Light Needed for Eye Development.

“New research in Nature concludes the eye -- which depends on light to see -- also needs light to develop normally during pregnancy,” according to a Science Daily post. “Scientists say the unexpected finding offers a new basic understanding of fetal eye development and ocular diseases caused by vascular disorders -- in particular one called retinopathy of prematurity that can blind premature infants. The research, led by scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), appears online Jan. 16 ahead of print publication.” Read more.

Lowering the Cost of Eye Care?

"The world’s largest provider of eye care has found success by directly adapting the management practices of another big-box food brand, one that is not often associated with good health: McDonald’s.” That's from the start of a New York Times post about Dr. Venkataswamy (aka Dr. V), noted for performing eye care at considerably lower cost. “In 1976, Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy — known as Dr. V — retired from performing eye surgery at the Government Medical College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, a state in India’s south. He decided to devote his remaining years to eliminating needless blindness among India’s poor. Twelve million people are blind in India, the vast majority of them from cataracts, which tend to strike people in India before 60 — earlier than in the West. Blindness robs a poor person of his livelihood and with it, his sense of self-worth; it is often a fatal disease. A blind person, the Indian saying goes, is “a mouth with no hands.” Read more.

Pearle Takes Back Announcement about an Expansion

Earlier today, the public relations news service PRNewswire.com issued a press release that began with the following lede: “Pearle Vision, North America's largest and most trusted licensed optical brand, announced today its 2013 expansion plans within the United States, which includes the re-licensing of 34 locations in 10. With more than 520 eye care centers in the United States, Pearle Vision is now seeking to grow its national footprint and has identified Florida, Ohio and Michigan as the first markets for its aggressive re-licensing effort. Specifically in Florida, Pearle Vision is looking to convert locations in Miami, West Palm Beach, Naples, Jacksonville and Orlando. In Ohio, opportunities can be found in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.  And in Michigan, centers in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint are available.” 

Several hours later, the service issued the following statement: “We are advised by Pearle Vision that journalists and other readers should disregard the news release, Pearle Vision Announces 2013 Expansion, issued Jan. 16, 2013 over PR Newswire.” To read the full release, go to the Herald.

New from Revolution

“Don Ed Hardy is considered the 'Godfather' of tattoo. He is the person who helped to make tattoos into high end art. He incorporated Irezumi, which is a Japanese ‘Tattoo Art’, into his tattoo art to make it more vibrant and colorful,” according to Midwest Lens. “Revolution first incorporated the tattoos onto the temples of the infamous sun-glasses, what followed is a feast for the eyes. The New Ed Hardy Collection is subtle, beautiful and more whimsical. For more information visit www.revolutioneyewear.com or call 800-986-0010.” Read more.

PPG & Essilor Negotiate Transitions Optical's Future

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

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

Clinic Helps Dallas Kids

During the OneSight Dallas Vision Van Clinic, volunteers spent January 9-11 providing eye screenings and new eyewear to hundreds of area school children in need, according to an organization's spokesperson. On Friday, volunteers helped 5-year-old Johamana, who was having difficulty at the auto refraction station. When a volunteer removed her from the line to speak with her, she began to cry. Her friend soon came and spoke to her in her native language, Arabic. Volunteers then realized that she was nervous and may have been having difficulty understanding them. Once on the van, Johamana was completely at ease!  Deema Aridi , a OneSight volunteer, spoke Arabic and was able to translate beautifully for Johamana and the doctor. Read more.

Augmented Reality Eyewear/CL Roundup

“The rush is on to market eyeglasses that augment your vision with a dose of media -- from the much-celebrated Google Glass project to a pair of specs made by Visux that my colleague Scott Stein sported the other night here at CES 2013.” That's the beginning of the augmented reality eyewear/contact lens market from CNET. Read more.

Wright Brother Sunglasses

“Want a Wright Brothers-brand bomber jacket or aviator sunglasses? They might soon be available to buy, as the aviation pioneers' descendants try to generate revenue to support the southwest Ohio mansion where Orville Wright lived for decades.” That's the word from theSeattle Times. Read more.

Benji Frank Furnishes Inaugural Announcer with Sunglasses

Benji Frank, the Houston-based prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses line with frame styles named for U.S. Presidents, has provided sunglasses to the President's Inaugural Parade Announcer Charlie Brotman and his outdoor team to wear on Monday's ceremony. Read more.

NEI Encourages Consumers to Get Dilate Eye Exams

During Glaucoma Awareness Month, the National Eye Institute (NEI) is encouraging Americans at higher risk for glaucoma to get a dilated eye exam. People at higher risk include African Americans more than 40 years of age; all adults older than 60, especially those who are Mexican American; and people who have a family history of the disease. Read more.

Best Image's New Collections and Marketing Campaigns

Best Image Optical, is introducing new images for distinct eyewear collections. An extraordinary campaign that will feature: Dolabany, Mario Galbatti, and Plume Paris, according to a company spokesperson who notes that when fashion and substance are compared, one usually triumphs. However when they collaborate, the result is stunning. This is precisely the theme of the ad campaign. Eyecare professionals will have the opportunity to view, appreciate, and feel these styles online. In addition, these images will come alive to our customers at their ECP location as well. Customers will be greeted, to this new side of eyewear fashion in their local optical store, with intricate displays and carefully crafted counter presentations. Fans of the collections will be met with the latest images of Dolabany, Mario Galbatti, and Plume Paris. Read more.

