Volume 9, Issue 21│May 30, 2025 | | | |
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Mark your calendar for the 2025 IOA Annual Meeting held at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg on September 25-28, 2025. The meeting will kick off with the Annual Golf Classic and Gray Cup on Thursday, September 25 followed by three days of CE on September 26-28 where doctors may earn up to 18 hours of TQ CE.
Registration will open in July, offering you the opportunity to join us for an enriching experience filled with insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and networking opportunities. We look forward to welcoming you!
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Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program Coming June 20 & 21, ISU Campus Normal, IL! 🚩
Volunteers Needed
Last year was the twenty-first year that optometry was represented at the Illinois State Special Olympic Games held in Bloomington/Normal in June. 248 athletes were appraised at the event, and 127 pieces of eyewear were prescribed, whether it be an everyday Rx, or a sports goggle. The event was a great success for both the athletes who participated and the volunteers who made it run so smoothly!!
This year we will be doing it again, and we need your help! We had 15 optometrists, 4 opticians/ophthalmic techs, and students from both the Illinois College of Optometry and the Chicago College of Optometry. We also had a great turn-out of LIONS club volunteers along with many friends and family members. This year we need you! Of particular need are volunteers for Saturday, since it is a full day of screening. Bring your family, friends, and staff and make it a group activity!! We are always in need of opticians and optical technicians as well!
This year’s event will take place on the Illinois State College Campus in Bloomington/Normal on Friday, June 20 from 12:00 – 4:00 pm, and Saturday, June 21 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Friends, family, and optometric staff (especially opticians) are encouraged to participate. Please help us in making this year’s SOOE program as successful as the past twenty-one years have been!!
If you have any questions, please contact Christine Allison, O.D. via email at callison@ico.edu
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Clinical Trial Seeking Participants
Brief Summary: The primary objective is to determine the safety and efficacy of belzupacap sarotalocan (bel-sar) compared to sham control in patients with primary indeterminate lesions (IL) or small choroidal melanoma (CM).
Detailed Description: This is a randomized, sham-controlled, subject-, assessor-, and Sponsor- masked trial to establish the safety and efficacy of bel-sar treatment via suprachoroidal (SC) administration in subjects with primary IL/CM. Bel-sar treatment incorporates administration of bel-sar drug product using a suprachoroidal space (SCS) microinjector and activation of bel-sar by a laser photoactivation device.
Title: A Phase 3 Randomized, Masked, Controlled Trial to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Belzupacap Sarotalocan (AU-011) Treatment Compared to Sham Control in Subjects with Primary Indeterminate Lesions or Small Choroidal Melanoma (CoMpass)
Sponsor: Aura Biosciences, Inc.
Principal Investigator in Illinois: William Mieler, MD
Study Coordinator in Illinois: Anna Ong, MD
Contact Anna Ong with questions, 312-996-7182
For more information about this study, visit clinicaltrials.gov or the HCP referral site:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06007690?term=AU-011-301&rank=1
https://compass.longboat.com/
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IOA prior chair of the board, Chelsey Moore OD was nominated for an ATHENA Award.
The Illinois Women in Leadership presents The ATHENA Leadership Award which is awarded to an individual who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.
Good luck Dr. Moore!
| | This week, the North & West Suburban Optometric Societies held a joint meeting with CE. They had speaker Wassia Ahmed, MD to discuss "Eyes on Semaglutides". Thanks to all who were in attendance! | | |
NEW MEMBER BENEFIT: Children's Vision Form
The IOA Public Health Committee developed the children's vision form as an efficient way to communicate examination findings to pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners. The form contains treatment options and plans that are more relevant to modern pediatric optometry practice.
To make it user-friendly, we have both a printable option and a fillable PDF available below. We want to encourage all IOA members who see pediatric patients to consider sending this form, even with normal examination findings. This lets local providers know that a member not only sees pediatric patients but will also share information about ongoing care and treatment plans.
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Thank you donors!
Charlotte Nielsen, OD
| | 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.
| | 4 Ways to Make Your Rural OD Job Listing Stand Out | | |
When posting on a nationwide career center, making a rural listing stand out against listings in major cities can pose a challenge. However, rural practices have unique advantages that appeal to doctors of optometry looking for more than just a job—they’re looking for a community, a fulfilling career, and a high quality of life. We spoke with past AOA President Joe Ellis, O.D., of Benton, Kentucky about how small-town practice owners can make their job listings shine.
