M&S Technologies has announced that the latest version of its Smart System 20/20 software is intergrade with Echo patient education from Eyemaginiations.

Abbott recently announced it has received CE Marking (Conformité Européenne) in Europe for the Tecnis Symfony extended range of vision intraocular lens (IOL) for the treatment of cataract patients who may also have presbyopia.

A study from the Centre for Eye Research Australia at the University of Melbourne found that comprehensive ophthalmologist and ophthalmology trainees who participated in an online multinational study to assess optic discs were about twice as likely to underestimate as to overestimate glaucoma risk.

A recent study published in Optometry and Vision Science supported the biocompatibility of contact lenses coated with an antimicrobial peptide, which could help lower the risk of contact lens-related infections.

Research from the University of California, San Francisco, found that adding topical corticosteroids two to three days after starting topical antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial keratitis is linked to improved vision, according to a study recently published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Two new therapies are aiming to treat dry eye disease by targeting dry eye-related inflammation.

The second step of the retail selling process is the interview. During the interview, the optician attempts to learn the customer’s unique set of needs, wants, and desires. Notice I did not say just needs or wants. Both of these are important and strong motives to buy, but desire is even more important. In fact, without being able to increase desire to purchase a product, an optician will have a great deal of difficulty establishing value in the product(s) being offered.

Since the baby boomers have boomed, the syneresis process seems to be moving as fast as the polar ice cap is melting. I understand the sudden appearance of a large dark object is worrisome and needs to be managed in our offices. Yet, can we overdo it? What is really the most appropriate time frame to get these patients in for a look and when should they be seen again?

We often hear that we get out of life what we put into it. How can we change our outcome or results unless we utilize a new approach and vary our vision? I often say that instead of being stressed, we should accept the things we cannot change and find a way to reach a win-win outcome by embracing what we can control. Knowing that managed vision care is a part of our lives let us explore ways to make it more profitable for our practices.

Are there any absolute laws for glaucoma other than the broad few that govern its definition? Well, maybe not. Think about it. The word “typically” precedes much of what we say when we describe glaucoma outside of its definition. An example would be the fact that visual field loss is typically nasal at first. However, a temporal wedge defect may, at times, be the first defect to become manifest.

Whether you practice in a small private practice, a commercial setting, or a large hospital-based institution, Windows withdrawal of support for Windows XP as of April 8, 2014 needs to be seriously addressed by you or your organization.

By now, we have all heard about the SELECT trial and the ensuing media fish-oil frenzy concerning prostate cancer.1 A broad cross-section of industry and academic experts has slammed this study as nonsense. The SELECT study was a secondary analysis study that did not provide subjects with fish oil supplements nor monitor what type of fish or fish oil supplements were consumed

Dr. Mile Brujic and Dr. Jason Miller debate the need for contact lens follow-ups.

A healthy ocular surface is critical for the visual acuity and comfort of soft contact lenses. Despite this, treating dry eye is often an afterthought. Instead, contact lens practitioners may make multiple changes to the lens material, lens modality, and/or cleaning solution in an attempt to improve comfortable wear time and avoid dropout.

Optic disc pits are infrequently encountered clinical findings that are diagnosed through biomicroscopy during routine examination. Visual acuity will be normal unless the macular structure is compromised.

This morning, I saw a patient who came to our office complaining of discomfort, itching, and irritated eyes. She said she had done nothing different with her two-week soft contact lenses over the past three years. Her lenses were fogging up and would dry out after a few hours of wear. Upon examination, slit lamp biomicroscopy showed Grade 3 giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) in both eyes. Her lenses were moving excessively. Naturally, I assumed that this patient was non-compliant in her lens care. Doctors have been dealing with compliance issues with contact lenses since they were invented.

The profession has long awaited the release of the Eye Care Workforce Study. The project was jointly commissioned by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) and was conducted by the Lewin Group. The date of the study is listed on the Executive Summary as April 25, 2014, and the results were made public June 10. Congratulations to the AOA and ASCO for commissioning the study. The last one by Abt was in 1999, so this was quite timely and in fact long overdue.

ClearVision Optical introduces its new collection of IZOD frames that can be personalized through color. Volk Optical’s Eye Check, an electronic handheld ocular measurement device, aids in the diagnosis of ophthalmic abnormalities. Rudy Project and Shamir recently announced they would collaborate on prescription sports solutions.

As I sit here to write this editorial, it’s 97 degrees outside. That’s an unusually high temperature for mid June in the Philadelphia area. I’m hoping that it’s not quite so hot and humid when the industry will soon convene in the City of Brotherly Love for the annual American Optometric Association (AOA) Optometry’s Meeting. Of course, by the time you read this, that meeting will be one for the history books, and we’ll be looking ahead to Vision Expo West in Las Vegas (also hot; don’t let the month of September fool you) and the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) annual meeting in Denver.

I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Timothy J. Smith's letter strongly condemning NBEO's board certification (“Plea for NBEO,” May 2014).