info@optometrists.bc.ca 604.737.9907
BC Doctors of Optometry 121 –10551 Shellbridge Way, Richmond B.C, V6X 2W8
CONTENTS
Practice Management & Industry 2022 BCDO Annual Conference & OPTOFAIR ........................................................................................... 3 Blue Light Protection: A Marriage of Protection and Aesthetics .........................................................4 Nikon: Your Eyes Deserve the Purest of Light ............................................................................................ 7 Alcon: Total 30 ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Alcon: Systane ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Alcon Canada Announces Launch of TOTAL 30 ...................................................................................... 10 Here's How Small Businesses Can Stay Competitive During a Labour Shortage ...................... 12 Peninsula: Award Winning HR Consulting & Health and Safety Outsourcing ............................. 16 Johnson & Johnson Vision Care: Acuvue Contact Lenses ................................................................. 17 Educating Patients and Doctors about Dry Eye ...................................................................................... 18 OCULUS: What about My Future? ............................................................................................................... 20 Member Benefits: Optomart ........................................................................................................................... 21 Precision Optical Filters in Managing Light Sensitivity and Migraine Symptoms ..................... 22 Scotiabank: The Scotia Professional Plan for Optometrists. ............................................................. 25 New to Practice Financial Checklist: What Should I Do First? .......................................................... 26 FLCI: Financial Security Begins with Financial Literacy ...................................................................... 28 Guideline and Clinical Pearls for Laser Vision Correction ................................................................... 29 VuePoint IDS: Stay Current and Earn COPE Credits Online ............................................................. 36
Spotlight on a Member Member Spotlight - Dr. Tanner Udenberg ................................................................................................ 37
Programs & Events EyeLearn 2.0. : Children's Vision Program ................................................................................................ 40 2022 BCDO Events ............................................................................................................................................. 42 Are You Interested In Locum Work? Let Us Know! ............................................................................... 46
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Blue Light Protection: A Marriage of Protection and Aesthetics By Nikon Optical Canada The Nikon Difference From photography to optical lenses, Nikon has developed a long and proud expertise in high-precision optics. Combining Japanese craftsmanship and more than 100 years of innovation, Nikon’s mission is to offer uncompromising quality of vision. Nikon strives every day to exceed current limitations and offers the best of Protection, Precision and Aesthetics. Nikon’s pursuit for perfection has delivered the sharpest tailor-made lenses for exceptional vision precision. Also, Nikon enhances the aesthetics of vision with thinner and clearer lenses while improving materials and techniques to ensure complete protection of your patients’ vision in every environment.
Light Surrounds Us Everywhere Over the last two years we spent a considerable amount of time indoors in front of digital devices whether it is for work, social media, celebrating a special loved one or to work out! Nonetheless, it has also given us the opportunity to appreciate nature, do some more physical activity outdoors and explore new parks and trails. The reality is light surrounds us everywhere and part of this light can be harmful.
UV Protection UV rays are invisible yet they pose a considerable amount of danger not only to the skin but, to the human eye as well. Exposure to UV light can cause short-term problems such as photokeratitis which is basically a sunburn of the eye. Other long term effects can include cancers of the eye, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Certainly polarized lenses with UV protection provide the ultimate in sun protection with enhanced contrasts but clear lenses may also 4 | Eye Digest Magazine
provide UV protection up to 400 nm.
Good News! No need to compromise on aesthetics
Let’s Talk About Blue Light Protection
Today’s electronic devices, including computers, tablets, smartphones and TVs emit high-energy blue light. Because of the growing popularity of these devices, the exposure to blue light sources has drastically increased, leading to negative effects on our health and eye vision. Blue light is a colour in the “visible light spectrum” that can be seen by human eyes. It has the shortest and highest-energy wavelength of the spectrum and can be found in energy sources such as the sun, electronic devices, fluorescent and LED lighting. While blue light can be beneficial, as it helps regulate the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle (circadian rhythm), boost alertness and elevate the mood; too much blue light exposure can have serious consequences on our health. When asking consumers if they would be interested in protecting themselves from blue light, 86% of them responded yes 1. However, what we also know is that 1 in 4 patients are also hesitant to use blue light protected lenses because of their appearance 2. Blue light protected lenses reflect the harmful blue light so the bluish reflection becomes visible on the lens when it’s doing its job. The downside here is whether you are in a virtual meeting, taking beautiful pictures during your sister’s wedding reception or taking silly selfies with friends at a BBQ, these blue light reflections are also visible to the camera showing a bluish hue on your lens and pictures. This is why some patients are hesitant to opt for that option.
