Volume 7, Issue 43│November 24, 2023
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Our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd, and Friday, November 24th, in observance of Thanksgiving. |
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IOA/AOA Membership Renewal Update
2024 membership invoices have been mailed out, so members should begin receiving invoices soon! Those on a recurring monthly or quarterly payment do not need to respond as your payment schedule will be automatically renewed.
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2024 Dues Contest - Win A FREE Annual Meeting Registration
Pay membership dues in full by 1/31/2024 and be entered into a drawing to win FREE registration to the 2024 IOA Annual Meeting in Springfield, Illinois! This includes your registration for the meeting and all CE testing fees associated with your registration but does not include hotel reservations.
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It is Diabetes Awareness Month. Follow us for sharable content. |
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IOA President Sam Forzley, O.D. and IOA CEO Leigh Ann Vanausdoll met with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch to advocate for the Association. |
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Congratulations Ansel Johnson, O.D. for receiving the Monarch Man Award in Medicine from the Monarch Awards Foundation.
The Monarch Awards Foundation was established as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the purpose of implementing community service programs, scholarships and charitable donations to other not- for profits.
Since its inception, the Monarch Awards Foundation, Inc., has awarded more than $1,200,000 in scholarships and donations to not-for-profit organizations.
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Future Optometric Doctors Program
Dr. Connor Robbs hosted Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine, Bronzeville Scholastic Institute, and, Westinghouse College Prep at Illinois College of Optometry for the Future Optometric Doctors Program. These students took retinal photos, shadowed in clinic, and saw first-hand how medical optometry plays a significant role in a patient’s overall health.
If you know a high school that would potentially like to visit ICO for the FOD Program, please contact Connor Robbs, O.D., at crobbs89@gmail.com.
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Congratulations to our students!
VSP Vision and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation Announce 2023 Practice Excellence Scholarship
VSP Vision and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announced the recipients of this year’s Practice Excellence Scholarship, which has been recognizing the very best in what optometry has to offer in patient care and practice management for nearly 40 years. The long-standing Practice Excellence Scholarship is awarded to optometry students who demonstrate excellence in both clinical and academic performance, as well as a commitment to enter the independent practice of optometry. Funded by VSP Vision and administered through the AAOF, $188,000 was awarded to 49 top-performing, fourth-year optometry students in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.
“For almost 40 years, VSP Vision has been proud to support top-performing students of optometry as they prepare to begin their careers in helping patients see,” said VSP Vision board chair Mary Anne Murphy, OD. “The Practice Excellence Scholarship is yet another way VSP Vision is helping create opportunities for the next generation of optometrists to thrive. On behalf of VSP, we congratulate all of this year’s recipients on this hard-earned and well-deserved award.”
In 2023 alone, VSP Vision has funded scholarships for 71 optometry students, totaling $300,000. Over the past 10 years, VSP Vision has provided nearly $4 million in scholarship support to optometry students.
“We are pleased to partner with VSP Vision on such an important and long-standing scholarship that supports the optometrists of tomorrow,” said Rachel A. “Stacey” Coulter, OD, AAOF, president of the American Academy of Optometry Foundation board and associate dean of clinical affairs at NSU Florida. “The clinical and academic excellence demonstrated by each recipient is a testament to the quality care and commitment that these future optometrists will bring to their patients, as well as the optometric profession.”
As part of its commitment to the future generation of the optometric industry, VSP also recently launched a Student Loan Repayment Program for optometry students, recent graduates and practicing optometrists burdened with student debt. To learn more, click here.
