THE Myopia Meeting Makes its Canadian Debut

NextGenOD, Perspectives, Practice, Products | Services | Industry News

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THE Myopia Meeting, presented by CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry) Journal and Review of Myopia Management, took place at the International Center in Mississauga on Sunday, November 6th. This full-day event was the first of its kind in Canada and included lectures and workshops from leading researchers, clinicians, and industry partners.

Dr. Debbie Jones, BSc, FCOptom started off the first COPE-accredited continuing education lecture by acknowledging that Canada is a world leader in myopia management; Canada has endorsed the World Council of Optometry’s resolution to make evidence-based myopia management the standard of care.

She then provided a review of the various therapies available and discussed what the future of myopia control might look like.

Leading Canadian Experts Lend Advice
Dr. Vishakha Thakrar, OD, FSLS, FAAO talked about the practical applications of myopia management using her experience in private practice, such as the importance of having a supportive and well-trained team.

Dr. Langis Michaud, OD, MSc discussed myopia as a failure in emmetropization, the importance of the quality of the visual signal in myopia control management, and ongoing research. He detailed how he tailors treatment to each individual patient and gave the audience some of his very own clinical pearls.

Dr. Stephanie Ramdass OD, MS, MBA finished off the lectures for the day by presenting case examples and her tips for troubleshooting myopia management.

Leading Myopia Players Present Options
Key manufacturers displayed their latest in myopia control technology through workshops and table displays in an adjacent exhibit room.

HOYA’s MiYOSMART lenses use Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S) Technology and have been available in Canada since 2020. Their most recent data shows that the myopia control effect was sustained over six years.

EssilorLuxottica is committed to supporting ECPs in their management of myopia. As one of the founding members of the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC), they aim to increase public awareness of myopia as a treatable disease, with campaign expansions into Canada coming soon. EssilorLuxottica has also created training programs for ECPs and their staff, and developed Stellest spectacle lenses as an effective myopia control therapy which uses Highly Aspheric Lenslet Target (HALT) Technology.

CooperVision’s MiSight 1 day lenses use ActivControl Technology (dual focus) in their Proclear material. Their most recent data (Part 3 of their 7-year study) show that there is no rebound effect with MiSight. This is the longest continuous soft contact lens study for myopia management.

Johnson & Johnson Vision’s ACUVUE Abiliti 1-Day Soft Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management have received approval from Health Canada. Made of the same material as ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day, the Abiliti lens has the same benefits in a smaller diameter for pediatric eyes. These lenses use RingBoost Technology, which allows for a stronger treatment power while maintaining visual quality.

Attendees of THE Myopia Meeting were able to obtain a comprehensive look into the best practices of myopia management today.

Hopefully this event is the first of many!

Dr. Jaclyn Chang graduated from the University of Waterloo (UW) with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences before continuing at Waterloo to complete her Doctor of Optometry degree. She is currently a practicing optometrist in Toronto.

Dr. Chang is committed to sharing information and bringing new resources to her colleagues. As a student, she sat on the Board of Trustees for the American Optometric Student Association, organizing events to connect students with industry. She was the Co-Founder/Co-President of the award-winning UW Advancement of Independent Optometry Club, the first club at UW dedicated to private practice optometry. Dr. Chang is also a passionate writer, who aims to make information accessible and easily digestible to her colleagues. She has published in Optometry & Vision Science and has contributed to Foresight and  Optik magazine.

JACLYN CHANG, OD

Editor NewOptometrist.ca

Dr. Jaclyn Chang graduated from the University of Waterloo (UW) with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences before continuing at Waterloo to complete her Doctor of Optometry degree. She is currently a practicing optometrist in Toronto.

Dr. Chang is committed to sharing information and bringing new resources to her colleagues. As a student, she sat on the Board of Trustees for the American Optometric Student Association, organizing events to connect students with industry. She was the Co-Founder/Co-President of the award-winning UW Advancement of Independent Optometry Club, the first club at UW dedicated to private practice optometry. Dr. Chang is also a passionate writer, who aims to make information accessible and easily digestible to her colleagues. She has published in Optometry & Vision Science and Foresight magazine and contributed to Optik magazine. She is excited to bring valuable resources to Canada’s next generation of optometrists with NewOptometrist.ca.

