Project Runway's Tim Gunn Teams Up with Transitions

Recently Gunn made a change to his trademark eyewear when he purchased
a pair of Transitions Signature lenses for them.

Through a new marketing partnership, Transitions Optical, Inc., and Project Runway host Tim Gunn hope to inspire people to see life – and fashion – through a new lens. (Transitions' pun, not ours.)

Gunn will provide fashion tips to help people see fashion differently and to help them feel confident with their style. For example, Gunn will advise how to make sure style choices are fashionable and functional. Transitions believes the message will resonate with its users. "He [Gunn] will connect Transitions with countless eyeglass wearers, making them aware of how fashionable and functional Transitions adaptive lenses truly are," said Patience Cook, director, North America Marketing, Transitions Optical.

Do for Opticians What Capra Did for Christmas! Create a Video!

The Opticians Association of America (OAA) is proud to announce that our organization, in a partnership with Transitions Optical, is hosting a video contest to help define opticianry. The contest is simple - create your own 30 to 90 second video conveying to a consumer what opticians are and what they do. The contest is open to students, state associations, film makers, and any individual living in the United States. The winning video will receive $3,500; second place will win $2,000; and third place will receive $1,000. OAA will announced the winners at the 2014 International Vision Expo West in Las Vegas. The contest runs through June 30, 2014. The creative and informative videos will be uploaded to the OAA YouTube Channel during the contest and then reviewed by a panel of celebrity judges who will ultimately pick the top three videos. A complete list of the contest instructions, rules and regulations are available on the Opticians Association of America's website (www.oaa.org).

Employees Unaware of Vision Benefits

"According to the annual Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey, conducted in November 2013 and sponsored by Transitions Optical, nearly six out of 10 employees say they do not know how health care reform will affect their vision insurance," reports Primary Care Optometry News. "According to the survey, employee concerns range from cost increases to having different vision coverage than their children, to fears that they will not understand how to get coverage or reimbursement." Read more.

An Alternative to the Snellen Vision Screening at Schools

An exam using the Snellen eye chart can fail to identify students with vision problems. That does need to be the case, according to a study called "The Need to Modernize Vision-Screening Practices in Schools," presented as an abstract at the recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition. The study involved a charitable event that took place in 2012 held by Transitions Optical and its partner VSP Vision Care at a Florida elementary school. Some 537 students with parental permissions received a vision screening. Using the visioni screener called Spot—a 2.5-pound handheld device—examiners screened students in all grades within five hours. The exams revealed 93 children with potential vision issues. They were referred to a mobile eye clinic or an eye care provider for follow-up eye care. Read more.

Essilor to Buy Three More N.A. Companies

After the acquisition of  Transitions Optical, Essilor continues its North American buying spree. "The company expanded its presence in the low vision segment with the acquisition of a majority interest in Quebec-based Humanware, a world leader in the design and distribution of electronic assistance products for the blind and vision impaired (revenue of around $35 million)," reports 4 Traders. "In the United States, Essilor acquired Katz & Klein, a California-based prescription laboratory with revenue of around $4.0 million, and VIP Optical, a wholesale optical laboratory based in New Jersey with revenue of $3.9 million." Read more.

Darius Rucker and Transitions Promoting Eye Health

After multiple outreach events across the country, Transitions Optical and GRAMMY and CMA Award-winning country music artist Darius Rucker have made healthy possible for hundreds of children. This summer, hundreds of students from the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School participatedd in a summer camp sponsored by the Country Music Association’s Keep the Music Playing program. They also received a visit from Transitions Optical and industry partner VSP Vision Care’s 40-foot-long mobile eye care clinic nicknamed “Eyenstein.” The children received comprehensive eye exams, and if prescription eyeglasses were required, they chose a new frames fitted with Transitions lenses at no cost. Rucker also wears Transitions adaptive lenses. Read more.

Essilor Takes Control of Transitions

“PPG Industries Inc (PPG.N) has agreed to sell its $1.73 billion controlling stake in Transitions Optical, the inventor of modern variable-tint plastic lenses, to business partner Essilor International (ESSI.PA), PPG said on Monday,” according to a Reuters post. “Essilor…already holds 49 percent interest in Transitions Optical….The deal will help Essilor boost expansion in the variable-tint lens market, which is growing twice as fast as the optical industry as a whole, mainly in Asia, Latin America and Europe.” Read more.

