7-Decade Old Video Shows Fitting of CLs

The Daily Mail uncovered a video from the 1940s showing how contact lenses were made from molds of an individual's eyes before they could be fitted. See video.

Scientists Scour Genome Searching for Cause of AMD

Within a decade, opticians will see an increasing number of patients dealing with the effects of macular degeneration (AMD). What's happing in the field?

"Teams of geneticists from nine countries, involving more than 100 scientists, analyzed the genes of more than 33,000 individuals in the hope of finding genetic variations responsible for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)," according to a Medical News Today post. "Their research, involving complex computational analysis of more than 12 million genetic variations across the human genome, identified 52 variations associated with the disease. By identifying these genetic variations, spread across 34 gene regions, scientists are a step closer to developing diagnostics that identify which patients are at high risk for acquiring the disease and formulating therapeutics either to prevent or treat the disease caused by these genetic variations." Read more.

New Window for Treating Cataracts? Study Indicates Yeap!

When's the best time to treat cataracts? A new study, reported by Science Daily, may have identified the window between non-treatment and removal. "In a new study, scientists found that throughout our lifetime, levels of a key protein decline, and may be an early warning sign of a developing cataract. The study suggests that there is a window before cataracts develop when there may be time to intervene and prevent them." Read more.

NEI Notes January as Glaucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma Awareness Month starts next week. The disease is a major cause of vision loss in the U.S. It affects about 3 million Americans, and that number could more than double by 2050. “Early detection by having a comprehensive dilated eye exam is key to protecting vision,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI (National Eye Institute). Anyone can get glaucoma, but African Americans over age 40, everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans, and people with a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk. People at higher risk should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve cells that relays visual information from the eye to the brain. In the most common form of glaucoma, called primary open angle glaucoma, nerve damage results from increased pressure inside the eye. Increased eye pressure occurs when the fluid that circulates in the eye drains too slowly. Read more.

What You See Ain't What You Get!!!

What  you see ain't always what you get--as far as your visual cortex is concerned. How, then, does this massive region of the brain right the world we see?

"What we see is not only based on the signals that our eyes send to our brain, but is influenced strongly by the context the visual stimulus is presented in, on our previous knowledge, and expectations," goes the writeup on Medical News Today. "Optical illusions, as the one shown here, illustrate how important such non-visual, contextual information is for our perception. The visual cortex receives this additional information from other brain areas and uses it to allow us to understand and interpret the visual world. Prof. [Sonja] Hofer and her team [at the biozentrum at the University of Basil, Switzerland] measured the specific signals transmitted to visual cortex from the Thalamus, and found that the Pulvinar not only conveyed visual signals but is also one of the brain areas that provide additional information about the context of visual stimuli." Nature Neuroscience published their results. Read more.

NEI Expands Genetic Factors Connected to AMD

An international study of about 43,000 people has significantly expanded the number of genetic factors known to play a role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. Supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, the findings may help improve our understanding of the biological processes that lead to AMD and identify new therapeutic targets for potential drug development. Read more.

Vision Plan Loses Lawsuit

"A health insurance company angry about losing a bid for the state’s vision contract just lost their case in Shawnee County District Court," notes KSNT. "Superior Vision Services, Inc. based in Rancho, Cordova, CA had been the sole provider of vision insurance for the State Employee Health Plan or SEHP. However, following a new request for proposal, the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission (HCC) awarded the contract to Surency Life and Health Insurance on April 20, 2015. Surency is a Kansas-based company with offices in Wichita and Leawood. Superior sued the state of Kansas on several grounds in October, naming several agencies and entities in the lawsuit. Today, the court ruled that there was substantial evidence supporting the decision to accept Surency’s proposal. The court wrote that the decision was 'no so wide of the mark as to be deemed unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious.'" Read more.

New Chantal Thomass Eyewear from Eastern States

Eastern States Eyewear has new Chantal Thomass Lunettes styles, according to Midwest Lens. "The new collection features an array of exciting design work. Style 14062 features a nylon rimless flat metal feel with a lattice cutting design at the outer edges of its front. Model 30139 features a subtle rippled metal effect gracing its rectangular front extending through its top bar. The 30141 and 30206 have an extension of their acetate temples onto their fronts allowing for added color and contour. A variety of acetate themes including swirls, tortoise, and snakeskin permeate throughout the collection." Read more.

New Vintage Tweed Eyewear from Chanel

"Chanel has launched its spring/summer 2016 eyewear collection, and the brand's signature fabric is the reigning inspiration. Tweed has inspired three different mini-series for the new collection, which are available in both optical and protective eyewear options," reports Fashion Times. "Chanel's three mini collections in the Tweed series pay homage to Chanel's apparel design materials. There's the Denim Tweed collection which features several different styles of acetate frames. The frames are made to resemble woven tweed with bits of the multicolored quilted denim fused with a few grams of rubber for the temple pieces.The Vintage Tweed collection of retro-inspired square, cat-eye and oval acetate frames features a tweed weave adornment and steel gray, silvery or golden metal details. " Read more.

Essilor and CNRS Investigate Smart Lenses

Eleven-year-old partners Essilor and CNRS have signed a five-year agreement between Essilor and the Laas-CNRS Toulouse-based laboratory, called Opera. The companies' researchers and engineers will explore lenses with connected functions. Laas-CNRS’ area of expertise includes embedded electronics, photonics, and robotics. They also developed a high level technological platform dedicated to the design and construction of prototypes. Essilor will bring its expertise in optics and vision, optical materials technologies, and its knowledge of consumer needs in the field of ophthalmic products to this joint research venture. Read more.

Retinal Implants May Improve Sharpness of Images for Blind

"Retinal implants that deliver longer impulses may markedly improve image sharpness for blind individuals, report investigators," according to Science Digest. "Retinal implants (artificial retinas) give people with RP the ability to perceive light, using a system that includes a video camera mounted on a pair of eyeglasses, a video processing unit that transforms images from the camera into wirelessly transmitted electronic signals, and an implanted array of electrodes to stimulate visual neurons." Read more.

Luxottica and Dolce&Gabbana Renew Licensing Agreement

Luxottica Group and Dolce&Gabbana extended their licensing agreement until the end of 2025. Luxottica will develop, produce, and distribute sunglasses and prescription frames carrying the Dolce&Gabbana brand. Read more.

Marcolin and Kenneth Cole Extend Their Licensing Agreement

Marcolin Group and Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc., renewed their 12-year-old relationship early. Marcolin will continue to design, manufacture, and distribute Kenneth Cole New York and Kenneth Cole Reaction sun and optical eyewear until December 2021. Read more.

