The new contact lens clinical and dispensing training space opened this past May 14 in the presence of all the partners involved in this major project.

Open to the public, Lunetterie Garneau treats some 1,000 clients per year who reside on the outskirts of Quebec City. Lunetterie Garneau’s growing clientele come to the clinic for its distinctive services, reasonable prices, and wide selection of products, while the optical science students who train there benefit from invaluable, practical experience.

Before this dedicated space opened, the contact lens area wasn’t very functional. It took the determination of optical science teacher Karine Lacourse, the project co-manager, and the commitment of Garneau College and its partners to turn this dream into a reality. ”Many students have told us how much more professional they feel in this new setting.  The space is very well equipped and laid out now, making it much easier for us teachers to share our passion for contact lenses. The space was designed to work as a classroom and a clinic, and has been completely renovated and revamped. It’s now fully functional and modern thanks to cutting edge new equipment,” said Lacourse.

The new space was christened Acuvue, a trademark of Johnson & Johnson, after its main donor. CooperVision, AXIS Medical Group, and Blanchard Contact Lenses were also instrumental in supporting this very important training ground for optical students.

 

California has relisted Bisphenol A (BpA), a chemical important to the optical industry as a starting material for the production of polycarbonate lenses, on the list of hazardous substances known to cause cancer or birth defects and regulated under Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act.

Products sold in California with levels of hazardous substances greater than the legal limit must come with clear warning labels or face stiff penalties.

The Vision Council, a body that represents manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry, is reviewing the new ruling to determine if California is providing a “safe harbour” level for BpA. When BpA was previously listed under Prop 65 the safe harbour was above the levels of BpA encountered by consumers in optical products. Products with levels of hazardous substances below the safe harbour are not required to issue warning labels.

Further Information: http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/blog/bpa-added-california-proposition-65-list

In eye care emergencies, more Canadians rush to the emergency room or their family doctor rather than to an optometrist.

According to a poll sponsored by Doctors of Optometry Canada, many Canadians believe that optometrists offer only elective procedures such as eye exams or cataract screenings. Fewer than 20% of Canadians said they would visit the optometrist for eye irritation or inflammation.

Optometrist Dr. Surjinder Sahota says, “People are not taking advantage of this health resource because they don’t realize that optometrists have the training and equipment to treat a range of acute eye conditions, or that most can see patients the same day if the matter is deemed urgent.”

There were more than 36,000 visits to the emergency room for conjunctivitis in Canada last year, making it one of the 10 most common causes for avoidable trips to the ER.

Further Information: http://blog.doctorsofoptometry.ca/access-specialized-eye-care-when-you-need-it-most/