OpticalCEUs 2015 Spring Continuing Education Seminar for Opticians a Success

"Judge" Linda Conlin, founder of OpticalCEUs,
lecturing about malpractice at the recent
OpticalCEUs continuing education
seminar at Foxwoods.

Around 12 dozen opticians came to the Grand Pequot Ballroom, Foxwoods Resort and Casino on Sunday, April 26. By the end of the day and after a delicious hot lunch, they returned home with 7 ABO/NCLE credits. They listened, took notes, and discussed presented at seven sessions from four excellent speakers:

Miru 1day – New Technology in Daily Disposable Lenses Speaker: Donna Schaub (1 NCLE) 9am-10am

Blue Perspective Speaker: Deborah Kotob (1 ABO) 10am-11am

Night Vision Speaker: Deborah Kotob (1 NCLE) 11am-Noon

Day By Day Speaker: Joe Forte (1 NCLE) 1pm-2pm

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lenses, But Were Afraid to Ask Speaker: Joe Forte (1 ABO) 2pm-3pm

You Be the Judge: Opticians and Malpractice Speaker: Linda Conlin (1 NCLE) 3pm-4pm

Reflecting on Refraction. Speaker: Joe Forte (1 ABO) 4pm-5 pm.

New Nicole Miller Eyewear from L’Amy America

"Glamorous, feminine and summer ready-to-wear are the trademarks of the six new styles-three ophthalmic, three sun – L’Amy America is launching in their Nicole Miller collection, ready for Summer 2015 wearing." That's the word from Midwest Lens. Read more.

Microsoft Gets Patent for Agumented Reality Eyewear

"The artificial-intelligence race could be heading back to the eyeglass shop," reports the Wall Street Journal's Digits. "Google Glass may be stumbling, but Microsoft MSFT -0.30% appears to be taking a fresh look at the idea of smart glasses. Microsoft cinched a U.S. patent for Internet-connected, see-through glasses. But here’s the twist: They would be able to detect and interpret the emotions of people within their field of vision. The patent for 'a wearable emotion detection feedback system,' was filed in October 2012, and awarded earlier this week, according to a public filing by the U.S. patent office. It’s unclear whether Microsoft is serious about any near-term commercial applications, or is just tinkering. A spokeswoman said, 'Microsoft regularly applies for and receives patents as part of its business practice; not all patents applied for or received will be incorporated into a Microsoft product.'" Read more.

Children's Eye Injries from "Toy" Guns on Rise

"Over 3000 children were treated in U.S. emergency departments in 2012 for eye injuries related to paintball guns, airsoft guns, BB guns and pellet guns, which are popular non-powder guns. A new report published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) analyzes the trends in hospital admissions associated with different types of firearms and suggests regulations that can help prevent serious injuries." That's the word from Science Daily. Read more.

Dry Eye Finally Linked to Allergens in New Study

"New ophthalmology research from the University of Miami shows that dry eye - the little understood culprit behind red, watery, gritty feeling eyes - strikes most often in spring, just as airborne allergens are surging," according to Medical News Today. "The study marks the first time that researchers have discovered a direct correlation between seasonal allergens and dry eye, with both pollen and dry eye cases reaching a yearly peak in the month of April. The paper was published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology." Read more.

Computerized Vision Screening for Children Works, Says Study

"A new report published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) describes the effectiveness of a new computer-based vision-screening test, the Jaeb Visual Acuity Screener (JVAS), which is suitable for use in schools and pediatrician's offices," according to Science Daily. "'Broad adoption of this tool would result in a more standardized approach to pediatric vision screening in diverse medical and community office settings,' commented lead investigator Tomohiko Yamada, OD, of the Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. 'In comparison to traditional vision testing methodologies, this software-based tool provides the advantage of running on any windows-based PC in a pediatrician's examination room -- avoiding testing in distracting office hallways.' JVAS is a computerized screening program developed by the Jaeb Center for Health Research that is designed to identify children with subnormal visual acuity in a rapid and reproducible manner. It uses a set testing algorithm to minimize subjective tester bias. It also uses age-specific visual acuity standards to provide a simple pass/fail result for four age groups (3, 4, 5 or 6, and 7 and over)." Read more.

