Presidents Message April 2023

Prevent Blindness Designates April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month to Educate the Public on a Variety of Women’s Vision Issues

Two out of every three people living with blindness or vision problems are women, according to the National Eye Institute. And data from The Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems study shows that women are at higher risk for certain eye diseases and conditions. Prevent Blindness has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month to educate the public on the increased risk for women and vision health issues and steps to prevent vision loss. Women have a higher prevalence of significant vision problems, including:

Age-related macular degeneration, autoimmune diseases (such as Lupus or Sjögren’s Syndrome), cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, low vision, thyroid eye disease, and refractive error.

According to the World Health Organization’s World Report on Vision; women, on average, live longer than men and are thus at greater risk of developing eye conditions associated with aging. However, even after controlling for age, global estimates suggest that women with moderate and severe presenting distance vision impairment outnumber men by approximately 7 percent. Gender and financial disparities can also create barriers to eyecare access for women. For example, a recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that although women were more likely to use eye care, they were also more likely to report difficulty affording eyeglasses than men.

In addition to eye disease and conditions, women have unique health issues related to pregnancy and menopause due to fluctuating hormone levels. Women may notice changes in their ability to see clearly during pregnancy. Women with pre-existing conditions, like glaucoma, high blood pressure, or diabetes, must alert their eye doctor that they are pregnant (or planning to become pregnant). Additionally, dry eye leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms affects more than 3.2 million American women middle-aged and older.

Women must prioritize their vision health to help detect vision issues early. In addition, early and consistent treatment for most eye diseases can significantly reduce the risk of vision loss. “We know that many women play a key role in the overall health of their whole families,” said Jeff Todd, president, and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “We encourage them to take a moment to ensure their vision health today and help protect eyesight in the future.”1. Prevent Blindness. https://preventblindness.org/2021-womens-eye-health-month

April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

According to Russ Mitchell, staff at LA Times, Highway fatalities are rising again — 46,000 in the U.S. in 2022, up 22%, according to numbers released last week. How many of those deaths involved distracted driving? “It’s much bigger than the data show,” said Bruce Landsberg, vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. He said data collection methods are riddled with problems that reliable estimates are difficult, if not impossible.2. NHTSA. https://www.nhtsa.gov/april-distracted-driving-awareness-month

As we know, sight is the fastest of our senses, and the human visual cortex performs on a sustained basis faster than the fastest supercomputer. Consider driving on a busy rainy day; multiple text notifications, music, and other visual overloads create a perfect storm for distracted driving accidents. We also know teens make up a majority of these distracted driving accidents. Forty-eight states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, ban text messaging for all drivers, and 25 states and territories prohibit drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. As professionals (and parents), we can add this to our protocol by giving proper medical counsel, especially when we detect irregular eye movements, decreased accommodation, and convergence insufficiency. The additional strain and cognitive overload of simply looking near and far in a car at any speed could cause a distracted driving accident. A suggestion from an expert medical perspective (as well as the parent) may save lives. 

April is the final day of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection, and community. Muslims hold that all scripture was revealed during Ramadan, including the scrolls of Abraham, Torah, Psalms, The Gospel, and Quran.3. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

April is also a major Christian holiday, Easter marking the death and resurrection of Christ. Both spiritual dogmas produce hope in their beliefs. Prayer, living with grace, devotion, and love are the pillars that bind us.



We look forward to seeing everyone with the NOA family in Fort Lauderdale in person in July!

Dr. E. Larry Jones

President NOA

Three Female Doctors Say Diversity In Leadership And Advocacy Will Strengthen The Profession

July 12, 2022

MidAtlantic power center (l-r): Dr. Bunyon, Dr. Wallace-Davis and Dr. Johnson

At a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., Mesheca Bunyon, OD, president of the Optometry Board of Examiners for Maryland, was delighted to discover the similarities she shared with the presidents of her neighboring Washington, D.C., and Virginia boards – Lisa Johnson, OD, and Lisa Wallace-Davis, OD, respectively. All three happen to be graduates of Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University – and all three happen to be Black women ODs.

