Optics, healthcare policy and more

The September issue of DOZ (Deutsche Optiker Zeitung) once again clearly shows that we on the ophthalmology side have to make an effort to maintain the level of care for the population. Optometry is developing in all directions, positively in terms of quality and science, and presents, for example, an article on asymmetric tonic neck reflexes, learning, behavioral and visual problems and training in motor immaturity. A topic that many an ophthalmologist would give up just reading about.
For example, we read about:

• Karrasch & Nolte and Beste Aussichten become part of The Platform Group
• ZVA Innovation Circle questions some of the established rules of the game
• Pharmatrends: Eye drops in presbyopia treatment
• Jenvis Research celebrates 20th anniversary with symposium
• Help out at the first get-together of Eschenbach Optik and Tom Tailor
• Asymmetric tonic neck reflex - training for neuromotor immaturity
• Presbyopia treatments are often more than 08/15
• The practical case of hearing acoustics: unilateral deafness

While we’re at it, two links:
Pharmatrends: Eye drops in presbyopia treatment
und
Demodex blepharitis and contact lenses: an underestimated cause of intolerance?

Augen-Screening:
As we know, the SOG regularly deals with issues relating to the multidisciplinary activities of opticians
and paramedical healthcare providers. Fielmann’s collaboration with Ocumeda, for example, is a current topic, but it is not the only one “Problem child“.

In Germany, the waves are going even higher. The drugstore chain dm is offering eye screening in “selected stores“ there, at a fabulous price of €14.95. The Professional Association of German Ophthalmologists (BVA) has now officially criticized this offer. The BVA fears the emergence of an expensive duplicate structure that could even harm those affected. The providers must be given credit for wanting to exploit the possibilities of current AI developments for the benefit of good preventive care. It is probably unavoidable that different opinions and financial interests will clash here.
The decisive factor will be that screening services, however they are designed, must have a medically supervised quality control system built in somewhere. At the time, Eyepoint AG discussed how something like this could be set up. This company was celebrating its 10th anniversary, but is currently also struggling with the general decline in sales in the optical business.
However, the idea of screening is gaining ground worldwide. In the context of more AI and better imaging media, this is a logical consequence. One of the considerations of healthcare politicians, insurance managers, self-proclaimed healthcare economists, meddlers and profit optimizers: better screening and more early detection of diseases prevent expensive treatments and late costs, making everything cheaper. It’s an open secret that the big data collectors such as Meta, Google and the like want as much of this cake as possible.

Blickfeld (Association for the Care of the Blind in Central Switzerland) has opened its new building in Horw.
Very nice and informative contributions can be found on LinkedIn (@Matthias Metzler).