ABB Optical Group recently launched ABB Cares, a signature annual grants program to support non-profit organizations nominated by eyecare professionals nationwide.

I want to thank the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG), Waterford, Ireland for responding to my assertion that mesozeaxanthin (MZ) in supplement form, even if it was scientifically possible to study alone as a supplement, has not proven as of yet to be necessary to build central foveal macular pigment, improve cone visual function, or uniquely protect the retina from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A recent survey from the American Optometric Association (AOA) found that parents drastically underestimate the time their kids spend on digital devices.

A study recently published in Diabetes found that corneal confocal microscopy and skin biopsy could detect early loss of small nerve fibers in patients recently diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.

Using human stem cells, researchers at Johns Hopkins have created a three-dimensional complement of human retinal tissue with functioning photoreceptor cells.

I don’t want good technicians working in our clinic; I want the best technicians working in the clinic. Many people make the assumption that if they pass the JCAHPO, COA, COT, or COMT tests that they are good technicians. That might mean it would also be safe to say that the higher the certification, the better the technician.

Growing up in rural Illinois, there was really only one culture that I had interacted with: the farming/small town USA culture. So, when I got accepted to optometry school and began interacting with more cultural diversity than I had ever been accustomed to, I soon found I was struggling to find common ground with some of my patients.

The technician is usually the patient’s first contact in the clinic. He or she frequently will perform the initial history to include both medical and ocular conditions and may perform the initial stages of the exam, including dilating the patient. As the first contact, the technician has an important role in obtaining a good medical history and a detailed medication and allergy list. In addition, the technician needs to understand the significance of this information in preparing the patient for surgery.

Do we look a bit fresher? Younger, maybe? Lost weight? I know, new haircut! Nope, we just got a bit of a makeover.

As healthcare workers in West Africa battle against Ebola, some experts in the United States question whether American hospitals would be able to protect their employees and the public should the disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently notified Congress that it intends to issue drafts of guidance documents on lab-developed tests.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's nine-member antitrust panel recently met to consider the decisions by Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, and Johnson & Johnson to put in place minimum sale prices for some of their products.

The lines between a surgical management and non-surgical management are more defined in states where surgery is performed by only ophthalmologists. However, the non-surgical management of our patients can be a little blurred and subject to your own personal acumen.

We read with interest, and some surprise, Dr. Stuart Richer’s article in Optometry Times entitled “The third carotenoid-mesozeaxanthin (Z-RS) and who needs to consume it.” In this article, Dr. Richer concludes that “simple proclamations...are misleading,” and we concur with his conclusion in this regard

Time will tell, but it is possible that we are poised to see new changes in the management of keratitis (microbial, HSV), recurrent corneal erosions, corneal abrasions, and other anterior segment conditions with amniotic membrane.

Cultivating happy patients before, during, and after a visit to your clinic or practice is key to maintaining a profitable and credible practice.

Medical trainees who spend more time with pharmaceutical marketing representatives are less likely to make evidence-based choices when prescribing, according to a study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

If I were to say to you, “My patient is suffering from DES,” what would be your initial thought? Dry eye syndrome? Possibly. However, now more than ever, we are seeing more and more patients suffering from digital eye strain. Let’s face it: we live in a digital world.

More and more well-informed individuals are requesting lens extraction for refractive purposes even though their natural lenses are clear.

Every optometrist who fits contact lenses knows what a problem many patients have with contact lens discomfort. It is likewise a significant clinical challenge.