Congressional Panel Votes to Do Away with Tax on Eyewear

"A Republican-controlled congressional panel voted on Thursday to repeal a tax on medical devices, a key revenue provision in President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare reform law, but the measure was not expected to become law," notes MSNBC. "Approval in the House, which is dominated by Republicans, was viewed as probable, possibly as soon as next week. But the measure faced an uphill climb in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where parallel legislation lacks bipartisan sponsors." Read more.

Dunhill Releases New Eyewear

"Designed with the British gent in mind, luxury brand Dunhill has released two new eyewear pieces in its elegant portfolio," says Easier Lifestyle. "The stylish frames are ideal for the executive man, boasting unique functional features that allow them to be safely stored away when not in use." Read more.

Round-Up of Google's Virtual Reality Eyewar

Time reports that "given that the first version of Project Glass could be a year away, don’t get your hopes up for contact lens computing any time soon. But seeing as Microsoft is already researching the concept for medical applications, Lee’s claim that smartphone-like contacts are the next natural step in the process doesn’t seem so far-fetched." Read more.

Charmant Expands Ad Lib Line

"The Charmant Group [has expanded] its Ad Lib line with five new optical styles to the collection; two for men and three for women," according to Eye Surf. "All frames are made of titanium and feature a unique hinge system made of Excellence Titan material, Charmant’s proprietary material. This new release features three interpretations of the spring hinge. The first generation is a hook system, and the two newly added hinge offerings include a more traditional screw hinge and a hinge plate system. All three hinges offer the spring hinge function for added wearing comfort in addition to being a visual design accent." Read more.

Hoya's Summer SUNsational Campaign (Buy One-Get One)

"The Summer SUNsational national campaign will allow patients to buy their first pair of clear prescription glasses and get the same prescription in sun lenses for free," reports Eye Surf. "By doing this with sun wear, the benefits this time of year to the second pair are obvious. Let’s start with protecting your patients from UV, and then giving your patients a value position at the same time. The idea is to get the ECPs, their entire staff and their patient base involved in the process of more than one pair with each visit. The program includes several components to get ECPs engaged in the process:
1. Educational webinars with scripting and packaging tips
2. P.O.P with posters, recall cards and dispensing mats
3. Micro site at www.thehoyafreeformcompany.com/diamond
4. Consumer driven social media
5. Social media content, email templates and other marketing and educational materials." Read more.

Donning Goggles, Freeman Homers for Braves

Freeman's Reaction after Hitting
Home Run with New Eyewear

"Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs, wearing his new glasses, to help the Atlanta Braves recover after blowing a five-run lead to beat the Cardinals 10-7 on Wednesday night," reports USA Today. "Freeman, who had missed four straight starts because of vision problems, was elated about receiving his new sports glasses before the game. He broke out of slump with three hits: his eighth homer in the first, a run-scoring double in the third and run-scoring single in the eighth." Read more.

Hours earlier: "Excited to try the new prescription sports glasses that had just arrived, Freddie Freeman arrived at Turner Field early Wednesday afternoon and immediately went to the batting cage to take swings while wearing dress shorts and a collared shirt," reports a Braves MLB webpage. "After experiencing no problem with the glasses, a jubilant Freeman made his way toward Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez's office to deliver the encouraging update. Things got even better when the young first baseman had no trouble taking swings outside and was placed back in Wednesday's lineup to make his first start since Friday." Read more.

NBA Stars Donning 'Urkel' Glasses

LeBron James Waring Urkel Glasses

"It's something you see during the post-game press conferences, and that is is that just about every star player -- LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, Kevin Garnett and Kevin Durant -- they're all wearing these big, chunky, black eyeglasses. You know, the kind that Urkel used to wear; depending on your timeframe, Buddy Holly." That's part of a post from Freakonomics. Read more.

No Ordinary Special Effect Contact Lenses

"A special effects artist who works on Hollywood blockbusters has created a spectacular new range of contact lenses," reports Orange.co.uk. "Film fan Kevin Carter, 39, spends up to two days carefully hand-painting dye onto each lens with a fine brush. He charges up to £380 [about $590] for each pair of lenses, which can make wearers look possessed by demons or like a visitor from another planet." Read more.