Nikon was the first to invent blue light cut lenses in 2011 and introduced Pure Blue UV in 2021. With Nikon’s Light Purification Technology, embedded molecules within the lens intelligently filter UV and part of the blue light before it reaches the patient’s eyes. Essentially this light purification technology captures the invisible danger you can’t see while offering enhanced aesthetics. So now whether your wearers are conducting virtual meetings or capturing memories of their in-person events, they can enjoy a better look without blue light reflections being visible on the lens.
Pure Blue UV is a new high end material that allows protection and aesthetics to co-live together. It is the best looking solution compared to standard lenses with similar levels of protection and offers up to 35% blue light cut. For added protection, a blue light filter coating such as SeeCoatTM Next Blue can be added to offer up to 40% blue light cut.
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Some simple steps to keep in mind when recommending 1. Select Pure Blue UV as your main solution and not as an option Do not recommend it as an option like you would for a coating. Rather opt for Pure Blue UV over a clear solution and then select the index material. Whether your patients are already equipped with a blue light filter coating or not, current wearers of blue light protected lenses and potential blue light wearers will benefit from Pure Blue UV. 2. Additional revenue with every sale By converting your clear lenses to Pure Blue UV you will be able to generate additional revenue for every sale. It’ll also be a time saver as you don’t need to take the extra time to explain the residual blue reflection and yellow tint. 3. Better aesthetics at the same price point For the same price as the SeeCoatTM Next Blue in clear material, Pure Blue UV provides clarity and protection all in one. For those non blue light wearers that have been hesitant to convert for aesthetic reasons, demonstrate the benefits of Pure Blue UV it with Nikon’s iPad Revealer*.
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4. Additional blue light protection For added blue light protection and the next generation coating after SeeCoatTM Blue Premium, top the Pure Blue UV solution with SeeCoatTM Next Blue. 5. Availability Available in NL Stock and in surfaced lenses in all indices except 1.74 and on most Nikon designs except NLAS, SOLO and Kids. To conclude, patients depend on the recommendation of their eye care professional. By offering the best protection, aesthetics and precision to your patients, you are guaranteed to create customer loyalty and repeat business. With this in mind, strategize your consultation and sales approach with your team in order to provide patients the best products and services you have to offer.
*A Nikon Business Development Partner can provide you all the details. References 1. IPSOS, AMD and Blue Light opinion survey, USA, Germany, China - 2012 n-600 (USA), n=600 (GER), n=600 (China) 2. Web survey conducted with blue light cut wearers and non-wearer from 20-60 years of age, Japan 2019, n=420
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Alcon Canada Announces Launch of TOTAL30® as the First-and-Only Monthly Replacement, Water Gradient Contact Lens • TOTAL30® delivers the only Water Gradient, reusable lens that is clinically shown to feel like nothing, even on day 301 • TOTAL30® lenses contain new biomimetic CELLIGENT® Technology, which mimics the ocular surface structure to help resist the adherence of bacteria and lipids9-12* • TOTAL30® is available to all customers starting February 1, 2022 Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, announced plans to launch TOTAL30® in Canada, the first-andonly monthly replacement Water Gradient lens that feels like nothing, even on day 30.1 Using Alcon’s proprietary Water Gradient material first introduced with DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses, TOTAL30® delivers a premium wearing experience for reusable contact lens wearers. “We are very excited to add TOTAL30® to the TOTAL® brand portfolio, said Chris Van Dyk, Country Business Unit Head, Vision Care. “Despite approximately two-thirds of contact lens wearers continuing to choose reusable lenses 3, innovation in this sector has lagged behind daily disposables for over a decade. That changes today. TOTAL30® delivers a reusable lens with a Water Gradient surface that remains durable for a full 30 days, 10 | Eye Digest Magazine
helping Canadians see brilliantly.” 4, 5 TOTAL30® lenses are clinically shown to feel like nothing, even on day 30, giving contact lens wearers an exceptional wearing experience in a reusable lens.1 Alcon capitalized on its proprietary Water Gradient contact lens material to provide a reusable lens that approaches 100 percent water at the surface, so all that touches the eye is a gentle cushion of moisture.7, 8* Considering many new wearers start their contact lens journey in a reusable lens, TOTAL30® offers eye care professionals the opportunity to provide patients with their first introduction to contact lenses with the exceptional comfort of Water Gradient material. Patients often feel that discomfort is a normal and unavoidable part of the monthly replacement
