Steven Alan Renews Eponym Licensing Agreement

"Steven Alan has renewed its eyewear licensing agreement with Eponym, to design, produce and distribute its optical and sunglass designs through March 2021," according to WWD. "The brand first launched its eyewear program in partnership with Eponym in 2013. The label says that its eyewear sales have doubled each year throughout their initial three-year contract. In 2015, Eponym opened two Steven Alan Optical brick-and-mortar units in New York. As part of this renewed agreement, Eponym has agreed to open between five and 10 more stores in the next five years. The first in this grouping will be a West Village location in Manhattan, to open in April." Read more.

Safilo Enlists Marcel Wanders to Design Eyewear Collection

"Great designers transcend mediums—a point that Safilo, one of the largest and oldest manufactures of optical frames, ostensibly embraces, considering that it has enlisted the talents of Marcel Wanders for new collection of eyewear," notes Forbes. "Though relatively unknown in sartorial circles, Wanders is noted for being one of the most prolific product and interior designers working today. So much so that the New York Times christened him the “Lady Gaga of the design world.” And just like the songstress, Wanders seemingly never fails to showcase works that are bold, modern, and appeal to a diverse range of consumers." Read more.

Using Fish and Insects to Design Contact Lenses

Contact lens designed for presbyopia

"Making the most of the low light in the muddy rivers where it swims, the elephant nose fish survives by being able to spot predators amongst the muck with a uniquely shaped retina, the part of the eye that captures light. In a new study, researchers looked to the fish’s retinal structure to inform the design of a contact lens that can adjust its focus," reports the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "Imagine a contact lens that autofocuses within milliseconds. That could be life-changing for people with presbyopia, a stiffening of the eye’s lens that makes it difficult to focus on close objects. Presbyopia affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, half of whom do not have adequate correction, said the project’s leader, Hongrui Jiang, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. And while glasses, conventional contact lenses and surgery provide some improvement, these options all involve the loss of contrast and sensitivity, as well as difficulty with night vision. Jiang’s idea is to design contacts that continuously adjust in concert with one’s own cornea and lens to recapture a person’s youthful vision." Read more.

Drive to Improve Vision Care for Children

The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH), and the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) are calling on health professionals, eye care professionals, and others to apply for a vision-health collaborative,  named “Improving Children’s Vision: Systems, Stakeholders & Support.”

Its mission: Increase by 20 percent over 2011-2012 levels (according to the National Survey of Children’s Health measure) the proportion of children five and younger who receive vision screenings in five selected states by 2018. At that time, NCCVEH should have a comprehensive approach that reduces vision problems of children in hard-to-reach areas.

All teams interested in participating must submit applications via an online portal by April 25, 2016 at 5 p.m. ET. Applications will be selected and parties notified by May 23, 2016.

Reservations Pouring in for OpticalCEUs Spring Continuing Education Seminar

Opticians from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are registering quickly for OpticalCEUs Spring 2016 Continuing Education Seminar. It will be held April 10th in the Celebrity Ballroom of the Fox Tower at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino. The opticians will pick up seven ABO/NCLE continuing education credits, which they can apply to their requirements for their state licenses and their ABO/NCLE certification. Register now before the seminar sells out.

Scientists Move Closer to Creating Human Eye from Stem Cells

"A breakthrough in stem cells just brought us much closer to lab-grown human eyeballs," says Popular Mechanics. "Biologists led by Kohji Nishida at Osaka University in Japan have discovered a new way to nurture and grow the many separate tissues that make up the human eyeball, and the scientists need only a small sample adult skin to build them all. Using their new method, Nishida's team can grow retinas, corneas, the eye's lens, and more. In a preliminary trial, the Japanese researchers cultured and grew sheathes of rabbit cornea—the transparent cover of the eye— that restored sight in blind rabbits born without fully-grown corneas. The research is published today in the journal Nature. Don't throw away your glasses (or eye patch) just yet, but human trials are up next." Read more.

1-800 Contacts Files Complaints against Arizona ODs

"One of the nation’s largest contact lens retail companies filed complaints Monday against hundreds of Arizona optometrists for allegedly failing to turn over patients’ prescriptions so they can sell them lenses," according to a Casa Grande Dispatch post. "Draper, Utah-based 1-800 Contacts filed 3,200 complaints with the state Board of Optometry, asking the board to censure or fine the optometrists or suspend or revoke their licenses. The complaints mark a new tack by the discount contact lens supplier in an ongoing battle with contact lens manufacturers and retailers over pricing.
The company alleges the optometrists failed to follow federal and state laws requiring them to provide prescriptions to a patient’s designated representative upon request. Stacey Meier, president of the state optometric association, said his members know and follow the law and that there’s no requirement that optometrists respond if the prescription is valid. He said 1-800-Contacts can fill a prescription if they don’t hear back within eight business hours under 'passive verification' rules." Read more.

Specsavers Research Says Employers Focusing on Employee Well-Being

"New research from Specsavers Corporate Eyecare shows that three quarters of employers (75%) state their focus on well-being has increased in recent years. A significant 61% spend more than 1% of their well-being budget on eyecare and, perhaps surprisingly, 19% of employers allocate more than 5% of their well-being budget to eyecare," notes Personnel Today. "Furthermore, more than two thirds (69%) of employers think eyecare delivers a good return on investment (ROI). Less than one quarter (22%) are undecided if eyecare delivers a good return on investment, and just 8% think it did not actually deliver a good return....Research released earlier this year by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare showed how employers believe that having an eyecare policy in place helps with the overall health and well-being of their staff and can help to increase productivity at work." Read more.

