Stem Cells May Stem Blindness

Macular Degeneration

"Researchers have used cutting-edge stem cell technology to correct a genetic defect present in a rare blinding disorder, another step on a promising path that may one day lead to therapies to reverse blindness caused by common retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa which affect millions of individuals," says a MedicalNewsToday post.

Patients Don't Think Eye Exams Are Important

"Almost a third of people who haven’t had a sight test for the last two years cite the fact they ‘don’t think it’s necessary’ with 50% claiming they haven’t visited an optometrist because ‘I haven’t experienced any problems with my eyes,’ research has found," according to an OptometryToday post. "Public attitudes were studied as part of a report released this week by the College of Optometrists, based on a survey commissioned by the body and undertaken by independent research company FreshMinds, which took in the views of 4,004 UK adults aged below 60." Read more.

B+L Makes Announcements about CL Solution and CLs

Biotru CL solution, by Bausch + Lomb, keeps lenses moist for up to 20 hours, according to data presented at the 35^th British Contact Lens Association Clinical Conference and Exhibition.¹ The new wettability study provides insight into a solution for the common complaint of dryness among contact lens users. Wettability or the degree to which a contact lens maintains moisture on the surface of the lens is partially dependent upon the retention of wetting agents, or surfactants, within the multi-purpose solution. The in vitro study examined the wetting agent retention of Biotrue versus four leading multi-purpose solutions, as well as a saline control in three types of silicone hydrogel lenses, according to the company's press release.

At the annual AOA conference in Salt Lake City this week, the company says it will help make daily disposable contact lenses more accessible to kids through a program called "The Daily Score." It reportedly will give eye care professionals the opportunity to offer patients instant savings on Bausch + Lomb SofLens daily disposable lenses enabling them to get the product at a cost of less than $1 per day. According to the company's website, “The Daily Score” builds upon a 2010 promotion that encouraged trial of SofLens daily disposables by motivating parents and kids to participate in the “Seeing Eye to Eye” contest together. Feedback to this promotion showed that 98 percent of parents agreed SofLens daily disposables provided their children with crisp, clear vision and 96 percent agreed the lenses fit into their child’s busy lifestyle.

Vistakon Starts Eye Care Talk Show

Dr. Val Jones

Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., will launch a radio talk show called Healthy Vision with Dr. Val Jones. The point of the program: Improve Americans' eye health. The program hopes to close the gap between visino care attitudes and behavior by providing information and resources. "Americans spend surprisingly little time thinking about their eyes," said program host Val Jones, M.D.,author of, "Dr. Val and the Voice of Reason," which won The Best New Medical Blog award in 2007.  "Research shows that many people share the misguided belief that seeing well translates to good eye health.  As a result, they often don't see an eye care professional regularly, or take the necessary steps to protect their eyes from things like UV (ultraviolet) damage." The program is sponsored by Acuvue.

Arnette Promoting New Shades

Arnette Eyewear says, “We wanna make sure you're staying nice and cool as summer heats up, so we're giving you the chance to win a pair of our new ‘Ice Pack’ shades!” It’s part of the company’s Facebook promotion. An individual goes to the page and tell Arnette “why you deserve a pair of these frosty joints in 5 words or less.  The 8 submissions that impress our expert judging panel the most will win.  It's that simple.” The contest ends June 30. Enter today by clicking here. 

Connect with Patients through Social Media

Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C. reportedly has formed a group to assist eye care and surgery practices connect with patients through social media vehicles like blogs and Facebook.It's called iMeme Digital. Here's a list of sites that the company helps practices to maintain:

• http://www.seewithlasik.com [where you also can reach a Medical Management rep]
• http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com
• http://cataract-surgery-information.blogspot.com
• http://blog.seewithlasik.com
• http://www.facebook.com/seewithlasik http://www.facebook.com/cataracteyesurgery  

Read more.  

Preventing Blindness for as Little as $1 per Person

In Foreign Affairs magazine, providing eyecare to the world.