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Insight with Dr. Sophia Leung

Insights, Practice, Resources

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Dr. Sophia Leung pursued an Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery Residency in the US followed by an Advanced Glaucoma and Cornea Fellowship, after spending some time in private practice in Canada.
She is passionate about mentorship and professional collaboration.

Dr. Leung is the Principal Optometrist at a high volume corneal, cataract, and refractive surgical centre in Calgary and the President-Elect of the Alberta Association of Optometrists.

Sophia Leung

OD, FAAO, FASOS, Dipl ABO, Dipl Anterior Segment

 

What changes to eye care do you see coming down the pipe?

I foresee an evolution in eye care delivery where technology and specialized care will be adopted more heavily in response to patient needs and demand.  A rudimentary environmental scan highlights a few incoming trends: app-based clinic-to-patient interactions, subscription services, scope expansion and advanced scope utilization, in-office drug-delivery systems for surgical alternatives.  I also anticipate stronger optometry to optometry referral pathways that address the increasing patient demand without adding burden to the existing stress points of the current eye care delivery model.

What is currently the most exciting thing in your field to help patients?

There have been some exciting developments in therapeutic options for corneal wound healing and neurotrophic keratitis.  Amniotic membranes, steroid-sparing agents, and autologous serum eye drops have been around for some time, but we are seeing more research and development in these areas.  Recombinant nerve growth factors, plasma rich growth factors, and increasing evidence around scleral lens efficacy are also making waves for these conditions that at one point, only had major surgeries like corneal transplants, corneal neurotization, and conjunctival grafting for consideration.

What is something you have done in your practice to set you apart?

The optometry-led triage model that has been under development, with the support of the ophthalmologists I work closely with, is inspired by a referral pathway that works very well at similar surgical and secondary / tertiary referral centers in the United States.  I perform surgical triage which allows for more efficient surgical consults with the ophthalmologist.  I also receive direct referrals from optometrists for non-surgical cases warranting a second opinion, secondary or tertiary care, and / or co-management with me to the level of the referring doctor’s comfort and preference.  I am grateful for the uptake, support, and enthusiasm from the optometry community for this referral model and I look forward to building this more with the referring doctors as the pathway grows and evolves.

What advice would you give a new grad today?

Pick your mentors wisely.  Do an inventory of the people you know and look up to and invite them out for a tea or coffee.  Listen to their story and ask them the honest and hard questions.  Chances are, you will walk away with insight that challenges your current perspective and it may just propel you to go after something you are passionate in, even if it is a road less travelled.

What is your definition of success?

There are many extrinsic and intrinsic aspects this.  To me, one important characteristic of successful and respectable people is the ability to be humbly confident.  I recognize this in individuals who know they have put in the work, have accomplished great things, and have acquired noteworthy amounts of knowledge in an area.  And yet, these leaders also acknowledge that learning never stops and accept wise counsel to continue to grow.

I recall a class discussion about dangerous clinicians.  The discussion highlighted the dangers of two groups of people: maximum knowledge but no confidence, and no knowledge but maximum confidence.  Being humble is not the same as being insecure.  And being confident is not the same as being arrogant.  I admit that I am working on this myself, as I continue to grow in my career.

What is your favourite food?

There is something about traditional Chinese fried rice that I find extremely comforting.  High heat, wok-fried, simple fried rice; and no withholding on the MSG.  I have attempted to recreate this at home but have come nowhere close, so not only is it delicious, but I also have a great respect for the chefs who do it right.  Sometimes, if I have been doing a lot of traveling whether for business or leisure, and I find myself feeling homesick, I will seek out the best fried rice in the area and order it.

Favourite past-time / hobby?

Over the last few years, I have attempted to surf every chance I get.  If I am close enough to a beach to sneak away for a few hours of surf lessons, I will try!  Let me clarify that “favourite” does not equate to “aptitude” in this case.  Although, I was recently promoted to “novice level” at my last surf lesson in Orange County so that was a particularly excellent day.

Tell me something few people know about you?

I really enjoy independent theatres and cinemas.  Sometimes, if I find myself having a day without obligations, I will make my way to an independent theatre and purchase a ticket for whatever is showing at that time.  There have been some odd ones that I have watched without a clear idea of what was happening.  But often, I end up stumbling upon a memorable movie or documentary I would not have otherwise found.

