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The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that only 8.2% of patients who were referred and received a glaucoma evaluation were diagnosed with glaucoma.

New study finds low diagnostic rates for patients with glaucoma referrals

Cationic emulsion drops are characterized by their ability to retain cyclosporine A on the ocular surface.

Cyclosporine A eye drops ease ocular discomfort after cataract surgery, study finds

The science of formulation: Advancing presbyopia treatment through optimized design

The collaboration allows Topcon to become the exclusive global distributor of Inspire, RadiusXR’s new wearable vision testing platform.

Topcon Healthcare, RadiusXR, and Glaukos enter into a collaboration

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Michelle Hoff, OD, FAAO, ABOM, FNAO, and Isabel Kazemi, OD, FAAO, share key takeaways from their VEW 2022 presentation, "The ABCs on pediatric vision."

VEW 2022: Pediatric vision

Michelle Hoff, OD, FAAO, ABOM, FNAO, and Isabel Kazemi, OD, FAAO, share key takeaways from their VEW 2022 presentation, "Demystifying near-task specific lenses."

VEW 2022: Task-specific lenses for presbyopic patients

Unless you’ve been practicing under a rock for the past 15 years, you’ve likely heard of the “20- 20-20 rule" for computer eye strain. It has been recommended by almost every major state association and eyecare industry outlet, including the American Optometric Association (AOA), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAOpt), The Vision Council and many more. But have you ever wondered where it came from or what was the rationale for the practice?

I graduated from Illinois College of Optometry in 1975. After my 2-year active duty service for the US Navy in San Diego and a few years in private practice, I started working at an office near a local university. It was here where I started seeing patients who had vision problems that didn’t fit “the mold” for their age. For instance, patients in their 20s were just starting to become myopic; others were having headaches, but only during the weekdays and at the end of the day. When I began to ask questions about their lifestyle and activities, I found that most of these people were in the computer sciences division at the university. Since I completed my optometric education during the 70s, we never studied the effects that screens had on the vision of a student or office worker. This area of “display viewing” was new and there were few, if any, studies on the interaction of the computer display and vision. I decided then that this was an area of eye care that was underserved and needed to be addressed.

Fortunately, I was able to contact the renowned James Sheedy, OD, PhD, then professor at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, who was conducting studies of computer-related eye strain. I followed up with him to see the results of his studies and decided to form a consulting business to go directly to corporations and other businesses where workers were using computers on a regular basis. I would go to their corporate offices and perform on-site evaluations, giving lectures and making recommendations based on my findings. In addition, I started offering presentations to ergonomic conferences due to the fact that many of these professional never had any background on the workings of the visual system.

 in 1998. Soon after this publication, I was invited to give interviews with media outlets (radio and TV), which looked at this new concern for vision stress as another effect—in addition to carpal tunnel syndrome—of computer use. Given time limitations, they all asked for a “nutshell” approach to resolving this issue. This is when I came up with the “3-B” approach, which was to “Blink, Breathe, and Break.”

Around this same time, I came across a research study on carpal tunnel syndrome that noted that shorter, more frequent breaks from computer use were more beneficial than one break every two hours, which was previously recommended. I realized that the same held true for the visual system, so to simplify the discovery, I created the “20-20-20” rule for display users. The rule states, “Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away.” As I mentioned, this rule has now been adopted by the AOA, AAOpt, the Vision Council, and many more organizations and independent eyecare professionals.

I once attended a conference where a speaker was discussing myopia. I found it a bit disconcerting when, toward the end of the lecture, the speaker announced, “The 20-20-20 rule doesn’t work.” I was taken aback at this statement but quickly realized that the speaker was referring to myopia and not eye strain. After the presentation, I met the speaker in the lobby and mentioned that I developed the rule to relieve eye strain and not as a myopia control technique. I had hoped that I got the point across but recently, I’ve seen more recommendations from a variety of sources that promote the rule for myopia control.

I never did trademark the rule but am gratified to have a few organizations and colleagues acknowledge where it originated. One day in 2018, I received a call from an optometrist in San Diego who was writing an article on the source of the 20-20-20 rule. He asked me if I knew where it came from. I said, “as a matter of fact, I do!” He interviewed me, and in February of 2018, Dr. Brian Chou published his article, “

Deconstructing the 20-20-20 rule for digital eye strain

Again, the rule was not trademarked, but I take great pride in the fact that I have not only helped patients, but I have also helped my profession. It was gratifying to have attendees from my early ergonomic lectures return the following year and exclaim, “Hey, you’re that 20-20-20 guy!”

