The San Diego View

October 2023

THE MISSION OF SDCOS IS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND ITS MEMBERS
THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP.

Happenings of the Society

SDCOS Western Theme Night!!

Seventy members of the San Diego County Optometric Society had a great evening sipping “Old Fashion Sweet Tea” and listening to Dr. Rachelle Lin from Marshall B. Ketchum University. Thanks to our featured sponsors Safilo, Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute and social hour sponsor Bill
Gerber/ OMG!

Our “Best Dressed” winners, selected by our featured sponsors Janice and Elen, were Dr. Eric White
and Dr. Richard Skay.

Save the dates!

December 1 st - “Holiday Party"
Place: Tom Ham’s Lighthouse
Time: 6-10 pm
Cost: $50/per person
Dinner, Drinks, and Dancing

OD Relations Liaison

Please contact Dr. Judi-Anne Perez, Society Optometrist Relations Liaison at odjobs@sdcos.org to be put on an official list for the following:

fill-in/part-time work
full-time work
purchase/partner in/sell a practice

This service is offered free of charge to SDCOS members.

We're thrilled to announce that Dr. Beverly Bianes has been awarded SCCO's Distinguished Alumni honor! Her exceptional contributions to optometry and unwavering dedication are truly inspiring. We are so proud of Dr. Bianes for this well-deserved recognition!

Upcoming CE Meeting

November 16 - “Focus on Lids for OSD Success”

Speaker: Melissa Barnett
Theme: 80's Theme
Location: Hilton San Diego Mission Valley – 901 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108

https://bit.ly/HiltonMissionValley

2023 CE Schedule

Featured Sponsors

gordon-schanzlin-new-vision-institute-gsnvi

Meet a Member

Ananya Jalsingh, O.D.

Which Optometry School did you attend?
I attended MCPHS School of Optometry.

What year did you graduate?
I graduated in the visionary, and virtual year of 2020.

What is your favorite specialty?
My favorite specialty would be anything to do with the anterior segment, including all cornea and external disease.

What do you like to do for fun?
For fun after work I try to work out (or not), make a delicious dinner (or not), and read a chapter out of the Wills Eye Manual (or not) and then pass out.

What is your favorite thing to do in San Diego?
Honestly my favorite thing to do in San Diego is to go to Fashion Valley mall and do some retail therapy. I like to start off with a fruity smoothie, then hit the work clothes store first, then the workout clothes, and end it with some makeup/skincare shopping.

What is something people might not know about you?
People may not know that in fourth grade I kickstarted my first underground business by selling all the lens wipes, cases, and cleaning cloths that I would secretly steal from my Optician mother with all the students who wore glasses. It was profitable enough to buy a strawberry shortcake ice cream everyday.

Pearls of Wisdom from an OD

Dr. Eric White

Looking back on the years of private practice two pieces of advice I would like to share and I have shared for years in articles and from the podium are; 1. Personal thank you note and 2. Doctor Driven Dispensing. These two pearls are easy to implement and will help build your practices. A personal thank you note is so simple. I send a personal thank you note to every comprehensive exam I see. I have a template I use inserting something personal from the exam so they know it is from me. Examples are where they went on vacation, how the kids or grandkids are doing, or just something about them. I also ask them to yelp and/or google me. This takes a few minutes and the ROI is huge. One, you know if the email is correct for future email blasts and recall. Two, if something went wrong, they will respond and you can correct it immediately instead of in a year when they just don’t come back. Third, they get a personal touch so if ever they need me, they can respond to me personally. The second Pearl is Doctor Driven Dispensing. Prescribe what your patient needs from the exam room. Review with them what they need and why they need it. Then when you hand them off to the opticians you reiterate what they need and why they need it. Patients are more apt to purchase eyewear and contacts when you prescribe it to them…the power of the pen. Google Doctor Driven Dispensing and check out some of the articles and videos I have done on this topic. You will see the optical side of the practice grow and your staff will be very happy you started implementing this. Two simple Pearls of Wisdom that will help you grow your practice.

Sponsor Spotlight

Vuong Vo

1. Where do you work?
Wells Fargo’s Healthcare Group

2. How many years have you been in the industry?
Almost 2 years in my current role, 20+ years in Financial Services helping individuals understand money, finances, home lending and wealth planning to retire comfortably

3. What are your favorite activities?
Pickleball, bowling, and any outdoor activity with Carter, my middle schooler and my wife, Holly, and exploring San Diego’s abundant food scene with my family.