contact lens wearing experience. Due to this, only 5 percent of contact lens wearers bring up discomfort regarding their lenses to their eye care professional, and 23 percent of patients discontinue wearing contact lenses permanently due to discomfort.13 TOTAL30® allows eye care professionals to directly address these issues and provide their patients a premium reusable lens with excellent comfort.1 “Striving for clear vision shouldn’t mean sacrificing on comfort,” said Dr. Christine Misener, O.D. at the Ancaster Eye Clinic. “For my patients who wear monthly reusable contact lenses, the introduction of TOTAL30® will be an exciting new option to consider when they’re looking for a premium wearing experience.” The reusable, Water Gradient design of TOTAL30® is made possible by the introduction of new biomimetic CELLIGENT® Technology. CELLIGENT® combines a biomimetic surface and a unique lens chemistry to help resist bacteria and lipid deposits.9-12* The lens features an inherently lubricious surface that is as soft as the human cornea.5 The Water Gradient surface of TOTAL30® is durable and remains intact during a full month of wear with daily cleaning, disinfecting and storing.4,5 The lens is compatible with all lens care solutions. Eye care professionals: see instructions for use for contact lens wear, care, precautions, warnings, contraindications and adverse effects. Consumers should consult their eye care professionals.
*Based on in vitro testing of unworn lenses. About Alcon Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning more than seven decades, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 23,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with eye care professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.ca. You can also connect with us on Instagram and Facebook.
References 1. In a clinical study wherein patients (n=66) used CLEAR CARE® solution for nightly cleaning, disinfecting, and storing; Alcon data on file, 2021. 2. Internal Estimates. 3. Internal Estimates. 4. Surface property analysis of lehfilcon A lenses out of pack and after 30 days of wear; Alcon data on file, 2020. 5. Surface observations of lehfilcon A contact lens and human cornea using scanning transmissions electron microscopy; Alcon data on file, 2020. 6. Schnider C. Evaluating Monthly Replacement CL Patient Satisfaction. Abstract and lecture presented at the American Academy of Optometry Conference 2016, Orlando, FL. 7. In vitro analysis of lehfilcon A contact lenses outermost surface softness and correlation with water content; Alcon data on file, 2021. 8. In vitro analysis of lens oxygen permeability, water content, and surface imaging; Alcon data on file, 2021. 9. Ishihara K, Fukazawa K, Sharma V, Liang S, et al. Antifouling silicone hydrogel contact lenses with a bioinspired 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer surface. ACS Omega. 2021;6:7058-7067. 10. In vitro evaluation of bacterial adherence in commercial lenses: Alcon data on file, 2020. 11. In vitro evaluation of bacterial biofilm in commercial lenses: Alcon data on file, 2020. 12. In vitro evaluation of lipid deposition for lehfilcon A and commercial lenses using 3D confocal imaging; Alcon data on file, 2021. 13. Internal Estimates
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Here's How Small Businesses Can Stay Competitive During a Labour Shortage By Kiran Virk
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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a labour shortage across industries in Canada. According to the findings of a BDC survey, 64% of Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses say labour shortages are limiting their growth. While 55% of the employers surveyed were having a tough time hiring new staff, 26% said retaining employees was also difficult. There may be many factors causing the current labour crisis. The pandemic affected a major source of labour by reducing the number of new immigrants, students, and temporary foreign workers coming to Canada. The frequent lockdowns and ensuing job losses led employees in the hardest-hit sectors, such as retail, personal care, hospitality, and food service, to change careers. The federal income support programs also made it feasible for many to stay home and avoid taking up customer-facing jobs during a pandemic. Given how the pandemic has transformed the current labour market, it is important employers adapt their hiring strategies to attract top talent. Here are 5 ways small businesses can attract qualified candidates and adapt to a candidate-led market: Offer competitive pay and benefits First and foremost, offer a good compensation package. Competitive pay and benefits, such as paid vacation, paid sick leave, health care coverage, and perks, such as wellness programs, staff discounts, etc., are critical to drawing qualified candidates. It is equally important you offer opportunities for growth in the role through upskilling, training, and mentorship programs. The 2022 Hays Canada Salary Guide states 62% of employees said they would switch jobs if not given opportunities for professional growth. According to the BDC study, better wages and benefits were the two main