Fish Oil (DHA) Prevents Age-Related Vision Loss

DHA Fat Cell

"An omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, known as DHA, prevented age-related vision loss in lab tests, demonstrates recently published medical research from the University of Alberta," according to Medical News Today. "Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry researcher Yves Sauve and his team discovered lab models fed DHA did not accumulate a toxic molecule at the back of the eyes. The toxin normally builds up in the retina with age and causes vision loss." Read more.

Astronaut Vision Loss Linked to B-12 Deficiency

"Could vision changes experienced by astronauts be linked to a vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency?" asks Science Daily. "While investigating the vision changes recently identified in astronauts, nutritional assessment data showed similarities to symptoms that occur with vitamin deficiencies, according to a new study published in the March edition of The Journal of Nutrition." Read more.

Sounds Help Blind to See

"Patients who are blind in one side of their visual field benefit from presentation of sounds on the affected side," notes Science Daily. "After passively hearing sounds for an hour, their visual detection of light stimuli in the blind half of their visual field improved significantly. Neural pathways that simultaneously process information from different senses are responsible for this effect." Read more.

Virtual Reality Goggles Help Visually impaired

"Researchers at Universidad Carlos III in Madrid (UC3M) have developed a system that can be built into virtual reality goggles that help patients with moderate visual impairment move around their surroundings," reports Medical News Today. "The application detects the distance and shape of objects and interacts with the user by means of a simple color code." Read more.

Aspex to Offer BMW Eyewear

Aspex Eyewear Group recently licensed the right to manufacture and distribute  sun and ophthalmic collections under the BMW brand. This licensing agreement is the first for BMW in the Americas and will allow Aspex to offer eyewear with the BMW brand to markets in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. First deliveries are expected in early 2013.

Revolution Releases New Sunwear

Revolution Eyewear has released "six new stunning True Religion Sun styles for their exquisite brand of couture eyewear which portrays the same Hippie, Bohemian-Chic-Flare with a Vintage-Feel-Vibe that their jeans emit," according to Midwest Lens. "That coupled with finest quality components found in the industry today, you will find yourself completely satisfied with your purchase." Read more.

New Mexico ODs Giving Free Eye Exams to Infants

New Mexico optometrists will perform free eye and vision assessments for infants between six and 12 months of age throughout 2012. The project is being supported by InfantSEE. To emphasize the importance of this effort, Governor Susana Martinez declared last week InfantSEE Week in New Mexico. InfantSEE, a program by Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation and Vistakon, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., provides professional eye care for infants nationwide at no-cost, regardless of family income or number of eligible children.Read more.

Five Inducted into National Optometry Hall of Fame

The National Optometry Hall of Fame, administered by Optometry Cares —The AOA Foundation, will induct five new members during a ceremony at Optometry’s Meeting June.This year’s inductees include Kevin Alexander, O.D., Ph.D., James A. Boucher, O.D., William “Billy” Cochran, O.D., Frank Fontana, O.D., and Thomas L. Lewis, O.D., Ph.D. Read more.

Electronic Reminder Helps with CL Compliance

Studies show that many contact lens wearers do not comply with recommended replacement frequencies and fail to discard their lenses after the scheduled time.  Now, new data suggests that the Acuminder Tool, an electronic reminder service, can help contact lens wearers better adhere to the recommended replacement schedule prescribed by their doctor. The results were presented this past weekend at the 2012 British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference. A total of 680 U.S. contact lens wearers participated in an online survey. Participants were wearers of either two-week or monthly replacement lenses. Read more.

Braves Freeman Waits on Bench for Sports Goggles

" Freddie Freeman has learned he can no longer wear contact lenses or have the peripheral vision necessary to hit while wearing glasses. The first baseman can only patiently wait on the arrival of sports goggles, with the hope they will alleviate the vision problems that have bothered him for three weeks," reports Braves.com. "Under Armour and Oakley both said they needed approximately a week to construct a prescription set of goggles for Freeman. There is some hope that at least one pair of these goggles might arrive by Tuesday." Read more.