"Finding cures isn’t the primary obstacle for global health, delivering them is, says New America Foundation and Center for Global Development scholar Charles Kenny. In a new article at Foreign Policy, Kenny points to advancements in eyeglasses as an example of how health can be better delivered and have a severe impact on poorer countries," according to a post on the WashingtonPost. "World Health Organization figures indicate that about 150 million people who need glasses are without them. Only about 5 percent of people with poor sight have glasses in sub-Saharan Africa. And an astonishing figure of 10 million Rwandans have only 12 optometrists and opthalmologists to turn to. But Kenny, who works on the way technology can facilitate development, reports that significant advancements have been made to bring better eyesight to those who need it , some of which doesn’t require (or rely heavily upon) practitioners. And most of it at a very affordable rate in the $5-$15 range; some solutions are as little as $1." Read more. Read the article in Foreign Affairs.

NEI Helps to Release Documentary 'Going Blind'

The National Eye Institute (NEI) recently hosted Going Blind, a documentary about vision loss and low vision issues. The NEI provided support for the film through its Healthy Vision Community Awards Program. The film profiles people who have lost sight through blinding diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, infection and injury. To learn more about Going Blind, including how to obtain the film, visit http://www.goingblindmovie.com/. Read more.

Promote Your Chanel Line with Video?

Chanel Eyewear has three videos highlighting its eyewear collection. They are visually appealing but offer little for the ECP. However, if you could run them as a loop in your shop, then you might have something for your patients. Is it possible? We don't know. Ask your Chanel rep.

Basketball Star Works with VSP VisionCare

NBA star and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans is telling parents and kids: To play your best, you must be your best, which means getting an eye exam annually. Evans has teamed up with VSP Vision Care. He will appear in the second season of VSP EyeFiles web sites, which you can see on the EyeFiles tab on the VSP Facebook page: www.facebook.com/VSPVisionCare.

Expenditures for Glaucoma Meds Rising

"Average expenditure on medications per patient with glaucoma in 2001 was $445, by 2006 it had increased to $557, an increase of 25%, researchers from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami reported in Archives of Ophthalmology," says a report on MedicalNewsToday. "In the USA about 2.2 million people aged 40+ years have primary open-angle glaucoma. Experts say this number should rise by nearly 50% by the end of this decade. Yearly medical costs linked to glaucoma stand at approximately $2.9 billion in the USA." Read more.

Vuzix Improves 'Augmented Reality' Eyewear

"Vuzix has been playing around with augmented reality for awhile now, and the Star 1200 AR glasses are their most realised implementation of the technology yet, thanks to see-through display technology, a 1080p camera and stereoscopic 3D capabilities," according to the post on Gizmodo. Read more.

"Ashbury Eyewear just released its Summer 2011 line, which includes seven new frames, pro models from Antwuan Dixon, Garrett Hill, Theotis Beasley, and Kevin 'Spanky' Long and ZEISS lenses," according to a post on TransworldBusiness. "Ashbury has been upping its game on the marketing side by signing skaters like Spanky and on the technical side by recently partneringwith Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlenses.'Ashbury focuses on quality and timeless styles,' says founder Lance Hakker. 'Our products are made using only the best possible materials and the highest quality manufacturing, for this reason Ashbury decided to partner up with Optics by Car Zeiss Vision lenses which guarantee an extremely high level of protection for your eyes in all conditions.'" Read more.

TOM's Unveils Its Sunglasses

Hand-painted, colourful striped sunglasses. That’s the second chapter of Toms Shoes’ one-for-one business, goes the post on Canada.com. "'With every pair purchased, Toms will give someone sight,'" Toms founder Blake Mycoskie said. Meaning that for every pair of sunglasses purchased, sight-saving medical treatment, prescription glasses or surgery will be donated to a person in need, a model that goes well beyond Toms’ original archetype of donating one pair of shoes for every pair purchased. Instead of offering glasses for glasses, "one person buys a pair of Toms glasses, and one person receives the eye care that he or she needs," Toms’ website explains." Read more.

Warby Parker Works with the Invisible Children Project

Fashion eyewear brand Warby Parker was launched in early 2010 with the belief "that eyewear can be a powerful advocacy tool for global issues." After designing a pink frame for Susan G. Komen for the Cure last October to promote breast cancer awareness, New York based Warby Parker has teamed up with California's Invisible Children to bring awareness to a new cause. The dual coast collaboration has created a limited run of vintage-inspired sunglasses to bring awareness to some of most vulnerable populations on earth--former child soldiers and those displaced by the 25-year conflict in central Africa. Read more.

