Author Archives: Envision Magazine

Comic Vision: How One Mom Put the “Fun” Back Into Fundraiser

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By Briar Sexton, MD

DiscoveringAnn Morrison was in no mood to laugh when she received the news that her young son Gavin had Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in 1998. RP is an incurable genetic disease that causes the affected person’s vision to narrow to a very small window – and even that window can become blurry. It also severely affects night vision.

But Ann isn’t the sort of person who retreats from a challenge and her reaction was to learn everything she could about the disease.

She attended Vision Quest, a Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) annual event that educates patients and families living with eye disease and enables them to connect with one another. In addition to learning about RP, she learned about the FFB.

The organization, which is the largest private supporter of Canadian vision research, donates millions of dollars annually to Canadian researchers working on treatments and cures for genetic eye diseases, including RP and macular degeneration. What Ann learned about the Foundation convinced her the group was worth supporting.

What came next was an idea from her friend, Meg Soper, a nurse and successful stand-up comic, who suggested they get their friends and families together to raise money for the FFB. Their first event in 1999 at The Laugh Resort in Toronto raised $7,800. Buoyed by their success the pair set their sights higher; in 2002 they worked on a second event, this time with a volunteer committee, which led to increased ticket sales and revenue.

In 2003, the Foundation welcomed Ann to their staff and Comic Vision became an official FFB fundraiser. A year later it expanded to Oakville, then London, Vancouver and Calgary; in 2010, Comic Vision was held at Toronto’s “Last Call”, a smaller venue that evokes the event’s roots. In each city Comic Vision received strong support from community volunteers and debuted to crowds of over 300. The momentum continues to grow, and this year, with the event debuting in Halifax, Comic Vision will officially go coast to coast.

The funds raised keep increasing too. Since 1999, Comic Vision has raised over $5 million for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. In 2013 alone, more than 2,500 Canadians attended the various Comic Vision shows, raising $930,000 for vision-saving research by Canadian scientists.

Ann is now the FFB’s Director of Philanthropy. Asked how she remains so dedicated to the organization more than a decade after first getting involved, she says, “The Foundation is not just about restoring sight, it also restores people’s hope. The progress made in the last 10 years is so encouraging, I am confident there will be treatments in the next decade for some forms of retinal disease”.

Anyone attending Comic Vision for the first time will be pleasantly surprised by the event’s atmosphere. The crowd is more “smart casual” than “black tie.” Waitresses circulate with finger foods and tables are adorned with Kernels popcorn, Twizzlers and other treats. The audience munches away while enjoying high-calibre stand-up comedy. It’s the kind of evening people would enjoy even if it wasn’t for a good cause.

Shelagh Anson, the mother of two young children with RP, was apprehensive about attending her first Comic Vision event in Vancouver in 2012. Beforehand, she was on the brink of tears at the mere mention of her kids’ diagnosis. Shelagh did cry that evening, but they were tears of laughter at the comedians’ routines. She and her family actively volunteer with and donate to the FFB and her experience epitomizes Comic Vision’s slogan: “Share the Laughter, See the Hope.”

Comic Vision is the ultimate win-win, a fun evening people will enjoy even if they aren’t affected by vision issues. It’s also a cause anyone can gladly get behind, knowing they’re supporting Canada’s best vision scientists in their truly groundbreaking work.

A New Approach to Working With Blind Children

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By Evra Taylor 

LegalAngleWith growing numbers of women giving birth later in life, there is an increasing awareness of the risk of birth defects. Yet few of us give much thought to children who are born blind. A synergistic partnership between the MUHC (McGill University Health Centre) and the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre aims to change that.

The MAB (Montreal Association for the Blind) provides family-centered adaptation, rehabilitation and social integration services for children with motor or language impairments and to persons of all ages who are blind or visually impaired and/or deaf or hard of hearing.

In many cases, the MAB is the first resource families consult regarding vision defects and the challenges faced by the child and the parents. Its Early Intervention Program is a rehabilitation service that addresses the needs of children from birth to kindergarten. The service also provides parents with a better understanding of the essential role vision plays in child development. Early intervention is offered for children and adolescents with vision loss up to age 17 (or to age 21, if still attending high school). The program uses a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach that involves professionals from the optometry, occupational therapy and vision rehabilitation sectors, among others.

