It was a curious thing, this old journal that I now held in front of me. It came to my by way of the passing of my great uncle, George Angle, a researcher in optical technologies at a small university just south of Boston. Now, Professor Angle was a widely-known authority on photochromic lens technology, and his sudden demise had caused quite a stir in the community. Even … [Read more...]
Letter from the Editor – Autumn 2016 Issue
How you look can be really, really important. Not just you as a person, but as a business as well. As you’ve (hopefully) noticed, here at OPT we tend to make sure the magazine looks as good as it can. We do that because we want you to actually, you know, read it. We don’t want it to get thrown away immediately, which is exactly what would happen if we filled this issue up with … [Read more...]
Letter from the Editor – Summer 2016 Issue
Hello, and thanks for tuning in. As we move on to our second issue of the magazine, we've been impressed by the amount of positive feedback that we've gotten so far. We also, thankfully, got some slightly less-than-positive feedback. I say thankfully because it's always good to know what we can do better. Continuous improvement is what we're striving for, and we've made some … [Read more...]
Value Eyewear: A Smart and Profitable Niche.
— and just a great idea for a second pair Value eyewear plays an essential role in any ECP’s business plan, even in an upscale dispensary. As consumers increasingly turn to the Internet in search of transparency and value, ECPs must offer their patients an assortment of quality eyewear at affordable prices. Now more than ever, the savvy office manager will provide a broad … [Read more...]
Kentucky College of Optometry
In continuing our look at schools of optometry across the country, we wanted to take a look at the newest one – the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), located at the University of Pikeville. Since they don't actually have any students yet, as their first class begins this fall, I spoke with Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, the Founding Dean of KYCO. Q: So, Dr. Buzzelli, why open a new … [Read more...]
It’s Time to See Your Dentist
For most all practice owners, the largest challenge is getting consumers in your door or, as many refer to it, as 'getting butts in the chair'. The process for this challenge is creating and following an articulate marketing calendar of events. However, rarely is there a plan laid out to create patient loyalty in order for them to return to your practice. I worked for … [Read more...]
Hashtag This: Instagram and Eye Care
Instagram has over 400 Million active monthly users... and of those users, 12 Million are in the United States. This makes Instagram a great tool for promoting and marketing your business to the masses. It is a free platform for businesses to showcase their products and services through visual storytelling. By celebrating your brand and being consistent with your business … [Read more...]
Paws “N” Claws Eyewear is Something to Bark About… and/or purr.
We are big animal lovers here at opt magazine so we couldn’t help but highlight the fantastic work of Paws “n” Claws Eyewear. The brand produces unique eyewear exclusively designed to raise awareness and funds for animal charities across the nation. Eye Deals Eyewear President, Samual Shapiro, founded Paws “N” Claws Eyewear in 2011 to honor he and his wife’s love for … [Read more...]
Daily Soft Contact Lenses 2016
I have seen the soft contact lens market accelerate in exciting ways over the past 20 years. Companies are trying to stay ahead of what patients want and for the most part, they have been doing an excellent job. Soft contact lenses that have out-performed their usefulness have been discontinued. Companies are changing their names such as Ciba Vision, now Alcon, and Vistakon, … [Read more...]
Endless Night: The Trouble with ‘Big T’
IT was a warm and sunny afternoon. I sat behind my desk, taking a long draw on a freshly-filled electronic cigarette. There wasn't much going on today – hardly a customer all week, come to think of it. I was a loner, an independent. I played by my own rules, and sometimes that kept clients away. I looked up as the door chime jingled – and there she was... Out of all the … [Read more...]