Maui Jim Pens Deal with Online Retailer

Online retailer OpticsPlanet.com and its sister website EyewearPlanet.com will market the Maui Jim line of sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, and eyewear. Read more.

Brief History of Optics and Telescopes from Nat’l. Geo.

National Geographic posted a fun and short article about optics. Read more.

Protective Gear Saves Soldier’s Eyesight

Spc. Joshua Pederson was manning his armored vehicle's revolving gun turret when insurgents peppered the hulking truck with rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire," says USAToday in a story about the importance of protective eyewear. "When a round penetrated the vehicle, Pederson said he ducked inside and was hit with fragments and debris that sprayed his face and torso.Lying in a hospital bed, a Purple Heart freshly pinned to his gown, the 24-year-old Phoenix native bore numerous scabs and sutures along his jaw line and on his eyelids." Read more.

Dita Signs Thom Browne for Eyewear Line

"Fashion label Thom Browne has signed a global eyewear license agreement with eyewear company Dita," so reports FashionMonitor. "Set to launch this autumn, the 20-piece Thom Browne Eyewear range takes inspiration from architects, politicians, studio artists, industrial designers and professors of the 40s, 50s and 60s." Read more, but there ain't much. Even the Thom Browne site is lacking.

Frames without Lenses Are Back

There's a new trend in Hong Kong, according to a SCMP. "In his 33 years of eyewear design, Alain Miklitarian of brand Alain Mikli is a man who has seen it all. But even he was intrigued by how the local fashionistas came to party wearing glasses without lenses, just the frame." Read more. Wonder if it has led to a rise in thefts in optical shops.

Local Optician Gets Van Halen Front Man to Promote

Need a marketing edge with your patients? Copy the idea of this Yuma optician. "When former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar steps onto the stage to rock the masses, he wears custom sunglasses made right here in Yuma," reports the YumaSun. "And now, he's rocking a new line designed just for him. In fact, he has been sporting glasses designed by Yuma businessman Ken Wilson, the owner of Liquid Eyewear, for 20 years." Read more.

Hilfiger Launches POV Project

The Tommy Hilfiger eyewear collection, manufactured and distributed by the Safilo Group, will launch "The Preppy Point of View" project, as part of its "Prep World," started in April. The Prep World, a Spring/Summer 2011 limited edition capsule collection of 60 pieces of men's and women's eyewear, will be housed in a first-of-its-kind Pop-Up house, which is travelling to key cities around the globe this spring and summer – Paris, New York, London, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Sylt, Germany and Knokke, Belgium. Prep World also incorporates an online experience showcasing the best of prep from around the world. Read more.

Farmer Fits Roosters to Eyewear

"Zhang Xiaolong claims the aggressive roosters have become much more peaceful since he gave them the plastic glasses, which act like blinkers," reports FirstNews. "The glasses stop the birds seeing straight ahead which makes confrontation more difficult. Before they started wearing the eyewear the farmer claimed he was losing ten birds a day to fighting." Read more.

Too Many Parents Don’t Follow Through with Sun Care

The British optical retailer Boots Opticians asked 1,000 parents questions about eyecare. Nine out of 10 said that they knew that the sun's UB can damage the eye. Then Boots asked a more telling question. Do they make their kids where sunwear on those days they wear suncream? Fifty percent said no. So Boots is targeting parents with its summer sunwear marketing campaign. You might want to follow its lead. Read more.

Eyewear and Social Media Merge

Finally, optics merges with social media, and history will record the moment as one of humankind's greatest:

Recording your friends making fools of themselves and posting it online has becoming something of a national sport, reports the British website DailyMail. But now you can do it without them even knowing thanks to a pair of sunglasses with a built-in camera. The ZionEyez glasses allow you to record what is happening around you and, via a Bluetooth connection to your mobile phone, upload it to Facebook in real-time. Read more.

Why Do We Sometimes Sense Light in the Absence of Light?