The thinking behind early intervention is that people with limited ability to interact with their environment – through sight, for example – are prevented from growing and developing at a normal rate. The MAB offers an assessment of functional vision, visual skills training and an ocular health appraisal using a specialized optometric evaluation and equipment designed to determine the child’s developmental level; it also offers psychosocial support and counseling for the child and the family and consultation as well as support with respect to integration into daycare, school and leisure activities. Importantly, the MAB’s services extend to lifestyle training including selfcare skills, food preparation and cooking, environmental modifications, and mobility skills such as safe travel and navigating one’s neighbourhood. It also provides an adapted computer service that teaches visually impaired people how to use adapted technology and software.

In recent years, the MUHC has been trying to further develop its relationship with the MAB within the framework of the RUIS, the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services’ four integrated university health networks across the province. The teaming of the MUHC and the MAB was initiated by the MUHC as a way of promoting the services of the two organizations in a symbiotic relationship. They have agreed to seek ways to sensitize and educate professionals within the MUHC about the services provided by the MAB as well as to promote access to educational opportunities for MAB staff.

“This is an excellent opportunity for us,” said Jim Gates, acting director of the McGill Health Network Office. “With this relationship our blind and visually impaired patients – from newborns to elderly – will benefit.”

“We are happy to be teaming up with the MUHC,” said Gisèle Hall, director of Professional Services at the MAB and at Mackay Rehabilitation Centre. “I know our services can help a lot of people and we can certainly benefit from the wealth of knowledge the MUHC can provide us with in the many areas related to blindness and visual impairment.”

Botox and the Aging Eye

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By Netan Choudhry, M.D, FRCSC and Jennifer George

EyeOnHealthWhile Botox is often thought of as a recent development in medical technology, it has been in use in the ophthalmologist’s office since the late 1980s. Though it was first used in the treatment of certain eye ailments, Botox is now widely recognized as the remedy of choice in eye rejuvenation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox for this purpose in April 2002 and today, ophthalmologists can use the drug to safely remove years from one’s age almost instantly.

Botox is derived from a toxin produced by the baceterium Clostridium botulinum. In large amounts, botulinum can cause botulism, one of whose complications is muscle paralysis. Though botulism is often associated with food poisoning, thanks to the marvels of medical research scientists have discovered how to wield the toxin produced by this bacterium as well as its side effect for safe use in treating a variety of ailments. In small, diluted quantities, the toxin can be injected directly into certain muscles, causing them to weaken in a controlled manner.

For two decades, Botox has been administered for the treatment of various muscle-related eye issues. The toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum results in paralysis of muscle tissue by preventing neural impulses from sending signals to the muscles responsible for their movement. Over time, the nerves gradually regain the ability to signal the muscles, a process that takes place over a period of several months.

Botox, a mitigated form of the toxin, has safely been used for its efficacy in relaxing or paralyzing muscles affected by certain eye conditions. Among them, strabismus or heterotropia (commonly referred to as lazy eye or cross-eye) was one of the earliest disorders known to respond well to Botox therapy. Strabismus causes one eye to look inward or outward, resulting in difficulty with depth perception, vision loss and diplopia (double vision). Each eye contains six muscles, two of which control their side-to-side movement. These two muscles work together in a counter-balance to maintain the correct alignment of one’s gaze. When one of the muscles becomes weak, the other will pull the eye in the opposite direction, resulting in the cross-eyed effect observed in eyes with strabismus. Ophthalmologists inject the stronger of the two muscles with Botox, thus relaxing it and allowing the weaker muscle to regain its strength. Botox has also been successfully used in the treatment of an affliction known as blepharospasm (eyelid-spasm or uncontrolled blinking). Though Botox therapy does not cure these illnesses, it allows individuals a much-improved quality of life, requiring injections only once every several months for maintenance.

In addition to treating a number of ophthalmic ailments, Botox is also highly effective in the cosmetic realm. The eyes are among our most prominent facial features and the periorbital area, or the skin around the eyes, attracts a great deal of attention. Unfortunately, it is comprised of very delicate skin, and as a result, is highly susceptible to signs of aging such as wrinkles. Wrinkles are folds, creases or ridges in the skin, and an inevitable part of growing older. Our first wrinkles often result from our facial expressions. Factors such as smoking and sun damage also play a role in how we wrinkle. As the skin ages, it loses moisture, gradually becoming thinner and less elastic. In the delicate skin of the periorbital area, visible signs such as crow’s feet are often very prominent. Botox has proven effective in the treatment of both crow’s feet and glabellar lines (also known as frown lines).

Botox prevents muscle contraction. Muscles injected with Botox will relax, resulting in the softening of wrinkles. Patients can expect to see results from Botox therapy in as little as two to four days. The effects of one treatment can last between four and six months. Though Botox is not a permanent cure, wrinkles, maintenance injections every six months result in the gradual delay of wrinkle formation. With each treatment, the wrinkles return with less severity because the muscles become accustomed to a state of relaxation. Botox has made it possible to reduce visible signs of aging without undergoing anaesthesia, or lifestyle-altering recovery periods.

