The 2015 Planning Session and Board of Directors Installation Dinner

For full size photos, please visit the POA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaOptometricAssociation. 

From the AOA: CMS Will Issue Comparative Billing Reports to 6,500 Doctors of Optometry this Week

Doctors of optometry should be aware that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with eGlobalTech to provide comparative billing reports (CBRs) to doctors of optometry. CBRs will be sent to 6,500 doctors of optometry this week. The CBR will come directly from eGlobalTech. The majority of doctors who have been selected to receive a CBR will receive the report via fax. In some cases the report will be sent via mail if a physician does not have a fax number listed in the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) or if more than 5 doctors in a practice were selected to receive a CBR. If you are one of the 6,500 doctors of optometry that have received a CBR, here are the top 5 things you need to know:

1. CBRs are educational reports that provide comparative data which demonstrates how you compare to your peers. These reports are not intended to be punitive in nature and are not intended to be used to make assumptions regarding how you practice. CBRs have been issued to many specialties and were issued to ophthalmologists in April focusing on many of the same services that are included in the optometry CBR.

2. CBRs are not an indication of fraudulent or inappropriate billing. Even if a report indicates that you are an outlier compared to your peers, this is not an indication of fraudulent or inappropriate billing. There are many reasons a doctor could be considered an outlier compared to peers. If you received a CBR and are surprised regarding how your practice compares to peers, this is a great opportunity to conduct a self-audit. Additionally, if the data reported from CMS differs greatly from your billing records, the report provides an opportunity to correct any billing information transmission problems between your practice and CMS.

3. A number of factors were considered when selecting which doctors of optometry would receive a CBR. First, the universe of doctors of optometry enrolled in the Medicare program was identified. Then the codes that were reported most frequently by doctors of optometry were identified. eGlobalTech then selected measures to evaluate doctors of optometry based on most frequently billed services. Any doctor who was an outlier based on one of the measures selected was placed into a pool of physicians that could potentially receive a CBR. Out of that pool of physicians, any doctor who treated fewer than 115 Medicare beneficiaries and billed less than $15,000 from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015 was eliminated from the pool of potential CBR recipients. Out of that remaining group, 6,500 doctors of optometry were selected to receive a CBR.

4.Attend the CBR Webinar. On Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time a webinar will be held to review the CBRs. There will be a question and answer session following the presentation. Register for the webinar at: 

https://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EC51DD85854E38 If you are unable to attend the webinar, a recording will be available 5 days following the presentation.

5. AOA is here to help. If you have questions regarding your CBR, please contact Rodney Peele rpeele@aoa.org or Kara Webb kcwebb@aoa.org.

eGlobalTech can also be contacted through their CBR Support Help Desk: 1-800-771-4430 or via email at: cbrsupport@eglobaltech.com.

POA members meet with Rep. Ryan Costello

Dr. Kevin Rehak, Rep. Ryan Costello, Dr. Yujia Jones, Dr. Lori Gray, Dr. Richard Christoph, Dr. Karen Rule, and Dr. Charles Stuckey met at Dr. Gray's practice to have an informal meeting to discuss optometry and some current national legislative issues.

Salus welcomes new students from Qassim University

Salus University recently welcomed eight sixth-year optometry students from Qassim University in Saudi Arabia to its Elkins Park campus. As part of an agreement between the two universities, Qassim students attend lectures, participate in workshops and experience simulated patient encounters at the Salus University campus as part of their clinical curriculum.

For all eight students, this was their first time to the United States. While here they spent time in Philadelphia, New York and Washington D.C. The students believe their time spent at Salus University will give them an early clinical advantage, especially as optometry begins to grow as a profession in Saudi Arabia.

This is the second group of students Salus has welcomed from Qassim. Upon completion of their six years of study and a one-year internship, the students will obtain a Doctor of Optometry degree. Afterward, a majority of them plan in go into private practice.

Pictured from left to right: Abdulsalam Saleh Alyousef, Faisal Ali Alhamamah, Yousef Muneer Alharbi, Mohammad Saleh Aldhbiab, Abdulrahim Huwaydi Almutairi, Abdullah Salem Alharbi, Mohammed Nasir Elbaradei and Abdulmalik Ibrahim Alkharisi.

ICD-10: one month away!

