fbpx

Programs Aimed at Millennial ECPs Drive Attendance Growth at Vision Expo West

As of three weeks pre-show, Vision Expo West pre-registration for young professionals is trending strongly ahead of 2017. Vision Expo West (Education: September 26–29; Exhibit Hall: September 27–29) will feature various programs and activations geared specifically toward the young professional and student demographic, including panels, surprise celebrity guests, and hosting students from optometry schools across the country.

At NewGradUniversity in the NewGradOptometry + Covalent Careers booth (#23087), young professionals and students can attend a variety of free daily panel discussions with top experts. See the complete schedule of panels and speakers here.

Panel topics are as follows:

Thursday, September 27:

  • How to Grow and Scale Your Practice – 10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
  • What You Need to Know About Co-management – 12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
  • Medical Optometry 201 – 1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
  • Pathways to Leadership in Corporate Optometry Panel and Reception – 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Friday, September 28:

  • Private Equity and Vertical Integration – The Future of Optometry? – 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
  • Are Cold Start Optometry Practices Still Attainable – 2:00 p.m–2:30 p.m.
  • Women Thought Leaders in Optometry – 4:45 p.m.–5:15 p.m.

Saturday, September 29:

  • Going from Associate to Practice Owner – 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • The White Glove Optometry Practice – 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
  • Optometry and Telemedicine – 1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.

To support the next generation of eye care professionals in the growth of their career, Vision Expo is hosting the SOLutioN (SOLN) group, an organization that promotes and guides the future leaders of private-practice optometry. Twenty SOLN student leaders who represent optometry schools from across the nation, along with the SOLN executive board, will hold the organization’s quarterly meeting at the show.

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research also reports that the use of engagement tactics is of high importance to all attendees. Vision Expo is encouraging exhibitors to hold captivating activations to engage attendees, including hosting giveaways and providing opportunities to network. In the coming weeks, Vision Expo representatives will announce exhibitor activations taking place across the Exhibit Hall. Exhibitors’ activations that excel will be celebrated through the new Best Booth Award category, Best Brand Activation.

To register for Vision Expo West visit VisionExpoLV.com and join over 90,000 followers on Vision Expo’s social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Interview with Jessica Mulroney, Fashion Consultant

Canadian Jessica Mulroney is a stylist to the stars. In 2015, she styled ensembles for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. She is also a close friend and stylist of Meghan Markle. Jessica and her husband Ben Mulroney attended Meghan’s Royal Wedding to Prince Harry in May, with their three children acting as page boys and flower girl. In her work, Jessica is known as a champion of Canadian designers.

Optik: How did you become interested in fashion? 

Jessica Mulroney: I have been involved in fashion for as long as I can remember: My father’s been in the clothing manufacture business for years, and my uncle’s side of the family has had a particular affinity for shoes. As for me, I’ve worked in nearly every aspect of fashion—from retail to manufacturing, PR to design.

Optik: What do you like about fashion and your work?

J.M.: I love that fashion can make a statement about how someone feels about themselves in that moment, but it can also help them visualize how they want to feel about themselves in the future. Fashion can empower, it can excite, it can provoke and it can provide comfort.

Optik: What kind of frames (optical or sun) do you like yourself? Do you have a favourite eyewear designer?

J.M.: I seem to be leaning towards frames these days that are a little more “out there,” frames that stand out and turn up the volume.

Optik: Why did you get involved with Transitions? What is the message that you would like to convey to people about Transitions lenses?

J.M.: As someone who has worn glasses since I was little, partnering with Transitions just made sense. I can get Transitions lenses in any frame style—which I love—while having the convenience of knowing my eyes are protected indoors and out. Now, with the launch of the new Transitions Signature Style Colours, you can personalize your eyewear even more to really show your unique, individual style, and I’m excited for more people to know about it.

Optik: What do you think your involvement can bring to Transitions and eye care professionals who sell Transitions Lenses?

J.M.: Whether it’s for me or someone I’m consulting, I’ve always been passionate about personal style. With Transitions, you can make a statement that’s all yours without compromising on protection and convenience. When it comes to eyewear, I want to help Transitions and eye care professionals who offer Transitions share this fashion-meets-practicality story.

