Thursday, December 19, 2024
Eyecare Business delivers the latest personnel updates across the eyecare industry. This week includes organizational appointments in Topcon Healthcare Inc., including chief strategy and business development officer and vice president of professional affairs.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Thursday, December 19, 2024
The deadline to submit frames for the Now Trend Showcase and Awards at Vision Expo East 2025 has been extended to Jan. 17, 2025. Product samples must be received by Jan. 24, 2025, to be eligible. Submissions are free for brands exhibiting at Vision Expo East, set to take place Feb. 19-22, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Retail sales in November saw a solid increase as the holiday shopping season began, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The report showed a 0.7% seasonally adjusted month-over-month rise in retail sales and a 3.8% unadjusted year-over-year increase, marking a continuation of growth observed in October.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has formally urged Congressional leaders to prioritize tax policies that expand opportunity for the U.S. optical industry. In a letter addressed to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Committee on Finance, the organization called for the extension of specific tax provisions that are set to expire, citing their importance to domestic businesses and public health.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced the recipients of its 2024 Leadership Scholarships, recognizing members who have demonstrated commitment through their service to the organization and the broader optical industry.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
EssilorLuxottica has announced an agreement to acquire Espansione Group, an Italian company specializing in the development and production of noninvasive medical devices.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The nation’s major container ports are bracing for a possible surge in imports through next spring as labor disputes and looming tariff policies create uncertainty for retailers and the broader economy, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Eyecare Business highlights the stories that resonated most with the eyecare community this year—from insights into emerging trends and cutting-edge technology to expert advice on retail strategies and industry updates.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The luxury eyewear industry is set to gather at Eyecon, a three-day B2B event scheduled for March 14–16, 2025, at The Glasshouse in New York City.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The Silmo Paris optical trade show has announced the fourth edition of its Optical Design Contest, inviting design students worldwide to participate.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has announced the recipients of its 2024 grant program, awarding nearly $1 million across 16 grants to 15 organizations worldwide. The funding will support initiatives aimed at addressing uncorrected refractive errors and improving access to vision care in underserved regions.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
A roundtable discussion on the World Council of Optometry (WCO) CooperVision Myopia Management Navigator, featuring three WCO myopia management ambassadors—Nicola Logan, Ph.D., MEd, MCOptom, SFHEA, FBCLA, global ambassador; Jagrut Lallu, MSc Specialty Lenses, BOptom, FIAOMC, Asia-Pacific ambassador; and Síofra Harrington, Ph.D., FAOI, European ambassador—is now available online.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
An estimated 197 million consumers shopped over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. While slightly below last year’s record of 200.4 million, the turnout exceeded NRF’s forecast of 183.4 million shoppers.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has announced the keynote speakers for its 2025 Executive Summit, set to take place Jan. 22–24, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, CA. The event will bring together more than 300 industry leaders for engaging discussions, professional development, and networking opportunities.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has named the recipients of its 2025 awards, which will be presented at the OWA’s annual Champagne Breakfast taking place during Vision Expo East in Orlando, FL.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has recognized four eyecare professionals from the U.S. and Canada with its 2024 Culture Awards, recognizing ECPs who have significantly contributed to fostering environments that enhance patient experiences and practice success.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Latinos en Optometry and Transitions Optical have partnered to launch Eying the Future, a free educational initiative designed to encourage middle and high school students in Latino communities to consider careers in optometry.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Vision Expo East 2025 optical trade show is set to take place Feb. 19–22, 2025, at its new location, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Organized by RX and The Vision Council (TVC), the conference features educational programming, starting on Feb. 19, and an expansive exhibit hall, open on Feb. 20.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
VSP Vision has introduced the VSP Vision Future Leaders Academy, a professional development initiative aimed at supporting recent optometry graduates and early-career optometrists.
Friday, November 22, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC)’s latest report, Focused inSights 2024: Consumer Choices, examines evolving consumer behaviors and motivations when selecting eyecare providers and purchasing vision care products.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and EssilorLuxottica have announced a virtual event with a series of live sessions, “Presbyopia and Aging Eye,” aimed at advancing education and understanding of the mitigation, measurement, and management of presbyopia and aging eye care.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
VSP Vision and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) have announced the recipients of the 2024 Practice Excellence Scholarship. This annual award recognizes outstanding fourth-year optometry students in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada for their achievements in academic and clinical performance, as well as their commitment to independent optometric practice.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Eyecare Business delivers the latest personnel updates across the eyecare industry. This week includes the six new members appointed to the Prevent Blindness board of directors.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
A record 183.4 million people are expected to shop in-store and online from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Now through Dec. 6, nominations are open for the 2024 Transitions Innovation Awards, recognizing optical industry professionals and organizations across the U.S. and Canada.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The American Academy of Optometry held its annual meeting, Academy 2024 Indianapolis, where it inducted 271 new Fellows and recognized 16 existing Fellows with the distinction of Diplomate.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released its Market inSights Q3 2024 report, providing an overview of the $18.9 billion optical industry’s performance for the third quarter of the year.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Eyecare Business delivers the latest personnel updates across the eyecare industry. This week includes news from PPG, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc., and the United Opticians Association.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
EssilorLuxottica has announced a $300,000 contribution to the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) to support optometrists pursuing their Ph.D. in vision science fields.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Retail sales saw a notable rebound in October as economic stability encouraged consumer spending, following a slower September affected by concerns about port strikes and other disruptions.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
The 32nd Hong Kong International Optical Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in collaboration with the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, concluded three days of international optical excellence on Nov. 8.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Prevent Blindness has designated Nov. 18-24 as the fifth annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week, aiming to raise awareness about the autoimmune condition also known as Graves' eye disease.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
EyeMed Vision Care and The Vision Council Foundation have launched a partnership aimed at promoting public awareness about eye health and advocating for the importance of vision care.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Eyecare Business delivers the latest personnel updates across the eyecare industry. This week includes announcements of Optometry Giving Sight’s new executive director and the appointment of the chief medical officer at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
The latest report from the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) reveals practical steps eyecare practices can take to reduce patient dropout rates and boost satisfaction among contact lens wearers.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects holiday sales to continue growing steadily this year, despite recent mixed economic indicators, according to NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recently held a Reimbursement & Coverage Fairness Town Hall, offering updates on its efforts to address systemic issues in vision and health plan reimbursements for optometrists.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released its Consumer inSights Q3 2024 report, providing a detailed look into the current habits and attitudes of U.S. consumers regarding vision correction, managed vision care, eye exams, prescription eyewear, reading glasses, and plano sunglasses.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Vision Expo is gearing up to unveil a new brand identity this month. Organized by RX and The Vision Council, the revamped branding includes a refreshed logo, improved show navigation, updated programming, and new event features.