The October 1st implementation date for ICD-10 is fast approaching. It is not too late to prepare. The AOA has available resources to assist our member doctors in preparing their practices for this major change. Don't be left behind; your claims will not be paid if you are not prepared!

Countdown to ICD-10 Implementation Date

Take these 10 steps to take to maximize the ICD-10 resources the AOA has available and prepare for ICD-10:

1. Order the Critical Resources You Need in Your Office - The AOA’s 2015 Coding Bundle, which includes the 2015 AOA ICD-10 Codes for Optometry Manual, the 2015 AMA Professional Edition CPT Manual and the AOA Express Mapping Card which provides ODs with a crosswalk from ICD-9 to ICD-10 for many commonly used diagnosis codes. Purchase the bundle here.

2. Review AOA’s 10 Part ICD-10 Webinar Series and 2 Hour ICD-10 Overview – This webinar series is available for review at any time. The series covers everything from how to prepare for the transition to ICD-10 to how to code for specific ocular conditions.

3. Check Your Progress – Many of the ICD-10 Webinars include brief quizzes so you can test your knowledge. Access the review material here.

4. Utilize AOA’s Coding Experts – AOA’s coding experts are available to answer your coding questions. Use the online form to contact AOA’s coding experts.

5. Review AOA Focus for ICD-10 FAQs - Each month AOA Focus includes a feature article on a timely coding topic written by AOA’s coding experts. Each article is accompanied by frequently asked questions. From May to October the FAQs are focusing specifically on common ICD-10 questions.

6. Utilize the AOA’s Online Coding Resource – AOACodingToday.com is a no cost, members only, online resource that houses ICD-10 and CPT information. The site allows you to browse ICD-10 codes and provides an ICD-10 crosswalk.

7. Watch for ICD-10 Articles in AOA Publications – Leading up to the implementation date, look for additional information and guidance in AOA’s publications such as AOA Focus, the AOA Alerts Page and the AOA News Page. 

8. Register for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) August 27 call “Countdown to ICD-10.” This call will be held five weeks prior to the ICD-10 implementation on October 1, 2015. A national implementation update will be provided along with coding guidance and tips, and updates from CMS.

9. Use AOA’s Website as a Gateway - AOA’s ICD-10 Resources Page includes links to ICD-10 tools and information from CMS, Medscape and other groups.

10. Contact AOA Staff – AOA’s Associate Director for Coding and Regulatory Policy is available for guidance on resource use and welcomes any suggestions for additional ICD-10 tools and resources doctors of optometry may need. Please contact Kara Webb at kcwebb@aoa.org.

FAQs: Motorist Vision

From time to time questions come up about the interpretation of driving regulations as they pertain to vision. As chair of the POA’s Motor Vehicle Advisory Committee, as well as a member of PennDOT’s Medical Advisory Board, I am happy to research answers to these questions. While these answers are not legally binding, they have been presented to PennDOT’s legal counsel to formulate the best answer possible. Here are two questions which presented recently. 
Question: I am writing to you about the phrasing of what PennDOT requires for visual fields. Their letter states, and when you call PennDOT, they say: it has to be a Humphrey visual field. I use the Medmont, which is equivalent to the Humphrey. Is it possible that this regulation for visual fields can be written more clearly so that there is no confusion on the part of rehabilitative staff who may not understand that more than one or two pieces of equipment can measure 120° of visual field legitimately?
Regulation: Under the visual standards relating to the licensure of driving, § 83.3 e states “A person shall have a combined field of vision of at least 120° in the horizontal meridian, excepting the normal blind spots.” 
Answer: There is no specific testing instrumentation that is mentioned in the regulation. However, just as we might ask for a Kleenex® rather than a tissue, asking for a Humphrey visual field is simply asking for a visual field which will measure 120° of (contiguous) visual field. In those situations where interpretation of the data is in question, the PennDOT Motor Vehicle Advisory Board members who are familiar with visual fields will be asked to interpret the data. And while we are on the topic of visual fields, there are no waivers for visual fields of less than 120°.
Question: If after cataract surgery a patient has uncorrected VA of 20/20 OD, 20/100 OS, 20/20 OU and corrected VA 20/20 OD, 20/20 OS, 20/20 OU, are they required to wear corrective lenses to drive? 
Regulation: Under the visual standards relating to the licensure of driving, § 83.3 a, states “Driving without corrective lenses. A person with visual acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision may drive without corrective lenses.
   (1) If a person with visual acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision, however, has visual acuity of less than 20/40 in one eye, the vision in that eye shall be corrected to its best visual acuity.
   (2) A person with visual acuity of 20/40 or better combined vision and who has visual acuity of less than 20/40 in one eye, may drive without corrective lenses upon determination by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist that the person’s combined vision would not be improved by the use of corrective lenses.
Answer: The language in this section is a bit confusing. The intent of the language is that maximizing visual acuity should be attempted. However, it would be up to the examining eye doctor to determine if improving the vision in the uncorrected 20/100 eye would modify the function, which might determine the ultimate safety of the driver and the community in which that driver will operate a motor vehicle.
If you have any questions for Dr. Freeman concerning motorist vision, please email Kelsey@poaeyes.org with the subject “Motorist Vision.”

