Volume 7, Issue 5 │February 03, 2023
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Love Your Eyes February Campaign |
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In celebration of Valentine's Day this month, the IOA is launching the second annual Love Your Eyes campaign, encouraging patients to practice the 20-20-20 rule. IOA members have access to resources like the graphics linked below and a customizable email template to send to your patients, encouraging them to give their eyes a break when using digital devices and schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
The full-page images linked below can be printed out and placed 20 feet away from where your patient is sitting. You can even add your practice's logo to personalize the graphics. These will serve as a reminder to follow the 20-20-20 rule. You and your patients can help spread the word by posting your pictures practicing the 20-20-20 rule on social media using the hashtag #IOALoveyoureyes.
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Announcing the 2023 Dues Contest Winner
Congratulations to Dr. Brenna Kitzmann who won the 2023 membership dues contest! Dr. Kitzmann won a FREE registration to the 2023 IOA Annual Meeting in Schumburg, IL. The prize includes the cost of registration and all testing fees and can be claimed when registration opens. Congratulations to Dr. Kitzmann and thank you to everyone who entered the drawing.
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Register Now the 2023 IOA CE Series
Registration is now open for 6-hour TQ courses on March 5, 2023, in Rosemont, IL, and March 19, 2023, in Alsip, IL.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 | Rosemont, IL
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm - 6 hrs TQ CE
Course: "New Technology Applications, Dry Eye Diagnosis & Management, and What’s New In Contact Lenses"
Speaker: Mile Brujic, OD
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Sunday, March 19, 2023 | Alsip, IL
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm - 6 hrs TQ CE
Course: "Maximizing Therapeutics and Imaging in the Management of Ocular Disease: What’s New and What’s Next?"
Speaker: Jessica Steen, OD
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September 28-October 1, 2023 - IOA Annual Meeting
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel | Schaumburg, IL
Up to 18 hours TQ CE
Registration opens mid-July
November 2023
Southern IL CE
6 Hrs TQ
Details coming soon!
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The Illinois College of Optometry continued to celebrate its long-standing partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Department of Public Health by welcoming 12 CPS students to their pediatrics unit. These students had full eye exams and picked out glasses. They were thrilled to see the kids' excitement for their new glasses and for the IEI equipment. |
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We want to hear your memories of the IOA! In celebration of our 125th anniversary in 2023, the IOA is collecting your stories about the organization.
Please share your thoughts on the importance of IOA membership, favorite memories from IOA, or your thoughts on the history of the IOA.
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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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3/18/2023: Young Professionals Event
Where: Kroll's South Loop - Chicago, IL
When: 6 - 9pm
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Charleston, SC Modern medical model office ( Read more)
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS JOB
Do you enjoy interacting and connecting with patients? ( Read more)
I am looking for a PT OD for the Gurnee area. Two days a week, only half days, but get paid for a full day (Read more) |
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Blogging is a great way to generate traffic to your website, especially for potential patients. Writing an informational blog can also help establish your credibility as an industry leader. Even if you only publish once a week, it will improve your visibility online and help educate your potential patients on why they should trust your practice. You can generate leads by including subscribe and social links. The responses generated will build your email list and direct readers to your social media accounts. |
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Gov. Pritzker Announces Upcoming End to COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Governor JB Pritzker announced the state's public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, aligning the state with the federal government's decision to end the national public health emergency. Ensuring Illinois' and the federal government's health emergencies were linked brought in additional federal funding and expanded healthcare access for residents across the state.
"Since COVID-19 first emerged nearly three years ago, my administration has worked diligently alongside the federal government to battle this once-in-a-generation pandemic by following scientific and medical guidance to support frontline workers and save lives. Our state's disaster proclamation and executive orders enabled us to use every resource at our disposal from building up testing capacity and expanding our healthcare workforce to supporting our vaccine rollout and mutual aid efforts," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Let me be clear: COVID-19 has not disappeared. It is still a real and present danger to people with compromised immune systems—and I urge all Illinoisans to get vaccinated or get their booster shots if they have not done so already."