Winners Recipients of the 2023 Practice Excellence scholarship award include:
Cayden Carpenter – Midwestern University - Arizona College of Optometry • Cole Rayfield – Midwestern University - Arizona College of Optometry • Emily Strand – Illinois College of Optometry • Silishia Wong – Illinois College of Optometry • Michelle McKamey – Indiana University School of Optometry • Nicholas Bantz – Indiana University School of Optometry • Alaina Conturso – Inter American University of Puerto Rico • Armando Vazquez – Inter American University of Puerto Rico • Benjamin Choiniere – Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • Jillian Scarpanito – Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • Leah Jipping – Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University • Nicholas Keinath – Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University • Eryka Uehling – Midwestern University - Chicago College • Husna Syeda – Midwestern University - Chicago College of Optometry • Josh Normandeau – New England College of Optometry • Zach Turple – New England College of Optometry • Abbie Etter – Northeastern State University – Oklahoma College of Optometry • Christina Thompson – Northeastern State University – Oklahoma College of Optometry • Abishna Jayasundararajah – Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry • Samantha Round – Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry • Mary J. Avisado – Pacific University College of Optometry • Nathan Patterson – Pacific University College of Optometry • Zakary Lake – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University • Megan Dunn – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University • Dhara Patel – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University • Mitchell Evans – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University • Deema Mansour – Southern College of Optometry • Madhurima Kota – Southern College of Optometry • Jessica Moskovich – State University of New York College of Optometry • Kateryna Nahornyak – State University of New York College of Optometry • Pearson Miller – The Ohio State University College of Optometry • Madeline Moser – The Ohio State University College of Optometry • Adam Litalien – Universite de Montreal, School of Optometry • Elizabeth Lapointe – Universite de Montreal, School of Optometry • Ryan Peardon – University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry • Keyur Savla – University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry • Ahmad Ahmadzada – University of California - Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science • Eloisa Morfin – University of California - Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science • Adrian Velasco – University of Houston College of Optometry • Zachary Ney – University of Houston College of Optometry • Brad Gamache – University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry • Charles E Hauff – University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry • Brittany Morris – University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Optometry • Eric Joseph Gonzalez – University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry • Mateo Alvarez – University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry • Judit Antonyrajan – University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science • Natali Milosevski – University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science • Luis Manuel Rego II – Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry • Talisa Chhabra – Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
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Aetna invests in Medicare Advantage
Next year, Aetna will offer Medicare Advantage plans in all but one of Illinois’ 102 counties. In 2023, the CVS Health-owned insurer offered coverage in 88 counties.
“But more importantly, we're offering more planning options that give folks essentially a better menu of selection, and we're seeing that pay off in projected growth for 2024,” said Mark Stiglitz, Aetna's chief Medicare officer for the Great Lakes Region.
Stiglitz said they’re pursuing innovative plans, with some offerings tailored toward healthier, younger seniors and those with low incomes.
He spoke to Health News Illinois recently about trends in the market. Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7.
Edited excerpts are below.
HNI: Medicare Advantage covered more than half of Medicare’s enrollees for the first time this plan year, more than double its share a decade ago. What do you see fueling this growth?
MS: (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services about 10 years ago) changed the payment models to put more emphasis on the quality of the plan, and that's through star ratings. And so what CMS says is, ‘Your payment from us is going to be more heavily weighted on the quality of the plan that you offer.’ What that did is it forced a race to the top where plans were focused on providing exceptional customer service and innovative plans. What you've seen is innovative plan designs come into the market where they offer flexible spending for people with certain conditions and low-income subsidies that help them pay for some of their bills like transportation, utilities, gas, those sorts of things. As plans have started putting those innovative plan designs into markets or really invested in better customer service and better claims processing, it's created higher retention. Members want to stay in their plans. And it's attracted new members as the word has gotten out about benefit offerings and the quality. So I really do think that it's been a policy innovation that has helped drive more people to join and to stay in Medicare Advantage plans.
HNI: Illinois appears to have a lower percentage of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage compared to the national average. Why is that?
MS: Every state and every market has its own idiosyncrasies. Historically, there have been a few reasons for that. The first is Medicare Supplements in the state of Illinois have deep and broad roots, especially through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. So I do think that there was an initial kind of land grab in terms of members joining Medicare Supplement.
Also, a lot of employers still offer retiree health insurance. We have a deep and long history of unions here, especially in our city and municipality and local governments. They continue to offer retiree insurance through Medicare. So you don't have quite the enrollment in Medicare Advantage you see in states like Wisconsin or Indiana, where it's closer to 50 percent or 45 percent. I will say that that number is growing as fewer employers offer retiree health insurance.