Senator Kim Ward introduces Eye Care Freedom of Choice legislation

Senator Kim Ward (R-39) recently introduced SB978 in the Pennsylvania Senate. This bill would amend the Insurance Company Law of 1921 to ensure that competitive parity exists among eye care providers and that patient choice is protected by adding an article entitled “Quality Eye Care for Insured Pennsylvanians.”
This piece of legislation attempts to restore a “level playing field” in the eye care industry and ensure both patient freedom of choice when selecting a provider and providers’ freedom of choice to choose materials, fabrication and source of products and a uniform provider contract.
Recently, Senator Ward requested support for this bill from the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Richard Christoph, POA president, responded to Senator Ward’s request offering POA’s support and assistance toward the passage of this piece of legislation.
We encourage POA members to familiarize themselves with this legislation by reviewing the information available on our website at www.poaeyes.org under Doctors, POA’s Legislative Priorities.

Senator Vogel's 2015 Kids Extravaganza

Senator Vogel's 2015 Kids Extravaganza was held at Community College of Beaver County in Monaca on Saturday, June 27 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Local POA member optometrists supported the event with tables including two very busy face painters that were a huge hit at the event.

Kids Welcome Here®, InfantSEE® and There is More to 3D were the table themes.

The POA members' mission was to explain with demonstration the need to have children's eyes examined at a very young age.

This was the sixth consecutive year for the event and the sixth consecutive year for local POA member optometrists to take part in it. An estimated 1500+ were in attendance.

Information and photos provided by Dr. Bud Lilly.

Summer 2015

Strong ties: Senator Eichelberger (middle) visited his keyperson, Dr. Michelle Barnes (second from the left), and her children (from left to right: Shane, Shannon and David), at the June 19, 2015 grand opening of Dr. Barnes’s new location.

Helping out: POA members volunteered to give veterans free eye examinations for the AOA’s VFW National Convention in Pittsburgh.

Seeing double: While in Seattle for Optometry’s Meeting, Dr. Charles Stuckey (POA executive director) enjoyed time with Dr. Lori Gray’s (POA Secretary/Treasurer) and Dr. Steve Eiss’ (POA Trustee) twin children! The leftmost and rightmost are Dr. Eiss’ and the middle two are Dr. Gray’s.

Let's go, PCO: During Optometry's Meeting, Nicole Rist won the annual Studentbowl, effectively defeating the other competitors on behalf of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. 

When Water and Contact Lenses Don’t Mix

Pennsylvania Optometric Association recommends good hygiene practices for contact lens wearers while swimming

Harrisburg, May 27, 2015 – Flocking to local pools, waterparks, or larger bodies of water, Americans will attempt to escape the heat this summer to enjoy a relaxing day away. However, contact lens wearers sometimes forget important sanitation rules and risk infection by wearing their contacts around water, which often contains bacteria. According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2015 American Eye-Q^® Survey, nearly 25 percent of those surveyed admit to swimming in their contact lenses. The Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) offers contact lens wearers safety tips on how to keep their eyes healthy during the approaching summer days.

Think of contact lenses as ‘sponges’

According to the FDA and the POA, contact lenses should not be exposed to any kind of water, including tap water. The American Eye-Q^® Survey found that 53 percent of contact wearers claim they shower while wearing their lenses.