June is Cataract Awarenes Month

More than 22 million Americans age 40 and older have cataract, a clouding of the eye’s lens which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye.  According to the National Eye Institute, by age 80, more than half of all Americans will either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.  That's why Prevent Blindness America declared June as Cataract Awareness Month and provides free information to the public on everything from cataract basics to tips on what to expect from cataract surgery through its dedicated web page at preventblindness.org/cataractor its toll free number at (800) 331-2020.  And, as part of its new Healthy Eyes Educational Series, PBA offers a specific online module on cataract including a presentation guide and Power Point presentation. Read more.

New Electronic Eyewear for F1 McLaren Team

"Binz Intelligent Eyeware has just announced its latest range of electronic eyewear which has been created specifically with the McLaren F1 team drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in mind," reports Uber Gizmo. "While this nifty bit of gadgetry is still some ways behind the Google Glass, it does come packed with a few cool features. The Binz GP Legends range of sunglasses comes with a removable pair of electronic buds that fit snugly in your ears which allows users to listen to music or receive mobile calls through the sunglasses." Read more.

Super Releases Visiva Summer 2012

"Super is an Italian eyewear brand like no other and this season, the company has done something a bit different than they’ve done before with the Visiva Summer 2012 Sunglass Collection," so goes the post on Stupid Dope. "As usual, Super uses a proprietary crystal acetate for durability but this go round, the acetate frames feature some retro prints." Read more.

Spirit AeroSystems Launches Eye Care Program for Employees

"Spirit AeroSystems has launched an eyecare scheme for staff, which will offer onsite eye examinations, and prescribe safety eyewear and visual display unit (VDU) glasses as required," says the British website Employee Benefits. "The scheme, provided by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, will be offered to staff at the commercial aircraft designer and manufacturer's Prestwick, Scotland and Preston, England locations." Read more.

British Patients Cut Back on Eyes Care

"Consumers are jeopardising their health by cutting back on dental and eye tests to save money the nation struggles with its finances, according to new research," reports the This Is London. "In a study of more than 1,000 people, pollsters found that 19% are going to the dentists less often and 17% are having eyesight checks less often." Read more.

Hilfiger Releases Children's Line

The Tommy Hilfiger Group has announced "the addition of children’s sunglasses and optical frames to the Tommy Hilfiger eyewear collection," according to a Midwest Lens post. "The junior frames are inspired by the brand’s classic American cool heritage. Targeted to 8 to 12 year-olds, the Tommy Hilfiger children’s eyewear collection meets the needs of young customers, ensuring functionality, comfort and protection for the eyes."Read more.

Braves Sit Freeman with Dry Eye

"The Braves were also without first baseman Freddie Freeman Sunday night as he continues to battle blurry vision caused by dry eyes," reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "Freeman, who also missed Saturday’s game, told team trainers before the game he was still experiencing the issue. Eric Hinske started at first base. Freeman has tried different combination of contact lenses, sports goggles, eye drops and diet to try to alleviate the issue, which first arose in Colorado at the beginning of the month. 'We are going to take our time,' Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. 'The doctor said it’s a process. It’s a process of getting the right glasses and the right contacts and the right mixture of [eye] solution. … He has to be patient. He can’t go through 12 pairs of contacts in one night. That isn’t going help.'" Read more.

Is Nothing Sacred? Eyewear as Fashion Statement? How Could They?

Kevin Durant

That's precisely what a Washington Post columnist wondered recently: "In Oklahoma City, eyewear is in for the players, blind loyalty is in for the fans. So Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are sporting the geek-chic look at postgame news conferences. Apparently it’s now cool to don thick-rimmed glasses. Hollywood loves it: Johnny Depp, Kat Von D, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lil Wayne, Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift are among those going throwback." Read more.

Transitions Brings Sights to See to Chicago

Transitions Optical, along with input from "The Gutsy Traveler" and national travel expert Marybeth Bond, has compiled the "Top 25 Sights to See" in Chicago at www.seemoresights.com – and is asking individuals to vote on which of those attractions and things to do they think make up the Top 10 Sights to See in the Chicago area. Voters are eligible to win a trip for two to Charleston, SC. The final Top 10 Sights to See will be revealed in conjunction with the Taste of Chicago. Transitions Optical, the official sponsor of Sightseeing, has planned its "tour" with stops in Miami, Dallas, Seattle, Chicago, and New Orleans. The Chicago stop will take place in mid July as part of Taste of Chicago during which Transitions Optical and Visionworks will invite attendees to have their photos taken at a kiosk against the scenic background of their choice and to enter their photo into the Sight of the Day Photo Contest for the chance to win a grand prize 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands. Finally, for each photo uploaded, Transitions Optical will make a charitable donation to Optometry Giving Sight. For the top sights in Miami, see this post.

