Mujosh Launches Expansion at Silmo

Mujosh exhibited at Silmo Paris optical fair this year, presenting its usual distinguished green wood booth concept and showcasing its select boutique products and brand new 2015 designer series containing seven authentic conceptual glasses products. The company seeks franchise and distribution partners in the European market. After Silmo, Mujosh will attend the HK Optical fair this November. Earlier this year, the company opened its first overseas stores in Malaysia and Thailand in August, and will open in Australia this coming November. The company projects it will have at least 1000 stores and mature distribution channels within five years. Read more.

US Senator Looks to Update Eyewear Regs

New York State's "Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing for updated regulations on eyeglass prescriptions, which he says will directly benefit consumers," reports the TWC News. "Schumer is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to require eyecare providers to give complete prescription information to consumers who could then shop around for the best deals. His proposal would also require eyecare providers to verify prescription information to third party sellers in a timely manner. Schumer also recommends new regulations mandating that prescriptions last longer than one year." Read more.

It will be curious to see what happens since providers already must give complete scripts to consumers and third party providers in a timely matter, usuaully defined as eight business hours.

Jets Linebacker Mauldin Back In with Contact Lenses

Two weeks ago, New York Jets rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin suffered a scary injury in his NFL debut. The game against the Cleveland Browns was delayed for several minutes, Mauldin was carted off the field and went straight to the hospital. It was later determined he had suffered a concussion, which was made worse by one of his frequent migraine headaches, a condition that is now being treated, he says, by tinted contact lenses," goes the Yahoo! Sports post. "The science is developing but the theory goes that certain migraine conditions can be treated through tinted lenses. Migraines can develop for a variety of reasons, and one of which is exposure to light and in particular, fluorescent lights. The tinting of contact lenses can help limit the impact of light entering the eye. 'I have contacts now that limit the sunlight to my pupils. It helps a lot,' Mauldin told Shutdown Corner. 'It's normal eyesight, nothing different that way it just has a slight shade to it. Still see the same colors, it's just not as bright. So it is supposed to help me and maybe I won't have migraines as often.' Mauldin said that things like driving or playing at night won't be affected. It should be a positive change with no drawbacks for him." Read more.

Counterfeiters Robbing Industry Blind

"Counterfeit eyewear goods are taking a heavy toll on manufacturers' revenues, and the problem looks likely to escalate, says a new report." That's the word from Securing Industry. "The eyewear market overall is set for buoyant growth between 2015 and 2019, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 7 per cent over the period by value and 3.5% by volume, but the availability of counterfeits presents "a big market challenge," says report publisher Technavio.'Sunglasses and contact lenses are the most affected product categories by counterfeiting in the eyewear market,' Technavio analyst Arushi Thakur told SecuringIndustry.com, adding: 'Ray-ban, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Versace are some of the brands most affected by counterfeiting.' While the impact of this activity is hard to gauge, the report suggests that on average, manufacturers lose between 15 and 20 per cent of their market revenues annually due to fake products, according to Thakur." Read more.

Silhouette Releases a Line of Wes Gordon Sunglasses

"New York-based women’s wear designer Wes Gordon has collaborated with Silhouette on a collection of elegant, sophisticated sunglasses," writes Midwest Lens. "'Wes Gordon for Silhouette' embodies his signature aesthetic, bringing a fashion-forward approach to the advanced, technically superb and rimless eyewear for which Silhouette is known. The collection, which includes a limited edition lens cloth also designed by Gordon, was unveiled on September 11, 2015 at NYC Fashion Week." Read more.

Nike and Marchon Release Fall Sunglasses Collection

"This season, premium eyewear brand Nike Vision announces the launch of its Fall 2015 SB sun collection. Comprised of six styles, the product array builds on the Spring ’15 inaugural collection that featured the Nike Volano, Nike Volition, Nike Achieve and Nike Recover. New styles for Fall include the Nike Unrest and Nike Flatspot. The collection rolls out to consumers this month and will be available at select Nike Vision retailers." That's the beginning of the Midwest Lens post. Read more.

