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Tuesday, 10 August 2010
PPG, Transitions, Vision Optical Create an "Eyenstein"
Topic: Eye Care
"Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries partnered with Transitions Optical and VSP® Vision Care today to bring a state-of-the-art 45-foot mobile eye exam clinic, nicknamed 'Eyenstein,' to two Pittsburgh-area Boys and Girls Clubs to provide two full days of comprehensive eye exams and complimentary eyewear to children in need." That's the first paragraph from PRNewswire.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 5:48 PM EDT
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Diabetic Retinopathy Increasing
Topic: Eye Care
"Diabetes has increased in the United States and so, too, has the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, according to a new CDC study. CDC researchers estimate that 28.5% of U.S. diabetes patients over age 40 have diabetic retinopathy, an eye disorder in which the blood vessels of the retina are damaged by diabetes. CDC researchers also reported that 4.4% of the U.S. population is estimated to have vision-threatening retinopathy, which, if left untreated, can lead to blindness." That's the word from WebMD today.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 5:45 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 5:57 PM EDT
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Drawbacks of CLs
Topic: Contact Lenses
According to a report from Fox News, "Based on more than a million people in northern California, researchers found that contact lens wearers were about 9 times more likely to develop the eye condition compared to non-wearers."

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 5:44 PM EDT
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Monday, 9 August 2010
Need a Video to Explain Vision
Topic: Optical--Sort Of
There are times when you just need a video about the eye or sight -- whether to show a patient or for a presentation. Here are some great videos.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:57 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 7:23 AM EDT
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Murdered Medical Group Provided Afghans Firsts
Topic: Eye Care

Associated Press reported yesterday: "Members of a medical team gunned down in Afghanistan brought some of the first toothbrushes and eyeglasses villagers had ever seen and spent no time talking about religion.

More about the good works done by the medical team head by optometrist Dr. Tom Little from a story filed on Monday at NYTimes.com. The medical team was recently massacred by the Taliban.


Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 1:12 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 10 August 2010 7:27 AM EDT
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Patent Approval Backlog Prevents New Line of Eyewear
Topic: Safety Eyewear
Aldo DiBelardino developed Spekx eyewear four years ago. He told CBS News: "They provide you goggle-like protection, but they provide you the style and convenience of sunglasses." He hasn't started selling them yet. Why? He doesn't have a patent yet because of a backlog.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 1:10 AM EDT
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Medicaid Changes May Cause Havoc
Topic: Insurance
Optometrists in Virginia are complaining. A budget measure in the state will bar them from being reimbursed by Medicaid. They note that it would limit eye-care access for the poor and will harm their practices. They are arguing that it also violates Federal law. What will happen in other states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire? That depends entirely on their legislatures and departments of health.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 1:01 AM EDT
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Sunday, 8 August 2010
High BMI Keeps POAG Away?
The findings from a glaucoma study on women results in a counter-intuitive onclusion. A healthy body mass index (BMI) helps individuals avoid disease. The study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary discovered that women with a higher BMI had a lower risk of contracting primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).


Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:59 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 8 August 2010 8:55 AM EDT
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More about OD Killed in Afrghanistan
 Aid group has denied the Taliban accusations as mentioned in the first entry about this story (go back three entries on this blog).
 

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:25 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 8 August 2010 7:44 AM EDT
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Conlin Reviews Teen CL Trend for "Eyewitness Magazine"

Eyewitness Magazine's recent issue features an extensive column by Linda Conlin, founder of OpticalCEU's, about the impact of decorative contact lenses, especially on children.



Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:15 AM EDT
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Eyesight or Timing?
Topic: Optical--Sort Of
Did this "right" whale attacked the boat as if it were some type of Moby Dick wannabe? Or was it, as the Guardian author suggest a simple case of not being able to see: "Unlike toothed whales, such as sperm whales or orca, these baleen whales do not have highly developed sonar, and their eyesight is poor." Maybe it should see its oceanic optician.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 1:17 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 8 August 2010 1:19 AM EDT
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Saturday, 7 August 2010
Taliban Kill Non-Combatant Optometrist

Optometrist Tom Little, who had been providing vision care in Afghanistan since the 1970s through vision clinics and hospitals, and nine other members of his team were shot to death by the Taliban for “spying” and “spreading” Christianty.



Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 6:22 PM EDT
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Medicare Cuts and Advantages to Vary
Topic: Insurance
"For the 11 million people signed up for Medicare Advantage plans, their future with the popular program may depend on where they live.