Experience the Magic

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By Nicky Fambios

EventTransitions“Have a magical day!” is what more than 1,200 industry professionals from across North and South America heard after checking in at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, FL for the 18th annual Transitions Academy. And with that one phrase, the tone was set.

The three-day, invitation-only event revolved around the theme “Experience It!” and aptly began with a welcome reception featuring a capella singers and beloved Disney characters.

Monday morning’s educational track kicked off with keynote speaker Shane J. Lopez, Ph.D, Gallup senior scientist and author of the book Making Hope Happen. Lopez spoke to attendees about creating the future they want through the contagious power of hope and encouraged them to “be the superhero of their own story”.

Developing the “Experience It!” theme, the workshops offered strategies for working with change and dealing with customers, as well as using a holistic approach to personal and business health.

A mix of hands-on technology experiments, activities and games livened the afternoon and provided the first-hand experience of wearing Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses. Not to mention offering the opportunity for some team-building and a little friendly competition!

Tuesday saw Sherianne James, director, North America marketing, present Transitions’ new 2014 media plan, which includes new television spots as well as a new 30-minute direct response commercial. “We’re really excited about the ad,” said James in an interview with Envision: seeing beyond magazine. “This long format allows us to tell not only the Signature VII story but also the story of the entire Transitions family of brands.”

James was also the agent of more good news as she announced a sensational, high-profile collaboration between Transitions and Disney. “We couldn’t be more thrilled,” she stated. “Besides participating at various events here in Orlando, this partnership gives tremendous access to consumers not normally reached with another brand.

And of course, Tuesday evening saw the much-anticipated Transitions Academy Awards ceremony, which honoured industry stakeholders in lab, retail, eyecare practice, eyecare professional, human resource and vision benefit broker categories.

Wael Yassein, owner and optician at The Eye Shoppe in Oshawa, ON, was recognized for his outstanding efforts to promote eye health and brought home the Canadian Eyecare Professional of the Year award.

“I feel better knowing I’m making a difference in people’s vision,” said Yassein. “It’s always a good feeling to know I’m doing something right – and to win the Transitions Eyecare Professional of the Year award is absolutely gratifying.”

Loblaw Optical was named Retailer of the Year for Canada. According to ChristineUnderhill, business manager, Transitions Optical, Canada, “Loblaw Optical’s continued education initiatives and drive for success have been unparalleled.”

Moe Benaim, senior category manager, optical, Loblaw Optical, was elated to accept the award on behalf of the retailer. “Winning the Transitions Retailer of the Year award in Canada was a primary goal of our team for 2013, and to win it, just means the world.”

Hope, education, activities, awards and Disney characters… have a magical day, indeed!

Opti 2014: Kicking off the Year in Style

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By JoAnne Sommers

EventOptiThe new year got off to a flying start in Munich from January 10-12 as opti, the international trade show for optics and design, set new records for the number of visitors and exhibitors it attracted.

About 500 exhibitors from 34 countries showcased the latest in frames, lenses, contact lenses, equipment and fixtures for the more than 24,000 visitors from over 80 countries who attended. Many of the products and collections had their world premieres – among them “Claudia Schiffer by Rodenstock”, from Germany’s leading manufacturer of lenses and frames, which is headquartered in the Bavarian capital.

The record number of exhibitors as well as visitors is a clear vote in favour of the event’s date at the beginning of the calendar year, said Dieter Dohr, chairman of the management board of GHM, which organized opti.

“The show is the ideal start to the year for the industry, which appreciates the high quality and product range on offer, as well as the lively, exciting atmosphere of the show,” said Dohr. “If you want to see a best of the market, you have to come to Munich.”

Organizers said that opti provides a compact, highly efficient forum for business, thanks to its clearly structured layout. One visitor who appreciated that aspect of the show was Jordan Paul, owner of Opticianado Eyewear in Toronto.

Paul, who was attending opti for the first time, was impressed with its excellent organization and the convenient location at the fairground Messe Munchen, just 20 minutes by underground railway from downtown Munich. He said the timing also played a big role in his decision to attend.

“January is the best time of year for me to get away from my store,” he said. “It was too early to start buying product but the show gave me an excellent preview of what is coming and some ideas about what I might want to buy later in the year.”