New Sunglasses from ClearVision Optical

ClearVision Optical has introduced "its 2016 Sun Collection featuring new polarized styles in Op and PuriTi 100% titanium," according to Midwest Lens. "In addition to the new polarized styles, the 2016 Sun Collection includes a variety of must have styles featuring today’s popular trends like colorful, flash mirror lenses; stud accents; translucent materials; and the ever-sought-after aviator and wayfarer shapes. The collection also offers one of the largest selections of styles for hard to fit patients, including Petite Fit styles for women and XLFIT™ suns for men." Read more.

News Crocs Eyewear from A&A Optical

"A&A Optical announces the introduction of Crocs Eyewear Junior Collection. The new frame styles for youth will release nationwide in January 2016," reports Midwest Lens. "The Crocs™ Eyewear Junior Collection features the brand’s signature spirit, with the vibrant colors and comfort kids love. The collection uses an assortment of high quality materials such as ultra-lightweight stainless steel, hypo-allergenic silicone rubber and flexible polymer. Ideal for an active child’s lifestyle, all styles are lightweight for minimal pressure, flexible for easy adjustments, and durable with minimal wear and tear." Read more.

Kaiser Permanente to Purchase Group Health Cooperative

With the recent signing of an agreement, Kaiser Permanente will acquire Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative. The press release said that the combination will advance the growth of the integrated model for health care and coverage together and expand Kaiser Permanente's reach, adding nearly 590,000 members. It also noted that by joining together, the companies expect to better meet the needs of individuals as well as large commercial and national accounts in Washington. Kaiser Permanente intends to invest in the facilities, technology, member experience and the Group Health Cooperative workforce. Read more.

Can Seeing Make You "Deaf"?

"Concentrating attention on a visual task can render you momentarily 'deaf' to sounds at normal levels, reports a new UCL study funded by the Wellcome Trust," notes Medical News Today. "The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that the senses of hearing and vision share a limited neural resource. Brain scans from 13 volunteers found that when they were engaged in a demanding visual task, the brain response to sound was significantly reduced. Examination of people's ability to detect sounds during the visual demanding task also showed a higher rate of failures to detect sounds, even though the sounds were clearly audible and people did detect them when the visual task was easy." Read more.

Should Seeing Be Believing?

"Our vision and hearing aren't as reliable as we might think, according to a study by life scientists at UCLA," writes Medical News Today. "'Our basic sensory representation of the world -- how information from our eyes and ears is processed by neurons in the brain -- is inaccurate,' said Ladan Shams, an associate professor of psychology in the UCLA College and senior author of the research, which was published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. 'We tend to view our senses as flawless and think that to see is to believe,' she said. 'So it's eye-opening to learn that our perceptions are flawed.' Shams and her colleagues conducted the research in part because there had never been a comprehensive study to examine whether humans' 'spatial localization' ability -- that is, whether we can immediately and accurately perceive where an object is located -- is as well-honed as we believe it to be." Read more.

Device Measures Eye Blinks to Determine Driver Drowsiness

"Drowsy driving injures and kills thousands of people in the United States each year. A device being developed by Vigo Technologies Inc., in collaboration with Wichita State University professor Jibo He and graduate students Long Wang, Christina Knopp and Utkarsh Ranjan, could alert drowsy drivers and avoid potential accidents," according to Science Daily. "He, director of WSU's Human Automation Interaction Lab, has teamed up with California-based Vigo Technologies to design and manufacture the device, a Bluetooth headset that fits on one ear and points an infrared sensor toward the eye to detect blinks, a commonly used indicator of driver drowsiness. It also monitors head movements." Read more.

"New" Simulator May Increase Tear Production for Dry Eye

Medical News Today reports that "scientists have developed a device that electronically stimulates tear production, which will offer hope to sufferers of dry eye syndrome, one of the most common eye diseases in the world." Read more.

Coloradan Receives Bionic Eye to Treat Retinitis Pigmentosa

"The Denver Post reported on December 10 that a Colorado woman received Colorado's first bionic eye transplant at the Eye and Vision Care Center of the University of Colorado. The patient, Ms. Jamie Carley suffers from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The degenerative disease rendered her virtually blind," reports the Examiner.

"The November surgery took over five hours. Surgeons implanted a microchip into the retina of one of Ms. Carley's eyes. When she wears specially designed glasses with an attached camera, the video images transmit to the microchip. In turn, the optic nerve is stimulated, with visual information then sent to her brain. Although she can not see normally, her vision is now good enough to see outlines and shadows. As she progresses through a long period of rehabilitation, surgeons hope she will improve her vision by using her brain to interpret the new optical signals. The surgery offers great hope for the future. Currently, it is prohibitively expensive. The implanted device alone cost $150,000. Moreover, the implant only works for patients afflicted with RP." Read more.

J.D. Powers Ranks Vision Plans

For more information, go to <http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2015-vision-plan-satisfaction-report>.

Contact Lens Market to Reach $13.5 Billion in 5 Years

The contact lenses market will grow to approximately $13.5 billion in the next five years,. according to a Hexa Research study. A portion of the growth will come with the increasing prevalence of such eye diseases as astigmatism, hypermetropia and myopia. An increasing population, fashion, and tech advances will also fuel the growth. As per the 2009 report, by contact lens spectrum, study says that almost 150 million people are using contact lenses. Additionally, plano sunglasses have pushed the contact lenses market and led to the reduction in need for dependency on spectacles. As PRK and LASIK surgeries acceptance are increasing globally, they hinder growth of the CL market. Browse full research report with TOC on " Contact Lenses Market Analysis, By Product Types (Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Or Gas Permeable (GP) Contact Lenses, Soft Contact Lenses, And Hybrid Lenses.), By Design (Toric, Spherical, and Multifocal), By Usage (Therapeutic Lenses, Corrective Lenses, Prosthetic Lenses, Cosmetic Lenses and Lifestyle-oriented Lenses), And Segment Forecast From 2012 To 2020" at http://www.hexaresearch.com/research-report/contact-lenses-industry/

NEI Funding Robotics for Visually Impaired

As part of the National Robotics Initiative (NRI), the National Institutes of Health announced that it will fund the development of three innovative co-robots—robots that work cooperatively with people. One of these will be a hand-worn device to help visually impaired people identify and grasp objects. Read more.