Simple Eye Test for 7 Year Olds Predicts Onset of Myopia

"Researchers have found that a simple eye test in first grade could predict the onset of nearsightedness by eight grade," reports Medical News Today. "Such a test could enable parents to plan eye testing schedules and glasses, and even opens up the research opportunities into therapies that could prevent the need for glasses.A study of over 4,500 children published in JAMA Ophthalmology identified 414 who became nearsighted (had myopia, in which further distances are seen as blurry) by the time they were between 7 and 13 years of age." Read more.

New Crocs Eyewear from A&A Optical

"A&A Optical announces the release of two new adult styles from Crocs eyewear: CF332 and CF619. Crocs eyewear interprets the relaxed and distinctly fun Crocs spirit, incorporating the unique style and creative design in terms of colors, shapes, materials and comfort of Crocs branded products," reports Midwest Lens. "The collection uses an assortment of high quality materials such as ultra lightweight stainless steel, hypo-allergenic silicone rubber and flexible polymer." Read more.

Updated Ophthalmic Career Progression Program Available from NAO

The National Academy of Opticianry has updated it Ophthalmic Career Progression Program text. The text reportedly "very closely follows the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) Task Analoysis, the basis for the National ABO Certification Exam." The text consists of four illustrated volumes, each with an exam. There's also a final exam. NAO also has a fifth volume that focuses on contact lenses.The text was written by three renowned academics in opticianry:

• Diane F. Drake, LDO, ABOM, FCLSA, FNAO
• David F. Meldrum, LDO, ABOM, FNAO, and
• Randall L. Smith, M.S., ABOM, NCLEC, FNAO.

The OCPP is a convenient, affordable home-study, on-the-job training tool for apprenticing opticians. Several states accept it as a viable method to achieve required training and education for licensing and national certification. It is also widely used in states that don't require licensing and certification as a quality, thorough base-line for on-the-job training. To find out more about the program go to www.nao.org and click into the Ophthalmic Career Progression Program (OCPP) for more information or call NAO (800-229-4828).

OpticalCEUs Fall 2014 Conference--the Movie

New Method for Measuring Low Light Vision

"A simple method of testing 'twilight vision' gives reliable results in identifying people who have decreased visual acuity under low light conditions, according to a new study," according to Science Codex. "Using filters to test at a light level 100 times lower than for daylight visual acuity testing, vision care professionals can obtain 'reliable and repeatable' measurements of twilight vision, report Jason S. Ng, OD, PhD, and colleagues of Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University in Fullerton, Calif." Read more.

Earning Almost $300K, Ophthalmologists Don't Think to Get Paid Enough

"Ophthalmologists are in the middle of the pack when it comes to compensation and professional satisfaction. Yet the majority of ophthalmologists think they should be better paid, according to the Medscape Ophthalmologist Compensation Report 2015," notes Medscape. "Ophthalmologists surveyed reported earning $292,000 per year on average in 2014. That is more than $100,000 higher than pediatricians, the lowest earners ($189,000), but a roughly equal amount below that of the perennial highest earners, orthopedists ($421,000). Ophthalmologists are also right in the center for earnings not linked to patient care (such as expert witness duties, product sales, or speaking engagements), picking up an average of $14,000 in outside work, on par with rheumatologists, general surgeons, and gastroenterologists." Read more. Maybe they should join the thousands of fast-food workers protesting throughout the U.S. for $15 an hour or $30K per year.

Luxottica and Google Working on New Version of Google Glass

"A new version of Google Glass is in the works and will be out soon, the chief executive of Italian eyewear maker Luxottica said Friday," reports the Wall Street Journal's Digits. "The partnership with the U.S. tech giant to build Glass—the Internet-connected eyewear—is going ahead, said Massimo Vian, speaking at the company’s general meeting in Milan, Italy. Earlier this year, Google stopped selling the first version of Glass and shut its Explorer program, moving the project out of its Google X research lab into a standalone unit. Yet the firm made clear that it was still working to make the eyewear ready for users. The changes sparked speculation that Google would abandon Glass. However, Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt told The Wall Street Journal that it has been put under the watch of Tony Fadell, head of Google’s Nest connected home division, 'to make it ready for users.'" Read more.