HNI: What’s new for plans this year? How are the plans becoming more flexible for consumers?
MS: Flexibility is a keyword. Folks will see a couple of key benefits when they look at Aetna plans this year. The first is we offer some plans that have a (payment card) that will pay for their out-of-pocket expenses up to certain amounts every quarter. So when they go to the doctor, they have a copay. You swipe that card, it's a debit card, and it pays it so that the member doesn't have to pay out of their checking account or with their credit card.
Another benefit we're offering is a fitness reimbursement program. On top of offering a standard SilverSneakers benefit, members can be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses for certain physical activities. If you golf, we'll pay for your green fees. We'll pay for a new golf club. If you hike, we'll pay for your hiking shoes or your hiking stick and national park admission fees. So what we're trying to do is encourage members to look at their health insurer not as a health insurer, but as a wellness company.
We want to make sure they get access to care. We want to make sure that they have flexibility in how they use and spend their benefit dollars. And we also think that people who are active, they're going to be healthier in two different ways. Physical activity helps you maintain physical health, but more often than not physical activity is also done in groups. Being around people, especially coming out of COVID, we all know the mental health benefits.
I will also say we're offering new plans that are extremely attractive to a wider variety of potential members. Medicare Advantage is a commodity ... It's not too different from buying a refrigerator or a car. So we're making sure that we're offering plans that are more attractive to people who have low income. We offer them benefits to put money in their pockets and help them pay for rent, utilities and gas. We offer plans that have richer benefits to attract those people who are on the Medicare Supplement plans and bring them over. These plans would offer dental, vision and hearing that they don't get on Medicare Supplement. And then we're offering plans with really high allowances to cover dental procedures like implants and crowns that are very competitive and exceed what our competitors offer.
HNI: A lot of health plans offer Medicare Advantage plans. How do you plan to compete and differentiate yourself?
MS: First, we had the largest growth and improvement in our star ratings of any company nationwide. Eighty-seven percent of our members are now in four-star plans. Our leadership takes great pride in the fact that 87 percent of our members are currently enrolled in a four-star plan with us. It's the second-highest number nationally. So we are investing in our customer service and in our benefits to make our members happy and also healthier. So that's the first thing. I think we differentiate ourselves with our focus on member experience and quality, an effort that's reflected in stars.
The second thing that I think we do to differentiate ourselves is we've invested in core benefits. So every county in Illinois — and actually nationwide but we'll focus on Illinois — every Medicare beneficiary has an opportunity at a $0 monthly premium plan, a $0 primary care copay, and no copays for drugs on tier one. Every plan also has dental vision, hearing and over-the-counter benefits. I think that differentiates us from our competitors, too.
And then finally, I haven't talked about drugs. Prescription drugs are a big part of a member's out-of-pocket expenses. Every potential member as well as current member has the option of a $0 deductible plan that's available to them, as well as $0 copays at preferred pharmacies on tier one and, in many cases, tier two drugs. So we've made sure we've invested our prescription drug benefits as well.
HNI: What are your expansion plans in Illinois?
MS: Illinois is a state we've expanded into recently. So there's not as much white space. For 2024, we're expanding into 13 counties. That leaves only one county that we are not in. So we'll be in 101 counties going into 2024 ... But more importantly, we're offering more plan options that give folks essentially a better menu of selection, and we're seeing that pay off in projected growth for 2024.
HNI: Medicare Advantage plans have faced criticism in part for leading to higher costs for Medicare overall. Rural hospitals are also concerned about payment denials and delays. What do you have to say to concerns about the program and plans?
MS: The first thing that I would say is rural hospitals have certainly been hit hard by COVID. But they were seeing challenges prior to COVID, in terms of reimbursement. I'm saying this broadly, not just Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is just another health insurance option, and that includes Medicaid and commercial or employer group insurance. And so I think we do have a bit of a crisis in rural America in ensuring that members have access to care. What's being reported in the news is not unique to Medicare Advantage. It's certainly indicative of a broader challenge that rural hospitals are facing in terms of ensuring payments in reimbursement.