reasons why the employees surveyed wanted to change jobs. Provide a COVID-secure workplace If the nature of your business requires your staff work out of an office, makes sure you follow all public health measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission in your workplace. As an employer, it is your legal obligation to take all reasonable precautions to provide a hazard-free work environment for your staff. Putting stringent health and safety controls in place will help lessen any fear or anxiety your employees may have about catching COVID19 at work. Ensure you have relevant COVID-19 policies in place, are following masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and active screening protocols. Make sure your employees have the personal protective equipment they need. Employers should develop a protocol to protect their customer-facing staff from being harassed by angry customers who refuse to meet proof of vaccination requirements. Improve your recruitment process We recommend the following best practices to ensure you make a good first impression on your applicants: Post clear and realistic job descriptions: The job description plays a major role in determining the sort of candidates you attract. It should provide clarity on what is expected from the role. It should not be a long and unrealistic wish list of job requirements and qualifications. Doing so may discourage talented applicants from applying simply because they don’t meet all the listed criteria. You may want to split the skills you are seeking into “must have” and “nice to have”. Conduct structured interviews: The purpose Eye Digest Magazine | 13
of interviewing is to find a candidate who is a right fit for the job, and thus more likely to stay with the company. Structured interviews that include behavioural questions (openended questions about specific situations) are an effective way to gauge how a particular candidate may use their experience to manage the challenges and duties of the role you’re hiring for. In structured interviews, you prepare a questionnaire in advance and ask all applicants the same questions in the same order. This ensures fairness and objectivity in your hiring process. You could also include a skills test to assess a candidate’s suitability for the job. Another way to find strong applicants is to offer a referral bonus to existing staff. Be transparent during the recruitment process: Provide clarity on the next steps in the recruitment process after the skills test or the final interview. Let the candidates know of the timeframe within which you would be making your decision.
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Let flexible work be an option Offering perks such as flexible work is another effective way to make your company an attractive place to work at. The 2021 Hays Salary Guide said the option to work from home was listed as one of the “most desired benefits” by employees. If switching to remote work entirely is not possible, you could offer remote or hybrid work options for certain roles that do not require staff to be present in the office. Offering remote work will also widen your hiring pool – enabling you to hire qualified people from across your province and even the country. A remote/hybrid work arrangement is also cost effective for employers as it reduces costs (rent, overhead expenses) associated with a physical office functioning at full capacity. Focus on staff retention According to the 2022 Hays Canada Salary Guide, 40% of employers surveyed said they were already losing skilled staff to competitors offering higher pay. It is important that you invest in retaining your employees. The last thing you’d want during a
shortage of skilled workers is to lose experienced employees to competition. Improve employee retention by: • Offering pay and benefits at par with industry standards • Providing opportunities for career growth (training, workshops, and mentorship programs) • Providing flexible work options to employees who need it • Recognizing the achievements of your employees • Keeping favouritism out of your workplace • Encouraging your employees to strive for a work-life balance • Conducting annual performance reviews Use annual appraisals to get staff feedback, talk about their goals and future with your company. Doing so will help you provide them with growth opportunities and training aligned with their future goals. Through mentoring and upskilling, you can groom an existing employee to take on new roles and greater responsibility within your company.
Remember, people are more likely to stay with a company that invests in their career. Do you have questions related to HR and employee management? At Peninsula Canada, we specialize in everything HR and health & safety. Whether you need advice on handling employee performance issues or have other HR questions, we’re here to support you. Our experts can help you develop company policies and can offer you any other HR, health and safety, or employment advice you need. About Peninsula Peninsula is a trusted HR and Health and Safety advisory, serving over 80,000 small businesses worldwide. Clients are supported with ongoing updates of their workplace documentation and policies as legislation changes. Additionally, clients benefit from 24/7 employer HR advice and are supported by legal assistance. Kiran Virk is the Talent Acquisition Manager at Peninsula Canada and heads recruitment for all company operations across Canada.