NCNW with Transitions Increase Eye Education Efforts

As eye disease increases rapidly among older Americans, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and Transitions Optical, Inc. have increased their efforts to promote routine eye exams to at-risk African Americans. With support from the Transitions Cultural Connections program, NCNW sections across the country have been providing eye health education as part of their ongoing, strategic community outreach efforts. Complementing these efforts, the NCNW's West Coast Black Family Reunion Celebration – held yesterday along West 54 Street in Los Angeles – served as this year's premier forum. At the LA event, Transition provided free vision screenings, and attendees received copies of a What to Expect: African-American Eyes brochure and additional information about the importance of taking preventive steps. Research from Transitions Optical has shown that just four out of 10 African Americans schedule annual eye exams. Additionally, African Americans are the most likely to do nothing to protect their eyes from the sun, which has been linked to diseases such as cataract and diabetic retinopathy – both of which are more prevalent among African Americans. Read more.

Transitions and Davis Vision Screenings at ADA Expo

Transitions Optical, Inc. in  partnership with Davis Vision optical retail stores, today joined the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in New York City to educate and motivate consumers to visit an eyecare professional regularly for comprehensive eye exams that help with the early detection of diabetes and the development of certain vision conditions. Transitions Optical and Davis Vision will offer free vision screenings during the ADA Expo on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in booth #431 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

PPG & Essilor Negotiate Transitions Optical's Future

The almost equal partners, PPG Industries, Inc., and Essilor International, are negotiating the future of their 22-year-old joint venture, Transitions Optical, according to a PPG press release. PPG controls 51 percent of the photochromic lenses provider, Essilor 49 percent. Transitions (for whom Essilor is the largest customer) accounted for a substantial portion of the 2012 sales and earnings of PPG's Optical and Specialty Materials group.

PPG did not predict how its negotiations with Essilor would fair, but it offered three obvious solutions: (1) a modification of the current joint venture structure, (2) a sale of all or a portion of PPG’s interests in Transitions to Essilor, or (3) a sale of all or a portion of Essilor’s interests in Transitions to PPG. Under their current contract, PPG or Essilor can specify a price at which the other party could elect to sell its interests or buy the first party’s interests in one or more of the Transitions Optical joint venture companies. PPG did not conjecture when Essilor and PPG will complete their discussion. PPG did promise that during the negotiations, Transitions will operate without interruption or change in customer service. In fact, Transitions will expand its new technology platforms through major new product introductions globally.

Minorities at Greater Risk for Visual Impairments

Graph from the Centers for Disease Control

Studies by Transitions Optical and Prevent Blindness America indicate that African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans are at a higher than necessary risk for serious vision impairments or blindness. The first report from PBA indicates that during the past decade, visual impairment or blindness has been on the rise. That increase includes an 89-percent rise in the number of vision conditions related to diabetes, which stem from the national diabetic epidemic in general. It's also probably connected to the greater number of culturally diverse individuals living in the U.S., who are at higher risk for the disease. Despite a higher risk for health and vision issues, the second study supported by Transitions Optical suggests that culturally diverse groups have lower awareness of the need for preventative care. Surprisingly, two out of three Americans do not know that their ethnicity is a risk factor for developing eye health issues. Read more.

Need to Go Social. Transitions May Help

The increased use of social media and mobile devices creates opportunities for consumers to connect with family, friends, coworkers and businesses. Recognizing this, Transitions Optical, Inc. introduced a new guide book, “Getting Digital: Social Media and Digital Marketing For Your Practice,” to help eye care professionals better understand the different social networking sites and online digital tools available to them and identify which resources can add value to their marketing and patient outreach efforts. Read more.

PVA and Transitions Issue Call for Action for Eye Health of Minorities

Recognizing that growing ethnic minority populations are at higher risk for many eye diseases, yet often have less access to and lower awareness of the need for preventive care, Prevent Blindness America and Transitions Optical, Inc. have introduced a new “Focus on Eye Health and Culturally Diverse Populations” report. The report – which overviews the serious eye health risks faced by African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics – is intended to serve as both a resource and call-to-action for government agencies, policymakers, organization leaders and patient advocates to make eye health education among these groups a national priority.Read more.