New from Dior Homme

“International Fashion firm Dior Homme has just released the “Blacktie 2.0″ glasses to their Eyewear collection. These ultra thin glasses feature a patented double layer of acetate around light metal which makes up its structure,” notes Stupid Dope. “The brand has inserted their signature Dior Homme cut on the inside of the frames to add a subtle and fashionable touch to these high-end shades. They have successfully crafted a practical pair of glasses that also has class and sophistication.” Read more.

Contact Lenses and Myopic Defocus

“Bifocal soft contact lenses and corneal reshaping lenses vary in their ability to provide myopic defocus to the peripheral retina, according to US researchers writing inOptometry and Vision Science,” reports News Medical. “Indeed, their study failed to show that bifocal soft contact lenses can provide peripheral myopic defocus, raising questions about the mechanism by which these lenses slow axial elongation of the eye. Anita Ticak (University of Houston, Texas) and Jeffrey Walline (Ohio State University, Columbus) studied 14 myopic individuals aged 8-35 years, of whom nine were female and 12 were White. The average spherical equivalent noncycloplegic manifest refraction for the right eye was -2.84 diopters.” Read more.

"007" Wears Sunglasses to Golden Globe

“Had Daniel Craig had eye surgery before last night's Golden Globes? Perhaps he had been showing off his stunt skills learned on the set of James Bond to wife Rachel Weisz, came a cropper and wanted to disguise the resulting shiner?” That's the snippy start of theTelegraph. “Running out of suggestions here as to why Craig was wearing a pair of sunglasses on the red carpet... Ooh, is it 1985?” Read more.

New from Thrillis

"Thrills has released their spring/summer 2013 eyewear collection. The brand has been building their identity over the past couple of years, carving a niche on the near-endless beaches of Australia’s southern state,” according to Midwest Lens. “This collection consists of three distinct silhouettes inspired by the classics, all of which are emboldened and reinforced in their construction. To commemorate this release, the company recruited Riley Blakeway to create a short film highlighting the new frames. The film is a time-lapse re-construction of the pieces, working backwards to effectually comment on the high standard quality of the glasses.” Read more.

Eyewear from Angry Birds

“The Angry Birds franchise has certainly grown to be more than a mere video game in all aspects of its success,” according to The Star.“Launched as a digital means of entertainment for the masses in 2009, it has become a cult phenomenon to be reckoned with now, and the stylised images of the wingless birds central to the brand are recognisable by all. Fans of Angry Birds can now show their love for the video game by sporting some cool optical frames. The Angry Birds Eyewear collection carries different optical frames that are made of acetate or stainless steel, and come in different colourful variations of blue, green, yellow, red and purple, among others.” Read more.

Update: AR System Using Eyewear and Contact Lenses

“With Project Glass an early prototype, competitors are pushing to deliver augmented reality glasses before Google makes its move.” So starts a Verge post from the Consumer Electronics Show. “Unlike every other set we've seen, though, the Innovega iOptik system is more than a pair of glasses. Half the system, to be sure, is a pair of the large, slightly goofy frames and lenses we've come to expect. But the core of iOptik is a pair of contact lenses embedded with tiny optical components and a filter. On their own, these behave just like ordinary contacts, and they'll incorporate users' prescriptions when necessary. But add the glasses, and you've got a heads-up display that promises a far wider field of vision than you'd get from a competitor like Vuzix.” Read more.

In a separate announcement, the company explained that by eliminating the usual magnifying optics from the eyewear and integrating them into a nano-tech contact lens, Innovega designers have been able to deliver high-performance imagery from compact and stylish eyewear. The Innovega eyewear system is thus comprised of two elements: 1) micro-projectors or flat-panels that are integrated into eyewear and provide a media gateway, and 2) novel iOptik contact lenses that deliver a crisp view of both near-eye rich media and of the environment. 

The lenses are based on modern fabrication methods and can be worn in the usual fashion with or without the Innovega eyewear. When the eyewear is worn, any accessible media is instantly available and is overlaid onto or blended with the environment. An interesting benefit of the iOptik lenses is that they include the wearer’s prescription and therefore improve their normal view of their real-world surroundings.

The company reports that early adopters may be those with the lowest switching costs - more than one hundred million global consumers who already wear and enjoy contact lenses (as do more than 20% of North American 18 to 34 year-old consumers who already drive demand for mobile and other media devices). Once the unique benefit of iOptik is realized, other market segments will quickly form. Read more from iOptik.

Eyewear Market Growing at 3%

Global spectacles market is forecasted to grow at the compounded annual growth rate of 3% and reach the market value of $24 billion by the year 2016, according to a report issued by Transparency Market Research. The growth is not surprising after the researchers note that approximately a third of the Americans and western Europeans older than 40 have eyesight that needs correction. Occurrence of myopia is higher, around 70-90% in some Asian countries. Compared to men, women are at higher risk of developing refractive errors. Read more.

Online CL Retailer Launches YouTube Channel

New York based Eye Care Associates enters its 14th year in business online as the operator of CleContactLenses.com, an online retailer of contact lenses, has launched a YouTube Channel to educate consumers, according to a company press release. The company also will incorporate the videos into its website. CLEContactLenses.com has even created a video (see "attached") to kick off their YouTube channel launch. At the moment, the channel has less than 10 videos, but the company plans to add a video a week. Read more.

New from IVI Vision

“Eyewear brand IVI -- launched in 2012 via a partnership between Rob Dyrdek, designer Jerome Mage and Fox Head CEO Pet Fox -- offers a wide range of premium frames. During last week's Agenda Show in Long Beach, California, we got a peek at new styles and colorways set to drop this Spring... and here's a little taste. ” That's the word from Baller Status. “The upcoming season offers two sub collections: the DPM offerings, which includes minimal camo accenting on the inside of the frames among their Jiving, Jagger, Custer, Dusky, and Sepulveda silhouettes; and the Black and Copper collection, which consists of black frames with copper accenting on their Custer, Sepulveda, Jagger, and Division styles.”

