Volume 6, Issue 25 June 24, 2022
ASSOCIATION NEWS
OPTOMETRY’S MEETING 2022 WRAPS IN CHICAGO
The energy and excitement from interacting at Optometry’s Meeting is contagious. Gathering in person to celebrate the profession we love, renew friendships and connections, and meet new colleagues is invigorating. 

A nation of doctors of optometry, optometric students, and paraoptometrics heard from experts and experienced growth. Continuing education led by industry experts raises the bar in service to our patients and our commitment to optometry.

Tim Cundiff, O.D., IOA President and Chair, welcomed everyone to Optometry’s Meeting during the Opening Night Awards Ceremony in our home state of Illinois at McCormick Place in Chicago. He also welcomed leaders from across the country to the Presidents’ Council meeting during OM.

The new AOA President installed during the meeting is James P. DeVleming, O.D., of Washington. Dr. DeVleming announced an AOA New Practice Success Group. He described the group as “our reprioritization, a structural realignment of the AOA’s deep bench of volunteer expertise.” The group will:
·     Focus new attention on key payer issues.
·     Bring new data to the forefront to help strengthen AOA advocacy on behalf of practices.
·     Expand membership recruitment strength by offering tangible member benefits.
·     Offer additional support to member doctors.
·     Increase cross-organization collaboration.

The reprioritization will mean a change in the AOA volunteer committee structure in order to create even more synergy, creating tools and resources to help practices succeed, leveraging the AOA’s relationship with its membership management partner agency, and continuing the AOA’s Eye Deserve More campaign to educate the public. Meanwhile, membership and advocacy will continue to be AOA priorities.

“AOA will lead but we need all of you to push us along and guide us,” Dr. DeVleming concluded. “Our patients will benefit, our practices will benefit and, of course, the association will benefit. “Let’s go out and change the world,” Dr. DeVleming said. headline
Highlights from Optometry's Meeting
Chelsey Moore, O.D. and IOA President and Chairperson Tim Cundiff, O.D. at AOA+ Residency, Graduate Education, and Affiliate Summit.
Chelsey Moore, O.D.,Tim Cundiff, O.D., Geoffrey Goodfellow. O.D., Brandon Lernor, O.D., Mark Burke, O.D., Erik Mothersbaugh, O.D.
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.
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


Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
2022 Medicare Fee Schedules

Locality 12: Excel or PDF

Locality 15: Excel or PDF

Locality 16: Excel or PDF

Locality 99: Excel or PDF
Labor Law Poster - 2022 Updates
Members in the News
Staying Educated Helps Me Help My Myopia Patients
By: Jacqueline Cozzone, O.D. (IOA member)
It is of the utmost importance to educate patients and their parents about myopia management and specifically that there is something that we can do to help their child’s vision and their long-term eye health. Education is key.

Get to Know an IOA Board Member: Jeffrey Mark Lewis, O.D.

What Dr. Lewis loves most about his job:
"The interactions and bonds we form with our patients are priceless."  
 
Advice for new optometrists?
"Challenge yourself regularly with professional development education and travel to various optometric conferences." 
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.
Political Events
Robert Brenart, O.D., attends a political fundraiser for Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora), Assistant Republican Leader. Thank you Dr. Brenart for representing the field of Optometry at this political fundraiser!
Heading Here
Reception Fundraiser for Senator Duckworth at Optometry's Meeting

ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Katie Connolly, O.D.
 
"Myopia Management in 2022"

Myopia is a quickly evolving field. Our understanding of the mechanism for myopia development, progression, and clinical interventions to mitigate risk factors and slow progression have advanced significantly in the last several years. This course will provide a comprehensive overview of evidence-based myopia management in 2022. Topics covered will include myopia development research, risk factors associated with myopia, clinical interventions, clinical case examples and effective implementation of myopia management in the optometric clinical practice. 
Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!


We are looking for a dedicated Optometrist to join our team. The position would involve 3 to 5 day coverage (must include Saturdays) (Read more)

Love full scope, independent optometry? We do! Our three doctor, two location group practice in central Illinois (Read more)

Taylor Eye Care - Carmi, IL - full or part time optometrist opportunity Full scope primary care optometry practice (Read more)

Optician/Staff Wanted:
We are a busy, 2 Doctor private practice expanding and looking to fill a few positions.
*Optometrist Technician--full or part time (Read more)
ILLINOIS NEWS
Chicago & Cook County 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. Learn more here.

Additionally, Cook County's minimum wage increase to $13.35 for non-tipped workers will also go into effect on July 1. Read more here.

IDFPR Warns Against Scam Calls; Launches New Web Address

IDFPR is also warning licensees of scam calls by people claiming to be a staff member of IDFPR or law enforcement. The scammer calls the licensee and claims their license will be suspended unless a payment is made immediately. IDFPR will never contact a licensee in this manner. Never give your credit card number or personal identification love the phone if you did not initiate the call. To verify if the call is from IDFPR, contact the Department at 847-294-4900.

IDFPR has also 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. The idfpr.com website is now defunct.
FEDERAL NEWS
Federal Health Officials Authorize Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines for Children as Young as 6 Months of Age

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age. 
AOA President Discusses Safety Of At-Home LED Face Masks

In a piece published by Consumer Reports  (6/21, Santanachote), “experts weigh in on the safety” of at-home LED face masks. Robert Layman, OD, president of the American Optometric Association, stated, “LED masks tend to be safe since most of them have the eyes cut out so that the light is not directed into the eye, but they may not be risk-free.” For example, “even though at-home masks have a lower intensity than those used in clinical environments, Layman says there could be some spillover light near the eye.” Additional “factors that could contribute to potential eye problems include how long these masks are being worn, what intensity the LED light is, and whether the patient has their eyes open while wearing them.” Dr. Layman emphasized, “For any type of light therapy treatment, eye protection, such as blackout goggles, are a must.” 
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
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