Friday, November 1, 2024
The Accessories Council announced the winners of the 2024 Design Excellence Awards on Monday, Nov. 4, at a breakfast celebration at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City. The organization shared that this year’s awards received hundreds of entries and nearly 10,000 votes.
Friday, November 1, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) will host a financial wellness workshop for optometrists on Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. ET, through its AOAExcel program. Titled “Navigating Financial Wellness as an OD - Strategies to Build a Secure Financial Future,” the session aims to provide optometrists with practical financial strategies tailored to their profession.
Friday, November 1, 2024
Eyecare Business magazine, published by Conexiant, has revealed the seventh annual #EBGameChanger awardees—10 eyecare professionals who are changing the optical and vision care industry landscape for the better.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Prevent Blindness has designated November as Diabetes-related Eye Disease Awareness Month. The nonprofit offers free resources including fact sheets, videos, social media graphics, and other educational materials available in English and Spanish.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
CooperVision has launched the Bright Fellows recognition program, aimed at encouraging third- and fourth-year optometry students to broaden their educational experiences.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Loft Eyewear Shows has announced the launch of New York Eyewear Design Week, set to take place March 13-15, 2025. The event aims to offer a curated platform for eyewear brands, industry professionals, and other stakeholders to explore new trends and innovations in eyewear design.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Transitions Optical, in collaboration with its diversity advisory board, has announced the recipients of its first-ever Diversity in Optical educational grant program. The initiative aims to support and increase representation within the U.S. optical industry by awarding grants to students pursuing careers in optometry and opticianry.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Consumer spending for winter holidays is set to reach a new high of $902 per person on average, covering gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal purchases, according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Friday, October 25, 2024
The SUNY College of Optometry Foundation will host its first annual Value of Vision Breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 8:30-10 a.m. The invitation-only event will honor individuals who have made significant contributions to health care and vision care through leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy.
Friday, October 25, 2024
CooperVision has introduced the 2024-2025 members of its Student Contact Lens Leadership Society and Student Myopia Leadership Society. The selected students represent various schools and colleges of optometry across the U.S. and Canada.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
The 32nd Hong Kong International Optical Fair is set to take place Nov. 6-8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and co-organized by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association. This year's event, themed "Seeing is Believing," will showcase innovative eyewear products and technologies from more than 700 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has opened registration for its 2025 Executive Summit, scheduled to take place Jan. 22-24, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, CA.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
The annual Transitions Academy will return Feb. 2-5, 2025, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL, gathering professionals from across the optical industry for two days of educational workshops, seminars, and hands-on sessions focused on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Retail sales in the U.S. rose in September, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, signaling continued consumer spending strength amid growth in employment and easing inflation and interest rates.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Eyecare Business delivers the latest personnel updates across the industry. This week includes news from CooperVision, Hilco Vision, and VSP Vision.
Friday, October 18, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation, in partnership with PERC Alliance, has announced the opening of applications for the second annual Golden Opportunity Award, which honors the legacy of David Golden, O.D.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) has introduced PECAA Propel, a new membership program aimed at helping optometry students and first-year graduates develop business skills for leading or owning a private practice.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Following the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation launched an emergency appeal for donations to Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief.
Friday, October 18, 2024
The 11th edition of Silmo Istanbul is set to take place Nov. 20-23 at the Istanbul Expo Center. The event will feature exhibitors from the Turkish optics industry, major international brands, and manufacturers from Asia, spread across more than 250,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Friday, October 18, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has forecasted that winter holiday spending in 2024 will increase between 2.5% and 3.5% compared to last year, reaching between $979.5 billion and $989 billion for November and December.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Retail sales experienced a slight decline in September, falling 0.32% month-over-month, according to the latest data from the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions. Despite the dip, consumer spending remained higher than last year, rising 0.55% year-over-year.
Friday, October 11, 2024
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, students at the Boyce L. Ansley School in Atlanta participated in an interactive eye health fair organized by MyEyeDr. The event, known as ExamJam, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of vision care, especially for youth.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Imports at major U.S. container ports are expected to continue this month at “elevated levels,” the National Retail Federation (NRF) shares, despite a brief strike last week that halted operations from Maine to Texas. The data comes from the Global Port Tracker report, released by the NRF and Hackett Associates.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Multifocal contact lenses, though increasingly available and technologically advanced, continue to see low global prescribing rates, according to the latest Contact Lens Update from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE).
Friday, October 11, 2024
VSP Vision announced plans to acquire Eyemart Express, a Texas-based organization with nearly 250 stores across 42 states, from private equity firms FFL Partners and Leonard Green & Partners. VSP shares that the acquisition is a strategic step toward expanding and enhancing its network and services.
Friday, October 11, 2024
The Silmo Paris 2024 international optical trade show attracted more than 32,000 industry professionals over four days at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
In honor of World Sight Day on Thursday, Oct. 10, Cure Blindness Project announced plans to expand its services to six new countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Pakistan, Paraguay, and Zambia. This move marks the nonprofit’s first entry into South America and broadens its existing operations in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Friday, October 4, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released its Market inSights Q2 2024 report, showing a mixed performance in the $18.3 billion optical industry. The report provides insights into a variety of market categories including eye exams, eyeglasses, frames, lenses, contact lenses, readers, and plano sunglasses.
