May 30 – June 6, 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
12 Ways Your Obsession With Spicy Food Can Help Make You Invincible (references the AOA)
The Huffington Post (Unique Visitors Per Month: 45.6 million) | Renee Jacques | 06/13/2014
Some people just can't resist the urge to spice up their lives. And by spice, we're referring to the peppers, sauces and
seasonings that numb your mouth and leave you wiping the sweat off your forehead.
And to these people we say: You are warriors. While you may wince in what looks like pain while scarfing down that
insanely hot curry, the truth is you're ingesting a slew of super healthy ingredients that could make you closer to
invincible... or at least help protect you from some serious health issues. So, if you feel like you are utterly and
shamelessly obsessed with food that packs heat, don't sweat it (ha). Here are 12 ways you can do your body good by
turning up the heat.
Want to protect your eyes? Eat plenty of chipotle peppers.
The great chipotle pepper (a smoked jalapeño) contains phytonutrients called lutein and zeaxanthin. Both of these are
deposited in your retinas, and according to the American Optometric Association, getting a healthy dose of these
nutrients could help reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Animals Wearing Sunglasses Is the Best Thing You'll See All Day (references the AOA)
The Weather Channel - Online (Unique Visitors Per Month: 32.5 million) | Edecio Martinez | 06/06/2014
With summer approaching, we can look forward to warmer weather and more time outside in the sun. That means it's
time to take the sunglasses out — and it's not just people who love them.
Sunglasses are by far not the worst things people make their pets wear. They're not dangerous, they don't hinder
movement and they might actually protect their eyes. According to the American Optometric Association, exposure to
the sun's UV radiation can cause photokeratitis — a “sunburn of the eye” that results in temporary red eyes and
sensitivity to light. Over time, too much exposure can lead to increased chances of cataracts and retina damage.
To protect your eyes, use glasses with gray lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Or, just stay inside and enjoy these pictures of animals with their favorite sun specs.
Sunglasses Smarts: Important Times to Wear Your Shades (references AOA member Dr. Justin Bazan and
The Vision Council)
Woman's Day (circ. 3.4 million) | Staff | 06/10/2014
1) On your morning walk
Thanks to the sun's low angle, you're exposed to more cataract-causing UV radiation between the hours of 8 a.m. and
10 a.m.-and again from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun begins to set. Pick up a pair of sunglasses with a rubber nose
grip, which stay put while you sweat.
2) When pollen is bad
Research found that people who wore sunglasses daily for a month had reduced allergy symptoms (like itchy eyes) and
were able to cut back on their use of antihistamines. Large wraparound sunglasses work best to guard against allergy
triggers.
3) With UV-blocking contacts
While some contact lenses do protect against UV radiation, they usually offer less coverage than sunglasses. Plus, it's
important to also shield the delicate skin around the eye as well as the white portion of the eyeball that contacts don't
cover.
Back-to-School and Summer Health Questions (Slideshow) (quotes AOA member Dr. James Sheedy;
references the College of Optometry at Pacific University)
Family Circle - Online (Unique Visitors Per Month: 301,528) | Michela Tindera | 06/11/2014
6 of 10
Q. My son is constantly staring at screens. Is he going to ruin his vision?
A. No—at least, not in the long term. "One main consequence of spending too much time on a computer, tablet or cell
phone is temporary dry eyes, because kids don't blink as frequently," says James Sheedy, O.D., a professor of
optometry at Pacific University. Remember the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, have him look 20 feet away for 20
seconds.
10 Things You Never Knew About Contacts (Slideshow) (quotes AOA member Dr. Joe Benjamin;
references the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Everyday Health (Unique Visitors Per Month: 9 million) | Susan E. Matthews | 06/12/2014
Contact Wearers, Unite
Sure, contacts are supposed to be the invisible way to improve your vision. But if you're a contacts lens wearer, you
know all the trepidation that comes along with the lenses. Losing or ripping one on a trip could result in a one-eyed
vacation, and being without solution can become disastrous. Every contact wearer has inadvertently grossed
someone out by sticking a finger directly onto an eyeball to poke a contact back into place. It's not like we wanted
this, anyway — 20/20 vision would have been nice. Here, some things you may not know about contact lenses.
Your contacts feel dry at the end of the night because they're salty
Many contacts wearers complain of dryness at the end of the day, but it's not because their contacts are really dry. It's
because they're hypertonic, according to Joe Benjamin, OD, PhD, FAAO, president of the International Society for
Contact Lens Specialties and professor in the school of optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Your
eyes' natural tears bathe your contacts in salt all day, and as water gradually evaporates from your eye , some of that
salt is left behind on the lens. “[Salt] is good for the health of the eye, but too much saltiness is overdoing it,” Dr.
Benjamin said.
