July 11 - 25, 2014

WEEKLY MEDIA MONITORING HIGHLIGHTS

Please note that due to guidelines regarding copyrights, in most cases we are only able to post the first few sentences of

each article; contact AOA Communications & Marketing to receive the full text of an article.

NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS

Survey Reveals Parents Drastically Underestimate the Time Kids Spend on Electronic Devices (AOA press release) PR Newswire, press release (Reposts include: Bloomberg Businessweek, Market Watch, Reuters, Yahoo! Finance and 247 additional online reposts)| American Optometric Association | 07/22/2014

ST. LOUIS, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), parents severely underestimate the time their children spend on digital devices. An AOA survey reports that 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 estimate they use an electronic device for three or more hours each day. However, a separate AOA survey of parents revealed that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. Eye doctors are concerned that this significant disparity may indicate that parents are more likely to overlook warning signs and symptoms associated with vision problems due to technology use, such as digital eye strain. Eighty percent of children surveyed report experiencing burning, itchy or tired eyes after using electronic devices for long periods of time. These are all symptoms of digital eye strain, a temporary vision condition caused by prolonged use of technology. Additional symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, loss of focus, blurred vision, double vision or head and neck pain. Click to tweet: Avoid digital eye strain by monitoring your child's technology use: http://bit.ly/1jSe4bZ. #AOA #DigitalEyeStrain #ReadyforSchool Kids Spend More Time on Digital Devices Than Parents Think (features the AOA and American Eye-Q; quotes AOA member Dr. Lori Roberts) MEDINDIA (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) | Vishnu Prasad | 07/24/2014

Kids are spending more time on digital devices than their parents think they are, shows a new study conducted by the St. Louis-based American Optometric Association. The study estimates, 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 use electronic devices for three or more hours each day. However, a different survey of parents reveals a dramatic difference from how much time parents think their children spend on digital devices. Digital Devices And Children's Eye Health (AOA matte release) Scoop San Diego (San Diego, CA); Star Local Media (Plano, TX); The News-Sun (Sebring, FL); Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, KS); Bucks County Courier Times (Levittown, PA); Greenville, Sun (Greenville, TN); Gasconade County Republican (Owensville, MO); The Daily Times (Maryville, TN); Rome News-Tribune (Rome, GA); Light and Champion

(Center, TX); Daily Post-Athenian (Athens, GA); Bedford Times-Mail (Bedford, IN); The Daily Journal (Kankakee, IL)| NAPS | 07/24/2014

(NAPSI)—Spending too much time in front of a computer screen can present a number of challenges for young people, including eye strain and blurred vision. Fortunately, experts say taking a few simple steps can help to protect eye health. That's useful news for parents who may be underestimating the time their children are spending on digital devices, according to a pair of surveys by the American Optometric Association (AOA). The first survey found that 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 say they use an electronic device for at least three hours each day. However, a separate AOA survey revealed that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. Digital Devices And Children's Eye Health (AOA matte release) NAPSI, matte release | American Optometric Association | 07/22/2014

(NAPSI)—Spending too much time in front of a computer screen can present a number of challenges for young people, including eye strain and blurred vision. Fortunately, experts say taking a few simple steps can help to protect eye health. That's useful news for parents who may be underestimating the time their children are spending on digital devices, according to a pair of surveys by the American Optometric Association (AOA). The first survey found that 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 say they use an electronic device for at least three hours each day. However, a separate AOA survey revealed that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. Survey Reveals Parents Drastically Underestimate the Time Kids Spend on Electronic Devices (AOA press release) Press release reposts: Consumer Electronics Net; Health4news.blogspot.com | American Optometric Association | 07/23/2014

ST. LOUIS, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), parents severely underestimate the time their children spend on digital devices. An AOA survey reports that 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 estimate they use an electronic device for three or more hours each day. However, a separate AOA survey of parents revealed that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. Eye doctors are concerned that this significant disparity may indicate that parents are more likely to overlook warning signs and symptoms associated with vision problems due to technology use, such as digital eye strain. Eighty percent of children surveyed report experiencing burning, itchy or tired eyes after using electronic devices for long periods of time. These are all symptoms of digital eye strain, a temporary vision condition caused by prolonged use of technology. Additional symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, loss of focus, blurred vision, double vision or head and neck pain. Click to tweet: Avoid digital eye strain by monitoring your child's technology use: http://bit.ly/1jSe4bZ. #AOA #DigitalEyeStrain #ReadyforSchool

Parents Have No Idea How Much Their Kids Use Digital Devices (features the AOA and American Eye-Q; quotes AOA spokesperson Dr. Lori Roberts) St. Louis Business Journal: Tech Flash blog | Brian Feldt | 07/23/2014