Thursday, October 3, 2024
EssilorLuxottica has officially completed its acquisition of an 80% stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a German company specializing in diagnostic solutions, digital surgical technologies, and health care IT for clinical ophthalmology.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
A panel discussion titled “Disrupting the Dropout Dilemma: Bold Moves to Keep Patients in Contact Lenses,” recorded during Vision Expo West 2024 in Las Vegas, is now available online.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Prevent Blindness has released a statement praising the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Focus on Myopia: Pathogenesis and Rising Incidence for its newly released report.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the American Optometric Association (AOA) is calling for urgent support for its members and communities affected by the storm.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
BostonSight held its annual FitAcademy retreat for cornea and contact lens residents and fellows at the New England College of Optometry (NECO) in Boston Sept. 13-14.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Prevent Blindness has announced October as Contact Lens Safety Month to raise awareness about the proper use of both prescription and cosmetic contact lenses. To support this, the nonprofit provides fact sheets, shareable social media content, and dedicated webpages to educate the public.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Myopia Profile is wrapping up the second year of Myopia Action Month this September with significant engagement from eyecare professionals around the world. The initiative, aimed at raising awareness and improving myopia care, experienced a notable increase in participation and interaction throughout the month.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
The Myopia Collective held its inaugural Change Agent Workshop in Chicago Sept. 6-8, gathering eyecare professionals from across the country. The three-day event focused on advancing myopia management through scientific presentations, educational seminars, and networking sessions, equipping participants with tools to enhance their practices and advocacy efforts.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) and Meta Reality Labs have announced a collaboration to fund an open-science research initiative, three independent research studies totaling $1.5 million, to accelerate the study of visual experience as it affects myopia onset and progression.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Prevent Blindness has announced two major honors, the 2024 Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award and the 2025 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award, each recognizing significant efforts to improve vision care and eye health.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
The winners of the 31st edition of the Silmo d'Or Awards were announced on Friday, Sept. 20, as part of the Silmo Paris optical trade show, which took place Sept. 20-23 at the Paris Nord Villepinte.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
At Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, Dori Carlson, O.D., FAAO, and Crystal Brimer, O.D., FAAO, led a transformative course titled "Promoting the Happiness Advantage in Your Office," based on Shawn Achor's book, “The Happiness Advantage.” This one-hour session demonstrated how fostering a positive work environment can enhance productivity, creativity, and problem-solving skills among employees.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
As the eyewear market becomes increasingly competitive, the importance of providing an exceptional patient experience is more critical than ever. At Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA, an expert in opticianry education, led a course titled “Only the Best Will Do!” designed to equip eyewear professionals with the skills necessary to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Janelle L. Davison, O.D., delivered a two-hour continuing education (CE) course at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas titled "The Business of Eye Care: How Everyday Clinic Practice Can Generate Revenue,” designed to empower optometrists, technicians, opticians, and office managers to stay innovative in today’s highly competitive eyecare market.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
In an education course, “The Business of Contact Lenses,” Melissa Barnett, O.D., FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA; Mile Brujic, O.D., FAAO; and Jessilin Quint, O.D., MBA, FAAO, explored the business aspects of contact lenses in the optometric practice with information on strategies to creating a contact lens patient base, the impact of contact lenses to an eyecare practice, and how contact lenses can improve practice profitability.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
On Friday, Sept. 20, during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, Harbir Sian, O.D., industry pro and former #EBGameChanger, led an educational course focused on enhancing the patient experience through online eyecare services. Ahead of the course, EB spoke with Dr. Sian to learn more about key takeaways and how ECPs can benefit from building an online presence.
Friday, September 20, 2024
Eyecare Business magazine’s editor-in-chief Kerri Ann DeCindis and associate editor Veronica Daub hosted a second “Flaunt the Frame” eyewear trends presentation on Friday, Sept. 20, during Visio Expo West at the Innovation Stage. The first show premiered on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Friday, September 20, 2024
At Vision Expo West, a panel featuring Alysse Henkel, vice president of research and insights at The Vision Council (TVC), alongside Darren Horndasch, CEO of Wisconsin Vision, and John Marvin, president of Texas State Optical, addressed the pressing hiring realities facing the optometry field.
Friday, September 20, 2024
In a thought-provoking session titled "How Can AI Complement Your Practice vs. Being a Threat," industry professionals gathered to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the eyecare field at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas. Moderated by Alan Glazier, O.D., the panel featured Easy Anyama, O.D.; Ukti Vora, M. Optom, MBA, FAAO; and Garrett Pennell, O.D., who shared insights on the current and future applications of AI.
Friday, September 20, 2024
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) announced the second round of recipients in its ClearVision-Adira Grant Program on Friday, Sept. 20, during Vision Expo West at its annual networking and raffle event.
Friday, September 20, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) held its all-member meeting at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 20, providing both members and nonmembers updates about TVC’s research program, governmental and regulatory affairs, and the organization’s community-building efforts.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) delivered new consumer data in a panel, “Disrupting the Dropout Dilemma: Bold Moves to Keep Consumers in Contact Lenses,” at the Vision Expo West Innovation Stage Thursday morning, Sept. 19, in Las Vegas.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Eyecare Business magazine’s editor-in-chief Kerri Ann DeCindis and associate editor Veronica Daub hosted a “Flaunt the Frame” eyewear trends presentation on Thursday, Sept. 19, of Vision Expo West, the first day of the trade floor’s opening for the 2024 show, at the Innovation Stage, with an additional show scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20, at 3:45 p.m. ET.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) hosted its annual Connection Series luncheon at Vision Expo West at the Venetian Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Eyecare Business’s editor-in-chief Kerri Ann DeCindis kicked off Vision Expo West in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 19, with The Vision Council (TVC) CEO Ashley Mills for a preview of the many offerings of the optical trade show.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
A new report from The Vision Council (TVC) reveals that 52% of American consumers consider "Made in the USA" labeling an important factor in their purchasing decisions, with many willing to pay more for products carrying the designation.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
The Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) and VSP Vision have announced the extension of the VSP Vision exam rebate program through 2025, allowing eyecare providers to earn up to $10 per VSP commercial eye exam, potentially adding as much as $60,000 in additional revenue next year.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Prevent Blindness has declared Sept. 16-22 as the fourth annual Inflammatory Eye Disease (IED) Awareness Week.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
The U.S. economy is showing signs of stability as it navigates slower growth and cooling inflation, according to Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Thursday, September 12, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released a new report analyzing the vision care habits and purchasing trends of Canadian consumers during the first half of 2024.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Prevent Blindness has introduced the Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Health Map, the first interactive online tool to track geographic disparities in children's vision problems, visual impairment, and blindness.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
As the school year begins, The Vision Council (TVC) Foundation is drawing attention to a collection of educational tools aimed at supporting eye care for children. These free downloadable resources are designed for the eyecare community to share with parents and staff.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
From Sept. 20-23, the Silmo Paris international optical trade show will bring together professionals from the eyecare industry at the Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition center.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Prevent Blindness, in collaboration with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and global partners, is preparing for World Sight Day on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) is recognizing Paraoptometric Appreciation Month this September, a time dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of practice staff who play a critical role in optometric patient care.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Myopia Profile has announced the return of Myopia Action Month this September, a global initiative aimed at addressing the growing issue of childhood myopia.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has established an international expansion committee to extend its reach and impact beyond the U.S. The OWA will continue to operate as a U.S.-based organization with the mission to empower, educate, and support women in the optical industry across different cultures and continents.