The Family of Optical Leader Dennis Antonucci Asks for Your Help

"Two years ago Dennis Antonucci, my brother, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is more popularly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Since that time, he has experienced progressive muscular degeneration through his arms and neck.  This degeneration has made even the smallest of tasks difficult to do without assistance from others. Dennis is very fortunate to have help from his family and friends but today this help is not enough." That's the start of the opening YouCaring.com site for Glastonbury resident Dennis Antonucci. As a laboratory business consultant for Essilor, a licensed optician, and graduate of Middlesex Community College, Dennis earned the respect of opticians throughout the region. He donated his time. Now he and his family need our help, as his brother notes.

"During December 2014, Dennis was selected to participate in a stem cell therapy study. Stem cell therapy is a treatment which involves the injection healthy neural cells directly into a patient’s spine in order to assist the immune system in its fight against a disease. As a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the hospital staff administering the treatment does not know if the patient is getting healthy cells or a placebo. Consequently, Dennis does not know if he received healthy stem cells or a placebo. Assuming Dennis received healthy cells, it will be many months before it is known whether the treatment was successful.

"Since his participation in the study, Dennis has continued to experience muscular degeneration as evidenced by worsening speech and more difficulty in swallowing food. In fact, his inability to eat has gotten so bad that Dennis had to be fitted with a feeding tube in order to stop his weight loss. Needless to say, the ongoing degeneration is a constant struggle for Dennis and his family and friends.

"While everyone is pitching in to help Dennis, his poor health has reached a point where he needs specialized equipment and trained individuals dedicated to his care. This equipment and care requires financial contributions beyond those covered by insurance and available from Dennis’ circle of family and friends. We are asking for donations to help Dennis. These donations can be in the form of cash, check, and credit card or by clicking donate now. As the administrator of this site and co-administrator of donations, I promise that every donated dollar will be used only for devises and home care to assist Dennis in sustaining his health." So far, the YouCaring site has received more than $8,000 in donations. The family is looking for $50,000. Please donate today so the family can reach its goal and continue its support of Dennis, who gave often to the optical community. Donate now.

Goodwin's Ophthalmic Science Department to Open Optical Training Store

On May 11, the Ophthalmic Science department of Goodwin College will open its Optical Training Store, licensed by the Connecticut's Department of Health. Under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor, the department's students will use the skills learned during their previous three semesters to assist with and to fit eyewear for Goodwin College students, the college's employees, and on-campus employees of Goodwin contractors. Naturally the store will model a setting of a traditional optical practice. The store will operate on a walk-in basis to patients presenting prescriptions less than a year old. It will not work with insurance plans, but the store says that it will offer "substantial" discounts. To find out more about the optical training program and the store, go to Ophthalmic Science department of Goodwin College.

New Eyewear from ClearVision

"With a nod to the brand’s vibrant styling splashed with a tropical vibe, the three Op 'Sherbet'releases light up youthful faces with a colorful palette of sweet, on trend designs," notes Midwest Lens. "Featuring a menu of delectable, “frozen treat” shades like Chocolate, Mint, Cherry and Blueberry, each of the full acetate styles is available in six colors and one size each." Read more.

Elton John's Heart-Shaped Glasses Stolen from Museum

"Officials say a pair of Elton John's heart-shaped glasses has been stolen from a display case at a Memphis museum," according to the Kelowna Daily. "Memphis police said Wednesday the glasses were taken from the Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum. Officers were called to the museum Tuesday night, when employees noticed the glasses were missing. Officers said the case holding the glasses sustained no real damage. Police said a museum manager told officers someone would have to use a set of tools to remove the item from the case. An officer processed the case for fingerprints." Read more.

New Kids Eyewear from Safilo

"Safilo presents the new Kids by Safilo eyewear collection: a ground-breaking eyewear project devoted to 0-8 year olds, conceived for children’s necessities, designed with a medical-scientific approach and engineered with advanced technologies and materials," reports Midwest Lens. "Kids by Safilo optical frames are created to respond to children’s unmet needs. As the ideal blend of innovation and comfort, the new eyewear collection perfectly matches children’s requirements and, at the same time, their parents’ expectations. Through the collaboration with SIOP (Società Italiana di Oftalmologia Pediatrica) and in compliance with the guidelines of WSPOS (World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus), Safilo has created a specific product with the adoption of a medical-scientific approach to meet the key needs of children in terms of eyewear." Read more.

