NEW YORK—Organized optometry has worked long and hard on widening its scope of practice and this widening scope offers much opportunity as the profession continues to work to raise its profile among all healthcare professionals in the wake of the pandemic. The matter of Optometry's Widening Scope is experiencing a crescendo in light of the rapidly changing healthcare landscape. It's the topic of this week's latest short video, Micro Chats on Macro Trends, a series of conversations between VM editorial director Marge Axelrad and lens and technology editor Andrew Karp.

The video is the 5th in a 6-part series that examines significant trends influencing the way healthcare providers and optical retailers are doing business today, while preparing for the “next normal.” The video can be viewed below or by clicking here. 

Axelrad noted, "The pandemic seems to have reinforced the essential nature of healthcare delivery by optometrists. And at the same time, the opportunity for optometry to explore specialties treating particular eye health conditions, such as myopia management, glaucoma or neuro optometry, among others, is gaining ground."

Karp mentioned, "At the last Vision Monday Leadership Summit in 2019, I remember Kentucky Eye's Dr. Paul Karpecki made a point of noting that while there are many perceived threats to primary care optometry, such as online eye exams or online contact lens sales, he described medical optometry as 'optometry's blue ocean,' citing trends that are fueling its rise, from serving the needs of aging Baby Boomers and a range of patient groups."

At the end of the Micro Chat, Axelrad and Karp ask viewers, "What steps have you taken recently to grow the medical component of your practice or business?" Email us your answer at vmsummit@jobson.com.

All of the Micro Chats in this video series tackle these topics and can be viewed here.

• Brick Learns to Click
• Telehealth and Wellness: The Engaged Patient
• Access to Care: The Social Determinants of Health
• Re-Establishing Trust in Healthcare
• The Retail-Healthcare Convergence