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What is the most important development within optometry?

Published November 19th, 2008 by David.

As part of our ever expanding network within the Optometry sector we have had a Linkedin group running now for a couple of months (which you can access here although you have to join linkedin) For those of you who dont know what linkedin is, Linkedin is a website which allows you to Share knowledge and tap into relationships and also to connect the people in your professional network.the lines of:

What is the most important development within optometry?

This particular question created an interesting repsonse from one of our members which I thought might be of interest. Answers are as follows:

1. Eligibility to participate in 3rd party billing for medical problems
2. Technology which has elevated optometry prowess in diagnosing and managing eye diesease
3. Flight from routine and even minor medical eye care by ophthalmology. Optometry has filled that void in many cases
4. 4 new optometry schools to open in the next 4 yrs.
Whilst answers one and four only relate to the USA market (and we would welcome more input from our American readers), does anybody else have some thoughts on what the most important development within Optometry is?

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Behind the Numbers of a SEP-IRA - By Adam Cmejla of Waddell & Reed

Published November 14th, 2008 by David.

In the second part of our series, Adam Amejla of Waddell & Reed presents a piece about Behind the Numbers of a SEP-IRA

Please note: This is an article written by a resident of the USA and is intended only for that market. If you are a resident of another country, please seek advice from an appropriate source.

I took some time yesterday to talk a little bit about different types of retirement plans to set up for your business and which ones are most beneficial. I’d first like to talk about a SEP, or a Simplified Employee Pension. A SEP allows you to set up an IRA (a “SEP-IRA”) for yourself and each of your eligible employees. You contribute a uniform percentage of pay for each employee, although you don’t have to make contributions every year, offering you some flexibility when business conditions vary. For the newer small businesses and practices of Indianapolis, this is a great plan to get started with in the beginning.

For 2008, your contributions for each employee are limited to the lesser of 25% of pay or $46,000. Most employers, including those who are self-employed, can establish a SEP.

SEPs have low start-up and operating costs and can be established using an easy two-page form. The plan must cover any employee aged 21 or older who has worked for you for three of the last five years and who earns $500 or more.

Next time, we’ll talk about the SIMPLE IRA plan. Til next time…
Adam Cmejla is a financial planner located in Indianapolis, IN.  He can be reached via email at acmejla@wradvisors.comor (800) 878-4517.  Readers of the above post should not act based solely on the information provided.  Since the details of your situation are fact dependent, you should not proceed without first seeking appropriate advice from a …

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Retirement Planning by Adam Cmejla of Waddell & Reed Inc.

Published November 13th, 2008 by David.

As part of our continuing development, The Optometry Blog is proud to present an article written by Adam Cmejla who is a Financial Advisor for Waddell & Reed, Inc. who are based in Indianapolis.

Please note: This is an article written by a resident of the USA and is intended only for that market. If you are a resident of another country, please seek advice from an appropriate source.

If you’re an optometrist who owns their own practice or is a partner in a practice and you haven’t established a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save for the future. And you’ll be in good company–over 1 million small businesses with 100 or fewer employees currently offer workplace retirement savings plans.
Let’s first take a look at a number of the tax advantages that are advantageous for a business with a retirement plan.  A retirement plan can have significant tax advantages:
• Your contributions are deductible when made
• Your contributions aren’t taxed to an employee until distributed from the plan
• Money in the retirement program grows tax deferred (or, in the case of Roth accounts, potentially tax free)
• You may be able to claim a tax credit equal to 50% of the cost to set up and administer a retirement plan, up to a maximum of $500 per year for each of the first three years of the plan
• Certain low- and moderate-income employees may be entitled to a tax credit (”saver’s tax credit”) for a portion of their contributions to the plan
Currently, there are many different types of plans to choose from. Finding out which plan is going to be best-suited for your practice is very important.  …

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New Update! Final Assessment & NonEEA Candidates - Reading Lists and Downloads

Published November 8th, 2008 by Jane Macnaughton.

For those of you who are intending to sit the College of Optometrists Final Assessment and NonEEA Qualified Optometrists Examination, we shall be building here a comprehensive list of useful links and downloads.

Please check back regularly as this page will be continuously updated.

Last updated: 8th November 2008

We welcome additional links - please use the comment box below.

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Free CET from Essilor UK Ltd - then take the test online now!

Published November 5th, 2008 by Jane Macnaughton.

CET C9375: The Significance Of The Minkwitz Condition Upon The Field Of View Of Progressive Power Lenses

Essilor hosts a free CET article open to all UK registered Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians.

This article is written by Professor Mo Jalie SMSA, FBDO (Hons), Hon FCGI, Hon FCOptom, MIMgt. Professor Jalie is visiting Professor in Optometry at the University of Ulster, Coleraine. He taught ophthalmic lenses and dispensing in the Department of Applied Optics, City & East London College for thirty years and was Head of Department from 1985 to 1995.

This article takes a detailed look at the impact of moving the progressive surface from the front to the rear of a lens. The article covers an overview of the Minkwitz theorem, which highlights the affect of progression length on unwanted astigmatism. Professor Jalie given a detailed explanation along with field of view calculations through a progressive lens with the progression on both the rear and front lens surfaces. An overview of the latest “free-form” surfacing generators is also given.

Learning Objectives:

Following this article delegates will have a much greater understanding of,

• How the length of the progression affects the amount of unwanted surface astigmatis
• How the field of view is specified for a spectacle lens
• How the position of a progressive surface affects field of view, and
• How the latest surfacing technology allows for the location of the progressive surface to be placed on the rear or front surface of the lens

This article has been accredited for 1 General CET point.

The deadline for responses is 30th June 2009

…

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