Ophthalmologist to Trek 500 Miles For Macular Degeneration Awareness (references the AOA)
Ophthalmology Times | Rose Schneider | 06/07/2014
Dade City, FL—By the end of the week, Edward Kondrot, MD, and his wife will begin a 500-mile pilgrimage through
Spain along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela to raise awareness for macular degeneration.
“Many people are unaware that they have macular degeneration in their eyes until it is too late,” Dr. Kondrot said.
“Your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) increases with age and it's vital to get regular eye
exams to heighten your chances of catching it early.”
The famous walk, known as the Way of St. James in English, starts in France and covers two mountain ranges, plains,
countryside, orchards, and vineyards, trailing across the top of Spain.
Does Vision Improve at the Eye Doctor's Office? (quotes AOA member Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford)
News.EssilorUSA.com | Staff | 06/09/2014
According to recent research, it appears eye doctors have found another way – outside of regular exams and
prescription eyewear – to help us see better; and it's all about proper lighting.
Lighting was found to be the main reason we see differently at the doctor's office than at home, in the car, or our own
office.
"The results from our study suggest that older adults are not seeing as well in their homes compared to their vision
when tested in the clinic," said study author Dr. Anjali Bhorade, an associate professor of ophthalmology at the
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Registration Opens for American Academy of Optometry's 93rd Annual Meeting (features the American
Academy of Optometry; references AOA member Dr. Brad Dougherty)
Vision Monday | Staff | 06/09/2014
DENVER—Registration is now open for the American Academy of Optometry's 93rd annual meeting, which will take
place at the Colorado Convention Center, Nov. 12 to 15, 2014. Discounted early bird registration for Academy 2014
Denver ends Sept. 9, 2014. The event combines a host of educational presentations, including CE courses, lectures,
workshops, and Section and Special Interest Group symposia, with hundreds of scientific papers and posters, social
events and an exhibit hall with more than 200 exhibitors.
This year's plenary session on “Today's Research, Tomorrow's Practice: The Science of Cannabinoids: Medical Perils and
Benefits” will take a research-based look at the evolving recognition of the medicinal value and risks of cannabinoids.
Presenters include Allan Flach, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the University of California in San Francisco; Staci
Gruber, PhD, director of cognitive and clinical neuroimaging core at McLean Hospital's Brain Imaging Center and
associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; and Prakash Nagarkatti, PhD, vice president for research
at the University of South Carolina.
The Monroe J. Hirsch Symposium, “Mechanisms of Presbyopia Correction—Beyond Benjamin Franklin,” will highlight
the advances in understanding the underlying mechanism and cutting-edge treatments for presbyopia. Speakers will
include Stephen McLeod, MD; Paul Kaufman, MD; and Susana Marcos, PhD. The Ezell Fellows Present Symposium, “A
Sampler of Current Low Vision Research,” will showcase three investigators working on research in various aspects of
low vision rehabilitation research. Speakers include Robert Massof, PhD, FAAO; Tom Raasch, OD, PhD, FAAO; Susana
Chung, OD, PhD, FAAO; and Brad Dougherty, OD, PhD, FAAO.
Keep Your Eyes Healthy During the Summer Blockbuster Season (Repost: features the AOA)
LatinoLA | Tom Diaz, M.D., market medical director, UnitedHealthcare | 06/09/2014
More blockbuster movies are featuring 3-D technology. This summer is no exception, with offerings including
Transformers 4, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 2.
Did you know 3-D movies can serve as a valuable indicator of underlying vision issues among young people and
adults? The American Optometry Association's (AOA) report, "3D in the Classroom," states that 3-D movies have the
potential to help identify vision problems that might otherwise go unnoticed. This is because 3-D technology requires
eyes to process information in a new way.
Eye Care Workforce Study Predicts Growing Demand for Optometric Services, Adequate Number of
Eye Doctors (features the AOA and the ASCO; quotes AOA members Drs. Jennifer Smythe and Steve
Loomis; references Essilor and Transitions Optical)
Vision Monday | Staff | 06/11/2014
ST. LOUIS and ROCKVILLE, Md.—The National Eye Care Workforce Study, conducted jointly by the American
Optometric Association (AOA) and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), set out to help
answer questions about how America's eye health needs will be met over the next decade and beyond.
Conducted in 2012 and just released this week, the study sent surveys to about 3,900 optometrists, of which
approximately 18 percent, or about 700 respondents, replied, vice president of the AOA board of trustees, Steve
Loomis, OD, told VMail.
The study's findings predict the following trends related to both eyecare professionals and their patients: There
appear to be an adequate supply of eye doctors, optometrists and ophthalmologists, including projections of new
doctors, to meet current and projected demand for eyecare services through 2025. According to the study, the
following will contribute to an increasing demand for optometric services through 2025—demographic trends as
well as public health and policy factors, including growth and aging of the U.S. population, an increased
prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, expansions in health insurance coverage and the designation in federal law that
coverage for eye health and vision care is essential for children.
