If you are anything like me, you can’t count the number of second chances you’ve had in life. Whether it’s for when you messed up in school, screwed up at work, or just flat out made a bad decision, most of us have been afforded the grace of second chances. It was in this spirit that the Second Chance Optical Training Program was created.
Early in 2025, Ohio Penal Industries (OPI), in coordination with the Ohio Reformatory for Women, contacted the Opticians Association of Ohio (OAO) for assistance in helping female inmates to become licensed opticians. Initially, they had approached the Ohio Vision Professionals Board (VPB), but because of current laws regarding licensure for Ohio opticians, and the fact that the women have felony records, it was determined that licensure was not an option for these ladies seeking to reenter society as opticians.
Not wanting to give up on the hope of having these determined women being able to one day work in the optical field, OPI invited Executive Director of the OAO, Shirley Earley, and I to visit the on-site optical lab at the reformatory in Marysville, Ohio. We were stunned by what these women are accomplishing, on a daily basis, with basic machinery and instruments.
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Are you an opticianry student, apprentice, or emerging optical professional looking to take the next step in your career? The Student to Leadership Program, powered by HOYA Vision Care, offers an incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside some of the industry's most influential leaders!
Selected applicants will receive conference registration and travel support to attend the 2027 One Vision | One Voice | One UOA National Conference, taking place June 2–5, 2027, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This unique opportunity allows participants to network with industry leaders, educators, state association representatives, and fellow aspiring opticians from across the country. New for 2027, recipients will also be featured in a special issue of INVISION Magazine, highlighting their personal journeys and professional aspirations.
Who can apply? Applicants must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
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Be enrolled in a formal education program
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Be a registered apprentice
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Be working under the guidance of a mentor or sponsor
Whether you're just beginning your journey in opticianry or looking to become more involved in the profession, this program could open doors to exciting new opportunities.
Applications are due February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
The Opticians Association of Ohio encourages eligible students and apprentices to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future, build meaningful connections, and discover the possibilities that leadership in opticianry can offer.
Your journey in opticianry is just beginning. Where will it take you?
Learn more and apply today!
What began as a search for a steady career grew into a genuine passion for helping people see their best. Savanna shares what she loves about opticianry, the challenges facing the profession today, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
What first brought you into Opticianry- and what has kept you in the profession?
- I got into opticianry because I was a young mother looking for a good, steady career that would allow me to provide for my family. At first, I was simply looking for an opportunity and a stable job, but over time, opticianry became so much more than that. I learned to truly love what I do and the difference I can make in people’s lives by helping them see their best. What has kept me in this field is my passion for it and the fact that I continue to learn something new every day. Opticianry has given me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, and I’m proud of the career I chose.
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Every optician has encountered a pair of glasses that looks perfect on paper—but the patient insists something just isn't right. This issue, we're putting your troubleshooting skills to the test!
Read the case below, determine the most likely cause of the patient's problem, and send us your answer for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Everyone who correctly identifies the problem will be entered into a drawing, and we'll reveal the solution in the next issue of the OAO newsletter.
The Troubleshooting Challenge:
A 58-year-old longtime progressive wearer picks up a new pair of glasses. She adapted easily to her previous progressives, but with her new pair she reports:
“Everything is clear when I'm looking straight ahead, and I can read just fine. But I feel like I have to turn my head much more to look at things around me. When I'm walking through the grocery store, things off to the sides seem to swim.”
Her prescription is:
OD: −4.50 −1.50 × 180, Add +2.25
OS: −4.25 −1.75 × 175, Add +2.25
You begin troubleshooting and verify:
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Big changes are coming to Midwest Spec-Fest in 2027! After an exciting inaugural year of events across Ohio, the Opticians Association of Ohio is pleased to announce that Midwest Spec-Fest will transition to a one-day, Saturday-only format beginning in 2027!
Throughout 2026, we had the opportunity to connect with optical professionals, industry partners, and educators while gathering valuable feedback from our members. We've listened, and we're excited to introduce a refreshed format designed to make continuing education more convenient, accessible, and valuable for today's busy optical professionals.
Our goal is simple: More education, more opportunities, all in one day!
Our 2027 events will focus on providing as many quality continuing education hours as possible within a single Saturday, offering both ABO (spectacle) and NCLE (contact lens) education. Courses will be scheduled consecutively rather than simultaneously, allowing attendees the opportunity to participate in both areas of education without having to choose between them.