Moscot and Warby Parker Succeed in Luxottica's Playground

“Luxottica designs and retails more than 80 percent of the world's major eyewear brands.,” goes the Reuters report about Warby Parker and Moscot. “Yet two small New York City eyewear companies-one old, one new-have embraced their own individual principles to turn profit in an incredibly competitive market space. The upstart on the block, Warby Parker, opened in 2010. But it has already grown more than 500 percent after hitting its first year's sales target for $95 eyewear in three weeks. Then there's Moscot, a family-run company now in its fourth generation. It has literally grown from Hyman Moscot's single pushcart in 1899 to a worldwide symbol of Big Apple sophistication. Yet it's done so without swank ad agencies or a big-name fashion photographer. (Co-president Wendy Simmons handles Moscot fashion shoots.)” Read more.

New from Persol

“The new fall/winter 2012-2013 collection [for Persol] is all about color. New and exclusive tones brighten the lenses and enhance the frames to create unprecedented, statement looks.,” according to Midwest Lens. “The Suprema models set themselves apart within the sunglasses collection and are dedicated to those who love vintage and archive styles. Iconic models are transformed and updated with an innovative color pallet.” Read more.

Missoni Search Continues

"Italy is sending a specialized team to Venezuela to help search for a small plane that disappeared last week off a string of Caribbean islands while carrying four Italian tourists, including Vittorio Missoni, the C.E.O. of the Italian fashion firm that bears his family’s name," reported the New York Times two days ago. "Italian officials said that the team — including a naval expert, two fire department search-and-rescue experts and a member of Italy’s national flight safety agency — would leave Wednesday. They also said Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi had praised Venezuela’s 'massive effort' in the search operations since the plane disappeared after leaving the resort islands of Los Roques for Caracas on Friday." Read more.

AR System Using Eyewear and Contact Lenses

“With Project Glass an early prototype, competitors are pushing to deliver augmented reality glasses before Google makes its move.” So starts a Verge post from the Consumer Electronics Show . “Unlike every other set we've seen, though, the Innovega iOptik system is more than a pair of glasses. Half the system, to be sure, is a pair of the large, slightly goofy frames and lenses we've come to expect. But the core of iOptik is a pair of contact lenses embedded with tiny optical components and a filter. On their own, these behave just like ordinary contacts, and they'll incorporate users' prescriptions when necessary. But add the glasses, and you've got a heads-up display that promises a far wider field of vision than you'd get from a competitor like Vuzix.” Read more.

New AR Eyewear from Six15

Six15 Technologies, purchased seven months ago by Vuzix Corp., has a new augmented reality video eyewear, called Tac-Eye AR. The eyewear product displays are see-through AR-enabled binocular or monocular systems that offer a 40 degree field of view for use in a wide variety of industrial, medical, commercial, and defense applications. Six15’s patented optical see-through system reportedly allows users to view the real world while simultaneously viewing relevant computer generated information, graphics and alerts. The company also has partnered with APX Labs to provide the core software that drive the augmented reality environment. APX Labs’ truAR software is said to manage the user experience and interaction with the Tac-Eye, to connect the device in real-time to other users and systems, and to manage how custom applications run on the product. Read more.

Raen and Deus Ex Machina Team Up for Limited Edition

“Raen and Deus ex Machina have paired up for a limited edition co-branded eyewear collaboration that honors each brand’s intrinsic value to create authentic, innovative product,” writes Midwest Lens. “For the collaboration, Deus chose three Raen eyewear styles –c the Lenox, Squire, and Underwood – that conveyed a rugged yet defined demeanor. RAEN paired each with a classic matte woodgrain acetate finish exclusive for this collection. Each handmade piece of eyewear will feature Optics by Carl Zeiss lenses and custom etched Deus logo details.” Read more.

McCartney Introduces Eyewear Line

“The brand has an existing range of sunglasses, which launched in 2003, but this is McCartney's first foray into straight-up optical wear,” reports Yahoo's OMG.”Balancing the brand's typical masculine and feminine shapes, the collection introduces contemporary and sporty styles with added eco-friendly credentials. A vegetarian, Stella is famous for using no animal products in her clothes and is committed to reducing the environmental impacts of her designs.” Read more.

Sam's Club/Walmart Introducing New CL Program

Walmart and Sam's Club are launching an online and phone contact lens program as well as reduced prices on many top contact lenses. The offering includes:

• New Online and Phone Contact Lens Program: Walmart customers can now visit WalmartContacts.com or call 1-800-741-LENS (5367) and Sam's Club members can now visit SamsClub.com/contacts or call 1-800-749-LENS (5367) to place contact lens orders and have them delivered directly to their home. Free shipping is available on orders over $50 for Walmart Contacts and $45 for Sam's Club Contacts.   

• Low Prices on Top Contact Lenses – Walmart and Sam's Club have reduced prices on many top contact lenses, such as Acuvue Oasys (2 week), Air Optix Aqua (monthly), Acuvue Moist (daily / 90 pack), Acuvue 2 (2 weeks), and Biofinity (monthly).

This February, Walmart will also launch its own private Equate brand of contact lenses to give customers even more contact lens options at low prices. Read more.