Braves Eye Doc Gets Freeman Seeing Straight

"1B Freddie Freeman was back in the lineup after another session with the Braves team eye doctor Friday morning, where he tried many, many different styles of contact lenses before settling on some that keep his eyes moist. But he also has some new sports glasses to wear as a backup," according to a post on the Chicago Tribune. Read more.

Orbis Flies to China

Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital touched down recently in Lanzhou, China, to conduct a program focused on building the skills of local eye care professionals. The program is part of Obrbis's continuous commitment to support ongoing in-country programs in China aimed at promoting skills, improving eye health awareness and delivering quality patient care. Read more.

Illinois Cuts Vision Benefits for Medicaid Patients

Legislators will cut Illinois's budget for the state's Medicaid program, according to the Huffington Post. The story notes that "dental and vision care for adults will be heavily scaled back, and chiropractic and podiatric coverage has been cut altogether." Read more.

Childhood Obesity Can Lead to Blindness

"Children who are overweight or obese -- particularly older, non-Hispanic white girls -- are more likely to have a neurological disorder known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a rare condition that can result in blindness, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in The Journal of Pediatrics," according to a post on Medical News Today. "In a cross-sectional, population-based study of 900,000 children ages 2-19 years old, researchers found 78 cases of pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The condition occurred most frequently in overweight or obese, non-Hispanic white teenage girls - 85 percent of the children with IIH were girls 11-19, nearly half were non-Hispanic white, and 73 percent were overweight or obese." Read more.

Man Charged for Pointing Laser at Helicopter

"A man has been arrested for allegedly pointing a laser at a Pasadena police helicopter, injuring an officer on board," goes the San Jose Mercury News post. "A Pasadena police statement says 23-year-old Rafael Juarez of San Gabriel was taken into custody Thursday and booked on suspicion of discharging a laser at an aircraft and possession of a controlled substance. Police say the incident occurred about 9:30 a.m. Thursday as the helicopter flew over the city of San Gabriel. The helicopter crew was not wearing their protective eyewear at the time, but identified the suspect's location. With the help of San Gabriel police ground units, Juarez was arrested without incident. The flight crew landed safely at the Pasadena Heliport and the injured officer was taken to a hospital for evaluation. His condition is not known." Read more.

Golfer Kaymer Wears Boss Black Eyewear

Martin Kaymer, German top ranked golf-professional, is featured wearing the new Boss Black sunglasses which strike the perfect balance between a sporty feel and a classic style. Martin Kaymer, who is the face of the new campaign, perfectly embodies the refined, sporty-chic character of the new Boss Black Eyewear image campaign. It shows him wearing an aviator-shaped model, highlighted by a metal logo plaque (mod. BOSS 0409/S). Read more.

Oakley Releases Commemorative Olympic Games Sunwear Released

"With London 2012 fast approaching, eyewear brand Oakley has today launched their official eyewear collection to commemorate the Games," says Bike Magic. "The collection includes two Team GB performance styles, Radar and Flak Jacket, and two London 2012 active-lifestyle models, Fuel Cell and Scalpel." Read more.

New Hilfiger Promise Collection for the Millennium Villages Project

"Tom Cruise should ditch his Ray-Bans for sunnies that do more than keep out the glare. After all, his missus is the international brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger’s “The Promise Collection,” a range of clothing and accessories that supports efforts to halve extreme poverty by 2015," according to Ecouterre. "Together with eyewear manufacturer Safilo, the brand is releasing a limited selection of sunglasses with the same bold, African-inspired motifs. And like the original Promise line, all proceeds from the sale of the eyewear will benefit the Millennium Villages Project, an initiative that provides the means and resources to create self-sufficient—and self-sustaining—communities." Read more.