Valeant Reportedly Considering Sale of Paragon

CNBC has posted the following Reuters story: "Valeant Pharmaceuticals is reaching out to potential buyers for its specialty contact lens manufacturing division, Paragon Vision Sciences, amid scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission, according to two people familiar with the matter.

"A sale of Paragon, which Valeant's Bausch & Lomb unit purchased earlier this year for an undisclosed sum, would deal a blow to the specialty pharmaceutical company's attempt to consolidate the market for gas permeable contact lenses, a type of rigid lens popular among people with keratoconus, a thinning disorder of the cornea, among other eye diseases. The FTC [Federal Trade Commission] has been investigating Valeant for potentially cornering a portion of the lens market." Read more.

New Dsquared2 Eyewear from Marcolin

"The new Dsquared2 Fall/Winter 2015 eyewear collection includes models loyal to the brand’s DNA, mixing retro influences and modern touches with carefree abandon," notes Midwest Lens. "The result is a collection dedicated to men and women whose style is intensely personal and truly iconic. Vivacious graphic elements and beguiling color choices make for models rich in fantasy and energy, while fun, sexy styling adds a final flourish to the whole affair." Read more.

Owner of Eyewear Store Accussed of Taking $3.4 Million in Fraudulent Loans

"The owner of two Brooklyn eyeglass stores applied for and received more than $3.4 million in fraudulent loans, then spent much of the money shopping for his girlfriend at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, paying rent on a Manhattan condominium and financing trips to Atlantic City casinos, prosecutors said on Wednesday," reports the New York Times. "The charges against the merchant, Maksim Grinberg, who operates D&M Optical and 9th Street Vision out of the same building at Ninth Street and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, were laid out in a 148-count indictment filed by the Brooklyn district attorney’s office and unsealed in State Supreme Court. Standing handcuffed, Mr. Grinberg, 43, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Wednesday. From 2010 to this year, Mr. Grinberg submitted applications to seven financial institutions, including arms of major banks like Wells Fargo, seeking loans he said would go toward buying medical equipment, according to the indictment." Read more.

UK's Vision Direct Releases Christmas Campaign

Vision Direct worked closely in partnership with Bespoke Film and Communications to ensure its first Christmas ad would be something everyone could enjoy. The ad tells a heart-warming story about a boy and his short-sighted pug, Gizmo. The campaign was designed to really resonate with Vision Direct's customer base on an emotional level, whilst remaining relevant to the brand's products and ethics. "Contact lenses delivered in time for Christmas" was chosen as the ad's tagline, to showcase the company's superfast, next day delivery to UK addresses. The full length 1'20'’ advert will be available to watch online from Tuesday 1st December on YouTube and VisionDirect.co.uk. Ashley Mealor, chief marketing officer at Vision Direct, said: "As well as promoting our service to a brand new audience, our Christmas campaign is an opportunity to share something special with our customers over the festive season."

Novartis Considers Selling Alcon

"Novartis ($NVS) is mulling a sale of its contact lens care business as the company faces sluggish growth for its Alcon unit and targets eye care innovation to swing its numbers northward," states a post from Fierce Medical Devices. "The proposed sale is still in early stages and Novartis might decide not to go through with a sale, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. But if the Swiss company does unload the business, which includes products to clean lenses, it could bring in $1.6 billion, Kepler Cheuvreux analyst Fabian Wenner told the news outlet. Some analysts set that number lower, though, with Safra Sarasin analysts saying the sale would fetch no more than $1 billion. A sale would come at a critical moment for Novartis, as it deals with slumping numbers for its contact care business and Alcon unit." Read more.

New Harley-Davidson Eyewear from Marcolin

"Marcolin USA introduces two new men’s ophthalmic styles to the Harley-Davidson Eyewear Winter 2015 collection," reports Midwest Lens. "The clean and classic designs are infused with high-quality materials and interesting temple detailing that reflect the brand’s continuing pursuit of excellence in design, function and aesthetics. With concepts inspired by the brand’s esteemed motorcycles, the collection retains its unique look, while never leaving its core values." Read more.

New Sunlite Eyewear from Altair

"Sunlites introduces three new metal styles for men featuring classic shapes with texture and tonal detail," writes Midwest Lens. "These frames provide comfort, durability and a clean aesthetic paired with Sunlites signature technology. A set of three rimless magnetic clips, custom-fit for each Sunlites style, including one Polarized clip, one 3D clip and one Contrast clip are available for purchase for one affordable price." Read more.

ANSI Revises Z80.1

ANSI has published its 2015 revisions of Standard Z80.1, Prescription Ophthalmic Lenses--Recommendations, reports the Vision Council. The revision, which supersedeses the 2010 Standard, made the following modifications:

• Updates to the Scope and Purpose sections.
• Modifications to definitions, and the addition of "Position of Wear."
• Additions to the optical requirements section, such as clarifying the applied tolerances for compensated lenses.
• Changes to marking guidelines.
• A recommendation for minimum transmittance when driving, providing guidance and harmonizing with ANSI Z80.3 requirements.
• The addition of a reference to orientation of polarization.

A copy of the standard publications is available in the ANSI webstore. A summary of the changes can be found in the foreword of the document. Read more.

Rise in Myopia Means a Boon for Eyewear Industry

"According to mounting research, myopia (nearsightedness) among the young has become a global epidemic. In the United States, myopia rates have roughly doubled over the last generation. A recent study published in JAMA reports that in China (where rates of myopia have skyrocketed to roughly 90% among urban youth), the major cause could be a lack of sun exposure. But young adults aren’t the only ones struggling to see clearly. Older adults are also looking for treatments that address their age-related vision problems. Amid rising demand, the eye care industry is poised to accelerate. It’s already developing new technologies that not only treat, but also prevent (and in some cases eliminate) vision problems," goes the post on Forbes. "With increasing demand from every age group, the $36 billion eye care industry has a bright future. The industry, which includes eye care professionals (opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists) and products (eye glasses, contact lenses, and corrective surgeries,) posted a steady combined annual growth rate of 3.4% from 2006 to 2012, outpacing the average growth of the economy at large (2.9%) over those years. Forecasters expect this rate to increase to 5.0% from 2014 to 2019." Read more, especially about the growth of myopia.

Researchers Turn Stem Cells into Retinal Ganglion Cells

"Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a method to efficiently turn human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, the type of nerve cells located within the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain. Death and dysfunction of these cells cause vision loss in conditions like glaucoma and multiple sclerosis," according to Science Digest. "The laboratory process, described in the journal Scientific Reports, entails genetically modifying a line of human embryonic stem cells to become fluorescent upon their differentiation to retinal ganglion cells, and then using that cell line for development of new differentiation methods and characterization of the resulting cells." Read more.