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3 Key Pearls of Dry Eye Management: A NextGen OD Perspective on the Canadian Dry Eye Summit

NextGenOD, Perspectives, Practice, Products | Services | Industry News, Resources

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Jenny Lee, OD-4, University of Waterloo, contributes her perspectives on the Canadian Dry Eye Summit.

This weekend, members of NextGen OD/Eye Care Business Canada and the CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry team) had the opportunity to attend the annual Canadian Dry Eye Summit, held in Toronto, Ontario from November 12th to 13th.

This conference is truly one of its’ kind in Canada, featuring innovative, thought-provoking talks from several heavy hitters in the dry eye management scene from across the country including Drs. Richard Maharaj, Trevor Miranda, Wes McCann and countless other faculty.

The conference also featured live demos and exhibits of various equipment and products hot on the market from industry representatives.

Nyah Miranda OD-1 NECO
Nyah Miranda, NextGenOD Digital Communications Associate at the CRO and NextGenOD.ca booth in the exhibit hall. Nyah is an OD-1 student at NECO.

As a current fourth year optometry student at the University of Waterloo as well as the Vision Science Editorial Assistant for the Clinical and Refractive Optometry Journal, having the opportunity to dip my toes in the dry eye scene this weekend was truly a worthwhile and incredibly informative experience. Here I’ve highlighted three key pearls from my time with some of Canada’s best dry eye gurus.

#1: Now, more than ever, evidence-based medicine is crucial to the progression of optometry.

The extent and scope of optometry is vastly different than where it was even ten years ago.

Likewise, in order to keep up with a rapidly evolving field, it is vital to remain up-to-date with the current studies and to read beyond the conclusion of an article, as aptly stated by Dr. Maharaj.

In a talk about the impacts of nutrition on ocular surface disease, Dr. Kim Friedman broke down each key component (such as dosage and form), presenting the evidence for and against the inclusion of different supplements for dry eye.

Her talk emphasized not only the benefit of paying attention to the literature to support a medical recommendation, but also reading between the lines of a study conclusion and being able to draw your own insights.

Chances are, if we can access this information easily from the internet, so can our patients, and it gives you that extra edge to be able to keep up with them.

#2: Expert opinion is what bridges the gap between a research study and direct patient benefit.
Following up from the previous pearl, as practitioners are the direct points of contact for a patient seeking to manage their dry eye, it is important that we not only synthesize and make our own interpretations but also use this knowledge to develop our own expert opinion that is backed by the knowledge we obtain from reputable, reliable sources.

The true benefit of a conference such as this is that we are able to gather some of the brightest and most well-versed minds in a very specialized aspect of optometric care, and disseminate knowledge through expert opinion.

However, expert opinion is ultimately at the bottom of the evidence-based medicine pyramid – and it is up to the individual eye care professional to look beyond the neatly-packaged one hour COPE lecture to educate themselves.

As Dr. Maharaj stated in his talk on demystifying dry eye, “expert opinion is where it begins, and then we need to climb up the ladder”. The role of industry in educating optometrists on up-and-coming technology and the impacts of staying up to date in the literature are heavily understated.

#3: Ultimately, your patient care comes down to your ability to communicate and use the appropriate terminology.
Dr. Jeff Goodhew and Dr. Tina Goodhew provided an excellent outline of how to present the idea of dry eye management to the patient in a way that not only empowers the patient to seek their own care, but also does not place the onus on the doctor to feel obligated to provide a whole dry eye assessment during a routine eye exam.

Drs. Goodhew and Goodhew, as well as several of the speakers at the conference, highlighted the importance of how to approach the topic of dry eye with the patient, and some salient points and phrases that could be easily incorporated into any eye exam.

Building on this idea, Dr. Maharaj discussed how patients are already doing their own research and developing their own ideas about dry eye before they even come into your office – and as such, it is crucial to be able to use the right language and arm the patient with the correct information so that when it is disseminated to friends and family, there is no room for miscommunication.

At the end of the day, it is your words the patient will remember, and not the result of a randomized controlled trial.

Ultimately, I walked away from this conference with a newfound sense of respect for all the ongoing research and efforts being put into advancing the scope of optometry and the knowledge surrounding what we know about dry eye.

With the resources available to us, it is easier now than ever to stay up-to-date in the field, whether by reading case reports from fellow optometrists or attending trade shows and actively engaging with industry representatives.

I look forward to seeing where my own journey in optometry takes me!