Paul said he liked what he saw from a number of the exhibitors, including Anglo American Eyewear, a company with which he has previously worked. “I’ve had good success with them in the past and I was impressed with what I saw from their British counterpart at the show.”

A veteran of international optical trade shows, including Silmo in Paris and Mido in Milan, Paul said he decided to attend opti after hearing that it was an, “up and coming show.” It was larger than he was expecting and featured a number of different vendors than those he had seen elsewhere, including some smaller independents, with which he was unfamiliar.

In addition to providing a forum for products from companies representing all parts of the optical industry, opti offers an excellent supporting program. Interdisciplinary presentations are available on each day of the fair, featuring leading speakers from Germany and abroad. The continuing education program is free of charge for all exhibitors and visitors, and the presentations are simultaneously translated into English.

Opti 2015 will be held from Friday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Jan. 11 and organizers say that visitors and exhibitors can look forward to the best show ever. So mark your calendars now!

The Battle for Consumers: Online Versus Eyecare Professionals

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By Grant Larsen

DigitalMarketingIn the past, to have a successful optical business all you had to do was market to your neighbourhood, advertise to local traffic and wait for people to walk into your store. Pick the right location, signage, maybe even a yellow pages ad, and your business would grow for years to come. But the Internet has dramatically expanded your neighbourhood and your competition as well. Online retailers, optical chains and, more recently, manufacturers are selling directly to your consumers, including your long-time patients and/or potential clients. It is possible that you have not noticed these changes but as online retailing grows, you will compete with your suppliers and chains for the attention of consumers. The success and value of your business in the long term will depend on how you use preferred digital tools to stay in touch with clients and attract a steady flow of consumers to maintain your business.

So how do you tap into the digital engine that drives new customers, sustains business and helps you win the battle for eyecare consumers?

1. You Can Sell On-Line

Neutralize online companies by offering convenience and price on select brands, contact lenses, select frame-and-lens packages, and online appointment booking.  Options such as adding e-commerce to your existing site or re-directing customers to an e-commerce partner can be done in less than a week. For online shoppers who currently walk away with fitting instructions or eye exam results, these options can help to capture some of those otherwise-lost sales. In many cases, these same online buyers will call you or visit your store or office for other services over time.

2. Digital New Patient Ads

Not all marketing spending should target or be justified by a “sale”. Per-click ads on Google can be geographically and key-word targeted to focus on your ideal new customer. For less than $100 per month, you can be an Internet marketer with graphic statistics that measure engagement and direct next month’s offer. Digital ads can be a fraction of the cost of direct mail, outdoor ads or even paid online directories, and you can set limits on how much to spend. Seeing your business ads in multiple media sources builds trust, a key element in long-term consumer relationships.

3. Stay in Touch with Email

Addresses and phone numbers often change, but people keep personal email addresses forever. If you haven’t been collecting them from clients, start now. It is still the most common way to interact for most people and easy to manage and scale to your budget. Email templates are available for free online.  You can use images and content from your website, target specific patient groups and promote events, all with minimal graphics experience required. Simple functions like “invite a friend”, “send this offer”, and “enter to win” create client connections that super-charge your community referrals.

4. Reasons to See You

Offering the same brands as online retailers or standard discounts is not going to convince local buyers to rush into your store. Online shopping is intuitively cheaper and more convenient for most consumers. The latest styles, detailed frame/lens options, private rooms, medical services and your optical expertise are just some of the valuable reasons to see you in person. The online deal of the day or “Combo 4” can’t match your personal invitation. Telephone recalls, VIP events, email offers, social media, community events and websites should all drive patients and consumers back to your store.

The value of your business is not what you sell, where you sell or how you sell. The value of your business is the strength of your customer relationships. By adopting some digital skills, you can connect with more clients, communicate better information and consistently use multiple digital sources to give them what they want. In many cases these digital tools save you significant time and money, since you are targeting your ideal customers in your specific community.

 

Planning Priorities for Small Business Owners

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By JoAnne Sommers

MngYourBizFor most small business owners, running a business is an all-consuming undertaking. There are so many things to take care of – from attracting new customers to managing day-to-day operations – that it’s easy to neglect business planning.

Even so, it’s essential for small business owners to prioritize business planning matters for periodic review. A meeting to brainstorm with your professional advisors – accountant, lawyer and money manager – can provide a lot of insight, says Adrian Mastracci, portfolio manager and financial advisor at KCM Wealth Management in Vancouver. “Contemplating business matters is best done as a unit,” he says. “Review all of the implications and design a total approach to addressing your priorities.”