Children are using digital devices way more than their parents think they are. That's according to a new survey out by the St. Louis-based American Optometric Association, which showed that 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 estimate they use an electronic device three or more hours each day. That's a dramatic difference from how much time parents think their kids spend on those devices. The report found that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. Are Your Eyes Different Colors? (quotes AOA members Drs. David Sendrowski and Brad Sutton; references the American Academy of Optometry, Southern California College of Optometry and Indiana University School of Optometry) Ozy.com | Vignesh Ramachandran | 07/12/2014

Celebrities like Mila Kunis, Kiefer Sutherland, Jane Seymour and David Bowie all likely have more money in the bank than the average Joe or Jane. But they also all have more of something else compared to most of us: eye colors. And apparently, today we're supposed to celebrate them. Those celebs are part of a tiny group of humans on Earth that have different-colored eyes — a condition known as heterochromia iridis. That could mean, for example, that one eye is blue and the other is green. While we can more easily notice it in public figures on our giant high-definition TVs, it's something that's so rare that there are no credible records of just how many people exhibit this interesting human phenomenon. But Dr. David Sendrowski, a fellow with the American Academy of Optometry, estimates that less than 1 percent of people are born with different-colored eyes. Eye color is dictated by the amount of melanin in our eye's iris. Some babies are initially born with blue or brown eyes, depending on ethnicity. But it's not always apparent at birth what our DNA has in store for our permanent eye color, since that can change as we develop from infancy. Heterochromia iridis can even occur in cats and dogs. Student Optometric Leadership Network Awards Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry the 2014 Preston Cup (features the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry; references Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry) Vision Monday | Staff | 07/14/2014

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLN) awarded the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry the 2014 Preston Cup, which recognizes excellence in leadership and contribution to students and private-practice optometry. Awarded each year since 2012 to one of the 21 participating private-practice clubs from colleges of optometry throughout the U.S., the Preston Cup was created in honor of Preston Smith, a fourth year student at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, and one of the founding members of SOLN during the first annual Student Private Practice Symposium and Leadership Conference held in April 2011. Tragically, at only 26 years old, Preston was killed in an automobile accident on Nov. 1, 2011. “It is an honor to be awarded the Preston Cup by our peers as we all strive to encourage and grow the excellence in leadership and private-practice optometry,” said William To, president of Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry private practice club. “Being one of the newest optometry colleges, Western has gone above and beyond, providing optometric students with amazing opportunities.” Throughout the academic year, each private-practice club at the colleges of optometry set up practice management programs for their peers to learn more about what goes into running a successful optometric business. These educational activities supplement formal academic courses, and the private-practice clubs share their achievements and successes at the annual SOLN meeting sponsored by VSP Vision Care.

Mary Gregory, OD, Receives Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award (features InfantSEE and AOA member/InfantSEE provider Dr. Mary Gregory; references Optometry Cares-The AOA Foundation, the Minnesota Optometric Association and the University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry) Vision Monday | Staff | 07/14/2014

ST. LOUIS—Mary Gregory, OD, has received this year's Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award. A graduate of the University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry, Dr. Gregory is a driving force behind the Minnesota Optometric Association's (MOA) strong participation in InfantSEE, ranking it among the top five states for the program. Practicing at Uptown Eye Care in Monticello, Minn., she provided 82 of the 641 InfantSEE exams conducted in Minnesota in 2013. Dr. Gregory chairs the MOA's Children's Vision Committee, has designed several InfantSEE recruitment programs for the MOA and has supported legislative efforts for quality early childhood eyecare. She also recruits other doctors to participate in the program and created a kit for her MOA colleagues to use in their offices to promote early childhood eyecare. Dr. Gregory also serves as a media spokesperson for the program in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area and volunteers her time speaking to parents and teachers at local schools about children's eyecare. InfantSEE is a public health program managed by Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation to ensure that eye and vision care become an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. Under the program, AOA optometrists provide a no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessment for infants within the first year of life regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage. The Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award is in honor of the late Dr. Sullins for his dedicated leadership in the profession of optometry. Enough ODs, Workforce Study Says (features the AOA and the ASCO; quotes AOA members Drs. David Heath and Randy Brooks) Review of Optometry - Online | Staff | 07/15/2014