Row and Oliver Peoples Launch Eyewear Collection

"The Row is launching an eyewear collection with Oliver Peoples," starts the Yahoo! Style post. "Headed up by former actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the label is a firm favourite with the A-list. While the brand is known for its classic clothing, it’s now moving into glasses, which will be available from January 2016. Called The Row x Oliver Peoples, it will debut during the brand’s Paris Fashion Week show. There will be six designs, with both optical and sunglasses included." Read more.

De Rigo to Launch New Dunhill Collection in 2016

"British luxury fashion brand Dunhill has signed an exclusive license agreement with global eyewear manufacturer and distributor De Rigo Vision for the design, production and worldwide distribution of the Dunhill-branded optical and sun collection," according to Moodie Report. "The distribution network will include high-end opticians and department stores worldwide as well as Dunhill boutiques. The first Dunhill eyewear collection by De Rigo Vision is scheduled to launch at the beginning of 2016." Read more.

Moncler Teams Up with Marcolin

Marcolin Group and Moncler S.p.A. signed a license agreement for the design, production and distribution of men's and women's sunglasses and eyeglasses, as well as ski masks for men, women and children branded Moncler. The license will be effective from January 2016 until December 2020, with the possibility of a renewal for an additional five years. The launch of the first eyewear collection is expected by March 2016.

Hoya's Gizmo Simulates Sight with New Lenses--Before Purchase

Hoya has introduced its Vision Simulator, which enables wearers to experience their new lenses before they buy them, right in the store. Using wearers' actual prescription, the device provides an accurate, 3D vision experience, visualising the optical effects of the various lens designs and treatments. It is controlled by an application downloaded onto a smartphone that is placed into the headset. Wearers look through the headset and see a virtual environment. Opticians apply the wearing parameters and exact prescription (every prescription type and cylinder is accommodated) and adjust for accurate pupil distance. A tablet serves as a remote control. Opticians decide what wearers see and experience, and can demonstrate and explain the different options available. Read more.

Kevin Durant Releases Eyewear Collection with Nike

For Fall 2015, Nike Vision and professional basketball player (and 2013-2014 Most Valuable Player) Kevin Duran is now has expanded their eyewear collection. The 2013-2014 NBA Mos Valuable Player's collection is comprised of three adult styles and three children's styles. The eyewear's colors are patterned after the star's newest sneaker, the KD8. The styles will retail for less than $200. Nike Vision created 35 numbered leather boxes with KD's logo and signature, correlating directly to Durant's jersey number 35. Marchon will reward kit number one to a lucky winner, via a sweepstakes on the Nike Vision web site. Fans can enter by submitting their e-mail address beginning on September 21, 2015. Entries will close on October 31, 2015 at 11:59PM EST. One winner will be randomly selected. No purchase necessary. Durant will receive kit number 35, and the remainder will be available at select retailers.

New Jaguar Eyewear from Eastern States

"Eastern States Eyewear has announced the release of six new styles in their Jaguar eyewear collection. Both Jaguar’s classic collection and the youthful Jaguar Spirit line comprise this introduction," according to Midwest Lens. "Demonstrated in the new models is the brand’s penchant for utilizing the luxurious design elements from Jaguar’s world class automobiles as inspiration. The temples of classic models 33075 and 33077 mimic the leather upholstery utilized in the cars’ interior. Similarly, the inspiration for the antique finishing of the stainless steel Spirit models 33700 and 33701 comes directly from the classy finish seen in the autos’ detail work." Read more.

Elton John Will Narrate 'Sight: The Story of Vision'

"In 2009, Anita Ingrao, conceived of the idea to do a film on the history of spectacles. In 2013, we started producing SIGHT at a launch meeting with our board of advisors at the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Those that attended that meeting will tell you Anita had only one person in mind to read as narrator - Sir Elton John." That's the start of the Facebook post on Sight: The Story of Vision's page. " I'm pleased to announce that Sir Elton John has agreed to be our narrator and read for us last Wednesday - fulfilling Anita's dream and last wish." PBS will air the documentary. Read more.