Here is a look at some of the leading planning priorities for Canadian small business owners:

• Business Structure 

It may be time to give your business structure a tweak or even a makeover, says Mastracci. The current structure may consist of a sole proprietorship, partnership, incorporated company, or it may be a more complex set of holding companies.

Choosing the right legal structure for your business can save you money at tax time, make it easier (and cheaper) to pay yourself, help you avoid potential personal legal liability, and allow you to sell your business or pass it on to your heirs, according to RBC Royal Bank.

Your first step is to evaluate the valid business reasons for the current structure. Then think about whether you could benefit by modifying part or all of the structure.

• Owner Remuneration 

Take a look at the composition of your current owner remuneration mix to make sure it’s serving you well, advises Mastracci.

“Most business owners take a combination of salary, bonus and management fees, which is deductible by the business but taxable in the hands of the recipient,” he says. “Determine who is getting paid and how much.”

Some members of your family may be able to receive dividends while paying little income tax, he adds. Do a tax projection to determine whether a shareholder would pay less tax by taking a dividend as opposed to salary remuneration.

Also keep in mind that in order to create the maximum 2015 registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contribution room of $24,930, you will require “earned income” of close to $138,500 in 2014. And don’t forget that “net rental income” qualifies as earned income. Rental losses, however, reduce earned income.

• Business Continuance

When you’re in the midst of your normal business activities, it’s easy to forget about the question of how to ensure the continued operation of your business if something happens to you: specifically, who will take the reins if you become disabled, ill or deceased?

Mastracci recommends that you arrange for someone who can step in and fill your shoes temporarily and, perhaps, for the longer term, if necessary. If you’re fortunate, there may be a family member or someone already in the organization who can fill this role.

Once you identify your replacement, make sure to let the other senior people in the organization know who you’ve chosen for this purpose.

• Family Trusts

Many business owners have set up various family trusts over the years. Some of the rules governing them have changed and some trusts are now approaching their 21-year life. At that point, a trust’s property is deemed to be sold so it is possible that tax will be incurred on any capital gains.

Trusts can be advantageous when adult children are the beneficiaries. While minors are prohibited from receiving income from a trust, there is no prohibition against an adult child doing so. Thus a trust can be a good vehicle for passing some of the value of the business on to your adult children.

This is a good opportunity to revisit your family’s planning needs and the cost versus benefit of your current trust structure. If you have a family trust, ensure that the documentation and trust arrangements are up to date. This is especially important if the trust was created in another province where you no longer reside.

This is also a good time for those who don’t have a family trust to assess whether it makes sense to establish one.

•  Lifetime Capital Gain Exemption 

A lifetime capital gains exemption of up to $800,000 per spouse is available in 2014, up from $750,000 in 2013. It exempts gains from the sale of qualifying small businesses, farm property and fishing assets. You should review the eligibility steps for the special gain if you own such assets. Full exemption means a tax savings of almost $163,000 per spouse in many provinces.

Addressing these business issues will help to pave a smoother path to achieving your financial goals, says Mastracci, adding, “Always ensure that you and your professional advisors are on the same page.”

Game Change: How FYidoctors is Altering Canada’s Optical Landscape

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By JoAnne Sommers

EyeOnIndustryIn an industry well known for its conservatism, Dr. Alan Ulsifer is an anomaly. An innovator and a maverick, the founder and CEO of Calgary-based FYidoctors doesn’t mind stirring things up as he works to advance the interests of the more than 400 doctors who are part of the FYidoctors and Vision Source Canada platforms.

Consider the company’s recently announced joint venture with VSP Vision Care Canada (VSP). The joint venture, which gives FYidoctors access to Canadian patients covered by VSP’s vision insurance program, combines the latter’s employee benefits platform with FYidoctors’ extensive network of independent optometrists across Canada, including its Vision Source Canada franchise locations.

VSP’s role is to market, sell and administer its vision care insurance platform to employers across Canada. In turn, employees of these organizations can seek care from FYidoctors’ network of optometrists as well as its Vision Source Canada franchise locations. FYidoctors will also, subject to strict criteria, allow access to independent eye doctors outside the core of FYidoctors’ companies.

While he is concerned about the false assumptions being circulated about the partnership, Ulsifer is unfazed by the controversy it has provoked. “Canadians don’t get their eyes examined often enough, in part because of the cost,” he says. “Using the VSP platform in this new company, we have created a program that is more accessible and will lead to more frequent eye exams and purchases of ophthalmic product.”

There is significant concern in the industry that VSP will be able unilaterally to dictate doctors’ fees for examinations and products as it can do in the U.S. This is not possible under the terms of the new Canadian company, says Ulsifer, who adds, “We believe the new company has fully addressed those fears and that it actually prevents a U.S.-type platform from being formed by VSP in Canada.”

