By Evra Taylor
Friday, February 7, 2025 8:30 AM
The initial announcement of President Trump’s new tariffs on goods imported from China, Mexico and Canada threw global markets into a state of uncertainty and concern this past week, with fears of major economic fallout and key industry players formulating strategies to navigate a potentially more aggressive U.S. trade policy. The 30-day pause on tariffs against goods imported from Mexico and Canada, which were slated to take effect on February 4, has provided a brief reprieve, but with the looming threat of their implementation, the optical industry continues to assess the tariffs’ potential impact should the Trump administration enact the additional measures.
By Daniel Breeman
Friday, January 31, 2025 8:30 AM
As the calendar turns to 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) continues to cast a wide net over nearly every industry, and the optical industry is no exception. Developing at a torrid pace, AI is being implemented by optometrists, ophthalmologists and primary care physicians as a means to increase efficiencies in their practices while still striving for optimal patient outcomes. As the technology evolves, it is being used to enhance applications and perform a variety of tasks such as disease detection and diagnosis, screening and monitoring, expansion of telehealth, personalized medicine, virtual and augmented reality, administrative tasks, drug discovery and to improve access to care and patients’ overall health.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, January 24, 2025 8:30 AM
Behind every great pair of eyeglasses is a great optician. Opticians play an important role in the vision care experience by providing support to patients, and assisting with the fitting of eyeglasses and contact lenses. But they are also adept at helping patients find eyewear that fits their vision needs as well as their lifestyle requirements. National Optician Month celebrates the vital role of opticians in vision care as optometry practices throughout the U.S. pay homage to their opticians during the month of January. Here are a few examples of opticians who go above and beyond serving patients in underserved communities, both at home and abroad.
By Daniel Breeman
Friday, January 17, 2025 8:30 AM
As wildfires continued to ravage Southern California this past week and the world got a first-hand look at the devastation left behind, the optical industry was busy taking care of its own. The fires have killed at least 27 people and swept through more than 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying more than 12,300 structures and causing an estimated $20 billion or more in damages, according to the latest update from
CNN. As was the case with hurricanes Helene and Milton in the fall, optical industry associations, organizations, and eyewear and eyecare companies have stepped up once again to provide money, services and supplies to help victims, as well as ODs. Here are a few examples of how the optical industry is offering a helping hand to those affected by the wildfires.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, January 10, 2025 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—As wildfires continue in the Los Angeles, California area, Americans across the country are stepping up to help however they can in ways both small and large. On January 8, President Biden approved a disaster declaration for the state,
CBS News reported, while humanitarian groups and nonprofits on the ground are providing immediate assistance. For those far away from the active fires, it might feel hard to help—but there are a number of resources for people affected by the fires that those in safety can support.
By Sarah McGoldrick
Friday, January 3, 2025 8:30 AM
As Glaucoma Awareness Month begins, vision health organizations focused on the prevention and treatment of this disease are stepping up their efforts to improve its management. The
latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 3 million Americans currently have glaucoma, and cases are predicted to more than double to 6.3 million by 2050. As the U.S. population ages, it is clear that the incidence of glaucoma is expected to rise, with this upward trend amplifying the importance of finding prevention and treatment protocols.
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 Stefani Kim
Friday, December 20, 2024 8:30 AM
Navigating childhood with any kind of difference can be exceedingly difficult. Parents of children diagnosed with strabismus, or “cross eyes,” often worry about their child being teased or bullied for the condition. Media representations may even exacerbate the social stigma that exists for kids who have strabismus. A recent study published in
Pediatrics, titled
Depictions of Strabismus in Children’s Animated Films, examined the portrayal of the disorder in popular movies, and found characters with strabismus were more likely to have negative qualities such as villainy and low intelligence. This can be particularly damaging during a time when children are developing their self-esteem and seeking positive role models.
By Daniel Breeman
Friday, December 13, 2024 8:30 AM
It’s been nearly three months since the updated Eyeglass Rule of 2024 from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went into effect back in late September. And while eyecare professionals (ECPs) spent the months leading up to the rule’s implementation debating about how much the new rule may (or may not) affect their practice (click here for results from a Jobson Research
survey posted in July),
Vision Monday recently checked in with a few ECPs to see what impact the rule has had on their practices to date.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, December 6, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Holiday shopping season is in full swing, and, as always, there’s a lot to consider when buying gifts for our loved ones: sizes, colors, usefulness, whether they already have something. When it comes to the littlest ones on our shopping lists, though, we need to be extra careful. According to
Prevent Blindness, “Too often, accidents involving children and toys occur and may result in eye injuries. Each year, thousands of children aged 14 and younger suffered serious eye injuries, even blindness, from toys.” As shopping ramps up and the wrapping paper flies off the presents, here are some important reminders for safe toys.
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 Daniel Breeman
Friday, November 22, 2024 8:30 AM
Throughout the month of November, eyecare organizations and vision care experts have been urging people to prioritize their eyecare during diabetes-related eye disease awareness month. Experts note that 95 percent of vision loss from diabetes is preventable, and with that in mind, many health care professionals recommend yearly eye exams as an essential tool not just for eye health, but also in the detection and treatment of diabetes and related conditions. In addition, they note that patient education should be top of mind, not just during exams but throughout the course of preventative and disease treatment, for any diabetes care team, as the risk of developing significant vision loss, blindness and other eye health risks increases the longer someone has diabetes.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, November 15, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Our minds might be on Thanksgiving right now, but the winter holidays are right around the corner—and the retail industry needs to be ready. At the end of October, the National Retail Federation (NRF)
shared its outlook for the 2024 holiday spending season, reporting that consumer spending is expected to reach a new record of $902 per person on average across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal purchases. The NRF said this figure is about $25 per person more than last year’s, and $16 per person higher than the previous record, which was set in 2019.
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.