Why do the eye's photoreceptors misfire, signaling to the brain that they sense photons—even when no photons (light) are present? MedicalNewsToday
reports that scientists may have the answer. "Reporting in the June 10 issue of Science, neuroscientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered that a light-capturing pigment molecule in photoreceptors can be triggered by heat, as well, giving rise to these false alarms."
Read more.

Key Cells That Bring On Mac D Identified

"Vision scientists have identified a key player in macular degeneration (MD), raising hope for a treatment for the currently incurable blinding disease," says MedicalNewsToday. "The studies reveal how light-damaged eyes invoke an out-of-control immune response, resulting in white blood cells invading the retina and leaving behind proteins that kill the light sensitive vision cells." Read more.

Midwest Floods Cause Problems for CL Wearers

"As the rising flood waters of rivers across the country force people to seek higher ground, the American Optometric Association (AOA) reminds consumers to be vigilant with eye protection and eye care, particularly for contact lens wearers," according to an AOA press release. "Flooding causes an increase in the incidence of water-borne pathogens. These pathogens, including amoeba, parasites, bacteria and viruses, can be dangerous to the eye and may lead to infections and other complications even loss of sight. Doctors of optometry have seen an increase in flood-related eye infections, and believe that these cases will continue to rise in the coming weeks." Read more.

Nat’l. Vision Closes NJ Plant

"National Vision Inc., a maker of eyeglasses, will close its plant on Route 130 and lay off about 200 workers, the company said in notices filed with the state and township," according to a post on CourierPostOnline. Read more.

Rast’s Car Takes Checkered Flag at Indy

Justin Timberlake's William Rast sponsored car won the 100^th Anniversary Indianapolis 500-Mile Race this past Sunday. A short while ago we noted that Rast's sunwear signed a multi-year endorsement agreement together with their eyewear license partner Viva International Group, for racing superstar Danica Patrick to endorse its eyewear. Read more.

Soldier Opts to Buy Eyewear Online

Stuck with a small paycheck and working with a health care system that allows few choices, a patient will look for options. Find out why this career soldier opted to buy eyewear and CLs for himself and his family online. Read more at Military.com.

Songwriters – The Next Big Endorsers of Eyewear

"The next trend in eyewear appears to be singer-songwriter branded shades. Case in point? Oakley has tapped songstress Kate Voegele to wear a new model of sunglasses for the brand this year," according to the website called BlackBook. Read more.

California AG Fighting Optical Chain Store Operations

"The business model is heavy advertising that promises eyeglasses with the convenience of one-stop shopping.  Owned by a conglomerate, the chain-store operates as a place to drop in for an eye examination and purchase eyeglasses and contact lenses all in one place. It seems like a convenient option.  The attorney general of California has spent 10 years saying that it isn't," according to a post on CapitalWeekly. "Currently, the California state Legislature is discussing a piece of legislation, AB 778, that will legitimize in statute a particular chain-store business practice that is in danger of being put to rest through litigation. The bill is a bad idea."  Read more.

June 16 Is AMD Awareness Day

"Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) currently affects the vision of more than 2 million Americans ages 50 and older and is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world," says a post on HealthNewsDigest. "That is why Prevent Blindness America and its affiliates across the country will be launching the "AMD: Awareness Makes a Difference" campaign with AMD Awareness Day on Thursday, June 16, 2011." Read more.

Scientists Get the First Clear Look at Rods

"Scientists today reported that the tiny light-sensing cells known as rods have been clearly and directly imaged in the living eye for the first time," according to a post on MedicalNewsToday. "Using adaptive optics (AO), the same technology astronomers use to study distant stars and galaxies, scientists can see through the murky distortion of the outer eye, revealing the eye's cellular structure with unprecedented detail. This innovation, described in two papers in the Optical Society's (OSA) open access journal Biomedical Optics Express, will help doctors diagnose degenerative eye disorders sooner, leading to quicker intervention and more effective treatments." Read more. See a picture on the Fox News website.

