Volume 9, Issue 29│August 1, 2025 | | | Want the easiest way to stay connected during Annual Meeting? Check out our event mobile app! You can use the app to register for AM, view the speaker lineup, and build your meeting schedule to help you navigate your way around the Renaissance during the event. | | |
Join us for the 2025 IOA Annual Meeting which will take place from September 25-28 in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Attendees can earn up to 18 hours of tested CE all in one meeting!
Join in for the Illinois Optometry's Celebration which will take place Saturday, September 27. Awards will be presented, and attendees will hear from incoming president & chair, Dr. Clint Taylor, followed by a performance from The Mix!
About the Annual Meeting:
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IOA's CEO Leigh Ann Vanausdoll is pictured with State Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro at an event.
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Congratulations to IOA member Dr. Louise Sclafani who has been named a 2025 recipient of the Theia Award of Excellence as an Industry Influencer, presented by Women In Optometry.
With a career spanning clinical care, academia, leadership, and industry, Dr. Sclafani currently leads CooperVision’s Specialty Lens Portfolio while continuing to see patients and teach. Her extensive contributions to contact lens innovation, professional service, and mentorship have earned her numerous national recognitions.
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MEMBER BENEFIT: Merchant Advocate
Merchant Advocate saves you money- without switching processors!
Merchant Advocate is an expert in navigating the processing industry, saving you money by exposing hidden fees, reducing rates, and optimizing setup. Whether advising on virtual payment costs, software integration challenges, or in the handling of sensitive patient data, Merchant Advocate helps eye care practices, and the Illinois Optometric Association, save without switching processors.
They operate on a success-based model with no upfront cost, sharing in achieved savings—directly boosting your bottom line.
| | The Eyes on Tomorrow Fund, previously known as the Legislative Equity Fund, is a dedicated resource created by and for optometrists to support the Illinois Optometric Association’s (IOA) state-level advocacy efforts. This fund directly empowers optometry’s fight for scope expansion, the regulation of Vision Benefits Managers (VBMs), and other legislative battles crucial to protecting the profession and ensuring patient care. Unlike political action committees (PACs), this fund is not used to support candidates but instead provides critical resources for advancing optometry in Illinois. | | |
The PAC (Political Action Committee) is a group organized to promote its members' views on selected issues, usually through raising money that is contributed to the campaign funds of candidates who support the group's position to keep our friends in office. Now more than ever, we need strong, principled leaders who will fight for equal rights, and access to essential services —Will you pitch in today to help us protect our profession and the patients we serve?
Contributions to the IOA PAC can be made as a One-Time Donation or as Recurring Monthly Donation and deducted automatically from donor's bank account or charged to their credit card. Selecting to contribute a set amount on a monthly basis is a painless and effortless way to contribute to and support the IOA PAC. Contributions to the IOA PAC fund are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
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We want to hear from YOU!
Do you have a business question or a dilemma we can answer for you? Others may have the same inquiry. Ask away! We will answer your question in an upcoming issue.
(Don't worry, we won't include your name.)
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Eye care practitioners should report all violations of the FCLCA, including instances in which contact lens sellers fail to comply with the prescription verification provisions of the law.
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Magnesium May Help Prevent Cataracts
— This mineral deficiency individuals develop as they get older is related to oxidation stress, researchers say.
Review of Optometry | By Staff
July 30, 2025
It’s known that magnesium might have preventive effects on cataracts. To take a deeper dive and explore the epidemiological evidence behind this, researchers in China examined the association between magnesium intake and the odds of experiencing cataract surgery. They found that higher magnesium intake appears to be helpful for cataract prevention, especially in smokers and drinkers. The findings were reported in Eye.
A total of 8,185 individuals aged 30 years and older were extracted from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) in the cycles from 2003 to 2008. Magnesium intake was assessed using the 24-hour dietary recall method. The questionnaire also determined whether participants had cataract surgery or not.
Aging is of course strongly connected with likelihood of cataract development, but it was also previously shown to be closely related to magnesium deficiency. At the cellular level, endothelial cells and fibroblasts also exhibit excessive aging when cells are cultured in low-magnesium media.
“With the increase of age, the development of chronic magnesium deficiency is related to increased oxidation stress since magnesium can protect retinal nerves by inhibiting the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and maintaining an antioxidant stress state,” the authors wrote in their paper.
In subgroup analyses, the decreased likelihoods of developing cataracts as dietary magnesium intake increases were more apparent in non-Hispanic whites, those with moderate family monthly poverty levels, alcohol drinkers, smokers, obese individuals with a BMI over 30, hypertension patients and those without cardiovascular disease.
