Q&A: Joseph T. Barr, OD, FAAO, Emeritus Professor at the Ohio State University College of Optometry
September 26th 2014My grandfather was one of the first instructors in the 100-year old College of Optometry at The Ohio State University. I never knew him; he died when I was 2. He had an optometry practice in my home town. My father was an optician-he made spectacles and managed a lab. So I knew the optometric field as early as I can remember.
FDA holds CL microbiology workshop
September 25th 2014The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a contact lens microbiology workshop in early September as a follow-up to its May meeting to discuss updating recommendations for contact lens and lens care guidance documents. The goal is safer contact lens wear for patients.
Fewer Allergan sales reps, still serving ODs
September 23rd 2014Recently, Allergan reduced its sales force, causing concern in the marketplace about sales rep availability to optometry. Some practitioners believed the move was a perceived slight to optometry in favor of ophthalmology, adding to a long-held perception that Allergan is not committed to optometry.
What optometry can learn from the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
September 22nd 2014August 2014 saw a public awareness campaign show the world the power of social media. This unprecedented viral video initiative is something that optometry hopefully can learn from and replicate for its own public awareness campaigns. Let’s take a look at the how this all happened and see if we can come up with a similar social sensation.
Generics vs. brand-name drugs-different but still safe
September 19th 2014Despite some perceptions, generic pharmaceutical drugs are not necessarily less effective than their branded counterparts. But their true claim to fame is in cheaper pricing, undercutting the brand-name alternatives sometimes by orders of magnitude. But according to Dr. Milton Hom, OD, FAAO, price shouldn't take on the main consideration.
Clinical lab testing and CLIA get some clarification at Vision Expo
September 19th 2014hich clinical tests meet clinical laboratory improvement amendments (CLIA) compliance? Furthermore, which routine tests have CLIA waiver approval? If these questions have stumped you, you're not alone, and it's likely you are one of the many who see CLIA as one big mystery.
Velvet launches geotargeting program for retailers
September 19th 2014During Vision Expo West, Velvet Eyewear announced the launch of its new retailer campaign, which aims to increase foot traffic through geotargeting, an Internet marketing method which determines the geolocation of a website visitor and delivers different content based on that visitor’s location.
Sjögren's requires an understanding beyond traditional symptoms
September 18th 2014Lupus, dry mouth, and arthritis aren’t usually associated with optometry, but it may well need to become a necessary part of any optometrist's knowledge base as awareness of Sjögren's syndrome becomes more prevalent, reported Dr. Milton M. Hom, OD, FAAO, at his most recent seminar at Vision Expo West.
Ocular complications caused by systemic medication may fly under the radar
September 18th 2014For those who have heard men joking about "smurf vision," it's no surprise the unintended effects some pharmaceutical drugs can have on other parts of the body. But while physicians are well-aware of the systemic complications caused by medications they prescribe, they don't always know what effects drugs prescribed by other disciplines could have on their field of medicine-this includes optometrists, says Dr. Alan Kabat, OD, FAAO.