1. Emphasize What Makes Your Community Attractive
Your job listing is the perfect opportunity to highlight what makes your community a great place to live and practice. Does your town have beautiful natural features, a low cost of living, or a close-knit community? Are there any attractions within a drivable distance? “Small, rural areas offer a safe environment for raising families,” says Dr. Ellis. “You also don’t have to worry about a busy city commute – I live five minutes from my clinic, so if I get an emergency call at night, I’m there!” Helping job seekers to envision what their lives might be like outside of practice can help draw them to apply.
2. Showcase Career Development Opportunities
Job seekers may not be familiar with the extensive career development opportunities that are available to them in a rural setting, so consider dedicating part of your job listing to outlining the types of patients an OD might see in your practice or to showcase what a typical day might look like. In a rural area, ODs may have more opportunities to practice up to the full scope of what they learned in optometry school than they would in a metropolitan area. “You may be the only accessible eyecare provider in the area, so you have a wide array of practice opportunities, especially in medical eye,” Dr. Ellis advises. “Not only that, but it is easier to get involved in community activities when you are practicing in a rural area. You can get involved in the chamber of commerce or even receive privileges at local hospitals since there are fewer eyecare providers available to take ER and after-hours referrals.”
In discussing the differences in practice opportunities, Dr. Ellis shared the following story from his own practice:
“Several years ago, I hired an associate OD to work in my practice. He was three or four years out of optometry school and had practiced in a larger city at the beginning of his career. It turned out that until he started working in my practice, he never had to perform a foreign body removal on a patient – that’s something I did in my first week of practice!”
3. Mention Patient and Community Relationships
Dr. Ellis also recommends mentioning the relationships an OD can develop with patients and the community as a whole. Metropolitan areas offer patients several different options for eyecare providers, and they may not see the same provider consistently. In a rural area, your practice may be the only accessible office, creating an opportunity to develop lifelong relationships with patients. “When you’re in a rural setting, you garner a lot of respect and trust from the community. You have the opportunity to form strong patient-doctor relationships. I have patients in my practice that I’ve seen for 40 years!”
4. Highlight Competitive Compensation and Benefits
Job seekers may not be aware that many rural practices offer compensation packages that are on par with or even exceed those of practices in large cities. Being transparent about salary and emphasizing additional financial perks, such as student loan repayment assistance, sign-on bonuses, or potential partnership opportunities can help shape an OD’s decision to apply for an opening outside of a major city. Benefits like flexible scheduling, paid time off, and work-life balance are especially appealing to ODs who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
It is undeniable that rural practices have much to offer ODs who are looking for a fulfilling career in an exceptional community. Taking the time to showcase the opportunities available in your town and practice is the best way to attract high-quality job seekers.
Ready to hire? AOA members receive 50% off posting packages with the AOAExcel Career Center.
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Durbin Questions FDA’s Ability to Regulate Prescription Drug Advertisements Following Cuts
Health News Illinois | By Ryan Voyles
May 28, 2025
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is asking federal officials how they plan to regulate direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs amid recent cuts and layoffs.
Durbin said in his letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary that he seeks to understand how the agency will meet its requirement that advertisements are not false or misleading.
Despite the requirement, Durbin noted that four leaders at the FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion have either left or been fired, including the office’s director and deputy director.
Furthermore, he said layoffs have also occurred at the agency’s Division of Promotion Policy, Research, and Operations and the Division of Promotion Policy, Research, and Operations.
"These departures raise major questions about whether FDA has the personnel, expertise and capacity to fulfill its mission to regulate prescription drug advertisements," Durbin said. "Especially in light of your and (Department of Health and Human Services) Secretary (Robert) Kennedy Jr.’s scrutiny of these pharmaceutical promotions."
Additionally, Durbin said the uncertainty over FDA oversight creates an opening for "unscrupulous behavior by industry stakeholders eager to promote medications."
The agency could not be reached for comment.
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State Budget Talks Enter Final Week Amid Fears of Congressional Cuts
Capitol News Illinois | By Ben Szalinski & Peter Hancock
May 23, 2025
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers have one week to pass a new state budget with little room for new spending and Congress presenting further challenges and uncertainty.
