OPT Visionary - Summer 2014

PAGE 6 The Eye Care Institute hosted its annual Optical Style Show in April 2014. The show’s sponsoring frame ven- dor was Marchon Eyewear, which showcased full col- lections of its top brands such as Michael Kors, Chloe, Emilio Pucci, and Valentino. The event has served as a perpetually successful way to promote The Eye Care Institute clinics to their surrounding communities via radio ads and invitations, as well as through cam- pus-wide promotion for NSU students and faculty and staff members. The Optical Style Show has been a success from its inception thanks to the efforts of Linda S. Rouse, O.D., FAAO, chief operations officer of The Eye Care Institute, Ana Abugazaleh, managing optician, and Michelle Merida, manager of third-party contracts and marketing services. After decades of attempts, Florida op- tometrists were awarded the right to pre- scribe oral medications for eye disease with the passage of HB 239. While this bill was touted as an expansion of scope of practice, the real winners were the citizens of Florida. This issue had been debated for so many years that the Florida Legislature referred to the oral medication issue as the “Eye Ball Wars.” Optometrists in 47 other states have been prescribing oral medications for over 20 years, so there was a proven track record for the education and training for op- tometrists to prescribe these medications in a safe and professional manner. That track record, coupled with the collaborative effort between the various health care profes- sions, resulted in the unanimous passage of HB 239. Optometrists are the primary eye care providers, and eye issues do not always occur during regular business hours. Often, unwanted delays in care result not only in more patient discomfort, but also in a wors- ening of the condition. Consequently, pa- tients would often utilize emergency rooms for treatable conditions at a greater cost to taxpayers and the health care system. The Florida Optometric Association thought it was imperative for optometrists in our state to be able to provide prompt and effective care to the citizens of Florida. All certified optometrists in Florida now have the ability to prescribe oral medica- tions after an additional certification test is passed. Certified optometrists also have the ability to apply for a DEA number in order to prescribe controlled substances. With the additional numbers of practitioners in the state, there is greater access to care, especially in the underserved rural areas. This legislation also codified the ability of optometrists to co-manage surgical cases with ophthalmologists. Florida optometrists have been providing quality primary eye care to their communi- ties for many years. With the passage of HB 239, optometrists now will be able to offer their patients greater access to eye care and aligns Florida’s level of care with the other 47 states. News Blasts Essilor of America has donated Mr Blue, which is at the forefront of edging technology, to NSUCO’s Ziff Health Care Center Optical Dis- pensary in Davie. This state-of-the-art edger fea- tures an easy-to-use touch screen interface and a fully automatic blocker that fabricates a pair of spectacles to the highest-possible standard. Mr Blue’s distinctive milling function, automatic recognition of rimless holes, and high-curve trace ability are just a few of the additional func- tions available. Essilor of America also has placed in NSUCO’s dispensary the latest in dig- ital dispensing technology—Visioffice 2—which allows the dispensary to deliver an accurate, precise, and consistent way to prescribe a pa- tient’s lenses. T HANK Y OU Essilor of America 2 0 1 4 OPTICAL S T Y L E S H O W HB 239: Florida Optometrists Awarded the Right to Prescribe Oral Medications By David Rouse, O.D., FAAO, Chairman, Florida Optometric Association Board of Directors