By Marjorie Axelrad
Monday, July 13, 2020 10:18 AM
NEW YORK—Uprise by
VisionWeb continues to offer a range of different resources for ECPs to access to help make their practices more efficient and streamlined. The company has just released a new, free e-book, "Building an Adaptable Practice — How to Reset, Fortify and Grow in Any Environment," certainly a topic that resonates with so many independents right now. The new e-book offers advice and stories from ODs with experience handling abrupt change, practice closures, lease changes and demotivated staff, among others. VisionWeb compiled this useful advice for fortifying your practice with communication plans, interviews, and possible growth opportunities into one resource.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, July 9, 2020 8:55 AM
NEW YORK—Wearing a face mask is a part of life that we’re all beginning to settle into. While there’s no question that wearing a mask isn’t the most comfortable or fun thing in the world, there’s also no question that it’s a vital way to help keep those we interact with—and ourselves—safe and healthy.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 2:33 PM
NEW YORK—For many of us, National Sunglasses Day is a sign that summer is well and truly here. Despite this June 27 being markedly different from years past, stay at home orders and extra safety precautions didn’t put a damper on the National Sunglasses Day celebrations—in fact, is there anything better to do on a day at home than take a #SunglassesSelfie?
By Staff
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 8:15 AM
Rupa Wong, MD, an eye surgeon at Honolulu Eye Clinic, shared a sweet story about a patient who was finally able to come in for a surgery that helped her eyes stop “going silly.”
Image via Dr. Rupa Wongon Instagram.
By Marge Axelrad
Thursday, June 25, 2020 9:33 AM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—
ReopenEyecare.com the recently launched digital platform designed to help eyecare providers navigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses, has announced the establishment of an official advisory board. Comprised of eyecare providers and vision community leaders, the advisory board will provide expert insight and feedback to the ReopenEyecare.com board of directors with the intention of improving the functionality of the website as a resource for eyecare providers navigating the complex journey from shutdown or essential services only back to “new normal” business conditions.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 11:11 AM
NEW YORK—On Father's Day weekend, many independents across the industry took to social media to show some love to their dads. In honor of Father’s Day, many shared stories of how their dads inspired their personal decision to join the industry, or just shared sweet, touching photos with the men in their lives. Although not everyone could be with their father, there was no shortage of love and sweetness, despite social distancing. Here’s a look at some of the independent ECPs who took a moment to celebrate Dad.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 8:12 AM
The team at Envision in Boston shared some vital information about Juneteenth with their patients and followers.
Image via Envision Optometry on Instagram.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 10:00 AM
NORWALK, Conn.—As independents across the country head back to work under new rules and regulations, masks are becoming a familiar, and somewhat comforting, sight. Although it felt a little unusual and perhaps post-apocalyptic to see everyone wearing masks at first, it has now become clear that wearing a face covering is a necessary act of kindness toward others—a way to let the people you interact with know that you care about keeping them safe and healthy.
By Ruth Domber
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 12:42 PM
“We had been open throughout COVID as an essential business. We had furloughed our entire staff (admittedly they were always a phone call away), adjusted the working hours for Dr. Stephen Rozenberg and myself so that we could man the shop, and we applied for the PPP money and government assistance. We were practically the only brick-and-mortar optical open in New York City. But on Sunday night, May 31 at 11:00 p.m. the alarm went off in our shop. The security camera links to my iPhone. I could see hordes of vandals and thieves flooding into 10/10 Optics, destroying our place. By the time we got there 20 minutes later, the looters were gone and the police were there. NYC sounded like a bad movie." Read Ruth Domber's first-person account about 10/10 Optics.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 11:42 AM
NEW YORK—Last week, the country—and the world—sprung into action. In the streets, online, and in senators’, representatives’ and mayors’ offices, Americans pushed and protested for the Black Lives Matter movement, making their voices heard and doing their part to change the course of history. As massive movements that touch every single aspect of society, Black Lives Matter and Amplifying Melanated Voices have become important topics in the optical community as well. On social media, ODs, opticians, brands, and influencers stepped up to make their voices heard. Here, we take a look at just a small number of those who have important things to say about the movement.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 11:32 AM
NEW YORK—
CooperVision’s webinar series, “Best Practices to Get You Back to Practice,” features its Best Practices program honorees. The series, which started in late May, aims to help ECPs get back to work. Each of the webinars features two eyecare professionals from CooperVision’s Best Practices initiative, which recognizes optometric practices that advance the profession through innovation, leadership, and the provision of exceptional patient experience.
By Staff
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 8:09 AM
Milwaukee-based MetroEye celebrated 17 years of business, and honored founder Amy Jankowski, OD.
Image via MetroEye on Instagram.
By Staff
Thursday, May 28, 2020 10:00 AM
NEW YORK—Many ECPs find that independence comes with a lot of space for creativity and freedom, and just as many say that this space is what allows them to stand out amongst competition, to make their practices entirely their own. Along with fun and creative names, signs, and promotions, some ECPs have taken an additional step in their independence: creating their own eyewear collections. To get a grasp on what it’s like to create your own eyewear collection,
The Independent Eye reached out to three independent ODs who created their collections with
Your Brand, which works directly with ECPs to create unique, private label brands.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 2:13 PM
For ECPs around the country, heading back into the office means spending a lot of time thinking about masks. From wearing your own mask to making sure your staff and patients are covered as well, thinking and talking about face masks has become a part of our daily routines. Most practices require that both staff and patients wear masks at all times—and many are making this requirement abundantly clear through signage and social media posts.
By Staff
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 1:32 PM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—
ReopenEyecare is a new digital website and platform which launched last week and is designed to help eyecare providers navigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses. Featuring content specially curated by a task force of vision community leaders and sponsored by
The Vision Council, the website is intended to serve as a comprehensive resource to help eyecare providers navigate the complex journey from shutdown back to "new normal" business conditions with practical insights and a collection of best practices, protocols, tools and tips for reopening a practice and maintaining its health until conditions improve.