It's funny the way things work out. And to all my colleagues who quote the rule to media outlets and patients: You’re welcome!

The 20-20-20 rule has taken on a life of its own, but it remains a useful trick to reduce digital eye strain.

Behind the creation of the 20-20-20 rule for digital eye strain

Glaucoma is a deceptive and dangerous disease as most patients have few or no symptoms. Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and the second-leading cause of overall blindness (8%). Approximately 79 million persons worldwide have glaucoma, and approximately 2 million patients in the United States and more than 11 million worldwide are bilaterally blind from glaucoma.

The leading theory of the main cause of damage to the optic nerve is excessive fluid pressure within the eye, which can be caused by increased aqueous production, blockage of drainage ducts, and narrowing or closure of the iris angle. Because most cases of glaucoma report an increase in intraocular pressure, the goal of treatment is only to lower the eye pressure. Even in cases of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), no other treatment modality exists but to lower eye pressure. Treatment that reduces intraocular pressure has been shown to improve outcomes in randomized clinical trials.

 Yet even here, there is no cure but only slowing of the progression of the disease.

The traditional approach to diagnosing the disease is to measure intraocular pressure, evaluate the optic disc for signs of degeneration (cupping, pallor, etc.), and evaluate the peripheral visual field, where the primary vision loss occurs.

Control of intraocular pressure in glaucoma may require multiple drugs of different classes (

). Use of glaucoma medications delays visual field loss by lowering intraocular pressure and reduces the absolute risk of progression by 17% in patients with early glaucoma.

 The United Kingdom Glaucoma Treatment Study, a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, published results in 2015 showing longer visual field preservation in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) taking latanoprost (Xalatan).

Although no studies prove a connection between specific foods or supplements and glaucoma, it’s safe to assume that diet and overall health can affect the disease. The eyes are part of the body so what supports overall health can support ocular structures as well. For people living with glaucoma and even those not at high risk for glaucoma, following nutritional advice on diet and lifestyle choices may help protect eyesight.

One theory on the incidence of glaucoma is related to stress. Prolonged stress leads to adrenal exhaustion, and exhausted adrenals are no longer able to produce aldosterone, which stabilizes the salt balance in the body. When too much salt is lost from the body, the tissue fluids build up and often will push into the eye, increasing the IOP and forcing the lens forward, as well as damage the optic nerve.

Foods rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals (natural compounds found in plants)—whole grains, berries, leafy greens, and nuts—may help protect against damage from free radicals, which have been linked to an increased risk of eye diseases like glaucoma. However, researchers say further studies are needed to determine whether these foods protect against retinal degeneration related to glaucoma.

Whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Fiber is essential for good health because it helps maintain a healthy digestive system, while vitamins and antioxidants help strengthen the immune system and protect the body from disease. All of these things can also help improve eye health.

Nuts are a good source of vitamin E, magnesium, and arginine, all of which are protective against glaucoma. Nuts are also rich in healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants that fight oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage. Increasing intake of these nutrients may reduce the risk of developing glaucoma.

Pycnogenol is a compound of natural chemicals that come from the bark of a European pine tree. It is thought to be an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage. The active ingredients in pycnogenol can also be extracted from other sources, including peanut skin, grape seed, and witch hazel bark.

Mirtogenol is a combination tablet containing 40 mg of pycnogenol and 80 mg of Mirtoselect, standardized bilberry extract. A study in 2008 indicated that Mirtogenol may represent a safe preventive intervention for lowering the risk of developing symptomatic glaucoma by controlling IOP and improving ocular blood flow.

 A follow-up study using Mirtogenol with latanoprost showed improvements in retinal microcirculation that were statistically significant for all management groups.

In a recent study, Wistar albino rats were treated with capsanthin 50% (CapsiClear) at low, mid, and high doses and IOP levels were compared to control and disease groups. In this study, IOP was induced by intravitreal injection of carbomer, which elevated levels. IOP was confirmed, the formula was administered for 28 days, and IOP was recorded weekly. The results showed that 28-day repeated administration of capsanthin 50% at dose levels of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg reduced IOP from day 8 onward. The IOP returned to a level almost equal to that of the untreated groups.

