As a new year begins, I like to look back on the past year and think about all of the experiences I had and how they have affected me. Here is a short list of some of the optometry news that affected optometry students and the optometric profession in 2013 (click the links for the full story!):
- Dua’s Layer Discovered: A new layer was discovered this year by a research team lead by Doctor Harminder S. Dua MD, PhD from the University of Nottingham. The discovery of Dua’s Layer may play a
significant role in understanding eye pathologies and how they can be treated.
- Optometrists in the state of Florida receive privileges to prescribe oral medications: After decades of lobbying and grassroots efforts, optometry students and members of the FOA were able to get a bill passed that enables Florida optometrists to better treat their patients.
- Pediatric Eye Care becomes an Essential Health Benefit in the Affordable Care Act: Pediatric eye care will be required for all health insurances starting in 2014. This will mean many optometrists will see an increase in pediatric patients, and parents may become patients as well.
- The AOA and AOSA join forces to advocate for the future of optometry in Washington
D.C.: In 2013, the AOA and AOSA teamed up at the Congressional Advocacy Conference to help shape the future of optometry.
- OptometryStudents.com expands its Core Leadership Team and team of writers: The Core Leadership Team and other writers have increased the content on OptometryStudents.com by leaps and bounds. Anything that is important to a pre-optometry student, current optometry student, or graduate can be found on the web site. You can still join our team, click here to apply!