According to a recent survey reported by Optometry Times, 6 in 10 providers say there’s at least a moderate shortage of qualified professionals. And over one-third (36%) of providers describe the shortage of opticians as severe or extreme. Anything categorized as severe or extreme is going to affect your patient flow, team morale, even practice growth.

Why the shortage?

The reasons are layered, but here are a few realities:

• Fewer people are entering the workforce in technical roles like optician or optometric technician.
• Training pipelines are limited and there’s a lack of visibility for these roles in high school and college career pipelines.
• Competition from other industries (with flexible hours or remote options) is pulling away potential candidates.

But as more practices adopt advanced technologies and grow their patient base, the need for skilled team members only increases.

If you’re dealing with this right now

The question becomes, what can be done? While 34% of providers suggest expanding training and educational opportunities to fill the gaps, there are some creative strategies your practice can explore right now:

1. Grow your own talent.
Consider hiring for attitude (and aptitude) and training for skill. Look into partnering with local high schools, community colleges, or workforce development boards to create internship or apprenticeship-style pathways. Such moves can fill your bench and inspire loyalty from day one. Incidentally, this method also improves staff retention.

Even partnering with a single local high school or community college to offer one non-clinical optical intern spot per semester can kick-start a sustainable pipeline and signal to your community that your practice is invested in local growth.

Pro tip: Consider offering tuition reimbursement for optician certification, as an example. It’s a strong incentive and could be a worthwhile investment in your future team. Speaking of hiring incentives: You might consider other perks like wellness benefits or student loan assistance. And here’s some very interesting salary considerations + one OD’s solution.

2. Build resilience.
Borrowing a page from retail, some practices are cross-training front desk staff in optical basics.

We’re not trying to turn a receptionist into an optician. But you might explicitly teach your front desk team to identify different lens materials, understand common insurance questions, or explain basic prescription terminology. You can create a quick-reference guide or cheat sheet at the desk with diagrams, FAQs, and optical vocabulary.

Important to note: Cross-training can backfire if you’re not clear about roles, if training is rushed, or if you are too understaffed. But if you set clear expectations and provide structured education, it’s a move that can boost team confidence and job satisfaction (and highlight potential for growth).

Recommended read: Explore the when, why and how of cross-training here (including when NOT to do it).

3. Use technology to lighten the load.
When your staff is stretched thin, automating some of the routine tasks can buy back time. And if you aren’t already using tech tools in the front office, now is the time to look into small adjustments. Common areas that can be automated: verifying vision and medical benefits, giving out-of-pocket cost estimates, appointment scheduling and reminders, electronic payment options, patient intake forms, patient communication, inventory management, internal reporting and analytics.

It’s about creating a smoother workflow, which, by the way, will improve the patient experience (in addition to keeping your team happy!).

The post Meeting the Moment: How Optometry Practices Are Adapting to Staffing Pressures appeared first on Optometry 411.

Tariffs are the top story everywhere, and the optical industry is not immune. Uncertainties about the practical impact of the tariffs abound, so let’s break down what’s going on:

President Trump announced “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, 2025, slapping a 10% blanket duty on nearly all imports, with certain countries, like China, facing even steeper increases.

Reciprocal tariffs means that if a country has higher tariffs than we do on certain products, we’ll raise ours to that level. That’s not exactly what’s happening, as a truly reciprocal situation would require a very complex administrative review of tariff codes and products. But it’s still early days.

What’s the overall takeaway at this time? As The Vision Council notes:

In the short term, increased import costs are likely to be passed along to consumers. However, there is potential for diplomatic negotiations to reduce or exempt certain tariffs, and other countries are expected to issue retaliatory tariffs, like China announced [on April 4], with a matching 34% tariff on imports from the United States. Industry efforts to diversify production across various countries in light of previous country-specific tariffs may need to be re-evaluated considering this new trade environment. (Source: The Vision Council Addresses New Reciprocal Tariffs and Their Impact on the Optical Industry)

Optical goods among most affected

The newly announced tariffs will stack on top of existing duties rather than replacing them. Here’s an example that illustrates the steep climb: Plastic eyeglass frames from China, a common product category, now carry a combined duty rate of approximately 64%. That includes:

• 2.5% standard duty
• 7.5% China Section 301 tariff
• 20% IEEPA duty
• 34% reciprocal duty

Over-the-counter readers, sunglasses, safety glasses, and goggles imported from China are also impacted. Eyeglass cases and some lens processing may face duty rates between 80 and 90%.