Bracelete Helps Sight-Challenged Navigate

"Based on the resonance location system (echo) used by bats and dolphins to navigate, Marco Antonio Trujillo Tejeda and Cuauhtli Padilla Arias, mechatronic engineers from the Tec de Monterrey in Mexico, devised a bracelet that makes mobility simpler and safer for the blind," reports Science Digest. "Sunu band bracelet emits high-frequency sound waves (30 pulses per second) that bounce after hitting an object and are recorded by a proximity sensor that calculates the distance, which translates into vibrations directly into the wearer's wrist; as the person get closer to the objects, the pulses will be more frequent." Read more.

New Eyewear from Revlon

"‘Tis the season to shimmer and sparkle, just in time for holiday festivities. Revlon Eyewear introduces the 'Sparkle Series,' a two-piece collection inspired by the best-selling Revlon Eyewear styles. Shiny tonal metals, glitter infused temples and elegant enamel details are wardrobe essentials, all year round," reports Midwest Lens. "RV5043 | RV5044 – Veins of glitter shimmer under a splash of color on the feminine acetate temples of these sister styles. Adding a touch of sparkle, jewel-inspired enamel end pieces add a subtle break in fluidity from frame fronts to temples. RV5043 is a semi-rimless colored metal and acetate combo available in café, navy and rose, and RV5044 is a solid acetate style available in black, cappuccino and berry." Read more.

Amblyopia Causes Slow Reading in Children

"Children with amblyopia, commonly known as 'lazy eye,' may have impaired ocular motor function," reports Medical News Today. "This can result in difficulties in activities for which sequential eye movements are important, such as reading. A new study conducted at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest determined that children with amblyopia read more slowly than children with normal vision or with strabismus alone. Their findings are published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)." Read more.

Cataract Surgery Can Reduce Dizziness

"Older people with visual impairment can report feeling dizzy and falling," according to Science Digest. "A new study found that after routine cataract surgery, the improved vision led to patients experiencing significantly less dizziness, although they did not experience fewer falls." Read more.

Umbilical Cord Cells Help Retinal Neurons Grow and Connect

"Cells isolated from human umbilical cord tissue have been shown to produce molecules that help retinal neurons from the eyes of rats grow, connect and survive, according to Duke University researchers working with Janssen Research & Development, LLC," reports Medical News Today. "The findings, which appear Nov. 25 in the Journal of Neuroscience, implicate one family of molecules in particular -- thrombospondins -- that may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of degenerative eye diseases." Read more.

Help Parents Prevent Injuries This Holiday Season

In 2013, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that hospital emergency rooms across the country treated 265,700 toy-related injuries, compared to 265,000 the year before. And, 73 percent of those injuries were to children under the age of 15. In fact, approximately 83,700 were to those under 5 years of age. Commonly injured body areas included lacerations, contusions, or abrasions near the head and face. Usually the injuries were caused by non-motorized scooters, toy balls, and toy vehicles.

Prevent Blindnes is offering tips to buyers to help make sure all gifts are safe, especially those intended for children. Get the tips for your patients here.

New Ziggy and Jean Reno Eyewear from Zig

"ZIG Eyewear USA announced the release of the highly anticipated fall collections of ZIGGY and Jean Reno Eyewear by designer Cendrine O. Each collection features 10 frame designs; all available in a range of colors," writes Midwest Lens. "ZIGGY and Jean Reno collections are the creations of Cendrine Obadia, a French-Canadian eyewear artist who has spent more than 20 years honing her craft. Cendrine O. is the designer behind some of the most innovative and inspirational pieces available on the market today. Her standout style sets her designs apart from the rest, with use of vibrant colors, intricate detail and bold design features." Read more.

New Eyewear from Swarovski

"Swarovski Eyewear presents its refined, ultra-feminine, all-new 2015/2016 Autumn-Winter Collection of innovative sunglasses featuring alluring design and sophisticated sparkling accents," writes Midwest Lens. "High quality materials in a variety of shapes and a stunning color palette ranging from traditional tones to modern and trendy shades make these new models absolutely irresistible." Read more.

U2's Bono and Revo Team Up for a Vision Charity

"U2 frontman Bono has always been a vocal activist and supporter of charities meant to improve the world. Now, he’s launching a new campaign which will allow people to generously help those in need and look cool doing it," according to ET Online Yahoo!. "Bono teamed up with Revo eyewear to release a new, special line of shades! What’s more, Revo will donate profits from every pair sold to the Buy Vision, Give Sight campaign which, along with Revo’s partnership with the Brien Holden Vision Institute, is dedicated to preventing vision impairment and disease in over five million under served people across the world by 2020." Read more.

How We See Motion and Still Objects

"A Dartmouth study reveals how the brain understands motion and still objects to help us navigate our complex visual world," notes Medical News Today. "The findings have a number of potential practical applications, ranging from treatment for motion blindness to improved motion recognition algorithms used in airport and other public security systems. The study appears in the journal Neuroimage. ...Our brain's visual system consists of a 'where' (dorsal) pathway and a 'what' (ventral) pathway. A normally function brain can imply motion from still pictures, such as the speed line in cartoons being interpreted as motion streaks of a still object. However, patients with lesions to the dorsal pathway know where objects are but have difficulty recognizing them, while patients with lesions to the ventral pathway have trouble recognizing objects but no problem locating them." Read more.

Seeing Is Not as Simple as Black and White, Says Scientists

"While some things may be 'as simple as black and white,' this has not been the case for the circuits in the brain that make it possible for you to distinguish black from white," reports Medical News Today. "The patterns of light and dark that fall on the retina provide a wealth of information about the world around us, yet scientists still don't understand how this information is encoded by neural circuits in the visual cortex--a part of the brain that plays a critical role in building the neural representations that are responsible for sight. But things just got a lot clearer with the discovery that the majority of neurons in visual cortex respond selectivity to light vs dark, and they combine this information with selectivity for other stimulus features to achieve a detailed representation of the visual scene." Read more.

Vision Test Used to Determine Cognitive Ability

Science Digest reports, "A simple technique to measure an individual's visual processing speed -- the speed at which an individual can comprehend visual information -- has been developed in order to identify whether or not they may have cognitive issues. The recent study focuses on using a simple test of visual flicker to evaluate an individual's level of executive cognitive abilities." Read more.