There will be enough optometrists—and perhaps an oversupply—into the year 2025, according to a new study of the number of US eye care providers. The Eye Care Workforce Study was jointly initiated by the AOA and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) and performed by The Lewin Group, a health care policy consulting firm. The study considered a complex mix of both supply and demand factors in all of eye care—optometrists and ophthalmologists included. On the supply side, the study factored in retiring eye doctors, the stagnant supply of ophthalmologists, the rising numbers of female optometrists (and how their workload could affect supply) and a potential increase of optometrists with the opening of more OD schools. The study also took into account that many optometrists have open appointments in their schedules that could be filled with additional patients—an “excess capacity” of 20 patient visits a week without adding practice hours. Hollywood Looks Toward Healthier Eyes in Video Campaign Featuring Emmy Nominated Artists (references the AOA; quotes AOA member Dr. Helene Clayton-Jeter) PRWeb.com, press release | Entertainment Industries Council | 07/14/2014

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 14, 2014-The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) have teamed with entertainment industry-leading artists from the Emmy-nominated TV series American Horror Story: Coven on a first-of-its-kind Decorative Contact Lens Campaign to bring the dramatic realities of illegal and unsafe lens use to the forefront. Often called “decorative,” “fashion,” or “cosplay” lenses, these contacts change the appearance of the eyes to give them a vampire, cat, white-out, or alternate color “look.” Used often in Hollywood characters from X-Men to American Horror

Story, and reality shows like FaceOff, eye-changing lenses create certain character traits or appearances that, in some instances, become iconic and sought-after “looks” by fans. "Artists and technicians work closely with each other, the actors, and doctors to ensure proper fit, vision and safety. We wouldn't put our actors' health in danger, and the viewers who want to emulate these characters shouldn't either,” said Christien Tinsley, Tinsley Studios and Makeup Effects Designer for American Horror Story: Coven. How to Save Big (And We Mean Big) on Prescription Glasses and Contacts (quotes AOA member Dr. Glenda Secor; references the American Academy of Optometry) TODAY.com (Unique Visitors Per Month: 17.6 million) | Lesley Kennedy | 07/15/2014

Hunting for glasses that are totally on trend yet won't set you back hundreds of dollars? How about prescription contact lenses at a bargain? Consider your search over. We've found the best places to score deals on eyewear. Dr. Glenda Secor, communications chair for the American Academy of Optometry, says with proper, unexpired prescriptions in hand, ordering online is a safe option. Just be sure the lenses you're ordering meet certain standards, she says. “Vendors who are not licensed in the U.S., may not adhere to U.S. standards for safety and patients may not have lenses that are impact-resistant or have poor optical quality,” Secor says. “Cheap frames are also often poorer quality, less durable and more prone to breakage." Midwestern University Unveils Plans for New Optometry School (references the Arizona College of Optometry) Optometry Times - Online | Colleen E. McCarthy | 07/15/2014

Downers Grove, IL—Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL, has announced plans to open a new optometry school. The university's campus in Glendale, AZ, is already home to the Arizona College of Optometry. The university recently unveiled its plans to build a new office and classroom building to act as the future home of the college, which will enroll 50 students per year. According to university spokesperson Jill Blair-Smith, the university has not yet received state approval for the program. The program's implementation could be more than two years away. Downers Grove is located about 20 miles west of Chicago. Pediatric Optometry Resident Receives Award (features AOA member Dr. Jessie Dinkel and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry; references the American Optometric Foundation and the American Academy of Optometry) UAB Kaleidoscope - Online | Nicole Wyatt | 07/15/2014

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry pediatric optometry resident Jessie Dinkel, O.D., has received a Johnson & Johnson Vision Care 2014 Residency Award, according to the American Optometric Foundation. Dinkel is one of three to be awarded the Terrance N. Ingraham Pediatric Optometry Residency Award, which is intended to promote the practice and development of the field of pediatric optometry by providing incentives and support to talented optometric residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to practice, research and education in the field of children's vision. The 2014 residents selected were carefully chosen by peer review members from the American Academy of Optometry Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies, and the Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry Section; each receives $2,750 toward his or her graduate education that includes a $750 travel fellowship to attend Academy 2014 in Denver to be held Nov. 12-15.

Vision Source Sponsors 'New Graduate Personal & Professional Success Contest' on NewGradOptometry.com (references AOA member Dr. Matthew Geller) Vision Monday | Staff | 07/16/2014

KINGWOOD, Texas—The Vision Source-sponsored “New Graduate Personal & Professional Success Contest” invites readers to post their best practice management pearl on NewGradOptometry.com for a chance to win one of three FitBit Flex wireless activity and sleep wristbands. “NewGradOptometry.com is all about success in your professional and personal life, so is working with Vision Source, to get you the best of both worlds,” states the contest details. NewGradOptometry.com was launched earlier this year by Matthew Geller, OD, who also founded OptometryStudents.com, as reported by VMail. August is National Children's Vision and Learning Month (written by AOA member Dr. Monika Spokas; quotes AOA member Dr. David Damari) Chicago Tribune - Online, press release | Dr. Monika Spokas | 07/16/2014