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Prevent Blindness has declared September as Sports Eye Safety Month to raise awareness about the risks of sports-related eye injuries.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and CooperVision have released a video series to assist eyecare professionals in utilizing the WCO CooperVision Myopia Management Navigator, an interactive guide designed to support evidence-based approaches to myopia management.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Myopia Profile has launched "Made Simple" courses to provide eyecare professionals with practical insights and step-by-step guidance in myopia management.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has introduced "The Eye," an educational prototype designed to draw comparisons between the latest technological innovations and the advanced capabilities of human vision.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released its latest Provider inSights report, a semi-annual study that examines the perspectives of eyecare providers on their practice operations, the state of the eyecare industry, and the broader U.S. economy.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has launched its 2024 World Sight Day Challenge, an annual initiative that supports OGS’s mission of reducing uncorrected refractive error through the global expansion of optometry.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
VSP Vision has announced the winner of its inaugural VSP Vision Innovation Challenge. RevitalVision, a digital health startup from Israel, earned the $10,000 grand prize for its noninvasive, algorithm-based technology that targets the brain's visual cortex to enhance eyesight neurologically.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Retail sales in the U.S. continued to rise in July, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Retail Federation shares.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to begin a three-week training project focused on enhancing the skills of local eyecare professionals.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
The Myopia Collective, an initiative supported by CooperVision and the American Optometric Association (AOA), has launched a new set of resources aimed at helping eyecare professionals manage myopia as students prepare to return to school.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Nominations are open for the second annual Contact Lens Institute (CLI) Culture Awards, now through Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The U.S. eyewear market, valued at approximately $18.26 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to $19.14 billion in 2024 and reach about $30.32 billion by 2033, according to a new report from Custom Market Insights.
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The 2025 Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), taking place Jan.15-18 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, is accepting abstract submissions for free paper and poster presentations.
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has launched The Vision Council Foundation, a philanthropic arm aimed at expanding knowledge and access to eye health resources.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s latest Monthly Economic Review, the economy is still growing, but could be slowing enough for the Federal Reserve to potentially lower interest rates later this year.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) will hold its 34th annual conference Sept. 19-22 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South in Kissimmee, FL.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Vision Expo West will kick off with its educational program, VisionEd, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, followed by the exhibition hall opening on Thursday, Sept. 19. The four-day conference will offer more than 150 hours of accredited continuing education, with topics ranging from disease management and practice growth to lens innovations and the latest in eyewear trends.
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
A new three-part video series from the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) aims to promote healthy contact lens use. Titled “EASY as 1-2-3,” the series features 18 CLI Visionaries who encourage eye care professionals to share The EASY Way with their soft contact lens patients.
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) has announced that registration is now open for its fall education lineup, offering certification courses, COPE and ABO CE, and comprehensive dry eye and optical workshops for eyecare professionals.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Johnson & Johnson and the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) have announced that their Sight For Kids program has provided comprehensive eye health services to more than 50 million students in underserved communities across North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
CooperVision published a new report in its Consumer Insights series, examining the beliefs and behaviors between contact lens (CL) wearers and eyecare professionals.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Prevent Blindness has declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month to raise awareness about the importance of eye health in children's development.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) reported a record number of applicants for the 2023-2024 OptomCAS (Optometry Centralized Application Service) application cycle, with 2,868 applicants.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has launched the World Sight Day 2024 campaign, encouraging individuals and organizations worldwide to unite in support of eye health.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has announced that executive director Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Retired), FAAO, will retire in December 2024. A nationwide search for Schoenbrun’s replacement is underway.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
ClearVision Optical and the Optical Women's Association (OWA) have announced the second round of the ClearVision-Adira Grant Program, established to support the professional and personal development of women in the optical industry.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Silmo Paris has announced Alexis Mabille as chairman of the 2024 Silmo d’Or Awards, an annual competition launched in 1994 to celebrate the talent and creativity of the industry.
Thursday, July 25, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) released its Consumer inSights Q2 2024 report, examining U.S. consumers’ views and habits regarding vision correction, managed vision care, eye exams, prescription eyewear, reading glasses, and plano sunglasses.
Thursday, July 18, 2024
As part of the four-day National Optometric Association (NOA) Convention, VSP Vision honored six optometry students at the National Optometric Student Association Scholarship Ceremony for their leadership and service to the optometric profession.
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has introduced TEAM OGS, which stands for Together Eyecare Achieves Miracles, a program that enables optometry practices in the U.S. and Canada to integrate fundraising activities into their daily operations.
Thursday, July 18, 2024
The American Academy of Optometry annually honors individuals who have significantly advanced the field of optometry. The 2024 recipients have been announced and will be honored during Academy 2024, set to take place Nov. 6-9 in Indianapolis.
Thursday, July 18, 2024
IDOC has announced the theme for its annual conference, The Connection, set to take place in Round Rock, TX, Feb. 13-16, 2025.
Thursday, July 18, 2024
EssilorLuxottica announced it will acquire an 80% stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a German company specializing in diagnostic solutions, digital surgical technologies, and health care IT for clinical ophthalmology.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
The 2024 Silmo Paris trade fair, set to take place Sept. 20-23 at the Paris Nord Villepinte, will host over 900 exhibitors and 1,500 brands from 144 countries to highlight the latest technological developments, product innovations, and industry trends.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Transitions Optical and its diversity advisory board are accepting applications for the inaugural Diversity in Optical educational grant program through Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
According to comments made by National Retail Federation (NRF) chief economist Jack Kleinhenz in the latest issue of NRF’s Monthly Economic Review, the nation is in a “critical moment” of uncertainty as inflation continues to ease and the Federal Reserve considers when to lower interest rate.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
VSP Vision has named Malia McDowell and Nastasya Liem the 2024 VSP Premier Edge Student Business Challenge winners.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Prevent Blindness is offering a variety of free resources, including fact sheets and shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish, to mark July’s Dry Eye Awareness Month and assist eyecare professionals with discussing the condition with their patients.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Bausch + Lomb has released the results of its inaugural State of Dry Eye survey, which examines understanding and experiences of dry eye among adults in the U.S.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
ClearVision Optical and the Optical Women's Association (OWA) have announced the winners of the inaugural ClearVision-Adira Grant Program, an initiative designed to support the personal and professional development of women in the optical industry.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
After a comprehensive multiyear review, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced final updates to its Ophthalmic Practice Rules, known as the Eyeglass Rule, aimed at promoting competition and consumer choice.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Myopia Profile announced the return of Myopia Action Month in September 2024 following a successful inaugural year. Aligned with the World Council of Optometry’s advocacy for myopia patient care, the global initiative aims to provide 30 days of education and industry collaboration to help eyecare professionals address the increasing prevalence of myopia.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
On Thursday, June 20, the 33rd annual American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Optometry Student Bowl took place during the American Optometric Association’s Optometry’s Meeting, gathering student representatives from 26 schools and colleges of optometry for a competition involving optometry-related questions created by a panel of optometric educators.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released Focused inSights 2024: Low Vision, a report analyzing the experiences, diagnoses, information sources, and treatment options for patients with low vision, along with the impact on their caregivers.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Prevent Blindness has declared June 28 to July 4 as the fourth annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Week to educate the public on the dangers of fireworks.
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Coinciding with Optometry’s Meeting in Nashville, TN, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and CooperVision announced the inaugural cohort of Change Agents for The Myopia Collective, an initiative that aims to shift the focus on myopia from just correction to comprehensive treatment.