Optik: Who are some of your favourite Canadian designers?

J.M.: I never play favourites!

 

2018 American Academy of Optometry Student Travel Fellowship Recipients Announced

AAO American Academy of Optometry logo

The American Academy of Optometry is pleased to congratulate the recipients of the 2018 Student Travel Fellowship Awards. These travel fellowships will allow students to attend Academy 2018 San Antonio, November 7-10, 2018. Resident Travel Fellowship recipients will be announced at a later time.

Funded by an educational grant from Johnson and Johnson Vision:

Michelle Antonucci, University of California Berkeley
Memoona Arshad, University of New South Wales
Marielle Blumenthaler, The Ohio State University
Paul Brown, University of Alabama Birmingham
Kelly Cochran, University of Missouri St. Louis
Nevin El-Nimri, OD, MS, FAAO, University of California Berkeley
Lacey Haines, OD, FIACLE, University of Waterloo
Kam Ho, University of New South Wales
Deepayan Kar, BOptom, MS, University of Alabama Birmingham
Safal Khanal, OD, FAAO, University of Auckland
Corrin Lesjak, Indiana University
Lydia Pickrell, The Ohio State University
Maureen Plaumann, OD, FAAO, The Ohio State University
Sudan Puri, OD, University of Houston
Noor Haziq Saliman, BOptom, MHSc, University of Manchester
Sidra Sarwat, University of New South Wales
Keyur Savla, BOptom, University of Alabama Birmingham
Alaina Short, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Sloane Weed, The Ohio State University
Angela Zhang, University of Waterloo

Recipients will be honored at the Student and Resident Awards Lunch on Thursday, November 8 from Noon to 1:00 PM in Stars at Night Ballroom B4 in the Henry B. González Convention Center.

To read the full list of Student Travel Fellowship Awards recipients, click HERE.

Essilor Canada Supports Special Olympics Opening Eyes Clinics for the 15th Year

For Essilor Canada, 2018 marks its 15th year of participating in the Opening Eyes clinics of the Special Olympics. Participants are offered visual tests conducted by eye care professionals and given corrective lenses when they need them.

This year, 6 Opening Eyes clinics were held across Canada, where 711 athletes participated in visual screenings and 406 of them, or 57%, received a pair of prescription eyeglasses.

Essilor employees volunteer in the vision clinic at each event and an edging-mounting facility is set up to allow on-site delivery of the more standard prescriptions. More complex work is sent to the Essilor laboratory.

The Special Olympics’ athletes are among the millions of Canadians who have unmet visual needs that impact their lives, their ability to learn and to perform. Studies show that 68% of them have not had their vision checked in the last 3 years, 37 % need eyeglasses and 18 % wear glasses with a prescription that is not right.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Featured Posts

The Vision Council logo

New Vision Council Research Shows Stable Consumer Vision Care Habits in Q4 2025, with Modest Spending Increases

New Consumer inSights data from The Vision Council shows stable vision care habits in Q4 2025, with modest increases in out-of-pocket spending and continued preference for in-store eyewear purchases.

Learn More
Contact lens Institute CLI and United Opticians Association logos 2026

CLI and United Opticians Association to Co-Produce OptiCon ’26 Panel on Contact Lens Care

The Contact Lens Institute and United Opticians Association are partnering to deliver an OptiCon ’26–exclusive panel featuring new consumer and professional research on opticianry’s role in contact lens success.

Read more
MIDO logo

MIDO 2026 Exhibitor List Goes Live as “The Lens of Time” Exhibition Debuts

MIDO has released the exhibitor list for its 2026 edition, returning to Milan with around 1,200 exhibitors, new exhibition areas, and expanded industry programming.

Read more
World Council of Optometry

World Council of Optometry Announces 2026 World Optometry Week Theme

The World Council of Optometry has announced the theme for World Optometry Week 2026, emphasizing collaboration as a cornerstone of global eye care.

Read more
From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane: What Online Search Trends Reveal About Today’s Contact Lens Patients.

From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane

Patients are searching online for answers long before they see their eye doctor, changing how trust, education, and care begin.