4. What is your favorite quote?
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

Glaukos Launches iDetective Campaign for Keratoconus

Glaukos launched its iDetective campaign to educate optometrists in a fun and interactive way on the early signs—or “clues”—of keratoconus (KC) so that patients can be diagnosed early. Early detection of progressive keratoconus means earlier intervention with iLink^Æ corneal cross-linking to slow or halt disease progression.

The iDetective campaign includes digital and print communications, such as a dedicated web site (www.iDetectives.com), videos and podcasts, advertising and advertorials, and social media. In addition, the campaign offers educational content and resources, including autorefractor and topography cards, which suggest when topography should be done and when a KC suspect should be referred; KC Clue trading cards to help identify KC suspects with KC signs, symptoms and exam findings; KC Clue videos and case studies; and, a KC-customized 3D model of a keratoconic eye to help optometrists explain the disease to patients and caregivers.

Keratoconus iDetectives will help their fellow optometrists familiarize themselves with the early clues of KC, which include:

Unusual autorefractor reading
Increasing or unusual astigmatism
Visual quality complaints
Unusual keratometry
Topographic irregularities
Contact lens considerations
Family history & genetics
Eye rubbing and ocular allergy
Down syndrome
Connective tissue disorders
Retinoscopy and ophthalmoscopy signals
Abnormal slit lamp examination

Questions?
Contact Your Local Representative Today!

Brooke Abel
Cornea Regional Business Manager
E: babel@glaukos.com
T: 714-745-3552

INDICATIONS
Photrexa® Viscous (riboflavin 5’-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution) and Photrexa® (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution) are indicated for use with the KXL System in corneal collagen cross-linking for the treatment of progressive keratoconus and corneal ectasia following refractive surgery.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Corneal collagen cross-linking should not be performed on pregnant women.

Ulcerative keratitis can occur. Patients should be monitored for resolution of epithelial defects. The most common ocular adverse reaction was corneal opacity (haze). Other ocular side effects include punctate keratitis, corneal striae, dry eye, corneal epithelium defect, eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced visual acuity, and blurred vision.

These are not all of the side effects of the corneal collagen cross-linking treatment. For more information, go to www.livingwithkeratoconus.com to obtain the FDA-approved product labeling.

You are encouraged to report all side effects to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Retina Corner

Meeting Minutes from the 2023 ASRS Annual Meeting

By Nikolas J.S. London, MD FACS
President, Retina Consultants San Diego
Chief of Ophthalmology, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Dear SDCOS! We are very excited to be back and resume our beloved Retina Corner. After a not-so-brief hiatus, we were able to figure out a way to resume, and you can count on regular articles from now on. Thanks so much to the entire SDCOS membership for their support and encouragement in bringing Retina Corner back!!

So much has happened since our last newsletter in January but it feels most natural to pick back up with macular degeneration – a continued and unrelenting front of what we do as Retina specialists. As a refresher, we have a decent handle on wet AMD. We have several approved anti-angiogeneisis medications that overall do an excellent job of controlling choroidal neovascular membranes with regular intravitreal injections. Of these, aflibercept (Eylea, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) and faricimab (Vabysmo, Genentech Inc.) are the class leaders. While many consider them somewhat equivalent, I was privileged to present data comparing these at the recent ASRS meeting, showing that faracimab had greater efficacy in the head-to-head phase of the TENAYA and LUCERNE trials. This is not surprising given the design of faricimab which is a sexy biphasic antibody that simultaneously inhibits angiopoietin-2 in addition to VEGA-A. All other approved molecules only inhibit VEGF. I consider faricimab the best treatment available for wet AMD, reflected by its progressively increasing market share. Until next-generation molecules (e.g. tyrosine kinase inhibitors) and next-generation therapies (e.g. gene therapy) come to fruition, Vabysmo appears to be the king of the hill.

