May 2024 Edition

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Dear Members, Supporters and Friends,

Opticianry has witnessed change within New York and beyond this year. As you will read, these changes have happened very swiftly, with little ability to thoroughly review and consider long-term consequences. This is not to imply the consequences may be unfair or negative but that they came without preamble or ask.

In July 2023, the NY State Education Department invited Title VIII professions to a roundtable discussion about the impact of online platforms in our prospective industries. Needless to say the majority present were of the opinion that provider’s using online platforms are not held to the same or equal oversight as in- person licensed practitioners. The professions were pharmacy, optometry, ophthalmic dispensing, psychology, medicine, engineering, nursing and veterinary to list a few.

We all had the same concerns for New York residents: Lack of oversight yields subpar and less than accurate products or services. The State Education Department and representatives were impressed with a unanimous concern that the consumers their Department is charged with protecting may be negatively impacted by online retailers and service providers.

Seven months later we were beyond surprised to learn the long-standing in-person Practical Exams for both Ophthalmic Dispensing and Contact Lenses will be done virtually. We need to be clear to the state that while NYSSO's leaders and Board of Directors may or may not agree with the principle of a virtual exam, no one in our profession in NYS was asked to offer an opinion about this change, who will be the provider of the exam, or its merit.

Our issue is not the exam per se but the lack of professional peer review. No State Ophthalmic Dispensing Board members, representatives  of the two colleges in our state (City Tech and Erie Community College) that offer Ophthalmic Dispensing degrees, or NYSSO leadership (which was invited to lend an opinion the previous summer) were given the opportunity to review the exam or what other changes, if any, are planned for NYS opticians. 

We need to be aware and concerned that changes to any parts of our testing, pathway to licensure or rules and regulations affect all licensees, business owners and ultimately New York residents. It is imperative that we be vigilant and vocal through this Society and work with a lobbyist to monitor any movement that may challenge the profession or our current license.

Professor Janet Acara of Erie Community College has offered her insight and opinion on the merits of the ABO virtual exam and states this is her opinion and not necessarily those of her ECC colleagues.

The second part to this report is the merger of the four pillars of our national organizations. The Opticians Association of America (OAA), American Board of Opticianry (ABO), National Contact Lens Examiners (NCLE) and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) have joined to form the United Opticians Association (UOA). 

Though this merger has been in development for two years, it was introduced at the OAA Leadership Convention in February with a call to vote on the merger the following month at VEE. It was unanimously adopted by the states and individual delegates that were present at VEE. States or representatives that were not forfeited their vote; proxies were not allowed.

As you will read below, the new mega organization plans to drive education, certification and registration in the states that have no formal representation for opticians at this time. This can only strengthen our profession moving forward. 

States that have strong licensing laws in place must assist in creating a formal standard of education and competency; NYSSO leadership would like to be part of that process. We must ensure that what we have in place serves as a standard along with our colleagues in other licensed states such as Florida, North Carolina and Virginia to name a few. The only way to allow a reasonable path to reciprocity is a formal standard of education.

Below is the statement published by OAA President Ron Harbert. Please know your NYSSO leadership wants to be included in the planning to maintain, strengthen and help form new state associations and assist with their education where none exists. This could be an amazing and outstanding time for you to become involved with NYSSO and volunteer to work shoulder to shoulder to direct your future within NYS and beyond.

Remember, if a leader is not apparent, one will emerge.

We, as your representatives, are asking you to support NYSSO through your membership because we are the ONLY association that can truly represent on a state and national level. With the most recent change out of NYSED we have to consider what may be the next challenge we aren’t aware of.

YOU BELONG. HERE

Regards, 

Dale S. Clemens

President, NYSSO



Jeffrey Braun

Vice President, NYSSO

Laura Frezza

Executive Director, NYSSO   

Statement from Professor Janet Acara

Below you will find a statement from Professor Janet Acara,  Vision Care Technology Chair at Erie Community College (ECC), Buffalo N.Y., supporting the New York State Practical moving from an in-person examination to virtual.

 Professor Acara states:  

I cannot say if all faculty at ECC supports the virtual practical but certainly they are pleased with the benefits it offers our students.   

I strongly support the Ophthalmic Dispensing Practical's becoming virtual exams. This will be a positive move for opticianry and will give better access to the field. The virtual examination has been developed by opticians who hold Master's and PhDs in education. The exam is continually evaluated by statisticians to identify any problem questions. The validity of the exam is continually reviewed. There is no subjectiveness of the examiner in a virtual exam which leads to a fairer exam. The virtual examination for contact lenses has candidates find corneal problems, much more important than setting up a perfect biomicroscope illumination. There are many case scenarios similar to what is presented in clinic daily.

The virtual exam is also more conscious of the costs to the candidates. Currently the fees for the practical exam are approximately $800.00. The candidate must travel to Albany and have the additional burden of hotel stays and food. Most who take the exam are working under a permit and not being paid as much as a licensed optician. The Dispensing Practical is only offered twice a year and the contact lens practical is only offered once a year. Students will graduate in May and cannot be licensed until October. If they are unsuccessful, they must wait until April for another opportunity. For contact lenses they must wait another full year! Many candidates will feel too stressed and will take just the Dispensing Exam and think they will come back the following year to take the contact lens exam. Very few of these candidates will be exposed to contact lens instrumentation further hindering a successful attempt to become licensed in contact lenses. This is leading to far too few opticians becoming contact lens certified! This practice could further jeopardize the optician’s contact lens license in New York State!

Many candidates are fearful of the practical aspect of the exam. It can be extremely intimidating to them. This fear is not the correct approach to testing knowledge and many students who would make excellent opticians are failing the exam due to this.