If you are an optometrist looking to contribute back to the community with case reports of your own, the CRO (Clinical and Refractive Journal) is an excellent place to start.

We help you with the process of publishing your own article and becoming a COPE approved instructor! This is an excellent opportunity particularly for those looking to submit case reports as part of the Academy’s Fellowship program. CRO is on the Academy’s list of authorized journals for Fellowship points.

Jenny Lee, OD

JENNY LEE, OD

Vision Science Assistant Editor, CRO Journal

Jenny Lee is an onboarding resident with the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science.

She is a recent 2023 graduate and is passionate about pediatrics and vision therapy.

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Onboard the Leadership Bus

Independent SightLines, Leadership, NextGenOD

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By Dr. Trevor Miranda. 

Dr. Miranda contributes his thoughts and perspectives on the topic of Independent Eye Care Practice in Eye Care Business Canada. Check out all of Dr. Miranda’s articles in Independent Insights category.

If you are a practice owner then you are a leader.

It is important to embrace this role, learn to excel as a leader and create future leaders in your organization. Too often the owner abdicates the leadership responsibility and, as a result, the void is often filled by dysfunctional power grabbing protectionist team members looking to control everything and limit the growth of others.

Driving the Bus
As a leader, you need to be able to lead from the front.

This component of leadership is tasked with the awesome responsibility of “being awake at the steering wheel”. This means being ready to make turns to keep the bus on the road to business prosperity, to deftly dodge the potholes (like the Pandemic) and knowing when to stop, rest and refuel.

The driver of the team understands what it takes to do each job to keep the team moving forward. Valuing each job is crucial to engaging the entire team to keep their eyes on the road so they can also catch threats that may end in disaster.

At the Back of The Bus
I remember road trips with soccer and hockey teams growing up.

Only the “cool kids” got the back seats. The cover of invincibility and greatly reduced accountability made the back of the bus the most coveted locale.

A great leader lets others drive. Encouraging and fostering leadership skills in others will incubate a culture of empowerment. Great leaders can sit at the back of the bus and enjoy the fun and reduced stress that comes with that.

These special leaders are in tune with the heartbeat of the team. Make sure you take time to have fun!

No Back Seat Driving
Great leaders let others lead.

The bus of business is on the road 24/7. You can’t be a good driver all the time. Encouraging other team members to lead perhaps by running a meeting, hiring new staff, creating training plans for each team member or investigating new product solutions are all key to fostering a Leadership Culture.

It is important to let the driver in training make decisions such as where to turn without constant direction. Don’t be a backseat driver! Emerging leaders of organizations need some room to FAIL (First Attempt in Learning). Crucial to a learning organization is that reviewing where we are and how we got there brings new insights.

All drivers in training need to know when they take a suboptimal route and understand ways to improve on a go forth basis.

Under the Bus
The concept of throwing a teammate under the bus needs to be revisited.

Taking team accountability for mistakes such as a missed order, incorrect Rx, or any other perceived patient slight allows the patient community to recognize the team care they are receiving.

As a leader, you should always be “under the bus” with the entire team. If we are attached together we cannot throw anyone under the bus without ourselves coming along for the ride.

The Wrong Bus
Sometimes passengers on your team bus may experience motion sickness or do not appreciate the direction the bus is going.

In your company analogy, these passengers are wishing they weren’t even on your bus. They want to fly first class (who wouldn’t?!). It is crucial that the leaders identify these team members and ensure they fully understand the direction of the organization and exactly what roles they are expected to undertake.

If that is unsatisfactory then stop the bus and exit this employee. Perhaps a different journey is more suitable for them and it’s time for them to find a different bus.

It’s better to be honest and frank in these conversations but remember to be kind.

Driving Standards
There are certain attributes that good leaders value including honesty, trust, hard work and kindness.

In the same way that we follow “the rules of the road,” great leaders don’t cut corners when it comes to “doing things the right way.” Crucially fostering other leaders is very important.

We have created a pathway or “journey” for each team member by overlapping training and compensation so that each employee feels some control of the direction that the team is heading.
Great execution relies on an amazing team all driving in the same direction!

 

DR. TREVOR MIRANDA

Dr. Miranda is a partner in a multi-doctor, five-location practice on Vancouver Island.

He is a strong advocate for true Independent Optometry.