The ASRS meeting also provided some fascinating updates on treatment options for macular atrophy (aka geographic atrophy) associated with dry AMD. We currently have pegcetacoplan (Syrofre, Apellis Pharmaceuticals) which was approved in February of this year and, more recently, avacincaptad pegol (Izervay, Iveric Bio, Inc.). In their FDA trials, both demonstrated an approximate 20% reduction in growth rates of atrophy at 1 year. Following approval, there was a small cluster of cases of occlusive vasculitis associated with pegcetacoplan treatment that terrified us and were presented in detail at the ASRS meeting. This led to us pausing treatment, with a slow resumption as we have gained reassurance: 1. The incidence of the event appears to be on the order of 1/10,000 injections, 2. Nearly all cases were after the first injections only, 3. The company identified a potentially-implicated defective filter needle, which has since been eliminated, and 4. No new cases have been reported since the meeting. Moreover, other data presented at the meeting supported the efficacy of pegcetacoplan. Nathan Steinle presented efficacy data out to 30 months, showing an eye-opening 39% reduction in atrophy growth in patients treated monthly. Finally, Paul Hahn presented a cross-trial comparison looking at the relative efficacy of pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol. His analysis employed a very cool statistical method to enable the otherwise discouraged comparison of clinical trials called an anchored matched-adjusted indirect comparison. In his multivariate efficacy analysis, all measures favored pegcetacoplan.

All right, sorry for the whirlwind AMD tour. I know that was pretty dense. I would love to hear from anyone if they have any questions or wanted any additional clarity. My contact info is below.

On a final note, I wanted to remind everyone out there that we have a great observational clinical trial sponsored by Genentech that is following patients with high risk dry AMD – think AREDS category 3 with early atrophic changes on OCT. I’d be happy to share images of what I mean if anyone is interested. Might be a great opportunity for your patients.

Thanks so much for reading!
Best wishes, and until next time,
Nik

Nikolas London, MD, FACS
Retina Consultants San Diego
415-341-5456 (cell)
london@rcsd.com
www.rcsd.com

Contact Lens Performance in the Digital Age

Introduction
Increased screen time and digital device usage is an inevitable consequence of the rise in remote working and virtual learning. Of particular interest to contact lens practitioners is that viewing digital devices is associated with reduced blink rates, which can negatively impact the
ocular surface.

Classifieds

Grand Vision Optometry (independent family private practice in North County San Diego) with 2 locations in San Marcos is looking for a Part-Time Associate OD for Fridays (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and Saturdays (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.). $500-$525/day base pay with a production bonus of up to $625/day. Exam appts are booked every 30 minutes, an optical technician will pre-test and pre-chart for the doctor. Please email drmikafu@hotmail.com with your resume to apply. (10/23).

Practice for sale. Longtime established practice for sale in La Mesa, CA. –recently remodeled–excellent location, seller wishes to retire. Contact Dr. Levy at 619 -743-1442 or email drlevy@pacbell.net (10/23).

Hiring Part-Time Optometrist in North County— Located inside Target Optical in Vista, looking for consistent Saturday coverage 1-3 weekends a month starting in October. Please email rojasoptometry@gmail.com for more information. (11/23).

Very Busy Optometry Practice inside a large busy retailer. Busy Optometry practice inside a major big box retailer in Eastern Washington. Very Profitable! For more information contact Frank Sciabica at frank@omni-pg.com or call 425-985-8390. (WAO104) (10/23).

Practice for Sale: San Diego Optometry Practice grossing almost $700K with strong net. Great optometry practice with excellent net profit. Established over 40 years, this office boasts a strong adjusted net (before doctor wages) of almost $200,000 in 2022 on sales of $665,000. Revenue has been stable through the years. The office is 1,500 sq ft and includes 2 exam rooms, contact lens room, a pre-testing room and dispensary. Located in a busy retail shopping center with several anchor stores. Located in a suburb of San Diego and close to downtown, La Jolla and Mission Valley. Seller would prefer to stay on part time for a few years if possible and will help in a transition. For more information, contact Scott Daniels at Practice Concepts at 877-778-2020 or email scott@practiceconcepts.com (ID#CA-76725) (10/23).

Private Practice looking for an associate OD in San Diego. Generous base pay plus easy daily bonus pay. Please send resume and questions to: miramareyecare@gmail.com (10/23).

A Well Established Practice in Hillcrest, San Diego with 32 years of goodwill! Ideal corner location with its own parking. 2022 gross income equals $424,211.54. To assure future growth, directly across the street developers are now completing new 7-story apartment buildings. This office has a unique warm interior that patients love, including a brick fireplace in the exam room. A joy to work in and an excellent, knowledgeable staff. If interested contact uptownoptometry@gmail.com or call 619-972-5502. (10/23).

Highly Profitable Spokane Optometry Practice. For more information Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (WAO110) (10/23).