Here's another post from the documentary's Facebook page: "Although we wrapped up field production at the end of July, we sent Nils to San Diego to get some some pick up shots of former US Marine Eddie Silva, who was blinded by an IED outside of Fallujah.Eddie is a patient of the VA Western Blind Rehabilitation Center and is working hard everyday to overcome his blindness. He allowed us to film him at his dojo where he trains in the marshal art of Jiu Jitsu.Eddie's story with be part of Sight: The Story of Vision."

 See the trailer for the documentary.

A Peak at VSP's Augmented Reality Eyewear (Project Genesis)

"The beginnings of The Shop and by extension, Project Genesis, came about because of what the company saw as a rise in personalized health care and data-driven fitness tech," goes the Engadget post. "'For the last two years and change, we took the time to do a deep dive into all the areas that could disrupt us,' explained Leslie Muller, who heads up the East Coast arm of The Shop over in New York. The fact that augmented and virtual reality -- both wearable technologies that sit in front of your eyes instead of on your wrist -- were up and coming was a big hint to Sales that the team was on the right track. 'Google Glass really knocked a pretty big hole in the wall for us,' he said. 'It became really obvious that we needed to make our own mark on this. Build our own platform, but put it in something that's not only socially acceptable, but beautiful.' He was wearing a Project Genesis prototype when I met him, but I couldn't tell at first that he had on anything out of the ordinary. They look like an utterly normal pair of black rim glasses. Unlike Google's Project Glass, it doesn't seem even remotely Borg-like, and I could easily see myself walking down the street wearing this without feeling like I would get stared at by strangers." Read more.

Marni and Marchon Sign Licensing Agreement

Marni and Marchon Eyewear have signed a global licensing agreement. Under the agreement, Consuelo Castiglioni will oversee the design of Marni Eyewear and launch a men’s and women’s line in Spring/Summer 2016 of optical frames and sunglasses.  The collections will retail in Marni stores as well as in select optical retail locations and fashion multi-brand channels worldwide. Read more.

New App for Patients with AMD

Prevent Blindness has launched a new resource, “GuideMe,” designed for those who have been diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The intent of GuideMe is to simulate as accurately as possible a post-diagnosis consultation with a doctor or therapist. It is not, however, designed as a substitute for the advice and directions of an eye doctor. GuideMe  asks questions about the user and the user’s AMD diagnosis. It then uses the answers to create a customized guide with helpful information, tips, resources and suggested steps to take. It's compatible with a smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC.  The customized Guide can be viewed online or downloaded and printed.  If there are diagnosis changes and updates, users can return at any time and change their answers to create a new customized Guide. Additional resources may also be found at “AMD Learning Center,” found at preventblindness.org/amd.  The site provides a variety of educational tools including AMD risk factors, treatment options, an Adult Vision Risk Assessment tool and downloadable fact sheets.

What's Happening with Google Glass?

"The initial version of Glass, which sold for $1,500, prompted a privacy backlash because users could record video in public places without others noticing. Google stopped selling it in January and executives have admitted that the device was released before it was ready for consumers," reports the WSJ blog Digits. "Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said earlier this year that the company wasn’t giving up on Glass because wearable technology is a potentially big new market. Google is quietly distributing a new version of Glass to companies in industries such as health care, manufacturing and energy. Another consumer version is at least a year away and the new Aura team could take the technology in new directions." Read more.

Sen. Reid Wins New Constitutency. Will Trump Copy the Senator's Style?

Nevada's Senator Harry Reid stirred the pot in Washington and Las Vegas. He did not propose an innovative legislative initiative. He did not mud wrestle with the majority leader. He purchased a new pair of sunglasses.

"Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid won over an unlikely constituency when he debuted his new clear-lens glasses during a foreign policy speech: men’s fashion experts," reports the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas. "'They’re cool for an old guy,' said New York model and fashion blogger Colby DeMarco. Reid ditched the sunglasses he’s been wearing in public since injuring his eye earlier this year. Instead, he’s sporting a pair of retro round frames." Read more. The only question that remains: Will any of the presidential candidates copy the Senator's stylist demeanor?

