mivision issue 32, Feb 2009

Welcome to a new year full of new challenges!

As we enter 2009, we at mivision wish everyone involved in the eye care professions all the very best in their professional and business endeavours.

In this regard, we will strive to continue to bring you the very best of advice, information and even entertainment in a publication of which we are proud and of which you, the profession, have embraced. In this, our first issue for the year, business guru Darren Shirlaw gives his expertise to explain how you can not only survive, but actually thrive in these tougher economic times.

He explains how, on the positive side, businesses can re-evaluate, re-align their resources and re-jig their product lines, thus creating a streamlining and efficiency of product and production.

Our writers have been busy travelling the world over the last few months to bring you the latest news and observations on the world of eyecare.

A group of final year optometry students, as part of their training, travel to 11 countries to not only to learn of the eye health problems so many people suffer, but to do their little bit to help alleviate the problems of at least some of them. These students have learned a great deal from their brief experience, not only clinically, but also philosophically.

On the subject of surviving tough economic times, despite the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), three major optometric expositions have announced growth and expansion in 2009.

Odmafair 09 in Sydney, QV 2009 on the Gold Coast and Southern Regional Congress in Melbourne are all systems go as organisers of each expect the fairs to be as big if not bigger than ever.

In fashion we share a tale with the Oakley crew from the Australian Open, celebrate with Calvin Klein on Cockatoo Island, report on what was hot Silmo, in Paris and profile the dazzling Roberto Cavalli eyewear.

We present reports from the RANZCO Congress in Melbourne then head off to Atlanta for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting.

Back home, in the realm of research, an Australian team believes it is on the verge of making astigmatism a thing of the past. It’s called Vector Planning and is impressing eye health professionals worldwide…and it’s all due to the dedicated work over the past decade by an optometrist, together with a cataract and refractive eye surgeon.

Best wishes to all our readers for 2009!

Mark Cushway
Managing Editor

Contents – February 2009 mivision

	minews – mivision presents all the news both locally and from around the world.
	mistory – The New Frontier for Clear Vision: Ken Griffin gives his account on the new Australian developments which could rid Antigmatism with the help of an optometrist, a cataract and refractive eye surgeon.
	mifeature – Around the World in 126 days: Final year optometry students from the University of Melbourne took part in a new initiative- compulsory oversease externships. They share with us their travel logs.
	mifeature – Vision Van: a first hand account: An optometrist and her partner give their personal accounts of travelling around Australia on the Vision Van.
	mifeature – The Real Back of the Beyond: Peter McClurg shares with us an account on an optometrist participating in a remote optometry outreach service in Wester Australia.
	mifeature – Ranzco Congress: Laura McFarlane writes on the Melbourne conference with more than 700 eye specialists attending the event despite the frosty weather conditions in Melbourne.
	miophthalmology – Annual Meeting, Atlanta: Naomi Adam writes on the highlights on The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, that took place last year.
	mioptometry – Specsavers Strike while its hot: within 10 months of breaking into australian retail optical industry, Specsavers has defied recent GFC and has opened 150 stores throughout the country.
	mioptometry – OPSM’s new boutique store aims to deliver new reatail concepts to today’s markets.
	mioptometry – Optometry Association Reports – Happeings from Australia and NZ
	milenses – The New Varilux 360 Series: Laura McFarlane presents the wide range of designs from Essilor Varilux.
	miequipment – Its not only about the image- Robin Lanesman gives a review of OCT Technology
	mieyecare – Professor Brien A Holden provides an account on whether or not lens solutions are enough when caring for our lenses.

	mibusiness – Thrive not Survive: Darren Shaw shows how to keep your business on track even in times of economic unrest.
	mibusiness – Customer Loyalty is Priceless: How to exceed customer expectations.
	miproducts – mivision brings you a complete summary of the latest February 2009 products.
	mievent – Oakley Rock Australian Open: mivison gives readers all the inside view of all the action that took place in this spectacular event.
	mievent – Calvin Klein Turns 40: mivision was exlusively invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary at a celebrated studded event held at Cockatoo Island, Carolyn Koens reports.
	mifashion – All that Glitters is Cavalli: Sharon Smith gives all the fashion news on Cavalli and the success the popular brand has achieved.
	mifashion – Review of Slimo, Mondial De L’Optique: Leigh Cushway shows us how this year Slimo exhibition was an opportunity for forward thinking professionals to solidify their business.