Thursday, June 20, 2024
As planned since the beginning of her term, Lorraine Berton, president of the Italian National Association of Optical Goods Manufacturers (Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici, or ANFAO), has also become president of IES Srl, the service company responsible for the international eyewear tradeshow Mido.
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows retail sales grew in May and helped drive a still-expanding economy, says National Retail Federation (NRF) chief economist Jack Kleinhenz.
Thursday, June 20, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) Foundation reported a record number of graduates this year who received scholarships established to support opticianry students from underserved communities.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Special Recognition Awards.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Registration is now open for Vision Expo West, the biannual eyewear tradeshow presented by The Vision Council (TVC) and RX. Set to take place at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas from Sept. 18-21, the event includes an expansive exhibit hall and a comprehensive educational program, VisionEd.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Zenni Optical has announced it will begin offering contact lenses on its online retail platform.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
According to the Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, monthly inbound cargo volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to reach its highest level in nearly two years this summer.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
IDOC is sharing updates on its community networking events for optometry professionals, which offer chances for industry professionals to connect, share insights, and explore new business opportunities.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
ABB Optical Group is now accepting registrations for its 10th annual Optometry Student Challenge. Third- and fourth-year optometry students are invited to submit an abstract on a student-based case report or research study project for a chance to win a $1,500 travel grant to attend the 2025 Global Specialty Lens Symposium presented by Contact Lens Spectrum.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Optometry Cares—The American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation and PERC Alliance have announced the inaugural recipients of the Golden Opportunity Award: Rebecca Chown, O.D., FAAO; Melissa Macco, O.D.; and Alyssa Putman, O.D.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has published its latest report, "Focused inSights 2024: Sports Sunglasses," based on findings from its recent survey on adults' sports sunglass usage and preferences, providing insights into the demographics, purchasing habits, and preferred product features of wearers of sunglasses designed specifically for outdoor sports and physical activities.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International (NORA) is now accepting nominations for awards recognizing contributions to the field of neuro-optometric rehabilitation.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon are extending their education initiative to advance global, evidence-based education for dry eye disease, a chronic condition affecting 1.4 billion people worldwide.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
The 2024 edition of Silmo Singapore, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations optical show, concluded on April 26 after three days of optical excellence, presentations, and networking at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Prevent Blindness has designated June as Cataract Awareness Month to raise awareness and provide free educational resources on the condition.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
CooperCompanies released its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, highlighting its efforts to improve global health and wellness, protect the environment, and support community initiatives.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
BroadcastMed, the parent company of Eyecare Business, has announced the launch of Conexiant, a new brand to consolidate medical content from AEGIS Communications, Digitell, Harborside, PentaVision, Texere Publishing, and the original BroadcastMed business.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH) is seeking nominations for the 10th annual Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award. This award honors individuals or groups who have made significant efforts to improve public health approaches for children's vision and eye health. Nominations are due by 12 p.m. ET on Monday, July 1.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
The Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) hosted nearly 900 independent eyecare professionals, vendor partners, and industry leaders for its 2024 Annual Meeting April 29 to May 1 in Las Vegas.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
On Saturday, May 18, the Lighthouse Guild Youth Transition Program recently hosted 25 students, ages 14-21, for a goalball clinic at the Trinity School in New York City.
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
The Vision Council has released two new reports, Market inSights Q1 2024 and Consumer inSights Q1 2024, offering a detailed dive into the state of the industry for the first quarter of 2024.
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has released details for the 2030 In Sight Live event taking place June 25-27 in Mexico City. The event aims to unite eye health stakeholders to address avoidable sight loss by 2030.
Thursday, May 16, 2024
The National Federation (NRF) has announced that retail sales moderated in April, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Thursday, May 16, 2024
The Thought Leadership and Innovation Foundation is collaborating with the American Macular Degeneration Foundation to create an “Eyes on the Future” online resource.
Thursday, May 16, 2024
To raise awareness about the importance of protecting eyes from the sun, The Vision Council (TVC) is leading National Sunglasses Day on Thursday, June 27, with a focus on sports sunglasses.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Prevent Blindness has released a statement regarding the introduction of the Early Detection of Vision Impairments in Children (EDVI) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The nonprofit urges the 118th Congress to swiftly pass this proposed legislation and for the public to show their support.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Eyewear Artwalk has announced an event in Denver set to take place June 13-15 at the McNichols Building and Civic Center Park. The eyewear and eyecare festival and expo series plans to deliver three days of eyewear, art, music, and fashion, starting in Denver with dates in Miami, New York City, and Los Angeles to follow.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
The organizers of the Opti eyewear tradeshow have announced the 2024/2025 campaign, “We Are Opti,” designed to represent the tradeshow’s commitment to collaborative design: “Together we create, together we change, together we are Opti.”
