Congratulations to all the recent graduates who completed their final year of Optometry School! On behalf of CooperVision, we welcome all graduates to the profession! To honor this milestone, we invited recent graduates to educational events in San Diego and Chicago where they gained insights on myopia management from industry peers and left with Brilliant Futures™ and Paragon CRT® certification.
Here are the top takeaways from three of our presentations:
Sessions: “Start Today, Change Tomorrow: The Myopia Epidemic” and “Building a Myopia Management Practice”
Presented by: Justin Kwan, OD, FAAO, Senior Manager, Myopia Management, Professional & Academic Affairs, CooperVision
Top Takeaways:
- The average age of someone living with pathologic myopia is age 48.
The younger the child develops myopia, the faster their myopia will get worse1.
- There is so much in life that we can't control, but with MiSight® 1 day* and myopia, we can make a difference.
- Empower the parent to do what's in the best interest of their child.
- The time is now as we can't undo what's already been done – once progression occurs, we cannot go back.
Session: “The Top 5 Ways to Differentiate Yourself Through Myopia Management”
Presented by: Dr. Christopher Lopez
Top Takeaways:
- Impressions matter. Take the time to carefully craft your resume (and CV) so that they POP! You only get one chance at a first impression, so make it count.
- Flip the script. Focus the job interview and contract negotiation on the employer, not you. Think, “ask not what the employer can do for you, ask what you can do for the employer.”
- Look at that ask. The only way that you’ll get what you want is by asking, so ask away.
- Money talks. Do not be swayed by a seemingly high salary rate. The overall compensation package matters more.
- Put pen to paper. Get EVERYTHING in writing. If it’s not in writing, I don’t believe it.
Session: “Get Fit for the Future 5 Keys to Financial Success”
Presented by: Dr. Aaron Neufeld
Top Takeaways:
- You control your destiny. Whether you work as an associate or own a practice, there are always ways to increase your income, which is the foundation of your financial success. Leverage your strengths and value your professional expertise.
- Live below your means. Setting a budget and living as a student for the first 3-5 years of your career will allow you to eliminate debt and create solid investments that will make you a millionaire earlier than you think.
- Pay off your debts as quickly as possible. Remember that interest has a guaranteed negative return. Pay off high interest debts, such as credit cards, first then work your way down your student loan debts.
- Invest early and invest often. Your investments grow as a product of time. Utilize tax advantaged accounts - Roth IRA, 401(k) and HSA first, then contribute to a taxable account. Broad market index funds and real estate are tried and true investment paths.
- Insurance is the bet you want to lose. Insure yourself against heavy catastrophe by carrying disability, malpractice/liability insurance and term life when applicable.
The optometry industry depends on all the recent graduates – the future thought leaders in the field of contact lens care – to advance the profession with their vision, knowledge and ambition. We are so excited to see what they will do for the industry, and more importantly, myopia management.
*Indications for use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters(spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.
1. Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A, Naduvilath T, Smith EL 3rd, Holden BA. Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. Optom Vis Sci. 2012 Jan;89(1):27-32.
