News

Financial turmoil disrupts student loan industry

New regulations and widely publicized turmoil in the financial services industry are making federally guaranteed student loans more challenging for students to secure with the lender of their choice.

“MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS”-
AOA INTRODUCES PRACTICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The AOA Practice Assistance Program — a first-of-its-kind practice management program for optometrists offers “one-on-one” coaching on various aspects of practice management. The program is free of charge but open only to AOA members.

A Proposal by the President…How it Affects Student Debt

In February of this year, the President proposed two things for the 2006 fiscal year budget that would affect all of us optometry students tremendously.
   • To dissolve the Federal Perkins Loan Program
   • To cut the FWS Program by approximately $42 million

How am I paying for my Education?

As you all know, optometry students nationwide are facing looming amounts of debt upon graduation. It is evident that adequate financial aid has not kept up with the rising costs of tuition and living expenses. In the 17 American schools and colleges of optometry, 91.5% of students received financial aid in the year 2003-2004. So, how much, on average, do you think that students owe after optometry school? The drum rolls please…$108,229!!!!

AOA Fights Student Debt

At the 2005 Congressional Conference held this past April, the American Optometric Association (AOA) showed their concern over the financial burden that our nation’s future optometrists face. In conjunction with the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), the AOA lobbied for three issues that would limit student debt: maintain fixed-interest loan consolidation interest rates, deductibility of student loan interest from federal taxes, and Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding.

ASCO Student Award in Clinical Ethics

This annual national award sponsored by Ciba Vision Care is available to optometry students in the final two years of their professional program at an ASCO-affiliated school or college of optometry in the USA, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Licensure by Endorsement
by Sherry L. Cooper, Manager, AOA State Government Relations

It has become apparent to me that many students are under the impression licensure by reciprocity or endorsement will automatically qualify you for a license in a second or third state with no additional rigmarole once you have qualified for, and have been granted, your first or original license. And that you believe this process will be available to you from day one as a practicing optometrist. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, this is just not true.

Each One Reach One
Board of Trustees Backs ASCO National Campaigns

Why are college students staying away from the health care field? Between 1998 and 2002, a booming economy, poor national press, reduction in compensation, and perceived sacrifices of pursuing a professional education all contributed to a steady decline in applicants. The more important question, however, is what should we as students do about it today?

Contact Lens and Child Screening Legislation
Two Eyecare Bills Introduced

A bill aimed to recognize and regulate noncorrective contact lenses as medical devices, and a bill seeking to provide states with resources to improve the eye care of U.S. children were introduced in the U.S. House of Representitives.

More Reason to Diet
Study Says Obesity May Worsen AMD

A recent study determined that overweight and obese participants were more than twice as likely to have their macular degeneration worsen than those who were thinner.

Got Omega-3?
According to Studies, Omega-3 Health Benefits Extend to Eyes

A compound containing highly concentrated Omega-3, acetyl-L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 provides a statistically significant improvement in visual function to patients in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration, a study says.

Cataract News
Cataract Findings for Young and Old

Recent findings from a study conducted in Georgia emphasize the importance of newborn eye exams to detect eye abnormalities.

Eye Patching
Study Proves Two Hours of Patching as Effective as Six

When combined with prescribing one hour of near visual activities, two hours of daily patching produced an improvement in visual acuity similar to six hours of patching, a study found.

New CL Laws Passed
Two States Pass New CL Laws

Kentucky, New Mexico, and Arkansas all recently enacted postive prescription verification laws for the sale of contact lenses.

The Optometric Management Quick Poll:
Patient Recal Methods

When asked, "What type of patient recall system do you use in your practice?", nearly half of the respondents to a recent survey answered "postcards".

The U.S. FDA approved CIBA Vision's Focus Night and Day contact lenses for therpeutic use.