Humans Have the Best of Al Visual Worlds, Prove Scientists

"Humans have the best of all possible visual worlds because our full stereo vision combines with primitive visual pathways to quickly spot danger, a study led by the University of Sydney has discovered," notes Science Digest. "The surprising finding published today in Current Biology shows that in humans and other primates, information from the eyes is not only sent to the visual cortex for the complex processing that allows stereoscopic vision, but also could feed directly into deep brain circuits for attention and emotion. 'The brain cells that we identified suggest that human and other primates retain a visual pathway that traces back to the primitive systems of vertebrates like fish and frogs,' said University of Sydney's Professor Paul Martin from the Sydney Medical School, who led the team that made the discovery." Read more.

New Innotec Eyewear from Innotec

"Innotec is excited to announce the arrival of two groundbreaking styles to their renowned line of innovative eyewear. The Bowen and Reiner deepen Innotec’s commitment to pioneer new paradigms of ultramodern frames that challenge the market’s most demanding standards for comfort, durability, and weight. At just sixteen grams light, these futuristic frames integrate stainless steel and carbon fiber into a classic semi-rimless shape. Pushing the frontiers of technology, the Bowen and Reiner define a new pulse design that is poised to propel Innotec to the apex of high-tech eyewear," according to Midwest Lens. "Modulated by modernity, Bowen is an innovative take on a classic semi-rimless shape. Cut from a single block of stainless steel, this progressive pair uses a revolutionary manufacturing process that eliminates solder points to deliver unmatched durability. The featherlight carbon fiber temples, uniquely constructed with a stainless steel core for unrivaled durability, are fastened to the front with working rivets and robust five-barrel hinges that offer first-class comfort and a lasting fit." Read more.

EU Court Rules Cosmestic Contact Lenses Not Cosmetic

"On 3 September 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its ruling in case C-321/14 Colena AG v Karnevalservice Bastian GmbH following a reference from the Landgericht Krefeld (Regional Court Krefeld, Germany) as whether non-corrective colour contact lenses fell within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (the "Cosmetic Regulation")," reports Lexology. "The effect of the ruling is that the Cosmetic Regulation must be interpreted such that contact lenses marketed purely to alter the user's appearance (rather than to correct vision) will not be within its scope even if the outer packaging declares that the product is a cosmetic, subject to the EU Cosmetics Directive." Read more.

Atropine Eye Drops Slow Nearsightedness in Children

"Atropine .01 percent eye drops slow down nearsightedness by roughly 50 percent in five-year clinical trial on Singaporean children," reports Science Daily. "Researchers suggest low-dose drops safe as 'first line' defense against rapid development of nearsightedness in children." Read more.

New Eyewear from Helium

Midwest Lens writes, "Style has always been a key factor in the creation of then Helium men’s eyewear collection and sets the standard in forward looking eyewear for today’s modern man. With a lean towards 'Athleisure' and its mission of styling casual cool clothing that perform well in both work and leisure scenarios, this season’s Helium men’s collection offers complimentary eye styles for this movement in menswear. The five style collection represents classic cool looks in metal and acetate with crisp style elements. Metal shapes 4288 and 4289, showcase linear design elements and sleek, clean styling. The 4288 is a full rim flat metal profile highlighting thin raised military bar stripes on the length of the temple with a laser cut out logo. The 4289 is a very slim semi rimless flat metal profile with open work design detail running the length of the temple." Read more.

A Talk with Architect/Eyewear Designer Philippe Starck

"Philippe Starck is telling me about how he doesn’t like nightclubs. That’s right. The acclaimed French designer who outfitted the famous Parisian clubs La Main Bleue and Les Bains Douches—essentially the Studio 54 of Paris—doesn’t like going out." That's the start of a Bloomberg post about architect/eyewear designer Starck. "We’ve met to discuss his eyewear line, which—unbeknownst to many—has been around for nearly 20 years. His newest collection, Resort 2016, will mark a new direction for the designer and the Starck Eyes brand, which aims to target the more evolved, fashion-conscious male consumer interested in the intersection of technology and style. The frames, generally slim, are now available in the thinnest acetate frames ever, as well as in larger, youthful styles. Masculine square shapes, with a retro bent, put the frames in a luxury design category populated by such eyewear brands as Tom Ford and Persol." Read more.

New Blog for Opticians

Maryann Santos, the director of the ophthalmic program at Goodwin College in East Hartford, CT, has started What's an Optician, a blog for and about opticians and opticianry. Her first post is a video about what is an optician. She is looking for guest bloggers. If you have an inclination, write her at WhatsAnOptician@gmail.com.

New Eyewear from Emilio Pucci

"Two new styles from the Emilio Pucci Fall/Winter 2015 eyewear collection perfectly interpret the aesthetic philosophy of the florentine brand, one that’s characterized by tradition, elegance and style offset with modern touches, celebrating a creative vision in continuous evolution," notes Midwest Lens. "Refined materials, stunningly modern design, sophisticated production techniques, master craftsmanship, attractive construction and an unerring pursuit of quality are the defining features of these new creations: a classy reinterpretation of elegance and femininity." Read more.

New Eyewear from Eastern States

"Eastern States Eyewear has announced the release of six optical styles within its Exces Eyewear collection," according to Midwest Lens. "The new collection sees the addition of three styles to both the brand’s core collection as well as its elegant Princess division. The core styles are comprised of three youthful, colorful creations featuring bright, eye catching colorations. Such techniques as fusing acetates or layering metal with contrasting pantones provide an original, fashion forward look. Whether its mixing an olive base with a brown tortoise or a brown with a purple floral pattern one cannot miss the Exces’ commitment to color." Read more.

Seeing the Music

"When people are listening to music, their emotional reactions to the music are reflected in changes in their pupil size," reports Medical News Today. Read more.

See at Night Like "Predator" with Graphene Contact Lenses

"Graphene could make it possible to build ultra-thin, flexible thermal sensors for built-in night vision technology — just like that lethal alien in the Predator franchise," notes Gizmodo. "Modern night-vision equipment exploits the generation of heat by living bodies by focusing the thermal emissions with a special lens. The signal is then transmitted to IR detectors, which create a detailed pattern based on variations in temperature. That so-called thermogram is then turned into electrical impulses, which a computer analyses and sends to the display. The end result: the user sees that data represented as various colours, depending on the intensity of the IR emission." Read more.

