New England College of Optometry

09/01/2026

Happy "Allston Christmas" to all who celebrate!

Beginning Sep. 1st “Allston” is in the official name of the holiday, and it’s likely called out because of the student-dense neighborhoods...

08/27/2026

Attention BU employees & students! Stop by the NECO Center for Eye Care, located at 930 Comm Ave., and take 40% off any new pair of eyeglass frames and 20% off lenses!

Convenient online scheduling is available for anyone with a valid prescription at https://t.e2ma.net/click/cr6wth/8vr5kwqc/wy5oju. If you need a comprehensive eye exam, please call us at (617) 262-2020 or submit a request online at https://necoeyecare.org.

Although we don't accept Davis Vision Insurance, BU employees with the plan can submit their receipt for partial reimbursement.

08/25/2026

Moving to Boston for your first year at NECO? Here’s your first important lesson—and it’s not on the syllabus: DO NOT DRIVE A MOVING TRUCK ON STORROW DRIVE!

Every year, unsuspecting newcomers discover that Storrow Drive’s low bridges and rental trucks don’t mix. The result? A Boston rite of passage affectionately known as “Storrowing”—and a move-in day you’ll never forget for all the wrong reasons.

Check your route, follow posted signs, and keep those moving trucks off Storrow Drive. Then get ready for an adventure that’s worth remembering: starting optometry school in one of the world’s greatest cities.

Welcome to Boston, and welcome to NECO! Your future is in sight. 👁️✨

08/24/2026

NECO's 2026 Industry Collaborative (November 5-6) features John Della Volpe as our keynote speaker. He is the Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, where he has led research initiatives on American youth since 2000. His work focuses on understanding the attitudes, values, and behaviors of young Americans and their impact on politics and public life. https://youtu.be/fPg6Wks9wQY?si=HFdd9d14xeSI0e2H

Learn more and register for the Industry Collaborative here: https://necoindustrycollaborative.org

John Della Volpe, Harvard IOP polling director and author of “Fight...

08/24/2026

NECO was proud to participate in the first-ever national convening of school-based vision program leaders, practitioners, and partners, held at Bloomberg Philanthropies in New York City. The gathering brought together service organizations, school districts, academic institutions, and advocacy groups from across the country to address shared operational and policy challenges—and lay the foundation for a national community of practice dedicated to expanding access to school-based vision care. Philanthropies

08/19/2026

Frederick H. Bloom, OD' 75, has published a new patient-education book, "The Little Dry Eye Guide." The concise, patient-friendly guide draws upon Dr. Bloom's 46 years in optometric practice, including 38 years as Director of Eye Care Services at UMass Amherst.

Dr. Bloom wrote the book after seeing how easily patients can become overwhelmed by the enormous amount of information about dry eye available online and through commercial sources. His goal was to bring the foundational information most patients need into one short, independent, and understandable resource that can be read in a single sitting and returned to as needed.

Dr. Bloom recently retired after 46 years in optometric practice. During his career, he served as Director of Eye Care Services at UMass Amherst for 38 years, maintained a private optometric practice, and participated in clinical education through NECO. Over the course of his career, he participated in approximately 130,000 patient visits! Congratulations, Dr. Bloom.

08/17/2026

The Class of 2029 took the first step in their clinical careers at NECO's annual White Coat ceremony on Sunday, August 16. Watch the livestream recording here: https://ow.ly/KqRe50ZAEt4

08/14/2026

NECO's Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members of the faculty, both of whom bring unique skills to help expand our specialty services. Please join us in welcoming them to NECO!

Purva Atreay, OD, MSc has been appointed Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry at NECO. A 2025 graduate, Dr. Atreay continued her training at the College by completing a Pediatric Optometry Residency in 2026 before joining the faculty.

In her new role, Dr. Atreay will provide pediatric eye care at Boston Children’s/Martha Eliot Community Health Center and Charles River Community Health Center, while also providing vision screenings in Boston Public Schools. She will teach labs within the pediatric didactic track, conduct research in pediatric optometry, and educate optometric interns as they care for patients in the community.

We are also pleased to welcome Phillippa (Pip) Dorling, OD to NECO as an Assistant Professor of Optometry. A 2025 graduate, Dr. Dorling continued her training at the College by completing a Residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation in 2026 before joining the faculty.

In her new role, Dr. Dorling will provide low vision rehabilitation and primary eye care at NECO Center for Eye Care/Commonwealth. She will also teach labs and seminars in Low Vision Rehabilitation, PPO, ODP, and Clinical Reasoning. Through her clinical care, teaching, and service, Dr. Dorling will contribute to advancing eye health while helping educate, inspire, and shape the next generation of optometrists.

08/12/2026

NECO's annual White Coat Ceremony takes place this Sunday, August 16 at 10:00AM. Watch it happen live at https://necolivestream.org.

08/07/2026

The research community at NECO is sad to report the passing of Dr. Art Lage, a nearly 30-year member of our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the committee that permits NIH-funded animal research to take place at the College.

Dr. Lage had over 50 years of experience in laboratory medicine and was a USDA accredited veterinarian. He was Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and had been the Director of the Department of Comparative Medicine at Harvard Medical School for many years. With his years of experience, consummate professionalism and calm demeanor, he helped us to design our animal facility and guide us through the licensing process with the Office of Lab Animal Welfare. His insights and suggestions over the ensuing years as an integral member of the IACUC were critical in helping us maintain our animal research program at a high level. He was the ideal role model of a caring animal researcher for all of us, including our masters students.

The NECO community extends its deepest sympathies to Art's family.