Capsanthin 50% did not result in clinical signs of toxicity, mortality, changes in body weight, or feed consumption. There were no treatment-related changes in hematology and clinical chemistry parameters. Based on the available results, it was concluded that daily oral administration of CapsiClear up to 80 mg/kg reduced the IOP in male Wistar rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the vasodilation of smooth muscle in the cardiovascular, urogenital, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and immune systems. It also has a role in angiogenesis, platelet aggregation, and the musculoskeletal system with regulating bone formation. The mechanism of action is through direct and/or indirect means. NO has a dual role in the inflammatory process, with both excessively low or high concentrations leading to pathology. At high concentrations, NO can be proinflammatory and pathologic while also having desired antimicrobial effects.

Foods that can increase production of NO include beets, root vegetables, garlic, dark chocolate (in moderation), leafy greens,
nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, pomegranates, and watermelon.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme that is essential to life and is found in every cell of all living things. NAD is required to catalyze reactions for more than 400 enzymes, more than any other vitamin-derived coenzyme. It is one of the top essential molecules for life because it is involved in many physiological and pathological functions including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the mitochondria and oxidation of fatty acids and amino acids, DNA damage repair, oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular senescence, and others.

Several studies have shown that mitochondrial function may underlie both susceptibility and resistance to developing glaucoma. Mitochondria meet high energy demand, in the form of ATP, which is required for the maintenance of optimum retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function. Reduced NAD levels have been closely correlated to mitochondrial dysfunction and have been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases including glaucoma. NAD provides neuroprotective effects by increasing oxidative phosphorylation, buffering and preventing metabolic stress, and increasing mitochondrial size and motility.

 Supplements that decrease inflammation like glutathione, berberine, or curcumin can help increase NAD levels. Likewise, a supplement to decrease senescent cells such as quercetin may also help increase systemic NAD levels.

IOP-independent mechanisms contributing to the development of glaucomatous neurodegeneration include oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction (as described above), and impaired ocular blood flow. In the concept of oxidative stress in POAG, the leading role is given to ischemia-reperfusion processes as the main reasons for the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). An increase in IOP levels provokes a spasm of the retinal blood vessels, leading to a reduction of the blood circulation of the retina. Subsequent natural reperfusion also contributes to the development of oxidative species. The resumption of oxygen supply to tissues is accompanied by a higher concentration of ROS, which causes the formation of free radicals and massive damage to cellular structures.

Berries are rich in antioxidants, which can help prevent oxidative stress that contributes to glaucoma. A study published in 

 found that eating plenty of berries could lower the risk of developing the disease by as much as a quarter. Berries such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries contain resveratrol, a compound found in red wine that has been linked to lower rates of glaucoma. In addition, blueberries are packed with anthocyanins—pigments responsible for their deep color and antioxidant properties.

Astaxanthin (AST) is another powerful antioxidant that has been studied for its effect on IOP. One study investigated the cytoprotective effect of AST on RGC degeneration using an NTG mouse model. The results revealed that the antioxidative stress effects of AST inhibit RGC degeneration in the retina and may be useful in the treatment of NTG.

A recent meta-analysis was conducted to clarify the relationship between vitamin intake and glaucoma risk.

 The study performed 5 meta-analyses of existing studies to summarize the evidence on the association between vitamin intake and glaucoma risk. The initial search identified 689 studies, 8 of which (262,189 patients) met the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis. The results of this study demonstrated that high-dose intake of vitamins A and B, but not vitamins C, D, or E, was associated with a low prevalence of glaucoma.

The eyes are extensions of the brain and are nourished as much as any other part of the body. Nerve tissue is some of the most highly metabolically active tissue and needs an abundance of proper nutrients to function properly. Given the state of dietary options that are offered by the standard American diet, it is increasingly critical that we pay more attention to our diets as we age. Unfortunately, this is not a priority for the general public and many are overwhelmed with conflicting information about proper nutrition. Thus, it behooves the eye care practitioner to study the role of food and nutrients for proper healthy functioning, not just to resolve chronic disease but also to prevent these diseases from occurring at all.

1. Quigley HA, Broman AT. The number of people with glaucoma worldwide in 2010 and 2020. 

. 2006;90(3):262-267. doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.081224

2. Kass MA, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, et al. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: a randomized trial determines that topical ocular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. 

. 2002;120(6): 701-830. doi:10.1001/archopht.120.6.701

3. Heijl A, Leske MC, Bengtsson B, et al; Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial Group. Reduction of intraocular pressure and glaucoma progression: results from the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial. 