While J&J and Costco Duke It Out in California, Costco Sides with Utah about Contact Lens Pricing

"Johnson & Johnson’s contact lens unit on Friday urged a California federal judge to toss Costco Wholesale Corp.’s antitrust suit alleging J&J drives up prices by cutting off retailers that sell its lenses at a discount, arguing its unilateral pricing policies are 'entirely lawful,'" notes Law 360. "Cotsco’s suit is one of many related suits recently filed in California federal court over the allegedly anticompetitive pricing floor. The discount retailer has alleged that other contact retailers pressured Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. to set an anticompetitive minimum retail." Read more.

"Warehouse store giant Costco is siding with the state of Utah in a lawsuit filed over a bill that bans price-fixing of contact lenses," reports Fox 13, the Fox affiliate in Salt Lake City. "In a motion filed Monday in federal court and obtained by Fox 13, Costco Wholesale seeks to intervene in a series of lawsuits filed by contact lens manufacturers against the state over Senate Bill 169, which was signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert last month. Court records show U.S. District Court Judge Dee Benson granted Costco’s motion to intervene. Former federal judge Paul Cassell is representing 1-800-CONTACTS, which is also siding with the state." Read more.

Louisiana Contact Lens Wearer Sues Manufacturers

"A woman has brought an anti-trust lawsuit against several major optical suppliers, alleging unfair trade practices dating to 2013," reports the Louisiana Record. "Jennifer L. Crose filed a class action complaint against CooperVision Inc. of Pleasanton, Calif.; Alcon Laboratories Inc. of Fort Worth; Bausch and Lomb Inc. of Bridgewater, N.J.; Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla.; and ABB/Con-Cise Optical Group LLC (a.k.a. ABB Optical Group) of Coral Springs, Fla., in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 31. According to the lawsuit, the defendants engaged in conspiratorial behavior to artificially control the price of contact lenses. Seeking to represent herself and class members who purchased contact lenses sold by the defendants collectively, Crose alleges that the manufacturers, who allegedly control more than 97 percent of the market, sought to fix, raise, maintain and/or stabilize the product prices by imposing price floor policies (PFPs) originating in mid-2013." Read more.

New Adler Eyewear from REM

"Designer Jonathan Adler and REM Eyewear have launched their women’s eyewear collection that is currently available at optical and department stores. The eyewear collection includes sunglasses, readers and optical frames distributed globally." That's the word from Midwest Lens. Read more.

New Eyewear from Silhouette

"SPX Illusion throws a curve to conventional style. Imagine wearing a contemporary-modernized full rim style that feels just as good as wearing nearly nothing at all! SPX Illusion offers extreme comfort and lightness due to our patented SPX material, along with color and finish stability," notes Midwest Lens. "Silhouette’s patented High-Tech Titanium and proprietary SPX material provide unparalleled flexibility and durability: SPX is twice as strong as acetate, most commonly used in the market. The SPX material revolution set the standard of excellence and high quality in the eyewear industry, and Silhouette as a leader in innovation, style, and design." Read more.

VSP Creating Its Own AR Eyewear. Watch Out Google Glass?

"VSP Global’s innovation labs in New York and Sacramento have developed a prototype of a wearable computer that doesn’t look like one," reports the Sacramento Business Journal. "In fact, it looks like a stylish pair of glasses.Think of it as Google Glass light. The wearable computer is the product of what VSP calls the Genesis Project. Designers and engineers at The Shop in midtown Sacramento packed all the electronics into the Genesis. Marchon Eyewear, VSP's frames line, also is working on the project." Read more.

Consumer Reports Blasts CL Pricing Policies -- Again!!!