OPTOMETRY PRACTICE FOR SALE: San Diego, Ca. Over $1.3 million gross, 2 location Optometry office. Great investment and an even better opportunity for first-time buyers. Grossing just over $1.3 million combined from two locations, these offices show a very strong adjusted owner benefit of $350,000 Owner works and sees patients about 25 hours a week. Mostly easy weekday hours. Practice also has a full-time associate. Lots of upgrades. For more information, contact Scott Daniels at Practice Concepts at 877-778-2020 or email scott@practiceconcepts.com (ID#CA-76737) (10/23).

West Sound Ophthalmology Practice. For more information Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (WAO109) (10/23).

Maternity Leave Coverage Needed – Nov 1 to February. Weekday hours only with some flexibility and continued work for the right OD. Please email sdeyedr@gmail.com or text Dr. Esfandiari at 858-349-2816 for more details. (11/23).

West Sound Well Established Optometry practice with 35 years of goodwill and an adjusted net profit of 350K High-Profit Port Hadlock Optometry Practice. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (WAO107) (10/23).

Optometry Practice for sale: in an upscale shopping center in Escondido, San Diego County, California. Solo Private Practice was established in 1996. Has a large patient base. The equipment is in excellent condition. A full scope Optometry Practice. Complete Sale or buy-out option. Please email basantis2004@yahoo.com for details/questions. Serious inquiry only. (11/23).

Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Eye Care Services Office in Growing Coastal Community with Great Quality of Life. Well-established comprehensive Ophthalmology practice grossing approximately $1.4MIL Very profitable. Contact Frank Sciabica for more information at frank@omni-pg.comor 425-985-8390. (WAO106) (10/23).

Part-time OD needed 2-3 days/week. Located inside the Mission Valley Target Optical. Competitive pay with a rewarding bonus structure. Seeking Fridays, some Saturdays, and possibly one additional weekday. Please email resume to: drmarbun@gmail.com (10/23).

Nicely Appointed Optometry Practice in Bellevue’s Tech Corridor Nicely appointed optometry practice in Bellevue tech corridor. Annual collections are $420,000. Adding additional procedures will increase revenue. Lots of parking available. Patient care hours are just 24 hrs/per week. Performing CRT/ortho K for over 20 years. The selling doctor is willing to train buyers on the overall concepts of CRT care to allow seamless continued care with ongoing patients. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com (WAO102) (10/23).

Build Ownership in a Growing Optometry Practice, Even as a New Grad. Growing Practice at the Heart of San Diego with a 25+ Year Veteran of the Optometry Profession, with a successful history of growing multiple practices, is seeking a motivated, self-starter, entrepreneurial optometrist to join a growing optometry practice in City Heights. Practice is in a custom modern office setting, with great visibility and a proven track record of success for medical practices. Working knowledge of Spanish is preferred. Opportunity to get involved (even as a New Grad) in a growing eye care practice from the ground up, earning equity toward part or full ownership. Please email your resume to spousti@live.com (11/23).

Price Reduced!! High Visibility High Traffic Optometry Practice Near Google Price Reduced!! Long-established, growing practice in close proximity to Google. This practice grosses approximately 650K/year and is still growing. Nicely appointed pleasant, high visibility location. This one won't last long. For more information contact Frank Sciabica at frank@omni-pg.com or call 425-985-8390. (CAO107) (10/23).

Revenue $800,000 on 36 total OD hours. This opportunity includes two practices co-located in one location—huge potential with more efficient operation under one owner. Recently relocated to terrific buildout in a new location next to the hospital; 4 lanes in 2200 square feet. Long-term employees include a bilingual optician. Photos available. Offered at only $295,000 plus sellable goods inventory estimated at $100,000. Seller financing may be available. Contact info@PracticeConsultants.com (10/23).

Orange County Optometry Practice. Ideal merger candidate. $340,000 gross. 30+ years of goodwill. Great location! Good visibility. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (CAO105) (10/23).

Full-Time OD needed for busy private practice in North County. We offer excellent pay and incentives, bonus opportunities, and medical benefits and utilize the latest equipment and technology. Please email your resume to hrlecompte@gmail.com (10/23).

New Optometry Practice in Temecula Very modern up to date optometry practice in Temecula, California. Collections keep getting better every year. Lots of growth potential. Located in a beautiful area. The seller is very motivated. For more information Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (CAO112) (10/23).