UK’s GOC Gets Tough with Opticians

In Great Britain, the General Optician Council oversee optical practices. It has issued a new protocol for dealing with infractions. Here's the news item from OpticiansOnline: "A new protocol explaining when and how the General Optical Council will deal with breaches of the Opticians Act has been published. The protocol for the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, which was approved at the Council's meeting held on May 19, sets out how the GOC will deal with individuals and businesses that are suspected of various offences. These include selling contact lenses without the involvement of a registered professional (including over the internet), testing sight while unregistered, falsely claiming to be a registered optician and selling plano contact lenses illegally." Read more.

ISO Comes Out with CL Update

ISO updated its 14534:2011, Ophthalmic Optics – Contact Lenses and Contact Lens Care Products – Fundamental Requirements. Now in its third edition, the standard has been technically revised to bring it up to date with the latest industry developments, according to a news release. Read more.

New Technique for Early Detection of AMD

"A leading cause of blindness, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), may be detected in healthy people at risk of developing the disease thanks to the discovery of a technique for early detection by researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia." Read MedicalNewsToday's post.

Rare Eye Disease Becomes More Common in Young Women

"A rare but increasingly more common disease striking overweight, younger women is the focus of a clinical trial at Michigan State University, where an osteopathic physician is testing the effectiveness of a certain drug against a potentially blindness-causing ailment," says MedicalNewsToday. "Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, known as IIH or pseudo-tumor cerebri, is a neurological disease resulting in increased pressure around the brain, specifically in the absence of a tumor. Symptoms include severe headaches, nausea and double vision, and if left untreated, IIH can lead to vision loss and blindness." Read more.

You’ll Need More than Good Vision to Sell CLs in the Future—Sex!

Good vision reportedly will not be enough for your CL patients in the future. "Guests will be able to control their dreams, have virtual sex and check their emails using high-tech contact lenses in the hotel rooms of the future, according to a report." That's the story on a website called News.com.au. "Budget hotel chain Travelodge hired futurologist Ian Pearson to predict just how much hotel rooms will change by 2030 due to cutting-edge technology, with the results released in the Future of Sleep report." Read more.

DIY Eyewear Website Wins Fourth Place

"When it comes to eyewear, people either compromise on style, colour and size… or pay through the wazoo to get exactly what they want. Daniel He, an entrepreneur with a degree in optometry from the University of South Wales, wants to change all that," according to AnthillOnline. "He is putting together an online platform where people can take charge of their glasses, making all the choice necessary to come up with the exact eyewear they want. The glasses would cost the same as a similar pair purchased at a local market." Want to find our more about the site that allows customers/patients to design their own frame? Read more. The website came in fourth place in an annual business competition.

Polaroid Starts Eyewear Design Competition

Polaroid Eyewear wants students, professionals, and design aficionados to design a unique pair of sunglasses inspired by past or "future" design trends, as in between 1930 and 2020. Polaroid will produce the best designs under its "Best Under The Sun" collection, which it will launch in Spring 2013. Read more.

A Curiosity: How Do You Protect Your Eyes During Monsoon Season?

With much of the U.S. suffering from a dry heat wave, we thought you might want to hear about the opposite problem: monsoons. "How many times have you heard your granny tell you to shut your eyes while you run out to soak up the offerings of a cloud burst?" asks on post on DNA. "If you have been dismissing her advice till now, then it's time to rethink. Turns out, granny was right all along. Health and beauty experts say that the eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of the body and perhaps most susceptible to infections if not taken care of well, especially during a downpour." Read more.

New KY OD Law Starts Today

"Scores of new laws will take effect Wednesday in Kentucky, including one that will allow optometrists to perform some medical procedures that previously had been reserved for ophthalmologists," according to a CNBC post…. "One of the most debated laws will allow optometrists to perform some types of laser surgeries and to treat glaucoma and cataracts. Ophthalmologists had bitterly opposed its passage, but lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the move, insisting it was crucial to some of the state's medically underserved rural communities. While optometrists examine eyes, measure vision and prescribe eye glasses and contact lenses, ophthalmologists are specialists who deal with eye diseases and perform surgery."
Read more.

