It’s easy to become complacent. It can happen to us all. When the job’s good, family’s happy and there’s enough money to cover the bills at the end of each month, we feel free to drop our guard. Yet if we don’t pay attention to each of these aspects of our lives (and more), something is sure to slip into the abyss…
This month we focus on Macular Degeneration – it’s still the biggest cause of blindness in Australia and as such, the eye-opening stats associated with this degenerative disease are often bandied about… so much so that its easy, as an eye care community, to become complacent – to take the view that our patients are fully cognisant of the risks, signs and symptoms.
Recent research proves that important risk factors – such as the hereditary nature of the disease – are not well known. There are also some serious misconceptions in the community that need to be cleared up. Plus, despite amazing advances in treatments for wet AMD, the need remains to find a cure for both forms of this debilitating disease. As an eye care community that means we still have plenty to do for this disease – which is why we, at mivision, are committed to speaking up to raise awareness about MD so that when future generations Google Macular Degeneration searches will come up “Age-related macular degeneration (MD) WAS the most common cause of blindness in Australia”.
One optom practice that refuses to become complacent is Hansen Optometry in the NSW regional city of Orange. After 125 years in operation, this practice continues to go from strength to strength. They’ve just completed a total refurb, which includes a ‘high-roller room’, a lens selection area equipped with state-of-the-art technology and point of sale that enables customers to ‘virtually’ try on frames while wearing their own specs. The project has differentiated Hansens from the competition and shifted the family run practice to the forefront of the industry.
This month we focus on Macular Degeneration – it’s still the biggest cause of blindness in Australia…
Another eye care business with a proactive approach is Alcon CibaVision. They recognise that optometry students graduate with little contact lens experience. Because of this, the company decided to invite recent grads, who are already practicing in the community, to a weekend away where they could fast track their contact lens fitting skills. On the ‘pH scale’ of optometry practice, our business writer, John Lees would position these young optoms right at the top – their approach to professional learning, engagement and succeeding in delivering the highest level of customer service was clearly evident. As John writes this issue, success is “acquired and developed by people who want it most… for the benefit of patients/customers as well as for themselves and the practice”.
When it comes to looking after the environment, as we all know today, there is little room for complacency. Our article on eco-friendly eyewear explores some fascinating new concepts for sustainable eyewear – some created to be commercially viable, others created more with fun in mind! And speaking of creativity, in an exclusive interview with leading eyewear designer Moss Lipow, we find out how eyewear from the past has played such an integral role in the head-turning, eye-catching frames he designs today.
You’ll find all this and more in this issue of mivision.
Enjoy this issue.
Mark Cushway
Contents:
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minews: all the latest news from mivision May 2012. Read More… |
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mistory: It’s All In the Genes MD: Understanding the Generational Link: A breakthrough treatment for wet AMD could improve the quality of life for patients and reduce their ongoing costs. Read More… |
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mifeature: Moss Lipow. The Man behind the Vision behind a Visual History: There are eyewear designers…and then there are those regarded by their peers as a designer’s designer. Read More… |
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mifeature: One Out of the Box: Hansen Optometry in the central west New South Wales city of Orange has celebrated 125 years in eye care with a major renovation. Read More… |
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mioptometry: Comment from Australia and New Zealand and all the latest in the world of optometry May 2012. Read More… |
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miview: Rastas, Reefers & Reggae: Balmy nights, laid back days, rum punch and steel bands… aaah we must be in Jamaica. Read More… |
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mieyecare: Graduates Contact Lens Skills Fast Tracked: Recent optometry graduates fast tracked their experience with fitting contact lenses and contact lens patient care at a series of conferences hosted by Alcon Australia. Read More… |
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mieyecare: (CPD Article): Choosing refractive surgical options for your patient: Refractive surgery is quite successful at treating the basic refractive errors of myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism. Read More… |
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History of Spectacles Lenses:Part 1: Recently a new standard (AS/NZS ISO 21987) was introduced for mounted spectacle lenses. Read More… |
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mifashion: You don’t get much more Aussie than Bill Bass. Read More… |
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mifashion: Eco Friendly Eyewear: The Customer Will Decide: More and more people are becoming increasingly environmentally aware. Read More… |
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mifashionnews: All the latest fashion news from May 2012. Read More… |
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mibusiness: The ‘pH scale’ Of Optometry: How Do You Rate?: Everyone is designed to operate at the highest level, but it all comes down to a personal pHilosophy. Read More… |
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mibusiness:First Impressions Count: When your customers or patients walk through the door of your practice, the first thing they’ll absorb is the practice layout, décor, and then the waiting area. Read More.. |
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miequipment: Guided by the WAVE Customised Vision Correction: By taking into consideration higher order aberrations when prescribing spectacle correction, wavefront aberrometry can lead to improved vision correction. Read More… |
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mievent: MIDO 2012: Retro in Kaleidoscopic Colour: At Mido in Milan during March retro remained the rage – with refreshing bursts of colour. Read More… |
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miproducts: All the latest products from May 2012. Read More… |
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milastword: The Last Word: No Mate, She Won’t Be Right. Read More… |
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miclassifieds: Looking for a new opportunity or a career advancement? Looking to hire staff, buy or sell equipment or a practice? mivision has a wide variety of professional opportunities being offered right here, on our website.…Read More |
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midiary: Want to know what events are coming up? Plan your year with mivision’s midiary.…Click Here |
