Professional Development Archives - Optometry 411

What Are Top Patient Concerns Regarding Eye Health Right Now?

Katie Lewis — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:42:35 +0000

As ECPs, it’s easy to lose track of how much the average person knows — or doesn’t know — about eye health and eye care. You have such a wealth of experience, so what seems like a no-brainer to you may still be a blind spot to the layperson.

Knowing what patients (and prospective patients) are worried about can only help you improve quality of care, guide marketing strategy, and inform your CE decisions, allowing you to shore up your knowledge base in relevant areas.

1. Digital Eye Strain

Though patients may not know to call it “digital eye strain,” screen time concerns continue to dominate. And people are worried both for themselves and for their children. The 20-20-20 rule is not yet ingrained in public consciousness, so informing patients about the rule and including tips for how to actually implement it, especially at work, will be beneficial.

And the lifestyle recommendations you provide can also aid in myopia control, particularly for developing children.

AOA Report Exposes Nationwide Consequences of Unmanaged Screen Time

2. Dry Eyes

Whether from environmental factors, serious underlying conditions, or age … dry eyes are causing trouble for patients these days. Studies have reported varying prevalence rates, ranging from 5% to 15% among U.S. adults (source).

“Dry eye is one of the most common reasons patients visit eye care professionals, and yet, unfortunately, it is under-diagnosed and untreated. Many patients are suffering from it overtly or in silence. Like other ocular conditions, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, I believe at least basic competency in this area is our duty and well worth the investment.” (Source: Dry Eye in Optometry)

Recommended resources:
An Action Plan for Managing Dry Eye Disease in Your Practice

A Beginner’s Guide to Dry Eye Treatment Integration

Increasing Incidence of DED Presents Opportunity for ODs

3. Age-Related Vision Changes

Currently, about 56 million people, or roughly 17% of the population, are aged 65 and older, and this group is expected to reach around 74 million by 2030 (source). Problems like presbyopia, cataracts, and macular degeneration will only become more of a concern, and the need for care will be significant.

Recommended resource:
Eye Conditions and Diseases: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, National Eye Institute

Adult Vision: 41 to 60 Years of Age

21 Ways Aging Changes Your Eyes

4. Nutrition Optimization

As you’ve likely noticed, people are more interested than ever in the power of diet and supplements to prevent or address health issues, and that includes problems related to the eye. Broadly, carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin and antioxidant-rich foods can help reduce the risk of AMD. Foods high in omega-3s, vitamin A, and zinc support eye health, too. Side note: It can also be useful to educate patients on what diet changes can’t help with, e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Recommended resources:
Increasing Compliance to Ocular Nutritional Supplementation

Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society

5. Contact Lenses

This is both an interest and an area of concern. People are curious about the modern contact lens landscape and what’s available. Some folks have a desire to experiment with decorative lenses to achieve a certain look (like Halloween contacts) but lack awareness of the risks. When it comes to prescription contacts, patients are concerned about:

Hygiene, infection, and safety
Adjusting to contact lens care and new routines
Eye health over time — especially what will happen if they aren’t diligent
Cost, of course

Recommended resources:
Multifocals for All Ages

Contact Lens Complications: Recognition, Prevention and Management

Vision Expo East 2024: Shedding Light on Orthokeratology

6. Eye Pain and Discomfort

Eye pain is a perpetual area of concern for patients because pain, redness, and vision changes can come from any number of underlying issues. Thorough exams remain essential to establishing the true root cause and treating appropriately.

This type of patient concern sometimes necessitates an “emergency” eye appointment, and ODs are finding success with telehealth for such consults, to quickly determine how urgent the situation is and what the immediate next steps should be. Telehealth is also becoming a popular option for continuity of care when it comes to discomfort from allergies, mild inflammation or conjunctivitis, styes, etc.

Emergency Eye Appointments: A New System

7. Protective Eyewear

There’s growing awareness among patients regarding protective eyewear for higher-risk activities like sports and certain occupational tasks. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that approximately 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries requiring medical treatment daily (source).

Tech advances allow for more comfortable, durable, even cooler-looking safety eyewear, which helps with compliance. Don’t forget to recommend that all households have a pair of protective eyewear on hand to help prevent the 50% of all eye injuries that occur at home!