Creating the best possible visual outcomes for its patients while striving to ensure that optometrists, not corporations, define what eyecare looks like in Canada, is the raison d’être of FYidoctors.

To that end, Ulsifer and his colleagues have created an infrastructure which he calls, “unique in the world. We’re corporate in name, not function. This is a doctor-owned and governed partnership of people with a commitment to providing the best possible eyecare technology, products and services. We understand that we need to be a certain size and scale to ensure a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

The idea for FYidoctors emerged from Ulsifer’s visit to Vision Expo West in 2006. There, for the first time, he saw free-form lenses and the software that created them and recognized the opportunity to vertically integrate the optometric practice and create value. Fired up by the experience, he went home to Grande Prairie, AB and shared his vision with his partners at Northern Vision Centre, one of Canada’s largest independent optometric practices. They then invited 10 other practices to discuss market challenges and opportunities, and, as Ulsifer says, “everyone caught the bug.”

Later that year, Ulsifer led the largest corporate merger in Canadian history, based on the number of companies involved, with more than 80 professional corporations joining forces to create FYidoctors.

It took about two years to set up the new company’s infrastructure, he says. “We opened a lab in Burnaby, B.C., starting off with a 3,000-square-foot facility. Today we have more than 10 times that amount of space in a fully automated free-form laboratory and distribution facility, along with exclusive Canadian distribution of 15 products.”

The company now has more than 1,400 staff, including about 280 optometrists across 109 FYidoctors locations coast to coast. And last fall it acquired the Canadian assets and operations of Vision Source Canada, North America’s largest network of private practice optometrists, adding 105 Canadian Vision Source locations and approximately 150 optometrists to its roster.

EyeOnIndustry1

Supporting them is a unique management team that features financial, marketing and legal specialists who have expertise beyond the optical industry.

The company’s structure and size and its unique support platforms have enabled FYidoctors to thrive in the face of the technological challenges the industry faces. As Ulsifer says, “Technology and economics don’t always align but through our shared efficiencies we make it work without having to pass all the costs on to our patients.”

The company’s critical mass has also enabled it to add attractive incentives such as its new Aeroplan partnership. FYidoctors recently acquired VEDI Corporation, which gives it the exclusive right to offer Aeroplan Miles at all of its corporate locations. There will be an opportunity for all Vision Source Canada franchise locations and other independent practices to offer Aeroplan Miles as well.

Ulsifer says the goal of FYidoctors is to stay ahead of the curve by anticipating emerging technological developments and business opportunities and adapting its platform to take advantage of them.

The company will introduce a new vision screening app in the coming weeks. It also plans to launch an Internet-based public portal designed to serve existing customers with branded frames, ophthalmic lenses and contact lenses. Thanks to new technology, licensed practitioners will be able to perform measurements via a virtual platform, thus enabling patients to choose the best possible products to meet their particular needs.

After taking a year off to implement a new practice management marketing program company-wide, FYidoctors recently embarked on an aggressive new growth phase, which began with the addition of the Vision Source franchises in October.

Going forward, the company is focused on ensuring that optometrists continue to play a significant role in shaping the eyecare field in Canada.

“We want to be involved in making the difficult decisions that will determine the future of optometrists and optometry in this country,” says Ulsifer. “Some of our choices are considered controversial because optometrists in this country have traditionally been more reactive than proactive. But we’re committed to determining our own destiny instead of sitting back and simply hoping for the best.”

While the Canadian optical market remains strong, Ulsifer predicts that it will experience considerable disruption in the short term. That, he says, will create fantastic opportunities for innovators who are willing to challenge the status quo.

“In 10 years, the delivery of eyecare in this country will look very different than it does today. Now that we enjoy a strategic advantage, we plan to leverage it to gain market share, promote all of our associated clinics and find new ways to deliver services that match changing consumer expectations.”

Multifocal Contact Lenses Without Limits

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By Shirley Ha, HBSc., O.D.

MakingContactThe fitting of multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) is becoming easier and less time-consuming than in years past. Beyond the customary presbyopia they were intended to correct, MFCLs are being considered for other uses such as slowing myopia progression in children and managing deficits in accommodation and some binocular disorders, especially for those averse to wearing glasses. To successfully fit these patients, it is important to understand the intricacies of the different multifocal lens designs, so that the most favourable profile can be chosen.