Clarendon Hills, IL - For millions of parents, back to school means back to the search for answers to their children's learning difficulties. While many parents are hopeful the new teacher will have a magic bullet, others are just as frustrated as when the previous school year ended. "There is a light at the end of the tunnel," says Dr. David Damari, President of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), "Statistically more than 60% of children who struggle with reading have underlying vision problems contributing to their challenges." But it's not the type of vision problem most people think of. Most of the children who have vision problems that interfere with reading and learning can actually see the letters on the eye chart just fine. So when parents are told their children have passed a vision screening, what they are really being told is that their child can see clearly far away. But the problem lies in what was not tested - how well the two eyes work together when reading, how they move on the page or track a line of print, to name a few of the 17 visual skills required for academic success. It doesn't really matter what the curriculum is or even what country you are in, when children have underlying vision problems contributing to their learning challenges, they continue to struggle until the vision problem is corrected. Transitions to Release Best Practices Guide for Improving Patient Care to Minorities (references AOA member Dr. Edwin Marshall) Primary Care Optometry News | Staff | 07/17/2014

Transitions Optical said in a press release that certain ethnic populations are at a greater risk for many health issues including diabetes and hypertension; to combat this, the company hosted a roundtable to discuss increasing patient education and will publish a paper to improve primary care to these groups. The roundtable event, held in Miami on July 14, was attended by representatives from multiple professions with at-risk patients, including: Neyal Ammary-Risch, MPH, MCHES, director, National Eye Health Education Program, National Eye Institute; Mila and Jimmy Ferrer, bloggers and co-founders of Familias con Diabetes; Margo LaDrew, national board member, National Council of Negro Women and co-founder, Black Beauty Shop Program; Edwin Marshall, OD, MS, MPH, professor emeritus of optometry and former vice president for diversity, equity and multicultural affairs, Indiana University; Charlotte Parniawski, RN, MSN, CNE, nurse educator, Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing; Diane Sheehan, APRN, nurse practitioner, Northeast Medical Group, Yale New Haven Health System, Bridgeport, Conn.; Dan Suarez, president-elect, National Association of Hispanic Nurses; and Vincent K. Young, MD, chairman, Division of Ophthalmology, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. Participants reviewed overall health issues common among culturally diverse groups and shared best practices and case

studies for elevating eye health while facing challenges such as low patient awareness, language barriers or cultural considerations for care, according the press release. Optometry's Meeting Hosts and Honors the Profession's Leaders (VIDEO) (features the AOA and AOSA; references AOA president Dr. David Cockrell, Southern California College of Optometry and The Vision Council) Vision Monday - Online | Staff | 07/21/2014

PHILADELPHIA—Among the highlights of the 2014 Optometry's Meeting, sponsored by the American Optometric Association and the American Optometric Student Association, were the election of officers during the 117th AOA Congress, the 23rd annual Varilux Optometry Student Bowl, and the 5K Run/Walk sponsored by The Vision Council in support of Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation, among a host of other receptions, courses, meetings and events. David Cockrell, OD, was sworn in as AOA president, Southern California College of Optometry won the crystal Student Bowl trophy for coming in first place, and awards were presented to leading optometrists and other eyecare professionals. Here's just a small selection of the many happenings at Optometry's Meeting. For more, go to www.visionmonday.com. Preparing Your Child for an Eye Exam (features the AOA) 20/20 Eyeglasses (blog) | Staff | 07/21/2014

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that a child have his or her first eye examination by six months of age. Vision screenings are important, they in no way replace a comprehensive eye exam. Many parents ask how they should go about preparing a toddler or young child for their first eye exam. The truth is, some parents often have more apprehension than their child. Following are a few tips for reducing anxiety for both parents and children. Show and Tell: Talk to your child about eyes and vision in general. Check your local library for children's books about the eyes. Kids-Only Practice Puts the Focus on Children's Eyecare in Tampa (features AOA member Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford) Vision Monday - Online | Catherine Wolinski | 07/21/2014