Both the Dispensing and Contact Lens virtual practical's can be offered a number of times a year at many different locations. Our students could become licensed shortly after graduating from our schools. Those who take the contact lens exam will not have lost their familiarity of the instrumentation. Few students are hired to fit contact lenses right out of school!

 We have a shortage of opticians in New York State. The virtual exam could be a step towards increasing the number of licensed opticians.

The ABO – NCLE practical exams are being successfully used in twelve states. Our society and students are too mobile, and this change could make it easier to become licensed in other states. This would also help the New York State license to be recognized in more states.

How Will The Merger of the OAA, ABO, NCLE and NFOS

Benefit Non-Licensed States and States That Are Licensed?

The Opticians Association of America (OAA), and the National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS), have completed a merger, with continuing funding provided by the American Board of Opticianry & National Contact Lens Examiners (ABO & NCLE) that has created a model opticianry association representing over 80,000 opticians and contact lens professionals throughout North America.

"The vote took place at Vision Expo East and the decision by delegates was unanimous,” as announced by Bob Reynolds, Secretary of Delegate Assembly and Past President of OAA, who noted “this is the next step in a very bright future for opticians.”

ABO & NCLE has been providing minimum competency examinations and continuing education certification of opticians and contact lens professionals since 1959.

The new organization will be named United Opticians Association (UOA), and will honor OAA’s long and storied history by reflecting that the newly structured organization has been “Representing Contact Lens and Spectacle Opticians since 1925.”

The new restructured organization will begin operations on July 1, 2024.

By unifying, the new organization will be able to effectively provide membership services focused on state societies, individuals and firm (guild) owners, formal education and apprenticeship training, continuing education and governmental relations focused on both national and state initiatives.

The officers for the combined organization are Ronnie Harbert, OAA president, as the new board president; Dr. Aarlan Aceto, NFOS president, as the new vice president; Dr. William Underwood, ABO & NCLE vice president, and ABO chair, as the new treasurer; and Sandy Brown, ABO & NCLE president and NCLE chair, as secretary. The combined organization board includes equal representation from each of the pre-merger boards of both OAA and NFOS, as well as from ABO & NCLE.

UOA president, Ronnie Harbert, is confident about this united effort. "With this merger, we have created a model for the future of opticianry that focuses on promoting the profession of spectacle and contact lens opticians, while also adopting the use of structured educational standards keeping vision care patients healthy and safe, through high-quality, properly trained opticians,”

In addition to the newly integrated board of directors, an enterprise leadership team is being selected from each organization as the dynamic integration process is now moving forward.

"We're pleased with how our organizations have come together," said Dr. Aceto. “Our work is well underway, and we are being very thoughtful about moving the best of our systems forward to continue providing the highest quality of representation for the opticianry and contact lens professions that we serve. We will advance our mission and better serve the entire profession together.”

NYSSO Leadership wants to make certain you are up to date on Industry News within NYS and beyond.

Not currently a NYSSO member? Visit NYSSO.org to become one or renew your membership and ensure you stay informed!

You can also register for our upcoming in-person and virtual educational events at nysso.org/education/events-calendar

Questions? Feel free to email us: info@nysso.org

Non-Member Education Price Reduced

Non-members of NYSSO can now attend our in-person and virtual educational events by paying $15 per hour of continuing education credit (reduced from $30).

We urge you to share this news with your colleagues who are not NYSSO members -- but also encourage them to join NYSSO for full access to all our educational programming, including on-demand online education, at no extra charge.

In addition, as discussed above, NYSSO members receive regular updates on developments affecting opticianry and have a voice in determining the future of the profession in New York.

May Is Healthy Vision Month

The National Eye Institute established May as Healthy Vision Month. During this annual observance, Americans are encouraged to make their eye health a priority and learn how to keep their eyes healthy and safe.

More than 23 million Americans age 18 and older have never had an eye exam, according to a national survey conducted by the National Eye Institute.

The reason: Most say they don’t think they have an eye problem. In fact, many eye diseases don’t have symptoms in their early stages, so without an eye exam, they can’t know.

And there are worrying predictions: By 2030, 11.4 million people will have diabetic retinopathy, 4.2 million will have glaucoma, and 3.7 million will have age-related macular degeneration.

Healthy Vision Month encourages people to take steps to protect their sight by following these five simple suggestions:

• Live a healthy lifestyle: Maintain a healthy weight and eat foods such as fish and dark leafy green vegetables to lower your risk of eye disease. And don’t smoke — it’s as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body.
• Know your family history: Genetics are a factor in eye disease, including conditions that are leading causes of blindness. Talk to your family members about their eye health history.
• Use protective eyewear: Safety glasses or goggles can protect your eyes at work and at play. Talk to an eye care professional about the right protective eyewear for your sport or job.
• Wear sunglasses: Protect your eyes by choosing sunglasses that block out 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
• Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam: It’s the best way to know if your eyes are healthy and you’re seeing your best.

Is Your NYSSO Membership Profile Up to Date?

Please visit NYSSO.org today and review your membership profile -- to receive communications and event information, track your Continuing Education credits, and ensure that your account information is the most current. 

Sign into the website. Your Member Dashboard will appear.

Click Update Member Profile on the right side. 

Be sure all your information is correct, and update as needed.



Please ensure that you have a region selected, which helps our staff with membership lists, administering CE credits, and crafting communications specific to your area. 

If you have not opted in to appear in the online member directory, we encourage you to do so, to make sure that your fellow opticians and those seeking your services can find you.

Be sure to click "Save" after making any changes needed. 

Thank you for reviewing to ensure we have the most up-to-date information on your membership!

Questions? Need help? Contact the NYSSO Office.