Currently, two basic designs are in use: the alternating image RGP-only design with distinct distance and near vision zones, and the simultaneous image design in which the distance, near and often intermediate images are simultaneously presented and the brain chooses the better resolution image. Simultaneous image designs use concentric, aspheric or a combination of both optics. Aspheric is the most common and incorporates a centre-near or a centre-distance design.

For myopia control, the premise is to reduce the peripheral hyperopic defocus, a stimulus for axial elongation in children. A simultaneous image concentric design bifocal contact lens seems reasonable, where an outer annular ring of retinal defocus surrounds a centre circle of distance correction. One study utilizing this concept found that 28 out of 40 children, aged 11-14, who wore a dual-focus lens in one eye had their myopia progression and axial elongation reduced by about 30 per cent or more compared with their other eye, which wore a single-focus lens. It concluded that sustained myopic defocus with simultaneous image design can slow myopic progression.[i]

Similarly, a centre-distance aspheric soft MFCL, such as the “D” design Biofinity® and Proclear® Multifocals from Cooper Vision with a high add power, can also work. According to a two-year study by Dr. Jeffrey Walline et al, 27 myopic children, aged 8-11, wearing two “D” lenses showed an impressive 50 per cent reduction in myopia progression, compared to children wearing single vision lenses in the control group. Axial growth was also reduced by 29 per cent.[ii]

Another centre-distance design, the Acuvue® Oasys® for Presbyopia from Vistakon, could be considered an option; however the net plus-power in its alternating distance and near zones in the periphery may not be enough to move the image back onto the retina to arrest ocular growth. The same is true of most of the centre-near aspheric soft MFCLs currently on the market, all of which are more suitable for correcting regular presbyopia.

Another possible use of MFCLs is for patients with accommodation anomalies, such as accommodative insufficiency or ill-sustained accommodation. When used as an adjunct to primary vision therapy, they are very effective and can provide the initial short-term solution or even the kick-start necessary for vision training. The goal is the same as it is for a presbyope whose loss of accommodation naturally decreases with age: to prescribe the lowest add correction that will bring the near point of focus clearly and comfortably within the patient’s normal working distance by harmonizing the abnormal clinical findings of low amplitude of accommodation for age, high lag of accommodation, low positive relative accommodation (PRA) and inertia of accommodation. In theory, both the alternating image and simultaneous image designs can be employed to manage these dysfunctions. In the end, however, the compensatory modality chosen, either multifocal spectacles or MFCLs, should be eliminated over time through active vision therapy.

Conversely, an alternating image design can be suggested for binocular dysfunction cases, such as non-refractive accommodative esotropia and convergence excess with high accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratios to relax accommodation and promote ocular alignment at near. It is more natural and can even help reduce the neck muscle tension that is often found in some spectacle bifocal wearers. Furthermore, it is especially beneficial for plus prescriptions because less accommodation is needed to focus at near compared to plus-lens glasses due to the difference in vertex distance. A study conducted by Rich and Glusman from the University of South Alabama’s Department of Ophthalmology cites the alternating image design (Tangent Streak® RGP bifocal contact lens) as an acceptable alternative to bifocal glasses for patients with accommodative esotropia.[iii]

The use of simultaneous image aspheric designs in managing this group in clinical trials is limited and has mixed results. One researcher reported the added plus near periphery was dynamically useful in all fields of gaze for his 15 children[iv] while another study failed to show adequate binocular alignment.[v] Notwithstanding research results that may still be forthcoming, all patients with accommodative esotropia should still undergo optometric vision training to eliminate any amblyopia/suppression and to build on improving the fusional divergence reserves at all viewing distances.

In summary, MFCLs are only effective if applied to the correct patients. Understanding the optical properties of MFCL profiles will provide the practitioner with the outside-the-box thinking and additional arsenal needed for that prospective uncommon clinical solution.

[i] ANSTICE, N.S., PHILLIPS, J.R. “Effect of dual-focus soft contact lens wear on axial myopia progression in children”, Ophthalmology, vol. 118, no 6, June 2011, p. 1152-61

[ii] WALLINE, J.J., GREINER, K.L. et al. “Multifocal contact lens myopia control”, Optometry and Vision Science, vol. 90, no  11, November 2013, p. 1207-14

[iii] RICH, L.S., GLUSMAN, M. “Tangent Streak RGP bifocal contact lenses in the treatment of accommodative esotropia with high AC/A ratio”, The Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists Journal, vol. 18, no 1, January 1992, p. 56-8

[iv] VECCHIES, A. “Improving stereopsis in accommodative esotropia”. Available at: http://www.menicon.com/pro/news/menicon-newsletter/39-menicon-letter/91-improving-steropsis-in-accommodative-esotropia (Accessed January 2014)

[v] MORTON, G.V., KUSHNER, B.J  et al. “The efficacy of SimuVue and Unilens RGP aspheric bifocal contact lenses in the treatment of esotropia associated with a high AC/A ratio”, Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, vol. 2, no 2, April 1998, p. 108-12

Match Eyewear’s Ethan Goodman Does it All

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PortraitGoodmanEthan Goodman is both the president of Match Eyewear and the company’s chief designer. He wears both hats with aplomb, having created a distinctive contemporary look for the company’s brand and its individual collections.