Freddie Freeman Sidelined by Dry Eye

"Freddie Freeman admits he’s had 'no chance' trying to hit and field with dry eyes caused by contact lenses in the past month," according to an Atlanta Consitution blog. "'I’m seeing two balls and I’m just guessing, en when I’m hitting,' the Braves first baseman said. 'It got to the point where I couldn’t do it anymore.' Freeman spent several hours Friday morning with team eye doctors. He was fitted with yet another pair of contact lenses, a set he hopes won’t dry out his eyes which has led to blurry vision. He was also fitted with a pair of prescription glasses, assembled in two hours, which he can wear if the contacts don’t work." Read more.

Another LIne of Bamboo Sunwear

"For Panda Sunglasses, it's not all about posting adorable memes on the company blog," reports the Huffington Post. "The Washington, D.C.-based startup, which makes sunglasses out of bamboo, is responsible for unleashing a new accessories trend -- and providing free eye exams and eyewear to underprivileged people around the world." Read more.

Biodegradable Sunwear

"Most SoCal lifeguards who rush into the water for a rescue end up losing their sunglasses in the water -- inadvertently adding to the Pacific Trash Vortex," notes the Los Angeles Times. "But Dizm Eyewear is hoping to change that with its new eco-collection of biodegradable sunglasses." Read more.

New Odyssey Sun Collection

"When exploring the world of vintage luxury eyewear, Seraphin combines trends from around the globe with fine materials to create timeless designs," reports Midwest Lens. "The Odyssey Sun Collection personifies the spirit of Seraphin: vintage styles from a bygone era revamped for life’s new voyages." Read more.

UV-Blocking CLs Could Postpone AMD

Blocking the transmission of ultraviolet light (UV) through a contact lens may have an effect in maintaining the eye's macular pigment density, according to new research presented today at the 2012 British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference. Existing research suggests that a higher level of macular pigment appears to have a protective effect against age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of severe vision loss for people over the age of 55. Read more.

Bausch and Lomb Introduces New CL

Today at the British Contact Lens Association's Annual Conference, Bausch + Lomb launched Biotrue ONEday, a premium daily disposable contact lens.  The lens is made from hypergel, an reportedly innovative material that has the best features of conventional hydrogels and silicone hydrogels and is the next generation of daily disposable material.  The lens offers high water content and delivers more oxygen than a traditional hydrogel – all without the need for silicone – while maintaining the comfort of conventional hydrogels.  Read more.

Today at the British Contact Lens Association's Annual Conference, Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, launched Biotrue™ ONEday, a premium daily disposable contact lens.  The lens is made from HyperGel™ an innovative material that has the best features of conventional hydrogels and silicone hydrogels and is the next generation of Daily Disposable material.  The lens offers high water content and delivers more oxygen than a traditional hydrogel – all without the need for silicone – while maintaining the comfort of conventional hydrogels.  Biotrue™ ONEday contact lenses provide consistent, clear, comfortable vision throughout the day as this innovative, bio-inspired material helps them to retain moisture and optical shape even after hours of wear and allows oxygen to flow freely through the lens.  As a bio-inspired product, these lenses extend our Biotrue™ brand portfolio which also includes Biotrue™ multi-purpose solution.

Supr Sunglasses Releases Summer Line

"Popular eyewear brand, Supr Sunglasses, has just unveiled and released their new 2012 Summer "Offshore" collection, featuring new versions of six of their frame models," according to Baller Status. "Color is the focus for the new releases, which boasts soft translucent colors, new colored acetates and colored lenses, contrasts and tints -- each combination chosen to ensure that the quality and design are not diluted." Read more.

Freddie Freeman Sits Out Game Because of Dry Eye

"Freddie Freeman didn't start Thursday because he continues to have issues with his contact lenses. Freeman left a game on earlier this month due to blurred vision in his right eye and had trouble picking up a throw from shortstop Tyler Pastornicky on Wednesday night. The team ordered special sports goggles for Freeman, but they have not yet been delivered. Eric Hinske made the start at first base on Thursday night." That's the post from Fantasy Baseball Breaking News. 