Essilor Launches Ad Campaign in Two Months

Essilor of America, Inc., will launch a national consumer advertising campaign for its Crizal No-Glare lenses, starting in March and running through the year. Essilor expects the campaign to reach at least 250 million consumers. It will run on cable tv stations; websites like Yahoo, MSN, Weather.com, and iVillage; on radio stations using talk, oldies, and adult contemporary formats; and in major consumer publications. (To view and listen to the television and radio commercials, visit www.crizalusa.com.)

The television commercial will demonstrate the lenses' benefits and how they reportedly provide the clearest vision possible in any condition. Essilor also has created a “tool kit” for independent ECPs. The kit includes a training presentation and such in-office merchandising materials as tent cards, frame-board displays, posters, cubes, and more. Read more.

Safilo Renews Claiborne License

Safilo Group renewed its licensing agreement with J.C. Penney Purchasing Corporation Inc., for the design, manufacturing and distribution of the Liz Claiborne and Claiborne optical frames and sunglass collections in the American market through December 31, 2017. The multi-year agreement, which includes an additional five-year renewal option, strengthens a relationship with the Liz Claiborne brand originally forged in 2003 and gives further engine to the development and distribution of one of the most representative brands of American style. Read more.

Trust Goes to the Brown Eyes

“If you have blue eyes, this could make you a bit green,” starts the Daily Mail post. “Men and women with brown eyes are seen as more trustworthy. But before blue-eyed boys and girls reach for coloured contact lenses, the results may simply be to do with the facial shape of those with brown eyes. Researchers have found men and women with brown eyes are seen as more trustworthy . Researchers took pictures of 80 men and women and asked almost 250 volunteers to rate them. Overall, brown-eyed faces were judged to be more trustworthy than the blue-eyed ones and the women as more trustworthy than the men.” Read more.

"Delisting" Eye Exams Results in Fewer Exams

“The delisting of routine eye exams from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for healthy adults under age 65 has resulted in lower rates of recommended eye screening for people with diabetes, states a study published in CMAJ - even though eye exams for people with diabetes are still covered (Canadian Medical Association Journal),” accoding toMedical News Today.Read more.

Gunnar Optiks Gets Patent for Computer Eyewear

Gunnar Optiks has been awarded broad patent coverage (US Patent No. 8,342,681) on the company’s lens technology and design, according to a company spokesperson. Its 20/20 and prescription computer eyewear, optimized for use while viewing digital screens, combines a proprietary lens material in an advanced geometry, finished with custom tuned lens tints and coatings. The patent reportedly applies to the following:

• Computer eyewear designed to filter spectral peaks commonly found in fluorescent lighting and computer backlights.
• Computer eyewear with a wrap-around design designed to protect the eye from air currents and trap in evaporated moisture.
• Computer eyewear with decentered optics to provide distortion-free viewing.
• Additional patent claims, regarding the filtration of HEV (High Energy Visible) light, have been allowed and set to issue in the coming months.

Its Optiks i-AMP lens technology is said to give computer users better performance and a visual advantage in the short term while reducing wear and tear on eyes in the long term. Working with the eye, optic nerve and brain to enhance the viewing experience, this patented technology allows digital users to see more clearly, absorb and process more than with the naked eye. Read more.

Evo-Tec, New Collection from Ogi

“Introducing the Evo-Tec Collection, a new sophisticated eyewear collection for the modern male. Constructed of exceptionally lightweight new material, these Evo-Tec designs merge the richness and depth of a fine acetate, with the lightweight aspects of titanium. This innovative material offers the customer a truly unique and futuristic eyewear experience,” according to Midwest Lens. Read more.

ABO Board Certification Program Accredited

The ABO's (American Board of Optometry) board certification program has been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for a five-year period. The ABO received the accreditation of its program by demonstrating compliance with the NCCA’s rigorous Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. Read more.

Setting the Eyewear and Hip-Hop Record Straight

StupidDope writes that “the Vintage Frames Company is fast becoming one of the foremost names in nostalgic eyewear and jewelry. Brand founder Corey Shapiro is among many other things, a historian. He is deeply engulfed in hip hop and fashion sub-culture, many elements of which have been lost or forgotten over the years. In a new series entitled 'The History of Eyewear in Hip Hop,' Shapiro aims to educate those who lack knowledge in the culture and bring prominent figures to the forefront to help him do so.” Read more.
 

Oakley and Nike Fight Over US PGA Champ McIlroy

“American sunglasses maker Oakley has launched legal action to try to retain its sponsorship of world number one golfer Rory McIlroy who is set to become the new face of sportswear giant Nike,” says the New York Times. “U.S. PGA champion McIlroy is poised to rubber-stamp a 10-year deal with U.S. company Nike worth as much as $250 million, according to media reports. Nike is set to supply the 23-year-old Northern Irishman's clubs and have its name or logo on his clothing in an exclusive deal. However, Oakley, owned by Italy's Luxottica, is challenging the move and started legal action in its home state of California last month.” Read more.

Google to Ship Project Glass to Developers

"Google is gearing up to ship its Project Glass technology to developers prior to the public launch, according to Ieee Spectrum,” according to a MacWorld UK post. “Project Glass prototypes will start to arrive in developer's offices in the next few months, although Google isn't expected to ship the consumer version of the technology until 2014. Tech fans have been getting excited by the prospect of heads-up display consumer eyewear for a while now, and Google has consistently announced its plans in this area being put into action by the Project Glass research and development team.” Read more.