Broadly, we’ll need to keep an eye on retaliatory tariffs. [4/9/25 update: China just responded by increasing its retaliatory tariffs to 84% on U.S. goods.] The situation is very much developing.

4/15/25 update:

What ODs should watch

According to The Vision Council, in addition to cost increases, you’ll want to pay attention to compliance rules, especially around country of origin declarations. Goods that enter the U.S. after enforcement dates are subject to the full tariff rate, even if they were in transit prior.

The determination of origin is also a factor. Origin follows the principle of “substantial transformation.” That means if components are made in one country but significantly altered in another (changing their name, character, or use), the second country may be considered the origin. Mislabeling or misunderstanding this process can carry stiff legal penalties.

Growing concerns among ECPs

Surveys conducted by Jobson Research reveal escalating apprehension among ECPs regarding the financial implications of the new tariffs. In March, 76% of respondents expressed being very or somewhat concerned about the impact on the cost of goods, an increase from 70% in February. Additionally, 73% were worried about the effect on their bottom line, up from 66% the previous month. ​

For now, practices are responding in various ways:​

• Some are considering passing increased costs onto patients, with 42% indicating they would transfer 100% of the additional expenses. ​
• Others are exploring adjustments to their product portfolios, with 47% contemplating changes based on manufacturing origin.

What you can do

Supplier strategy now needs to be under closer review. Initiate conversations with your vendors to gain clarity on sourcing and pricing. You might look at diversifying your supply chain, adding vendors based in lower-tariffed countries or working more closely with domestic partners. If that’s not an option, think about consolidating orders to negotiate better volume discounts and reduce shipping frequency.

You probably shouldn’t make sweeping changes to pricing just yet, but explore the impact of small, targeted adjustments, keeping in mind that you’ll need to be prepared to explain potential price increases to patients and offer advice on cost-effective solutions.

Inventory management is another area to reconsider. You want to reduce overexposure to volatile categories while keeping your key products in steady supply. Look at your data to guide future purchasing decisions more closely.

And it almost goes without saying, but staying informed is non-negotiable. Our Optometry 411 newsletter will continue to bring you the latest updates and developments — and with so much still unknown, we can expect developments. Crucially, advocacy is underway. The Vision Council’s Government Relations team is in discussions with congressional leaders and key committees that influence the United States Trade Representative to push for the creation of an exemption process that would allow affected U.S. companies to formally petition for relief.

Recommended viewing: The Vision Council’s Omar Elkhatib and Rick Van Arnam Talk With VM About the Impact of Tariffs

Note: The Vision Council recently hosted an informational webinar and has a variety of resources available here for members to stay informed as the situation evolves. A recording of the webinar is available upon request by emailing media@thevisioncouncil.org.
4/15/25 update: A second webinar from The Vision Council will take place 4/16/25 at 1 p.m. CT.

The post Tariff Breakdown for ODs: What’s Happening, What It Means, and What You Can Do appeared first on Optometry 411.

Dates: April 5 – 6, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. each day

If you prefer the live experience, use your CEwire2025 Season Pass to watch online on the following dates:
April 5 – 6
June 7 – 8
September 6 – 7

The full event includes:

• 75 COPE-approved online credits
• 15 COPE-approved hours on glaucoma – meets the CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENT
• 8 COPE-approved hours of opioid courses, which meet the DEA REQUIREMENT
• 10 hours on oral pharmaceuticals – meets the NJ REQUIREMENT

View the April course schedule here.

Find out lots more details and register at the link below.

Register here.

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When we say these issues are overlooked, we mean underacknowledged by the general public and underprioritized by policymakers, not overlooked within the dedicated optometry community. Consider each item on this list an area that deserves further research or targeted advocacy efforts.

Diagnostic biases in underserved populations

AI has revolutionized diagnostic accuracy, but its effectiveness has been inconsistent across diverse populations. Implications continue to be significant, particularly if optometrists as a collective group aren’t up for navigating the challenges with care. For example, current studies show that certain AI models used to detect glaucoma may underdiagnose younger females and overdiagnose older Black patients due to deep learning model bias. Here’s another consideration, one pointed out by Easy Anyama, OD, and Lori Grover, OD, PhD, FAAO, in their excellent summary of AI in optometry to date:

Comparisons of AI models with doctors often miss the fact that doctors have an intrinsic population bias to the area they practice in. Most providers do not see patients in all 50 states. AI models, however, are often created with the intent of national distribution and application, potentially missing regional differences. (Source: Navigating AI in optometry: A balancing act of innovation and ethics)

Anyama and Grover further note that addressing these issues will require a deep understanding of AI and a commitment from optometrists to navigate these complexities responsibly. We recommend reading the entire piece linked above.