Revenue projections had already been declining as the spring session has progressed. Now, lawmakers who have long feared further federal cuts, are grappling with the U.S House’s passage of a spending plan that Illinois’ Senate president warns would be “catastrophic for working families” – as well as state finances.
“There’s no state in the union that could survive the sorts of cuts they’re proposing to health care for working families,” Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, told Capitol News Illinois about the bill that still needs U.S. Senate approval.
The General Assembly has through May 31 to pass a budget with a simple majority vote before the threshold increases to a three-fifths vote on June 1. House Democrats approved a portion of last year’s budget with the minimum number of votes required to pass a bill after several Democrats dissented over spending concerns.
The state’s fiscal picture is even more challenging this year. The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget lowered revenue projections earlier this month for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, by $536 million from its February estimate, to $54.9 billion in revenue.
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Glaucoma-Related Vision Loss is Often Preventable, but Many Can’t Afford Treatment
— In South Carolina and other states that have not expanded Medicaid, many adults lack health coverage.
Stateline | By Nada Hassanein
May 28,2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — It’s as if she’s squinting through a smoke-filled room. But it’s Charisse Brown’s eye condition, glaucoma, that diminishes her vision.
Brown, 38, has worked all her adult life, with a personal policy of keeping two jobs at once. But when she started losing sight in her left eye last year, she was forced to quit her call center job. That left her with one income stream, her marketing research job, to pay her $1,300 monthly rent and other bills.
If glaucoma is caught early, monitored by a doctor and properly treated, it’s possible to stall the progression of the disease. Eye drops are necessary for keeping eye pressure down to slow glaucoma-induced damage. Without insurance, the monthly cost of the medication can run anywhere from $80 per bottle for a generic version to $200 or $300 for a brand-name one.
As an adult without children, Brown doesn’t qualify for Medicaid in South Carolina, which has not expanded the program under the Affordable Care Act.
She’s enrolled in the lowest-premium plan on her state’s health care insurance marketplace, but ophthalmologists in the area won’t accept her insurance.
She said she called 211, a hotline for community services, but her voicemails weren’t returned. In medical debt and about to get kicked out of her apartment, she had to choose between her medication and paying for daily necessities like food and feminine care items. One food stamps enrollment worker told her: “We can’t approve you. If you go and have a baby, this will be a lot easier.”
“Single people — we’re struggling,” Brown said. “I feel like I’m getting punished for trying to do what’s right.”
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause a buildup of pressure that damages the optic nerve. Long called the “thief of sight,” it’s the leading cause of blindness in Black Americans like Brown. Black people are five times more likely to have glaucoma, and lose their sight at six times the rate of white people. Hispanic and Latino communities suffer similar disparities.
Among Black patients, a timely diagnosis is paramount: Glaucoma occurs on average a decade earlier — and advances faster.
But diagnosis and treatment can be costly and out of reach for many.
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Scientists Create Contact Lenses Allowing Sight in the Dark
The Hill | By Patrick Djordjevic
May 24, 2025
The new world of contact lenses has arrived: ones that allow individuals to see in the dark with their eyes closed.
In the journal Cell, neuroscientists explained how they created contact lenses that make the breakthrough possible by converting infrared light to visible light.
Per the research, there is no power source necessary, and the wearers can see both visible and infrared light simultaneously, with the latter increasing when one’s eyes are closed.
“Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision,” Tian Xue, senior author and neuroscientist at the University of Science and Technology of China, said in the journal.
To create the lenses, nanoparticles were partnered with nontoxic and flexible polymers often used in soft contact lenses.
“It’s totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light,” Xue added.
Presently, only infrared radiation from an LED light mechanism can be detected, but in time, it is hoped that lower levels will be able to be seen.
“In the future, by working together with materials scientists and optical experts, we hope to make a contact lens with more precise spatial resolution and higher sensitivity,” Xue said.
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DOJ Accuses Medicare Advantage Insurers of Paying 'Kickbacks' for Primo Customers
— Lawsuit alleges insurers paid "hundreds of millions of dollars" to large insurance brokerages
MedPage Today | By Julie Appleby
May 24, 2025
When people call large insurance brokerages seeking free assistance in choosing Medicare Advantage plans, they're often offered assurances such as this one from eHealth: "Your benefit advisors will find plans that match your needs -- no matter the carrier."