"Today the manufacturers that account for about 98 percent of all contacts sold in the U.S. are setting minimum retail prices. Who benefits from denying discounts to price-conscious consumers? High-price retailers, including eye doctors who sell contact lenses directly to their patients. And the eye doctors determine which contact lenses to prescribe for each patient. So each manufacturer wants to stay on the doctors’ 'good list.'" That's represents one of many shots across the bows of the major contact lens manufacturers by Consumer Reports. "Without this warped incentive, contact lens manufacturers would likely welcome retail discounting, because more consumers could afford to buy contacts. Manufacturers would still set the wholesale price, so each retail sale, at any price, would provide the same benefit for the manufacturer. That’s how a healthy competitive market should work. Consumers Union fought this battle more than a decade ago. It used to be that eye doctors wouldn’t even give patients the contact lens prescription, making it exceedingly difficult to get contacts anywhere else but at the doctor’s—and at the price the doctor charged. That finally changed in 2003, when Congress passed the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, requiring eye doctors to hand over that prescription." Read more.

Scientists Eliminate Halo Effect from Contact Lenses for Presbyops?

"Since the dawn of the contact lens, wearers with presbyopia have had to endure the notorious 'halo effect'...A corrective method discovered by Israeli scientists may help beat back the blinding nuisances once and for all." That's the word from Digital Trends. "Researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel think they have a tenable solution. They describe a technique in the journal Optics Communications that involves a smoothening of the surface of multifocal lenses, a process that 'does not complicate the fabrication complexity of the lens' but 'yields the same optical performance in treating presbyopia and assisting people after cataract surgery,' says Professor Zeev Zavelsky, head of the Electro-Optics study program of the Faculty of Engineering and co-author of the paper." Read more."

New Eyewear from Tommy Bahama

"This Spring 2015 Tommy Bahama Eyewear delivers refreshing modern shapes, crisp coastal colors and elevated tropical patterns from paradise," writes Midwest Lens. "For men, handsome horn patterns, fresh matte finishes and iconic basket weave designs complement new contemporary shapes with an introduction to XL sizing. The women’s collection features tropical tortoises, oceanic prints and nautical design details on fresh, fashion-forward shapes." Read more.

Alcon, B&L, and J&J Sue Utah Over Contact Lens Bill

"Three leading national contact lens manufacturers are ganging up in federal court to try to prevent enforcement of new amendments to Utah law that they say are aimed at protecting Utah-based 1-800 Contacts at the expense of the U.S. Constitution," reports the Salt Lake Tribune. "Alcon Laboratories Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas; Bausch & Lomb Inc., of Bridgewater, N.J.; and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., of Jacksonville, Fla., are asking the U.S. District Court in Utah to stop state Attorney General Sean Reyes from enforcing SB169, which was signed last month by Gov. Gary Herbert.
In its lawsuit, Alcon said the passage of SB169 was under "the specter of protectionism" with 1-800 Contacts' officials offering testimony in support of the bill during its legislative passage. Bauch & Lomb, in a separate lawsuit, said the measure was "motivated by a parochial desire to protect a major in-state business at the expense of a targeted class of out-of-state corporations." Read more.

Read more about the Utah ban and potential bands in Idaho, Illinois, and California and similar legislative efforts in New Jersey and Oregon.

Ophthalmologist with Ties to Sen. Menendez Indicted by Feds

"Florida doctor Salomon Melgen, who has been charged with corruption along with New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, was indicted on Tuesday on Medicare fraud charges, the U.S. Attorney's office in Miami said," goes the Reuter's story appearing on the Huffington Post. "Melgen, 61, an ophthalmologist in North Palm Beach, was charged with 46 counts of healthcare fraud, as well as 19 counts of fraudulent claims, and 11 counts of making false statements relating to health care, prosecutors said in a statement. Menendez and Melgen, who are close friends, were both charged in an alleged political corruption conspiracy earlier this month in New Jersey." Read more.

Stem Cells Used to Treat Macular Degeneration

"An injection of stem cells into the eye may soon slow or reverse the effects of early-stage age-related macular degeneration, according to new research from scientists at Cedars-Sinai," according to Medical News Today. "The stem cell injection resulted in 130 days of preserved vision in laboratory rats, which roughly equates to 16 years in humans." Read more.

New Eyewear from A&A's Jimmy Crystal New York

"A&A Optical announces the release of two new ophthalmic frames from luxury collection: Jimmy Crystal New York," says Midwest Lens. "The designer eyewear collection is comprised of striking limited edition pieces reminiscent of a collector’s item. Each style is unique and special, featuring hand set Swarovski elements." Read more.

Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn Promoting Burberry's Eyewear

"One is a legendary supermodel and the other is quickly following in her footsteps, so it made sense for Naomi Campbell and her modern-day protegee Jourdan Dunn to team up for a new campaign," reports the Daily Mail. "Naomi, 44, and 24-year-old Jourdan have been unveiled as the faces of Burberry's new eyewear range, the Gabardine collection. The second joint campaign for the catwalk stars sees them cuddling up on set and modelling the seasonal styles inspired by gabardine - a fabric invented by Thomas Burberry and the original material of the iconic trench coat." Read more.

New Sunglasses from Nike Vision

"Nike Vision, the premium eyewear brand combining the science of vision with expertise in sport, announces its inaugural pair of young athletes’ performance eyewear,' goes the Midwest Lens post. "For more than a decade, Nike Vision’s sport eyewear has been the choice of top athletes. The brand’s first youth performance style will be the Skylon Ace XV Jr." Read more.

Car Manufacturer Mini to Offer AR Glasses

"Mini is rolling out a new product, and no, it's not a car. Announced at the Auto Shanghai show, the Mini Augmented Vision is actually a pair of augmented reality glasses that offers up info about your ride in your field of vision," according to an Endgadget report. "You can see some of the following details as you're riding around in your Mini vehicle of choice: destination points that you can select pre-ride, the navigation display of your first and last mile, heads up info like speeds and speed limits, navigation arrows plus points of interest on your route, incoming message notifications, an X-ray view of the vehicle, plus a view of the curb from the car's external cameras so you can park easier." Read more.

JINS Opens Retail Outline in San Francisco

"Tokyo-based eyewear brand JINS announced plans to expand into the U.S. market with the opening of its first U.S. flagship store in San Francisco in spring 2015," reports design:retail. "Since opening its first store in 2001, JINS has opened more than 300 retail locations across Japan and China. JINS' U.S. flagship store, which will be located at 151 Powell St. in Union Square, will offer more than 4,900-sq.-ft. of shopping space. The company also will launch a U.S. e-commerce site." Read more.

Restoring 3D Vision to Stroke Victim

"Impaired vision is one of the most common consequences of a stroke. In rare cases, patients may even lose their ability to perceive depth," according to Science Daily. "Such patients see the world around them as flat, like a two-dimensional picture. This makes it impossible for them to judge distances accurately – a skill they need, for instance, when reaching for a cup or when a car is approaching them on the street. A patient with this particular type of visual dysfunction has recently been studied in detail by a research team. The team has developed the first effective treatment regime and have identified the area of the brain that, when damaged, may cause loss of binocular depth perception." Read more.

Eye Tests for Eight Year Olds Predicts Nearsightedness in 13 Year Olds

"Researchers have found that a simple eye test in first grade could predict the onset of nearsightedness by eight grade," reports Medical News Today. "The authors of the new study call for more pre-school testing of childhood vision in the US. Such a test could enable parents to plan eye testing schedules and glasses, and even opens up the research opportunities into therapies that could prevent the need for glasses. A study of over 4,500 children published in JAMA Ophthalmology identified 414 who became nearsighted (had myopia, in which further distances are seen as blurry) by the time they were between 7 and 13 years of age." Read more.

New Sunglasses from Elle

"Characterized by the confidence and understated glamour of a quintessential Parisian woman, the ELLE look is a smart fusion of modern femininity and sartorial panache that feels and looks good to wear. This attractive, effortless style with its underlying French flavor is the secret of ELLE’s enduring lead in today’s bustling fashion market," according to Midwest Lens. "ELLE eyewear expresses the ambiance of the brand in a new sunglasses collection that carries the poise and beauty of Paris: the city and its women. Frame profiles are sensuously sculpted revealing slender, tailored lines and a smooth touch on frame curves and angles. Fresh inspirations are drawn from the baroque opulence of Parisian architecture with contemporary references displayed as ornate but tasteful temple decorations. Colors are the sensation of the new ELLE eyewear styles with fabulous new shades and innovative executions. Orange flashes, summer blues and daring reds are striking statement hues while the colour spectrum is reborn in dazzling gradients and sublime pearled tones." Read more.