Public perception and scope of practice

Many folks still view optometrists solely as vision correction specialists. The problem with this perception is that it ends up influencing insurance reimbursement and legislative decisions.

The general public and even healthcare policymakers don’t fully understand the implications for access, cost, or patient outcomes. If anything, they’re more likely to view the whole thing as some sort of professional turf war between ODs and ophthalmologists.

But building stronger interdisciplinary partnerships with physicians and other specialists can help raise awareness of optometry’s full scope of practice. And advocacy efforts focused on public education and legislative reform will help secure broader practice rights.

In terms of policy, here’s the key point: “It can’t happen the year of the bill dropping. It has to be an ongoing process where a legislator gets to know the optometrist and trusts them as the source they would go to for any eye-related issue that may come through the legislature,” says Heather Gitchell, OD, in “Why You Should Fight for Scope Expansion.”

Recommended read: Stay abreast of the latest states pursuing scope expansion in 2025

Managed care limiting practice autonomy

Insurance companies and managed care organizations like to dictate which labs you can use, what frames you can sell, even how much you get reimbursed, which can ultimately cause a range of problems that impact your clinical decision-making and patient options.

Similar to the scope of practice issues, this is a known gripe among ODs, but not something the general public or lawmakers fully grasp unless they’re closely involved in the industry. On top of that, the managed care system (and insurance for that matter) is so dense and confusing — which makes it harder to rally widespread support or garner the kind of public outrage that can help move the needle.

Legislative efforts are underway to protect practitioners’ autonomy, but more advocacy is needed to spur change here. The American Optometric Association continues to push for reforms that prioritize patient care over insurer mandates. If you have the bandwidth, you might consider engaging in grassroots advocacy on these issues, as well.

Rising Educational Costs and Workforce Shortages

Browse any student message board and you’ll quickly see the complaints. The increasing cost of optometric education places a heavy financial burden on new graduates. The problem it creates is twofold:

• Heavy debt discourages graduates from working in rural or underserved areas, where salaries are lower but the need is already greater (and growing).
• Whenever education costs more, it limits socioeconomic diversity in the profession, reinforcing disparities in who becomes an OD and where they practice.

This is one of those brewing issues that’s hard to tackle because it’s not yet an emergency; it’s not an immediate crisis, but a looming one. The aging OD workforce combined with an aging U.S. population will mean an increased need for care. On paper, the national number of ODs may look sufficient, but you have to look at regional shortages and access disparitie to see the full picture.

New graduates might explore federal programs that offer student loan forgiveness in exchange for serving in underserved regions. Or check state-specific programs; many states run Health Professional Loan Repayment Programs to encourage providers to serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

As an established optometrist, you can support the next generation through mentorship programs, residencies, and practical financial advice. And not to bring up advocacy again, but advocating for policies that reduce educational costs and increase funding for optometry schools can help address the root of this challenge.

These challenges may not always make national news headlines, but their impact on both patients and practitioners is immense. These are the areas in which to be proactive if you want to secure a more resilient and prosperous future.

The post The Most Overlooked Issues in Optometry Right Now appeared first on Optometry 411.

Fortunately, e-commerce platforms such as Bausch + Lomb’s Opal are leveling the playing field by enabling independent optometrists to offer the same level of service, convenience, and product accessibility as their corporate counterparts.

Convenience and accessibility

One of the biggest advantages corporate giants have is their ability to provide seamless online ordering and fulfillment, making it easy for patients to purchase contact lenses and eyewear directly from their websites. Traditionally, independent optometrists have struggled to match this level of convenience. Platforms like Opal provide a digital storefront that integrates with a practice, allowing patients to reorder their contact lenses online while maintaining their relationship with their trusted eye care provider. This means independent practitioners remain the go-to source for vision care rather than losing patients to large retail chains or third-party online retailers.