We receive reimbursement from the federal government. Providing Medicare Advantage is using federal dollars, Medicare dollars. We take very seriously our fiduciary responsibility to be compliant, to ensure that we're not paying in wasteful or fraudulent ways. We do follow national and local coverage determinations and requirements that are established for payments. While there might be a mistake here or there, I wouldn't say that, at least in Aetna's case, anything that we're doing would contribute to inappropriate payment policies.
HNI: What do you see as future trends in the market?
MS: CMS continues to ensure that plans are focused on the right things when it comes to star ratings. So I do think that there'll probably be fewer and fewer plans that are able to qualify for that four star or higher rating for Medicare Advantage. That's because CMS continues to essentially address and ensure that their ratings are accurate and accurately reflect quality. So I think that there will probably be some changes in the number of plans that folks in Medicare will have the option of enrolling in that are four stars or better.
I really do believe Medicare Advantage plans and health plans are commodities. Amazon and Apple and some of these tech giants have changed our shopping experience and what we expect. We expect to be able to purchase plans that meet our needs. And so continued innovation in plan designs, the flexibility of how they spend dollars when it comes to Medicare Advantage and benefit structure, you're going to continue to see that innovation, like our fitness reimbursement. That's extremely innovative and the first of its kind.
So I can't predict what the next big thing will be. But I do think that we'll continue to be — not just at Aetna, but across the spectrum — extremely innovative in how we're helping keep seniors healthy and make sure they're getting the value from their Medicare dollars.
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Life Insurance 101: Understanding the Basics
Life insurance provides an important financial safety net for doctors of optometry and their loved ones in the event of an unexpected loss. Here are the fundamentals of how it works:
- What is life insurance?
- Life insurance is a way to help protect loved ones after the loss of a loved one. It provides the reassurance that beneficiaries would have the financial relief of the arranged policy to cover medical and funeral expenses, debts and obligations, and future financial needs.
- Who needs it?
- Life insurance can meet a variety of financial needs and provide help in many different scenarios. Single individuals may benefit from life insurance if they have business debt or parents in an assisted living facility. Those who are married or raising children may want insurance to help provide for retirement or college funds. Even if you have life insurance coverage from your employer, the provided policy may not be enough for your specific needs.
- How much do I need?
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Life insurance coverage needs depend on an individual’s income, financial obligations, and beneficiaries. You can contact an AOA customer specialist for help with determining an appropriate coverage level for your unique situation.
AOAExcel provides the resources doctors of optometry need to practice with confidence. Learn more about term life insurance and how AOA members can secure portable, cost-effective life insurance coverage.
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ICO connected with a local community through optometry by performing vision screenings for the Little Village Neighborhood at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School as part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Community Outreach initiative!
With the help of community partners and ICO staff, students and residents were able to assess the needs of roughly 60 patients, all while gaining crucial field experience through helping a predominantly underserved community. (ICO Instagram)
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ICO held Ophthalmic Technology and Innovation Summit 2023 which provided participants a glimpse at the future of optometry-- from developments in telehealth to AI in vision care. (ICO Instagram) |
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The Midwestern University DEI Office and student groups across both campuses welcomed students, faculty, and staff to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. (MWU Instagram) |
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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
ODs Wanted:
Wheaton Eye Clinic, located in the western suburbs of Chicago, IL, is seeking a full time or part time Optometrist to join our team (Read more)
Our family-focused independent practice serves several friendly small towns in Northern Illinois with patients of all ages. (Read more)
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Here are some: Attract new patients with a clean and appealing website. Use SEO (Search Engine Optimization), so your website comes up when specific keywords are searched. Add your business to Google My Business so your new location appears on Google Maps. Promote your brand through social media using keywords that will come up on the user’s discovery page. Social media ads are also helpful. Your business advertisement will be placed into the user’s daily feed. |
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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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Patients with DME Achieve Long-Term Clinical Improvement with Intravitreal Aflibercept
Key takeaways:
- Both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients with DME achieved improvements in visual acuity and central retinal thickness.