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Educating Patients and Doctors about Dry Eye By MyDryEye.ca With over 2 million impressions in the last year, MyDryEye.ca has become one of the most visited websites for patients with dry eye. There are many exclusive features on MyDryEye.ca that are beneficial for the dry eye sufferer. One of the main goals of MyDryEye.ca is to directly connect patients with a network clinic. The updated dry eye doctor locator allows patients to search clinics by location or by specific dry eye treatments. The locator is extremely user friendly and links each clinic's website and all the necessary information to contact the clinic about dry eye treatments. Additionally, the new map feature repopulates and updates dry eye clinics whenever the user moves towards a new location. MyDryEye.ca also provides a trusted source of dry eye information for patient learning. Each month, the website publishes 2 new blogs which cover various dry eye topics that are easy to understand for the general public. As more clinics move towards in-office treatments, the most recent 18 | Eye Digest Magazine
blog posts focus procedures such as Intense Pulsed Light, Radiofrequency and Thermal Pulsation Therapy. In addition to blog posts, MyDryEye. ca created a dry eye glossary page that outlines procedure-based treatments and dry eye medications in a few sentences. For the visual learner, MyDryEye.ca created social media channels dubbed, “MyDryEye Space” which summarizes affiliated blog posts with infographics. MyDryEye Space has a large following on both Instagram and Facebook, and you can follow them @mydryeyespace. Additionally, MyDryEye Space runs a patient-facing Facebook group that allows patients to share their dry eye experience with other sufferers. This Facebook group is carefully moderated by the MyDryEye team to either guide the patient to a network clinic or to accurately answer a dry question. MyDryEye.ca has developed into a go-to website for dry eye sufferers, but it is also attracting optometrists that want to practice in this sub-specialty.
With the growing interest in dry eye, The MyDryEye team produced The Canadian Dry Eye Summit (CDES) which is the largest DED focused education meeting in Canada. The fully accredited meeting primarily focuses on the science of dry eye diagnosis, treatment in addition to practice management concepts. Each year, CDES brings together a panel of experts from all across North America and vendors to showcase their technology. There are endless lectures and live demonstrations that provide each optometrist with the opportunity to set up a dry eye practice within their clinic.
ca and utilize the learning platform to learn at their own pace. The content on the learning platform contains COPE approved lectures, practice management content and dry eye training videos for staff and doctors. All members on the learning platform obtain placement on the dry eye locator and can utilize MyDryEye.ca social media content for their website. If you want to specialize in dry eye, take advantage of all of the benefits that MyDryEye has to offer to grow your practice.
A new addition last year was the Dry Eye Innovation Summit (DEIS) and this exciting event showcased the latest in dry eye technology and new product pipelines in the dry eye space. If you missed the CDES or DEIS, there are live recordings for both events (links are provided below).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydryeyespace/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mydryeyespace MyDryEye: https://mydryeye.ca/ Learning Platform: https://learn.mydryeye.ca/ DEIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Bf37ngyxg
Affiliate links:
If optometrists want to dive into dry eye content even further, they can join the Learn.MyDryEye. Eye Digest Magazine | 19
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Precision Optical Filters in Managing Light Sensitivity and Migraine Symptomsms The Role of Eye Care Professionals in Managing Light Sensitivity
By Dr. Harbir Sian , BSc, OD As eyecare professionals, we play a crucial role in recognizing and managing many systemic diseases and chronic conditions. In recent years, research on light sensitivity has shown that it can be an indicator of various underlying ocular or neurological conditions. And now we have the opportunity to be the first line of defense in identifying, treating, and managing light sensitivity and the related condition. Understanding Light Sensitivity and Migraine Photophobia is remarkably common, potentially affecting as much as 20% of the average population, and it can be extremely debilitating. Though there are many causes of light sensitivity, it’s highest prevalence is amongst people with migraine. Research has shown that as many as 90% of migraine sufferers experience light sensitivity either continuously or during a migraine attack. Commonly, migraine is misunderstood as a simple headache. However, migraine is a genetic, neuro22 | Eye Digest Magazine
logical disease that affects almost 15% of the population -- over 1 billion people globally. Migraine’s prevalence and severity has established it as the 3rd most prevalent disease in the world and the 6th most disabling, according to the World Health Organization. Migraine can be so disabling that those suffering a migraine episode are often incapable of pursuing activities of daily living. While a throbbing headache is common, a combination of various symptoms can debilitate someone during a migraine attack. Symptoms often include light sensitivity, nausea, and brain fog, to name a few. Migraine pain is generally experienced as a severe headache, typically isolated to one side of the head. Migraine episodes can be triggered by various external and internal factors, and while research into migraine continues to expand, there is still no known cure for this disease. The only option for people with migraine is to control for migraine attack triggers or to manage symptoms.
