franchise opportunities - 20/20 Magazine

44 VISION MONDAY/JUNE 16, 2008EXAM LANESwww.visionmonday.comOPTOMETRY NEWSAOA Issues ‘Caring for the Eyes of America’ST. LOUIS—Private practice optometristsare maintaining their position as thenation’s primary eyecare providers,according to the American OptometricAssociation’s (AOA) recently released“Caring for the Eyes of America” survey.The survey, the AOA’s 10th, indicatesthat private optometric practicesaccounted for the largest share—approximately44.37 percent—of what theorganization estimates as a $29.25 billiontotal U.S. ophthalmic market in 2007 (up7.5 percent from the AOA’s estimate forindustry volume in 2005).The AOA estimates that 37,083 fulltimeequivalent ODs were active in theworkforce during 2007. Most (up tothree-fourths of those responding toAOA surveys) provide care in traditionalSEATTLE—Optometrists, paraoptometricsand optometry students fromaround the country head to the WashingtonState Convention and Trade Centerhere next week for the 111th annualAmerican Optometric Association (AOA)Congress and the 38th annual AmericanOptometric Student Association (ASOA)conference, once again combined underthe umbrella of “Optometry’s Meeting.”The event, which runs from June 25to June 29, kicks off Wednesday, June25, with the first continuing educationcourses; classes run through Sunday.Wednesday night, attendees are invitedto a welcome reception sponsored byBausch & Lomb.At the annual opening general sessionon Thursday, June 26, author ChristopherGardner, who wrote The Pursuit ofHappyness, will offer his views as theAOA keynote speaker, sponsored byEssilor. During that session, the AOAwill present several major awards,including Optometrist of the Year andYoung Optometrist of the Year.The Optometry’s Meeting exhibit hallopens that afternoon; exhibits by morethan 200 industry firms and organizationswill also be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.private practices, although increasinglyin partnerships or group practices asopposed to solo practices.The Caring for the Eyes of Americastudy examines the changing nature ofoptometric practice over time, includingdata from recurring surveys on consumertrends, third-party/managed care participationrates, the size and share of theophthalmic market, optical dispensingand optometric income.The study indicates that ODs are providingnot only more eye examinationseach year (2,229 exams annually, on average)compared with a decade earlier, but awider range of care. Optometrists are nowtreating or co-managing 66.1 percent oftheir patients with glaucoma and 83.2 percentof patients they diagnosed with anteriorsegment disorders, the study said.And ODs are providing patients thelatest in state-of-the-art eye and visioncare, with a solid majority of practicesnow equipped with automated perimeters(91.3 percent of practices), autorefractor/autokeratometer(77.8 percent)and the pachymeter (72.6 percent),according to the AOA survey. Scanninglaser ophthalmoscopes and pachymetersare the technology most often beingadded in optometric practices.On the financial front, although theAOA says Americans are receiving moreand better eyecare through optometrists,that care is rising in cost much moreslowly than other forms of health care orconsumer prices overall, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics data. As forFriday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.Thursday night, Essilor sponsors theannual Varilux Optometry Super Bowlcompetition (this year is Super BowlXVII) and reception for optometry students.The first-place winner receives a$1,000 grand prize and trophy.Also on Thursday, Hoya sponsorsWashington Wine Experience in theexhibit hall; on Friday afternoon, June27, attendees can participate in MicrobrewMania featuring local beers, also inthe exhibit hall.New AOA officers will be elected duringthe annual House of Delegatesinsurance coverage, 76.5 percent ofpatients in a typical optometric office arenow covered (48 percent by privateplans, 28.5 percent by Medicare or otherpublic programs). Nearly half of patients(45.6 percent) are in managed-care programs,the AOA study indicated.And although practice gross revenuesare up, some practitioners’ net incomesare not keeping pace, according to thesurvey, as margins are squeezed byincreasing expenses.The full Caring for the Eyes of Americastudy is available for $279; AOAmembers may purchase the compendiumat a steep discount, according to theorganization. For more information, go towww.aoa.org/caring08.xml or call (800)262-2210. ■■ODs Heading to Seattle for Optometry’s Meetingmeeting on Friday.The meeting wraps up Saturdaynight, June 28, with the PresidentialCelebration, sponsored by Hoya. Comedianand “Tonight Show” host Jay Lenowill entertain at that event, which honorsthe newly elected AOA presidentand board of trustees. Following Leno,The Grooveline, a tribute band featuringmusic of the 1970s and 1980s, will performduring a dessert reception.Next year’s Optometry’s Meeting willbe held June 24 through June 28, 2009,at the Gaylord National ConventionCenter in Washington, D.C. ■■EYECARE NEWSPENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRYBECOMES SALUS UNIVERSITY JULY 1ELKINS PARK, Pa.—The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), based here, willsignificantly change its institutional structure on July 1, when it officially makes thetransition from a college to a university and adopts a new name: Salus University.Salus, a Latin word for health and well-being, was unanimously adopted by the college’sboard of trustees as an expression of the institution’s dedication to the preservationof the health and well-being of the communities its graduates serve, anannouncement said.“The university’s name supports the institution’s vision of an academic communitythat emphasizes a holistic approach to education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,and includes a commitment to interdisciplinary learning,” noted presidentThomas L. Lewis, OD.“Our faculty, students, staff and board of trustees realize that, as this institutiongrows and becomes more complex, the name Salus will offer direction, underscoringthe value of interdisciplinary education and early clinical experience that are the hallmarksof our innovative curriculum.”J&J VISION CARE INSTITUTEADDS SIXTH SATELLITE CENTERJACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Johnson & Johnson’s Vision Care Institute recently added itssixth partner institution: the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometrynow hosts a Vision Care Institute satellite learning center.“The satellite learning centers provide a direct link between the main campus ofThe Vision Care Institute in Jacksonville, Fla., and the optometry schools, enhancingstudents’ experiences with even more information and contact lens-related skills usefulfor their careers,” said Richard Clompus, OD, director of the Institute. “Educationalprogramming at the satellite centers includes distance learning programs for firstthroughfourth-year optometry students, using video conferencing technologies fromthe Jacksonville headquarters. Additional satellite centers will be opened at otheroptometry schools in the future.”The Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry was founded in1981; in 1992, it became a separate, autonomous academic unit within the university.■■