The embodiment of a hands-on executive, Goodman is involved in the creation of every Match Eyewear frame from conception to completion. He tells the company’s team of five Italian and U.S. designers what he wants to accomplish with each design and every style that goes into production has his personal involvement and stamp of approval.

“My expertise lies in choosing colours and saleable shapes and working with our designers in terms of which materials to use as well as the choice of embellishments and logos,” he explains. “We believe that this personal involvement in the design details and all other areas of the company puts Match Eyewear ahead of our competitors in terms of quality, design and service.”

Goodman, a 20-year industry veteran, grew up in the midst of the optical industry. His optician father owned an eyeglass store in New York City and by age six, Goodman was a regular visitor.

“I started out sweeping the floors, which quickly led to restocking the showcases and eventually servicing customers,” he says. “Being surrounded by so many different shapes, colours and materials was fascinating to me. Even then, I had a knack for matching shapes and styles to people’s faces.”

After a year of college, Goodman decided his future lay in the optical field. He attended optician school, then got a sales job on the wholesale side with one of the industry’s big names.

“I was 21, hungry and had the fire in me to pound the pavement every day, cold calling and writing orders,” he says. “I had found my talent!”

Goodman also sought mentors who guided him and helped shape his career. Over time he worked in all areas of the business, eventually pouring his collective experiences into the design of Match Eyewear’s products, which he helped to found in 2001.

The Westbury, NY-based firm has built a portfolio of brands – including Adrienne Vittadini, PortraitHE4188Danny Gokey Eyewear, Helium Paris, Float Titanium, Float Kids, Aero by Float Milan, Match Flex Eyewear and AV Studio – each with its own unique appeal. The brands touch different demographics and each has its own embellishments, all based on the feeling of the brand, says Goodman.

“Although our company’s audience is broad, the type of consumer we appeal to is consistent. They seek superior-quality fashion eyewear at accessible price points.”

In addition to his other responsibilities, Goodman continues to work with customers in the field, which, he says, connects him to the heartbeat of the business. He believes that this hands-on involvement, which sets him apart from most other designers, is one of his greatest strengths. “I’m in touch with current fashion influences, I see what the industry leaders are doing and I recognize trends.” Those trends and influences are reflected in Match Eyewear’s stylish collections.

Adrienne Vittadini, which offers accessible luxury and easy elegance for today’s chic, sophisticated woman, features meticulous design, rich textures and colours, delicate styling and exquisite embellishments.

PortraitDG23Danny Gokey Eyewear embodies the spirit of the American Idol finalist and is inspired by his classic, individual sense of style. This unique ophthalmic and sunwear collection is retro-chic with a soulful edge, bringing effortless cool to fashion-savvy men.

In Helium Paris, adventurous French design is married to fine Italian craftsmanship, delivering a line with a chic, distinctive edge. Innovative shapes, bold styling and the finest materials create premium-quality high fashion eyewear for trend-setting men and women.

Float Titanium incorporates clean, contemporary styling with simple silhouettes, delivering impressive elegance to discerning men who demand the best. And Aero by Float Milan is a colourful, rimless collection designed and manufactured using the highest industry standards. Durable, comfortable and hypoallergenic, every model features higher temples and a single chassis design with multiple lens options to provide a perfect style for every customer.

With its acquisition of Optiq Frames in August 2012 Match Eyewear added seven additional brands to its portfolio, including Respec, Urban, Minimize, Minimize kids, Image Cafe and AKA. Goodman says the company is now focused on getting its Canadian collections, “going in the right direction. We’re streamlining them to create more of a story and directing them to make sure customers see the difference. So far, we’re getting good feedback.”

A dedicated family man, Goodman and his wife recently celebrated 10 years of marriage. The couple has two children, aged 8 and 5, and when he’s not working he enjoys spending time with family and friends.

“I love sports and get immense joy watching my son become an athlete,” he says. “My favorite time of year is summer because I love barbecuing and having fun with my wife and kids in the pool or at the beach.”