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December 6, 2023December 6, 2023

Year-End Continuing Education Special: For Opticians and Optometric Assistants

As the year draws to a close, OptikConEd.com is thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity for Opticians and Optometric Assistants! We are offering a year-end special on selected continuing education (CE) courses, starting at the unbeatable price of just $8.95. This is your chance to enhance your expertise and stay ahead in the dynamic world of eye care.

OptikConEd CE courses are accredited by all major Canadian Opticianry regulators, including NACOR (National Alliance of Canadian Optician Regulators), College of Opticians of Ontario, and l’Ordre des opticiens d’ordonnances du Québec. Additionally, we offer courses accredited for Canadian Certified Optometric Assistants (CCOA), ensuring a wide spectrum of professionals can benefit from the specials.

Flexible and Convenient Learning

Each course is designed to fit into your busy schedule. They are one hour long, available online, and accessible 24/7. Enroll at your convenience, review the material, take the quiz, and instantly generate your CE Certificate. It’s that simple!

As the year-end approaches, remember that Canadian regulators require credits to be earned before the calendar year ends. This creates a sense of urgency for professionals to update their skills and knowledge.

But here’s the best part: even if you’ve already met your CE requirements for this year, you can still enroll at the special price. Take the course in January and get a head start on your 2024 credits!

Our courses cover a broad range of topics in the optical field, from technical knowledge to the latest industry trends. We also feature professional growth (PG) subjects, ensuring that you not only enhance your technical skills but also develop as a complete professional in the eye care industry.

Act Now for a Brighter Professional Future

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity! Visit OptikConEd.com, create a free account (it’s quick and costs nothing!), and enroll in our courses.

Whether you need additional credits before the year ends or you’re planning ahead for 2024, our year-end special is an excellent investment in your professional journey.

Enroll today and elevate your expertise. This is more than just meeting CE requirements; it’s about staying current, knowledgeable, and at the forefront of the opticianry and optometric field.

Visit OptikConEd.com now and embark on a journey of professional excellence! Select your accreditor and enroll in approved courses today.

OptikNow.ca is dedicated to providing the latest and most relevant information for eye care professionals. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to enhance your career in the eye care industry!

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023

EssilorLuxottica and Moncler Announce Exclusive Licensing Agreement

EssilorLuxottica and Moncler have announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement that includes the design, production, and global distribution of Moncler eyewear.

The agreement will be in effect from January 2024 until December 2028, with an automatic renewal option for an additional five years. The first Moncler Lunettes collection produced with EssilorLuxottica will be Fall-Winter 2024, available from September 2024.

Leveraging EssilorLuxottica’s consolidated experience and constant innovation, the partnership will further elevate the Moncler Lunettes collections, known for their perfect blend of functionality and contemporary aesthetics, with a mix of frames suitable for both city and mountain living.

Remo Ruffini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Moncler S.p.A., commented: “With the introduction of the new Moncler Lunettes collections, Moncler’s style will seamlessly merge with EssilorLuxottica’s know-how in eyewear, delivering a product at the forefront of design, innovation, and quality.”

Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO at EssilorLuxottica, stated: “We have long admired Moncler as a brand that shares our equal passion for innovation and style, not to mention our ‘born in the mountains’ heritage. Our teams are thrilled to embark on this journey to design and develop a unique eyewear collection that truly reflects the special Moncler brand.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

For more related content on Optik NOW, click HERE.

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023

OSI National Summit 2023: A Milestone Gathering Redefining the Future of Independent Optometry

Taking place at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle from November 17 to 19, the 2023 OSI National Summit brought together optometrists, opticians, optometric assistants, managers, and staff.

The three-day event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing, professional development, and networking, fostering a strong sense of collaboration among members. Engaging sessions from industry experts and interactive training workshops stood as the Summit’s educational cornerstones, touching on subjects vital to the evolving landscape of optometry.

The Summit showcased a wealth of knowledge addressing some of the biggest challenges faced in optometry today. Interactive sessions led by renowned industry experts engaged attendees with topics such as cyber security, patient communication, inventory management, and retail strategies.

Key speakers included Andrew Kirsch, Mark Hinton, Nancy Dewald, and Dr. Harbir Sian—OSI Member and host of 20/20, Canada’s #1 optometry podcast. The Summit concluded with a talk by Mike Lipkin, who addressed establishing breakthroughs in a post-pandemic world, underscoring the importance of innovation and adaptability.

“Every challenge faced by our industry became a topic for deep-dive discussions at this year’s Summit,” remarked Patrice Lacoste, CEO of OSI Group. “Our community’s energy was infectious, igniting new ideas and solidifying the bonds that define the OSI spirit. Together, we’re not just adapting to change; we are the catalysts, driving optometry to new heights with unwavering commitment and innovative vigour.”

The Summit’s experience extended beyond the informative sessions, offering attendees evenings filled with entertainment and networking opportunities. From an eyewear fashion show to an energetic 80s-themed night and lively games, each activity underscored OSI’s community spirit.

Click HERE for the full press release.

For more related content on Optik NOW, click HERE.

November 30, 2023December 6, 2023

Diversity and Inclusion in Eye Care

By Dr. Trevor Miranda, OD

Canada is an intricate textured tapestry of different cultures. Each patient is unique and presents with different preferences and lifestyle choices. In today’s optometry world (and all healthcare in general) it is important to make every patient feel welcome and included.