The study also determined that the trend of optometrists to provide an increasing number of medically necessary
eyecare services correlates closely with projections for an increasing demand for these services, especially among
senior citizens and those at risk for Type 2 diabetes. “The most dramatic conclusion makes clear that the growth
in demand is medical eyecare, which is the real opportunity here because optometry is well positioned to address
this,” Loomis told VMail about the study.
VSP Eye on Wellness Partners With ZeaVision to Provide Free CE for Optometrists, Eye Exams to Those
in Need (references AOA members Drs. Jeffry Gerson and A. Paul Chous)
Vision Monday | Staff | 06/11/2014
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—To raise awareness about diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), which are two of the leading causes of blindness in adults, affecting nearly 10 million people in the U.S.,
VSP Vision Care and its new campaign partner, ZeaVision, will launch this year's VSP Eye on Wellness next month.
Now in its fourth year, the campaign will provide free Eye on Diabetes and Eye on AMD continuing education
seminars for optometrists. Featured speakers will be A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO, and Jeffry Gerson, OD, FAAO.
VSP Mobile Eyes will also continue to partner with local VSP doctors to provide free eye exams and eyeglasses to
residents in need during the campaign. Comprehensive eye exams and health risks assessments for AMD will be
conducted using ZeaVision's QuantifEye MPOD (macular pigment optical density) measurement instrument.
"ZeaVision is very pleased to partner with VSP in this important initiative,” said Chris Barber, president of
ZeaVision. “ZeaVision's mission is to preserve and enhance vision through ocular nutrition and technology, and
we're excited to expand our reach and impact in these communities through this endeavor.”
Study Shows Possible Excess Supply of Eye Care Providers Through 2025 (features the AOA and the
ASCO; quotes AOA president Mitchell T. Munson and AOA member Dr. Jennifer Smythe; references
Essilor and Transitions Optical)
Primary Care Optometry News | Staff | 06/11/2014
The American Optometric Association and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry have released
the results of a workforce study that predicts an oversupply of about 9,000 optometrists and ophthalmologists
through the near future.
As detailed by the Lewin Group, who was commissioned to conduct the Eye Care Workforce Study: Supply and
Demand Projections and develop a computer model to continuously study supply and demand, there may be
an excess supply of eye care providers through 2025.
The Lewin Group utilized several formulas designed to measure supply of the eye care workforce and demand
in terms of visits and full-time equivalent (FTE) eye care providers, according to the study. The group also
included data from the 2012 National Eye Care Workforce Study of Optometrists as well as data from surveys
and databases.
Non-Stop Texting Causes a Case of Retinal Detachment, Says Chinese Media (quotes AOA member
Dr. Leo Semes)
Optometry Times - Online | Colleen E. McCarthy | 06/11/2014
Qingdao, China—A 26-year-old man from Qingdao, China suffered a retinal detachment after using his
smartphone non-stop, according to Qingdao Daily.
He had been using his cellphone constantly, both all day while at work and even in bed, when he began
experiencing flashes. However, by the time he saw a doctor, the retina in his left eye had become detached.
While the Chinese media has blamed the retinal detachment on the incessant smartphone use, Optometry
Times Editorial Advisory Board member Leo Semes, OD, FAAO, says that is probably not the case.
Primary Eye Care Expands Services, Welcomes New Doctor (features AOA members Drs. Dale Barr
and Janessa Simon; references the Ohio State University College of Optometry and AOA members
Drs.Jeffrey Ahrns, John E. Beigel, Karen Fortman and Scott Schwartz )
Sidney Daily News - Online (Sidney, OH) | Rachel Lloyd | 06/11/2014
Primary EyeCare Associates, with offices in Sidney, Fort Loramie, Troy, St. Paris and Jackson Center, are
announcing a few changes that will allow them to better manage the vision and eye health care needs of the
patients they serve. These changes include expanded office hours in several locations, new technologies in eye
care and eye wear, and new members of their professional eye care team.
Beginning in late June, the offices will be offering their patients expanded hours for vision and eye health
examinations. Appointments will be offered from early morning through the evening during the week and on
Saturday mornings. The new schedule will also allow the eye care team to continue to handle ocular
emergencies and urgent spectacle and contact lens care needs in a timely manner.
Primary EyeCare has always offered treatment and management of the refractive needs of their patients with
the latest eyeglasses and contact lenses and over the past 30 years has developed a team of optometrists and
assistants that treat and manage eye health problems, as well. The practice offers comprehensive primary eye
health care with the assistance of technological advancements in disease detection through the use of visual
field analyzers, computerized topography, digital photography and computerized tomography. With access to
current technology, the doctors and staff are able to treat and manage many eye health disorders.