. 2002;120(10):1268-1279. doi:10.1001/archopht.120.10.1268

4. The AGIS Investigators. The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS): 7. The relationship between control of intraocular pressure and visual field deterioration. 

 2000;130(4):429-440. doi:10.1016/s0002-9394(00)00538-9

5. Vass C, Hirn C, Sycha T, Findl O, Bauer P, Schmetterer L. Medical interventions for primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. 

. 2007;2007(4):CD003167. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003167.pub3

6. Heijl A, Leske MC, Bengtsson B, et al; Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial Group. Reduction of intraocular pressure and glaucoma progression: results from the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial. 

7. Garway-Heath DF, Crabb DP, Bunce C, et al. Latanoprost for open-angle glaucoma (UKGTS): a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial. 

 2015;385(9975):1295-1304. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62111-5

8. Steigerwalt RD, Gianni B, Paolo M, Bombardelli E, Burki C, Schönlau F. Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects. 

9. Gizzi C, Torino-Rodriguez P, Belcaro G, Hu S, Hosoi M, Feragalli B. Mirtogenol supplementation in association with dorzolamide-timolol or latanoprost improves the retinal microcirculation in asymptomatic patients with increased ocular pressure. 

10. Shanmugham, V, Subban R. Capsanthin from capsicum annum fruits exerts anti-glaucoma, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, and corneal pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in a benzalkonium chloride-induced rat dry eye model. 

. 2022;46(10):e14352. doi:10.1111/jfbc.14352

11. Tribble JR, Otmani A, Sun S, et al. Nicotinamide provides neuroprotection in glaucoma by protecting against mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction. 

. 2021;43:101988. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2021.101988

12. Karpilova M.A., Poluyanova A.D. [Antioxidant nutraceuticals for glaucoma.] 

. 2020;136(4. Vyp. 2):317-323. doi:10.17116/oftalma2020136042317

13. Kikuchi K, Dong Z, Shinmei Y, et al. Cytoprotective effect of astaxanthin in a model of normal intraocular pressure glaucoma. 

. 2020;2020:9539681. doi:10.1155/2020/9539681

14. Han FF, Fu XX. Vitamin intake and glaucoma risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 

. 2022;45(5):519-528. doi:10.1016/j.jfo.2021.10.010.

Supplementing vision care with nutrition may protect ocular tissues.

Providing nutritional support for glaucoma management

At Vision Expo East 2025, a group of panelists presented new data released by the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) on purchase factors driving contact lens searches online.

In the first installment of a 2-part Q&A, Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO; Ryan Corte, OD; Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, Dip CCLRT; and Nishan Pressley, OD share their insights in an exclusive interview with 

What are the key identifiers in finding the best candidate, whether it’s dual wear or contact lens wear.

I would say the number 1 characteristic would be motivation, right? If I'm telling you that this is an option and you're getting excited about it, okay, great. I got you. Let's do it. But that apprehensive, super anxious patient, "I can't even put drops in my eyes. I'm thinking about it, but I can't put drops in my eyes." That's going to be a longer conversation, of course, but ultimately, really just that motivation to want to wear contacts and see if it works for them. I think that's the number 1 characteristic I look for, that excitement behind trying something new.

Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, Dip CCLRT:

“Yeah, and even if they're excited and afraid, so, for example, patients with a high prescription. They're thinking, "Oh, man, are these going to feel thick on my eyes too?" The reality is, they come in and they say, "Wow, I put these on and everything looks bigger, right?" This is like the real size world. And also they don't have the peripheral vision, just to cost me some supplementals, they're excited about too. So I think patients like those will be ideal candidates for contact lenses.

I do believe, too, that the industry has done a nice job advancing the technological innovations that have taken place with contact lenses. So, I had a patient when I asked her on a scale of 1 to 10 how interested are you? And she was, like, 30 or 40, if I remember correctly– mid 30s – dropped out of contacts years ago because they just weren't meeting what she needed. They weren't comfortable. A lot has changed in that time frame. And, she was anew patient to me. So I said, "Have you tried X, Y, or Z?" And we were able to get her back into contact lenses based off some of these technological innovations. And she was so grateful. So desire, but also education, that you are a candidate. I'm looking at your refraction. I'm looking at your eye health, and overall, you know, ocular surface, you could easily be a candidate for contact lenses. Let me reintroduce to you why, and educating them on what's come through the pipeline of technology.

So what I’m hearing is that just because they’ve said no before doesn’t mean that they’ll say no when they’re in your care.