Sunglasses fall under this category, too. Sports sunglasses are increasing in popularity. Sunglasses for children, too. Aside from the eye itself, the skin surrounding the eyes is particularly susceptible to UV damage and cancer risk, and sunglasses provide a needed protective barrier.

Eye Protection at Home (tips for patient education)

As you tweak and tailor your practice and patient recommendations going forward, it’s also useful to think about you answers to specific eye care questions people have — we mean patients and people who’ve never set foot in an optometrist’s office.

Can my vision be improved naturally without surgery?
What are current options for vision correction surgery?
What should I know about eye health supplements?
How often should I get an eye exam?
What are the latest options for contact lenses?
Are there new treatment options for dry eyes?
How can I protect my eyes from increased screen time?

Consider these types of questions (and more) when thinking about how to market your practice, stay abreast of changes in the field, and keep your patients properly informed.

The post What Are Top Patient Concerns Regarding Eye Health Right Now? appeared first on Optometry 411.

Will Physician Shortages Mean Further Expanded Scope for Optometrists?

Katie Lewis — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:38:03 +0000

The U.S. is currently facing a critical shortage of physicians, a challenge exacerbated by the pandemic. And the shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years, namely due to population growth and the aging of the boomer generation. And a particularly concerning gap is the declining availability of ophthalmologists at a time when demand for vision services is steadily increasing.

A Little History

Over the past 30 years, the scope of optometry in the U.S. has evolved fairly dramatically, from vision correction to comprehensive eye care, including management and treatment of ocular diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration. Opportunities for expanded scope increased significantly in 1986 when the federal government classified optometrists as medical providers eligible for Medicare reimbursement.

Since then, legislative changes have allowed optometrists to prescribe medications, perform minor surgical procedures in some states, and play a part in managing systemic conditions. The profession has also embraced advanced technology, pediatric care, and vision therapy, while tele-optometry and interdisciplinary care have expanded access to services. Optometrists are increasingly recognized as primary healthcare providers, though scope-of-practice laws continue to vary by state.

Where Are We Now?

Expansion of optometry’s scope of practice in the U.S. continues to gain momentum. There are currently 12 “laser states,” i.e., states in which scope includes the use of lasers. And more states pursued scope expansion for laser rights in 2024 than in any previous year.

Education and residency programs have grown to reflect the legislative changes. Today’s optometry students are being taught to perform minor surgical procedures like lesion removal and subcutaneous injection and laser procedures such as selective laser trabeculoplasty, YAG capsulotomy, and laser peripheral iridotomy.

Advocates point out that expanding optometric practice reduces healthcare costs and improves access to essential care, especially in rural and underserved areas, where optometrists often serve as primary eye care providers.

This shift is not without opposition, however. Medical orgs have pushed back against these expansions, referring to it as scope creep, citing patient safety and the level of surgical training optometrists receive compared to ophthalmologists. Expanded scope has led to increased overlap between ophthalmologists and optometrists, which seems to be creating an unfortunate tension between the fields. One only has to read a little bit from either side to get a sense of the different tones (e.g., What’s the Difference Between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists? from the American Medical Association compared to Optometric Scope: Breaking Down Barriers from Review of Optometry).

To be fair, it’s not just MDs who have opposing views. Some ODs are not interested in performing scalpel or laser surgery, for example. But expanding access to high-quality patient care is a positive. And expanded scope for optometry has so far proven to be just that:

“[Level of training] is the only argument that ophthalmology has been able to claim, and it’s never come to fruition, but that’s what they cling to in every scope battle that comes along,” says Angelique Sawyer, OD, legislative co-chair of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, which is currently pushing to authorize lasers and advanced procedures. “We’re not asking for things that are outside of our training and education, and we’ve proven time and time again that when the legislature grants us authority and increased scope, we do it responsibly and to the benefit of our patients,” she says. (Source: Optometric Scope: Breaking Down Barriers, Review of Optometry)

Looking Ahead

Despite some setbacks, such as a vetoed bill in California (and a second attempt still in limbo), several states are pressing forward, which signals the increasing role of optometry in the broader healthcare landscape.