The Philanthropic Footwear TOMS Enters Eyewear Biz

"Marking its evolution from a shoe company to a One for One company, TOMS has launched a highly anticipated second product line, TOMS Eyewear, that will address another pressing need around the world," according to a press release posted on Yahoo!Finance. "Three classic styles of TOMS sunglasses will be offered to customers, and in true TOMS fashion, with every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need.  One for One™.  The announcement was made today by TOMS' Founder and Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, who after months of community speculation on what TOMS' next product would be, revealed TOMS Eyewear (www.TOMS.com/eyewear) to hundreds of fans at a public event in Santa Monica."Read more.

Michael Bastian Debuts Eyewear Line

Eyewear manufacturer Randolph Engineering and menswear designer Michael Bastian will debut the Michael Bastian for RE Signature Series. Read more.

VSP’s Sight for Students Comes Through--Again

Ten-year-old Michelle Jones of Chicago, Ill., was struggling in school, and her teacher noticed that Michelle had one eye that crossed when looking at the board, according to a recent press release. Michelle is one of the more than 600,000 children who have now received an eye exam and glasses to correct vision- and health-related issues through VSP's 14-year-old Sight for Students program, which has funded more than $122 million in free eye care and eyewear for low-income, not insured and underinsured children. Health care professionals have detected approximately 2,000 chronic health and eye diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and cataracts. Read more.

A Ryder Cup Competition Selects Sundog

Sundog Eywear has been chosen as the Official Eyewear of the Palmer Cup. The 15th annual Ryder Cup format competition between collegiate golfers from the United States and Europe will be played at The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, Conn., June 9 -11. Read more.

CLs Help Baseball Phenom Solve “Blind as a Bat” Problem

"[Bryce] Harper was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was 16 and accelerated his way into college, setting himself up to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals in last year's draft. He signed a $9.9 million contract, the biggest payday for a drafted position player," goes the report from the Associated Press. "He added to his legacy shortly after joining the Class A Hagerstown Suns, when he emerged from a slow start and went on an 18-game hitting streak, to the point that he's now among the South Atlantic League leaders in batting average and homers (.338 and 13 through Sunday's games). He attributed the turnaround to new contact lenses, saying he was 'blind as a bat' until he got them on April 18[our emphasis] — an instant-legend anecdote that no doubt is already finding its way into a movie script." Read more.

Lens.com Accuses 1-800 Contacts of Antitrust Violations

"1-800 Contacts Inc. … was accused of antitrust violations in a Las Vegas lawsuit Monday," according to a post on VegasInc.
"Missouri-based competitor Lens.com filed the suit in U.S. District Court for Nevada, where Lens.com is incorporated." Read more.

Optician Helps Cricket Player

"Despite working for a well-known opticians, Lawrence Farnum believes he is only just getting his eye in this season on the back of an unbeaten century last Saturday," according to a Cambridge-News
post. Read more
about the cricket player.

“Great Deal” Turns Out Not-So Great

"Chris Overton said he needed glasses so he paid a visit to Genie Optical in the 1100 block of Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in southwest Atlanta," according to a report from CBS Atlanta. "He said it promised a great deal: an eye exam and glasses for about $60. Overton said he paid $100 to a man named John Marsh who told him to come back in a couple of weeks to pick up his glasses. But he said the problems started when he went to pick up the glasses." Read more.

VSP Vision Care Hits Motown

"Things have been a bit fuzzy for Ryanne Gadson since her eyeglasses were stolen from her gym locker a few days ago. So the Detroit fifth-grader was especially excited when a big recreational vehicle with free eyewear pulled up Monday at her elementary school." So starts the article in the Detroit Freepress online. "'I need them to read and take my tests,' she said, sitting outside MacDowell Elementary School on the city's west side. 'I still haven't been able to finish the book I have.' Within a week, the pink Coach glasses she picked out Monday will be delivered to her school, compliments of VSP Vision Care's mobile optical program, lensmaker Transitions Optical and Mt. Clemens-based SVS Vision." Read more.

New Born Need Light

"Creatures [even human beings] are not born hardwired to see. Instead, they depend on electrical activity in the retina to refine the complex circuits that process visual information," reports MedicalNewsToday. "Two new studies from Brown University in different species using different techniques show how nascent animal brains use light to wire up or construct their central vision system." Read more.

Ferragamo and Machon Team Up

The luxury-design firm Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A recently signed an eyewear licensing agreement. Marchon Group and Ferragamo will work together to design, distribution, promotion, and sell men's and women's sunglasses and prescription eyewear. The "Salvatore Ferragamo" line will debut January 2012. Read more.