When Nate Bonilla-Warford, OD, owner of Bright Eyes Family Vision Care on the west side of Tampa, Fla. set his eyes on a second practice on Tampa's east side, he had an instinct it would have to convey “no grownups allowed”—or in his words, be a “non-threatening, fun and comfortable” environment for young kids to receive specialized eyecare. The practice first opened its doors on March 24, but the official Grand Opening event was saved for May 4 so that it could be timed with the Great Glasses Play Day, an annual country-wide initiative celebrating children with glasses and other vision corrections that Bonilla-Warford has supported since its launch in 2012. Perhaps coincidentally, the date is also one celebrated by Star Wars geeks—“May the Fourth” referring to the famous “May the force be with you” line from the iconic movies—so theming the store was seemingly fated. Along with the phoropter and other optometric tools typically found in an exam room, checkups at Bright Eyes Kids might include marveling at Star Wars paraphernalia or trading Lego Minifigures with the doc. “As soon as you walk in, you see a Lego Duplo table, coloring books, fun, lighthearted pictures on the walls, Star Wars [Legos] and frames,” said Bonilla-Warford. “We set up a whole area behind glass with a bunch of Star Wars Lego fighters and Minifigures facing off against each other.” Bonilla-Warford also noted the practice's proximity to the Lego Land Park as a major source of inspiration and way to relate to his patients. “It's a way to bond with the little kids. We're about an hour away from the Lego Land Park, so trading Minifigures is really big up here,” he said.

FDA Teams Up for Novel Campaign on Risks of Decorative Contact Lenses (features the AOA, quotes AOA member Dr. Helene Clayton-Jeter) Foodconsumer.org (reposted from FDA.GOV page) | Staff | 07/24/2014

With the end of the school year come parties, summer camp, vacations—all reasons why teens and young adults may want a new look. Requests for decorative contact lenses could be coming your way—or worse, your kids may just go out and buy them on their own. Beware, says Dr. Helene Clayton-Jeter, an optometrist and health programs coordinator at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Decorative contact lenses can cause serious eye damage if not fitted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. That's one of the messages of a joint campaign by the FDA, the American Optometric Association (AOA), and the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC). They want to inform consumers—and especially teens and young adults—how to use them safely, and of the dangers of decorative contact lenses when not used correctly. One of the greatest risks from these lenses is the possibility of an infection that could lead to blindness. Optometric Professionals Team with Hollywood for Second Installment of Video Campaign (features the National Optometric Association; references the AOA and AOA members Drs. Stephanie Johnson-Brown, Helene Clayton-Jeter and Michael Dueñas) PRWeb, press release | Entertainment Industries Council | 07/24/2014

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 24, 2014-The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) have teamed with entertainment industry-leading artists from the TV series American Horror Story on a first-of-its-kind Decorative Contact Lens Campaign to bring the dramatic realities of illegal and unsafe lens use to the forefront. The public service campaign, which has already reached tens-of-thousands, is now releasing its second production which will debut at the National Optometric Association (NOA) annual convention. Comprised primarily of minority Optometrists, NOA is focused on “Advancing the Visual Health of Minority Populations.” Spotlighting this production on the NOA platform further strengthens the support of eye care professionals and leaders who recognize the power of entertainment and media to convey this important health information to widespread audiences. “Recent NOA efforts have focused on the Association's desire to better educate populations who are at a higher risk of developing sight-threatening conditions, emphasizing the importance of early detection and timely treatment. Often patients in underserved minority communities are unaware of the dangers of wearing non-prescribed decorative contact lenses. In an effort to increase this awareness, the NOA is honored to preview the video on the horrors of engaging in such use at the opening reception of its Annual Convention,” said NOA President, Stephanie Johnson-Brown, O.D. Often called “decorative,” “fashion,” or “cosplay” lenses, these contacts change the appearance of the eyes to give them a vampire, cat, white-out, or alternate color “look.” Used often in Hollywood characters from X-Men to American Horror Story, and reality shows like FaceOff, eye-changing lenses create certain character traits or appearances that, in some instances, become iconic and sought-after “looks” by fans. In reality, contact lenses can cause serious eye damage and even blindness if they're not fitted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If they aren't cleaned and cared for properly, they can cause potentially vision-threatening infections. This is a message the entertainment industry, FDA and AOA are seeking to impart through the campaign.

AOA AND AOA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Streetwise: Ames Calls It a Career at 42 Years (features AOA member Dr. Richard Ames; references InfantSEE, Vision USA and AOA members Drs. Ryan Ames and John Anderson) The Oshkosh Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI) | Jeff Bollier | 07/14/2014

In 1972, Dr. Richard Ames opened an optometry practice in an Oregon Street storefront. This past Wednesday, one day before he turned 66, Ames brought his 42-year career to an end, seeing his last patient at InSight Eye Care, 251 N. Sawyer St. InSight today bears little resemblance to that Oregon Street office he started in, but Ames continued to provide top-quality care to his patients through decades of rapid, scientific innovation and progress. KBNW Business Briefs For 07/23/14 (features AOA member Dr. Michael Majerczyk; references the AOA and the New England College of Optometry) MyCentralOregon.com (Bend, OR) | Staff | 07/24/2014