[Dr. Nate Lighthizer, OD] reiterates that “optometrists have a great track record of safely performing [new] procedures,” but adds that there will always be political opposition. “I think the reason why some states struggle is because you have to have the right people in place to pass a law,” he notes. For example, scope advocates in states with legislators who are also medical doctors — such as West Virginia and California — may have a more difficult time hammering home the safety and necessity of OD-performed procedures. (Source: Optometric Scope: Breaking Down Barriers, Review of Optometry)

If the data is any indication, optometry scope expansion will reach more states: A recent study examining the effect of optometrists’ prescription authority found that granting optometrists the ability to prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents improved public eye health. The study revealed that vision impairment decreased by 12% on average over a 15-year period following the expansion of optometry’s scope.

“The effect was not instant but emerged six years after the policy change. Moreover, the policy brought a more significant decline in vision impairment among the nonwhite population, who might have more limited access to medical care than white people.” (Source: Seeing Is Believing: The Effects of Expanding Optometrists’ Scope of Practice)

Findings from the study imply that allowing optometrists to practice to the full extent of their training might encourage them to provide higher-value services, which will further improve public eye health. The thinking is: Empowering optometrists improves care access by reducing reliance on ophthalmologist referrals.

What’s the bottom line? Expanding the scope of optometry is a promising way to mitigate physician shortages while meeting the growing demand for eye care, especially among older populations. But its evolution shines a light on the importance of collaborative efforts between legislators, healthcare providers, and professional associations. Our should be to strike a balance between safety, accessibility, and quality of care.

Additional resources:

Guide to Optometry Regulations in the U.S. by State (July 2024, Eyes on Eyecare)

Scope Expansion Tools, AOA members

Scope Expansion Supporting Documentation, AOA members

The post Will Physician Shortages Mean Further Expanded Scope for Optometrists? appeared first on Optometry 411.

Eyecare Republic Expands Its Reach: New Partnership Powers Up Optometry Support

Katie Lewis — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:00:25 +0000

(Plano, TX) – Eyecare Republic (ECR) is thrilled to welcome a new strategic partner, Ratio Accounting, to its expanding network. This partnership strengthens ECR’s commitment to advancing patient care and empowering independent optometrists nationwide. By uniting their expertise, this collaboration will elevate ECR’s ability to provide high-quality, accessible eye care services to communities across the country.

The expansion underscores ECR’s dedication to providing networking opportunities, professional growth, and access to state-of-the-art resources for its members.

“We hope that ODs will begin to see their accounting effort as a source of business growth opportunities,” said Michael Pote, Partner, at Ratio Accounting, Inc. “Tax management is a given. Business growth requires deep knowledge of the optometric practice and that is what we are bringing to the equation.”

ECR will be announcing additional partnerships soon.

In today’s fast-paced world, where technology, patient needs, and business practices are constantly evolving, Eyecare Republic supports independent optometrists in staying ahead of the curve. By providing access to vital business resources, ongoing education, and a strong network of peers, ECR makes it easier for members to adapt and continue delivering exceptional care. For more information about membership with ECR and its new partners, please visit https://eyecarerepublic.com or contact Dr. Justin Weigel (jweigel@eyecarerepublic.com) for membership questions or Aaron Allen (aallen@eyecarerepublic.com or 855-859-8792).

About Eyecare Republic (ECR)

Eyecare Republic is a nationwide community of independent optometrists focused on improving patient care through collaboration, innovation, and shared resources. Members benefit from collective bargaining, business solutions, and continuous education, helping them to grow and enhance their practices.

About the New Partner

Ratio Accounting – U.S. headquarters in San Francisco, CA

Ratio Accounting specializes in providing tailored financial solutions to optometry practices. With a focus on translating financial data into actionable insights, Ratio Accounting helps members with cash flow forecasting, financial reporting, and tax preparation. Their technology-driven approach, using real-time data access through QuickBooks Online, ensures that ECR members receive up-to-date information for sound business decisions. Ratio Accounting’s consultancy services guide practices through strategic planning, helping them maximize growth and profitability.

For more information, visit www.ratioaccounting.com.

The post Eyecare Republic Expands Its Reach: New Partnership Powers Up Optometry Support appeared first on Optometry 411.