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Northwestern Medicine Opens Three-Story Medical Office Building IN Winfield Town Center
Jan 30, 2023
Designed to increase access to ophthalmology, allergy and urology outpatient services, Northwestern Medicine’s new three-story medical office building in Winfield Town Center opened Jan. 30, 2023. Located across the street from Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, the 51,000-square foot building has two floors of clinical space and ground-floor commercial and retail space.
“With easy access to Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, a Metra station and the new Riverwalk Park, Winfield Town Center is an ideal location to offer new and expanded medical services to local residents,” said Patrick J. Towne, MD, president of Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group.
The new building is a milestone in the development of Winfield Town Center, a partnership with the Village of Winfield to revitalize the downtown district. As part of the project, Northwestern Medicine also constructed a four-level parking deck with ground-floor retail and restaurant space; and developed significant portions of Riverwalk Park, including new pathways, a band shell, picnic shelter, and a bean bag toss and bocce court.
“The new medical office building is a beautiful anchor for Winfield Town Center that will spur further retail development,” said Kenneth Hedley, president, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Additional outpatient services and the amenities at Riverwalk Park will contribute to a vibrant downtown environment.”
The modern building features a natural stone facade, ribbons of windows and space for outdoor patio dining. A green roof, partially covered in vegetation, reduces storm water runoff into the sewer system and mitigates urban heat island effects.
“This historic partnership with Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital was the result of a public-private partnership which addresses the need for development of Winfield’s Town Center and the growth needs of Northwestern Medicine,” said Carl Sorgatz, president, Village of Winfield. “This great leap forward sets the stage for more impressive opportunities identified in the recent Town Center Plan update to grow Winfield as a destination.”
The new ophthalmology clinic has 26 exam rooms, three of which are designed specifically for pediatric patients. The clinic offers state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis and treatment of a full range of ophthalmic conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and eyelid surgery. The staff includes four ophthalmologists: Michelle E. Andreoli, MD; Michael T. Andreoli, MD; Sachin Jain, MD; and Stacy Scofield-Kaplan, MD; and two optometrists: Randall Andreoli, OD; and Barbara Andreoli, OD.
The allergy and immunology clinic is relocating to the new Winfield Town Center building from the Central DuPage Hospital Outpatient Building to allow for expansion of services. Allergist Jennifer C. Simonaire, DO, will join Farheen Mirza, MD, and Amiinah Y. Kung, MD, to support the growing need for allergy services in the region. The clinic has eight exam rooms and six dedicated allergy observation bays for allergy testing, food challenges and nurse injections.
Urology will open in the new building this March. With 10 exam rooms and three procedure rooms, specialists will offer diagnosis and treatment of a variety of urological conditions including benign prostate diseases, genitourinary cancer, vasectomies, erectile dysfunction and kidney stones. Urologists at the new location will include: Steven M. Baughman, MD; John G. Christensen, Jr., MD; Vikas Desais, MD; Michael A. Rashid, MD; and Timothy J. Roth, MD.
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FDA Approves ML6710i Photodynamic Laser for Use with VISUDYNE
Feb 1, 2023
Emily Kaiser, Assistant Managing Editor
Kassi Jackson, Editor
Bausch + Lomb and Modulight announce the photodynamic laser for use with photodynamic therapy was approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to AMD.
Today, Bausch + Lomb and Modulight, a biomedical laser company, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the ML6710i photodynamic laser for equivalent use with Bausch + Lomb’s preparation of verteporfin for injection (VISUDYNE) photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization—or the creation of abnormal choroidal blood vessels— caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD).1 ML6710i is expected to be available for eye care professionals during the first half of 2023.
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Kathleen Steele Named President of VSP Ventures
Bringing with her more than a decade of executive leadership in the optical industry.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA — VSP Vision announced that Kathleen Steele has been named president of VSP Ventures. In the role, Steele will lead the company’s business unit that provides care-focused choices for Doctors of Optometry looking for practice transition options. She will report to Kate Renwick-Espinosa, president of VSP Vision Care.