I was born in a small town in Ontario, Canada to immigrant parents (from Goa, a Portuguese colony now part of India). My hometown was predominantly of homogeneous Caucasian descent and my darker skin stood out as an obvious difference from others in the community. “Where are you from?” would be standard line from people that had just met me, implying that I was from another part of the world given the physically obvious differences. “I’m from Canada and my parents are from Goa!” I would proudly state. I was aware of my ethnic heritage that came with mainly culinary differences from my peers, but I identified as Canadian just like they did. The implication here is that you get to choose your “tribe” and group that you identify with. While it is easy to be prejudicial given the “look” of someone, they may not identify themselves as part of the stereotype.

In our Optometry offices, we are working towards understanding diversity and being as welcoming and inclusive as possible. I feel it is totally fair game to inquire about somebody’s ethnicity. It is better to ask than to presume. Questions like “What’s your family background?” “Have you lived locally very long?” are acceptable when it comes from a place of inclusiveness. It is helpful as an eye doctor to understand family heritage as some ethnicities are predisposed to certain ocular diseases. Allowing for these inquiry conversations is an important part of “case history” and allows better investigations into potential threats to the patient’s vision.

Gender Identifications

During our online “Intake” process we allow patients to select their gender. We do not presume gender. We ask every patient what their preferred name is and use that name instead of “Mr. and Mrs.” We have done away with “men’s and ladies” frame sections and have used consultative questioning to elicit the patient’s style preferences. Learning more about the patient to better assist them with their frame choices is well received. Presuming gender may lead to hurt feelings and the patient feeling our doctors and clinic are “out of touch”. Being a clinic that is friendly and welcoming to everyone will earn a reputation for kindness and professionalism and also referrals.

Frame Choices for Everyone

It is important to have an eyewear gallery that has frames that suit the patient’s style choices as well as their face shapes. Certain sized frames and nose bridges are required for a frame to adequately fit some patients, so a deep selection is important. Eco-friendly frames, Indigenous created frames and brightly coloured frames are all part of a good selection that is inclusive and relatable to all our patients.

Ageism

As I become more “experienced” as a practitioner (28 years in practice as an optometrist), I have met so many amazing senior aged patients. Every day I am impressed and in awe of my senior patients. Many display a much younger spirit and ability than younger patients. I tell patients that it is my goal to have their good vision outlive them. It is absolutely possible to have 20/20 vision or “perfect” eyes and be 100. I have learned not to prejudge a patient based on their age. I certainly don’t want to be prejudged when I am a spry senior. Be understanding and kind and allow all elderly patients the opportunity to do tests that they can manage including visual fields testing for glaucoma. New technology such as head mounted testing devices will also assist those with limited mobility and posture constraints.

Training for the Team

Our team meets every week to discuss ways we can improve and learn. We survey every patient after their full exam and relay any patient recommendations for improvement to the entire team. If there were any less-than-ideal interactions, we learn how we could handle them better next time and contemplate strategies for service recovery.

Society is changing and so must we. The golden rule used to be “treat people how you would like to be treated”. We feel that is now archaic and the new platinum rule should be “treat people how they would like to be treated!”.

To read Dr. Miranda’s article on Optik magazine, click HERE .

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023

MIDO.COM: The New Eyewear Tradeshow Website Promotes Accessibility and Inclusion

The new website of the international eyewear tradeshow that will take place at Fiera Milano Rho from February 3 to 5, 2024, is online. It is not just a graphic restyling, but a substantial change, aimed at ensuring digital accessibility, encouraging user participation, and avoiding discrimination of all kinds. In this area, as in many others, MIDO is ahead of its time and innovates its website https://www.mido.com/en/ almost two years in advance to embrace the European legislation which, with the European Accessibility Act, imposes digital accessibility from June 2025.

The creation of the new website, a tool available to all stakeholders at the eyewear tradeshow, represents an important step for MIDO in raising awareness among operators in the industry on the issues of digital accessibility and inclusion, which will continue with further technological developments, promoting sharing and dissemination.

The key words of the layout are “Less is more“: an essential design in the lines, elegant and accessible, once again entrusted to the creative director of MIDO’s communication campaigns Max Galli, in collaboration with Mixer Group. A thin lettering, larger, but never shouted. A site with attention to detail, created to facilitate usability and to provide all the main information in an intuitive and fast way on the first screens.

From a technical point of view, the development and implementation of which have been entrusted to Alea.pro, the new site focuses on the user experience to ensure fluid, accessible and unhindered navigation for any visitor, in compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, for example, users with mobility and cognitive disabilities such as blindness, low vision, colour blindness, dyslexia, epilepsy, ADHD, etc., (even temporary disabilities following accidents, for example) will be facing an optimized experience. The site therefore offers the user over 100 features – on specific request – to adapt and customize the browsing experience according to their needs, such as speech synthesis, dictionary and suggestions, text magnification and spacing, colour contrast, etc. Another new element is the implementation of a font designed specifically for dyslexic users, which improves the readability of texts.

In its role as world leader among the tradeshows dedicated to eyewear and the major annual events that take place in Italy, MIDO can only always look ahead, implementing solutions and making futuristic and advanced choices.

Click HERE for the full press release.

For more related content on Optik NOW, click HERE.