CooperVision Grows

"Sales from the contact lens division ("CVI") [of CooperVision] increased 14% (8% in constant currency) year over year to $275.3 million," according to the investment site Zacks. "Revenues were higher from most product lines with mainstay toric lenses (up 14%), single-use sphere lenses (higher 17%) and non-single-use sphere lenses (up 15%) performing well, while multifocal sales dropped marginally." Read more.

New Online Retailer Takes Charitable Angle

"The endeavor has already aligned it's efforts with Unite For Sight, a charitable organization that addresses the growing need for eye care in countries with substandard health services," reports the SFGate, the online edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Donations made possible by sales at Eyespex.com (www.eyespex.com) will be delivered to areas such as Ghana, West Africa - a region with roughly two million citizens, but only one board-certified eye doctor." Read more.

Euro Commis Approves Lucentis

The European Commission has approved the anti-VEGF therapy Lucentis (ranibizumab) to treat patients with visual impairments such as macular edema secondary and retinal vein. Read more on Reuters.

Deaf See Differently

"People who are deaf benefit from better vision due to the fact their retinas develop differently, experts at the University of Sheffield have shown," says MedicalNewsToday. Read more.

Euro Commis Approves Ocural NSAID

The European Commission reportedly approved the drug Yellox (Bromfenac sodium sesquihydrate) by the European commission. The only twice-daily, ocular NSAID was developed by Croma Pharma, a Bausch + Lomb company. That summarizes the start of the MedicalNewsToday article. Read more.

Genetic Link to Cataracts

"New research identifies genetic mutations that cause an inherited form of cataracts in humans. The study, published online June 2 by Cell Press in the American Journal of Genetics, provides new insight into the understanding of lens transparency and the development of cataracts in humans," according to MedicalNewsToday. Read more.

Charmant Returns to 1911 for Trussardi Sunwear

To celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Italian fashion icon Trussardi, Charmant Group created a limited-edition Trussardi 1911 sunglass. The lenses also have the Trussardi 1911 camouflage pattern.
Read more. See photos.

New Vision Benefit Program for Children Introduced

EyeMed Vision Care, a Luxottica company that provides vision benefits, reportedly has introduced the first marketable vision benefit tailored to children younger thabn 18. Read more.

PIP Buys Bouton

OHSAOnline reports that "Protective Industrial Products announced June 1 that it is acquiring the Bouton brand and its safety glass and goggle business." Read more.

Climate Affect CL Wearers

"People who wear contact lenses need to consider the climate in which they live, as this can have a significant bearing on their experience with the products, one expert has advised." So starts the post on ContactLenses.co.uk. "According to Professor Mohammad Idris Adhi, chairman of the Ophthalmology Department at Civil Hospital, Karachi, 90 per cent of Pakistan's contact lens wearers have an elevated risk of infection because of the climate and so need to take precautions to ensure they minimise danger." Read more.

Volcanic Ash Irritating Eyes of Brits

According to a post on its website, the British "Eyecare Trust has issued the following eye health advice as volcanic ash cloud from Iceland's Grimsvötn volcano hits the UK. Forecasters predict that high concentrations of volcanic ash (>4000 micograms of ash per cubic metre of air) will hit Scottish lowlands, the Borders and the North and East of England with lower levels (up to c. 2000 mgs per cm) affecting the rest of the country. Air polluted by volcanic ash can leave your eyes feeling irritated and uncomfortable." Read more.

CL Act as Barrier to Antigens

According to a post on MDLinx, "Daily disposable contact lenses offer a barrier to airborne antigen which is enhanced by modern lenses with enhanced lubricating agents. Only symptoms of burning and stinging were significantly reduced in severity by enhanced lubricating agents (ELDD), but overall symptoms were significantly reduced in duration. Bulbar hyperaemia, corneal and conjunctival staining, and palpebral conjunctival roughness were significantly reduced by daily disposable contact lenses (DD) wear, with limbal and palpebral conjunctival redness further reduced in ELDD." Read more.