Use It, Or Lose It--Even Eyes

"At some point back in deep time, a group of fish were washed into a limestone cave somewhere in northeastern Mexico," reports the Guardian. "With no way out and little more than bat droppings to eat, the fish began to adapt to their new troglodytic lifestyle. Unable to see other members of their group in the dark, they lost their colourful pigmentation. Then they lost their eyesight, their eyes gradually got smaller, and then disappeared altogether.This was accompanied by a dramatic reduction in the size of the brain’s visual system." Read more.

California Changes How ODs and Opticians Can Work

Existing California law prohibits an OD and optician from having any kind of business relationship in regards to an individual practice. ODs also cannot have any such relationship with companies that supply products to physicians, optometrists, and opticians.

A new bill (AB 684) recently passed will those prohibitions when the governor signs it into law. It institute the following:

• Prohibits ODs from having any profit-sharing arrangement with an optician or optical company.
• ODs, opticians and operating companies can own and operate a health plan so long as the plan’s ODs do not provide optometric services to enrollees.
• Provide for the direct or indirect provision of products and services to the health plan or its contracted providers or enrollees or to other optometrists, as specified.
• ODs, opticians, optical companies, and health plans could enter into a lease or other written agreement an optometrist “if specified conditions are contained in a written agreement.”
• Authorizes the State Board of Optometry, to inspect lease agreements. 

Read the legislation.

Online Contact Lens Exams: The Way of the Future?

In February 2014, Optometry Times reported: "Patients may soon be able to undergo a refraction online through Opternative.com in a matter of minutes and for a fraction of the cost of a traditional exam, but the company doesn’t intend for its test to replace a complete eye exam. 'We hope (doctors) realize we are not looking to replace them and understand that we are looking to innovate this space,' says Aaron Dallek, Opternative CEO, speaking exclusively to Optometry Times. 'We hope that this is something that forward-thinking optometrists and ophthalmologists start using.'" (Read more.)

Ophthalmologists talk about the development. Surprisingly, many do not have grave reservations about the development. Optometrists, on the other hand, hold more reservations, primarily fearing that individuals will behave as if Opternative-like exams can replace complete eye exams. Read more.

Chromos--Warby Parker's Online Competitor

"Now there is a local company that brings the mission (and design aesthetic) closer to home. Chromos Eyewear, founded by Daniel Childs, offers a line of hip eyewear designed by Childs which works on a buy one, give one model," reports Next Pittsburgh. "Childs is no stranger to the eyewear business. He’s the son of Norman Childs, Pittsburgh’s iconic eyewear maker. While in business school at Syracuse University, Childs launched Chromos Eyewear with a line of sunglasses that fill a gap in the market. 'The sunglass industry was separated into two major tiers: established brands charging over $100 for a quality frame, and their flimsy and essentially disposable $15 counterparts,' says Childs. 'I wanted to fill that by creating a line of durably crafted, stylish eyewear at a more reasonable price point.' Chromos Eyewear, launched online in 2013, was a hit and Childs followed with eyeglass frames." Read more.

New Eyewear from Cole Haan

"With the launch of the 2015 collection, Cole Haan enters into a new era of eyewear. This iconic American lifestyle brand, known for infusing classic looks with exciting new technologies, creates products that are both functional and beautiful; it is the elegant collision of tradition and modernity," according to Midwest Lens. "Based on three signature collection categories, Heritage, Classic and The Grand Lifestyle, Cole Haan’s deep commitment to craftsmanship is captured in each of the 20 optical styles and 13 sun styles for men and women." Read more.

J&J Introduces New Contact Lens with a Tear-Infused Design

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., will launch of a new contact lens with a tear-infused design, called Acuvue Oasys Brand Contact Lenses 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology. The company notes that contact lens performance declines throughout the day for most wearers. The decline correlates with the number of activities the wearer performs. A full day of activities can lead to eye fatigue or the feeling of tired eyes, according to research. The new lens helps minimize this fatigue, using the following four advances:

• Tear-infused material, complementing the natural tear film with an enhanced network of tear-like molecules, that integrates with contact lens wearers’ own tear film each day
• Electrolyte-balanced packaging solution to mimic human tears
• Enlarged optics to help wearers to see clearly even when their pupils may be enlarged due to low-light
• Increased lens diameter to ensure full corneal limbus coverage during blinking.