G-Rap--The Latest Eyewear Accessory

“Tyler Essenberg has long considered himself an 'idea man,'” starts the Mlive post. “ When he was 6, he told his mother about a gadget that would enable a telephone user to talk without holding a phone. A headset, his mother told him, already existed. But that didn’t deter Essenberg....Now, after years of ideas, one of Essenberg’s inventions is on the verge of making it onto store shelves. G-raps, a flexible band that attaches to most eyewear and displays a logo or personalized message, are expected to be available later this week at Davenport University’s bookstore, followed by a handful of optometry shops next week, Essenberg said....A pair of g-raps, which are made of a silicone-like material and roll onto glasses, cost $5.99. As of now, they’re available in four designs: pink, with the word 'Believe,' in honor of breast cancer awareness; white, with the antlers of a buck; blue, with the Christian fish logo; and colors associated with various colleges.” Read more.

Company Formed to Engineer Cornea Replacements

“Ocular Systems, Inc. (OSI), Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the North Carolina Eye Bank have formed a new company based on a promising new technology aimed at engineering replacement corneas in the lab for transplantation,” reports Science Digest.Read more.

Keratitis Risk Increases 10-Fold with Extended Wear CLs

“The risk of contact lens-related infectious keratitis is increased 10-fold among extended-wear contact lens users, a speaker said here,” according to Ocular Surgery News. “'It’s not a common disease, infection related to contact lenses,'” Douglas R. Lazzaro, MD, said at the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meeting. “'There have been a lot of studies going back almost 30 years. [The risk] is about three to five cases per 10,000 in daily wear users.'” Lazzaro said a study found that the risk of infectious keratitis is increased 10-fold among patients who use extended-wear lenses once or twice in a 30-day period. Risk factors for contact lens-associated infectious keratitis include hypoxia, inappropriate lens fit and extended-wear use. Steroids and tobacco use also increase the risk of infectious keratitis, Lazzaro said.” Read more.

Tura Relaunches Its Brand

The 75-year-old Tura Inc. is re-launching its brand. It's “releasing new eyewear styles and marketing materials that incorporate its American design sensibility, with handcrafted details and heritage of innovation,” reports Midwest Lens. “Tura was founded in 1938 as 'The House of Levoy,' a dispensary on Madison Avenue in New York City. Company founder Monroe Levoy believed that eyewear was just one element of a fashion wardrobe. Tura promoted the concept of 'wardrobing' eyewear to match color schemes in clothing, and thus the modern concept of fashion eyewear was born. The re-mastered Tura Brand includes 45 optical and sun frames (acetate and metal) for women and men with multiple color variations.” Read more.

Still Searching for Missoni after 4 Days

"The search for the missing aircraft carrying Vittorio Missoni [who licensed the Missoni eyewear collection] continued off the coast of Venezuela for a fourth day on Monday. In the absence of any sign of wreckage, members of the Missoni family said they were exploring other possibilities of what might have happened," reports the New York Times. "On Monday, Angela Missoni, Mr. Missoni’s sister and the chief designer of the Missoni label, issued a statement saying that the family had not given up hope that Mr. Missoni and the other passengers had survived. The small plane in which they were traveling disappeared Friday morning after takeoff from the island resort of Los Roques." Read more.

More Blind Mice See

"Led by Robert MacLaren, a professor at the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford in the UK, the team writes about their work in the 3 January online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," according to Medical News Today. It's not the first time blind mice had their sight restored (see our post), but this is a new development. "The idea of using cell replacement to restore vision in retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition where the light-sensing or photoreceptor cells in the retina gradually die leading to progressive blindness, and age-related macular degeneration, where vision in the center of the visual field is lost, is not new. ...Other studies that have tried to regenerate a retina have relied on having a pre-existing outer layer of photoreceptor cells in place at the time of treatment."  Read more.

Facial Recognition and AMD

"Abnormalities of eye movement and fixation may contribute to difficulty in perceiving and recognizing faces among older adults with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), suggests a study 'Abnormal Fixation in Individuals with AMD when Viewing an Image of a Face' appearing in the January issue of Optometry and Vision Science," writes Science Digest. "Unlike people with normal vision focus, those with AMD don't focus on "internal features" (the eyes, nose and mouth) when looking at the image of a face, according to the study by William Seiple, PhD, and colleagues of Lighthouse International, New York. They write, 'Abnormal eye movement patterns and fixations may contribute to deficits in face perception in AMD patients.'" Read more.

Bausch + Lomb Acquires License for Treatment of Ocular Redness

Bausch + Lomb has acquired an exclusive global license to a technology that may lead to a faster, more effective, and longer lasting treatment for ocular redness. The technology employs a uniquely formulated low dose of brimonidine. Licensed from Eye Therapies, LLC, the technology was developed in collaboration with Ora Inc. One of the most common ophthalmologic conditions, ocular redness, or hyperemia, can be triggered by contact lens wear, dry eye, ocular allergies, lifestyle and environmental factors, and medication side effects. Read more.

FGX Donates 1.5 Million Pairs of Eyewear

Eyewear maker and marketer FGX International reportedly donated more than 1.5 million pairs of reading glasses and sunglasses in 2011 and 2012. The eyewear products were given to Restoring Vision, which distributes them in developing countries. The eyewear provided by FGX and Restoring Vision provides a cost-effective method of improving productivity and quality of life of the poor in the developing world. Reading glasses enable individuals to improve productivity and enable them to earn a greater income, thereby avoiding poverty. Restoring Vision’s efforts also empowers developmentally challenged individuals in the United States, enlisting them to sort through the different magnification strengths of reading glasses prior to distributing them to developing countries. Read more.

New Sunglasses from Candie's

“Viva International Group introduces a new sun line to its Candie's Eyewear collection this spring,” according to Midwest Lens. “The twelve new prescription ready sunglass styles are fun and fashionable, perfect for the trendy lifestyle of today’s Candie's girl. Bold silhouettes, including wayfarers, aviators and glamorous ovals are offered in colorful combinations with chic temple treatments, such as animal prints, heart designs and floral patterns.” Read more.