"To help finance health reform, Congress cut $136 billion over 10 years from the program, in which private insurers provide Medicare health plans for seniors. The private plans, which are paid a flat fee from the government for each enrollee were a likely target: They cost the government much more per beneficiary, on average, than does traditional Medicare, according to Medicare’s advisory commission." That's the start of an article developed by Florida Health News and Kaiser Health News.


Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 8:31 AM EDT
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Congress Help! They Can't See!!!!
Topic: Eye Care
The Mercury News reported earlier today that California opthamologist have asked for an investigation into the practices of a Veteran's Administration hospital where 23 glaucoma patients had an unreasonable loss of vision.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 8:26 AM EDT
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Friday, 6 August 2010
Hi-Fashion Eyewear Highway Danger?
Topic: Optical
In the reader's comment secion in reaction to an article about the new highway safety regulations,  a "Dr. Howard" wrote the New York Times: "High fashion sunglasses and prescription glasses with wide temples interfere with the normal tracking by the eye to detect peripheral image movement. By impairing or restricting a your eyes ability to detect movement, you may be unable to detect and avoid side impacts, cross traffic at intersections, someone stepping off the curb at intersections or from between parked cars. Pedestrians can walk into undetected automobiles when crossing streets for the same reason....There are no Federal guidelines about eyeglass frame temple widths. California Department of Motor Vehicle Laws prohibit temples with 1/2 inch or wider being worn while driving." Read the good doctor's entire comment.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 6:10 AM EDT
Updated: Friday, 6 August 2010 6:11 AM EDT
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Livestrong Gets $5 Million from Oakley to Fight Cancer
Topic: Optical--Sort Of
Being new to blogging about optics, we missed a story several weeks ago. Apparently Oakley raised more than $5 million for Lance Armstrong's non-profit, cancer-fighting Livestrong. Oakley donates $20 to Livestrong with the sale of prescription frames or sunglasses from its Oakley Livestrong line.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 4:37 AM EDT
Updated: Friday, 6 August 2010 4:52 AM EDT
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Thursday, 5 August 2010
CL Prediction Comes True
Topic: Contact Lenses
MDLinx.com reported: "Scleral and corneal rigid lenses represented 100 per cent of the contact lens market immediately prior to the invention of soft lenses in the mid–1960s. In the United Kingdom today, rigid lenses comprise 2 per cent of all new lens fits. Low rates of rigid lens fitting are also apparent in 27 other countries which have recently been surveyed. Thus, the 1998 prediction of the author that rigid lenses –also referred to as 'rigid gas permeable' (RGP) lenses or 'gas permeable' lenses–would be obsolete by the year 2010 has essentially turned out to be correct."

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 10:20 PM EDT
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OAA Helps to Postpone ID-Theft Regs
Topic: Optical--Sort Of
At the request of members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is delaying enforcement of the "Red Flags" Rule until December 31, 2010, for FTC regulated financial institutions/creditors, which includes companies that issue health insurance (even vision care insurance). The rule therefore could affect opticians. OAA is working to have opticians exempted from this rule as long as they employ fewer than 20 employees. This delay represents the second time the optical community has successfully postponed the enforcement of this rule.
 
The rule, stemming from the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, is aimed at developing regulations to address the risk of identity theft. The resulting rule requires all such entities that have "covered accounts" to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs, also known as red flag programs.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 9:13 PM EDT
Updated: Friday, 6 August 2010 4:42 AM EDT
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Summit on Importance of Eye Care for Children's Education
Early this morning (so early it was almost yesterday), Vision Monday reported the American Optometric Association ( AOA), with support from Hoya Vision Care, will host a national conference called the “School Readiness Summit–Focus on Vision' in Washington, DC, on April 11-12, 2011. Read more.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:29 AM EDT
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Biking for Vision Care
Topic: Optical--Sort Of

Recently OptometryToday.com pictured Actress Camilla Power wearing a t-shirt promoting the Fight for Sight Eye Cycle. The shirt, which has an image of a healthy retina, "celebrates"  Eye Cycle team, actor Lloyd Hutchison, jewellery designer Alex Monroe, and scientist John Greenwood. The three have "completed a gruelling Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle ride in aid of the eye research charity. Professor Greenwood is a researcher at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. All proceeds from the sale of the t-shirt will benefit  fundraising for Fight for Sight." The t-shirt retails for about 10 pounds sterling or about $16 U.S.

Last year, FS gave more than $20 million in grants to some 3000  researchers.


Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:03 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 5 August 2010 7:14 AM EDT
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