FEB 19 – 22 | Vision Expo East

Katie Lewis — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:15:50 +0000

Vision Expo East is officially on the horizon. This major annual event for ophthalmic professionals is where eyewear, education, fashion, and innovation mingle. Join eyecare professionals, buyers, influencers, and technology leaders in Orlando (they switched locations this year!).

Date: February 19 – 22, 2025
Location: Orlando, FL

What’s new?

Make the most out of Vision Expo by planning with My Show. Get personalized exhibitor recommendations. Discover the latest and greatest products for your business. Build your network of industry leaders. Learn from experts and thought leaders in world-class sessions that are perfect for you.

VisionEd at Vision Expo

Select from an extensive catalog of accredited optometric, opticianry, and business education spanning subjects from disease management and practice expansion, to lens innovation and business management. Enhance your learning with real-world experience with the industry’s leading exhibitors in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and technology.

Find out lots more details on every facet of the conference at the registration link below.

Register here.

The post FEB 19 – 22 | Vision Expo East appeared first on Optometry 411.

FEB 26 – MAR 2 | SECO 2025

Katie Lewis — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:03:22 +0000

Join SECO at its annual conference, one of the largest optometric educational meetings in the world, featuring robust education sessions, innovative networking opportunities, and a cutting-edge exhibit hall.

Date: February 26 – March 2, 2025
Location: Atlanta, GA

SECO 2025

From SECO:

For over a century, SECO has been deeply committed to driving the eye care profession forward. That’s more than 100 years of delivering top-notch education and hands-on training, opportunities to forge meaningful connections and impactful partnerships, and access to the latest research, innovations, and techniques in the optometric profession. A mission-driven, non-profit organization that continually reinvests into programs to further the vision care community and provide an event rooted in authenticity — an event built by you, for you.

Program Highlights

Interventional Glaucoma Special Session: Join Dr. Arkadiy Yadgarov for a special session on the latest advancements in glaucoma management. Discover how optometrists can play a critical role in interventional care and learn new techniques to improve patient outcomes.

Mastering the Business of Eye Care: Dive into SECO’s exclusive business conference with a new focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Participate in hands-on AI workshops designed to streamline your practice and enhance patient care. Learn how to integrate AI into your daily operations to stay ahead in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

Exclusive Educational Sessions: Topics include the latest clinical advancements, disease management breakthroughs, and innovative business strategies that will shape the future of eye care.

Find out lots more at the registration link below.

Register here.

The post FEB 26 – MAR 2 | SECO 2025 appeared first on Optometry 411.

JAN 22 – 24 | The Vision Council 2025 Executive Summit

Katie Lewis — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 16:09:55 +0000

The Executive Summit is The Vision Council’s premier event, bringing together industry leaders for several days of high-level networking and leadership development. Designed to shed light on the evolving landscape of the vision industry, the summit features a robust schedule of interactive panels, expert presentations, and keynote addresses. Attendees will also have ample opportunities to connect with fellow executives and influential leaders.

The event is open to both members of The Vision Council and nonmembers, with members eligible for special members-only pricing.

Date: January 22 – 24, 2025
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Price: $1,050 for members, $2,400 for non-members

This year’s Executive Summit will feature several insightful keynote presentations on timely and relevant topics, including cybersecurity, generations in the workplace, government and regulatory affairs, as well as an industry economic forecast for 2025 and a broad economic outlook. A full agenda will be available in the coming weeks.

Find out more details at the registration link below.

Register here.

The post JAN 22 – 24 | The Vision Council 2025 Executive Summit appeared first on Optometry 411.

JAN 15 – 18 | Global Specialty Lens Symposium

Katie Lewis — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 16:09:46 +0000

Are you passionate about pushing the boundaries of contact lens care? The Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS) is the premier and original event for contact lens professionals. GSLS isn’t just about specialty lens education – it’s about inspiration to optimize your overall contact lens knowledge and practice.

Date: January 15 – 18, 2025
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Price: Options from $285 – $895

What To Expect

Immerse yourself in the latest advancements in specialty lens technology, from myopia control, irregular cornea, presbyopia management to emerging smart lens applications.
Network with leading researchers, clinicians, and industry experts, gaining invaluable insights and fostering lasting collaborations.
Participate in workshops, honing your expertise in fitting and managing complex contact lens cases.
Discover cutting-edge solutions to address your patients’ evolving needs, ensuring you provide the highest standard of care.