Fights Caused 8K Eye Injuries in U.S./Fall Caused 8.5K Ocular Traumas

"Fighting and assault caused nearly 8,000 eye injuries treated in hospitals from 2002-2011, while falling led causes of ocular trauma with more than 8,500 incidents reported," according to a post on Science Digest. Read more.

Programmable Digital Glasses Work for Lazy Eye

"Programmable digital glasses for lazy eye work as well as eye patching, study shows, improving vision by about 2 lines on the reading chart after 3 months," reports Science Daily. "First new effective lazy eye treatment in 50 years." Read more.

500 More LensCrafters Popping Up in Macy's/Macy's Sunglass Hut's Going to More Than 1800

"The world’s largest eyeglass maker has signed a deal with the U.S. department store chain Macy’s to open up to 500 LensCrafters optical retail centers inside Macy’s," notes NewEurope. "Macy’s and Luxottica already have a deal that has put 670 Sunglass Hut’s in Macy’s department stores, with the number tripling in the last six years. The companies said in a joint release that the latest deal builds on that 'seuccessful relationship.'
The first LensCrafters will open at a Macy’s location by April, with 100 slated to open by the end of the year [2016]. Luxottica’s chief of markets, Adil Khan, said the optical industry 'has incredible growth potential in North America.'" Read more.

New Eyewear from Tura

"Tura Inc., the inventor of fashion eyewear in 1938, expands the 'Select' sub-collection of its high-tech TITANflex brand. The new men’s ophthalmic styles further focus on the synergy of the brand’s innovative memory metal technology with modern European design. The latest models feature a soldered flat metal bridge on a wire or flat metal frame fronts. Benefits of this updated construction include more contemporary styling, and increased stability and stress resistance," reports Midwest Lens. Read more.

New Eyewear from Silhouette

"The best gift you can give? One that makes eyes sparkle. And it is no secret that personalized gifts bring the most joy. The ‘Silhouette effect’ is what occurs when tailored glasses give their wearer a distinctive radiance – they highlight the character of the wearer authentically and personally," according to Midwest Lens. "Three exciting women’s crystal eyewear collections focus on differing character traits: the ‘Light Attraction‘ wearer radiates fine elegance; the ‘Sparkling Finesse‘ wearer conveys a contemporary, linear look that shines out, whilst the ‘Caresse‘ collection flatters its wearer with an impressive, single crystal, held in place by the perfect amount of tension." Read more.

So Why the Blue-Eye Switch, Selena Gomez?

"Why so blue, Selena (Gomez)?, asks Peole Magazine. "The singer switched things up at the Victoria's Secret fashion show, where she donned colored contact lenses to turn her naturally brown eyes a grayish-blue. It was a somewhat surprising choice, considering Gomez usually keeps her look classic, maintaining her glossy brunette locks and a consistent makeup routine. So what gives? 'I was inspired by Adriana Lima!' she told E! News. 'I'm a huge fan of hers and I geeked out in front of her today,' she continued. 'wanted to feel like a Victoria's Secret Angel.'" Read more.

Man Recovers His Life with Help from an ECP

Depression feels like a fall into a rabbit hole of hopelessness. William Medonis fell into that hole, but the with the help with therapists from Brooklyn Community Services, he climbed back out. According to a New York Times article, "'They made me realize there is something else to me,' he said. 'I have other talents and traits, like being smart and well spoken and social. I never thought of myself that way.'"

Only an ECP could provide the next step.

"Mr. Medonis had his eyes checked and learned that he needed glasses. In August, he spent most of the $240 in public assistance he receives each month to buy his first pair. Able to read again, he considered returning to college. Then another resident of the homeless shelter picked a fight with him, shattering his glasses — and his precarious feeling that life was improving. Brooklyn Community Services drew $400 from the Neediest Cases Fund to buy Mr. Medonis a new pair of Ray-Ban glasses, and on Sept. 8, he wore them to his first day of classes as a student at Kingsborough Community College." Read more.

How Do We See What Our Eyes Capture in Light?

"The complexity of the neural activity we use to process visual images reflects the intricacy of those images, a team of New York University scientists has found. Their study offers new insights into how our brain extracts information about our natural surroundings from the light captured by our eyes," reports Medical News Today. "'In order to efficiently process the thousands of images we come across on a daily basis, our brains calibrate in ways that are in sync with the characteristics of these images,' explains Robbe Goris, an NYU postdoctoral fellow and the lead author of the study, which appears in the journal Neuron." Read more.

How Fish Adapt to Seeing on Land?

"Salmon migrating from the open ocean to inland waters do more than swim upstream. To navigate the murkier freshwater streams and reach a spot to spawn, the fish have evolved a means to enhance their ability to see infrared light. Humans lack this evolutionary adaptation," writes Medical News Today. "For nearly a century, scientists have puzzled over how salmon as well as other freshwater fish and amphibians, including frogs, easily shift their vision from marine or terrestrial environments...Now, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report in the journal Current Biology that they have solved the mystery." Read more.

New Eyewear from Bon Vivant

"Bon Vivant, the cosmopolitan fashion brand that designs smart and chic eyewear, is releasing four new frames—Felicite, Fleur, Sabine, and Zoe—that distill French essence and couture style," according to Midwest Lens. "These new frames draw inspiration from myriad muses, eclectic art and awe-inspiring architecture, to display vivacious coloration, intricately etched patterns, and timeless shapes that have been reimagined for the modern trendsetter. All Bon Vivant frames are made with the most exacting standards demanded by the discerning eyes of couture connoisseurs." Read more.

New Eyewear from Nike

"Combining the science of vision with expertise in sport, Nike Vision continues to enhance its product line with new high-quality designs and color additions," posts Midwest Lens. "Offering a variety of on-trend shapes, color palettes, and durable materials, this superior eyewear collection is versatile in design, ideal for those who like to indulge in sports on a regular basis." Read more.

Researchers Create Flexible Fresnel Microlens

"Drawing inspiration from an insect's multi-faceted eye, University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers have created miniature lenses with vast range of vision," says Science Digest. "Their new approach created the first-ever flexible Fresnel zone plate microlenses with a wide field of view — a development that could allow everything from surgical scopes to security cameras to capture a broader perspective at a fraction of the size required by conventional lenses." Read more.

New Target for AMD Therapies

"Scientists have good news for patients who suffer from currently untreatable dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD)," notes Science Digest. "In a new study, researchers identified a potential target for future therapies to slow the progression of the blinding condition. The findings indicate that treatments currently used for other conditions could also work for dry AMD." Read more.