Dr. Michael Majerczyk has joined the Bend Memorial Clinic Optometry Department. He graduated from a the New England College of Optometry in Boston and is a member of the American Optometric Association. Eye Health: Children Are More Susceptible to Damage from UV Rays; Protection is a Must (bylined by AOA member Dr. Dawn Stratton; references the AOA, the Kentucky Optometric Association and Illinois College of Optometry) KYForward.com (Lexington, KY) | Dr. Dawn Stratton | 07/22/2014

It seems as if I was just writing about the beginning of summer and now I'm talking about back-to-school eye exams. A lot of parents are bringing their children in for those exams, which is a good time to discuss the importance of protecting eyes from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Up to half of a person's lifetime exposure to UV radiation can occur by age 18. UV radiation from sunlight has been associated with multiple age-related eye problems, including cataracts and macular degeneration. The risk of damage to our eyes and skin from solar UV radiation is cumulative, meaning the danger continues to grow as we spend time in the sun throughout life. Children are more susceptible to retinal damage from UV rays because the lens inside a child's eye is clearer than an adult lens, enabling more UV to penetrate deep into the eye. Hamilton's Big Sky Eye Care Adding New Doctor (features AOA members Drs. Robert Wilkins and Dirk Beyer; references the AOA, the Montana Optometric Association and Ohio State College of Optometry) Ravalli Republic (Hamilton, MT) | Staff | 07/14/2014

A new optometrist is joining a Hamilton eye care facility. Dr. Dirk Beyer O.D. of Big Sky Eye Care is welcoming Dr. Robert Wilkins O.D. to his clinical and optical practice. Beyer has owned Big Sky Eye Care since 2000. He is adding Wilkins to expand patient care, assist with emergencies and to be able to contribute more to the community. Law Requires Eye Exam for Children Going to Public School; Optometrists Provide Tips (bylined by the Kentucky Optometric Association; references the KOA; quotes AOA member Dr. Elaine DeSario) KyForward.com (Lexington, KY) | Kentucky Optometric Association | 07/14/2014

Notebooks, pencils and clothes are at the top of most back-to-school lists, but a comprehensive eye exam should be included as well. State law requires children ages three through six to have a vision exam if they are entering a public school or preschool program for the first time. “Having children's eyes examined is one of the most important things parents can do to support their children's education and good health,” said Dr. Elaine DeSario, an optometrist in Louisa. “Research shows that vision problems are a major factor in limiting children's abilities to learn and succeed.” Diabetics May Soon See Sugar Levels with Google Lenses (references the AOA) WUSA-TV (CBS: Washington, DC) | Alana Yzola | 07/16/2014

WASHINGTON (WUSA9)-- Painful and repetitive finger pricking is a routine that diabetics must face every day in order to monitor their blood sugar to prevent life-threatening complications. But with a new development from Google, diabetics may one day be able to see their sugar levels right before their eyes without any needles. Google is teaming up with Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis to create contact lenses that track glucose levels. They are working to create a "smart" lens that will scan tears through sensors. "Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people," said Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin. Dangerous blood sugar levels can lead to blindness, amputation, kidney failure and death. When developed, the lenses could help the 29.1 million people in the United States who have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 5 Things Parents Should Be Aware of When It Comes to Kids and Digital Devices (quotes AOA member Dr. Matt Alpert) Binghampton Herald-Online (Binghamton, N.Y); Times Union - Online (Albany, NY | Brandpoint, matte release | 07/14/2014

(BPT) - From the moment your kids get up in the morning and turn on cartoons, to the second they finish playing on their iPad before bed, their eyes are looking at digital devices almost nonstop. The blue-light high-energy wavelength emitted from these devices' screens can damage eyes over time. Eye doctors are reporting a 50 percent increase in digital eye strain and effects of blue light exposure – especially in children, according to a recent survey of VSP Vision Care providers. Here are five things to be aware of when it comes to digital device exposure and your kids: 1. Early exposure can have long-term effects on those still developing peepers. From video games to laptops to smartphones, children are exposed to device screens starting at a young age, and 38 percent of eye doctors in VSP's survey reported an increase in effects from blue light exposure in children. The effects of blue light exposure are more intense in children since they lack the protective pigments of adults. Eyeglasses and Baseball a Dangerous Combination (bylined by AOA member Dr. Zack Steele; references UAB School of Optometry) Trussville Tribune - Online (Birmingham, AL) | Dr. Zack Steele | 07/15/2014

