Lupus, dry mouth, and arthritis aren’t usually associated with optometry, but it may well need to become a necessary part of any optometrist's knowledge base as awareness of Sjögren's syndrome becomes more prevalent, reported Dr. Milton M. Hom, OD, FAAO, at his most recent seminar at Vision Expo West.

For those who have heard men joking about "smurf vision," it's no surprise the unintended effects some pharmaceutical drugs can have on other parts of the body. But while physicians are well-aware of the systemic complications caused by medications they prescribe, they don't always know what effects drugs prescribed by other disciplines could have on their field of medicine-this includes optometrists, says Dr. Alan Kabat, OD, FAAO.

Inventory is rarely top of the mind for newly-trained optometrists, but it's something they have to contend with when beginning their own business.

The U.S. optical industry is in full recovery mode, and the outlook on future growth is good, reported Shawn Shafer, program manager for The Vision Council, at state of the industry meeting at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas.

Digital eye strain is becoming an increasingly common problem for Americans, and optician's need to be more proactive in discussing the problem with their patients. So said Michael Vitale, ABOM, LDO, NCLEC, lens division liaison for The Vision Council, who stressed the lack of public awareness of what have been dubbed "computer glasses" at Vision Expo West.

To sell better, eye care specialists need to stop selling. While counterintuitive, this is what generates the best environment that fosters not only better sales figures, but also more trust and credibility among patients, claim Dr. Ann Hoscheit, OD, FAAO, FAARM, of Summit Eye Associates and Dr. Robert Davis, OD, of the Eye Center.

A 24-year-old was referred to the Ocular Disease Service at UAB Eye Care for a glaucoma evaluation. Other than a history of spectacle correction for myopic refractive error, the personal ophthalmic history is negative.

The discussion of providing Saturday office hours can rile a group of ODs like few other topics. In the non-healthcare world, Saturdays are revered as a day off from the daily grind and a chance to spend time with family and friends.

Go down the eye care aisle at your local pharmacy or big box retailer and take a look at the contact lens care solutions. The choices can seem quite daunting to patients who have been given no recommendations before heading to the store.

During the Global Contact Lens Forum at Vision Expo West, Scot Morris, OD, FAAO, provided current information about the status of contact lenses in the United States.

During the Global Contact Lens Forum at Vision Expo West, Jeff Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO, discussed the predicted demise of gas permeable contact lenses.

During the Global Contact Lens Forum at Vision Expo West, Jeffrey Sonsino, OD, FAAO, shared tips on how to establish a specialty contact lens practice.

In an ongoing effort to ameliorate the discomfort and blurred vision that stems from dry eye, tear substitutes have undergone numerous improvements to enhance their efficacy and safety to the ocular surface.

High-paying careers all require an education, many beyond an undergraduate degree. Yet optometry faces challenges that have the potential to further erode income.

It’s not a new problem. It’s not a new concept. But for many ODs, it continues to be a significant challenge. Too many times we hesitate to present patients with upgraded products or services when there is an added expense.

Many of the traditional descriptions we use for areas of our practices have become outdated. As things change in our practices, we tend to force new methods and techniques into old categories.

Heading to Las Vegas for Vision Expo West 2014? Dr. Alan Glazier, founder of ODs on Facebook, invites you to join him at the official ODs on Facebook party at Vision Expo West.

The California Assembly unanimously passed a bill requiring the Covered California state health insurance exchange to link buyers to a separate website selling adult vision.

In this video, Dr. Mark Dunbar, OD, FAAO, co-chariman of International Vision Expo Conference Advisory Board, fills you in on the new educational offerings at Vision Expo West 2014.

The deadline for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Unique Device Identification (UDI) rule has been extended for an additional year for some medical device manufacturers.