GIVING SIGHT TO HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti last week, Optometry Giving Sight
has launched an appeal to help some of the most vulnerable
victims—those who cannot see clearly without a pair of glasses. Reports
suggest that tens of thousands of people have lost their lives or are
injured. Hundreds of thousands more have lost their homes and their
possessions, and for many people that includes their glasses.
Optometry Giving Sight is working with partner organizations including Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE),
and the Caribbean Optometrists Association (CARIOA), to identify and
fund projects that will provide emergency relief and assist in the
reconstruction process through the establishment of sustainable vision
care.
Even before the earthquake, access to vision care for
most of Haiti’s population was limited. In the aftermath, Optometry
Giving Sight is committed to funding sustainable, quality vision care
services, including the training of local eyecare professionals and the
establishment of Vision Centers.
Donate online to support efforts in Haiti at givingsight.org or call 303-526-0430.
VIDEOS AND WEBINAR TEACH ECPS ABOUT XPERIO POLARIZED
Essilor of America, Inc. has introduced an Xperio™ educational video series as a follow-up to the Xperio Sunwear Conversation role-play video released during the summer. In the new DVD, Dr. Mark R. Wright discusses why polarized lenses are the best outside lens solution and how eyecare professionals (ECPs) can more successfully talk about prescription sunwear with their patients.
Also planned through August is an Xperio polarized lenses Webinar training program and promotion for ECPs. Every optometrist, dispenser, and optician who participates in the Webinar will receive a complimentary Xperio lens voucher and will be eligible to win an “Experience the Outdoors” prize, such as a set of high-end, professional golf clubs, and tour bag.
VISION COUNCIL RELEASES ULTRA-VIOLET EDUCATION FOR CONSUMERS
In conjunction with its Sunglass and Reader Division, The Vision Council has launched a new print public service announcement (PSA) that was developed to increase awareness of ultra-violet protection and direct consumers to a Web site for more information. Distributed to approximately 5,500 media outlets across the U.S., the PSA will also be repurposed into posters for ECPs and for Internet ads.
ORDER SUNWEAR ONLINE THROUGH EYEFINITY’S EBUY
ECPs can order Maui Jim plano and prescription sunwear online through a new feature on Eyefinity’s eBuy. While the service is initially only available for Maui Jim, additional frame partners are expected to be added for prescription sunwear later this year. The prescription sunwear ordering feature on eBuy employs prescription-validation technology that instantly verifies that patients’ prescriptions will fit the frames and lenses that they choose. Users can choose sunwear from a full color catalog of Maui Jim products and send their frame selection and prescription in one integrated online order to the manufacturer’s proprietary lab.
6 CALLS LAUNCHES VIRTUAL TELESALES AND MARKETING COMPANY
Owned, operated, and staffed by optical veterans, 6 Calls provides telesales and marketing tailored to the industry. The company’s goal is to become the sales and marketing presence for small to mid-sized clients and an extension of the sales and marketing teams in larger organizations, including manufacturers, distributors, wholesale labs, optical practices, and dispensaries.
VSP HELPS ECPS INTEGRATE EMR
Extended through June 30th, the VSP GlobalSM Healthcare Technology Program is an exclusive offer to VSP doctors through Eyefinity®/OfficeMate®, which provides ExamWRITER® electronic medical records (EMR) at no initial software license charge for existing OfficeMate or OfficeMate Enterprise users, or the OfficeMate Suite or OfficeMate Enterprise with ExamWRITER for first time users at no initial software license charge. The Healthcare Technology Program was designed to help VSP doctors seek federal stimulus funds available through the HITECH Act, which encourages the adoption of EMR. VSP doctors who take part in the program are only responsible to pay for the software license if they receive federal incentive payments beginning in 2011.
ONE LINERS . . .
To help clarify what the HITECH Act means for ECPs, OfficeMate has put a list of answers to frequently asked questions online at officemate.net/hitechfaq.aspx.
EMRlogic Systems, Inc. and Eyefinity/OfficeMate are now Marco EMR Certified Partners, which means that their practice management and electronic health records software integrates with Marco’s diagnostic instruments.
The newly formed Healthy Eyes for Life Foundation has changed its name to The Foundation for Eye Health Awareness to prevent confusion within the optical industry and to clarify the purpose of the foundation.
US Optical LLC of East Syracuse, NY, is now fully certified to manufacture Carl Zeiss Vision’s full line of customized free-form and single vision lenses using the lens manufacturer’s patented back-surface application process.
Oakley, Inc. has partnered with Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), an organization that supports, empowers, and educates families living with autism. Oakley has created unique renditions of two of its popular eyewear designs and will donate $20 to TACA with each sale of these special editions.
VSP GlobalSM has renamed its Ophthalmic Operations line of business VSP Optics Group.
PROMOTIONS
American Idol judge Randy Jackson has teamed up with Extra TV to give away a pair of frames from his eyewear collection by Zyloware.
Now through April, in the Seiko Independent Lab Free-Form Promotion, receive a free scratch-off card with every pair of Seiko Internal Free-Form lenses (Succeed, Succeed Ws, Supercede, and Supercede Ws) or Seiko Super MV 1.67 Double Aspheric Free-Form Single-Vision lenses purchased from a participating independent optical lab. Scratch the circle to reveal your cash prize or a word. Collect word cards to make the phrase “Seiko Internal Free-Form Lenses” to win a Seiko clock or watch. Or send in all your cards to enter the grand prize drawing to win a vacation to Hawaii worth up to $5,000 (first prize), a 50-inch flat-screen high-definition television (second prize), or a $500 American Express gift card.
For every Opticote mirror coating that ECPs sell until June 30th, Opticote will provide a Certificate of Authenticity (CA) with the order. For every six registered CAs, ECPs will earn a $25 gift certificate from My Choice Gift Cards (quickgifts.com), which offers rewards from more than 100 retailers.
Receive a free Timex watch with the purchase of 15 Timex Optical frames from Kenmark Group.
For your low vision patients, purchase a Prisma AF and Quicklook Touch from Eschenbach Optik of America, and receive a free 22-inch LCD television.
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