We understand the importance of meeting Ohio's continuing education requirements, and we're committed to developing programs that provide meaningful learning experiences, professional growth, and opportunities to connect with fellow opticians.
While the schedule may look a little different, everything that makes Midwest Spec-Fest special will remain! Attendees can still look forward to engaging speakers, industry exhibitors, exciting products, networking opportunities, and the energy that made our first year so memorable.
Mark your calendars! Our first one-day Midwest Spec-Fest of 2027 is scheduled for February 13 in West Chester! Visit the events section at OAO.org for more information, and stay tuned as we announce additional dates, course offerings, and registration details.
We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural year of Midwest Spec-Fest. Your support, enthusiasm, and feedback have been instrumental in helping us shape the future of these events.
A new format, the same commitment to quality education. We can't wait to see you in 2027!
Author: Valerie Lambert
Every optical has them.
The schedule has empty spaces. The phones aren't ringing as much. The waiting area is quiet. Everyone starts checking the calendar and wondering, "Where is everybody?"
Slow months can be stressful, particularly for independent optical businesses that don't have the marketing budgets or resources of large national chains.
But a slow month doesn't have to mean a wasted month.
In fact, some of the most productive work you can do for your optical happens when the schedule isn't packed.
Instead of panicking and immediately reaching for a discount, use slower periods to strengthen the business behind the scenes.
- Don't Panic—Look at the Numbers
Before changing everything, figure out what is actually happening.
Compare the current period with previous years. Look at appointments, optical sales, average transaction value, capture rate, remake rates, cancellations and no-shows.
Is the entire business slower, or is one particular area responsible?
A slow Tuesday is different from a slow quarter.
You can't solve a problem you haven't identified.
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The Opticians Association of Ohio is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors! Jennifer Rhines will be stepping into the role of Secretary/Treasurer, while Whitney Lavoy joins the board as a Trustee. Both bring valuable experience, fresh perspectives, and a commitment to Ohio’s optical community. We’re excited to have them on board and look forward to the contributions they’ll make as the OAO continues to grow and serve our members.
Get to know Jennifer and Whitney below!
"For the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to grow my career with Europa Eyewear, where I work as a Territory Manager. I truly enjoy what I do, especially the relationships I’ve built along the way and the chance to work with so many wonderful people. My career is an important part of my life, and I feel very fortunate to be doing something I genuinely enjoy.
Outside of work, my family means absolutely everything to me. I’ve been with my husband since I was 15 years old, and we’ve now been together for about 28 years. We have a beautiful daughter, Zoe, and I’m also very close with my beautiful niece, Leanna, who I help my sister care for. I’m also a proud cat mom to two cats that I love dearly.
I’m very thankful for Opticians Association of Ohio and for the opportunity to be involved with such a wonderful organization. I’m especially excited and honored to step into the role of Secretary -Treasurer. Between my family, my work, and the relationships Ive built in the optical community, my life is very full- and I truly wouldn’t have it any other way."
"I grew up in Dellroy, Ohio, a small farming community with just one optometrist. My connection to the optical world began early. With most of my closest relatives wearing glasses, it seemed inevitable that I would eventually need them too. But my interest in vision and eyewear truly took root through an unexpected source: the children’s book Watch Out, Ronald Morgan!
As I grew, so did my passion for optics. I moved to Youngstown for college, where I earned an associate degree in Social Studies and began my optical career with JCPenney Optical.
From the very beginning of my career, I have loved helping people see better while also giving them the opportunity to express their personality through their eyewear. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in several areas of the optical profession, including retail, private practice, and the nonprofit sector. Each experience has broadened my perspective and strengthened my commitment to improving access to quality vision care.
I am excited to bring my knowledge, experience, and lifelong passion for optics to my work with the OAO. I look forward to collaborating with others in our profession, supporting the communities we serve, and helping bring better vision to all."
The Spec-Fest Raffle is next-level! 🎉 Enter for your chance to win a trip for TWO to Vision Expo Las Vegas 2027 or a dream trip for TWO to MIDO in Milan, Italy 2027 — with airfare and hotel INCLUDED!
Not interested in traveling to Italy? No problem! The winner can choose $3,000 cash in lieu of the MIDO trip! 💰
Buy your raffle tickets online or at Midwest Spec-Fest for your chance to win big. Don’t just attend Spec-Fest — enter to win the adventure (or cash!) of a lifetime! 🎟️✨
Click here for a chance to win