Contact lenses are similar to sponges in that they will absorb whatever is in the water, including chemicals or bacteria. Acanthamoeba, a rare, but sight-threatening germ, can be found in freshwater lakes, rivers and unclean tap or well water. It can cause the painful eye infection Acanthamoeba keratitis. In the most severe cases of this infection, a corneal transplant may be required or the end result could be blindness.

If a contact lens is accidentally splashed with water, use artificial tears to lubricate and float the lens on the eye, wash and dry your hands before removing the lens, then clean and disinfect the lens with fresh sterile solution. If the lens is disposable, throw it away. If more pain or redness than normal occurs in the eyes after being in a pool, call an optometrist as soon as possible.

Water increases the need for UV protection

The POA stresses that the importance of UV protection applies to everyone, despite age, especially when around water. For instance, sand and water at the beach can reflect an additional 25 percent of UV rays, increasing the risk of damage to one’s eyes.

Just a few hours of intense exposure to sunlight out by the pool or on the beach could potentially causes photokeratitis, known also as the ‘sunburn of the eye,’ which can cause red eyes, a foreign-body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing.

For optimal eye-sun safety, the POA recommends wearing sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays. The AOA has a guide for choosing sunglasses here.

Water sports and eye safety

An optometrist can recommend the best options for those in need of vision correction while enjoying the water. For swimming and water skiing, well-fitted prescription goggles that offer vision correction may be an option. If one is looking for vision correction and protection against harmful UV rays, the durable, expertly fitted pair of prescription sun eyewear may be ideal. Once out of the water, individuals need to ensure their hands are clean before inserting new contact lenses.

If a patient doesn’t want to wear prescription goggles or sun eyewear, his or her optometrists may prescribe daily disposable contact lenses, which offer optimum sanitation since they are made to be thrown out every day. Patients still need to be very careful to avoid tap, chlorinated, or salt water getting in their eyes while wearing contacts. While goggles are the recommended solution for protection, disposable lenses make it easy to replace any contaminated lens with a fresh one.

Should an ocular emergency occur, your local optometrist can help prevent an eye infection or other serious damage from happening. Your eye doctor can answer questions over the telephone and recommend offices or emergency rooms for treatment and care. Click here to review the AOA Sports Vision Section ocular emergency triage card.

Whether aiming to champion the tallest water slide or set a new goal on water skis, remember to practice good hygiene and safety with contact lenses. Visit your optometrist annually, or more if directed, to ensure your eyes are healthy and remain that way. For additional resources about contact lens hygiene and safety, visit contactlenssafety.org or aoa.org. Find an eye doctor near you at www.poaeyes.org.

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the American Eye-Q® survey:

The 10th annual American Eye-Q^® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB).  From February 19-March 4, 2015, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.)

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):

The American Optometric Association, a federation of state, student and armed forces optometric associations, was founded in 1898. Today, the AOA is proud to represent the profession of optometry, America’s family eye doctors, who take a leading role in an individual’s overall eye and vision care, health and well-being. Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders, diseases and injuries that affect the eye and visual system, providing two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. For information on a variety of eye health and vision topics, and to find an optometrist near you, visit aoa.org.

The POA honors Senator Don White with award

Each year, the POA honors a legislator who has proved him- or herself as a worthy friend of optometry. The POA's 2015 Distinguished Legislator Award was given to Senator Don White for his support and involvement with the introduction of important vision benefits bills, and advocacy efforts for patients and providers in the western Pennsylvania healthcare market.
Senator White had a previous engagement that prohibited his presence at the POA's annual Awards Ceremony during Congress. Members of the POA's staff and Third Party Center went to the Capitol and presented Senator White with his plaque.

An optometrist’s responsibility to aging patients behind the wheel

By Paul Freeman, O.D.

We have had the good fortune of the excellent representation of Dr. Robert Owens (POA) and Dr. Marshall Stafford (ophthalmology) on the Pennsylvania Department Motor Vehicle Advisory Board. Recently, after many years of capable representation, Dr. Owens has stepped down from that position. As the incoming optometric representative on the advisory board, I am posting the Vision Standards Related to the Licensing of Drivers in Pennsylvania on the POA website as they appear, with the addition of a place to specify the visual acuities and visual fields of a patient who might want to know if they are legally capable of driving or what their restrictions are. This can then be used as a handout for a patient or family member as they can appreciate that the information is a state code and not a cutoff designed by you as a health care provider.

