New from Bottega Veneta

"For 2012/2013, Bottega Veneta adds four sophisticated new styles to its coveted eyewear collection," notes Midwest Lens. "The new styles—three sunglass models and an optical frame–exemplify the brand’s refined and timeless aesthetic. Bottega Veneta’s distinctive design motifs, including its signature intrecciato weave, are enhanced with such innovations as a closing-block hinge. Constructed from the finest quality materials and proudly 'Made In Italy,' these new styles feature the superb craftsmanship, functionality, and versatility that defines the Bottega Veneta brand." Read more.

New from Ksubi for Summer 2013

"Ksubi has released the lookbook for its Summer 2013 eyewear range. The range picks up where its latest clothing collection left off. Heavy metal accents and printed acetates adorn 17 unisex styles, with the best of the bunch being double-bar aviators with cool mesh inserts and thickened up, modernised cat eyes with contrasting arms," according to Midwest Lens. "Both the optical and sun varieties are captured in this slick lookbook shot by Sydney’s Jedd Cooney. Greasy hair and athletic outfits in palm-print and signature washed out Ksubi denim complement the futuristic eyewear." Read more.

Clare Gilbert Receives Pisart Vision Award from Lighthouse

Professor Clare Gilbert has put prevention of childhood blindness a global issue, and for such service, Lighthouse International has given her its 2012 Pisart Vision Award. The award is presented annually to the individual who has made a noteworthy contribution to preventing and treating vision impairment. Gilbert, a Professor of International Eye Health, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of London, runs the research undertaken by the International Centre for Eye Health. Its research agenda reflects the priorities of Vision 2020 the Right to Sight. Professor Gilbert, a clinical ophthalmologist for 10 years, has researched the epidemiology of blindness in children, particularly in middle and low income countries. She recently studied the causes behind the blindness of children in Bangladesh, with an emphasis on childhood cataract. Read more.

Raen & Deus Ex Machina Create Sunglass Line

Raen and Deus ex Machina have paired up to create a limited edition co-branded eyewear collection. For more than a year, the two classic driven, boutique brands, have worked together on several creative projects. An eyewear collection seemed to be the next step. To design the collection, Deus selected three Raen eyewear styles – the Lenox, Squire, and Underwood. Each handmade piece of eyewear will feature Optics by Carl Zeiss Vision lenses and custom etched Deus logo details. The limited edition exterior packaging features a motorcycle print designed by Deus Creative Director Carby Tuckwell, as well as a custom eyewear sock and optics case for additional carrying protection. Read more.

Zyloware Will Release a "Project Runway" Collection

"Zyloware Eyewear announces the January 2013 release of Project Runway Eyewear. The collection is comprised of nine styles and is inspired by the hit fashion reality competition TV show Project Runway," reports Midwest Lens. "Debuting in 2004, the three-time Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning creative competition reality series, Project Runway has become a global hit and remains one of the most-watched reality competition shows on television. Featuring host Heidi Klum, judges Nina Garcia and Michael Kors, and mentor Tim Gunn, whose 'Make it Work' has become a national catch-phrase, Project Runway has an eye for spotting fresh talent, coining fashion trends and creating design stars. Project Runway is the number one competition reality program among women and has become part of the fashion industry’s cultural landscape." Read more.

Charmant Adds to Its Flex and Sport Collections

"Charmant has added new styles to the CFX Concept Flex Collections 'Plus' segment and CFX 'Sport' segment. A highly flexible memory metal series coupled with the experience and high manufacturing standards of the Charmant Group, Concept Flex sets a new benchmark in flexible metal frames ensuring true customer satisfaction." That's the word from a Midwest Lens blogpost. "CFX Plus offers customization at the end tip with a metal core wire, to ensure superior fitting comfort. CFX Sport is the 'high performance' segment that is designed with a more 'sporty' look and feel. Each style is equipped with double injected temple tips for a better grip." Read more.

Selling Eyewear Via Instagram

"Instagram, the picture-sharing application that Facebook bought earlier this year, has not yet figured out a way to make money. But some of its users have," says the New York Times. "These entrepreneurs have realized that they can piggyback on the popularity of Instagram, which has more than 100 million users, and create their own businesses, some of which have turned out to be quite profitable." Some are offering eyewear, as the Times noted: "Ms. Nguyen is part of a wave of entrepreneurial Instagrammers who have transformed their feeds into virtual shop windows, full of handmade jewelry, retro eyewear, high-end sneakers, cute baking accessories, vintage clothing and custom artwork." Read more.

Alerts about Illegal Eyewear, Sunglasses, and Contact Lenses

By updating Import Alert 86-07, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has renewed authority for federal officials to detain, without physical examination, substandard eyeglass and sunglass lenses manufactured in and shipped from foreign countries, primarily lenses produced in China. Under current law, eyeglasses and sunglasses imported into the United States must comply with strict impact resistance requirements. A certificate must accompany all imported eyeglasses and sunglasses showing that the lens manufacturer has conducted the required impact resistance tests. Read more.

Here's the beginning of the alert:

 Eyeglasses and sunglasses imported into the United States are required to comply with 21 CFR 801.410, "Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses". A certificate to comply with 21 CFR 801.410(g) must accompany each entry of eyeglasses and sunglasses showing the lens manufacturer has conducted tests of the lenses using the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of 21 CFR 801.410 or any equal or superior test. It has been reported that certificates from foreign manufacturers may not be valid. Tests by one U.S. distributor revealed 40-70% breakage which differed significantly from the manufacturer's certificate. Due to apparent certificate irregularities SAN-DO collected a sample of children's sunglasses. The manufacturer's certificate indicated that no lenses broke during testing. However, WEAC testing of the sample found that nearly every lens broke completely. To read more of the alert, click this link.

Meanwhile, "the Minneapolis office of Homeland Security Investigations is warning consumers about counterfeit products," according to the CBS News affiliate (WCCO) in Minneapolis. "Homeland Security agents showed WCCO a room full of fake products, made to look like the real thing. But on closer examination, it is clear that these items are of extremely poor quality — everything from contact lenses to prescription medication." Read more.

