Dear SBOS Members

 It is an exciting time for all California Optometrist with the approval from the State Board of Optometry on the requirements for getting a Glaucoma Certification.  Those who graduated from an accredited school or college of optometry after May 1, 2008 are to be glaucoma certified without any additional course or patient case management requirements.  Pre- May 1, 2008 optometric graduates will be required to take a 24-hour course in the diagnosis, pharmacological, and other treatment and management of glaucoma.  All pre-2008 graduates also will be required to treat or manage 25 patient cases for one year, which can be fulfilled under the guidance of an ophthalmologist or an optometrist who is already glaucoma certified.  Credit for 15 patient cases may be met via a 16-hour advance case management course or grand-rounds program.

VSP has made some changes effective July 1, 2009, so please familiarize yourself and your staff with these changes.

 The economy appears to be recovering from this long and deep recession.  Hopefully, all of our members have weathered the worst of it and are getting their schedules full again.

 I challenge each and every member of the SBOS to contact a new graduate or an optometrist that isn’t a current member to join our society.  Please look at the incentives the COA is offering when you get a new membership.

 Enjoy the remainder of your Summer and I hope to see all of you at the August Dinner Meeting.

 Deborah L. Geering-Fend, O.D.

President SBOS