Patient relationships

When patients purchase eyewear or contact lenses from corporate retailers, the connection with their primary eye care provider weakens. E-commerce solutions like Opal allow private optometrists to maintain control over their product offerings, ensuring that patients return to their practice for follow-up care, prescription updates, and future purchases.

By offering this kind of branded, user-friendly e-commerce experience, optometrists can reinforce their role as the primary provider of eye health services rather than just being a prescription source.

Competitive pricing without overhead costs

A significant challenge independent optometrists face is competing with the bulk pricing and aggressive discounts offered by major corporations. By utilizing an e-commerce platform like Opal, private practices can access competitive pricing on contact lenses and other optical products while reducing the overhead costs associated with in-office inventory management. Many of these platforms also offer direct-to-patient shipping, eliminating the need for optometrists to stock large quantities of products and allowing them to focus on patient care rather than logistics.

Strengthening practice profitability

By integrating e-commerce into their practice, optometrists can generate revenue beyond in-office visits and retail sales. Automated reordering, subscription models, and seamless payment processing encourage repeat business, creating a steady revenue stream that helps independent practices remain financially viable in an increasingly competitive market.

E-commerce platforms like Bausch + Lomb’s Opal empower independent optometrists to compete effectively against corporate giants. By offering convenience, patient retention, competitive pricing, and additional revenue streams, these platforms help level the playing field and ensure that private practice optometrists can continue providing personalized, high-quality eye care without being overshadowed by large-scale corporate entities.

Dr. Neal Troyer, OD, has more than 15 years’ experience in practice management and is a co-founder of Eyecare Republic.

The post How E-Commerce Platforms Like Bausch + Lomb’s Opal Are Empowering Private Practice Optometrists appeared first on Optometry 411.

Stan Rogaski, CLI’s executive director, points out that these findings are “a window into what [patients] are thinking yet may not be telling their eye doctors, opticians, and staff.”

Eye care provider considerations from CLI on purchase-specific inquiries:

“Patients may be using their phones in the exam lane to search for contact lens purchase options. Consider ways to proactively discuss possibilities ahead of and during patients’ exams, including price-performance alternatives and total cost.”

“Don’t assume patients understand how they can easily purchase contact lenses through you or others, including rebates, payment plans, personal service, convenient delivery or pick-up, and additional benefits of working with your practice.”

Since people are also searching for help and answers, it means you’d be well served by addressing the following topics at your practice:

People search for help removing their lenses at least twice as often as help with insertion.

At the very least, this suggests that some patients are leaving the exam room without adequate mastery of this skill. That may be especially true for first-time wearers, dry eye patients whose lenses adhere more tightly than expected, or scleral or hybrid lens wearers who need specific removal techniques.

What you can do

• Spend more time on removal techniques during in-office I&R training.
• Send patients home with additional resources like a little practice-branded video or guide (accessible via QR code). It could make all the difference!
• Specifically ask about removal challenges during post-fit check-ins, and reinforce removal techniques at every follow-up. Patients may need to try it multiple times before they feel comfortable.
• For anyone struggling with dryness-related removal issues, you might recommend lubricating drops or alternative lens materials.

The CLI report also focused on unfulfilled dual wear opportunities based on searches for glasses and/or contacts or glasses vs. contacts.

Many people see contacts as an all-or-nothing choice and don’t realize that daily lenses are great for part-time wearers. But most won’t ask about them unless you bring it up!

What you can do

• Develop processes to prompt dual wear conversations during exams.
• For your patients who are exclusively in glasses, you might simply bring up the idea: “Would you be interested in a daily option for travel, sports, or weekends?” A question like this can open the door.
• Let patients experience the difference with a sample. If they try dailies once, they’re more likely to incorporate them into their routine.
• Normalize the idea of multiple lens types, a hybrid approach. People don’t realize you can mix and match — make that education part of the conversation.

Further recommended resources:

See highlights and infographics from the CLI report.

You can also watch the video of CLI’s VEE 2025 presentation on this topic. It’s less than 20 minutes, and could be good for individual or group staff training.

The post What Online Contact Lens Shopping Trends Mean for Your Optometry Practice appeared first on Optometry 411.