Since July is Eye Safety Awareness Month, I thought I would bring up a subject I take very seriously, and that's safety eyewear for sports. Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I am a big sports fan. I played sports growing up and played college baseball for about a week (actually, it was two years, but it felt like a week). I still like to watch sports at all levels,

especially baseball. I cringe every time I see a young person playing any sport with regular eyeglass frames. It makes for a dangerous situation. Seeing Through the Eyes of Sci-Fi Characters May Be Risky (references the AOA and NEI) Medill News Service; Reposts include: The Modesto Bee (Modesto, CA), The Hera | Elle Calderone | 07/16/2014

WASHINGTON — Rolling your eyes can be like rolling the dice. “I have seen decorative eyes before. I've actually seen ones that look like dice in the eyes. Actual rolling dice,” said Chris Wanamaker, president of the D.C. Anime Club in Washington. When you purchase decorative contact lenses, you could be rolling the dice on your health too, some experts say. Free Back-to-School Vision Screenings (features AOA member Dr. Bruce Senior) Naples Daily News - Online (Naples, FL) | Rachel Toomey | 07/17/2014

The Fort Myers-Edison Kiwanis club and Dr. Bruce Senior and Image Eyewear will offer free back-to-school vision screenings for children going into grades one through five on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kiwanis Hall located at 1634 Woodford Ave in Fort Myers. The vision screenings will be open to the first 200 children arriving with a parent or guardian. No identification will be required, and no personal information will be taken. In addition to the vision screening, each child will receive a free book. The vision screening is not an eye examination, and no tests or refraction will be performed. Whether your child passes or fails this screening, a complete eye examination by a qualified optometrist is recommended before each school year. “Children and parents are often unaware when their vision isn't up to par,” said Fort Myers-Edison Kiwanis club president Harris Segel, “Good vision, or lack of it, greatly affects academic and athletic performance.” Bruce Senior, Doctorate of Optometry, has been serving the community since 1977. Dr. Senior offers comprehensive eye exams to patients of all ages from young children to seniors at his office located at 2277 First Street in Fort Myers. The optical boutique, Image Eyewear, is open Monday through Thursday. The Fort Myers-Edison Kiwanis club is looking for more service-minded individuals and business professionals who would like to make a direct impact on the community through volunteering. Meetings are held every Thursday at 8 a.m. in Fort Myers. For details on joining the Fort Myers-Edison Kiwanis club, please call club president Harris Segel at (239) 939-4027 or email harris@pampered-pooch.com. The Fort Myers-Edison Kiwanis club can be found on Facebook or online at www.edison-kiwanis.com. Who's News (features AOA member Dr. Jenni Groves; references the AOA, American Academy of Optometry, Virginia Optometric Association, the Tidewater Optometric Society and New England College of Optometry) The Daily Journal - Online (Vineland, NJ) | Staff | 07/18/2014

Dr. Jenni Groves, daughter of Donald and Brenda Groves of Millville, graduated from New England College of Optometry in Boston on May 18 with a Doctor of Optometry degree. Groves is working in Virginia Beach, Va., for National Optometry. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry, Virginia Optometric Association and the Tidewater Optometric Society. Groves is a 2007 graduate of Millville Senior High School. Add Eye Exam to Back-to-School Routine (references the AOA; features the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians; quotes AOA member Dr. Monte Harrel) Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise - Online (Bartlesville, OK) | Staff | 07/20/2014

OKLAHOMA CITY — Children across the state are gearing up for a new school year. As parents shop for new clothes and buy supplies, the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians recommends visiting local optometric physicians as part of the back-to-school routine. Healthy vision plays a crucial part to the learning process and success in school. However, studies show 86 percent of children start school without ever having a comprehensive eye examination. Despite the strong correlation between vision and learning, many parents underestimate the number of children affected by eye and vision problems. “Our children's eyes are one of the most important aspects of their health because good vision affects school success and success in life,” said Monte Harrel, OAOP President. “Comprehensive exams are essential to ensuring our children have the opportunity to experience all that is possible in their educational process.” Southern Eye Associates Welcomes New Optometrist (features AOA member Dr. Craig O'Dell; references the AOA, the South Carolina Optometric Association and the Ohio State University College of Optometry) Greenville Business Magazine (Greenville, SC) | Staff | 07/21/2014 Greenville, SC – July 11, 2014 – Southern Eye Associates is proud to announce and welcome Dr. Craig A. O’Dell as its newest optometrist. Dr. O’Dell earned his biology degree and Doctorate of Optometry at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He has completed a residency in ocular disease at the Chillicothe VAMC and Chalmers P Wylie VAACC. Dr. O’Dell has had the opportunity to provide eye care to the Apache Native Americans in Whiteriver, Arizona as well as to our veterans in Huntington, West Virginia. Dr. O’Dell is a member in good standing of both the American Optometric Association and the South Carolina Optometric Association. He will begin seeing patients on July 10, 2014. Dr. O’Dell is married to his wife, Justine, and they cannot wait to begin their lives in Greenville. We are pleased to have Dr. O’Dell on board, and look forward to a prosperous future with him. People in Business (features AOA member Dr. Dustin Vance; references the AOA, Arkansas Optometric Association and Southern College of Optometry) The Baxter Bulletin (Mountain Home, AR) | Staff | 07/18/2014