Why is this necessary? As I’m sure you can appreciate, the population of Pennsylvania is aging, and it is not a secret that the aging process has some impact on driving safety. As I have noted in the past, there is a difference between legal and safe driving, but it is important, especially in a duty to inform state, that the legal requirement is both understood and met by the patient. After that, it is up to the individual practitioners to decide how best to handle safe issues of driving as they relate to one’s community and to the greater Commonwealth.

Please think about the responsibility to your patients, their families and the general welfare of the public of the Commonwealth as you discuss the privilege of driving. 
See the Department of Transportation’s Rules and Regulations for Title 67 -- Transportation here: pennsylvania.aoa.org/Documents/PA/POA-2015-DOT-Transportation-RR.pdf.

Join the POA for can’t-miss continuing education and fun

After a cold winter, spring has finally arrived and that means the POA Spring Congress is right around the corner. From May 15-17, the POA is pleased to be returning to one of our favorite venues: the beautiful Omni Bedford Springs Resort. With its turn-of-the-century architecture and rich history, as well as the lush grounds and amenities, it is the perfect backdrop for our annual meeting events. This meeting is packed with education, exhibits, business and social events that you won’t want to miss.

Continuing Education Hours
We are pleased to offer a well-rounded program of 13 continuing education credits, which includes 6 hours of TPA:
Conversations in Glaucoma – Dr. Joe Pizzimenti and Dr. Carlo Pelino
Essential Topical Formulary - Dr. Joe Pizzimenti and Dr. Carlo Pelino
Update on Oral Medications - Dr. Joe Pizzimenti and Dr. Carlo Pelino
Ocular Surface and Lid Marginal Disease – Dr. Thomas Kislan
Scleral Lenses: Speciality Lens Education for the Novice and Expert – Dr. James Deom
Scleral Lens Wet Lab – Dr. Thomas Kislan and Dr. James Deom
Primary Care Electrodiagnostics – Peter Kehoe, O.D.
Evidence-Based Eye Care of patients with Diabetes Mellitus – Peter Kehoe, O.D.
The POA would like to acknowledge Diopsys, MiboMedical and Valley Contax for their support of our continuing education program.

Business Partner Programs
The following programs will be presented at our Congress by POA Business Partners and we hope that you will attend.
On Friday, May 15 from noon-1:00 p.m., Dr. James Thimons will present The Growing Presence of Dry Eye Disease. This presentation is sponsored by Allergan. This non-credit program also includes lunch.
On Sunday, May 17 from 7:00-8:00 a.m., enjoy free breakfast and What do you know about the VSP® Global Premier Program? presented and sponsored by VSP. Come discover how the Premier Program can help you achieve your business goals by bringing you more patients, more value, and more support. During the presentation, attendees will learn: how to stand out to attract more valuable patients; make more by choosing innovative products that benefit you and your patients; and how to take it to the next level with exclusive offers and support.
If you haven’t registered for these sessions, please contact the POA office at (717) 233-6455. 

Exhibit Hall
As of April 20, the following exhibitors will be bringing a wide range of products and services to our hall this year. You will have ample time to visit their displays on Saturday, May 16 from 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. during our lunch in the exhibit hall. Many will be giving away door prizes so bring your business cards. We encourage you to support the companies that support the POA by visiting their booths and welcoming their representatives into your offices.
ABB Optical Group
Alcon - Gold Business Partner
Allergan - Gold Business Partner
Beitler McKee
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
C&E Vision - Platinum Business Partner
Carl Zeiss Meditec
Carl Zeiss Vision
Coopervision
Diopsys, Inc.
Essilor Labs of America
Eyeficcient LLC
Eyenavision
Heidelberg Engineering
Hoya Vision Care
Maculogix - Silver Business Partner
MiboMedical
Novabay Pharmaceuticals
Optovue
PA Paraoptometric Association
Professional Eye Care Associates of America
Signet Armorlite
USI Affinity - Gold Business Partner
VSP Global - Platinum Business Partner
Walman Optical
We would also like to thank the Provision Group for their financial support of our Congress. 