The Optometric Society Elects Board (features the Optometric Society and AOA members Drs.
Gary Litman, James Sanderson and Michael Santarlas; references the AOA, the American
Academy of Optometry, the New Mexico Optometric Association, the Pennsylvania Optometric
Association, Illinois Optometric Association, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the Illinois
College of Optometry and the University of Missouri - St. Louis College of Optometry)
Vision Monday | Staff | 06/13/2014
CHICAGO—Members of the Optometric Society (TOS) recently held their first election and elected board
members to a three-year term. The group was formed earlier this year, as reported by VMail.
Lisa Shin, OD, president, is a 1996 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry who has been in solo
private practice in Los Alamos, N.M. since 1997. She has been a member of the American Optometric
Association and the New Mexico Optometric Association. Dr. Shin stated, “We must carefully monitor
attempts to over-regulate and dictate to our profession. I am particularly concerned about the increased
reporting requirements: Meaningful Use, ICD-10, PQRS and whether any of it really demonstrate better
quality patient care. Now is the time to speak up for ourselves and our patients. TOS aims to give individual
optometrists a stronger voice in the profession.”
Gary Litman, OD, FAAO, vice president, is a 1975 graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry and
practices full scope medical optometry in Philadelphia. He is a member of the American Optometric
Association, Pennsylvania Optometric Association, Bucks-Montgomery Optometric Society and a Fellow of
the American Academy of Optometry.
AOA AND AOA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Guest Viewpoint: Allow Eye Doctors to Prescribe Oral Medications in New York (bylined by AOA member
Dr. Daniel Kirchheimer)
Press & Sun-Bulletin - Online (Binghamton, NY), Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY), Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, NY),
Topix.com | Dr. Daniel Kirchheimer | 06/07/2014
As an eye doctor practicing in Vestal, I know that New York can improve eye care and health care in general by allowing
optometrists to write prescriptions for oral medications. This simple change will improve patient care, reduce health
care costs and help all patients receive the timely care they need and deserve in America in this day and age.
In 48 other states, optometrists are allowed to write prescriptions for oral medications to treat patients. In fact, we are
allowed to prescribe these same medications in eye-drop form, but we cannot write a prescription for the oral version
of the exact same medication. It is frustrating that I can drive ten minutes to Pennsylvania and prescribe in this fashion.
I have been practicing optometry in Vestal for four years, and there have been numerous situations where my patients
would have been better taken care of if I had the ability to prescribe to the fullest scope of my training. This antiquated
legislation prohibiting optometrists from prescribing this way also tends to discourage prospective eye doctors from
coming to our communities to practice.
Color Vision Tends to Fade with Age (Repost: references the AOA)
KWWL-TV - Online (Waterloo, IA) | Randy Dotinga | 06/11/2014
(HealthDay News) -- Here's one more ability that seems to decline with age: color sense. A new study finds that many
people lose their ability to clearly distinguish certain colors as they age, with losses typically starting around age 70 and
getting worse over time.
But there's good news too: In general, the loss of color vision in seniors doesn't seem to affect day-to-day life.
Still, the findings raise issues about whether assumptions about the lack of problems are true. "[The decline] is
probably not detrimental in their lives in any way, but that's the next question: What are the practical implications of
these findings?" said study lead author Marilyn Schneck, a scientist with the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, in
San Francisco. "There's another question: What in the visual system is causing these changes?"
From Classroom to Career: Latest Wave of Optometry Graduates Enter Work Force (features the College
of Optometry at the University of Missouri–St. Louis; references the AOA and the Missouri Optometric
Association)
UMSL Daily (blog) (St. Louis, MO) | Ryan Heinz | 06/11/2014
Emily Pike worked in the public health field for 12 years but felt something was missing. She found a fit after
shadowing an optometrist and enrolled in the College of Optometry at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
After four years, Pike finds herself among 39 students who graduated from the program in May, all of them with jobs
already lined up in the optometry field. She will help open a private practice and retail optical shop in downtown
Webster Groves, Mo.
“It's a new venture that I'm happy and excited to take on,” Pike said. “The practice will emphasize customer service
and the impact that great quality of care has on someone's life.”
OPTOMETRY CARES — THE AOA FOUNDATION
Parents Urged to Get Kids' Vision Checked Before Problems Affect School, Play (features InfantSEE;
references the AOA; quotes InfantSEE provider/AOA member Dr. Monte Harrel)
Tulsa World (Tulsa, OK) | Rita Sherrow | 06/09/2014
A child's ability to learn from the world around him is impaired when he can't see well enough.
The blackboard becomes too far away, the lettering too small. It might become too frustrating to try to read and
participate in class.
It's why vision screenings need to start early, said Monte Harrel, chief operating officer and founder of Tulsa's Harrel
Eyecare.