- The safety profile of intravitreal aflibercept was similar to previous studies.
Patients with diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal aflibercept for up to 24 months achieved functional and anatomical improvements, even with reduced injection frequency, according to study results in Ophthalmology and Therapy.
“Diabetic macular edema is a leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes, with approximately 5.5% of all patients clinically diagnosed with this retinal disease worldwide,” Simone Donati, MD, from the University of Insubria in Italy, and colleagues wrote. “The global prevalence of DME is rising, which is associated with the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.”
Patients with DME achieved long-term improvements in visual acuity and central retinal thickness with intravitreal aflibercept. Image: Adobe Stock.
Although intravitreal aflibercept, an anti-VEGF agent, has been approved by the FDA and European Medicines Agency for the treatment of visual impairment from DME, real-world data about its long-term effectiveness and safety are lacking.
Donati and colleagues conducted the 24-month prospective, observational AURIGA study at 243 clinical settings across 11 countries to evaluate long-term outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) among 1,478 treatment-naïve and 384 previously treated patients with DME. The primary study endpoint was mean change in visual acuity from baseline to month 12.
According to results, the mean number of IVT-AFL treatments received by months 6, 12 and 24 was similar among the two cohorts (3.8, 4.9 and 5.7, respectively, in treatment-naïve group and 3.9, 4.9 and 6.2 in the previously treated group). Researchers noted that most participants (86%) in the treatment-naïve group did not receive all five initial monthly doses.
The mean change in visual acuity from baseline to month 12 was +6.7 letters in the treatment-naïve group and +7.4 letters in the previously treated group, and +5.9 and +8.1 letters, respectively, at month 24.
Researchers reported that nearly 26% of those in the treatment-naïve group achieved at least 15-letter gains by month 24, as did nearly 33% of previously treated patients.
The mean change in central retinal thickness from baseline to month 24 was –110 µm in the treatment-naïve group and –169 µm in the previously treated group.
Further, the safety profile of IVT-AFL was similar to that reported in previous studies, with one case of uveitis in the treatment-naïve group and one case of endophthalmitis in the previously treated group, both of which were considered serious and treatment-related. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events among both cohorts were conjunctival hemorrhage, cataract and epiretinal membrane.
“In AURIGA, treatment-naïve and previously treated patients with DME achieved clinically relevant functional and anatomic improvements following IVT-AFL treatment for up to 24 months in routine clinical practice,” Donati and colleagues wrote. “Even with the decreasing injection frequency observed, these gains were largely maintained throughout the study, suggesting long-term durability of the positive effects of IVT-AFL treatment.”
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AI Innovations Impress Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium Audience
Widespread ChatGPT use and remote medical consultations have taken artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine into the mainstream, including treatment for vision problems. At the 21st Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium this year, professionals from Mainland China, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, discussed AI and tele-optometry developments. They examined how technology could “open the eyes” of the visually impaired and reduce staffing pressure on primary healthcare. They also shared thoughts on whether technological advancements would endanger employment prospects for optometrists.
“This is an exciting time, as many technologies suited for the visually impaired can now be accessed through apps,” said Dr Patrick D. Yoshinaga of the Marshall B. Ketchum University in the United States. Several AI-powered smartphone apps could identify objects after being trained through exposure to a large set of images. Users simply needed to point their smartphone camera at any object or text and listen to an audio narration describing it. Using Microsoft’s Seeing AI as an example, Dr Yoshinaga pointed out that, six years ago, users would have had to wait several seconds for the app to respond after clicking on the screen, but no longer! He recalled that a blind working mother could use the app to read documents and find meeting locations at work, and help her daughter choose matching colours at home. She could even turn off the lights in her daughter’s room after learning how bright the room was.