Read more
The Vision Council logo

New Vision Council Research Shows Stable Consumer Vision Care Habits in Q4 2025, with Modest Spending Increases

New Consumer inSights data from The Vision Council shows stable vision care habits in Q4 2025, with modest increases in out-of-pocket spending and continued preference for in-store eyewear purchases.

Learn More
Contact lens Institute CLI and United Opticians Association logos 2026

CLI and United Opticians Association to Co-Produce OptiCon ’26 Panel on Contact Lens Care

The Contact Lens Institute and United Opticians Association are partnering to deliver an OptiCon ’26–exclusive panel featuring new consumer and professional research on opticianry’s role in contact lens success.

Read More
MIDO logo

MIDO 2026 Exhibitor List Goes Live as “The Lens of Time” Exhibition Debuts

MIDO has released the exhibitor list for its 2026 edition, returning to Milan with around 1,200 exhibitors, new exhibition areas, and expanded industry programming.

Read More
World Council of Optometry

World Council of Optometry Announces 2026 World Optometry Week Theme

The World Council of Optometry has announced the theme for World Optometry Week 2026, emphasizing collaboration as a cornerstone of global eye care.

Read More
From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane: What Online Search Trends Reveal About Today’s Contact Lens Patients.

From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane

Patients are searching online for answers long before they see their eye doctor, changing how trust, education, and care begin.

Read More
The Vision Council logo

New Vision Council Research Shows Stable Consumer Vision Care Habits in Q4 2025, with Modest Spending Increases

New Consumer inSights data from The Vision Council shows stable vision care habits in Q4 2025, with modest increases in out-of-pocket spending and continued preference for in-store eyewear purchases.

Learn More
Contact lens Institute CLI and United Opticians Association logos 2026

CLI and United Opticians Association to Co-Produce OptiCon ’26 Panel on Contact Lens Care

The Contact Lens Institute and United Opticians Association are partnering to deliver an OptiCon ’26–exclusive panel featuring new consumer and professional research on opticianry’s role in contact lens success.

Read more
MIDO logo

MIDO 2026 Exhibitor List Goes Live as “The Lens of Time” Exhibition Debuts

MIDO has released the exhibitor list for its 2026 edition, returning to Milan with around 1,200 exhibitors, new exhibition areas, and expanded industry programming.

Read more
World Council of Optometry

World Council of Optometry Announces 2026 World Optometry Week Theme

The World Council of Optometry has announced the theme for World Optometry Week 2026, emphasizing collaboration as a cornerstone of global eye care.

Read more
From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane: What Online Search Trends Reveal About Today’s Contact Lens Patients.

From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane

Patients are searching online for answers long before they see their eye doctor, changing how trust, education, and care begin.

Read more
The Vision Council logo

New Vision Council Research Shows Stable Consumer Vision Care Habits in Q4 2025, with Modest Spending Increases

New Consumer inSights data from The Vision Council shows stable vision care habits in Q4 2025, with modest increases in out-of-pocket spending and continued preference for in-store eyewear purchases.

Learn More
Contact lens Institute CLI and United Opticians Association logos 2026

CLI and United Opticians Association to Co-Produce OptiCon ’26 Panel on Contact Lens Care

The Contact Lens Institute and United Opticians Association are partnering to deliver an OptiCon ’26–exclusive panel featuring new consumer and professional research on opticianry’s role in contact lens success.

Read more
MIDO logo

MIDO 2026 Exhibitor List Goes Live as “The Lens of Time” Exhibition Debuts

MIDO has released the exhibitor list for its 2026 edition, returning to Milan with around 1,200 exhibitors, new exhibition areas, and expanded industry programming.

Read more
World Council of Optometry

World Council of Optometry Announces 2026 World Optometry Week Theme

The World Council of Optometry has announced the theme for World Optometry Week 2026, emphasizing collaboration as a cornerstone of global eye care.

Read more
From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane: What Online Search Trends Reveal About Today’s Contact Lens Patients.

From Dr. Google to Your Exam Lane

Patients are searching online for answers long before they see their eye doctor, changing how trust, education, and care begin.

Read more