2025 OANJ Fall Conference

November 16^th, 2025

9 AM – 3:30 PM EST

Presenter: Susan Klacik

Course Title: Competing for Today’s Consumer

Course Length: 1 Hour

Course Description:

This course explains the often unknown and misunderstood advantages (and disadvantages) that independent practices, retail chain optical stores, and online retailers have in relation to each other in an increasingly competitive eye care market. It also clarifies the crucial importance of capture rates and how managing each patient’s eye care experience from start to finish benefits not only the practice, but patients as well. This class provides practical, cost- effective concepts that are easy to implement and will measurably improve patient retention levels. After attending this course, participants should be able to:

Presenter: Susan Klacik

Course Title: The Progression of Progressive Lens Technology

Course Length: 2 Hours

Course Description:

Everything you've ever wanted to know about how progressive lenses work, how they’re developed & produced, how manufacturing them has been revolutionized, and what it all means to you and your patients.

Presenter: Andrew S. Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA

Course Title: Mastering Pediatric Dispensing

Course length: 1 hour

Course Description:

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), 80% of a child’s learning is through vision. This explains why children entering grade school with undiagnosed refractive errors can quickly fall behind in their academic growth. To avoid this potential obstacle, the AOA recommends children receive at least three eye examinations, prior to entering first grade. And obviously, we want their first impressions of the eye care profession to be positive ones. Accordingly, it’s vital to present a welcoming environment which puts children at ease and serves to dispel any anxiety they might otherwise associate with going to a doctor’s office.

This course will present my “tried and tested” approach to Dispensing to Children . While there are many theories and approaches when it comes to working with the pediatric patient, those contained in this presentation, have proven highly successful throughout my many years in practice.

Presenter: Andrew S. Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA

Course Title: Is All High Index Created Equal?

Course Length: 1 Hour

Course Description:

Participants will acquire an understanding of what differentiates premium high index from alternatives, in order to confidently recommend the best for their patients. This course introduces Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., and MRTM premium high index materials.

Presenter: Andrew S. Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA

Course Title:  Index Matching for Optical Excellence

Course Length: 1 Hour

Course Description:

The responsibility to recommend the best lens material rests upon the optician’s shoulders, factoring in characteristics such as, refractive index, Abbe value, and specific gravity. In fact, patients will only enjoy best possible vision when the doctor’s precisely determined prescription is realized by skilled opticians who ensure that the eyewear is fit, measured, designed, and fabricated, to exacting standards. And that it incorporates the ideal lens type/design, material, and enhancements, to meet the patient’s specific needs.

A lens material’s refractive index indicates its refractive properties: it’s ability to refract or bend light. However, the scientific property of refractive index is not limited, in its use, to purely lens materials; hard coatings and anti-reflective (AR) coatings have unique refractive indices of their own. Optimal visual and cosmetic outcomes result when the refractive indices of both the hard coating and lens substrate, specifically, are closely matched. Hence the title of our course: Index Matching For Optical Excellence.

REGISTER HERE