Part-time position available for an associate optometrist at Lake Murray Optometric. The practice is in the San Diego/La Mesa area. The position is for 2-3 days per week. No weekends in the foreseeable future. I am looking for someone reliable, with the ability to communicate and provide excellent patient care. Long term goal is to find someone of like mind to help grow the practice and become a partner. The office does a little bit of everything. I am interested in expanding or focusing on a specialty like vision therapy or myopia control. We have lots of equipment that makes life easier and more interesting. Including optos, VF, OCT, Ant seg camera, typographer, and equinox (low-level light therapy) for dry eye. Please send your information to drg@visionsource-drg.com (10/23).

Busy Portland Optometry Practice Opportunity to buy an affordable optometry practice in Portland, OR near daily drivers, restaurants, and entertainment. Ready to operate with an established patient base of families and young professionals with new patients weekly. Excellent equipment package including automated exam lanes, updated diagnostic technology, and EHR. Contact Frank Sciabica for more info! 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (ORO101) (10/23).

Part-Time Optometrist Wanted – Saturdays. Join Urban Optiks Optometry as a skilled and compassionate Optometrist on Saturdays. Our state-of-the-art facility, equipped with the latest technology, provides an exceptional personalized patient care environment. Choose from flexible scheduling options: every Saturday, every other Saturday, or customized scheduling. Responsibilities include comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, diagnosis, treatment, and collaboration with our optical team. Qualifications must include strong clinical skills and excellent communication. If you’re passionate about enhancing vision care, email your resume and cover letter to hr@uoosd.com. Be a part of our mission to make a difference in our community’s eye care. (10/23).

Well Established Optometry Practice with 25 Years of Goodwill
Well-established optometry practice with 25 years goodwill. Nicely appointed practice just north of Malibu 25 years goodwill in a great location. Plenty of parking spaces are available with easy access and good visibility. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (CAO111) (10/23).

Looking for a motivated business-minded optometrist who is tired of the daily grind of a corporate practice, and wants to be their own boss while building equity. Our dynamic, high-potential private optometry practice is seeking an optometrist who is passionate about providing exceptional eye care and looking to take their career to the next level. With us, you won’t have to work 9 hours a day in a corporate practice, just to make a modest $500-$600 per day. Instead, you can earn much more and work just a quarter of the time you would have to spend in a corporate practice. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to build equity in the practice, meaning your hard work will pay off in the long run. If you’re ready to add a second location or if you are a new grad, we want to hear from you. Please email us at: spousti@live.com (11/23).

Live Where Others Vacation! Well Established High Visibility Optometry Practice in a Very Busy Strip Center in the Palm Desert Area. For more information Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (CAO110) (10/23).

Exceptional Opportunity: Thriving Optometry Practice & Prime Medical Office Building in San Diego FOR SALE, with the REAL ESTATE. Unlock the potential of your optometry career with this golden opportunity! Highly profitable and growing optometry practice for sale in Central San Diego, together with its modern Medical Office Building. Discover the perfect blend of profitability and growth in this dynamic location (the second most active redevelopment zone, after downtown, in San Diego). Whether you’re starting a new practice or expanding an established one, this is your chance to shine in a highly dense area, strategically positioned near more than 80 schools and 9 minutes from Downtown San Diego, and surrounded by 4 major freeways. Step into the future of healthcare with a contemporary medical office building, featuring three separate suites that can be joined if needed into one big clinic and a total of 7 highly upgraded and move-in ready exam rooms. What sets it apart? Half of this impressive structure can be leased to other medical professionals, delivering a steady income stream, while the other half continues to house the thriving optometry practice. Seize the moment to drive your practice’s growth while building equity in a high-potential, modern commercial real estate property. This isn’t just an opportunity; it’s a game-changer for those who dream big. For more details, please reach out via email (bnemati@earthlink.net). (11/23).

Redlands Medical/Dental building for Sale Dental / Medical building in Redlands, CA. Large 18,625 sq. ft. lot with 4,896 sq. ft. building built in 2007. There is more than ample parking with great visibility. Offices are plumbed for medical or dental use. Priced at $2,611,000. Contact Chris Barbour at chris@omni-pg.com, 916-792-5038. (CAR105) (10/23).

Wanted: Used, good condition, Retinal Camera and Autorefractor. We are looking for a reliable non-mydriatic retinal camera and autorefractor for our optometry practice. If you have recently upgraded and no longer need your used one, we appreciate you reaching out to us. Thank you. spousti@live.com (11/23).