New Early Warning Sign of Glaucoma Discovered

“A new study finds that certain changes in blood vessels in the eye's retina can be an early warning that a person is at increased risk for glaucoma, an eye disease that slowly robs people of their peripheral vision. Using diagnostic photos and other data from the Australian Blue Mountains Eye Study, the researchers showed that patients who had abnormally narrow retinal arteries when the study began were also those who were most likely to have glaucoma at its 10-year end point,” according to a Medical News Today post. “If confirmed by future research, this finding could give ophthalmologists a new way to identify and treat those who are most vulnerable to vision loss from glaucoma. The study was recently published online by Ophthalmology...The findings of the new study, led by Paul Mitchell, M.D., PhD, of the Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, supports the concept that abnormal narrowing of retinal blood vessels is an important factor in the earliest stages of OAG. Tracking nearly 2,500 participants, the study found that the OAG risk at the 10-year mark was about four times higher in patients whose retinal arteries had been narrowest when the study began, compared with those who had had the widest arteries.” Read more.

'Protein S' Essential for Retina Health

“Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with researchers at the Salk Institute in California, have found for the first time that a specific protein is essential not only for maintaining a healthy retina in the eye, but also may have implications for understanding and possibly treating other conditions in the immune, reproductive, vascular and nervous systems, as well as in various cancers,” according to Science Daily. “Their work, reported online in the journal Neuron, highlights the role of Protein S in the maintenance of a healthy retina through its involvement in the process of pruning photoreceptors, the light-sensitive neurons in the eye. (This process is also referred to as phagocytosis.) These photoreceptors keep growing and elongating from their inner end. In order to maintain a constant length, they must be pruned from their outer end by specialized cells called retinal pigment epithelial cells.” Read more.

See the Sunglass Trends from the Land of Down Under

It's summer in the land of Down Under, and its fashion purveyors are proffering advice about sunglasses. Here's what Fab Sugar has to offer: “A pair of killer sunglasses are essential to any stylish and — considering the hours of sunshine we get during an Australian summer — functional wardrobe. Not only do they prevent you from the rather unattractive squint, but a well-chosen pair of shades can instantly up the cool factor. If you're up for investing in a quality pair, may we suggest you leave the pastel frames/reflective lenses/heart-shaped shades to the chain stores and cough up for a classic style that will stand the test of time. Step inside to see our top ten suggestions.” Read more.

Two Days Later, Missoni Still Missing

ABC News reports that “rescuers searched by air and sea today off the coast of Venezuela for the plane carrying Italian fashion mogul Vittorio Missoni, the man credited with turning his father’s fashion house into a global empire that includes hotels, housewares and bicycles [and eyewear]. The 58-year-old left the remote Los Roques archipelago Friday on a twin-engine plane bound for Caracas, Venezuela. On board were his wife, two friends and two pilots. Thirty minutes after takeoff, the plane vanished into the Caribbean, leaving the tight-knit Missoni clan anxiously waiting for answers.” Read more.

Vuzix Takes Its Smart Glasses to a New Stage

Vuzix Corporation is pushing for developers to create and test apps using an Android emulator configured to operate like Vuzix's M100 smart glasses, notes a company spokesperson. Pre-registered and new developers wishing to be a part of the future of smart glasses can log into the new Vuzix developer center (developer.vuzix.com) and sign up as a smart glasses developer to receive the Phase 1 package which will provide them with the software required to start writing code using the PC emulator for Android. The smart glasses reportedly enable wearers to view data and content from their connected mobile device on a 'hands-free' display.

MDs and ODs Marking Territories in Washington

Within hours of hearing American Medical Association (AMA) leaders blame optometry and its allies for thwarting organized medicine’s best efforts to repeal the AOA-backed Harkin Law, an AMA committee called for an renewed effort aimed to repeal of the landmark AOA-backed measure (Public Health Service Act, Sec. 2706), which the AOA calls bars  anti-optometry discrimination by health plans. That's how the AOA see the meeting's results.  The AMA report can be found at http://newsfromaoa.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/i12-bot-report-08.pdf.

Eye Health of Bono Deteriorating

"Julian Lennon, son of late Beatles legend John Lennon, has revealed that Bono's eye condition is getting worse," reports the Irish newspaper Western People. "The U2 frontman has revealed in the past that he wears his ever present sunglasses because his eyes are sensitive to light but his close friend Julian has confirmed that the the condition is deteriorating. He told the Irish Daily Star: 'Bono actually has a condition with his eyes. I don't know the exact issue but the brightness of the sun hurts them and it's a deteriorating issue.'" Read more.

Missoni Missing Off the Coast of Venezuela

This morning the New York Times reported that "the Italian fashion designer Vittorio Missoni, the head of the prominent fashion house, was aboard a small plane that has disappeared off the coast of Venezuela, a company spokeswoman said on Saturday."

Back in June, Italian eyewear producer Allison SpA "renewed its licensing contract [with Missoni] and will continue to handle production and worldwide distribution of optical frames and sunglasses. Allison has held the Missoni eyewear license since 2004, and last year it also launched M Missoni eyewear, targeting a young and cosmopolitan audience," as reported in Accessories Magazine.