Social Events
The POA is pleased to invite you, your family and staff to join us at our social events.
Our golf outing on Friday, May 15 is always one of the highlights at Bedford. The magnificent golf course is accessible right outside the front door of the resort and provides spectacular views of the surrounding area, as well as a challenging round of golf. The cost is just $140 and includes breakfast, greens and cart fees. Everyone is welcome to join this event from expert golfer to the weekend duffer, and our exhibitors have been invited also. 
Friday dinner is on your own so we encourage you to make reservations between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. in the hotel’s main dining room, 1796 Room, or the pub. Check out our recent member update, which features a list of restaurants for wining and dining in Bedford. Doctors who have graduated since 2010 are invited to attend a special networking reception with the POA Board and local society presidents. Please see page 13 for details.
At 9:00 on Friday evening, POA President Dr. Rich Christoph and his wife Tammy invite you to join them for a relaxed evening of snacks, drinks and conversation. Spend the night talking with old friends and meeting new ones while taking in a spectacular view of the golf course and surrounding area. Everyone is welcome to join in this event.
Support your fellow members on Saturday night at 6:00 for the POA’s annual Awards Ceremony, where we will be honoring the 2015 award recipients. After the ceremony, we will be horsing around POA-style! Join us for a walk-around dinner featuring food, drinks and entertainment. Hedge your bets at our horse racing table or try your luck at the casino games. We invite the ladies in attendance to wear your “Derby hats” and participate in the fun of our hat contest. It will surely be a casual evening of fun with just a little competitiveness thrown in.

Wine and Dine in Bedford
As you know from perusing the POA Congress schedule, Friday evening has been left open for dinner on your own from 6:00-9:00 p.m. There are three wonderful restaurants located right on the Omni Bedford Springs property. There are also a number of options in and around downtown Bedford, just a 10-minute ride from the resort. The POA has compiled a list of restaurants (http://pennsylvania.aoa.org/Documents/PA/POA-2015-bedford-wineanddine.docx), both on and off property, for your consideration. Those located off the property are recommended by the Bedford Visitors Bureau. 
There are also boutiques, wine cellars, candy shops and antique shops located in downtown and we encourage you to visit if you have time. It’s a great place for families to explore while you are in business or education sessions, with plenty of parking and helpful shop owners to guide you around the main shopping area. 
Check out the bureau website at www.visitbedfordcounty.com for other ideas. 

2015 PCO Quiz Bowl

From left to right: AOSA Trustee Christin DeMoss, Dr. Lori Gray, Dr. Steven Eiss, Quiz Bowl winner Marshall Ward, Dean of PCO Dr. Lori Grover, Associate Dean of PCO Dr. Melissa Trego and Dr. Alissa Coyne

Students run in with an American flag to rally support.

From left to right: Christin DeMoss, Dr. Lori Gray, Dr. Steven Eiss and POSA President Brian Johnson

Students gather for a non-competitive photo op.

A student shows off his rollerblading skills when he enters for the Quiz Bowl.

Photos taken by PCO students Ryan Chia and AJ Pastor.

Anthracite's Save Your Vision Month 2015

By Shannon Scheuren, O.D.

For Save Your Vision Month, approximately 2,000 second grade students from sixteen schools located in Carbon, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties participated in a coloring contest hosted by the Anthracite Optometric Society. All participants received a custom pencil and each classroom winner received a trophy. Out of the classroom winners, an overall school winner was chosen. The school winners had a party at McDonald’s in Saint Clair on March 28, 2015. Seymour Safely handed out balloons to winners and others at the party and posed for photos. Anthracite Optometric Society provided happy meals for the winners and McDonald’s gave out cookies. Praxair donated the helium for the balloons.

Dr. Gary Scheib, who has dressed as Seymour Safely since approximately 1979, spoke on the importance of our eyes and vision. Dr. Shannon Scheuren, Dr. Ann Marie Robert-Blehm and Dr. Bernice Machamer presented the winners with their certificates and trophies.

Photos provided by Dr. Shannon Scheuren.

Are Your Sunglasses Doing Their Job?