ECPs Need to Treat Patients as Consumers

"In response to increasing pressure from 'big box' retailers, independent practitioners need to change their behavior to survive and thrive, according to two ophthalmic industry experts speaking during a webinar yesterday. Essilor hosted the discussion, with a guest speaker from VSP Vision Care and a live question-and-answer session," reports Optometry News. "Essilor senior vice president of customer development, Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, told participants that private optometry practices in Australia and the United Kingdom are being overshadowed by Spec Savers, and that U.S. optometrists must pool their resources to prevent a similar situation from occurring." Read more.

Eyewear Market Emerging from Recession

After three years of declines, the US eyewear market is emerging from its recession. That's the finding of a report from MarketResearch.com, which was conducted by Euromonitor International. The report, called "Eyewear in the US," indicates that while the economy remains weak, consumers – spurred by GDP growth, a declining unemployment rate, and rising levels of consumer confidence – invested again in their vision care. The report also forecasts the industry's prospects through 2016 to illustrate how the market could change. For more information, click this link.

Euromonitor noted that "innovative new product launches and pent-up consumer demand to update the style and prescription of their spectacles has helped retail value sales of eyewear to finally return to their pre-recessionary levels in 2012. ...Contact lenses once again outperformed spectacles in 2012, continuing a trend that has been ongoing for many years. Americans are increasingly turning to contact lenses as their primary form of vision correction for reasons ranging from comfort and convenience to cosmetic appeal and practicality in athletics. Contact lenses are also witnessing a dramatic shift to the daily disposable modality, as consumers and eye care practitioners are increasingly recognizing that these lenses can maximize both comfort and eye health." You can also pick up more information from Euromonitor's website.

This corresponds with the results from a new Jobson study:

"The Jobson Research Optical Business Barometer (OBB), which indexes the ratings of independent ECPs' attitudes of their business and the general businesses climate, showed an increase this month from a 3.4 in October to a 3.6 in November." Read more.

Regular Aspirin Use May Trigger AMD

“Regular aspirin use has been linked to a significantly increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a recent study published in JAMA,” notes a recent Medical News Today post. “A recent study stated that age-related macular degeneration is set to increase, with 20% of people above the age of 60 already presenting early signs of the condition. ...According to background information in the study: 'Aspirin use in the United States is widespread, with an estimated 19.3 percent of adults reporting regular consumption, and reported use increases with age. The results of cross-sectional studies of aspirin use and its relation to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have been inconsistent.'” Read more.

FDA Warns 5 ECPs about Their Lasik Promotions

Law 360 reports that “the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it had warned five eye care providers to stop their allegedly misleading promotion of refractive lasers used in Lasik surgeries, saying the companies failed to provide adequate warnings about risks and could face penalties if they don't shape up.” Read more.

New from Boss Black

"The new Boss Black collection of sunglasses and optical frames celebrates the brand’s refined elegance, striking the perfect balance between contemporary design and classic inspirations," according to a Midwest Lens post. "In line with the stylistic heritage of the fashion company, the new men’s and women’s models reinterpret the distinctive understated appeal of Boss Black with clean, simple lines and refined details, that are never flashy." Read more.

Hoya to Host NYC Meeting

Last March, Hoya generated buzz with the launch of its apps at a meeting/press conference held in Milan. Mido 365 is reporting that in four months Hoya will host a similar event in New York City. Read more.

Take Care about Opening Sparkling Wines

It's that time of year again for warnings about uncorking champagne and sparkling wines.“Warm bottles of champagne and improper cork-removal techniques cause serious, potentially blinding eye injuries each year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Champagne bottles contain pressure as high as 90 pounds per square inch -- more than the pressure found inside a typical car tire,” notes Science Daily.“This pressure can launch a champagne cork at 50 miles per hour as it leaves the bottle, which is fast enough to shatter glass. Unfortunately, this is also fast enough to permanently damage vision.” Read more.

New from Maxx HD

Maxx HD Sunglasses has released two new styles--the Bomber and Nomad aviator style sunglasses. “These high-definition sunglasses allow Maxx customers to express their stylish fashion, while protecting their eyes with the MAXX High Definition lens they are known for,” according to the company.Read more.

Role of ECP and Elderly Drivers

"Most eye doctors consider it their responsibility to ask older patients about driving problems, but this hit-or-miss approach may not be nearly enough to clear the roads of unsafe elderly drivers, new research suggests,” reports Midwest Lens. “By 2020, as the U.S. population ages, the number of drivers over age 65 will reach 40 million, according to the study. Many will have failing vision, reduced mobility and perhaps cloudy thinking, thus posing a serious public health issue, the researchers said. For two new studies, researchers surveyed more than 400 ophthalmologists and optometrists in Michigan with patients older than 65. The researchers asked the doctors for their views on whether to ask patients about driving, how to decide if a patient’s vision is inadequate and whether they referred patients to primary care physicians.” Read more

Lincoln Financial Adds Vision Coverage to its Dental Program

Lincoln Financial Group recently added services to its Lincoln DentalConnect, an employer benefit packages. The plan now includes the Lincoln VisionConnect discount vision program from HealthAllies and the EPIC Hearing Service – at no additional cost. The vision features include an annual eye exam for less than $40, discounts on contact lenses, eyeglasses, and lens options; and savings on laser and visino correction proceduress, reports Lincoln Financial. Read more .

Most States Refuse to Set Up Health Insurance Exchanges

“The Obama administration said Friday that more than half the states had rejected its pleas to set up their own health insurance exchanges, dealing a setback to President Obama’s hopes that Republicans would join a White House campaign to provide health insurance to all Americans,” according to a New York Times post.“Friday was the deadline for states to notify the federal government of their plans, and administration officials had been hoping that Mr. Obama’s re-election would overcome resistance to the new health care law.Federal officials said they knew of 17 states that intended to run their own exchanges, as Congress intended.” Read more. FYI: The exchanges can set up insurance programs that would help with the coverage of vision care for children.