As a serial entrepreneur, Trevor is constantly testing different patient care and business models at his various locations. Many of these have turned out to be quite successful, to the point where many of his colleagues have adopted them into their own practices. His latest project is the Optometry Unleashed podcast.

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Not everyone needs to be a top performer

Human Resources, Managing Others, Talent Acquisition

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Fact or Fiction?
Not everyone needs to be a top performer. We need some ‘steady Eddies’ or we’ll spend all our time trying to satisfy everyone’s career expectations.

Don’t confuse performance with pressure to offer promotion opportunities.

Many people who are at the absolute top of their class want nothing more than to be left alone to do what they do best, day in and day out. Top performers are top performers because they love what they do, and they do it exceptionally well.

All too often we convince ourselves that it’s okay to have a normal performance curve where 70% of the workforce is just ‘average’. We too easily accept the notion that average is okay and doesn’t hurt our practice.

Wrong.
The truth is average is awful.  Average in most organizations represents an opportunity cost of 23% or more of payroll – money that gets paid out with zero return.

In most organizations, and eye care practices are likely no different, 23% of payroll represents a substantial sum of money that if used elsewhere in the business could materially improve the practice.

The most valuable competitive advantage for any business is to staff with star employees who perform better and stay longer.

That’s the Fit First philosophy.

Fit First Philosophy starts with this premise. Hire for Fit, and then train as needed.
Save yourself time and money.

This post is sponsored by EyePloyment.com and Fit First Technologies

Learn more.

TIM BRENNAN

is Chief Visionary Officer with Fit First Technologies Inc, the creators of Eyeployment, TalentSorter and Jobtimize.

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Life Insurance That Changes With You

Finance|Wealth, NextGenOD, Planning, Resources, Sponsors

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Before we leave all the insurance talk,  I wanted to draw your attention to a few of the opportunities with life insurance.

Despite life insurance paying out on death, it does have the ability to not only support the lives of your loved ones when you are not there, it can also provide you with several living benefits.

Living Perks of Life Insurance
All life insurance policies can be assigned to a lender.

We often see this where a bank, offering a sizeable business loan for example, will request that key persons for the success of the business be insured. Best practice is to set up personally or corporately owned insurance as the case may be, rather than creditor insurance, which does not provide you with flexibility down the road.

In addition, you can also borrow directly from the cash surrender value of a permanent life insurance policy. This can be set up multiple ways and can be a great source of funds to help set up your business expansion while maintaining insurance coverage and offer an alternate source for income in retirement.

How Does Life Insurance Change with You?
The more advanced concepts of using life insurance to provide benefits while you are still alive is often something that doesn’t become relevant until your mid or late career.

In many cases, the initial cost of permanent life insurance premiums deter clients from setting up these policies at the beginning of their career.

As a result, most clients will purchase more premium affordable short term life insurance early in their adult lives. In order to create a policy that can change with you, you will want to ensure your term insurance is both renewable and convertible.

Renewable Term Life Insurance
Renewable term insurance means that after your initial purchased time period of insurance coverage, say ten years, the policy will automatically renew for a new term at the contracted new rates, up until it’s expiry, usually at age 85 for term life insurance.

These rates are printed in your policy so you are aware of how the premiums will change with your increasing age. Renewing a term life insurance policy also means that you don’t need to undergo the application process again. This is especially valuable if your health has changed since your initial application.

Convertibility For Changing Needs
On top of any need for ongoing life insurance to financially assist your loved ones, you may also find yourself looking for additional long-term strategies as your career advances.

In addition to the above mentioned living perks of life insurance, you may need final taxation management and estate strategies, such as maximization, equalization and charitable giving.

Convertible term policies will permit you to change your plan to permanent insurance, thereby moving from a rental form of insurance to life long coverage (as long as the premium requirements are met).

And like renewability, you don’t have to undergo the application process again, risking premium ratings or a decline of coverage due to changes in your health or family health history.

Business Owned Life Insurance
We often speak about “savings buckets” and since the 2017/2018 CRA changes, saving for retirement in a corporation is no longer the benefit it used to be. Permanent life insurance is still one way that you can create tax efficient savings in your corporation.

In addition, this can help preserve your small business tax rate from passive earnings erosion. Remember however, if you are planning to sell your corporation down the road, you don’t necessarily want to sell this asset with the business, so it will be important to structure this strategy efficiently so that it will truly achieve your goals down the road.