B+L Comments about Drop Recall in UK

Bausch + Lomb comments about its recent recall in the United Kingdom of its Minims Eye Drops Solution:

There have been a number of news reports regarding Bausch + Lomb’s recent voluntary recall of a single lot of proxymetacaine 0.5% Minims Eye Drops Solution in the United Kingdom. There have been no reports of any adverse events, and we are working closely with the MHRA on the matter.  We take patient safety very seriously and initiated a voluntary recall of this single lot of product on December 10, 2012.Importantly, this issue relates to a single lot of a prescription eye drop that is mainly used in hospitals in the United Kingdom.  This issue does not impact any other Bausch + Lomb products in any part of the world. Customers who have additional questions should contact Bausch + Lomb Customer Services in Kingston, U.K. at: +44 208 781 2991.

New Ad Campaign for Dolabany, Mario Galbatti, and Plume Paris

Best Image Optical has introduced new images for its eyewear collections, Dolabany, Mario Galbatti, and Plume Paris. The company notes that when fashion and substance are compared, one usually triumphs. However when they collaborate, the result is stunning. This is precisely the theme of the ad campaign. Eyecare professionals will have the opportunity to view, appreciate, and feel these styles online. In addition, these images will come alive to our customers at their ECP location as well. Customers will be greeted to this new side of eyewear fashion in their local optical store with intricate displays and carefully crafted counter presentations. Read more.

New from Oga

"Combining design with technology, the latest release from Öga is a continuation of the COPENH-AL concept. COPENH-AL 2 adopts a creative approach to eyewear featuring shapes which are softer than those of the original collection," according to Midwest Lens. "This masculine concept offers sophisticated men the opportunity to participate in a trend, while maintaining exceptional comfort and design. Aluminum frames are twice as light as titanium and allow for a super masculine, thick framed design. Remaining true to its ancestry, COPENH-AL 2 is a sleek design. The frame features the exclusive patented Öga 'Copenhagen' spring-hinge with spring blade which is simple and clean, and acts as a contrasting decorative element to enhance the product’s appearance." Read more.

Jerry Hall and Georgia Jagger Modeling for Sunglass Hut

"A year ago, they [Jerry Hall and Georgia Jagger] posed for the brand's ready-to-wear, H & M. Today Sunglass Hut, giant sunglass chain, chose top 20-year-old model and her mother for its latest campaign," reports the French website Public. "'Jerry and Georgia have a wonderful mother-daughter relationship, and it is this image that we wanted to highlight our campaign ," said Fabio Angelatonio of Chief Marketing Luxottica Group which owns brands like Ray-Ban, Persol, and Vogue Eyewear" Read more.

New from Elle

Charmant, the eyewear licensee of the Elle eyewear brand, recently noted, "We are pleased to introduce 6 new ophthalmic styles into our ELLE eyewear collection.  Each frame seamlessly fuses the ELLE personality with riveting spring summer 2013 inspirations, resulting in an attractive collection of contemporary, feminine frames!" Visit its website: www.charmant.com.

Ray-Ban Maker Wants $10 Billion for the Company

"Warburg Pincus is looking to sell its eye-care company Bausch & Lomb, and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) have all shown an interest in acquiring the company that made Ray-Bans an iconic sunglass brand." So goes the post on Wall St. Cheat Sheet. "With the assistance of Goldman Sachs, Warburg has decided to sell the business for approximately $10 billion and will begin seeking first-round bids by the end of January. In 2007, the global private equity firm took Bausch & Lomb private, buying the company for $4.6 billion, including debt." Read more.

New from Puma Eyewear

"Puma eyewear’s new optical collection brings you the brand’s most celebrated values: joy, originality and youth," notes Midwest Lens. "The 2013 spring summer collection includes six styles perfect for the most spontaneous young men and women. Frame forms include over-sized, vintage-inspired looks and wraparound, sporty shapes. Bright new color selections and arrangements including color blocked or layered looks will really set the stylish PUMA frame wearer apart." Read more.

Blinking Sends Brain "Off Line"

“New research from Japan suggests that blinking does more than stop our eyes drying out: it is an active process that causes the brain to go off-line, into a more reflective mode, before giving renewed attention,” says  Medical News Today. “Tamami Nakano of Osaka University and colleagues write about their findings in the 24 December online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, PNAS. In earlier work, where they had invited volunteers to watch Mr Bean videos, Nakano and colleagues discovered that people's eyes blink when they need to pay less attention, for instance when the video cuts to a new scene. And in another study, they found people blink when they pause while speaking, and this entrains their listeners to time their eye blinks to occur a split second later. This seems to confirm the common-sense idea that we blink at times when we'll miss the least important information. ” Read more.

Red Storm's Guard Shooting Better with CLs

“St. John’s D’Angelo Harrison sees it all so clearly now,” reports the New York Daily News. “The sophomore guard has been the Red Storm’s best option for an outside shot since he arrived last year. But until Dec. 15, the Johnnies’ leading scorer had chosen to play without the aid of lenses prescribed to him in high school. He began wearing contacts for the game that day for the win ovefr St. Francis at the Barclays Center and again Dec. 21 in the loss to UNC Asheville at Carnesecca Arena.” Read more.

Kerr Puts On Stella McCartney Sunglasses

“There's no doubt gorgeous supermodel Miranda Kerr is just as stylish strutting on the sidewalk as she is the runway. So, when the Victoria's Secret Angel hits the pavement in one of her effortlessly cool street style looks, we definitely take note of her outfits, down the final fab touches,” according to E Online. “Case in point: the leggy lady recently wowed us in a chic supermarket ensemble of a hard-to-miss yellow Stella McCartney blazer layered over a charming floral Erdem shirt and form-fitting rag & bone skirt. But it was her Stella McCartney tortoise sunglasses that caught our attention, thanks to their gray shade—a stylish spin on the traditionally brown-hued accessory.”Read more.