Peter Shen, vice president for J&J Vision Care's Worldwide Research & Development, notes that tears provide smooth optical surface, oxygen to the cornea, and lubrication.  He added, "The tear-like molecules in Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe Technology mimic mucins, which lubricate and moisturize the eye and help support a stable tear film even through our most demanding days.”

Laura Bush to Receive Prevent Blindness' Highest Honor

Laura Bush will  receive the 2015 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award. The honor will be bestowed to the former First Lady at the Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Dinner on Nov. 5 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Bush has championed children’s literacy. She also advocated for a child's need for healthy eyesight to successfully compete in school and life. Read more.

Devi Kroell Starts Dax Gabler Sunglasses

"Devi Kroell, whose eponymous line of artisanal-crafted, exotic skin accessories garnered her a CFDA award for accessory design in 2006, has just unveiled her latest venture: sunglasses," writes Vogue. "For one thing, the designer noted at a preview of her new line, Dax Gabler (after a family name), she’s no longer affiliated with the brand that bears her name; for another, she’s actually not so into bags anymore." Read more.

Silhouette Now Features Wes Gordon's New Sunglass Collection

"Wes Gordon is entering the eyewear arena in partnership with Silhouette. The New York-based designer has teamed with the Austrian eyewear firm on a lightweight sunglass design that will be featured in Gordon’s spring 2016 show on Friday." That's the WWD post (Women's Wear Daily). Read more.

Wes Gordon announced the development a few days later with the following press release: "Today, women's wear designer Wes Gordon presented his Spring/Summer 2016 collection at Milk Studios, his 5th time showing at New York Fashion Week. The collection, inspired by a modern romantic sensibility, was infused with movement, energy and Victorian detailing, embodying demure strength. The clothes were perfectly complemented by the star accessory: exquisitely detailed sunglasses created in collaboration with Austrian eyewear company Silhouette. This special edition design will be available starting in January 2016 through select retailers and fashion stores worldwide, and will come with a limited edition lens cloth, also designed by Gordon." Read more.

DITA Buys Christian Roth

"Los Angeles-based eyewear company DITA Group has acquired luxury brand Christian Roth," reports WWD (Women's Wear Daily). "Christian Roth and his design partner Eric Domege, who founded the brand in New York in 1984, will both remain as creative directors. Their first post-acquisition collection will be presented at the Silmo show in 2016. The addition of Christian Roth rounds out the company’s portfolio, which includes the Dita brand, designed by founders John Juniper and Jeff Solorio, and the licenses for Thom Browne and Dita Von Teese eyewear. Dita has retail boutiques in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Newport Beach." Read more.

Safilo Licenses the Havaianas Brand from Alpargatas

In a little less than a year, Safilo Group will design, develop, manufacture and distribute a new line of eyewear for Alpargatas, the Brazilian footwear, clothing and accessories company. The license will run until 2021 and is renewable upon mutual agreement. Read more.

A Rose by Any Other Name, Says EU Court to Cosmetic Contact Lens Manufacturers

"On 3 September 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union (the 'Court') delivered its ruling in Case C-321/14 (the 'ruling') confirming that Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (the 'Cosmetics Regulation') must be interpreted as meaning that non-corrective colour contact lenses featuring designs do not fall within the scope of that regulation, notwithstanding the fact that their outer packaging bears the statement ‘cosmetic eye accessory, subject to the EU Cosmetics Directive’," reports Lexology. "The ruling observes that merely labeling a product as a ‘cosmetic’ will not automatically mean that the product falls within scope of the Cosmetics Regulation.  Rather, the product must satisfy the legal definition of a cosmetic as set out in the Cosmetics Regulation." Read more.