Yeah, you guys all have patient stories about how you change their lives just by bringing it up again because they thought they weren't a candidate before, and now their life has changed because you've offered it again.

It's so gratifying, too. I mean, that's half the reason I even became an optometrist is the instant gratification of vision. Just knowing that we can do that, sometimes we take that for granted as even an optometrist. But you never know who's sit in your chair and what their journey is to get there.

Are there any final thoughts you want to share?

I really love that the data being pulled gives us more perspective on what are patients' and/or you could say consumers' really thinking outside of the exam lane. We're all humans, so we all Google things, we all try to find out more information on whether it's the overall visual quality, overall eye health quality. But also we're cost conscious at times, and so we have to have a value driven conversation to our patients, to share the value of not only our services, but the products that support those services.

Yeah, and I have to say this research has opened my eyes to a lot of things, and that has taught me about different things. For example, removing lenses, right? I thought, "Wow. I would never have thought that would have been on the report," but I'm thinking of ways I can change it in my practice too. So these are really good ideas that we think about, and then we can pass on to other doctors. So I love that you guys are doing all this great research.

These are fun tidbits that in a practice setting, you wouldn't normally have that access to that information. So the work, the research that that the CLI is doing is really just to open our eyes to how to take better care of our patients and just some of the stuff that you guys were all talking about, just little tweaks in our day to day in our office, can make a big, big difference.

Purchase factors drive online contact lens searches, according to new US and Canadian research. News release. Contact Lens Institute. February 18, 2025. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.contactlensinstitute.org/news/digital-search25/ 

Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO; Ryan Corte, OD; Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, Dip CCLRT; and Nishan Pressley, OD; give their insights on distinguishing the best candidates for contact lens wear.

Vision Expo East 2025: An exclusive Q&A on finding the right fit for dual, contact lens wear – Part 2

In the first installment of a 2-part Q&A, Charissa lee, OD, MBA, FAAO; Ryan Corte, OD; Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, Dip CCLRT; and Nishan Pressley, OD share their insights in an exclusive interview with 

What are some key takeaways or surprising findings from the research?

I would say my key takeaway from the trends is that as us practitioners, we just need to make sure that we do our due diligence when it comes to educating our patients. Some of the data that really surprised me was honestly patients googling how to take out their contact lenses. We know that they do the training. I make sure you can do it before you leave the office. But that was one of the top searches, 2 times more, than how to actually insert your contact lenses, so the fact that patients are still struggling possibly with the removal of the contact lenses, doing our due diligence when it comes to educating and doing follow up questions like, "Are you comfortable? Do you need more help?" And just being that advocate that our patient needs, and let them know that we'll always be there for them, even if they're having a difficult time.

What is the best way to transition internet search inquiries into the office?

So we talked earlier about raising awareness that we actually sell contact lenses in our office. So a lot of time we assume that patients will buy from us, but we don't have anything displayed physically out in the optical that after you get your eye exam, you can get your contact lenses from us. So I think talking about it in the room, seeing how we can match prices, compare prices, and we have systems where it'll actually compare online versus a retail and compared to our practice. And we talk about having better rebates and online presence too. So just bringing it up in the room, making them aware of it also.

What are some of the best practices into segwaying into discussion about contact lens wear?

Yeah, we talked a lot about this on stage, but also just as a group. And the reality is, you can't make assumptions about the patient's eye health and vision care journey. So whether they call in and say out just here for a routine eye exam, or they mark on their digital intake or in-person intake form that they're just there for routine eye care, opening up that conversation of, "How do you utilize your eyes throughout the day? What are some of your your hobbies?" And also asking them general questions like, "Why are we doing contact lenses today?" or "On a scale of 1 to 10, how interested are you in contact lenses?" So it opens up a very simple conversation that we can quickly go 1 of 2 ways. So if they are just shutting it all down and they have no interest, we find that out very quickly, but a lot of times there is varying degrees and levels of interest, and you just don't know what the patient's been told or what they've told themselves during their prior appointments. And so opening that up is absolutely huge. We all agree that the "and" conversation, contact lenses and glasses, is what's best for the patient and best for the practice.

Yeah, and I'll just add that in the research that we did, over 90% of those queries were an "or" or "versus." And so what we can see from from the research, is that they don't necessarily understand that there's the "and," right? Because only 6% were an "and." So I love what Dr Corte says about bringing it up in the office to make sure that they understand, because they probably don't know that they can do both.