Swarovski Launches Eyewear Collection with Marcolin

“World-renowned crystal makers Swarovski have created the brand’s first ever eyewear range, embellished with 78 hand-set crystals.Limited to 800 pieces, the Swarovski Eyewear Couture Edition is the culmination of a partnership between Swarovski and Italian sunglasses makers Marcolin,” according to Super Yachts. “Each piece of the eyewear takes a full week to create, including its hand-polished lenses and palladium-coated temples. The Couture Edition is now on the market, priced at €1,000 euros (£813).” Read more.

Hathaway Dones Karen Walker Sunglasses for Hugh Jackman Function

“Ever the style siren these days, Anne Hathaway has been turning heads all month long while promoting Les Misérables in designer looks and lust-worthy accessories,” reports E Online . “Just yesterda,y the star stepped out to support  Hugh Jackman at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony wearing an embellished black frock by Prada smartly accessorized with a pair of retro-inspired  sunglasses by Karen Walker in vanilla wood. The playful pale shades not only shielded UV rays during the daytime event, but also added an unexpected twist to her ultra-polished look.” Read more.

New from Anna Molinari's Blumarine

“The Blumarine 2013 eyewear collection presents classic designs using a saucy taste. Blumarine is a trailblazing Italian brand, under designer Anna Molinari, well-known because of its trendy and vivacious fashions. This is a brand that never fails to make something truly relevant and fascinating,” reports Midwest Lens. “ The brands new Blumarine women’s eyeglass collection is influenced by technological glitz and glamourous holographics, offering the iconic flair of sequins, impressive sheen, and confident cool.” Read more.

New from Jimmy Choo

The Jimmy Choo Spring/Summer2013 eyewear collection is inspried by the 80's square-shaped acetate frames embellished with signature metal ‘ star studs’ that run along the arms lending a touch of  rock ‘n’ roll glamour to the collection. The Sasha sunglasses come in four colours: Black and Powder with shaded grey lenses, Havana and Fuchsia with shaded brown lenses. Mirroring the sunglasses silhouette, the JC 77 optical frame comes in four colours: Black, Blue, Havana and Fuchsia.  All eyewear is presented in a sophisticated nude-coloured case. The new models will be available starting January 2013. Read more.

Sunglasses Save Morgan Miller's Eye

"Pro volleyball player Morgan Miller -- wife of Olympic skier Bode Miller -- would've lost her eye if not for the special sunglasses she was wearing ... when her husband whacked a golf ball into her face at 160 mph ... so says the sunglasses manufacturer," says TMZ. "Morgan tweeted about the accident soon after it happened yesterday -- posting the gnarly photo along with a brief explanation -- claiming she and Bode were out golfing (somewhere) and he nailed her right in the peeper ... HARD. While she was holed up in the hospital, Morgan also thanked the sunglasses manufacturer -- a company called Kaenon -- for making the shades that saved her eye." Read more.

Fetch Eyewear Offers Online Inducement

Fetch Eyewear believes consumers can effect change by buying items, according to a company press release. This holiday season, Fetch is offering an online gift card to make it easier than ever to share Fetch’s mission and frames. A customer purchases a gift card for the cost of a pair of reading or sunglasses ($85) or the cost of prescription glasses ($125) online to be emailed or mailed to the recipient. Profits from the sale of the gift card go directly to help with animal rescue, pet education, and low cost veterinary services. Read more.

Engineers Deliver Stem Cells to Eye

"A new technique for transporting stem cell therapy to the eye has been developed by a group of engineers at the University of Sheffield, England. They hope this discovery can aid in repairing eyes that have been damaged by disease or accident in a natural way," reports Medical News Today. "In a new study, published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia, a team of experts detail their technique for creating membranes to help in the grafting of stem cells onto the eye, a way to imitate attributes of the eye. This technology has been developed to treat injuries to the cornea, the see-through layer on the front of the eye, one of the biggest causes of blindness around the world. The research team used methods known as microstereolithography and electrospinning to create a disc of biodegradable material which can be placed over the cornea. The disc is then filled with stem cells which multiply, permitting the eye to be fixed naturally." Read more.

Impact of Type Two Diabetes and Poverty on Vision

"A newly published study says there's no question that our vision is getting worse, especially non-refractive visual impairment - the kind a pair of glasses won't fix," according a report from Charles Osgood of CBS News. "Dr. David Friedman, researcher at Johns Hopkins: 'It's increased by about 20 percent over the last six or seven years.' Dr. David Friedman of Johns Hopkins is co-author of the study. He says this kind of vision loss now affects 40 percent of those of us between 20 and 40 years old - and people living below the poverty line have almost double the vision loss of people above the line. The study also identifies the villain - it's related to obesity, which is triggering a sharp increase in Type 2 Diabetes." Read more. Listen to the broadcast. Also see the post below.

Good News-Bad News about Visual Impairment

"The prevalence of nonrefractive visual impairment (not due to need for glasses) in the U.S. has increased significantly in recent years, which may be partly related to a higher prevalence of diabetes, an associated risk factor, according to a study in the December 12 issue of JAMA," according to a Science Digest post. "'It is estimated that more than 14 million individuals in the United States aged 12 years and older are visually impaired (<20/40). Of these cases, 11 million are attributable to refractive error. In the United States, the most common causes of nonrefractive visual impairment are age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other retinal disorders,' according to background information in the article. Previous studies have shown that visual impairment is common in persons with diabetes. 'The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased among adults in recent years, rising from 4.9 percent in 1990 to 6.5 percent in 1998, 7.9 percent in 2001, 10.7 percent in 2007, and 11.3 percent in 2010.'" Read more.

At the same time, a study released at the beginning of this past summer noted a decline in visual impairment among older Americans. Read that study.

"Meanwhile, Dr. Daniel Roth, an eye specialist and clinical associate professor at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J., offered new evidence of tablets’ potential benefits last month at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology," according to a New York Times post. "His findings, based on tests conducted with 66 adults age 50 and over: older people read faster (a mean reading speed of 128 words per minute) when using an iPad, compared to a newspaper with the same 10-point font size (114 words per minute)." Read more. You could also read more about the value of eReaders on this post.