About a third of enrollees do seek help in making complex decisions about whether to enroll in original Medicare or select among private-sector alternatives, called Medicare Advantage.
Now a blockbuster lawsuit filed May 1 by the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that insurers Aetna, Elevance Health (formerly Anthem), and Humana paid "hundreds of millions of dollars in kickbacks" to large insurance brokerages -- eHealth, GoHealth, and SelectQuote. The payments, made from 2016 to at least 2021, were incentives to steer patients into the insurers' Medicare Advantage plans, the lawsuit alleges, while also discouraging enrollment of potentially more costly disabled beneficiaries.
Policy experts say the lawsuit will add fuel to long-running concerns about whether Medicare enrollees are being encouraged to select the coverage that is best for them -- or the one that makes the most money for the broker.
Medicare Advantage plans, which may include benefits not covered by the original government program, such as vision care or fitness club memberships, already cover more than half of those enrolled in the federal health insurance program for seniors and people with disabilities. The private plans have strong support among Republican lawmakers, but some research shows they cost taxpayers more than traditional Medicare per enrollee.
The plans have also drawn attention for requiring patients to get prior authorization, a process that involves gaining approval for higher-cost care, such as elective surgeries, nursing home stays, or chemotherapy, something rarely required in original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans are under the microscope for aggressive marketing and sales efforts, as outlined in a recent report from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). During the last year of the Biden administration, regulators put in place a rule that reined in some broker payments, although parts of that rule are on hold pending a separate court case filed in Texas by regulation opponents.
The May DOJ case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts alleges insurers labeled payments as "marketing" or "sponsorship" fees to get around rules that set caps on broker commissions. These payments from insurers, according to the lawsuit, added incentives -- often more than $200 per enrollee -- for brokers to direct Medicare beneficiaries toward their coverage "regardless of the quality or suitability of the insurers' plans." The case joins the DOJ in a previously filed whistleblower lawsuit brought by a then-employee of eHealth.
"In order to influence the market, the Defendant Insurers understood that they needed to make greater, illicit payments in addition to the permitted (but capped) commissions," the lawsuit alleges.
In one example cited, the lawsuit says insurer Anthem paid broker GoHealth "more than $230 million in kickbacks" from 2017 to at least 2021 in exchange for the brokerage to hit specified sales targets in payments often referred to as "marketing development funds."
Insurers and brokers named in the case pushed back. Aetna, Humana, Elevance, eHealth, and SelectQuote each sent emailed statements to KFF Health News disputing the allegations and saying they would fight them in court. EHealth spokesperson Will Shanley, for example, wrote that the brokerage "strongly believes the claims are meritless and remains committed to vigorously defending itself." GoHealth posted online a response denying the allegations.
The DOJ lawsuit is likely to add to the debate over the role of the private sector in Medicare with vivid details often drawn from internal emails among key insurance and brokerage employees. The case alleges that brokers knew that Aetna, for example, saw the payments as a "shortcut" to increase sales, "instead of attracting beneficiaries through policy improvements or other legitimate avenues," the lawsuit said.
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
ODs Wanted:
Northern IL:
Small, Private Practice in Morris, IL seeking Part-time OD (Read more)
OD Needed for Summer Maternity Leave (Read more)
Chicago:
Optometrist Needed for Maternity Leave Coverage (Read more)
Full-time or Part-time Associate OD Needed (Read more)
OD Needed at Naper Grove Vision Care (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)
Part-time OD Needed at Small Private Practice (Read more)
Optometrist Wanted, Full or Part-time (Read more)
Central IL:
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)
Mobile Optometrist Needed (Read more)
Part-time OD Needed with Full-time Potential in Private Practice (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)
Optometrist Needed in Olney, IL (Read more)
Out of State:
FT Optometrist Needed in Kenosha, Wisconsin (Read more)
OD Needed in Door County, Wisconsin (Read more)
Associate OD in Thriving Michigan Practice (Read more)
Immediate Opening for OD in Wisconsin (Read more)
Practices for Sale:
Practice for Sale on the Fox River (Read more)
Fully Booked Practice for Sale- Southeast Michigan Community (Read more)
Illinois Optometry Practice for Sale- Kane County, IL (Read more)
| | THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! | |
Illinois Optometric Association
217-525-8012
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