New Eyewear from Vanni

"Vanni’s new eyewear collection proclaims its loyalty to the principles of Made in Italy: quality workmanship, originality of style and special materials," according to Midwest Lens. "For over five years, true to expectations, the Vanni style center has brought out originally designed glasses in exclusive materials. Like a tailor who lovingly chooses and cuts his own cloth, Vanni takes infinite pains with detail – the hallmark of the brand – and makes each pair of glasses truly original." Read more.

Connecticut Learning Center Helps Low-Income Women Get Vision Care

"State and local leaders met in Bridgeport Saturday to announce a plan that will help low-income women get free vision care," according to Connecticut's Channel 12 News. "Officials spoke at a news conference at the Mercy Learning Center, for a not-for-profit school for women in need. The center helps women earn their GEDs and also teaches basic life skills. The Connecticut Student Nurses Association says it worked with the school and found many students were having trouble learning because they couldn't afford vision care. The Needs Clearing House has now arranged to get free vision care for Mercy's students by working with local vendors. " Read more.

Novartis to Begin Human Testing of Smart Contact Lens for Diabetics in 2016

"Novartis plans the first human tests next year of a 'smart' contact lens it is developing with Google designed to help restore the eye's natural autofocus," reports Reuters. 'This project is progressing well,' Novartis Chief Executive Joe Jimenez told Swiss newspaper Le Temps in an interview. 'I had said it would take about five years to see a product on the market,' Jimenez told the paper. 'The calendar is on track and we are already developing a technological lens prototype (that) should be tested on humans in 2016.' A Novartis spokesman told Reuters that Jimenez was referring to a smart lens for accommodative vision correction in people with presbyopia, or age-related long sightedness, who can no longer read without glasses. Under an agreement signed with Google in 2014, Novartis is also developing smart contact lenses to help diabetics track their blood glucose levels." Read more.

Eyewear Creator and HELP Work in El Salvador

"Proof Eyewear and HELP International teamed up to serve the communities of El Salvador in Central America. The project started with the design of special edition sunglasses with limited quantities available for purchase. The colorful print on the wooden frames was inspired by internationally recognized Salvadoran artist, Fernando Llort Choussy. Each frame was handcrafted using a complete skateboard deck with the printed El Salvador Project graphic, showing that the purchase was part of something bigger," writes Midwest Lens.

"100% of the proceeds from the sale of the special edition frame was donated to the El Salvador Project where Proof Eyewear & HELP International volunteered in executing projects related to economic development, environmental conservation, education, and visual health." Read more.

New Protective Eyewear from Honeywell

"Honeywell has launched Uvex Livewire sealed safety eyewear with Uvex HydroShield anti-fog lens coating, for a style that delivers unbeatable performance and protection," notes Midwest Lens. "The new Livewire offering is ideally suited for workers who require the added protection of a goggle and demand lasting, fog-free visibility to remain safe and productive on the job." Read more.

Adidas and Italia Independent Sign Eyewear Licensing Agreement

"German sportswear firm Adidas AG said Thursday it had signed a license agreement with a small Italian company, Italia Independent SpA, to make eyewear for its Adidas Originals collection, as both firms try to boost their brands by tapping into a larger customer base with medium-priced eyewear," according to a Market Watch report. Read more.

Roman Eye Doc Gets Papal Publicity

"Even the most ho-hum errands become extraordinary if it’s the Pope who’s running them. And it is no different for Pope Francis, who popped in to his eye doctor on Thursday to get some new lenses and attracted a mob of onlookers in a matter of minutes." So goes the post on the Catholic News Service. Read more.

FTC Put OD and MD Practices Under Microscope

"Eye doctors are coming under the microscope from federal regulators," reports The Hill. "The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering replacing long-standing rules that govern how eye doctors prescribe glasses and contact lenses. The possible changes to the rules come as part of a regulatory review by the agency. The current rules are intended to protect the health of patients’ eyes while giving them more opportunities to bargain-hunt for better prices. Eye doctors can only sell glasses and contacts to patients after they have conducted an eye exam or verified a prescription from another eye doctor. This prevents eye doctors from selling the wrong prescription to their patients." Read more.