Reading and Eyecare Linked in National Campaign

To read well, a child first needs to see well, as 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes. However, an astonishing one in four children has an undetected vision problem—many of which are due to lack of vision care. To shed light on the critical role healthy vision plays in helping to develop a child’s passion for reading and learning, VSP Vision Care, Transitions Optical and Bess the Book Bus have launched the national “Eyecare About Reading” Book Drive competition. The drive will provide free books, eye exams and glasses (when needed), totaling more than two million dollars, to children in need. Read more.

Transitions Names Top 10 Sites in Chicago

To kick-off the next stop on its 2012 Sightseeing City Tour, Transitions Optical, along with Visionworks, has announced the top 10 Sights to See in Chicago, and brings an exciting, interactive experience area aimed at educating consumers of all ages about the role of proper eye care and eyewear in seeing all of the 'sights' around you – whether on vacation or in your own backyard – to Taste of Chicago, July 11 – 15. Leading up to Taste of Chicago, Transitions Optical, in conjunction with national travel expert and National Geographic best-selling author, Marybeth Bond, identified the Top 25 Sights to See in Chicago and encouraged Chicago-area residents and tourists to vote on which of those made up the Top 10. After receiving nearly 2,000 votes, the Top 10 Sights to See in Chicago are Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Art Institute of Chicago, Skydeck Chicago, Wrigley Field, 900 North Michigan Shops, Buckingham Fountain, and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Transitions Optical 10 City Tour Stops in Seattle

As part of the next stop on its 2012 Sightseeing City Tour, Transitions Optical, along with Pearle Vision, today reveals the Top 10 Sights to See in Seattle, and brings an exciting, interactive experience area aimed at educating consumers of all ages about the role of proper eye care and eyewear in seeing all of the 'sights' around you – whether on vacation or in your own backyard – to the Washington Brewer's Festival, June 15 – 17. Leading up to the Washington Brewer's Festival, Transitions Optical, in conjunction with national travel expert and best-selling author, Marybeth Bond, identified the Top 25 Sights to See in Seattle and encouraged Seattle-area residents and tourists to vote on which of those made up the Top 10. Read more.

Transitions Brings Sights to See to Chicago

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

Eyenstein Goes to Chicago

Transitions Optical, in partnership with VSP Vision Care, will bring a 40-foot, state-of-the-art mobile vision clinic, nicknamed "Eyenstein," to the Chicago area this week to provide hundreds of students with free eye exams and if needed, prescription eyeglasses.  In addition, mobile literacy program Bess the Book Bus will also be providing the students with brand new, free books to help encourage a love for reading and also reinforce the connection between healthy vision and reading and learning. Prequalified students from Guggenheim Elementary will receive a visit from Eyenstein and Bess today, followed by Morgan Elementary (April 11), Richmond Elementary (April 12), and Central Elementary (April 13).  While onboard Eyenstein, students will receive a free, comprehensive eye exam by a VSP doctor and if prescription eyeglasses are required, they can choose eyeglass frames right there onboard the clinic that will be fitted with customized Transitions adaptive lenses, donated by Hoya Vision Care, to help reduce glare and block 100 percent of harmful UV radiation. Read more.

Transitions Releases Healthy Sight Calculator

As benefits enrollment season begins, research by Transitions Optical, Inc., shows that reportedly nearly half of employees do not take full advantage of their company's vision benefits, leaving themselves at higher risk for eye-related and overall health problems. So Transitions developed the Healthy Sight Calculator in an effort to help individuals see the full picture of what a vision benefit can do for them.The calculator also summarizes risks and related costs for 11 vision-related issues. Read more.

Transitions Optical Works at the NCNW Celebration

Transitions Optical, Inc., will make a second appearance at the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Black Family Reunion Celebration on September 10 in Washington, D.C., says the company's press release. The event will kick off a series of outreach efforts in partnership with NCNW, a national organization that supports women of African descent, to promote the importance of eye health among the African-American community.  Read more.