Cataracts Reversed with Eye Drops? Researchers Might Have the Answer

Science Digest teases with the following opening sentence: "A chemical that could potentially be used in eye drops to reverse cataracts, the leading cause of blindness, has been identified by a team of scientists." Read more.

New Eyewear from Nine West

"Nine West continues to lead as the sexy, chic and smart destination for sophisticated and trend-right footwear and accessories for the modern woman," reports Midwest Lens. "Nine West’s latest eyewear collection features beautifully crafted silhouettes with feminine style, providing women with quality, fashionable frames. The brand’s city-chic style translates to the eyewear from on-trend designs and hardware to mirrored lenses to stylish metal accents and exotic animal prints." Read more.

Christian Dior Launches Eyewear Campaign

"Raf Simons hasn’t even officially exited 30 Avenue Montaigne yet and we’re already seeing subtle changes to Christian Dior’s advertising concept," begins the Fashion Spot post. "The brand’s eyewear campaign for Fall 2015 was shot by the provocative and the sometimes controversial photographic duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Out is minimalist lensman Willy Vanderperre, in favor of a more alluring and colorful image with Texan beauty Vanessa Moody." Read more.

New Safety Eyewear Market in California?

The LA Daily News reports that "A San Fernando Valley based trade organization that represents the adult film industry plans to continue to fight against California safety standards that mandate condoms and eyewear for actors on all porn sets next year." Read more.

OpticalCEUs Again Wows Attendees at Its Annual Fall Seminar for Continuing Education for Opticians

Linda Conlin, founder of OpticalCEUs, Joe Forte, and Deborah Kotob wowed a sell-out crowd at this past Sunday's OpticalCEUs Fall 2015 Continuing Education Seminar for licensed opticians.

There were more than twelve dozen opticians from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, and New Hampshire. In the classy Celebrity Ballroom of the Fox Tower, these engaged opticians earned 7 ABO/NCLE credits, all valid for their licenses.

The presentationswere as follows: Exploring the Cornea; Light, the Eye and the Brain; Everywhere and Sportwrap – Understanding Digital Technology; Specialty Contact Lenses Are Not That Special; Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses; You Be the Judge: Opticians and Malpractice; The Nature of Light and Its Practical Applications.

For lunch, the attendees went into a connecting dining room where the Foxwoods Casino catering staff had set up 16 tables, seating eight, all with a centerpiece and a wonderful china setting.

The buffet table was stacked with large bowls of Philly cheesesteak, eggplant parmigiana, pulled pork, green tossed salad, pasta salad, and minestrone. On the desert table, there were lemon tarts, a blueberry crumble, and a chocolate thingy that disappeared quickly.

Almost forgot: OpticalCEUs raffled off five polo shirts with its distinguished lighthouse logo. Luxottica had a raffle for two Ray-Ban sunglasses.


Our Lecturers
Accredited lecturers Linda Conlin, Deborah Kotob of Vision-Ease and Joe Forte will present seven courses enabling you to earn ABO/NCLE credits. 

Linda Conlin

Deborah Kotob

For over 15 years Linda, an NAO Fellow Ambassador, has provided continuing education and training for opticians at the state and national levels. She is ABO and NCLE certified, licensed in CT, MA and RI, and has written for 20/20 and EyeWitness magazines.

She founded OpticalCEUs and launched OpticalCEU.com and Optical News from OpticalCEUs news blog for opticians. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Goodwin College's Ophthalmic Science Program.

Joe Forte

Deborah, the ECP Education Facilitator for Vision-Ease, creates and presents ABO, NCLE and JCAHPO seminars related to optics and best practices.

A Massachusetts-licensed optician, she has owned two optical businesses and was a sales representative for MODO and Luxottica. Deborah has achieved ABOM and NCLE certifications. 

Joe, the director of contact lens services for Greenwich Ophthalmology Associates, lectured at CUNY Tech, Vision Expo and Optifair. He is certified as an advanced level speaker, and was program director of the Interboro Institute College of Opticianry where he taught courses in various areas of contact lenses and optics.

Circumventing Visiting an Eye Doctor?

Opternative has "created an online eye test, all but cutting out the eye doctor entirely. 'The eye exam has evolved,' the company touts," reports The Week. "All you need to take the test is a computer, a smartphone, and 12 feet of space to put between you and your computer screen. A series of shapes, numbers, and letters will appear and your smartphone guides you through questions and serves as a remote control for selecting answers. Once the test is over, your results are sent to a licensed ophthalmologist for review. If everything looks normal, he or she writes you a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, which you can have filled anywhere. The process costs $40 for glasses or contacts, $60 for both. No copays or unexpected appointment fees. It's quick and convenient." Read more.

Increased Visual Scanning Helps Glaucoma Suffers Pass Driving Tests

"A new study shows how some drivers with glaucoma safely passed a driving test by increasing visual scanning to compensate for loss of visual field," says a post on Medical News Today. Read more.

Fed Charges Owners of 10 Southern Cal Stores for Selling Cosmetic Contact Lenses

"The feds say those Halloween zombie eyes could be a real nightmare and they're cracking down on illegal contact lenses," notes KOLO TV News. "The U.S. attorney's office says 10 Southern California stores and owners were charged Friday in Los Angeles with 'misbranding' contact lenses by selling them without prescriptions. Federal prosecutors say some of the Halloween and fashion lenses were found to be contaminated with germs..." Read more.

FTC and DOJ Investigate Valeant's Eye Care Business

"Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which has been under the gun over its relationship with specialty pharmacies and price hikes on its heart medications, is facing new legal challenges as U.S. investigators look into the embattled company's growing eye care business," reports CTV. "Valeant disclosed Monday that it is subject to separate investigations launched by the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department. The FTC has requested information and documentation related to its "non-public investigation" of Valeant's acquisition of Paragon Vision Sciences in May, the Laval, QB-based company said in a regulatory filing about its third-quarter results. Valeant also said the Justice Department has issued it a subpoena as part of a criminal investigation into Bausch & Lomb's payment to medical professionals related to its surgical products Crystalens IOL and Victus femtosecond laser platform. Valeant said it is co-operating with the investigation into possible violations of federal health-care laws." Read more.

Reuters News Service offered more about the company. "Valeant entered the contact lens business with its purchase of Bausch and Lomb in 2013 for $8.7 billion. At the time of the acquisition, Bausch and Lomb manufactured about 75% of the basic components of rigid gas permeable lenses, known as “buttons,” said Kurtis Brown, who worked for Bausch and Lomb prior to Valeant’s purchase. After manufacture, buttons are customized for individual patients, typically by laboratories specializing in that process. With the acquisition of Paragon Vision Sciences in May for an undisclosed sum, Valeant and Bausch and Lomb further consolidated their grip on the market, gaining control of more than 80% percent of the gas permeable button market, according to one of the sources familiar with Valeant’s operations and the representative of an industry group. Rigid lenses comprise only about 10% of the contact lens market." Read more.