Thursday, May 9, 2024
The Accessories Council hosted the 28th edition of its Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards on Tuesday, May 7, at The Pierre, an iconic luxury hotel in NYC’s Upper East Side.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports retail sales growth in April compared to March with a slight year-over-year decline due to the timing of Easter.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) have announced a series of student-focused events planned for Optometry’s Meeting, taking place June 19-22 in Nashville, TN, at the Music City Center.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
According to the May issue of the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s Monthly Economic Review, economic growth slowed during the first three months of 2024, but consumers are still spending more than last year.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Prevent Blindness will host the 13th annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit July 10-11 as a virtual event, open to all at no cost. The theme for this year, “Being Seen and Heard,” aims to amplify and educate the importance of a person-centered approach to vision health interventions, research, communications, and care.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
As part of its See Tomorrow initiative, the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has published a report describing everyday actions that eyecare professionals can implement to create interest in contact lenses among potential and former wearers.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
To mark Healthy Vision Month in May, The Vision Council (TVC) has joined the National Eye Institute (NEI) in highlighting the connection between vision loss and mental health by amplifying a variety of resources NEI offers.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and EssilorLuxottica have released the global standard of care for presbyopia, aligning with Presbyopia Awareness Month in April.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) is accepting abstracts for potential inclusion in its 2024 General Conference taking place Sept. 19-22 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Kissimmee, FL.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
For the first time, Prevent Blindness has designated May as Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) Genetic Testing Awareness Month—an expansion to its previous IRD and Genetic Testing Awareness Week initiative.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Prevent Blindness has announced Mission for Vision (MFV) as the recipient of the 2024 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health. Additionally, Prevent Blindness named Erica Shelton, O.D., M.S., FAAO, clinical instructor and Ph.D. candidate at the Ohio State University College of Optometry, as the recipient of the fifth annual Rising Visionary Award.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
To mark April’s Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month, the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation highlights its work toward expanding vision care access to women.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Prevent Blindness, Vision Ireland, and the Together Achieving Dreams (TAD) Foundation are hosting the second annual New York Gold Classic at the Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY, on Monday, May 20.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
CooperVision and the American Optometric Association (AOA) have partnered to launch The Myopia Collective to elevate the standard of care for children with myopia, shifting focus from correction to comprehensive treatment.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and CooperVision have launched an interactive, educational resource for eyecare providers to advance myopia management as a standard of care. The WCO CooperVision Myopia Management Navigator leads ECPs through the three Ms of myopia management: mitigation, measurement, and management.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) recently hosted its 2024 Congressional Hill Fly-In, where members from the vision community met with more than 20 offices of policymakers to discuss policies affecting optical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is preparing for World Sight Day 2024, taking place Thursday, Oct. 10. Under IAPB’s “Love Your Eyes” campaign banner, World Sight Day 2024 will focus on the importance of prioritizing child eye health, as 450 million children worldwide have a sight condition that needs treatment, IAPB shares.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
VSP Vision has released its 2023 Impact Report to provide details regarding the company’s progress toward its corporate social responsibility commitments in three focus areas: accelerating health equity; empowering diversity, equity, and inclusion; and advancing sustainability.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) and the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) are collaborating to connect university-level instructors with research publications and practice tools developed by CLI.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Laramy-K OpticianWorks has partnered with Carrie Wilson, NCLEM, MA, MBA, to develop a new Contact Lens and National Contact Lens Examiner (NCLE) preparation course.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has dedicated the 77th issue of Contact Lens Update to recent introductions and developments of several new treatments for dry eye disease.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) recently concluded its 2024 Lab Leadership Forum, which took place April 11-12 at the Temecula Creek Inn in Temecula, CA. Designed for TVC’s optical laboratory members, the two-day event gathered nearly 100 optical industry executives for education, presentations, and networking.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC)’s latest report, Focused inSights Eyewear Accessories, offers insights into behaviors, preferences, and purchasing patterns among U.S. adults regarding eyewear accessories.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
VSP Vision is partnering with Matter to launch the first VSP Vision Innovation Challenge, a global competition to uncover solutions for enhancing the eye care experience for patients.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
CooperVision and Plastic Bank have renewed their net plastic neutrality partnership through 2026 and expanded it to include a vision care program. The program will provide vision screenings and vouchers for complimentary eye exams and glasses to eligible Plastic Bank collection members in Indonesia—people who are essential to the net plastic neutral partnership, CooperVision shares.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Luxottica Japan has completed its acquisition of Washin Optical Co. Ltd., a Japanese optical retailer with approximately 70 stores, marking another step toward EssilorLuxottica’s goal to foster appreciation for eyewear and eyecare solutions among Japanese consumers.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
CooperVision and Plastic Bank have renewed their net plastic neutrality partnership through 2026 and expanded it to include a vision care program. The program will provide vision screenings and vouchers for complimentary eye exams and glasses to eligible Plastic Bank collection members in Indonesia—people who are essential to the net plastic neutral partnership, CooperVision shares.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) has announced its 2024 board of directors. GMAC shares that this reinforces its commitment to raising awareness and greater understanding of childhood myopia as a treatable disease.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Myopia Profile has announced significant growth in traffic and engagement on its website, indicating accelerating interest in myopia etiology, prevention, interventions, and clinical practices.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO), in collaboration with the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), will host the fifth annual World Congress of Optometry during the 128th annual AOA Congress and the 57th annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting 2025.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), International has opened registration for its 34th annual conference, taking place Sept. 19-22 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South in Kissimmee, FL.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Lighthouse Guild has released eye health tips for women to mark Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month in April.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The total solar eclipse will induce awe across the U.S. on April 8, for the first time since 2017 and for the last time until 2044. The path of totality spans from parts of Texas up through Maine. Depending on the viewer’s geographic location, the moon will cover all or some of the sun’s surface for about four minutes.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO), in partnership with CooperVision, is appointing a team of ambassadors for their education, outreach, and practice-building initiatives.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
New research has shown that reading glasses improve livelihoods and quality of life while also reducing poverty. A randomized controlled trial carried out across rural Bangladesh, the THRIVE (Tradespeople and Handworkers Rural Initiative for a Vision-enhanced Economy) study found that a pair of reading glasses increased the earnings of people in low-income communities by 33%.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
BostonSight has announced the expansion of its annual FitAcademy educational series, two-day events that train eyecare providers in designing, fitting, and managing scleral lenses in interactive classrooms and experiential settings.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Powers & Company has established a philanthropic program, Lion’s Share, and named two nonprofit organizations as its initial beneficiaries, Sight for Life and Eye Corps.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health has granted the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute (WEI) two awards totaling $20 million. WEI will use these awards to fund a six-year clinical trial investigating a potential treatment for retinitis pigmentosa—a condition that currently has no treatments.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has released a statement regarding eye protection ahead of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. TVC shares that it represents the U.S. throughout the creation and maintenance of the international optical industry technical standards by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), including ISO 12312-2, which describes the standards that all filters for direct observation of the sun should meet.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Prevent Blindness has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. The nonprofit offers free resources—including fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, and educational videos—on eye health issues that predominately affect women.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
CooperVision has announced additions to its academic programs for optometry students and residents in the U.S. and Canada, including integrating contact lens initiatives, rebranding its student-focused philanthropic program, and developing a new in-person educational summit for members of the CooperVision Student Leadership Societies.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has announced the recipients of the AOA Excellence Awards and the Paraoptometric Awards.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has partnered with EssilorLuxottica to raise awareness and understanding of presbyopia and the aging eye with the goal of establishing standards of care for managing the condition.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has announced its forecast for 2024 during its fourth annual State of Retail & the Consumer virtual discussion. The organization shared that it expects retail sales to increase by 2.5% and 3.5%, of $5.23 trillion and $5.28 trillion, in 2024.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Marcolin hosted an exclusive opening ceremony to celebrate the official opening of its new showroom in New York City, located on the 19th floor of 270 Madison Ave., featuring Italian chef Alessandro Borghese.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Vision Expo East 2024 wrapped up nearly 40 years at the Javits Center in New York City with three days of education, networking, presentations, and design, gathering more than 450 exhibitors and thousands of professionals from all corners of the industry.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has introduced the first edition of its evidence-based clinical practice guideline, “Care of the Patient with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma,” available online for a 30-day review period.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
To create an association representing more than 80,000 opticians and contact lens professionals throughout North America, the Opticians Association of America (OAA) and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) have completed a merger, with funding continuing to be provided by the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO & NCLE).