Find out more details, including info on the International Forum for Scleral Lens Research, at the registration link below.

Register here.

The post JAN 15 – 18 | Global Specialty Lens Symposium appeared first on Optometry 411.

DEC 6 – 8 | West Coast Optometric Glaucoma Symposium & Retina Update 2024

Katie Lewis — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:09:46 +0000

West Coast Optometric Glaucoma Symposium 2024 will be held in succession with Retina Update 2024. Organizers encourage you to participate in both symposia.

Date: December 6 – 8, 2024
Location: Carlsbad, CA

What to Expect

West Coast Optometric Glaucoma Symposium 2024 (up to 12 live COPE credits) and Retina Update 2024 (up to 11 live COPE credits) are two-day events that will include case presentations, Q&A sessions, and literature analysis. The events will highlight critical themes, new developments, and treatments in glaucoma and retinal disease.

Experts share the latest data, research, and practical knowledge, and esteemed faculty will dive deep into all aspects of these diseases and weigh in on treatments to directly combat glaucoma and the many forms of retinal disease in your patients.

Find more details at the registration links below.

Register for West Coast Optometric Glaucoma Symposium 2024.

Register for Retina Update 2024.

The post DEC 6 – 8 | West Coast Optometric Glaucoma Symposium & Retina Update 2024 appeared first on Optometry 411.

DEC 5 | Webinar: Visual Development: What Is Normal and What Is Not

Katie Lewis — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:14:45 +0000

The Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) will host a webinar to discuss examination procedures to assess infants, toddlers, and developmentally delayed patients.

The course will discuss normal visual development and how clinical observations aid in identifying delays and disorders.

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Online

Learning Objectives

Upon completion, participants will be able to conduct a comprehensive case history for young pediatric patients.
Upon completion, participants will be able to assess binocularity development using stereopsis testing, prism, Hirschberg, Bruckner, and Krimsky tests.
Upon completion, participants will be able to evaluate ocular motility and document neuro-muscular conditions that limit eye movement accuracy and ability.
Upon completion, participants will be able to utilize preferential looking and symbol matching tests to assess visual acuity in non-verbal patients.
Upon completion, participants will be able to assess ocular health on infants and young children.
Upon completion, participants will be able to record significant clinical observations of visual function.

Note: 2 hours of CE available.

Register here.

The post DEC 5 | Webinar: Visual Development: What Is Normal and What Is Not appeared first on Optometry 411.

Takeaways From the Expo Hall at VEW 2024

Katie Lewis — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:14:40 +0000

One word to describe the Expo Hall at Vision Expo West 2024: vast. The number of exhibitors and the sheer scale of the event was a lot to take in.

We kept an eye out for innovations and forward-thinking companies on our journey through the booths. Think next-gen VR headset testing, remote eye care solutions, and digital tools to help your practice thrive. Let’s dive in.

Eyewear Trends

I see the future of the [optical] industry in the customization aspect. 40% of the market is walking into the optical and walking out because it doesn’t have something that they like or that actually fits them. And that’s where the customization comes in. You can customize your Nikes, you can customize M&Ms, and now you can customize your own frames. And that’s where the future is. – Rossy Gonzalez, Thema USA (Eco-friendly, fully customizable eyewear)

The future of eyewear is all about customization, sustainability, advanced frame construction, and patented technologies. On-demand design and 3D printing eliminates the need for large purchase orders — and subsequent storage space. We were intrigued by 3D printing as a solution to storage issues, durability, and sustainability concerns:

Tech Print Industries (TPI) leads 3D-printed eyewear innovation, collaborating with top European brands like Liq Eyewear (Spain), REL Eyewear (Italy), eye3d.nl (Netherlands), RAYDIANT (Germany), and EveryWear (Netherlands). TPI offers advanced technologies like personalized scan-to-print frames and durable, color-rich materials. Brands and retailers can create custom collections and introduce lightweight, sustainable eyewear to their customers, shaping the future of eyewear through creativity and innovation. – Kiana Notenboom, Tech Print Industries

If you’re curious about the design and construction of 3D-printed frames, there are several short, informational videos at Tech Print Industries that can give you more background.