Men in Glasses Are Sexy, Survey Says

A man in glasses is one sexy man according to 87 percent of Ameican women surveyed by Ditto.com. The figure jumps a bit (91 percent) for men wearing sunglasses. Harris Interactive conducted the survey a few weeks ago among 1111 women 18 and older. In the prescription glasses department, a minimalist look is most popular, with 56 percent of all women finding it sexy. When it comes to sunglasses, aviators are thought to be the sexiest shades overall, with 53 percent of women across all age groups confessing to finding them sexy. More about their favorite looks.

Robert Graham and Revolution Form Partnership

Robert Graham has formed a partnership with Revolution Eyewear. This deal marks the entrance of eyewear to round out the men’s product range of Robert Graham, including sportswear, premium denim, furnishings, accessories, and outerwear. Revolution Eyewear will launch two collections for spring 2013: The Robert Graham eyewear will target suns and ophthalmics. Robert Graham eyewear will offer high quality craftsmanship and sophisticated silhouettes, along with integrating iconic fabric and trim designs to reflect the essential characteristics of the brand’s American Eclectic spirit. Read more .

New from Alexander McQueen

“The new Alexander McQueen eyewear collection highlights the brand’s classic yet unconventional aesthetic feel: iconic detailing such as metal studs and refined feather-like textures that is synonymous to the brand feature on the new range of luxury sunglasses and optical frames,” according to Midwest Lens . “These new models are a showcase of innovative manufacturing techniques combining unique materials and exclusive colours.” Read more.

New from Koali--Corail 2

Midwest Lens writes, “Koali delves deeper into the mysteries of the ocean with the release of the Corail 2 concept. Like the Corail collection which came before, Corail 2 is inspired by the sea anemone. Differing from the original concept, Corail 2 features straight temples which imitate branches of the anemone while triple-layered acetate provides movement and volume. A fresh take has been applied to the deliberately visible metal core inside the temple which evokes the structure of coral reef. Corail 2 is available with two-toned metal pressed fronts which provide similar depth to the triple-layered acetate fronts. Corail 2 is available in six shapes (three acetate models and three metal models) and is offered in a palette of four color combinations per model.” Read more.

Fear of Falling in Visually Impaired Limits Their Activities and Health

"A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that between 40 to 50 percent of older adults with visually impairing eye disease limit their activities due to a fear of falling. Vision scientists warn that this protective strategy puts seniors at risk for social isolation and disability, reports Science Daily. "In the paper, 'Activity Limitation Due to a Fear of Falling in Older Adults with Eye Disease,' researchers report on their examination of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and Fuchs corneal dystrophy, as compared to a control group of older adults with good vision. Of the three groups with visual limitations, the patients with Fuchs corneal dystrophy were the mostly like to report activity limitation due to fear of falling, followed by those with glaucoma and the AMD group." Read more.

This would indicate another reason why states should include vision care for adults in their state marketplaces.  See this post and this one. 

Bausch & Lomb Up for Sale?

"US private equity group Warburg Pincus LLC is considering a sale of Bausch & Lomb Inc, looking to collect in excess of USD10bn (EUR7.7bn) for the US maker of contact lenses and assorted eye care products, Reuters reported citing a source in the know," according to the Financial News. "Warburg Pincus has hired investment banking giant Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) and asked it to sound out interest among potential buyers, the news agency said. Among the parties Goldman has been told to approach are some leading healthcare companies. However, there is also the possibility that Warburg Pincus will opt to list the business instead, the person added." Read more.

PPACA Should Include Vision Care, Say Experts

"As states set up their exchanges under the federal health law, they should consider including adult vision benefits, according to the authors of a new study showing that people without such coverage are less likely to seek care," reports Kaiser Health News. "Although the federal health law mandates vision coverage for children, the same requirement does not apply to adults. States themselves can require certain insurance benefits. And researchers from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina suggest strong reasons for doing so. In their study, published Monday in the Archives of Ophthalmology, the researchers found that more than 40 percent of people in their study lacked vision insurance. They also looked at a subgroup of about 12 percent of people in the study who reporting having glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts — the three leading causes of vision loss in the U.S. About 40 percent of that group also did not have vision insurance. Yet nearly 90 percent of both groups had health insurance." Read more.

New from PQ Eyewear

Fashioning.com came out with the following: "Technology & the future of glasses design: PQ Eyewear.  Truly innovative sunglasses are a rarity. But with their industrial design beginnings and use of new technologies, PQ Eyewear's glasses aren't just a revolution in design; they're a glimpse into the future." Read more.

Legacie's New Judith Leiber Collection

"Legacie is excited to introduce a new Judith Leiber group – Gilded Fleur. The Gilded Fleur group takes its inspiration from the ornate styling of the French Baroque movement," according to Midwest Lens. "Feminine but showcasing elaborate detail, both JL 1646SG, a large round sunglass and JL 1647, an oval frame, are crafted of lightweight titanium and feature top bars and intricate floral décor on the temples. The custom-designed jewelry pieces are presented in contrasting metal colors and are accentuated with genuine Austrian crystals in a complementary palette." Read more.

Insurance Marketplaces under Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Approved in 6 States

"The Obama administration gave conditional approval on Monday to health insurance marketplaces being set up by six states led by Democratic governors eager to carry out President Obama’s health care overhaul," says a New York Times post. "The six are Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington. At the same time, the administration rejected pleas from other states that want to carry out a partial expansion of Medicaid, to cover fewer people than the president and Congress originally intended. Some states want to expand Medicaid to cover childless adults with incomes up to the poverty level, $19,090 for a family of three." Read more.

IRS Exempts Eyewear and CLs from Excise Tax

Financial advisers McGladrey.com note that "the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains a 2.3 percent excise tax on the sale of taxable medical devices. While the tax is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2013, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the types of transactions and taxpayers that the tax will apply to....Several products [though] are specifically excluded from the definition of taxable medical device, including eyeglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids," according to a recent IRS ruling. Read more.

eReaders and Apps Could Help Glaucoma Patients

"Better strategies are needed to help glaucoma patients cope with difficulty reading. According to a new scientific study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, adults with glaucoma read slower when reading silently for long periods of time and are more likely to have their reading speed decrease over time, possibly a result of reading fatigue," reports Science Daily. "Technological solutions such as e-readers -- and the many apps being created for them -- could help. "Right now, so many products are available for presenting reading material in a variety of formats," says author Pradeep Ramulu MD, PhD, of The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital. 'If the optimal format for reading in the context of glaucoma could be determined, it would be easy to create an application to present text in this manner as part of a commercial device such as an iPad or Kindle.'" Read more.