Products That Serve You Today & Tomorrow
Life insurance is one product that not only serves your immediate needs, but if structured properly can serve you well into the future. Understanding how life insurance can be an asset class onto itself will help prepare you for the future you are dreaming of.

Read Previous Article – DISABILITY INSURANCE: MORE THAN INCOME REPLACEMENT

Advisory
As your Chief Financial Officer, I am here to help you understand your money and assist you in making smart decisions about your debt repayment, insurance protection, tax management and wealth creation. I work as your fiduciary to ensure that your best interests are always placed first and foremost.

Have more questions than answers? Educating you is just one piece of being your personal CFO that we do. Call (780-261-3098) or email (Roxanne@C3wealthadvisors.ca) today to set up your next conversation with us.

Roxanne Arnal is a former Optometrist, Professional Corporation President, and practice owner. Today she is on a mission of Empowering You & Your Wealth with Clarity, Confidence & Control.

These articles are for information purposes only and are not a replacement for personal financial planning. Everyone’s circumstances and needs are different. Errors and Omissions exempt.

ROXANNE ARNAL,

Optometrist and Certified Financial Planner

Roxanne Arnal graduated from UW School of Optometry in 1995 and is a past-president of the Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) and the Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS).  She subsequently built a thriving optometric practice in rural Alberta.

Roxanne took the decision in  2012 to leave optometry and become a financial planning professional.  She now focuses on providing services to Optometrists with a plan to parlay her unique expertise to help optometric practices and their families across the country meet their goals through astute financial planning and decision making.

Roxanne splits EWO podcast hosting duties with Dr. Glen Chiasson.

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Investing in Employee Satisfaction Makes Good Business Sense

Human Resources, Leadership, Managing Others

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Fact or Fiction? Investing in employee satisfaction makes good business sense.
Sounds reasonable, right?

Many organizations believe that satisfied employees are profitable employees, so they invest heavily in things they think will show appreciation – elaborate cafeterias, games rooms, group outings, on-site concierge services, and other generous perks. That’s pretty sweet, for the employees.

These companies will spend exceptional amounts of money continuously surveying “employee satisfaction” and then ponder over the results to discover new ways to enhance it.

But, Where’s the Proof?
Surprise: The truth is, there is no documented relationship between employee satisfaction and business performance. A happy workforce is not necessarily a more productive one.

The factor that is a predictor of performance and productivity, and it is in fact the most reliable predictor, is something called engagement.

Engagement is all about how focused and committed your people are to hitting and exceeding your shared objectives.  e.g. How much sweat, effort, and creativity they are willing to put in of their own free will.

The best part is that engagement doesn’t cost you, the practice owner, much. But you must set the stage for it by paying attention to the leading indicators of fit.

The formula is simple in theory.  Find employees that fit the job, fit the practice values and fit and other members of the team, and, you will have a committed and engaged staff that is more productive and profitable for your practice.

The most valuable competitive advantage for any business is to staff with star employees who perform better and stay longer.

That’s the Fit First philosophy.

Fit First Philosophy starts with this premise. Hire for Fit, and then train as needed.
Save yourself time and money.
This post is sponsored by EyePloyment.com and Fit First Technologies

Learn more.

TIM BRENNAN

is Chief Visionary Officer with Fit First Technologies Inc, the creators of Eyeployment, TalentSorter and Jobtimize.

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Fashion is Magnetic. Use it to Attract New Clients

Marketing, Merchandising, Resources

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Train Your Team to Sell by Applying the Art of Styling

The Psychology of Fashion
Fashion psychology is commonly defined as the study of the impact of clothing choices on the way in which we perceive and judge others. Clothing does not always define a person, but it can be an expression of one’s personal style and be a strong indication of how they would like to be perceived.

Clothing style also provides you with an abundance of visual clues that help lead the initial sales conversation with your patients and build your credibility as the expert stylist.

As you work to discover your patient’s style, assess their current style. How would you describe what you see in their current style?

  • Formal
  • Casual
  • Edgy
  • Professional
  • Flirty
  • Unique
  • Young
  • Mature
  • Powerful

Then ask how they would like to feel in their new eyewear? Once you identify the feelings your patients/clients want, the easier it will be to curate a collection of styles that are exciting for them.

It’s More Than Trends
Eyewear is an expressive fashion accessory that is part of your patient’s identity, and the art of styling eyewear is more than just knowing the trends. I discourage selling by trends and prefer to explain how styling can be achieved through the assessment of one’s personality traits and finding frames in shapes, materials and colours that best complement that style.