Visually impaired people can now wear AI glasses equipped with the GPT-4 language model and converse with them, reading menu contents for example. A user could even ask: “What types of vegetarian options are available?” and GPT-4 would summarise relevant dishes and respond conversationally. When the audience learnt that AI apps could serve as “eyes” for the visually impaired, some gasped in amazement and photographed presentation slides to capture the moment.
PolyU employs AI for diagnosis and brings Australian experience to Hong Kong
Globally, societies are contending with ageing populations and rises in diabetes cases. With healthcare providers in high demand, AI can offer relief. Professor Mingguang He of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University received a grant from the Australian government some years ago. He collaborated with universities in Hong Kong and healthcare technology companies to investigate AI use in eye disease diagnosis, as well as how this technology could be implemented in the community. His research in 2018 found that AI had a 90% or higher accuracy rate in detecting common eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. They subsequently installed a simple AI system in local GP clinics. Following an eye examination, fundus images were automatically transferred to the AI system for analysis, and the system could produce a report in two to three minutes.
“Previously, Australians were required to visit a clinic multiple times for diagnosis and report collection. That can now be accomplished in a single visit.” Prof He said they designed the system to work without requiring an internet connection, after considering resources available at clinics. They also created a simplified version of the device for self-administered testing which could be bought for as little as HK$10,000. Prof He planned to gradually apply his Australian experience to Hong Kong’s Smart Clinic Project, which is expected to benefit more than 200,000 grassroots citizens.
Eye-health software fills gaps in UK eye-care services
Another example of AI use came from Professor Benny Chung-ying Zee of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care. He explained that AI analysis of retinal images allowed prediction of a patient’s risk of stroke and cognitive impairment, allowing early intervention to improve lifestyle habits. This approach could also reduce the long-term burden that vision examinations would place on the healthcare system.
Dr Priya Morjaria of Peak Vision, a social enterprise in the United Kingdom that specialises in eye care, said 90% of vision-loss cases could be avoided if individuals received timely examination and assistance. Her social enterprise provided eye health screening software to help countries bridge eye-care service gaps. The system begins with a screening for eye conditions, followed by case triage, eyeglass prescriptions and even surgical intervention. All of this is documented in the system, lowering the possibility of patients in need of care not being followed up. She noted that the proportion of Pakistani men participating in her social enterprise’s programmes had increased from 19% to 45%, approaching the ideal target of 50%.
Many audience members were optometry students concerned about how AI would affect employment prospects and how they could prepare themselves before entering the field. Prof He believed AI would not replace optometrists but help them work more efficiently. Eye examination and reporting used to take three days to complete but with AI assistance, these tasks took just 30 minutes. Dr Morjaria added: “AI will not take away your job. Patients always need to see a person. They always want to find a clinician to make a final decision.” Nevertheless, she reminded students to be aware of the evidence underlying AI decisions and advised them not to accept the finding for what it is, but to learn about and understand AI in order to interpret the evidence presented.
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Kilitch Healthcare India Voluntarily Recalls OTC Eye Drop Products
Healio
Kilitch Healthcare India Limited has voluntarily recalled 25 over-the-counter eye drop products after the FDA warned of unsanitary conditions and potential safety concerns, according to a company press release.
The recalled products with retailer name, which include those with expiration dates ranging from November 2023 to September 2025, are:
- Lubricating Tears Eye Drops 15 mL (Rugby)
- Polyvinyl Alcohol 1.4% Lubricating Eye Drops 15 mL (Rugby)
- High Performance Lubricant Eye Drops 15 mL single and twin packs (Target)
- Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 mL (Rite Aid)
- Lubricating Gel Drops 10 mL (Rite Aid)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 15 mL twin pack (Rite Aid)
- Eye Irritation Relief 15 mL (Leader)
- Dry Eye Relief 10 mL and 15 mL (Leader)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 10 mL and 15 mL single and twin packs (Leader)
- Lubricant Eye Drop 10 mL triple pack (Velocity)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 10 mL single and twin packs and 15 mL single and twin packs (CVS)
- Lubricant Gel Drops 10 mL and 15 mL single and twin packs (CVS)
- Multi Action Relief Drops 15 mL (CVS)
- Mild Moderate Lubricating Eye Drops 15 mL (CVS)
- Dry Eye Relief 15 mL twin pack (Target)
- Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drops 10 mL (Walmart)
Kilitch Healthcare has notified its distributor, Velocity Pharma, which will notify the retailers and wholesalers of the recall via mail and arrange for return of all affected products.