Durability was a major theme on the show floor. Noon Shop’s Steel Brown collection showcases the durability and lightweight nature of stainless steel:

The frames are precision-engineered as a single piece, eliminating potential weak points and ensuring long-lasting performance. Their wafer-thin design offers a sleek, modern look while maintaining exceptional strength. It’s no surprise that Tesla Cybertrucks are also crafted with stainless steel. – Anna Park, Noon Shop

And that patented technology I mentioned? It’s all in service of durability and comfort:

What impresses people the most at these types of shows is our TurboFlex technology, the worldwide patented 360-degree rotating hinge. It makes the frames flexible, comfortable and most of all resilient. It’s so fun to see people’s faces as they play with our product for the first time. Needless to say, once you’ve tried a pair, you’ll want one of your own. – Steve Dawson, Aspex Eyewear

Eyewear Designs Ltd. (you may remember the cool Elton John Eyewear displays at their booth) gave us great intel about fit, color, and sustainability trends:

It’s all about the fit – comfort, and right now we are seeing a strong emphasis on extra-large styles and fits for both men and women. Soft, cool shapes but strong large sizes – men’s over 57 eye and women’s over 55 eye.

Color is another key trend. We see more and more use of multi-color combinations both for men and women. Lamination and new color techniques give us the ability to bring to market truly beautiful and unique color combinations.

We continue to address supporting global sustainability issues. Our company goal is to have 50% of our collections made from recycled and sustainable materials within 24 months and 100% within two more years. We encourage and work with all our supply partners to help us achieve this goal. – Abby Gluck, Eyewear Designs Ltd.

Innovative Equipment

VR headsets are having major impact as a diagnostic tool and are easy to integrate into a practice. Patients love them, and most importantly, you get accurate results. Clinically validated, research-backed tech like the Virtual Eye offers visual field testing that eliminates the constraints of traditional SAP.

Neurolens has already partnered with more than 1,500 independent optometrists to incorporate immersive VR technology into their practices while offering patients pioneering lens technology:

With increased competition from online and retail channels, it is more important than ever for independent eye care providers to differentiate themselves with cutting-edge innovation and world-class patient care.

[Our] N3 VR headset quickly engages patients while measuring their binocular misalignment and educates the 80% of patients suffering from symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, eye strain, and motion sickness on the potential connection to their eye misalignment. Based on the patient’s N3 measurement, optometrists can prescribe Neurolenses with patented contoured prism technology to bring clear sight and, beyond that, life-changing symptom relief. – Chase Cutler, Neurolens

Related reads:
Reader Survey: What’s On Your Tech Shopping List?, Review of Optometry

Devices You Might Not Have: Are They a Good Fit?, Review of Optometry

Remote Eye Care

DigitalOptometrics has been facilitating comprehensive remote eye exams since 2018, so they have firsthand knowledge of the supply and demand issues in the industry. Remote eye care is a way to improve efficiency and see more patients (who otherwise wouldn’t have access to eye care at all).

There are not enough optometrists to support a growing industry. Our purpose is to meet patient demand. There’s a lot of underserved communities throughout the United States that require this kind of care. And [remote eye care] allows for patient convenience, reduced wait times, and reduced no-show rates. – Howard Fried, O.D., president and founder of DigitalOptometrics

Proprietary DigitalOptometrics technology allows optometrists to remotely perform full, comprehensive eye exams and issue prescriptions in less than 30 minutes.

Aesthetics

You’ve likely been hearing more about the optometry/aesthetics crossover as a way to diversify your services, make money, and stand out from the crowd. Several exhibitors on the show floor offered entry points into this arena: nourishing products for the delicate skin around the eye, eye drops like Lumify, and equipment for low-level light therapy (LLLT) or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy.

Curious about adding med spa services? Here’s a deeper dive on what it might look like for you:

This Seattle Optometry Practice Took the Plunge and Added Aesthetic Spa Services, Invision

Your Comprehensive Guide to Ocular Aesthetics, Modern Optometry

The post Takeaways From the Expo Hall at VEW 2024 appeared first on Optometry 411.