There's a New York Times blog interview with the study's

Vision Insurance Improves Chances of Timely Care

"Vision insurance for working-age adults appears to be associated with having eye care visits and reporting better vision, compared with individuals without insurance, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Ophthalmology, a JAMA Network publication." That's a post on Science Codex. "Millions of Americans experience vision loss or impairment due to age-related eye diseases, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and cataracts. Periodic checkups are recommended for timely detection of eye conditions to prevent irreversible vision loss. Having vision insurance may be an important determinant as to whether individuals receive preventive eye examinations, according to the study background." Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Gets Patent for Stabilized Contact Lens

"Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Jacksonville, Fla., has been assigned a patent (8,322,851) developed by Pierre Gerligand, St. Johns, Fla., for stabilized contact lenses," reports Equities.com. "The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: 'Contact lenses with stabilization zones are designed using mathematical constructs such as Bezier curves and which are subjected to modeling on-eye performance.' "The patent application was filed on Dec. 17, 2009 (12/641,144). The full-text of the patent can be found at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=8,322,851&OS=8,322,851&RS=8,322,851." Read more.

Daily Versus Monthly Replacement for Extended Wear

Replacing lenses at night doesn't lower the risk of complications for people using 30-day extended-wear/continuous-wear (EW/CW) contact lenses when compared to changing lenses monthly, suggests a study – "The Effect of Daily Lens Replacement During Overnight Wear on Ocular Adverse Events", appearing in the December issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part ofWolters Kluwer Health.

In contrast, replacing lenses every morning reduces the overall rate of "ocular adverse events," reports the study by Jerome Ozkan, BOptom of Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney, and colleagues. The researchers write, "Contact lens wearers on an EW/CW schedule should be advised to minimize lens handling prior to sleep to reduce the risk of complications." For people using 30-day extended-wear/continuous-wear (EW/CW) contact lenses, replacing lenses at night doesn't lower the risk of complications compared to changing lenses monthly, suggests a study – "The Effect of Daily Lens Replacement During Overnight Wear on Ocular Adverse Events", appearing in the December issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part ofWolters Kluwer Health. Read more.

There is more about the story at a Science Daily post.

New from Boss Orange Eyewear

"The new Boss Orange Eyewear collection is the perfect combination of urban style and fresh personality: the sunglasses and optical frames reflect the brand’s DNA and captivate with their urban spirit, trendy colors and classic-cool details," according to Midwest Lens. "Urban cool: The vintage appeal with a contemporary twist defines these acetate sunglasses and round or square-shaped, optical frames. The embossed logo plaque on the initial part of the temples completes the look. An on-trend color palette features natural tones of black/wood, havana, matte blue, gray and/or matte transparent (mod. BO 0092/S, BO 0090, BO 0088)." Read more.

New Essentials from Prodesign

"The shapes of this collection [Prodesign's Essentials] are exquisite. You’ll still see the influence of the strong retro-wave, but this collection has gone in a much lighter direction, abandoning the very heavy look of the usual retro collections," reports Midwest Lens. "The lightness of the frames fit very well with the natural lines of the face, creating a harmony between the frame and the face. The colors that the designer has chosen are subtle and soft with gradients ranging from dark to very light in the same color scheme, supporting the color schemes also found in the face." Read more.

Araki Shots Ethnic Barcelona's Spring-Summer 2013 Eyewear Collection

The tamest and most traditional
Araki photo for Ethnic Barcelona.
There were many others--
more than  a bit risque.

Vanity Fair's Italian edition (November 29) covered the unveiling of the Spring-Summer 2013 eyewear collection for the Spanish brand Ethnic Barcelona. The magazine's staff talked with "David Pellicer Branch, founder and president of the brand, who  revealed the background of the high-adrenaline photo shoot--from the countryside to the methods of ethnic Japanese photographer Araki.

[Vanity Fair] How did you manage to convince Araki to take the photos for you? 

[David Pellicer Branch] "Araki is a very particular.  We sent a selection of product and what seduced him was the color, and his response was simply an e-mail fixing the date of the shooting. At that point, however, I was forced to argue that it would have been impossible to have glasses [ready by that date]."

The translation is from Google. Read the rest in Italian [have Google translate it] and see more of the Araki's photos.

Another Look at the AR Eyewear Marketplace

"They are not on the market yet, but Google Glasses already have competitors. The latest patent is from a big name: Microsoft. The company has registered projects for eyewear that will give the wearer real time information about the surrounding environment. With augmented reality in all senses, the lenses from Redmond can provide information about what the wearer is seeing at a precise moment, whether it's an object, place or event," according to  Mido 365 News. "The Microsoft glasses will be a 'wiki-lens' for finding out more about what's in front of us: with the Microsoft designs we will be able to watch a football game and we imagine that the glasses will give information about the players, the match, and so on. According to the patent, the device will understand in which direction the wearer is looking and adjust the visualization and optics accordingly." Read more.

The Limited Role of Vision Care under the Affordable Care Act

We missed this story that appeared Nov. 20 in the New York Times:

The Obama administration took a big step on Tuesday to carry out the new health care law by defining “essential health benefits”...Insurance companies are rushing to devise health benefit plans that comply with the federal standards. Starting in October [2013], people can enroll in the new plans, for coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2014...
The rules lay out 10 broad categories of essential health benefits, but allow each state to specify the benefits within those categories, at least for 2014 and 2015. ...Most states are defining essential benefits to be those provided by the largest health plan in the state’s small-group insurance market. However, to comply with the law, federal officials said, insurers must provide certain additional benefits, including dental care and vision services for children..." Read more.