What is the Relationship Between Light Sensitivity and Migraine? It’s important to understand the relationship between light sensitivity and migraine to provide a comprehensive therapeutic approach. Light sensitivity is seen in almost 90% of people with migraine and 40% of these patients experience constant light sensitivity. Light sensitivity can be a predictor of an oncoming migraine attack as well as a predictor of how well one would respond to treatment. When light sensitivity is present, people with migraine tend to respond better to treatment than those without it.
has been shown to soothe migraine headache pain. The science proves that preventing melanopsin secretion with light mitigation can improve light related pain. By filtering blue, amber and red wavelengths of light, while allowing in the soothing green wavelengths of light, light related pain will improve.
In the Migraine in America Symptom and Treatment Study 2018 (MAST), researchers identified light sensitivity to be “the most bothersome migraine symptom”. This substantiates how important it is to control light sensitivity as well as how potentially effective light mitigation can be. The Link Between Light and Pain Light is known to precipitate migraine attacks in up to 60% of people. Light exposure can also prolong and worsen the intensity of an attack. In the last decade, there has been an increase in light sensitivity research on migraine subjects. What we know today: • Specific wavelengths of light can either worsen light sensitivity and light-triggered migraine headache pain or soothe it. • The painful wavelengths of light are found in the blue (480nm), amber (590nm), and red (627nm) range of the light spectrum. • The soothing wavelengths are found in the green range (520-540nm). • The painful light specifically triggers certain cells in the retina, known as Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGC), which contain the photopigment melanopsin. When released, melanopsin acts through pain pathways in the thalamus, creating light related pain. A narrow band of green light
Lack of Proven Options Historically, options available to those experiencing photophobia were scarce. Available options included dark sunglasses (which can cause chronic dark adaption), tinted or blue light blocking lenses, and FL-41 lenses (originally created to reduce the impact of flickering fluorescent light). What these options have is common is they lack an objective study proving clinical and statistical significance around managing light sensitivity and its associated pain. The knowledge gap around the mechanism of action also contributed to ECPs potentially recommending options that didn’t meet a strict level of clinical significance.
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A Confused Market For years, the ECP and consumer markets have had an increase in interest around blue light filters. A simple web search will result in numerous vendors selling these filters. Unfortunately, for the average self-service migraine and light sensitivity consumer, they may believe that these blue light filters are the solution to their photophobia. In fact, simple blue light filters alone haven’t proven clinical and statistical significance in reducing light-triggered pain and/or managing overall light sensitivity.
sensitivity vs 52% for placebo and Avulux wearers reported an average headache pain reduction of 2.29, on a 0-10 pain scale, vs 1.13 for placebo. Furthermore, 36% fewer migraine attacks required the use of medication while subjects wore Avulux compared to placebo, making Avulux an effective non-pharmacological option for our patients.
Thankfully, there is now a clear, proven option for us to recommend to our migraine and photophobia patients. The World’s First Clinically Proven Lens for Migraine & Light Sensitivity The Avulux lens is a unique, patented, multi-band, precision optical filter. The lens absorbs up to 97% of the most painful blue, amber, and red light while allowing beneficial green light through. Through an independently run clinical trial, Avulux achieved the highest scientific standard – demonstrating clinical and statistical significance in reducing light sensitivity and light-triggered migraine pain. Over all reported migraine episodes, at 2 hours, 72% of Avulux users experienced no light
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Avulux is a proven, safe, and effective option for managing photophobia and light-triggered migraine pain. The lens has no known side effects, no adverse events, and it does not distort the wearer’s color perception. Finally, we have a legitimate, clinically-backed lens that we can confidently recommend to our patients.