ODs Get More Than $2 Million in Bonuses from eRx Program

The Medicare Electronic-Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program issued bonus payments totaling $2,304,808.70 to optometrists during its second year, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Optometrists who qualified for payments through the program during 2010 received an average of $2,462.40. Incentive payments to optometrists ranged from $96.99 to $23,277.04. The mean payment was $1,859.56. Read more.

Michigan ODs Reject State Vision Plan

By an overwhelming 6 to 1 margin, the Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) voted on May 9 to reject a plan backed by vision plans and their representatives seeking to gain control over how optometric care will be delivered in the state health insurance exchange now being created. Instead, MOA doctors support moving toward integrating vision and eye health coverage and assuring the seamless delivery eye health care by optometrists. Read more.

Brad Pitt Dones $1250 Sunwear

"Brad Pitt has it made in the shade!" That's the post from Yahoo! TV. "To add some flair to his classic black tuxedo and crisp white dress shirt, the 48-year-old actor strolled the red carpet at the Killing Them Softly screening in Cannes, France on Tuesday sporting Sama Eyewear's $1,250 frames. The luxe aviator-style sunglasses, which are made from 100 percent pure titanium, feature mirrored lenses that are vapor coated in pure 18k rose gold. The style, called 'Black Onyx,' is also available in yellow gold, platinum and kohl." Read more.

John Hopkins MDs Create White Paper on Eye Care

"Corresponding with Healthy Vision Month, a national campaign focusing on vision health, Johns Hopkins Medicine has recently issued a 2012 updated version of the 'Johns Hopkins Vision White Paper," according to Helping Your Care.  "The Johns Hopkins 2012 Vision White Paper, written by doctors at Johns Hopkins University Medical School and Hospital, focuses on how to halt or reverse vision loss." Read more. It might be a good paper to order for your patients.

CLs Change Color When Sugar Levels Change

"For the millions of Americans with diabetes, the inconvenient and often painful method of testing blood sugar levels is a way of life. But research and innovative product design by scientists at The University of Akron may eliminate the need for needle pricks, blood draws, or other invasive devices," according to a University of Akron post. "Researchers have developed a contact lens that senses glucose which is the blood sugar in tears, the natural fluid that bathes the eye. If sugar is not being metabolized properly and glucose concentration builds up in the body, the contact lens will detect a problem and change color." Read more.

Accutane (Roaccutane) Increases Risk of Eye Infection

"Millions of teenagers suffer from acne, and they deal with the embarrassing skin blemishes by taking popular prescription medications such as Accutane or Roaccutane,"  reports Science Daily. "Now, however, research from Tel Aviv University shows that these pills can also cause eye infections such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) or sties." Read more.

Identity Theft of Health Care Practioners Leads to Insurance Fraud

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a drive to help keep health care practitioners from becoming victims of identify theft. This affects not only the health care practitioner but insurance companies and the Medicare system. Fraudsters start by stealing a practitioner's identifiers, such as his/her National Provider Identifier (NPI), Tax ID Number (TIN), and medical licensure information.Then they bill for procedures not performed by the practitioner. Read more.

ODs Get More Than $3 Million from PQRS

The Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) issued more than $3 million in incentive payments to optometrists during 2010, according to latest in a series of reports on the program from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Nearly one in 10 (9.9 percent) optometrists who saw Medicare patients during 2010 earned a PQRS quality bonus, according to the CMS. Read more.

How FatHeadz Sunwear Got Its Start

"It might not have been a huge problem for most people, but Rico Elmore had left his sunglasses at home. So, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 300 pound Elmore walked into a Las Vegas shop to buy a replacement pair," reports CNBC. "After squeezing nearly 50 different pairs onto his head, he didn't walk into the desert with a new pair of sunglasses. But he did walk out with an idea for a business.'I couldn’t be the only one in the world with a fat head,' he says. That revelation prompted him to launch Fatheadz, an eyewear firm which caters to people with wide heads." Read more.

Google CEO Wearing Google Glasses to Events in London

"Google CEO Larry Page has been putting Google’s prototype Project Glass eyewear to the test at a the London-based Google Zeitgeist event yesterday," says Geeky Gadget. "Larry page took to the stage wearing a pair of Google Project Glass, which are augmented reality glasses that provide the wearer with a heads-up display." Read more.