Tortoiseshell--the Real Stuff--Is Back

"What did Yves Saint Laurent, Jackie Kennedy and the architect Le Corbusier have in common? Their eyewear, for one, as clients of the luxury French tortoiseshell artisan, Bonnet." That's the answer from the Lebanon Daily Star. "Four decades after the trade in tortoiseshell was banned under the 1973 CITES convention, the fourth-generation family firm sees itself as custodian of a rare craft, fashioning made-to-measure spectacles from stocks amassed before the ban. Bonnet describes its customers – among them Audrey Hepburn, Maria Callas or presidents Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac – as 'aesthetes' more concerned about style, the timeless kind, than fashion." Read more.

VSP Promotes Reading and Vision Care thru Bloggers

"Vision benefits and services nonprofit VSP Vision Care and long-time AOR KCSA Strategic Communications recruited three influential family-oriented bloggers in key markets last summer to compete in an EyeCare About Reading Book Drive Competition," acccording to a case hisotry from PRWeek. "Contestant bloggers in Atlanta, Houston, and Oklahoma City drove book donations to benefit a local charity of their choice. ...For every three books collected, VSP donated to the bloggers' chosen charity a gift certificate for a free eye exam and glasses with lenses from industry partner Transitions Optical. The blogger collecting the most books would win a visit from “Eyenstein,” VSP's mobile vision clinic, and “Bess the Book Bus,” a nonprofit mobile literacy program." Read more.

Eyewear Designer Boi Selects Fav Restaurants

Vibe reports that "you've seen his work on the likes of Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. Even Lady Gaga has called on his visual talents for her upcoming album Popart. But with Stevie Boi, there's more than meets the eye. The signature of lenses of the celebrity eyewear connoisseur has made him a spectacle on the pages of Vogue Japan but here, he clues Vibe in on his favorite places to chow in NY, LA and his resident Baltimore." Read more.

Menicon Expands in Europe

Contact lens maker Menicon Co., Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, is building a 4,675 square-meter facility in the Netherlands (Emmen about 140 km. northeast of Amsterdam). When the facility opens in July on its 13,000-square-meter site, it 125 staff members will work in production, distribution, R&D, marketing and management, generating made-to-order rigid gas permeable and soft lenses for European customers. Menicon researchers will look for innovative lens designs, efficient production processes, and the next generation of software to support contact lens fittersd. Read more.

Another Look at Anderson Cooper's Sun Blindness

"Just how common is sunburning your eyes? According to Dr. Deborah Sarnoff, senior vice president of The Skin Cancer Foundation and practicing dermatologist at Cosmetique in New York, sunburns to the extent of Cooper's doesn't happen too often, but it is possible if you're not wearing the right protection." That's part of the follow-up article appearing in Time magazine, whose parent company owns CNN for whom Anderson Cooper was shotting. "'We have sunscreen we can put on our skin, but we don't have eye drops that offer a protective film for the cornea, so it is really important that everyone, and especially people with fair or light eyes, wear sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB rays,' says Sarnoff." Read more; see video.

Mykita: A New Decade in 2013

"2013 will see a continuation of the color and design concept behind the Mykita Decades line. The collection, released each year in sync with the rhythm of the Paris shows, will welcome two new fashionable tones for the season," notes Midwest Lens. "The colors of the sunglasses models Marlene and Scarlett represent a conscious break from classic forms; Coral Red, Pastel Grey and Opal, International Blue, Jet Black and Safrane follow up on the preceding collection and incorporate a combination of the traditional and the contemporary that is characteristic for the Decdes line." Read more.

Seraphin’s Winter Frame Collection

"Centering around winter’s icy ambiance, Seraphin’s Winter Frame Collection evokes a subdued, cool sophistication," according to a Midwest Len post. " Creamy ivory, clear crystal and grey demi embody the arctic spirit of winter, while elements such as a smooth arched shape provide utmost comfort and style. Playful twists on the classic square shape paired with a wintry color palette, result in bold, eye catching frames. As always, each Seraphin frame is handmade with the finest quality materials and high quality craftsmanship." Read more.

New from Öga--Copenhagen 3

"Öga is excited to roll out the latest concept, Copenhagen 3 which follows in the footsteps of the Copenhagen styles which came before! This release continues the Copenhagen legacy, with slim temples and a retro masculine design," says Midwest Lens. "Keeping with tradition, Copenhagen 3 features the exclusive patented Öga spring hinge with spring blade. The hinge acts as functioning design element, adding texture and visual interest to this frame.
Soft eye shapes are available in a large range of sizes from 53 to 57. All models can be fitted with progressive friendly lenses while retaining a highly contemporary appearance. Copenhagen 3 is available in three models and four color combinations per model." Read more.

New from Dragon 2013

"In 2011, Dragon launched its revolutionary frameless goggle The APX, or Advanced Projects X, which was the first of its kind to hit the market.  More than a year later, the eyewear brand has released its Spring 2013 look book, complete with an update on the APX goggle, which includes the new cylindrical NFX technology, and limited edition collaboration product with Nike and Lacoste." That's the word from Transworld Business. "The brand is particularly stoked on the collection for 2013, since it also marks Dragon’s 20 year anniversary in the surf and snow eyewear business. We talked with Dragon’s Director of Product Mike Tobia to get the scoop on how the brand has set this season’s collection apart from the past, and what we can expect to see from them as we move into the upcoming round of trade shows." Read more.

Understanding Usher Syndrome

"After years of basic research, scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) are increasingly able to understand the mechanisms underlying the human Usher syndrome and are coming ever closer to finding a successful treatment approach," reports Medical News Today. "The scientists in the Usher research group of Professor Dr. Uwe Wolfrum are evaluating two different strategies. These involve either the repair of mutated genes or the deactivation of the genetic defects using agents. Based on results obtained to date, both options seem promising. Usher syndrome is a congenital disorder that causes the loss of both hearing and vision." Read more.

Glaucoma Slows Rapid Eye Movement

"Rapid eye movements are significantly delayed in patients with glaucoma, even those in the early stages of the disease, research has found," according to Science Digest. "The findings, led by Dr. Neeru Gupta, an ophthalmologist at St. Michael's Hospital, may shed new light on why glaucoma patients are at increased risk for falls and car accidents. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness." Read more.