New Eyewear from REM

"The leading Southern California, all-American eyewear brand, Lucky Brand, launches its fall 2015 collection with REM Eyewear, showcasing spectacles crafted from exceptional materials, designed to fit your everyday wardrobe needs," according to Midwest Lens. "Perfect for the always in-style Lucky Brand guy, the D302 and D403 radiate masculine aesthetics and sleek features with their bold, square shapes and rich, deep color combinations. The free-spirited woman who’s a Lucky Brand loyalist will be drawn to the feminine, cat-eye silhouettes from the D104 and D203 in energetic color ways. The fall 2015 Lucky Brand collection is beautifully crafted eyewear you’ll want to grab hold of and never let go." Read more.

New Eyewear from Altair Evolution

"The Altair Evolution 2015 Fall collection will take you on a road trip where West Coast style is always on the map," says Midwest Lens. "Vintage shapes and coastal colors showcase the retro spirit of these seven styles for men and women." Read more.

In the Hands of Kids, Non-Powdered Weapons Are Lethal

"Researchers at a Dallas children's hospital aim to show that nonpowder firearms such as airsoft, BB, and paintball guns should not be viewed as toys, but rather powerful weapons causing increasingly severe and sometimes life-threatening injuries in pediatric patients," observes Science Daily. "A new study being presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Conference and Exhibition in Washington, DC, looked at medical records of patients treated at Children's Medical Center Dallas after being injured by nonpowder guns between 2010 and 2013. Of the 176 patients studied, 87 percent were male and 30 percent were under 10 years of age, said lead researcher Nina Mizuki Fitzgerald, MD, FAAP, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The majority of injuries were unintentional." Read more.

Latinos with African Ancestry Greater Risk of Glaucoma

"Latinos with African ancestry are at a higher risk for high pressure within the eye, a condition that if untreated can damage the optic nerve and impair vision, according to a report in the journal Ophthalmology," according to Medical News Today. "Greater African ancestry carried more risk for high intraocular pressure than high body mass index, older age and high blood pressure - factors known to contribute to increased pressure inside the eye. Researchers led by Xiaoyi Gao, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences in the UIC College of Medicine, analyzed the genomes of 3,541 participants 40 and older from the Mexican American Glaucoma Genetic Study, part of the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study." Read more.

The Making of Contact Lenses in 1948

"More than 30 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses. But as this 1948 newsreel footage shows, today's common vision corrective was once a novel and strange medical device," reports Smithsonian Magazine. "The newsreel, which British Pathé recently unearthed, opens with a close-up shot of a woman without glasses. "This girl is wearing glasses," a narrator says—but of course, she's wearing contact lenses. With the cheery speed typical of mid-century newsreels, the narrator describes how the lenses were made: the eye is anesthetized, then the optician—a man named Penrhyn Thomas, who was apparently Australia's only contact lens maker—uses an "impression cup" to make a cast of the eyeball." See the video.

New Eyewear from Vera Bradley

Midwest Lens writes, "Isla, Antonia, and Ronnie M feature retro flair and the latest playful Vera Bradley prints. Vibrant hues combine with metal finishes to create the perfect look for any Vera Bradley lover!" Read more.

OpticalCEUs Fall Continuing Education on Oct. 25th Has Sold Out

Almost twelve dozen opticians are registered for OpticalCEU's Fall 2015 continuing education seminar, selling out the available seats. The 7 ABO/NCLE credit program will start registration Sunday morning at 8:30 at the CELEBRITY BALLROOM, FOX TOWER (formerly MGM Grand), 2nd Level, Foxwoods Resort and Casino on Sunday, October 25.

As always, conference attendees can enjoy a delicious hot buffet lunch compliments of OpticalCEUs in one of the finest banquet rooms in New England.

Program Schedule

• Explore the Cornea Speaker: Linda Conlin (1 NCLE) 9am-10am – NEW!
• Light, the Eye and the Brain Speaker: Deborah Kotob (1 ABO) 10am-11am – NEW!
• Everywhere and Sportwrap – Understanding Digital Technology Speaker: Deborah Kotob (1 ABO pending) 11am-Noon – NEW!
• Specialty Contact Lenses are Not That Special Speaker: Joe Forte (1 NCLE pending) 1pm-2pm – NEW!
• Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses Speaker: Joe Forte (1 NCLE pending) 2pm-3pm – NEW!
• You Be the Judge: Opticians and Malpractice Speaker: Linda Conlin (1 NCLE) 3pm-4pm
• The Nature of Light and Its Practical Applications Speaker: Joe Forte (1 ABO pending) 4pm-5pm – NEW!

Our Lecturers
Accredited lecturers Linda Conlin, Deborah Kotob of Vision-Ease and Joe Forte will present seven courses enabling you to earn ABO/NCLE credits. 

For over 15 years Linda, an NAO Fellow Ambassador, has provided continuing education and training for opticians at the state and national levels. She is ABO and NCLE certified, licensed in CT, MA and RI, and has written for 20/20 and EyeWitness magazines. She founded OpticalCEUs and launched OpticalCEU.com and Optical News from OpticalCEUs news blog for opticians. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Goodwin College's Ophthalmic Science Program.

Deborah, the ECP Education Facilitator for Vision-Ease, creates and presents ABO, NCLE and JCAHPO seminars related to optics and best practices. A Massachusetts-licensed optician, she has owned two optical businesses and was a sales representative for MODO and Luxottica. Deborah has achieved ABOM and NCLE certifications. 

Joe, the director of contact lens services for Greenwich Ophthalmology Associates, lectured at CUNY Tech, Vision Expo and Optifair. He is certified as an advanced level speaker, and was program director of the Interboro Institute College of Opticianry where he taught courses in various areas of contact lenses and optics.

Directions
FOX TOWER, Foxwoods is located at 39 Norwich-Westerly Rd., Ledyard. CT 06339, on Route 2 between I-395 and I-95. Go to http://www.opticalceu.com/DirectionsToCelebrityBallroom.pdf for map and directions. Valet parking is free. For accommodations, call Foxwoods at 1-800 PLAY BIG. Overnight reservations are not associated with the seminar.