, we take a look at a few social media posts in celebration of National Eyecare Month—feel free to take some inspiration for your own.
By Staff
Thursday, January 16, 2025 8:15 AM
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Job growth in U.S. small businesses with fewer than 50 employees averaged modest employment growth throughout 2024, according to the
Paychex Small Business Employment Watch. The national jobs index was relatively unchanged (0.02 percentage points) at the close of the year in December and has held its pace since the summer. At 2.96 percent in December, hourly earnings growth for U.S. small business workers remained below 3 percent for the fifth consecutive month, according to the report.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—The end of the year is upon us—but 2024 is not over yet. Before we head into the new year, there’s still some time left to make the most out of the year behind us. There’s no better time than now to remind patients and our communities about the importance of taking care of eye health—and how HSA and FSA dollars can help us do just that. Here, we’re taking a look at how some independent ECPs are reminding patients to put their HSA and FSA dollars to work before they lose them—and how you can do the same.
By Staff
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 8:25 AM
Shannon Joseph, OD, who practices in Florida, had a great experience working with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation to provide eyecare to the local community in need.
By Staff
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—The Pantone Color Institute recently announced that it has selected Mocha Mousse as its Color of the Year for 2025, setting a tone that will likely influence design trends across concentrations throughout the year. The Pantone Color Institute
describes Mocha Mousse as “a warming, brown hue imbued with richness,” echoing the flavors of coffee and chocolate and offering a feeling of comfort. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute,
explained, “Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence.”