Spring 2025 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

After a chilly winter in North Carolina, spring has finally arrived, along with the inevitable pollen. Everything is coated yellow, and outdoor activities aren’t much fun right now. But warmer and less yellow days are ahead!

National Ocutech Prescriber Locator

We’re excited to announce our Ocutech Prescriber Locator is now live! It lists all U.S. prescribers who have prescribed at least one system within the past two years.

• Please verify your listing to ensure accuracy, including all your practice locations.
• Contact us via email to clinical@ocutech.com for corrections or additions, and we’ll update the directory promptly.
• International prescribers will be added by mid-year.

It breaks our heart! But unfortunately, for the first time in ten years, we have to raise our prices!

We deeply regret having to share this news, but after 10 years of keeping our prices steady, we must implement a price increase for the first time.

Despite rising costs, we’ve managed to avoid price hikes by operating efficiently, controlling overhead, and benefiting from your growing orders and our expanded product offerings. However, recent tariff changes have significantly impacted our costs, and as a result, we must raise prices by approximately 10%, effective May 1st. All orders received or estimates requested for the 60 days prior to May 1st will receive the current pricing even if they are shipped after May 1st.

We understand that this increase may make our products more difficult to access for some, and we truly regret having to make this decision.

Thank you for your continued support. We remain fully committed to delivering the high-quality low vision solutions and service you’ve come to expect from Ocutech.

Low Vision Aids: An important option to lessen the risk of cognitive decline!

Research continues to highlight the link between visual impairment and cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s. Low vision aids like bioptics enhance socialization, an important, modifiable factor in reducing cognitive risk. Studies confirm this connection, even if broader medical discussions often overlook the role of low vision care.

Promoting bioptic products can significantly help patients maintain cognitive health by improving facial recognition, eye contact, and reading body language, key elements of social interaction. Here’s a link to PubMed with a listing of recent papers!

Product news:

The SideSight Obstacle Alert System:

Unveiled at AAO 2024 and CSUN 2025, SideSight is a groundbreaking collision alert device designed to help individuals with visual field loss navigate more safely and confidently. Whether your patient has hemianopsia, tunnel vision, or even total blindness, SideSight has proven to be remarkably effective in enhancing their safer mobility.

The device uses vibrations to alert users to obstacles within a 45-degree field. The vibration frequency increases as an obstacle gets closer, providing real-time feedback to help the wearer avoid potential hazards. Lightweight and user-friendly, SideSight is especially beneficial for learning to scan into the non-seeing visual field as well as navigating in crowded or unfamiliar environments. A downloadable app will allow the prescriber to customize the SideSight for the individual user. Clip-on and temple-mount options make attaching the SideSight to most eyeglass frames easy and convenient.

Plus, there’s no learning curve—simply put it on and start walking right away.Learn more: SideSight Product Page

Introducing Ocutech’s new NEO frames:

At last, new frame styles are here! The NEO Series offers five fun colors: Blue, Red, Pink, Black, and Smoke. Inspired by the saying, “If you can’t hide it, celebrate it!”—we’ve made bioptics stylish, fun, and bold. They work with all of Ocutech’s frame-mounted systems. And the best part? These new frames are available at no extra cost! Learn more: NEO Frames Information

Contact us for a special price offer on the NEO frame sample kit.

Chemistrie Clip Filter option:

We’re now offering Chemistrie magnetic clips, compatible with all Ocutech bridge-mounted products (Sport-II, Explorer, VES-K, Falcon and SightScopes). Simple, effective, and convenient. Here’s a photo of it mounted on a SightScope.

Our Starter Kit special pricing offer has been extended! DON’T WAIT!

Our popular Starter Kit Special (50% off, now $875 instead of $1750) is extended through April 30, 2025. On May 1st it will go up to $950 (still 50% off the new regular price of $1900 thanks to the tariffs!)

It includes:

• 4x Sport-II
• 3x Explorer
• 2.2x SightScope (with demonstrator clip and +2 Reading Caps)

These three products cover about 80% of typical prescriptions. Take advantage of this offer before it ends! Contact: Ma href=”mailto:m.pernell@ocutech.com”>Mary Pernell, Tina Woods or Cindy Powers to place your order.

Enchroma Filters for Low Vision: Request loaner kit from Ocutech

Enchroma now offers filters designed specifically for low vision individuals. These can now be ordered as part of your Ocutech bioptic carrier lens prescription. Also, you can request an Enchroma demonstrator loaner kit as part of Ocutech’s loaner system Click here for the Ocutech loaner request form- simply write in Enchroma Kit in the “Other Section.”

To learn more about the Enchroma lens filter options click here.

Need your order in a Rush? Request Ocutech’s RED TRAY Service.

Sometimes, and for all sorts of reasons, you need your order ‘yesterday.’ For urgent orders, take advantage of our RED TRAY service to prioritize your request. For a small additional fee, your order will receive expedited processing, ensuring the promptest delivery. We suggest that you also request overnight shipping for optimal delivery speed and convenience.

Are you registered on The Vision Council’s Low Vision Prescriber Network (LVPN)?

The Vision Council (TVC) maintains a robust Low Vision Information website, which includes the LVPN prescriber finder. This resource attracts over 400 visitors per month and generates approximately 300 searches for low vision care providers nationwide every month.

If you’re not listed or need to update your information, you can connect with the Vision Council here to make updates.

The Vision Council’s “Print Shop” offers a variety of discounted practice management and marketing materials to support low vision practitioners.

Joining the LVPN is free, so be sure to check your listing and submit it if you’re not already included!

Visit Ocutech at the following meetings:

June 26: AOA Minneapolis Special Low Vision Pavilion
September 9-11: ISLRR, Florence Italy
October 8-10: American Academy of Optometry, Boston, MA

Henry

Henry A. Greene, OD, FAAO

Co-founder and President

OCUTECH, Inc.