Pennsylvania Optometric Association stresses importance of quality UV protection to prevent vision problems

Harrisburg, Apr. 8, 2015 – With the promise of summer and vacations lingering just out of reach, many Americans may be contemplating buying a new pair of sunglasses. The Pennsylvania Optometric Association reminds consumers to be sure their stylish sunglasses provide protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2015 American Eye-Q^® survey, 47 percent of consumers purchase sunglasses without checking the UV protection level. Overexposure to UV rays can cause eye and vision problems, which is no way to remember a day of outdoor fun.

Your sunglasses checklist

To ensure your sunglasses are adequately protecting your eyes, follow these tips, which can also be found online in the AOA’s Sunglasses Shopping Guide.

• Be sure to buy sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays. While some contact lenses offer UV protection, these should be worn with sunglasses to maximize protection.
• Sunglasses should screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
• The frame of your sunglasses needs to fit close to your eyes and contour the shape of your face to prevent exposure to UV rays from all sides and angles.
• Pick lenses that are matched in color and lack distortion.
• Lenses should also have a uniform tint, not a gradual change from a dark area to a lighter one. The POA suggests a gray tint, which is helpful when driving because it offers the best color recognition.

UV exposure short- and long-term effects

If the eyes are exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, individuals may experience an effect called photokeratitis, which is known as a “sunburn of the eye.”

The effect of sunburn on the skin is painful, but photokeratitis hurts the eyes in a different way; painful symptoms include red eyes, a foreign-body sensation, gritty feeling in the eyes, sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, photokeratitis is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes.

However, long-term overexposure to UV radiation over the course of one’s life can cause more serious problems, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, cancer of the eyelids, eye and the skin around the eyes, and pterygium, which is an abnormal growth of the white of the eye onto the cornea.

Don’t forget the kids

Parents and guardians need to be sure their children have appropriate eye protection at all times while outdoors. The lens found in a child’s eye cannot filter out UV rays as easily as an adult’s. While protection from UV rays is important for all people, despite ages, a child’s eyes are more vulnerable and more transparent than adult eyes.

When children go outside to play, parents should get them in the habit of wearing sunglasses to instill good eye care practices for life.

To be sure your sunglasses will properly protect your eyes, your best resource is your optometrist, who will also help ensure your eyes are healthy through yearly, comprehensive eye exams. Find an eye doctor near you at www.poaeyes.org.

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the American Eye-Q® survey:

The 10th annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From February 19-March 4, 2015, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.)

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):

The American Optometric Association, a federation of state, student and armed forces optometric associations, was founded in 1898. Today, the AOA is proud to represent the profession of optometry, America’s family eye doctors, who take a leading role in an individual’s overall eye and vision care, health and well-being. Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders, diseases and injuries that affect the eye and visual system, providing two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. For information on a variety of eye health and vision topics, and to find an optometrist near you, visit aoa.org.

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A Message from Your President

Dr. Lori Gray (POA Secretary-Treasurer) attended the Chester-Delaware Optometric Society meeting with me a couple weeks ago. We had some great CE on diabetes and nutrition, and a very informative business meeting. I was very excited to see the comradery among the members, with lots of idea sharing, practice management tips and clinical discussions before and after the meeting. Some doctors spend a lot of money hiring consultants to help them with their practice, but if you aren't also taking advantage of the great resources you have in your local colleagues, you are really missing out on one of the greatest benefits of your POA membership.

From left to right: Dr. Ryan Edmonds (CDOS President), Dr. Richard Christoph (POA President), and Dr. Lori Gray (POA Secretary-Treasurer)

The 21st Century Eye: Protecting Your Vision Three Ways

Pennsylvania Optometric Association provides tips for Save Your Vision Month

Everywhere we go, we're reading, shopping, banking, or being entertained online via digital devices small and large - at work, school, vacation, and on our way in-between. In fact, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) 2014 American Eye-Q® survey, 55 percent of adults are using computers, smartphones, tablets and other hand-held devices for at least five hours a day. A separate AOA survey showed that 83 percent of children, ages ranging from 10-17, use an electronic device for more than three hours a day. Digital use will only continue to increase, making it important for consumers to make smart eye care choices like seeing an eye doctor for yearly comprehensive eye exams.

Below are three tips from the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) in observance of Save Your Vision Month, which occurs yearly in March.

Give Your Eyes a Break

The POA recommends following the 20-20-20 rule to discourage digital eye strain - take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to view something 20 feet away.