The three graduated from PCO at seven-year intervals, and they believe that this is the first time that these leadership positions are held by Black women at the same time. Each of the women is driven by the same passion to improve the profession and protect the public. As board presidents, the three women have taken it upon themselves to not only lead boards that are responsive and fair but to make sure that future boards are attentive to diversity and inclusion

Dr. Bunyon

It’s an important time for patient protections – and it’s critical that optometrists representing the diversity of the profession participate, says Dr. Bunyon. The doctors spoke to WO following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe V. Wade. “Women are feeling like they’re not heard right now,” Dr. Bunyon says. “I don’t see how we can move forward, either in our profession or in our country, without women being a part of the conversation.”

Dr. Johnson

Dr. Johnson says that progress has been made – especially compared to how things were when she graduated in 1985. Women were in the room but not exactly voicing their opinion. She said there were sexist and racist jokes, often subtle but loud enough. She’s glad to see how much things have changed but says there is still long way to go. However, the presence of women and Black women in leadership and advocacy roles will help show other women that they can be heard, too. “We need to get more diversity and inclusion on our boards,” Dr. Johnson says.

EXERTING THEIR INFLUENCE

As optometry is a legislated profession, it is often up to the board to help determine how the laws that the legislators pass will be enacted. For example, in March, the Virginia Governor signed bills that permit ODs to perform three types of laser surgery. To help get ODs up to speed and certified as quickly as possible, the board is appointing a regulatory advisory panel to help set parameters.

Board members can also help influence the conversation, as Dr. Bunyon wants to do before her term ends in 2023. In recent years, the 1,000 ODs in Maryland have gained increased scope in prescribing for glaucoma and more oral medications including antivirals and for removing foreign bodies. But incorporating lasers is the next proving ground for ODs in many parts of the country, and Dr. Bunyon notes that a variety of health care and non-health care providers in the state can prescribe medical marijuana while ODs cannot. States with a broader scope of practice are more attractive to new graduates – who learn about the technologies and procedures in school and want to practice in states where they are able to leverage their education fully.

Dr. Wallace-Davis

Dr. Bunyon, Dr. Wallace-Davis and Dr. Johnson discussed the importance of their representation in their field, as well as how others can help diversify the profession even more. As for the future, Dr. Johnson hopes to get more involved with the city council to advance the scope of practice for the 200 or so optometrists in the nation’s capital.

GETTING INVOLVED

As is true of so many optometrists in leadership positions, these women noted that they became involved by saying yes to a request to do so. Dr. Bunyon, for example, became involved in the National Optometric Student Association during optometry school and then held various positions with the National Optometric Association and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. From there, she became involved in Maryland’s state and local society structure before the governor appointed her to the board role.

The others say that they were recommended by colleagues – and said yes. Many women ODs don’t think of board positions as a career opportunity, but it’s a good one to bring in new perspective and experience, they say. It’s also important for others to step up to avoid volunteer burnout for the ones who have said yes. Dr. Wallace-Davis will reach the end of her term in 2023.

In Washington, D.C., for example, a board position can only be filled by an OD who lives within the district’s city limits. So that makes the pool of candidates fairly small. As a result, Dr. Johnson has been on the board since 2004 and became chair a year ago. After practicing for 37 years, she says she looks forward to slowing down in the not-too-distant future. While she enjoys her work and being an advocate for her patients, she says she is ready to travel, get involved in social organizations and, in her words, “do absolutely nothing.”

They welcome questions from ODs who might be interested in roles likes these. But the best people to ask are the colleagues in your state and local societies, they say. “Get involved and say yes,” Dr. Wallace-Davis says. Dr. Johnson recommends getting involved in just one committee, which could expand your network and launch your professional career into a new level. “People should get involved because your involvement affects our profession,” Dr. Bunyon says.

The three doctors love being able to work with the public and advocate for those who need care. Their board roles have provided them with additional perspectives they can use in their patient care. Dr. Bunyon says that in advance of her leaving her role, she is reaching out to women and especially to women of color to encourage their participation.