“Kathleen’s skillset and experience in business development and scaling optometric services make her the right leader to accelerate the growth of VSP Ventures and ensure our unique transition options are available to doctors that protect practice legacy and put care first,” said Renwick-Espinosa. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
With more than a decade of executive leadership in the optical industry, Steele joins VSP Ventures from Pearle Vision, where she most recently served as senior vice president and general manager. Prior to that, she held several senior leadership roles at Luxottica, including vice president of operations, senior director of vision care strategy, as well as senior director of innovation and commercialization.
“It’s an honor to join this incredible team,” said Steele. “VSP Ventures remains uniquely positioned in this changing market to offer doctors solutions that meet their goals for their practices, careers, and lives, underscored by a focus on continued excellent patient care.”
Steele succeeds Tiffanie Burkhalter, who has decided to depart the organization after nearly 12 years serving in a variety of roles.
“We thank Tiffanie for the many contributions made to the organization and wish her all the best in her next chapter,” added Renwick-Espinosa.
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Valley Contax Announces 2023 Optometry’s Meeting Student Travel Grant Award
Submissions open February 14th and close on April 2nd.
Valley Contax Inc., in partnership with Contamac US, announces its next travel grant award opportunity. One student in the graduating Classes of either 2024 or 2025 will be selected. The submission process will begin with each candidate submitting 100 words about why they chose Optometry as their career.
“Optometry’s Meeting is a chance to get together with colleagues and learn about the latest and greatest in Optometry. It is our pleasure to offer these student scholarships as a way for future optometrists to participate in the profession.”
Submissions open February 14th and close on April 2nd. The Valley Contax social media team will announce a winner for this next award on April 17th. The submission form is conveniently available here.
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CDC Warns that a Brand of Eyedrops May be Linked to Drug-resistant Bacterial Infections
At least one person has died, and others were blinded, after using the over-the-counter artificial tears, the CDC said.
Jan. 31, 2023, 3:53 PM CST
By Erika Edwards
One person has died and at least three others are left with permanent vision loss because of a bacterial infection possibly linked to a brand of over-the-counter eyedrops, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A majority of those affected reported using preservative-free EzriCare Artificial Tears before becoming ill, the CDC reported in a statement dated Jan. 20.
While the infections have not been definitively traced to the eyedrops, the CDC recommended that "patients immediately discontinue the use of EzriCare Artificial Tears until the epidemiological investigation and laboratory analyses are complete."
So far, the CDC team has identified at least 50 people in 11 states with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacterium resistant to most antibiotics. Cases have been reported in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Most patients said they'd used EzriCare Artificial Tears before becoming ill.
Eleven developed eye infections, at least three of whom were blinded in one eye. Others had respiratory infections or urinary tract infections. One person died when the bacterium entered the patient's bloodstream.
It is unclear whether the affected patients had underlying eye conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, that would have made them more susceptible. Symptoms of an eye infection include pain, swelling, discharge, redness, blurry vision, sensitivity to light and the feeling of some kind of foreign object stuck in the eye.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are commonly found in water and soil and even on the hands of otherwise healthy people. Infections usually occur in hospital settings among people with weakened immune systems.
This type of bacterium is often resistant to standard antibiotics.
"That's what's so concerning," said Dr. Jill Weatherhead, an assistant professor of tropical medicine and infectious diseases at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "Our standard treatments are no longer available" to treat this infection.
The drops under investigation are labeled as preservative-free. That is, the product does not contain anything that might prevent microbiological growth. The product could have been contaminated during the manufacturing process or when a person with the bacteria on his or her skin opened the container.
The CDC found the bacteria in bottles of the eyedrops and is testing to see whether that bacteria matches the strain found in patients.
As of Tuesday, EzriCare Artificial Tears had not been recalled. They have been sold on Amazon and at stores such as Walmart.
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Biden to End COVID Emergency Declarations on May 11
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden informed Congress on Monday that he will end the twin national emergencies for addressing COVID-19 on May 11, as most of the world has returned closer to normalcy nearly three years after they were first declared.
The move to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations would formally restructure the federal coronavirus response to treat the virus as an endemic threat to public health that can be managed through agencies' normal authorities.
It comes as lawmakers have already ended elements of the emergencies that kept millions of Americans insured during the pandemic. Combined with the drawdown of most federal COVID-19 relief money, it would also shift the development of vaccines and treatments away from the direct management of the federal government.
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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