The International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy (ICDR) Severity Scale was created to refine DR classification in efforts to improve diagnosis and management:

• Mild NPDR: Microaneurysms only → Annual monitoring.
• Moderate NPDR: Intraretinal hemorrhages present → 9- to 12-month follow-up.
• Severe NPDR: Based on the 4-2-1 rule (four quadrants of hemorrhaging, two quadrants of venous beading, one quadrant of IRMA) → Referral to retina specialist recommended.
• PDR: Presence of neovascularization → Urgent referral for anti-VEGF therapy and/or panretinal photocoagulation (PRP).
• DME: Referral recommended for center-involved (CI-DME) cases, particularly those affecting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

During “Current Strategies on Managing Diabetic Eye Disease,” a session at the recent Vision Expo East, Mary Beth Yackey, OD, and Jessica Haynes, OD, presented strategies for managing DR in your practice — tackling patient education, risk assessment, and treatment coordination for your diabetic patients. We’ll touch on just a few of the guidelines shared:

• Type 1 Diabetes: The American Diabetes Association and AOA guidelines recommend a baseline eye exam within five years of diagnosis and annual follow-ups thereafter.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Since undiagnosed diabetes is common, patients should have a comprehensive eye exam at diagnosis, with follow-up intervals based on DR severity.
• For moderate-to-severe NPDR, consider additional OCT, OCT-A, or electroretinography (ERG) to assess progression risk. In cases of rapid disease progression, poor glycemic control, or noncompliance, earlier referral may be warranted.

Recommended resource: Diabetic Eye Disease: A Comprehensive Look at the Optometrist’s Role

The doctors also spoke to new therapeutic treatments that are enhancing DR and diabetic macular edema (DME) management:

• Anti-VEGF injections act as first-line therapy for CI-DME and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR); newer agents like faricimab and high-dose aflibercept offer longer durability.
• Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) remains the gold standard for high-risk PDR to reduce neovascularization.
• Intravitreal corticosteroid implants may benefit pseudophakic patients or those unresponsive to anti-VEGF treatment.
• Emerging therapies: Fenofibrate (lipid-lowering agent) has shown promise in slowing DR progression, while nutritional supplementation targeting oxidative stress is an evolving area of research.

Patient education points to make

Consider the following information, as outlined in the VEE presentation, when discussing things with your patients:

After 15 years of disease duration, 80% of patients with type 1 DM will have some degree of retinopathy.

Elevated blood glucose levels and HbA1c values (less than or equal to 7%), as well as less glucose time in range assessed by continuous glucose monitoring devices, are also associated with higher rates of retinopathy.

Control of blood pressure, lipids, and management of comorbidities, such as sleep apnea, all reduce risk of progression.

Pregnancy in diabetics places increase risk of progression to severe retinopathy; however this is not the case in those with gestational diabetes.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor analogs are a newer, highly effective category of medication for diabetes management including semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy, both Novo Nordisk), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Eli Lilly).

Although improved glycemic control is encouraged for promotion of long-term positive outcomes, a transient worsening of retinopathy may be seen initially. (Likely related to VEGF expression, reactive oxygen species production and breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier.)

Source: “Current Strategies on Managing Diabetic Eye Disease,” presented by Mary Beth Yackey, OD, Jessica Haynes, OD, at Vision Expo East; Feb 19-22, 2025; Orlando.

The post Managing Diabetic Eye Disease: Strategy and Patient Education appeared first on Optometry 411.

The post Genius Idea: Try This Successful Team-Building Reward System in Your Optometry Practice appeared first on Optometry 411.

This course, hosted by Optometric Education Consultants, will investigate various retinal conditions that are commonly encountered in optometry practices including epiretinal membrane, commotio retinae, vitreomacular traction, partial thickness and full thickness macular holes, retinal tears/detachments, and lattice degeneration.

Open-ended discussion will be used to interact with the audience and discuss clinical pearls that will guide management decisions. Should I refer this — or not?

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: Online
Price: $50 for CE credit/$10 for no credit

Register here.

The post MAR 30 | Virtual CE: Refer This, Not That: Retinal Decision Making appeared first on Optometry 411.

Date: March 28 – 30, 2025
Location: Napa, CA

What to expect

Esteemed speakers, clinicians, and researchers in the eye care field present on topics such as anterior segment disease, glaucoma, retina, advanced contact lenses, myopia management, and more. The CRU Eye Symposium aims to become the most significant annual conference for influential figures in the ophthalmic field. As we move forward, we are eager to continue fostering the spirit of collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

See more details at the registration link below.

Register here.

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