Going off of that, what do you think are some of the most common misconceptions that patients have about dual wear?

I would say for me, what I hear my patients say all the time is they think that if they start to wear contacts, that has to be their primary correction if you go when, in reality, I'm sitting here like, "No, that's why we have daily disposable lenses." There's options for you when it comes to contact lenses. You don't have to wear them every single day if you don't want to. But if there's a special event, if you know you enjoy pickleball, if you know you enjoy golfing, go to the time that you can wear your contacts, and it's going to be okay. So just having that conversation where this doesn't have to be an everyday thing. This is another way to redirect your vision that's going to help out with your everyday visual needs.

And even patients who have an astigmatism, they don't even realize that it comes in astigmatism prescription, and multifocals is a huge one. A lot of times they think, "Oh, when I wear contacts, I have to look through all these different zones or I have to tilt my head." I said, "That's the beauty of contact lenses. So you can look up here and still see up close. So you have those misconceptions like, "Well, I don't know if I want those, and it sounds so complicated, and it sounds expensive, so I don't want to get contact lenses."

Yeah, to act off all that, they don't know what they don't know. A lot of times they may not even feel they're eligible, or they don't have any coverage, or they're so busy, they came in for a primary endpoint of getting things updated, and it takes us or our team to introduce them to even putting that in their mind as an option.

Yeah, I think one of you guys brought up that reinforcing it with your staff and reminding your staff about the "and" conversation throughout that patient journey, even in our own offices, it's an opportunity too.

Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO; Ryan Corte, OD; Roxanne Achong-Coan OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, Dip CCLRT; and Nishan Pressley, OD; give their insights on recent Contact Lens Institute research on contact lens purchase factors and Google searches.

Vision Expo East 2025: An exclusive Q&A with CLI panelists on recent research – Part 1

In today’s interconnected yet often isolating world, the importance of finding a supportive community, or "tribe,” cannot be overstated. Whether in our personal lives or professional careers, being part of a group that understands, supports, and uplifts us can make all the difference. This sense of belonging is particularly vital in demanding fields like optometry, where the challenges are unique, and the need for mutual support is paramount.

Belonging to a community means having a network of people who understand your journey. These connections provide emotional support and encouragement, helping members navigate challenges and celebrate successes together. This shared experience can reduce stress and enhance overall well-being.

A tribe provides a fertile ground for learning. Members can share insights, experiences, and advice, offering a collective pool of knowledge that benefits everyone. This exchange is crucial in constantly evolving professions, ensuring everyone stays updated and competent.

Being part of a community offers numerous opportunities for professional development. From attending workshops and seminars to engaging in mentorship and collaboration, the avenues for growth are abundant. This continuous learning and development are essential for staying relevant and excelling in any field.

A supportive tribe empowers its members to push beyond their limits. This empowerment stems from collective encouragement and the confidence that comes from knowing you have a network of allies. This shared strength enables individuals to tackle new challenges and achieve their goals.

Finding your tribe in professional settings

In the professional realm, finding a tribe can significantly impact career satisfaction and success. Organizations and associations that foster a sense of community provide a platform for networking, learning, and mutual support. These groups can be beneficial for women in specialized fields, offering a space where they can connect with peers who share similar experiences and aspirations.

Bringing it all together: The 2024 Educational Retreat

One such example of a community that brings these values to life is Optometry Divas. This group has cultivated a supportive network for women in optometry, emphasizing the importance of connection, growth, and empowerment. The upcoming 2024 Educational Retreat from August 2 to 4 in St Augustine, Florida, is a testament to these principles.

The retreat, whose theme is “Unleash Your Power,” is designed to help attendees break through personal and professional barriers. It offers 20 continuing education credits, but the true value lies in connecting with like-minded professionals, sharing experiences, and building lasting relationships. The retreat features transformative courses, a business boot camp, and inspiring sessions, all aimed at fostering a sense of community and empowerment.

Finding your tribe is more than just joining a group; it’s about building meaningful connections that support your growth and well-being. Whether through shared knowledge, emotional support, or professional development, the benefits of a strong community are undeniable.

As we look forward to events like the 2024 Educational Retreat, we are reminded of the power of coming together, supporting one another, and unleashing our full potential. In every facet of life, our tribes help us thrive, achieve, and inspire.

Networking and skill sharing are just some of the building blocks to developing a professional community.

Michelle Hoff, OD, FAAO, ABOM, FNAO

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