“Smoking was found to be associated with an increased incidence of nuclear sclerotic cataracts, even after adjusting for age and sex,” the authors explained in their article.
The authors conclude that while a higher dietary magnesium intake might offer a protective effect against cataracts, they stress that additional studies are warranted to confirm whether increased magnesium can directly lead to a decrease in cataracts.
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Undetected Eye Disease May Be Common in Black Adults
— This population may be less likely to receive regular eye exams and often face barriers to care
MedPage Today | By Randy Dotinga
July 25, 2025
Nearly a quarter of African-American adults with eye disease included in a population-based cross-sectional study had undetected eye disease.
Among 3,434 African-American adults ages 40 and older with eye disease in a Los Angeles suburb, 22% had undetected eye disease, with especially high rates of undetected diabetic retinopathy (82%) and age-related macular degeneration (72%), reported Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, of Southern California Eye Institute in Los Angeles, and colleagues in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Extrapolated nationally, the numbers suggest that 3 million African Americans in the U.S. could have undetected eye disease, the researchers noted.
"Individuals who self-reported poor or very poor vision often did not realize they had treatable eye disease, pointing to a gap in education and access," Varma told MedPage Today, adding that 61% of the patients with newly detected visual impairment would benefit from cataract surgery or eyeglasses.
According to Varma, African Americans have a high rate of visual impairment and are especially likely to develop open-angle glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, as well as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, which can raise the risk of eye disease.
Even so, they're "less likely to receive regular eye exams and often face barriers to care, including cost, transportation, and distrust in healthcare systems," he said.
In this study, the major risk factors for undetected eye disease included having diabetes (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.92-4.26), never having had an eye examination (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.14-2.65), having had an eye examination more than 5 years ago (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.19-2.31), having poor or very poor general vision (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.58-2.27), and trouble getting glasses (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.28-1.94; all P<0.0001).
Varma highlighted several strategies to address undetected eye disease:
- "Screen aggressively in high-risk populations, especially among African Americans with diabetes, poor vision, or no recent eye exams."
- Ask about barriers to access and address them. "Cost, availability of glasses, and frequency of exams matter," he said.
- Understand that "employment status, insurance gaps, and perceived health strongly correlate with undetected eye disease."
- Try to build trust with patients while considering the factors that promote distrust of the medical system.
- Support community-based screening programs in underserved neighborhoods.
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Danny Davis to Announce He Won't Seek House Reelection
Politico | By Shia Kapos
July 30, 2025
Democratic Rep. Danny Davis of Illinois is expected to announce Thursday he won’t run for reelection in 2026, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss his plans in advance.
Davis — at 83, one of the oldest members of Congress — plans a news conference Thursday morning where he is also likely to make an endorsement for what is expected to be a highly competitive race.
The 15-term lawmaker represents downtown Chicago, its growing West Side and some western suburbs. He is known as a champion of civil rights, affordable housing, prison reentry and health care issues — as well as having a sonorous voice and calm demeanor.
While the deep-blue district has long been considered a Black seat — it includes a portion of Chicago’s South Side, the traditional heart of the city’s African American population — that population has declined due in part to gentrification. While African Americans still have a 42 percent plurality, the white, Latino and Asian populations are fast-growing.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford has already announced he’s running and is expected to get an endorsement from Davis.
Others who have announced they’re running include former County Commissioner Richard Boykin, businessperson Jason Friedman and Marine Corps officer turned comedian John McCombs. Walter Burnett Jr., who until recently was a Chicago alderman, and state Rep. Kam Buckner are among many other potential candidates expected to enter the race.
Davis’ announcement adds to an already unusually turbulent 2026 congressional landscape in Illinois. Four of the state’s 17 House districts are poised to be open seats, with two Democratic incumbents — Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi — running for the Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin.
Davis serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and has served in leadership roles in the Congressional Black Caucus. Before he was elected to Congress, he served as a Chicago alderman and a Cook County commissioner.
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State Sen. Donald DeWitte Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026, Says Current Priority is Transit Fiscal Cliff
Chicago Tribune | By Molly Morrow
July 25, 2025
State Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Charles, will not be seeking reelection in 2026, according to a recent announcement from the legislator.
DeWitte, elected to the state Senate in 2018, is currently serving out his second term representing Illinois’ 33rd District. He also previously served as mayor of St. Charles.
He told The Beacon-News he’s not planning to retire, but wants to “redirect (his) energy” to some other opportunity in public service. He said he wouldn’t definitively rule out running for another office, but said he wasn’t seeking anything currently.
But, for now, he said the mass transit fiscal cliff is “number one on (his) plate right now” as he finishes out his term in the General Assembly in Springfield.