Regular, lengthy use of technology may lead to digital eye strain, which is a temporary condition, but one that includes symptoms like burning or tired eyes, headaches, fatigue, loss of focus, blurred or double vision, or head and neck pain.

Early research has also shown that overexposure to high-energy, short-wavelength blue and violet light emitted from electronic devices may also contribute to digital eye strain. This blue light also increases the likelihood of developing serious eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration. Optometrists offer lens options including non-glare, filtering lenses, to help protect vision from harmful blue light.

Be a Savvy Shopper

There are many products available for purchase online, but prescription eyeglasses should not be one of them. Eyeglasses are meant to be individually custom-made; health and safety should trump convenience when it comes to eyewear. Internet orders often result in incorrect prescriptions, not to mention all the other problems that occur with any online transaction that can cost consumers more money and a great deal of hassle. According to a 2011 study done by the AOA, the Optical Laboratories Association and The Vision Council, nearly half of all glasses ordered online had either prescription errors or failed to meet minimum safety standards.

Eyeglasses are a medical device and should be treated as such. They are an investment in your health and future, and must be custom-fitted not only for comfort, but also to be sure precise prescription needs are met so that the wearers are seeing his or her best.

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There is no substitute for a comprehensive, yearly eye exam by an eye doctor. Despite catchy claims, there is no "app for that." While a variety of new mobile applications and websites claim to evaluate vision or the fit of eyeglasses, often inaccurate or misleading information is given, and misinformed consumers end up delaying essential, sight-saving exams. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical in preventing a total loss of vision and often improve quality of life.

One of the most important, preventive ways to preserve vision and accurately assess eye health is to have yearly, comprehensive eye examinations. Diagnosing an eye disorder or disease, or determining if corrective lenses are needed, is also determined by these helpful eye examinations.

To find a nearby doctor of optometry, or for additional information on eye health in the 21^st century, please visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.

About the American Eye-Q® survey:The ninth annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From March 20-25, 2014, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95% confidence level)

About the Children's Omnibus survey:The children's Omnibus survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From March 24-31, 2014, PSB conducted 200 online interviews from March 24-31, 2014 with children ages 10 to 17. (Margin of error is plus or minus 6.93 percentage points at a 95% confidence level)

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):The American Optometric Association, a federation of state, student and armed forces optometric associations, was founded in 1898. Today, the AOA is proud to represent the profession of optometry, America's family eye doctors, who take a leading role in an individual's overall eye and vision care, health and well-being. Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye and have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage disorders, diseases and injuries that affect the eye and visual system, providing two-thirds of primary eye care in the U.S. For information on a variety of eye health and vision topics, and to find an optometrist near you, visit www.aoa.org.

PA optometrists now paid for additional procedure codes

In November of 2014, the POA sent a letter to the Department of Human Services requesting that optometrists get paid for ten Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) procedure codes. The POA is pleased to report that the department reviewed the optometrist’s Scope of Practice under the Pennsylvania State Board of Optometry and has determined that nine out of ten codes submitted for review will now be payable to optometrists.

For payment purposes, optometrists will be added to procedure codes 65778, 68761, 76510, 76511, 76512, 76516, 76519 and 92025, which already exist on the MA Program Fee Schedule. The department will issue a MA Bulletin to provide further payment information regarding these procedure codes to MA Program-enrolled optometrists. The department expects to issue the bulletin by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

The procedure code 83516, which was not added to the MA Program Fee Schedule, was left out because of the lack of specificity of the tested analyte. The department does not pay laboratories or physicians for this procedure code under the Fee-for-Service delivery system.

If the prescriber determines that the service reflected by procedure codes 65778, 68761, 76510, 76511, 76512, 76516, 76519 or 92025 is medically necessary, the prescriber may request a Program Exception through the 1150 Administrative Waiver Process, depending on the procedure specified in their MA Program Provider Handbook (Section 7.3), which is accessible by this URL: www.dhs.state.pa.us/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/form/s_001840.pdf.

Note: Optometrists rendering vision services under the managed care delivery system should address coding and payment questions to the appropriate managed care organization.

This is just another reminder of how the POA and its Third Party Center continually monitor payer issues and fights for you and your patients.