CoastalContacts Helps Panamanians

The world's largest eyewear store reportedly has improved the vision for thousands of villagers in rural Panama during a recent (May 17th, 2011) mission to donate eyeglasses as part of the company's new charitable initiative, the Change the View Project. CoastalContacts.com launched its Change the View Project in March 2011 to provide eyeglasses to people around the world who suffer from visual impairment and who are unable to obtain eyeglasses by their own means.

New Online Eyewear Retailer Launched

A new online eyewear retail outlet launched today, offering "men's and women's designer prescription eyewear starting at $99." It's call Eyefly.com. The company's release states, "Eyefly's extensive collection of fashion-forward frames enables the bespectacled to match distinct eyewear to the many looks in their closets." The site is the result of a collaboration between online fashion retailer Bluefly, Inc. and eyewear manufacturer A + D Labs. Users reportedly can virtually try on multiple frames and enter their prescription from their keyboards. The company claims that by uploading a picture or using their webcam, Eyefly's use of FittingBox technology allows shoppers to not only see how the glasses look on them, but easily solicit advice from friends via Facebook and email to aid their decision making process.

Lack of Sunlight Cause for Myopia? Study Says Yes!

"While the belief that prolonged close-up activities like reading and playing computer games cause short sightedness (myopia) is popularly held, new research indicates that a deficiency of sunlight is the true culprit," according to a CNN
post. Read more.

Rodeo Drive Comes to RI Eyewear Retailer

OPTX Rhode Island launched its flagship ultra-boutique optical gallery, reportedly offering a shopping experience unrivaled in the eyewear industry. The store's interior design is said to be what a client would expect to find on Rodeo Drive or the Champs-Elysees. Read more. See pictures of the store.

Visually Handicapped File Suit against NJ and Its Agencies

MedicalNewsToday reports that "with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind, nine blind people who are employed at New Jersey State agencies-including the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired-have filed a complaint against these State agencies; their parent agencies; and the New Jersey Office of Information Technology for unlawful discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The complaint arises from the State's purchase and installation of inaccessible computer software that agency employees must use to fulfill their duties at work." Read more.

New Hybrid Sunwear from Scheyden

"Scheyden Precision Eyewear – the luxury market leader in lenses and frames for aviation, golf, fishing and yachting – announces the premier of its new Composite Hybrid collection of sunglasses featuring the only full-coverage wrap design to offer a unique custom-fit," says a post on HealthNewsDigest. "Handcrafted from the world's finest materials, the Composite Hybrids ($259 - $309) combine a cedar rolled composite frame with flexible, hypoallergenic NiAg temples and cloisonné tips for complete comfort, even when wearing a hat, headphones or a headset." Read more.

Oakley Launches New Golf Sunglasses

"Oakley have launched the…new Fast Jacket golf sunglasses, which feature interchangeable lenses," says a post on TodaysGolfer. "The glasses, which are worn by Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy, feature Oakley's new Switchlock technology which allows the golfer to easily replace the lenses in the frame depending on conditions." Read more.

Rast Sunglasses Sponsors Indy 500 Winner’s Car

"The William Rast sponsored Dan Wheldon won the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Mile Race the past weekend, while also announcing a new partnership with racing superstar Danica Patric, whose racer will be wearing William Rast Eyewear and William Rast Racing Eyewear on and off the track," according to AutoRevolution. Read more.

Gene Mutation Causes Glaucoma

"It is a mutation in a gene that causes the eye disease glaucoma, according to collaborative research conducted by Swedish, Tunisian, and American researchers. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Genetics." That's the word from MedicalNewsToday.

VSP Mobile Clinic Helps after Tornado

"VSP Vision Care last week deployed a state-of-the-art 45-foot mobile eye exam clinic to the tornado ravaged areas of Tuscaloosa, Ala. to provide no-cost comprehensive eye exams and eyewear to the families and children in need, according to a company press release," according to the website PConSuperSite. "The mobile eye clinic, created in partnership with Transitions Optical, offers a state-of-the-art exam room, dispensary and in-office finishing lab allowing glasses to be made on-site. The University of Alabama School of Optometry (UAB) has also provided portable ophthalmic equipment for multiple patients to be seen at once, the release said." Read more.