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New to Practice Financial Checklist: What should I do first? By Financial Literacy Counsel
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Congratulations on becoming an Optometrist! Now that you have increased your earning power, you may be asking: ‘What should my financial first steps be?’ Moving your focus towards building a strong financial foundation will not only help you today but will also pay off big dividends in the future. The majority of new to practice ODs are in their late 20’s or early 30’s and can often feel like they’re playing catch up, since they’re starting to earn money later than their peers. They may have also taken on debt through government student loans or lines of credit from financial institutions with a looming balance of up to six figures, leaving them with little leftover to put towards saving for retirement or a work-optional lifestyle. Without a doubt, this trifecta can cause financial stress and make new to practice ODs susceptible to making sub-optimal choices with their money. For over 20 years, Financial Literacy Counsel (FLC) has coached new to practice doctors, helping them optimize their financial choices and get on the right path by using the following 3-step checklist.
clinical decisions; without this, you cannot earn an income. Your first financial priority as a new to practice OD is to seek out a disability insurance plan that is customized to fit your needs today, but will also grow with you as your expenses increase throughout your career. Reach out to BCDO and FLC to learn more about your disability insurance options and exclusive discounts available to ODs in BC. Step 2: Create and Stick to a Spending Plan—We recommend the 50/30/20 rule As a self-employed professional you’ll need a game plan to manage your income and expenses. Arming yourself with the knowledge of where your money is going each month puts you in control of your money, rather than your money controlling you.
Step 1: Act Like a Doctor, Think Like a Business Owner—Protect your profit centre with disability insurance One of the biggest mistakes new to practice ODs make is failing to shift their mindset from that of an employee to a business owner early on in their career. Since most ODs are self-employed, there is no safety net in terms of extended health benefits and disability insurance. Take this time to educate yourself about how to protect what you are working so hard to build. Business owners are keenly aware of what generates their money and take the necessary steps to insure these assets against loss. As an OD, your profit centre is your ability to make
The next step toward building a strong financial house is to stick to a spending plan that clearly distinguishes your needs, wants and financial goals. Start by dividing your income into: • 50% for Needs: Expenses you cannot live without such as rent/mortgage, food, basic transportation, minimum debt repayment, and putting away money for taxes. Eye Digest Magazine | 27
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30% for Wants: Experiences and luxuries that are nice to have such as eating out, travel, brand name clothing, technology, etc. 20% for Financial Goals: Long-term goals such as repaying debt, buying a home, achieving a work-optional lifestyle, saving for retirement etc.
Step 3: Speak to a Financial Planner Who Understands Your Journey—Contact BCDO to access your financial coaching benefits “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they succeed,” is a timeless proverb that applies to doctors who are focused on their practice and understand their limits when it comes to financial, tax, and legal planning. Now is a good time to start interviewing financial professionals who understand your unique journey
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as an Optometrist or get a second opinion on your current financial plan. As part of your BCDO member benefits, you have support when it comes to managing your finances and building a solid financial house. BCDO partners with FLC to provide you with 2 financial coaching sessions to address your top financial concerns. Within these sessions, you’ll receive a financial ‘prescription’ with recommendations that will detail which next steps to consider as you embark on your career.
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Dr. Tanner Udenberg Member Spotlight
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Dr. Tanner Udenberg BSc Pharmacology BC Doctors of Optometry member About Dr. Tanner Udenberg Dr. Udenberg is thrilled to be back in his home town of Vernon after graduating from the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo in 2010 with honours. While in Waterloo, he completed internships in ocular pathology, binocular vision and specialty contact lens design. He has also volunteered on many developing world eye care missions and most recently traveled to Nicaragua and Haiti. Prior to studying Optometry, Dr. Udenberg completed a degree in Pharmacology at the University of Alberta where he worked as a researcher in a cardiovascular pharmacology lab publishing multiple studies. In his spare time, Dr. Udenberg is an avid musician and enjoys snowboarding, playing hockey and traveling with his wife Renee and spending time with his son and daughter. He is a proud member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Kalamalka Rotary Club. Career Path and BCDO Who inspires you? I take daily inspiration from my wife and two wonderful children. Seeing their faces light up as you walk in the door always makes me forget the small stuff. I also have a fantastic mentor, Dr. Shane Keddie (Edmonton), who is a highly skilled 38 | Eye Digest Magazine
clinician and excellent patient communicator. What is something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know? I am an identical twin. Why is being a member of BCDO important to you? I believe that we can accomplish more as a profession and improve patient care by working together. I am also quite impressed at the BCDO’s recent success at advancing our scope of practice and updating the MSP reimbursement schedule. The Profession of Optometry What kind of person do you need to succeed as an optometrist? I believe patient communication skills are paramount. Completing a refraction isn’t really that difficult in my opinion. It’s communicating what you are doing to the patient, why you are doing it and how it will improve their lives is what is most important. It builds patient rapport, trust and helps build your practice. What do you enjoy/value most about being an optometrist? I am now practicing in the small town that I grew
up in, Vernon. This really gives me a great sense of community and during Covid that connection is really important to me. I also enjoy all of the technological advances our field has to offer. We recently commissioned an alloy blocker for our lab and have also purchased a Radiofrequency/ IPL platform for treating dry eye. What are the most rewarding aspects of your job? It’s the people. I have one patient that is 104 yrs. old and whenever I see her name come up on the schedule, I can’t wait to hear how she has been doing. I also find it really rewarding if I am able to address an issue that has been troubling a patient for some time. Whether it’s a scleral lens fitting, prism issue, or uncovering a large latent Rx in a child and helping them get back on track academically, I really enjoy the challenging cases.