COTTER – Dr. Dustin Vance of Vance Vision Clinic in Cotter, was recently recognized for his excellence in patient care at his Batesville practice, Eagle Mountain Eye Care. Earlier this year, Dr. Vance was presented with the "Excellence in Patient Care Award" for Region 42 by Walmart's Health and Wellness Team. At Vance Vision Clinic, he provides comprehensive eye care to all ages from pediatric to older adults including contact lenses, eyeglasses and ocular medical prescriptions, a complete optical shop and dispensary, 3-D retinal imaging, evaluation and management of eye disease: eye injury, red eye, dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetes. Vance Vision opened in Cotter in May. Business Neighbors News for the Week of July 20, 2014: Awards (references the AOA and Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University) York Daily Record - Online (Yok, PA) | Staff | 07/19/2014

Marcia M. Shaull: received the 2014 Public Service Award from Salus University at an alumni reception June 27 in Philadelphia during the American Optometric Association's annual meeting. This award is presented to a person or organization that has made a recent significant contribution to Salus University or to their profession. Slated to retire

this year, Shaull has served as the chief administrative officer of the MD-14 (Pennsylvania) Council of Lions Clubs since 2000. As chief administrative officer, Shaull is the central Lions figure for the state, providing leadership and support to 730 Lions clubs and 22,000 Lions Club members, as well as to Pennsylvania Lions state committees and projects. A current charter member of the York White Rose Lions Club of York, Shaull has 25 years of distinguished Lions service. Her many offices within the association include director, secretary and president of her club, and she is a Life Member of the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank. New Optometrist Sees Great Future for County (references the AOA, the Indiana University School of Optometry and AOA member Dr. Steve Wilson) Williamson Daily News (Williamson, WV) | Hayley M. Cook | 07/19/2014

WILLIAMSON - Matewan High School and Marshall University alumnus Dr. Shawn Sammons is the new optometrist at Wilson Eye Care Associates in Williamson, but according to fellow optometrist and owner of the establishment, Dr. Steve Wilson, he has a vision all his own beyond just eye care. “Shawn is a very young, bright superstar and he intends on creating a vision for our area,” said Wilson said. “He is going to thrive here because he is a strong leader and the vision he has for his life is much bigger than eye care. He wants to truly contribute to this community. There are so many people who don't see an opportunity in this area, but Shawn has proven that isn't the case.” Sammons received his Doctor of Optometry degree this year from Indiana University, but his decision to work in the field came many years ago as a young boy on Wilson's exam chair. Got a Fib? Get Aggressive About Losing Weight (references the AOA) The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, KS); Dubuque Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) | Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. | 07/22/2014

In “I Really Love You,” when George Harrison declared “my heart skips a beat,” he was describing a sudden heart flutter that signals a surge of romantic passion. But if your doctor says your heart is skipping a beat, it may mean you have (or are headed for) atrial fibrillation, or A fib. A fib is a disturbed heart rhythm that happens when rapid, erratic electrical signals make the heart's two upper chambers (called atria) contract quickly and irregularly. Sometimes you can feel it – but not always – and the problem may come and go or be persistent. For most folks, it increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. Drugs to control your heart rate and rhythm, blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots and procedures that deliver low-energy shocks to the heart may treat the condition. But now a new study reveals that lifestyle changes can slash symptoms without using drugs. Kids, Digital Devices and Eye Strain. They Don't All Have to Go Together. (AOA infographic) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI); Bucks County Courier Times (Levittown, PA); Fontana Herald News (Fontana, CA); The Glen Rose Reporter (Glen Rose, TX) | American Optometric Association | 07/23/2014

(BPT) - Parents severely underestimate the time their children spend on digital devices, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). Eighty-three percent of children, between the ages of 10 and 17, estimate they use an electronic device for three or more hours each day. However, a separate AOA survey of parents revealed that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. This significant disparity indicates parents may be overlooking the warning signs and symptoms associated with vision problems due to technology use, including digital eye strain. You can learn more in this infographic.