Consumers should stop using the recalled products and contact their health care provider if they experience any problems related to use of the products. While Kilitch Healthcare has received no reports of adverse reactions related to the recall, the company urges consumers and medical professionals to report adverse events to MedWatch, the FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
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FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE WEEK |
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Giving Thanks for Family, Friends and Optometry
Friday, November 17, 2023 8:30 AM
In just a few days, many of us will gather with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving, a time set aside to be with the ones we love and to remember those close to us that are no longer with us. Serving as the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season (no football pun intended), Thanksgiving is the special day when many of us will begin to dream about the weeks ahead and the continuing festivities and gift-giving that await either on Christmas, Hanukkah or other celebrated holidays.
But for one special day this November 23, many of us put aside thoughts of Black Friday shopping and the like in order to take time to remember all we have to be grateful for in a time of both economic and global instability.
In that spirit, we asked some optical industry professionals what they are most thankful for this holiday season, both on a professional and personal level, and here’s what they had to say.
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Jennifer Stewart, OD
Founder
OD Perspectives
“Optometry, what a ride it has been, and the opportunities are endless. I continue to be able to reinvent myself and pursue new dreams, goals and opportunities—and have a blast along the way. If you had told me in 2007 when I graduated that I would become a partner, buy a practice, sell that practice, cold start a dream practice, become an international speaker and consultant, mentor, teacher, dreamer and innovator, I'd never have believed it. This profession is a gift, and I am thankful everyday for the opportunity to live out my dream.
“On a personal level, I am thankful for my family. My husband eternally embraces and supports my ever-growing list of entrepreneurial ideas, and my two boys think I am ‘the best eye doctor and speaker in the world.’ My mom has always believed in me and said yes to everything, including my first horse at age nine. Also, I am surrounded by my best friends and colleagues. And while social media has its downside, it has allowed me to expand this network and stay connected with those near and far.”
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Rick Guinotte
Business Advisor, Owner
Acquios Advisors
“I am very thankful for the many leaders I had the opportunity to be associated with over the past 20-plus years. Some taught me what not to do by failing in their roles, but many were very supportive and answered questions to be here for me. I am grateful for Kirk Kastens who took the leap of faith with me to start Acquios Advisors and also Tim Merrigan who has been an integral part not only for our company but also for his sense of humor. Our team at Acquios Advisors is second to none. The collaboration, the chemistry they bring to the table day after day is unmatched. I am thankful for each and everyone of them and their families who support them.
“My wife Debbie is who I am most thankful for in my professional career. She has been very supportive through all my phases of growth as a manager and now an owner at Acquios Advisors. She has believed in me and stood by me when tough decisions needed to be made, and was there to celebrate the successes.”
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Frank Barnes, Jr., OD
President
National Optometric Association
“What I am most thankful for in my professional career is the growth of my private practice (BNC Eyecare Group), and the appreciation I receive from my community. In my professional career, I am also most thankful for Dr. Tanya Carter as my partner and guiding influence.
“What I am most thankful for in my personal life are the relationships within my family, and the individual accomplishments of my adult children, Frank Barnes, III, MpH and Adrienne Barnes. Who I am most thankful for in my personal life is my ‘to death do we part’ wife, Dr. Tanya Carter, and my lifelong supporter nurse JoAnn Barnes, RN, MS, and my mother, who have both always believed in my success. And thanks to the NOA, who gave me my optometry family.”
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Ronald L. Benner, OD
President
American Optometric Association
“There are many people who have had a great influence in my life—some well recognized across the profession, but many more that are known only in their local communities. Each of them helped me see a path to success and contentment in balancing care for my patients, staff, family, community and organizations.