into thanks to my mentor Dr. Keddie. Our clinic also specializes in dry eyes by offering meibomian gland expression, radiofrequency and IPL treatments. What new direction would you like to see happen in Optometry? I would like to see Optometry and Optometrists maintain their independence. There are consolidation pressures, buying groups and chains that seem to be rapidly changing the profession. For this very reason, we started Independent Lenses – a digital free form lab with lens equipment capable to making any free form progressive design, antireflective coatings etc.
Do you have a specialty? If so, what made you choose it? Scleral Lens Fittings are an area that I like to get
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EyeLearn: Online Store & Optometrist Toolkit EyeLearn is BCDO’s revamped children’s eye health program, rolling out in urban and rural communities across BC. EyeLearn raises awareness of the importance of eye exams for infants and those under 19 years of age and highlights eye exams for this group are fully or partially covered by MSP. EyeLearn Online Store To accompany the EyeLearn program and to help promote children’s vision health, all featuring the mascot, Opie, the following merchandise are available in the EyeLearn online store: • • • • • • •
Opie stuffed Toy Mouse Pad Stress Ball Sticker Mini Coloured Pencil Pack Brochure Posters
Take a little time to browse through our online inventory. It is super easy to get started. Click here to access our store's home page. For more information, visit our website and if you have any questions, please email communications@optometrists.bc.ca.
Optometrist Toolkit BCDO has also created a suite of materials for EyeLearn - an Optometrist's Toolkit. Within the toolkit, there are several pieces to help promote children’s vision health: • Four social media posts and accompanying copy. • Posters of Opie in three sizes if you wish to print it in your offices. This is also available in the EyeLearn online store. • An email template to invite parents/guardians to book their children’s eye exams, with a banner. To access the EyeLearn Optometrist Toolkit, please click here.
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COMING SOON
OCULAR ALLERGY CE WEBINAR Join us for an engaging webinar with Dr. Victor Pegado, the first and only comprehensive Paediatric Ophthalmologist practicing on Vancouver Island. This webinar will provide optometrists with an overview of ocular allergy and Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) diagnosis, treatment, and best practices- just in time for the start of allergy season. Dr. Pegado will review case studies and challenging VKC diagnoses, as well as review current therapies available for treating ocular allergies and VKC. Date & Time: Monday, March 14 at 6:30 – 8:00 pm PST CE Credits: Attendees will be able to earn up to 1.5 COPE CE Credits (COPE: Approval Pending) To register, click here
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COMING SOON
2022 BCDO ANNUAL CONFERENCE & OPTOFAIR BC Doctors of Optometry’s 2022 Annual Conference & OPTOFAIR is a three-day continuing education, networking and professional development event for doctors of optometry and optometric staff. This is your opportunity to gain valuable and relevant insight and education into the optometric field. Date: Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15, 2022 Location: Hyatt Regency Vancouver, 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC Please stay tuned for more details!
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Are you interested in Locum work? Let us know! BCDO has a “Locum List” of members interested in locum opportunities to assist members looking for short term work coverage. If you are interested in locum opportunities, please provide us with your contact information: name, email, and phone number. When an opportunity becomes available, we will email our list of locum doctors with the details and those interested can connect directly with the member who posted the ad. Please email info@optometrists.bc.ca if you would like to be added to the Locum List or if you are looking for locum coverage.
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