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
CooperVision has announced its 2024 Best Practices honorees and student award recipients. Now in its ninth year, the initiative recognizes innovative U.S. eyecare practices that have shown commitment to advancing the profession and providing exceptional care.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
VSP Vision has expanded its student loan repayment program with an additional $4 million investment to help optometry students, recent graduates, and practicing optometrists burdened with student loan debt.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
A new gene therapy from Oculogenex Inc., a biotech company, seeks to develop an effective treatment to improve vision or slow disease progression for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). An investigation to test the therapy in space can potentially provide new opportunities for treating vision loss.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
New research from the Contact Lens Institute (CLI)’s See Tomorrow initiative highlights “simple adjustments” eyecare professionals can implement that may attract a significantly higher number of contact lens wearers.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has published Focused inSights 2024 Frame Trends offer insights into U.S. consumers’ experiences, values, and preferences when purchasing new eyewear.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Eyefinity has announced dates for its 2024 Education Conferences. The VSP Vision company hosts these in-person events to educate attendees on how to better leverage their Eyefinity software, improve workflow efficiencies, and connect with their peers.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has announced the expansion of its membership structure to include health care, technology, and contact lens companies.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Marcolin has earned the gender equality certification by the certification bodies accredited with Accredia.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) is sharing eye safety information ahead of the total solar eclipse taking place on April 8.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts that inflation and the Federal Reserve’s efforts to control it will continue affecting the economy in a major way. According to NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz, inflation has dropped from its peak but is slowing less than expected.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Loft Eyewear Shows is hosting its next event March 14-17 at the Hudson Mercantile in New York City.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has announced the keynote speaker of Optometry’s Meeting, set to take place June 19-22 in Nashville, TN.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Serengeti Eyewear has announced its return to North America, relocating all operations from Lyon, France, in an effort to “reignite the American soul” of the Bollé brand.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Following a successful launch last year that gathered 250 brands from 15 countries and 2,175 attendees, Silmo Singapore returns for its second edition from April 24-26 at the Suntec Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has published the 2024 Market inSights Forecast, a report projecting the state of the optical industry.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Envision University has released the agenda for the upcoming Envision Conference East 2024, scheduled for April 11-13, at the Salus University campus in Elkins Park, PA.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
VSP Vision’s Eyefinity, a cloud-based practice management and electronic health records software company, announced its integration with Fait Distribution (formerly known as Wisconsin Vision Associates), an optometrist-owned, family-operated contact lens distributor.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
ClearVision Optical, in collaboration with the Optical Women's Association (OWA), has announced the launch of the ClearVision-Adira Grants program. Designed to help optical women achieve their personal and professional development goals, the initiative coincides with the values of ClearVision’s recently launched Adira brand.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
The Vision Council recently released its Provider inSights Q4 2023 report, highlighting eyecare practice information from surveyed eyecare professionals in the U.S. Respondents included opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, practice managers, practice owners, and other ECPs.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Now in its fourth year, The EASY Way (Eyes, Awareness, Safety, and You) initiative from the Contact Lens Institute assists eyecare professionals in promoting healthy, comfortable contact lens wear and care behaviors, featuring simplified tips, infographics, and digital resources for use in practices.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
To encourage employers and employees to make eye safety and protection a priority on the job, Prevent Blindness has declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
At the recently held 2024 Global Specialty Lens Symposium, CooperVision highlighted the lack of timely management, and contact lens prescribing, for refractive error and/or ocular disease among children.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
According to research from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, a large language model artificial intelligence (AI) system can match and, in some cases, outperform human ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with glaucoma and retina disease.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
The VisionEd optometry and opticianry program returns to Vision Expo East 2024, taking place at the Javits Center in New York City March 14-17. The education program kicks off Thursday, March 14, before the exhibit hall opening the following day, and runs through Sunday, March 17.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Transitions Optical has announced the winners of its annual Transitions Innovation Awards program, honoring individuals and organizations that have demonstrated commitment to Transitions’ values of quality, education, service, and innovation in their businesses.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Prevent Blindness has announced the launch of the Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Education and Support Program as part of the inaugural ROP Awareness Week, taking place Feb. 26 to March 3.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
LensCrafters has announced the return of award-winning actress Sharon Stone to its “Your Eyes Frist” campaign for the third year in a row.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
A new report from CooperVision unpacks the effect of widespread digital device use to help eyecare professionals better understand patients’ experiences with digital eye strain.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Beginning Friday, March 1, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) will accept pre-applications for its grant program that supports sustainable, optometry-based projects for ending preventable blindness and vision impairment throughout the world.
Friday, February 16, 2024
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. Census Bureau data shows consumers were still engaged despite slowed retail sales in January.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has launched the IAPB Young Systems Leader Awards to “amplify the voices and empower early-career professionals driving transformative change in eye health.”
Thursday, February 15, 2024
The SUNY College of Optometry, in partnership with the college’s foundation, the Optometric Center of New York, recently held its annual scholarship presentation program to honor three students with scholarships established by the Friedfeld family of ClearVision Optical: the Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship and the newly created Optical Community Scholarship.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
SightGlass Vision, a joint venture of CooperCompanies and EssilorLuxottica to address the myopia epidemic, has received a Breakthrough Device designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Diffusion Optics Technology (DOT) spectacle lenses engineered to slow myopia progression in children.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Eyewear designer June He is working to bring the optical into the Drexel University curriculum. An assistant professor of product design at the university in Philadelphia and founding director of Empathic CoDesign Lab, He is leading the second iteration of an annual eyewear design course at Drexel—the first, a collaboration with Knows Eyewear, and this year, He has partnered with ClearVision Optical.
By Veronica Daub
Thursday, February 15, 2024
The organizers and co-owners of Vision Expo, The Vision Council and RX, are welcoming the Italian Trade Commission back to Vision Expo East, set to take place March 14-17 at the Javits Center in New York City.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) has released a statement regarding a congressional inquiry into reports from optometrists, dentists, and patient advocates detailing alleged abusive tactics used by specialty vision and dental insurance plans.
Friday, February 9, 2024
Prevent Blindness is working to prepare the public to safely experience the total solar eclipse taking place Monday, April 8, with its Eclipse + Your Eyes program, which offers eclipse glasses for purchase in addition to free educational resources.
Friday, February 9, 2024
Mido, an international optical trade show, concluded its 52nd event, Feb. 3-5 in Milan, hosting more than 40,000 attendees (up 11% from last year) from 160 countries, and more than 1,200 exhibitors throughout seven pavilions.