“The mentors I’ve had professionally have frequently crossed over into my personal life. My father, however, gave me the confidence needed to question and advance in life. While not appreciated when younger, I now value him teaching me to be responsible for myself and to not expect others to do or care more than I do for the people, organizations and causes that are in my life.”
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Jenn Chinn, OD
Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care
“I am most thankful for the amazing community and strong friendships I've built in the industry through networking. It is always so impactful to have relationships with people who understand the potential failures and triumphs you may experience in your career. I am constantly learning from and am inspired by my fellow eyecare professionals. This has allowed me to not only be the best clinician I can for my patients, it has also given me so many opportunities in an ever changing industry and world that we live in.
“I am most thankful for my father, who is also an optometrist, for paving the way for my success in this field and career. His unwavering support and constant encouragement has allowed me countless opportunities that many do not have, and for that, I am forever grateful. Without him, I wouldn't be who I am today.”
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Keshia S. Elder, OD
Dean of the College of Optometry
University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL)
“I have so many people that I am thankful for in my professional career. My mentors, colleagues and colleagues who became friends have really enriched my time in the optometric profession. I won’t state names, but you know who you are. Overall, I think I am most thankful for the privilege of being an optometrist who helps shape the future of the profession through optometric education.
“My village is my family (friends+family). The fellowship with and support from my family and my village makes this journey called life, with all its ups and downs, a fulfilling experience.”
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Alireza Somji, OD
Therapeutic Optometrist
Sports Performance Vision
International Sports Vision Association (President)
“There are so many people to be thankful for in my career, however, there's one clear winner...the International Sports Vision Association (ISVA). I attended an ISVA conference several years ago and it changed my career. I met so many amazing docs who made me realize that there was so much more to understanding vision than I could have imagined. I left that conference shocked that I'd never actually considered or understood how vision really works.
“The ISVA president at the time, Dr. Alex Andrich inspired me to explore learning more about visual development and performance and it changed the way I practice optometry. Understanding vision at a functional level has allowed me to merge my passion for sports and visual performance.
“I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to be thankful for our great team of staff who live and breathe our values. They really allow me to explore and implement new ideas (like sports vision training, a dry eye spa, etc.), and without them it would be really difficult to do all of the amazing things we do at the practice.
“I am also thankful for my family. Without the sacrifices of my mum and sister, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to move to the U.S. and further my undergrad education, which means likely optometry wouldn't have been in my future. There's also no doubt that without the support of my wife and kids, I wouldn't be able to do the things I do and pursue my professional and personal interests. I'm very thankful for a supportive family, they help me maintain balance between work and life.”
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Michele Andrews, OD
Vice President Professional and Government Affairs
CooperVision
“When I look across my professional career, I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed several different roles that have provided opportunities to learn and grow and do some really great things. I am thankful for a leader named Marty Knudsen, who I met many years ago as I accepted my first director role. She was not my manager; we worked side by side. But she took me under her wing at a time when I very much needed support and direction.
“She was an incredible role model and someone I watched intently in terms of how she took care of her team and grew the business. She had this special ability to make the team feel super comfortable in bringing anything to her, including bad news or challenging situations. And she’d listen and empathize and then suddenly, somehow, we were moving forward with solutions. Her famous line ‘Are you ready to build the bridge?’ was the signal that we had wallowed long enough. Thanks, Marty, for showing me how to get over it and do some great things.
“When I look at my personal life, the appreciation I have for my family clearly rises to the top. It begins with my husband, and our decision years ago to create and support a home environment where we both pursued our careers and navigated, together, the inherent imbalances that came with that choice. That allowed me to live and work guilt-free, which is a gift.
“And of course, I am so proud of my two incredible children, who grew up with moves across four states for their parents’ career opportunities, the support and chaos of a village of caregivers, listening to hours of conference calls in the car, and sharing the highs and lows of their days with us via Facetime. And in the lifetime of after-school pick-ups, we only forgot to pick them up twice, which I am immensely proud of. Thank you, Stuart, Cole and Elly for all of it—I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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