Ce6 Drops May Treat Night Blindness

"The eyedrops utilize a mixture of insulin and chlorin e6 (Ce6) - a chlorophyll analog that has be used for many years in laser-assisted cancer treatment. Ce6 has light-amplifying properties, allowing surgeons to use energy from low-power light sources to destroy tumor cells," notes Medical News Today. "However, recent research has found that Ce6 could also be used to treat night blindness and improve the vision of people with certain visual disturbances, through direct application to the eye." Read more.

Kristen Stewart Continues as Chanel's Eyewear Model

"Actress Kristen Stewart rocks a pair of thick framed Chanel glasses in a new campaign for the fashion house's eye wear," reports UPI. "The black-and-white ads for the for the spring-summer 2015 collection were shot by Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld and feature a series of close-ups of Stewart's profile." Read more.

New Jersey and Oregon Fight Anti-Unilateral Pricing Programs for Contact Lenses

"Oregon has become a battleground," reports KGW.com. "'As more and more consumers figure out what's going on, they're going to be more and more outraged,' said Bryan Kohler, a lobbyist for 1-800 Contacts. The company is pushing legislation in Oregon that would stop contact lens makers from setting a minimum price on contacts. Over the past year and a half, all four major contact lens manufacturers enacted policies that restrict what retailers can charge for contact lenses. These new minimum pricing policies mean discounters like 1-800 Contacts and Costco can no longer sell contacts at a lower price than their competitors. Costco argues these new policies are anti-competitive because they limit buying choices for the roughly 39 million Americans who wear contacts." Read more.

In New Jersey, "putative class action suit filed in federal court in Newark accuses four manufacturers and a distributor of disposable contact lenses of conspiring to eliminate price competition by entering into illegal resale price maintenance agreements with retailers," reports a NJ Law Journal post. Read more.

These two states join a growing list of states looking to ban unilateral pricing programs, such as Idaho, Illinois, and California. and Utah, which has already signed a ban into law.

New Eyewear from Plume Paris

"Without sacrificing creativity the Plume Paris collection releases beautiful designs that are not only comfortable to wear but exude confidence. The newest styles are a wonderful mixture of inspirations from the past with an eye to a more modern and edgy style. One of the most significant design elements to the collection is the blending of easy to wear frame shapes with exquisite and unique temple and brow-bar designs," notes Midwest Lens. "A notable trend in this season’s collection is the designer’s inclination for a moderate feline eye-shape. These captivating cat-eyes have been embossed with bold colors and prismatic patterns, offering coquette looks in women’s eyewear. Plume Paris spectacles are far from being demure, as they confidently capture a spectator’s curiosity." Read more.

Idaho, Illinois, California Consider Bans on Unilateral Pricing for Contact Lenses

"Idaho, Illinois, California and several other states are considering legislation that would bar contact lens makers from setting price floors that make discounting impossible," reports Reuters. "Last week Florida became the latest to act on a bill, when its Senate Health Policy Committee approved a measure that would ban the price floors, according to a senate staffer. The bill is backed by Tom Lee, the chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee. To read the full story on WestlawNext Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/1MmZpmN ."

Earlier this week Utah banned the practice. See OpticalCEUs post.

Surgeons in Hawaii Implant Bionic Retinal Device

The Argus II "bionic eye implant has the potential to restore vision to patients, who have been in total or near total darkness."

"Groundbreaking bionic retinal implant surgery has been performed in Honolulu by a team at the Eye Surgery Center of Hawaii. The procedure is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region to help restore vision for the blind," according to a Medical News Today post. "The team of doctors, led by Dr. Gregg T. Kokame, completed the cutting-edge procedure on March 24, 2015. Dr. Mark Humayu, Prof. of Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California (USC) Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA and the co-inventor of the Argus II implant was also present for this historic event." Read more.

New Eyewear from A&A Optical

"A&A Optical announces the launch of new eyewear collection, Seventy one. An ode to yesteryear, Seventy one, named for the inception year of A&A Optical, features adult eyewear styles for the millennial demographic that will release nationwide in April 2015," reports Midwest Lens. "A nod to indie-prep style, Seventy one is engineered for the millennial market with timeless shapes, organic color variations, and a unique fusion of materials and textures. Metal frames crafted with distinctive color stories, and acetate frames welded with bold metal accents are the collection’s signature style." Read more.