Volume 6, Issue 24 │June 17, 2022
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Editor's Note: In recognition of Juneteenth, the IOA office will be closed on Monday, June 20. |
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As summer begins and more people take to the water and the outdoors, President and Chair of the IOA, Tim Cundiff, O.D. reminds everyone about summer eye safety in his interview with Annie Kate from Peoria's WMBD.
Be Shady: Here’s how to protect your eyes in the summer sunshine
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Happening Now: Optometry's Meeting in Chicago
IOA was thrilled to welcome Optometry's Meeting back to Chicago this week. OM runs through Saturday, June 18 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Pictured above, Immediate Past Chair Matthew Jones, OD, IOA CEO Leigh Ann Vanausdoll, and President & Chair Tim Cundiff, OD prepare for the start of the AOA House of Delegates. Dr. Matthew Jones was chosen to carry in the Illinois flag in the opening ceremony parade of flags.
Pictured below, Dr. Tim Cundiff welcomed attendees during the Opening Night Awards Ceremony
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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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2022 Medicare Fee Schedules
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Labor Law Poster - 2022 Updates |
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Submit your opinion and enter to win a $100 Starbucks gift card
The IOA is conducting a survey to determine what member benefits mean the most to members and where improvements may be made. This survey will help IOA to determine future association goals and prioritize initiatives valued by members.
Your responses will be used during the IOA Board of Directors' strategic planning meeting as we decide the goals and priorities of the association for the next few years.
The responses are anonymous; however, respondents will be asked to submit their name and email if they want to enter into the Starbucks gift card drawing. Names and survey answers will not be shared outside of the IOA office and will not be shared with the Board or members.
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Mark Your Calendar for the IOA Annual Meeting!
September 29-October 2
Some meeting highlights you don't want to miss:
- 18 hours of CE, all except the workshop are offered tested
- 8 hours of CE for paraoptometrics
- Illinois Optometry’s Celebration on Saturday night where we will present the OD & Young OD of the Year Awards
- Howl at the Moon dueling pianos performing at IL Optometry’s Celebration
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Volunteers Needed: 2022 Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program
The Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program is back for the first time since 2019 and is looking for volunteer optometrists, students, and opticians. The goal of the Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program is to bring quality vision care to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The assessment consists of visual acuity testing, cover test, extraocular motility testing, pupils, color vision, stereopsis, non-contact tonometry, slit lamp evaluation, and ophthalmoscopy. If the athlete is determined to need glasses, they are given a full refraction with subjective testing.
Opening Eyes Program details:
When: Saturday, June 18 from 9 am- 4 pm
Where: Illinois State University in Normal, IL.
If you have any questions, please contact Christine Allison, O.D. at 312-949-7336 or callison@ico.edu. Follow the link below to register to volunteer.
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Get to Know an IOA Board Member: Angela Oberreiter, O.D.
What Dr. Oberreiter loves most about her job:
“It's unpredictable. Each day you never know what might walk in the door. A routine exam to an emergency foreign body removal to glaucoma follow-ups. Each day is unique. I also enjoy getting to know my patients.”
Advice for new optometrists?
“I would recommend getting involved with your profession. Our profession is legislative, thus requires work to keep it going or to change it. But if you care enough and love the profession like I do, be a part of it. Don’t just watch from the sidelines.”
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2022 Optometrist and Young Optometrist of the Year Awards
Do you know an outstanding optometrist who should be recognized for their efforts in the field of optometry? Consider nominating them for the 2022 Optometrist of the Year or Young Optometrist of the Year awards. The Optometrist of the Year award recognizes an individual for performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession and to the visual welfare of the public. The Young Optometrist of the Year award recognizes an optometrist who, within their first decade of practice, has shown leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients, and their community.
A nomination may be made by a member in good standing or by a society. Nominees must be current members of the IOA. Nominations for each award should be submitted online via the links below. A typed statement, not to exceed 2,000 words, should accompany the nomination explaining the primary reason the nominee should be named as the award recipient. A head and shoulders photograph must be included with the nomination. Nominations must be submitted by August 15, 2022.
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A Request of Support from Clint Taylor, O.D., Illinois Optometric Association Legislative Director:
As you know, Illinois optometry has always supported legislators who support us. This support of optometry-friendly legislators has enabled us to develop relationships that have allowed us to effectively advocate for our profession and our patients.
Senator Tammy Duckworth is one such friend of optometry. From giving the commencement address at ICO to being the lead sponsor of the contact lens safety bill (S1784), Senator Duckworth has always been there for our profession. With AOA’s Optometry’s Meeting taking place in Chicago this summer, we are honored to host a reception for her.
To show our gratitude for her support of optometry, I would like to ask you to do two things. First, please consider attending the reception for Senator Duckworth. We would love to have a big turnout for this event. Second, please consider contributing to Senator Duckworth’s campaign. Details on how to RSVP for the reception and/or contribute are available here.
Thank you for your consideration and thank you for continuing to advocate for optometry!
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Above, Senator Tammy Duckworth at AOA on Capitol Hill with the Illinois delegation in 2017. |
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ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
Ansel Johnson, O.D.
"Life-Changing Optometric Management of Those at Risk and Living with Diabetes"
Raise your level of optometric care for your patients at risk or living with diabetes with the latest clinical tools and standards of care. Expand knowledge of current technology and systemic manifestations of diabetes. Optometric management of some conditions of co-morbidity that also more greatly impact those at risk and living with diabetes and being a part of the patient healthcare team managing their wellness.
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7/13/2022: South Suburban Meeting & CE (details coming soon!)
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Private practice for sale. Chicago Mt Greenwood Area. Dr retiring due to health reasons. Established over 43 years. (Read more)
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Chicago’s Minimum Wage Increase and Fair Workweek Changes Go Into Effect July 1, 2022
Minimum Wage Increases to $15.40 and Fair Workweek Advance Notice Requirement for Changes to Work Schedules Increases to 14 days Improving the Economic Security and Stability for over 400,000 Chicago Workers
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IDFPR Launches New Web Address
IDFPR has moved its web address to idfpr.illinois.gov to be consistent with the website URLs of other state agencies. Please make sure to bookmark the new website, idfpr.illinois.gov.
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Weekly COVID-19 Testing Program
Offices utilizing Arctic Dx's weekly in-office COVD testing program recently received a notice that the program would be discontinued. After several offices reached out, Arctic Dx has chosen to continue the program into at least early June, when they will re-evaluate the need for the program.
As a reminder, the Executive Order mandating that all health care workers must either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly (at minimum) testing for COVID-19 is still in effect. Employers must either maintain proof of vaccination status or proof of weekly negative COVID-19 tests in their personnel files.
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Click here for a Q&A put together by the IOA
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Click here for a Q&A issued by the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
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Click here for information about a COVID-19 saliva testing program through ArcticDX
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NIH Researchers Discover New Genetic Eye Disease
Genetic and clinical research reveals new type of macular dystrophy, a cause of central vision loss.
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Interest in Vision Benefits on the Rise, Led By Virtual Eye Care Options, Finds Third Annual Vision Wellness Study:
BALTIMORE, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Versant Health, Inc. released the results of its third annual Vision Wellness Study, finding that consumer opinions of the value of vision care as part of whole-body health are rising. In fact, more people agree that the ability to identify both eye diseases and chronic health conditions are highly valuable services offered by eye doctors. Additionally, the use of virtual eye care options—including telemedicine, tech-enabled communication, and online eye wear shopping—have both increased year over year and influence consumer's insurance benefits decisions.
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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