Polaroid Celebrating 75th Year

Polaroid Eyewear will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Tuesday 11th December from 7pm to 10pm at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City, after having postponed the original date of October 30th due to the unprecedented weather conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy in New York. Read more.

Safilo Renewed Its Max Mara and Max & Co. Licensing Agreement

Safilo Group renewed its licensing agreement for the design, manufacture and worldwide distribution of optical frames and sunglasses from Max Mara and Max & Co. The new agreement will now run until December 31, 2019. Read more.

New from Alaini Mikli

"For over 30 years, Alain Mikli has been in love with cellulose acetate, a natural material made from cotton and wood. The expertise of the material he has acquired with time enables him to give birth to an infinite combination of patterns and colors," according to Midwest Lens. "For his new Chamarel collection, Alain Mikli chose the checkered pattern. The checkered pattern, heritage of the brand since 1978, is a distinctive sign and a reference to the logo of the brand. Eyewear designer artist Alain Mikli designs squares and colors to create 9 exclusive harmonies." Read more.

Luxottica and Prada Retie the Knot

Luxottica Group and Prada SA renewed their licensing agreement. Luxottica, therefore, will continue to design, manufacture, and distribute Prada and Miu Miu brands opthalmic eyewear and  sunglasses through December 31, 2018.

Anderson Cooper Temporarily Blinded by UV

Celebrities can inspire people to mimic behavior, and the behavior of celebrities also can be a model of what not to do. Here's an example of the importance of wearing UV-protection: "Anderson Cooper found out the hard way last week that eye protection is important. The news broadcaster is recovering after he was temporarily blinded while on assignment in Portugal," notes a blog in the San Francisco Chronicle. "Anderson lost his sight after spending several hours filming on the water in bright sunshine for the TV series 60 Minutes. Cooper took to Twitter on Tuesday to share a photo of himself wearing an eye patch, writing, 'Temporarily blinded last week while on assignment. UV light bouncing off water. Much better now.'" Read more.

New Delivery System of Stem Cells for Eyes

"Engineers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new technique for delivering stem cell therapy to the eye which they hope will help the natural repair of eyes damaged by accident or disease. This could help millions of people across the world retain -- or even regain -- their sight," notes Science Digest. "In research published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia, the team describe a new method for producing membranes to help in the grafting of stem cells onto the eye, mimicking structural features of the eye itself. The technology has been designed to treat damage to the cornea, the transparent layer on the front of the eye, which is one of the major causes of blindness in the world." Read more.

New from Columbia

"L’Amy America has launched a new 4 model ophthalmic series, expanding upon its highly successful Columbia Eyewear Extended Size collection," according to Midwest Lens. "The new models feature pure titanium frame fronts, combined with H-90™ injection-molded temple stems." Read more.

CDC Recommends Steps for Monitoring Nation's Vision Health

Prevent Blindness America reports the following:

Vision loss is a serious public health problem in the United States and will get worse in the next 30 years due to the aging of the population, increasing in chronic diseases affecting the eye and vision, and changing demographics of the US population. There are significant variations among demographic groups in vision outcomes. Therefore, the vision and eye care communities have identified the reduction of population disparities in visual loss and in access to eye care services as top public health priorities in Healthy People 2020.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convened an expert panel of 14 national and international experts, to identify action steps and priorities to strengthen national and state surveillance systems  in assessing and monitoring disparities in eye health, vision loss, and access to eye care over time and responding to national, state, and local needs. The product of the meeting is eight papers that are published in a supplement at the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

The panel members agreed on how such a surveillance system would work and what the minimal content of such a system might entail. A vision surveillance system needs to:

1. Link data collection and analyses with ongoing public health interventions to improve eye health disparities.
2. Effectively assess vision loss and utilization of eye care.
3. Include defined populations to assess the disparities in vision loss and in utilization of eye care services.
4. Include and sustain ophthalmic/vision measurements and question components within national surveys.
5. Be forged among federal agencies and other stakeholders to monitor the nation's eye health and eye care utilization for trends in disparity.

Time to Warn Patients about Eye Injuries from Toys

"With the holiday season upon us, children are busy making their wish lists and checking them twice. But, parents may need to check them yet again to ensure toy safety. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 250,000 toy-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year. Most of these injuries affect children under age 15, and almost half affect the head or face. In light of these dangers, the American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages parents to be EyeSmart about toys this holiday season," notes a Science Daily post.

"Some toys, like airsoft guns, BB guns and paintball guns can be particularly hazardous, with the potential to propel foreign objects into the sensitive tissues of the eye. Common eye injuries from these toys include corneal abrasion, ocular hyphema, traumatic cataract, and increased intraocular pressure. These and other injuries sometimes require children to undergo eye surgery. In most cases, the victims of these toy-related injuries were not wearing protective eyewear." Read more.

EyeSmart has come up with five tips for selecting eye-safe toys. You can copy it from this EyeSmart webpage: www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/eye-health-news/buying-safe-toys.cfm 

Prevent Blindness America suggests:

• Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child.  Be diligent about inspecting these gifts before allowing your child to play with them.

• Inspect all toys before purchasing.  Monitor toys that your child has received as gifts to make sure they are appropriate for your child’s age and developmental level.

• For younger children, avoid play sets with small magnets and make sure batteries are secured within the toy. If magnets or batteries are ingested, serious injuries and/or death can occur.

• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (such as a basketball along with eye goggles or a face guard with a new batting helmet for baseball or softball). 

• Any toy that is labeled “supervision required” must always be used in the presence of an adult.  Keep toys meant for older children away from younger ones.
   
• Always save the warranties and directions for every toy.  If possible, include a gift receipt.  Repair or throw away damaged toys. 

• Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.

• Inspect toys for sturdiness. Your child’s toys should be durable, with no sharp edges or points. The toys should also withstand impact.  Dispose of plastic wrapping material immediately on toys as they may have sharp edges.

• Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. Young kids tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking.  If the part of a toy can fit in a toilet paper roll, the toy is not appropriate for children under the age of 3.

• Do not purchase toys with long strings or cords, especially for infants and very young children as this can become wrapped around a child’s neck.