Friday, February 9, 2024
Vision Expo East has announced that exhibition space in The Atelier has been sold out. The Vision Expo East neighborhood will host 75 independent designers from all over the world, in addition to live entertainment, made-to-order barista service, giveaways, and more.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
The Italian Association of Optical Goods Manufacturers (ANFAO) has established the Certified Sustainable Eyewear (CSE) program to set a sustainability standard for eyewear production.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The World Council of Optometry has announced the theme for this year’s World Optometry Week celebration, taking place March 17-23 and concluding with World Optometry Day on Thursday, March 23.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts a record-breaking Valentine’s Day, as total spending on significant others is expected to reach $14.2 billion.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) has opened registration for the 2024 PECAA Annual Meeting taking place April 29 to May 1 at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
The American Optometric Association(AOA) has published a report to understand the implications of unmanaged screen time in the U.S. and the essential preventative role of routine eye care.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has named the CLI 2024 Visionaries: 19 eyecare community leaders from a range of practice settings, research interests, and specializations who have demonstrated a commitment to raising awareness of recent advances in soft contact lenses and prescribing benefits.
Monday, January 29, 2024
Prevent Blindness has declared February as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month, offering a variety of free resources to raise public awareness and assist eyecare professionals in educating their patients.
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC)’s Executive Summit wrapped up three days of networking, leadership development, and industry-shaping discussions in Naples, FL, from Jan. 22-24.
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Eyecare Business, as part of BroadcastMed’s vision portfolio, has welcomed a new digital platform designed to elevate the user experience for eyecare professionals.
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The National Retail Federation has announced its holiday season forecast has been confirmed by data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which shows 3.8% growth over 2022, totaling a record $964.4 billion.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) has published its Market inSights 2023 report, revealing slight growth compared to 2022 as findings show consumers are purchasing optical products and services more frequently. Additionally, TVC has released its Consumer inSights Q4 2023 report to reveal U.S. consumers’ opinions and habits regarding vision correction, managed vision care, eye exams, prescription eyewear, reading glasses, and plano sunglasses.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Prevent Blindness has announced that tickets are still available for the 2024 Person of Vision Award Gala set to take place during Vision Expo East on Thursday, March 14, at 583 Park Ave. in New York City.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
The Eyewear Designers of the CFDA (edCFDA) has announced its donation of $53,600 to the TransLatin@ Coalition, marking the conclusion of its 2023 Pride Eyewear Initiative.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) have opened registration for Optometry’s Meeting, set to take place June 19-22 with the theme “Harmonizing Our Vision” in Nashville, TN, at the Music City Center.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Transitions Optical has announced the finalists for the 2023 Transitions Innovation Awards program, honoring individuals and organizations that have demonstrated commitment to Transitions’ values of quality, education, service, and innovation in their businesses.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recently held a virtual town hall where more than 700 attendees discussed perceived abuses by the vision plan industry, received briefings on multiple advocacy initiatives, and participated in a survey regarding industry-wide concerns to shape advocacy planning in the year ahead.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
The World Council of Optometry is partnering with CooperVision to host an inaugural Latin America-based virtual event, “Myopia Management: From Theory to Practice,” taking place Feb. 20, 22, 27, and 29.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Proposed legislation in Utah could cause patients to lose the ability to purchase contact lenses directly from their prescribing eye doctor, the American Optometric Association (AOA) shares.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
The Vision Council (TVC) Foundation is hosting a silent auction to benefit TVC Foundation’s Opening Your Eyes Scholarship Fund, from now through the end of TVC’s Executive Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), spending growth is likely to slow this year after consumers spent more than expected amid high inflation and interest rates throughout 2023.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program, an effort by the HHS’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to transplant whole human eyes to restore vision for the blind and visually impaired.
Friday, January 12, 2024
CES (Consumer Electronics Show) concluded in Las Vegas, a four-day event from Jan. 9-12 hosting more than 4,000 exhibitors and 130,000 attendees
Friday, January 12, 2024
Gentex Corporation has acquired eSight ahead of CES (Consumer Electronics Show), where it announced it will prominently feature eSight’s innovative technology.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The National Retail Federation (NRF) announced continued growth in retail sales throughout December, concluding a strong two-month holiday season, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor that launched in November. The results align with NRF’s forecast that holiday retail sales from Nov. 1-Dec. 31 would increase between 3% and 4% compared to 2022.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Envision University has begun accepting program submissions for clinical education, panel/symposia, hands-on workshops, and research presentations for the Envision Conference, designed to provide the latest advancements in vision rehabilitation techniques, research, and technologies.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
VSP Vision has announced it will offer AARP members exclusive individual vision and eyewear insurance plans.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Eschenbach Optik of America Inc. has sponsored two visually impaired students to attend the Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCVIS). This is the second year in a row that the company has participated in this initiative, paying for both scholarship winners’ tuition in full.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Prevent Blindness is accepting nominations for both the 2024 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health and the fifth annual Rising Visionary Award.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The Contact Lens Institute (CLI) has announced the recipients of the inaugural CLI Culture Awards, recognizing eyecare practices with positive contact lens cultures as described in CLI’s recent report, “The Culture Calculation: Data-Backed Behaviors for Contact Lens Success.”
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The Vision Council and Rx are accepting submissions for the next edition of Now by Vision Expo, taking place at Vision Expo East from Thursday to Sunday, March 14-17, at the Javits Center in New York City.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Myopia Profile has revealed the community impact of its My Kids Vision, a free resource that offers parents and caregivers evidence-based information on myopia and its management, with more than 50 articles explaining myopia, treatment options, and children’s vision. Available in seven languages with more in development, the “easy-to-digest” platform “measurably heightened awareness and education, particularly following substantial platform upgrades in 2022,” the organization shares.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has shared perspectives from Robert Weiss, former president and CEO of CooperCompanies, after he visited Hanoi, Vietnam, to see OGS-supported work in action.
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) has announced the 2024 OWA award recipients—four women who will be honored at the OWA’s annual champagne breakfast on Thursday, March 14, during Vision Expo East.
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Bausch + Lomb is partnering with the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) to launch the Faces of Glaucoma, a campaign that highlights diverse stories from patients to raise awareness of one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Prevent Blindness has announced it is once again participating in January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month. To help raise awareness of one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S., the nonprofit offers a variety of free educational resources for patients, care partners, and eyecare professionals on its dedicated webpage, including downloadable fact sheets, shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish, and educational videos.
Monday, January 1, 0001
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have made their Dry Eye Wheel, a tool for diagnosing and treating dry eye disease, available in Spanish. Developed by professors Jennifer Craig, Ph.D., BSc, FCOptom, MSc; Lyndon Jones, Ph.D, BSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA; and James Wolffsohn, MBA, Ph.D., BSc, the interactive tool provides quick access to guidelines on mitigating, measuring, and managing dry eye symptoms.
Monday, January 1, 0001
Vision Expo West 2024 concluded four days of optical education, innovation, and celebration at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Sept. 18-21.