Winners of the Bassmater Classic and Wiley X

"Two of the Top 10 finishers at the Bassmaster Classic — widely hailed as the sport’s biggest annual event — relied on Wiley X sunglasses to keep them focused and comfortable during long pre-fishing and tournament days on the water," reports Midwest Lens. "Long-time Wiley X pro angler Timmy Horton ended the three-day event in 6th Place with a total of 44 lbs., 13 oz. (just one ounce out of 5th Place). Fan favorite and perennial Angler of the Year threat Edwin Evers finished the 2012 Classic close behind Horton in 8th Place, weighing in 43 lbs., 8 oz. of bass." Read more.

Visionworks Reportedly to Launch Major Expansion in Philly

"Visionworks, a retail eyeglasses store chain owned by Pittsburgh-based health insurer Highmark, is getting ready to go head-to-head with optical shops in the Philadelphia region," according to a post in the Philadelphia Business Journal. "In a recruitment letter to area optometrists, obtained by the Philadelphia Business Journal, Visionworks outlines its plan to open 25 stores in this region." Read more.

ODs Must Adapt the Challenges of the 21st Century, Says Report

"Independent optometry faces a major challenge. Will the industry remain stable, with approximately 50% market share for overall vision care (including optometric services as well as materials like glasses and contact lenses), or will it be forever changed by the same market pressures that have disrupted other industries like books, consumer electronics and independent pharmacies?" That's the word from a two-month-old study conducted by Bain & Co. Read more.

Students Design Pill Canister for the Visually Impaired

"It's easy to see that University of Cincinnati design students Alex Broerman and Ashley Ma are on to something with their new design and prototype for a prescription-medicine pill bottle that better serves the needs of the blind and visually impaired by means of a simple and inexpensive innovation," reports Science Daily. Read more.

ClearVision Updates Its Lines for Children

ClearVision has updated "its kid’s collections including Op Kids, Jessica McClintock Girls, Izod Boys, and Digit. Strategically evaluated to incorporate a wider variety of eye shapes and materials, the collections are designed to appeal today’s fashion savvy kids," reports Eye Surf. "After months of researching and design edits, each brand was thoroughly evaluated to better meet the needs of today’s ever-evolving 'kid-summer.'; By introducing a more modern palette of colors and carefully merchandising the collections to provide more variety, the design team at ClearVision has created collections that truly delivers on-trend, on-value product that will pop off your frame board." Read more.

Vision Problems Diagnosed as ADHD

The number of children in the U.S. being diagnosed with ADHD is climbing at an alarming rate. But many experts feel that a significant percentage of those children may be misdiagnosed. In fact, their real problem may be reversible vision problems, said Dr. John Jacobi of Suburban Eye Care in Livonia, Michigan. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis increased by 22 percent between 2003 and 2007, and the numbers have continued to climb. In 2010 alone, more than 10 million children in the U.S. were diagnosed with ADHD, representing an increase from 2000 of 66 percent. Read more.

Koali Releases Lotus Eyewear

"Sacred in Egypt and respected by Buddhists for thousands of years, the delicate Lotus flower is the inspiration behind Koali’s latest concept. The soft shape and fluid lines of the lotus flower add visual interest to elegant temples. The base of the flower is produced in openwork to emphasize lightness," according to Eye Surf. "The Lotus concept is offered in a palette of four colors per model. Discreet colors blend harmoniously with lacquer applied to the heart of the flower, for a hint of brightness. Mauves, reds, browns, and blues work to emphasize the femininity of the Lotus collection." Read more.

Stem Cells Restore Sight in Two Patients

A technique has been "developed by Scottish specialists to reverse corneal blindness, and it is believed to be the first treatment of its kind in the UK," according to the BBC. "Both have corneal blindness, and until now the only treatment was a transplant of cornea tissue from an organ donor." Read more.

Scientists Regenerate Optic Nerve--For the First Time!

Researchers have long tried to get the optic nerve to regenerate when injured, with some success, but no one has been able to demonstrate recovery of vision. A team at Boston Children's Hospitalreports a three-pronged intervention that not only got optic nerve fibers to grow the full length of the visual pathway (from retina to the visual areas of the brain), but also restored some basic elements of vision in live mice. Read more.