DISPENSARY MANAGEMENT

A 2-tiered dispensing strategy
to counteract online retail

With instructional video and free, downloadable Spreadsheet Calculator

If your optical shop is losing revenue as online retailers gain market share, Renee Jacobs, OD, suggests you implement a two-tiered strategy. When a patient buys prescription eyewear on the Internet, your practice’s capture rate takes a hit as does per-patient optical revenue. You’ve also paid one or more opticians to provide free professional services that this online shopper needs.

After an eye exam, opticians provide advice on frame shape and size that’s suitable for the prescription. Opticians provide the pupillary distance necessary for an accurate online order.  After the patient receives their online purchase, opticians often provide free frame adjustments and help with troubleshooting when the eyewear does not meet expectations. » More

Optometry Times now breaks news on Facebook, Twitter

North Olmstead, OH—Optometry Times, the leading source of optometric news, has established a presence on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/OptometryTimes and Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/OptometryTimes. » More

VSP, AOA set forum on stand-alone vision coverage

ST. LOUIS—VSP Global and the American Optometric Association will meet in an open forum here on Thursday, May 24, to discuss their divergent views on stand-alone vision plans participating in state health exchanges. The forum will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. CST at the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel. Meeting host VSP said it will simulcast the forum to its membership, which includes more than 28,000 doctors. » More

CooperVision sponsors Optometry Giving Sight,
gets FDA OK for Avaira toric CLs

Pleasanton, CA—The Food and Drug Administration has granted a Special 510(k) clearance for CooperVision's Avaira Toric 2-week silicone hydrogel contact lenses for astigmatism. The lenses are available for select distribution beginning this month. » More

In-office edging system is feature-rich, yet affordable

Germantown, WI—Essilor Instruments announced the newest addition to its U.S. line of high-efficiency finishing products. Mr. Orange is a tracing, blocking, and edging system that features such integrated functions as management of high curves up to base 9 and optical tracing for fast rimless and groove jobs. » More

Transitions steps up outreach on eye health for diabetes

Chicago—More than 1,000 attendees at the American Diabetes Association EXPO learned about the importance of regular eye care and the benefits of adaptive Transitions lenses. Transitions Optical teamed up with retailer America’s Best to provide 245 free vision screenings while educating attendees about the role that comprehensive eye exams play in detecting and preventing future eye damage from diabetes. The EXPO was April 14. » More

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Sun Initiative: Free CE on sun protection

St. Louis—Eye care professionals now have easy access to important information for educating and prescribing sun protection. The AOA and Opticians Association of America (OAA), with support from Luxottica and The Vision Council, announced the launch of the first of three, free continuing education modules in support of the Sun Initiative. » More

Solutionreach, Eyefinity partner to offer enhanced patient engagement tools

Lehi, UT—Solutionreach and Eyefinity announced a strategic relationship that will help eye-care professionals enhance patient communication efforts by seamlessly integrating a variety of social engagement tools with the practice management suite, OfficeMate. » More

CUT THE GLARE

Transitions makes available polycarbonate performance sunwear

Pinellas Park, FL—KBco and Transitions Optical, Inc. have announced the availability of a polycarbonate performance sun lens called Xperio, which adapt to changing light conditions, improve contrast and reduce blinding glare from sunlight reflected off the surface of objects, water or snow making them ideal for outdoor activities such as fishing and water activities, running, hiking and mountain biking. » More

EVOCATIVE STYLES

Clean lines with subtle accents

Somerville, NJ—Viva introduces 10 eyeglass styles for men and women from the Harley-Davidson spring 2012 collection. The men’s styles evoke a masculine, trend-driven quality; while the women’s styles blend subtle flame accents and stone embellishments. » More

RETRO, UNIQUE

Marc Jacobs Eyewear offers color blocking and ‘80s feel’

Milan—The new collection of Marc Jacobs sunglasses and optical frame offer a chic, unconventional style, mixing retro charm with unique color combinations and pairing great shapes, pastel tones and pop hues. » More

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