Senior Editor
NEW YORK--Representatives of a number of top optical retail chains met here during International Vision Expo East as the Corporate Optometry Professional Advisory Panel to discuss matters of common interest to corporate ODs, including whether a new industry wide message on eye health for consumers is needed.
The meeting, sponsored by CIBA Vision, Essilor of America, Alcon and Transitions Optical, was kicked off by Marge Axelrad, senior vice president/editorial director of Jobson Optical Group, who updated the group on the industry’s 2007 sales and consumer buying intentions for the coming year. “The challenge for the industry is to overcome any desire people have this year to postpone eye exams or the purchase of new eyewear,” Axelrad said.
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| Allan Barker, OD (l), and Russ Tolar (r) of Eyecarecenter catch up with meeting organizer Paul Gerber at the corporate optometry meeting. |
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| Sam Herskowitz (l) and Scott Finn (c) of Emerging Vision visit with CIBA Vision’s Tony Sommer. |
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| Dori Carlson, OD, representing the American Optometric Association, chats with Lee Nelson, OD, and Mitch Wessels of Luxottica Retail at the corporate optometry meeting. |
Ed Zajac, national accounts sales director for Alcon, reviewed the growing trend of optometrists writing prescriptions for drugs to alleviate allergies and dry eye, noting that the total number of prescriptions written by ODs last year rose 12 percent over 2006.
Bryan McConnell, director of category management for CIBA Vision, pointed out the increased profitability generated by patients who wear both contacts lenses and Rx eyewear, versus eyeglass-only wearers. “Contact lens users are more profitable in the long term,” McConnell said. “They visit more often, receive more exams and 89 percent of them also buy eyeglasses.”
Dori Carlson, OD, a member of the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) board of trustees, outlined the AOA’s ongoing programs, including a legislative day in Washington, D.C., earlier this month that sent 420 ODs to visit legislators, and the InfantSEE program, in which more than 7,800 AOA members currently participate.
Shannon Hunt, key account manager, national retail, for Transitions, reported on the company’s Healthy Sight initiative, which promotes overall health and wellness as well as eye health.
According to Hunt, Healthy Sight counseling can be used as a vehicle for staff training and education, and can also increase the sale of premium products and elevate the value of the services an ECP provides.
Steve Kodey, director of research services for The Vision Council, discussed the Internet’s impact on eyeglass sales in retail chains, noting that many consumers avoid purchasing eyewear online because they like buying and trying on frames and sunwear in person.
Finally, panel moderator Dwight Akerman, OD, CIBA’s director of professional programs, discussed the new Web site for chain and retail ODs, www.corporateOD.com, which is due to launch in early May. ■