There are many psychological factors that will motivate your clients to be fashionable. It could include the desire to conform, the desire to express personal creativity or a desire for uniqueness. Fashion eyewear is one of the most powerful accessories that can create one’s identity to achieve a desired self-image. Clients will move towards what they desire more than what they need.

The Economics of Fashion Eyewear
Over the last two years, Canadians have shifted their spending and are buying more eyeglasses. At the end of 2021, it was estimated that Canadians spent over $3 billion on eyewear and the market is expected to show a growth of 7.3% this year.

The online eyewear industry is constantly finding more ways to instill confidence in the consumers by providing do-it-yourself
guides on “how-to” choose eyewear.

If your frame inventory is readily available at the shop down the street or online, the desire for that product decreases when they are in your optical gallery.

Alternatively, when you stock interesting and diverse frames, you differentiate your business and essentially neutralize a big chunk of your competition. The motivation to buy from you is now more attractive and perhaps urgent as you are changing the impression of style by presenting multi pairs that all give them a different vibe. The combination of unique eyewear presented by trained style experts is a winning combination for your business.

Originality Always Wins
When I started my mobile eyewear boutique in 1997, I had no brick and mortar, lots of time and no money to advertise. I attended networking events, became a guest speaker for groups and when I attracted a new client, I created the most unique eyewear buying experience I possibly could. Twenty-five years later, even with access to so many free social media platforms, word of mouth marketing is still my best form of advertising.

My Tips to Maximize your Magnetic Referral Potential:
• Provide value with an eyewear styling session and expert advice.
• Provoke emotion and find out how your client wants to feel in their new eyewear.
• Be passionate and objective about the products you sell to your clients even though your style may not be their style.
• Project your personal image in your favourite clothing style and accessorize with eyewear for instant credibility.
• Curate a boutique collection of eyewear that is distinct to inspire your patients to stay and want to buy more than one pair.

Your passion for fashion will be magnetic when you give it your unique twist and consciously and consistently implement a styling sales strategy in your optical gallery. The more you repeat your process, the better you will be.

It will be the extraordinary experience you create that will trigger a conversation. It is the unexpected or unusual that will motivate customers to share the word about your optical gallery and your team.

WENDY BUCHANAN

Wendy Buchanan, Eyewear Image Expert is a Registered Optician, Image Consultant and Educator.  She is the creative force behind the Be Spectacular Eyewear Styling System® for Eye Care Professionals.  Wendy helps eye care practices to systematically reinvent their eyewear dispensaries to create an exceptional buying experience and increase profits.

Connect with Wendy on Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/bespectaculartraining/

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Information Technology and Innovation: One of FYidoctors’ driving factors for the future

Practice, Resources, Technology

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FYidoctors innovation and technology

For over two decades, or most of his career, Kevin Bingham has been dedicating his time to improving and prioritizing the function of Information Technology (IT) and Innovation in the workplace.

As the Vice President of Innovation and IT at FYihealth group, Kevin works closely with the companies’ multiple teams to improve the overall utility and value of IT hardware, software assets and services while also keeping a focus on customer experience.

Through capitalizing on new technologies, mindful organizational change management and adding expertise to his growing team, Kevin’s efforts ensure that the organization is always at the forefront of innovation.

CEO and Chair of FYihealth group, Dr. Alan Ulsifer, remains heavily invested in the development and utilization of technology as it continues to be a significant area of focus for the future growth of the organization.

We caught up with Kevin and some of FYi’s influential Optometrists involved in innovative technology, Dr. Michael Kaplan, based in Toronto, and Dr. Bunny Virk, in Calgary. They shared how innovation and IT are pivotal to patient care at both the leadership and clinic level to support the organization’s growth.

Fostering a Solution-Seeking-Mindset to Innovation and Technology
“Technology advancements are at the forefront of our organization, and decisions are made to support them,” shares Kevin Bingham.

”FYi has invested millions of dollars into Cyber Security to protect patient confidentiality, along with completing a digital evolution for its Shopify eCommerce platform to deliver a first-in-class digital patient omnichannel experience. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided innovative technology for social distancing while still delivering eye care quickly and responding to our patients’ needs,” Kevin added.