Platrow Dons Quirky Sunglasses on New Year's Day

“She had enjoyed a late night the previous evening ringing in 2013 while watching husband Chris Martin perform in concert with Jay-Z,” notes the Daily Mail. “So when New Year’s Day rolled around, Gwyneth Paltrow had the perfect accessory to hide any tired eyes. The actress slipped on a pair of quirky white sunglasses before stepping out of her New York hotel with son Moses.” Read more.

Transitions Implements a More Intense Marketing Campaign

Transitions Optical is expanding its Official Sponsor of Sightseeing program in 2013.For this program, the company is turning to Neolane and The Marketing Store Worldwide to support its CRM efforts, expand its social integration, and grow its cross-channel communications efforts. Transitions wants access to its database and test marketing campaigns regularly. Working with The Marketing Store Worldwide, Transitions is implementing Neolane’s conversational marketing platform. Therefore, Transitions will create an integrated, cross-channel approach including the integration of social media marketing (i.e. Facebook, Twitter). Additionally, the lens company will have access to advanced reporting and analytics capabilities to obtain deeper customer insight. As such, the company will be able to gather, track, and analyze data to better understand where its marketing efforts are working and where they can most benefit from changes or improvements. Read more.  What could that mean for you? A marketing program that better informs the best potential customers for Transitions lenses, which should make an ECPs job easier.

Earlier Warning Signs of Glaucoma Found

“ A new study finds that certain changes in retinal blood vessels provide an early warning of increased glaucoma risk,” according to a Science Daily post. “Using Blue Mountains Eye Study data, the researchers showed that patients who had abnormally narrow retinal arteries at baseline were also most likely to have glaucoma at 10-year follow up. If confirmed by future research, this finding could give ophthalmologists a new way to identify and treat those who are most vulnerable to glaucoma.” Read more.

New from Dzmitry Samal

“Bringing the sleekness and geometric fashion from his earlier career in car design, Dzmitry Samal has developed a new line of eyewear inspired by the 'digital roots of technology' and his view of futuristic designs. Dzmitry Samal’s eyewear collection is designed and entirely manufactured in France using up-to-date technologies and handmade know-how.” That's the word from Midwest Lens. Read more.

January Is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Again Prevent Blindness America, the American Optometric Assn., and other eye care groups are promoting January as Glaucoma Awareness Month. Why? Studies show that by 2023 the number of Americans diagnosed with glaucoma will increase by more than one million. So these organizations are encouraging people to get eye examinations. As most eye care professionals (ECPs) know, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S., but most Americans don't. According to results from the AOA's latest American Eye-Q consumer survey, 90 percent of respondents think glaucoma is preventable, 86 percent don't know what part of vision glaucoma affects, and 72 percent think glaucoma has early warning signs. What's more, 86 percent of American Eye-Q respondents don't realize that a person's race places him/her at a higher risk of developing glaucoma.  According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, for instance, glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African Americans than Caucasians. Other risk factors include those who have a family history of glaucoma, hypothyroidism, are over age 60, or individuals who have had severe eye trauma. Read more.

AR Eyewear Goes after the Sports Market

“In September, at the height of New York Fashion Week, Google co-founder Sergey Brin debuted his new heads-up-display eyewear, Glass by Google—essentially a smartphone with a monocle for a screen—at designer Diane von Fürstenberg’s runway show. The critics reacted as though he’d shown up in Tevas and socks. 'Mr. Brin was wearing a pair with a turquoise stem that made him look as if he had stabbed himself in the eye with the straw of some tropical frozen cocktail,' wrote New York Times fashion blogger Eric Wilson.” So begins the Outside post. “Unglamorous? Maybe, but the high-tech glasses are part of a larger effort to develop wearable GPS-and-4G-enabled smartphones that integrate useful data into your field of vision. Though heads-up displays, or HUDs, have been projected onto glass screens in fighter planes since World War II, making the technology small and agile enough to be portable has proved difficult. One leader in the field is Recon Instruments, of Vancouver, British Columbia, which introduced a rudimentary prototype display in a pair of ski goggles in 2007.” Read more.

Success Comes in Many Forms for Warby Parker

Warby Parker claims to be part of a new breed of companies that are “building a company to do good in the world,” as the web page for their “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program boldly explains. Almost one billion people don’t have access to glasses, and receiving corrective eyewear can increase one’s productivity by 20% -- equivalent to an extra work day a week. This is why Warby Parker sees glasses as a key component to global poverty alleviation. The company also says that it carefully avoids a classical “aid” trap, pointed out by discerning international development professionals. WP reportedly partners through funding and/or glasses with local non-profits, who in turn train low-income entrepreneurs to start their own businesses selling glasses.

They don’t just want to do good in other countries, as illustrated by their response to the Sandy storm that hit in their backyard. Stories emerged from the Red Hook housing projects in Brooklyn of rats and raccoons entering the dark hallways and residences which remained without power for weeks. A light bulb quite literally went off for Lander Bravo, and he reached out to Nokero, a designer and manufacturer of solar light bulbs and chargers. Nokero, also founded on a mission of “good business” and a name derived from “No Kerosene,” created a global effort to eliminate this dirty fuel from the developing world with a solar light bulb by Steve Katsaros, as noted in a New York Times article.

Businesses like Nokero and Warby Parker don’t want to outsource doing good to non-profits. They’ve made it part of their mission as a company to use their respective expertise around the world and right here at home. Not just an occasional act of charity, but as Warby Parker asserts, “we think it’s good business doing good.”