Chicago area transit agencies are currently facing a $771 million budget shortfall, according to past reporting. Illinois lawmakers recently adjourned their spring legislative session without passing legislation that would avert the fiscal cliff.
The Regional Transportation Authority, which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace, has said that riders could experience a 40% reduction in transit service if the budget shortfall isn’t dealt with, according to past reporting. Nearly 3,000 workers could lose their jobs.
DeWitte is currently the minority spokesperson for the state Senate’s Transportation Committee, and previously represented Kane County on the RTA board.
He said previous legislation seeking to avert the fiscal cliff is “virtually dead in the water,” and that there’s “really no legislation for any of us to consider.”
Lawmakers can still return to Springfield to try and pass legislation to fill the budget gap, but it would need a three-fifths majority in both chambers, rather than a simple majority, to pass.
Transit service cuts are not set to start until January, or even later into next year, according to past reporting. But the RTA has said that transit agencies will have to make their budgets for next year assuming they’re not going to be getting any more funding.
DeWitte said he hopes to see the budget gap filled by reallocating funds cut elsewhere in the budget, rather than finding a new source of revenue via increasing taxes — like the $1.50 retail delivery fee that was previously proposed to generate additional revenue.
As for the hopeful successors to his seat in the 2026 election, DeWitte said that he announced his plans to step down when he did to make a “clear runway” for other candidates for the seat to begin circulating nominating petitions, which they can start gathering signatures for on Aug. 5
“I just think it’s time for some fresh energy in the Senate,” he said.
DeWitte said he won’t be making any endorsements in a Republican primary, but thinks a moderate pick is necessary to win the seat, particularly as many suburban communities are experiencing a shift away from the Republican Party.
“I’ve always believed that taking a moderate approach is the way to get anything accomplished in Springfield,” he said. “It has served me well for seven years. … Anybody coming in is going to have to realize that, because of the makeup of the district and the shift from red to blue, they’re going to need to start moderating on a number of issues.”
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Laura Phelan Has Officially Been Appointed as Illinois’ Medicaid Director
The National Association of Medicaid Directors announced on LinkedIn that Phelan officially began her tenure on July 1, 2025. She assumed the role of Director of State Medicaid and CHIP within the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), taking over from Kelly Cunningham.
Laura brings extensive experience from her decade at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, where she has served as Deputy Director for New Initiatives, Policy Director, and MCO Account Manager. Her background includes roles with Get Covered Illinois, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.
Laura holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School and a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University.
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VA Proposes New Emergency Care Notification Rule to Streamline Community Provider Reporting
Alston & Bird reports on July 21, 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a proposed rule entitled, Expansion of VA Process for 72-Hour Notification of Emergency Treatment. VA proposes to revise its medical regulations to add a new method of notification for emergency treatment that is furnished by community providers to be authorized under the Veterans Community Care Program.
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
ODs Wanted:
Northern IL:
Morrison IL Practice Seeking Part-time OD (Read more)
Small, Private Practice in Morris, IL seeking Part-time OD (Read more)
OD Needed for Summer Maternity Leave (Read more)
Seeking Full or Part time OD to Join Practice (Read more)
Full or Part time OD Needed in Multi-Location Practice (Read more)
Full-Time or Part-Time OD Needed in Hodgkins (Read more)
Optometrist Needed in Chicago Suburbs (Read more)
Full-time or Part-time Associate OD Needed (Read more)
Seeking OD for Part time, 1-4 Permanent Days or FILL in Only, Summer Fill in Days (Read more)
Optometrist Needed Part-time / Full-time Private Practice (Read more)
Central IL:
Gailey Eye Clinic Seeking OD in Peoria/Galesburg (Read more)
OD Needed in Springfield IL (Read more)
Join the Community Eye Care Family (Read more)
Optometrist Needed in the Peoria area (Read more)
Mobile OD Needed for Senior Living Facilities (Read more)
Looking for Passionate & Community Focused Optometrists in Decatur & Mt. Zion (Read more)
Southern IL:
Mobile OD Needed for Senior Living Facilites (Read more)
Part-Time to Full-Time Opportunity at Metro Eye Care (Read more)
Full Time Opening in Swansea IL, Metro East 20 minutes from St. Louis (Read more)
Out of State:
FT Optometrist Needed in Kenosha, Wisconsin (Read more)
OD Needed in Door County, Wisconsin (Read more)
Para & Key Staff:
Join our team as a dedicated Optician- No Weekends Required (Read more)
Practices for Sale:
22-Year-Old Private Practice for Sale in Oak Brook, IL (Read more)
Practice for Sale in Peoria, IL (Read more)
Practice for Sale on the Fox River (Read more)
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Illinois Optometric Association
217-525-8012
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