• Always dispose of uninflated or broken balloons immediately. According to the CPSC, more children have suffocated from them than any other type of toy. 

Read more.

Fully PIxelated CL Displays on Horizon

"The Centre of Microsystems Technology (CMST), IMEC’s associated laboratory at Ghent University (Belgium), have announced that it has developed an spherical curved LCD display, which can be embedded in contact lenses. The first step toward fully pixelated contact lens displays, this achievement has potential wide-spread applications in medical and cosmetic domains," reports Electronics Feed.

"Unlike LED-based contact lens displays, which are limited to a few small pixels, imec’s LCD-based technology permits the use of the entire display surface. By adapting the patterning process of the conductive layer, this technology enables applications with a broad range of pixel number and sizes, such as a one pixel, fully covered contact lens acting as adaptable sunglasses, or a highly pixelated contact lens display. The first prototype presented contains a patterned dollar sign, depicting the many cartoons that feature people or figures with dollars in their eyes. It can only display rudimentary patterns, similar to an electronic pocket calculator. In the future, the researchers envision fully autonomous electronic contact lenses embedded with this display." Read more.

Study Shows That Eye Care Low Concern for Employers

"If an employee had a traffic accident and it was found their eyesight was not good enough to drive without corrected vision, this would not be enough to raise the priority of eyecare in an organisation, according to employers questioned in a recent survey," reports the British website Workplace Law. "Specsavers Corporate Eyecare discovered that among more than 200 employers surveyed (representing up to 356,611 employees), not one employer felt that a traffic accident would instigate a change in the priority of eyecare. The study also suggested that a even if a corporate manslaughter charge was upheld against an organisation because an employee had driven with poor eyesight and caused a fatal accident, it still would not cause the company to think twice about the importance of eyecare." Read more.

FYI: Eye Test for Alzheimer's

Cognoptix, previously known as Neuroptix, has signed an exclusive license for a non-invasive eye-scanning test that could detect Alzheimer's Disease at an early stage. The patent is held by the University of California at San Diego (“UC San Diego”), which developed the test with Cognoptix. The UC San Diego technology is the subject of a scientific paper recently published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Chemical Society (“Aminonaphthalene 2-Cyanoacrylate [ANCA] Probes Fluorescently Discriminate between Amyloid-β and Prion Plaques in Brain”). Read more.

New from Diva

"Expanding conceptually, Diva shows a continued growth and diversity with intriguing material combinations and treatments," according to Midwest Lens. "A variety of shapes and thickness comprise this new release – thin metal designs, as seen on the 5375, offer a classic, elegant look. Chunkier, more fashionable deep plastic shapes, as in the 5372, provide a more modern, colorful alternative for women seeking Diva’s panache. Finally, color finishes such as horns, prints, and marbles can be found throughout the collection’s acetate styles. A mix of gold and silver bases comprise the metal styles, these are additionally colored with brown, burgundy, navy, black, and ivory." Read more.

Honeywell Develops Safety Eyewear with Voice

"Honeywell Safety Products [has] introduced Uvex AcoustiMaxx Stereo Bluetooth eyewear, an all-in-one solution combining maximum impact protection with hands-free voice communication," according to Manufacturing.net. "Uvex AcoustiMaxx enables workers in remote or noisy environments to focus on the task at hand while remaining protected and in contact with their teams, improving safety and productivity on the job. This marks the first time Bluetooth-enabled eyewear is available for industrial applications." Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Gets Patent for Screw-Cap Package for CLs

"Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Jacksonville, Fla., has been assigned a patent (8,317,016) ...for a "screw cap package for contact lens," notes Equities.com. "The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: 'A contact lens package includes a holder having a receptacle for holding a contact lens and a cap having a seal for sealing a contact lens within the receptacle. The cap is attached to the holder and is movable from an end of the holder where the receptacle is formed toward an opposite end of the holder. As the cap moves toward the opposite end of the holder, the end of the holder where the receptacle is formed ruptures the seal such that the contact lens can be removed from the package.'...The full-text of the patent can be found at <http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8,317,016.PN.&OS=PN/8,317,016&RS=PN/8,317,016
Written by Kusum Sangma; edited by Anand Kumar.
KS1203AK1203-814928>." Read more.

Sony Develops CLs to Track Eye Movement

Sony reportedly is developing contact lens that allows its PlayStation to track eye movements. "The patent - spotted by Patent Bolt - suggests a pair of contact lenses could be used with Sony's next-gen console to detect eye movement, gestures and even blinking to control menus, videogames and other software applications to trained actions," according to Now Gamer. "Patent Bolt doesn't provide a link to the filing itself - which the site suggests was made as far back as May 2011 - and try as we might we were unable to find the listing through official patent and trademark websites. However, the site does suggest that magnetic contact lenses would be cheaper and more portable than something like a high-resolution Kinect camera, and could even be combined to enable 3D viewing." Read more.

New Styles from Maxx HD

Maxx HD Sunglasses has released two new styles in their designer collection. The Maxx team is excited to introduce the Bomber and Nomad aviator style sunglasses. These high definition sunglasses allow Maxx customers to express their stylish fashion, while protecting their eyes with the Maxx High Definition lens they are known for. Read more.

New from theo

"theo, still mad about the O, presents five semi-round fruits with an O: MelOn, LemOn, COcOnut, MangO and AbricOt, all in typical theo colors," says Midwest Lens. "The fruity names give the glasses an additional exotic flavor. The theo twist is especially manifest in the combination of the two acetate colors. The illusion is created that one frame was made by assembling two frames. The color of the ‘outside frame’ goes on in the temples. Both colors reappear in the eartip. No boring plain colors, but lots of print combinations instead." Read more.

Christmas Gift for the Optician with Everything

"Perhaps nothing personifies Hollywood glamour quite like sunglasses, and 50 Shades (Reel Art Press, $29.95) by Lauren Goldstein Crowe features 50 of the century's icons in the coolest of frames. Steve McQueen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Audrey Hepburn and more are included, alongside quotes that reveal something about the celebrity hiding behind the shades," according to a Los Angeles Times post.  Read more.