HealthE Sponsors Prevent Blindness Chilodren's Program

Healthe will donate a portion of the sales of its EyeSafe products, including protective covers for digital phones, tablets and computer monitors that reduce exposure to harmful digital UV and High-Energy Visible (HEV) blue light emitted from such devices, to Prevent Blindness in support of its children’s eye health programs and resources. Read more.

Safilo and Elie Saab Agree to Create an Eyewear Collection

Safilo and Lebanese designer Elie Saab launched the first Elie Saab eyewear collection. The licensing agreement will run until 2025 with the first collection being released in January 2017. The Safilo press release stated, "The Elie Saab eyewear collection will celebrate the philosophy of its creators, with sophisticated designs and the finest craftsmanship, showcasing intricate details, precious materials and a lightness that is characteristic of the house. The collections will be crafted in Italy and Japan, using the most refined and qualitative techniques." Read more.

Study Explains How the Eye's Motion Sensors Work

A VG3 amacrine cell (top, in green) is shown superimposed with an
object motion detector cell (bottom, green). Each of the neurons is
expressing sidekick-2, an adhesion molecule that allows the two neurons
to find each other and connect.

When we move our head, the whole visual world moves across our eyes. Yet we can still make out a bee buzzing by or a hawk flying overhead, thanks to unique cells in the eye called object motion sensors. A new study on mice helps explain how these cells do their job, and may bring scientists closer to understanding how complex circuits are formed throughout the nervous system. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and was published online in Nature. That's the press release from NIH.

“Understanding how neurons are wired together to form circuits in the eye is fundamental for advancing potential new therapies for blinding eye diseases,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI). “Research aimed at regenerating photoreceptors, for example, is enriched by efforts to understand the circuitry in the eye.”

Object motion sensors are one of about 30 different types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. These cells are unique because they fire only when the timing of a small object’s movement differs from that of the background; they are silent when the object and the background move in sync. Researchers believe this is critical to our ability to see small objects moving against a backdrop of complex motion.

The cells in the retina are wired up like an electrical circuit. Vision begins with photoreceptors, cells

that detect light entering the eye and convert it into electrical signals. Middleman neurons, called interneurons, shuttle signals from photoreceptors to the RGCs. And each RGC sends the output visual information deeper into the brain for processing. This all takes place within fractions of a second, so the scientists were surprised to discover that before it reaches object motion sensors, visual information about object motion takes a detour through a unique type of interneuron. Their results represent an ongoing effort by scientists to map out complex circuits of the nervous system.
Read more.

Vitamin D's Role in the Development of Macular Degeneration

"Vitamin D has been studied extensively in relation to bone health as well as cancer. Now, a team led by a researcher at the University at Buffalo has discovered that vitamin D may play a significant role in eye health, specifically in the possible prevention of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, among women who are more genetically prone to developing the sight-damaging disease," according to Science Daily. "In a paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology online, Amy Millen, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health in UB's School of Public Health and Health Professions, and her team found that women who are deficient in vitamin D and have a specific high-risk genotype are 6.7 times more likely to develop AMD than women with sufficient vitamin D status and no high risk genotype." Read more.

Gene Variant--Not Reading--Might Be Cause of Myopia

"New research has suggested that when kids with a certain gene spend much of their time doing activities that involve close work such as reading, they are more likely to develop the condition. This finding has led the study's authors to suggest that nearsightedness is reaching epidemic proportions," says Medical News Today. "An analysis of data from around 14,000 people finds that those carrying a variant of a gene called APLP2, were five times more likely to have myopia (nearsightedness) if they had spent an hour or more reading each day when they were children. However, people who carried the gene variant but did not spend so much time reading when they were kids had no additional risk of developing myopia. The study, led by vision researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY, is published in the journal PLOS Genetics." Read more.

More Seventy-One Eyewear from A&A Optical

"A&A Optical announces the release of four new ophthalmic frames from the eyewear collection: Seventy one," 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.