“FYi also developed a virtual try-on tool that allows patients to try on glasses in the comfort of their own home and speak to a representative online, thus creating a completely virtual shopping experience.

All these initiatives support the growth and future of FYidoctors and, in 2021, FYidoctors won the Canadian HR Award for ‘Most Innovative use of Technology.”

Technology Focused for Future Growth
“Our company views the IT department as an investment into our organization,” Kevin shared in his interview. FYi considers technology to be one of the driving factors for success and sees the benefits of a forward-thinking approach to technology advancements.

Kevin added: “the IT team comprises over 75 full-time employees, two of whom have been with us since our inception in 2008, and employs four team members for IT project management for all the mergers, projects, and implementation of new software updates.”

As an example, when a new clinic joins the FYi network, it is a top priority for our team members to get in place efficiently so the new team can be up and running and serving patients on day one of operations.

Undergoing integration is an extensive process, and our team shares with the new clinics the process starting with, “where the business is now” and mapping out “where we (FYi) are taking them.”

This information sharing process allows the new clinics to have a clear vision of their technology roadmap for all their members, and for their patients’ files.

This approach supports every clinic towards a smooth integration to the FYi network, which includes platforms like the Acuitas Practice Management System and NetSuite.

The Evolving Technology to Support Patient Care
”Technology advancements have helped provide a more accurate and comprehensive eye examination and patient education tools,” explains Dr. Michael Kaplan, FYidoctors Optometrist. “It allows us to see the finer details of the tissue we are examining, follow any subtle changes over time, and provide better diagnosis and proactive intervention”.

Dr. Kaplan added. FYi optometrists are optimistic about the continuing evolution of technology to help provide earlier detection of diseases and ways of treating them before the damage has already been done.

“Looking into the future, potentially, a device including artificial intelligence (AI) would enhance our diagnostic abilities for much earlier detection and preventative measures. AI would integrate with our current technologies to help with earlier detection for patients,” shares Dr. Bunny Virk, FYidoctors Optometrist in Calgary.

Exam Technology Findings and Looking into the Future
“We use a wide range of technologies in our exam rooms, including Wide Field Retinal Imaging/Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Biometers to help with the newly emerging field of myopia management, ILux, IPL and RF to help assist with dry eye disease, and Heidelberg Retinal Tomography (HRT) to help detect glaucoma,” explained Dr. Kaplan.

Dr.  Virk added that “innovations in contact lens materials and designs have helped with the lenses’ comfort, health, and vision. The contact lens advancements and measurement techniques have allowed us to treat individuals with corneal pathologies and transplants to improve vision, which was previously difficult. A device that works well is Corneal Topography, which measures the cornea like a topographical map for detecting early corneal pathologies and degenerations.”

All these technological advancements are a great aid in providing quality eye care for FYi’s patients.

FYihealth group is committed to providing the highest quality patient care to enhance lives across North America. It strives to be a prevalent healthcare company in the marketplace by continuing to foster conversations regarding innovation and evaluate benchmarks in technology.

This is a sponsored post by FYihealth group.

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Low turnover is a good sign we’re doing things well. Why rock the boat?

Human Resources, Managing Others, Talent Acquisition

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Fact or Fiction? Low turnover is a good sign we’re doing things well. Why rock the boat?

Low turnover can seem like an employer’s dream, but is it hurting your business in the long run?

The important question here is – how many people are we keeping?
The far more valuable question is – what is the quality of the people we are keeping?

All too often, organizations, including professional practices, find themselves in a rut where people aren’t leaving because they are comfortable. And they are comfortable because their job is easy, standards are lax, and mediocre performance is tolerated.

Comfortable employees can choke a business.

If you raise your standards, you will scare off those who crave comfort and attract better performers who share those same higher standards.

The Wrong Kind of Turnover
If you maintain the status-quo, you may well have turnover, but not of the right kind. Those leaving may well be the ones that thrive on a challenge and take price in being on a high performing team.

The most valuable competitive advantage for any business is to staff with star employees who perform better and stay longer.

That’s the Fit First philosophy.

Fit First Philosophy starts with this premise. Hire for Fit, and then train as needed.
Save yourself time and money.
This post is sponsored by EyePloyment.com and Fit First Technologies

Learn more.

TIM BRENNAN

is Chief Visionary Officer with Fit First Technologies Inc, the creators of Eyeployment, TalentSorter and Jobtimize.

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