Eye Grows Lens after Cataract Surgery

“A new study describes a pioneering new cataract treatment - tested in animals and in a small trial with human patients - where, after the cloudy lens is removed, the eye grows a new lens from its own stem cells,” according to a Medical News Today post. “The researchers - including teams from the University of California-San Diego (UCSD), Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou and Sichuan University, both in China - describe their new regenerative medicine approach in a paper published in the journal Nature. The treatment was tested in 12 babies born with cataracts. It resulted in significantly fewer surgical complications than current treatments, say the researchers. Sight was improved in all 12 patients. In the new study, the team used the ability of stem cells to grow new tissue. They did not use the more common approach - where stem cells are taken out of the patient, grown in the lab and then put back in the patient. This method can introduce disease and raise the risk of immune rejection. Instead, the team coaxed stem cells in the patients' eyes to regrow the lenses. So-called endogenous stem cells are stem cells that are naturally already in place, ready to regenerate new tissue in the case of injury or some other problem. In the case of the human eye, the endogenous stem cells - known as lens epithelial stem cells (LECs) - generate replacement lens cells throughout a person's life, although production wanes with age.” Read more.

New Gwen Stefani Eyewear and Sunglasses from Tura

"Just in time for spring, Tura Inc. and Gwen Stefani have launch their new line of sunglasses and optical eyewear for the L.A.M.B. and gx by Gwen Stefani brands," notes Fashion & Style. "The L.A.M.B. collection, which includes 12 optical styles ranging from $195 - $275 and 13 sunwear styles ranging from $149 - $249, mixes luxury materials and complex constructions with street, rock and roll, and retro influences to deliver an edge and sophisticated glamour. Signature elements include custom metal tips, slotted screw heads and graphic interpretations of Gwen's signature black and white palette. gx by Gwen Stefani, which includes 12 optical styles beginning at $150, with sunwear to follow, tells an urban street story using bold color and expressive shapes. Metal accents throughout the collection give it an edge and distinctive rock and roll flavor." Read more.

Moscot Teams Up with Australian Music Company

"Future Classic – the electronic-music tastemakers and independent music label – has now ticked designing sunglasses off their to-do list. They have taken time out from managing Flume, Chet Faker and Flight Facilities to work with New York eyewear makers MOSCOT to create two limited-edition ranges of eyewear," according to Broadsheet. "The unisex collection is designed to last. Reeves calls the Lemtosh model, a blonde-matte frame with green lenses, 'a minimal classic.' The Yukel, a Matte Classic Havana Acetate and matte-black metal combination frame with brown glass lenses is, 'a bit more unusual, but still in an understated and subtle way.'" Read more.

New Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses and Eyewear from Luxottica

"Luxottica has launched the latest optical and sun collection from Dolce & Gabbana, the Sicilian

Carretto Eyewear Collection," reports Moodie. "Taking inspiration from Sicily and traditional painted Sicilian carts, the eyewear range features the same decorative techniques used by the master craftsmen who once worked with the carts. Available in a numbered, limited edition of 100, the eyewear is crafted from Canaletto walnut and features a painted relief design on the front of the frames. The colors are applied by hand in the following order: red with yellow motifs, followed by blue, green then orange. According to Luxottica, no two pairs are the same, since the decorator’s hand renders each model 'completely unique.'" Read more.

Scotty, Beam Me Up Some Presbyopic Lenses

What happens to your body--even your vision--after spending a year in zero gravity? That's what scientists are trying to understand, according to a New York Times article about astronaut Scott Kelly. "One of the unanswered concerns is how much astronauts could be expected to do right after landing on Mars as they readjust to gravity. Mr. Kelly, 52, now holds the record for the longest single stay in space for a NASA astronaut, and the most time overall: 520 days over four missions. (A Russian, Valeri Polyakov, holds the overall record for the longest single spaceflight: nearly 438 days.) NASA and the Russian space agency collaborated on a series of scientific studies to examine how extended weightlessness changes bones, muscles, nerves and the cardiovascular system. 'You name it, we’re interested in all of it," Dr. Charles said. In addition, NASA aims to compare changes, including genetic mutations, between Mr. Kelly and his twin brother, Mark, a retired NASA astronaut," goes the article.

Zero gravity affects the eyes: "One experiment looked at 'fluid shift' — the movement of water from the lower body toward the head when there is no gravity to hold things down. Increased pressure in the skull could cause the flattening of the eyeballs seen in some astronauts, pushing their vision toward farsightedness." Read more.

According to the website AmeritasInsight, "During extended space travel, astronauts live in microgravity, which scientists believe creates excessive pressure inside the head and impacts an astronaut’s fluid level in the eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these specific changes to the eyes were noticed:

• Flattening in the back of the eyeball
• Swelling of the optic nerve
• Creases in the tissue behind the retina

"Through the study, medical professionals learned that many astronauts experience correctable near and distance vision problems following space travel. This included about 23 percent of those participating in brief missions and 48 percent of those in an extended space program of at least six months. Although most reported that these were short-term issues, some continued to experience problems for several months or years following space travel. Decades ago, after documenting incidences of near-vision problems, NASA started equipping astronauts with space anticipation glasses to improve vision sharpness during aeronautical missions." Read more.

And there's more. "Pirates saw green flashes at sunset; many space-flight crew members see light flashes at night during a mission. For space crew, these flashes  are thought to come from high-energy particles interacting with the eyes and brain. The Anomalous Long Term Effects of Astronauts (ALTEA) investigation measured the effect of exposure to radiation in space, particularly on the central nervous system. One part of the study relates the light flashes to the radiation passing through the spacecraft. This knowledge helps to more accurately determine the risk and  the specific type of radiation exposure of ISS crew members, and to develop ways to protect future crews," according to a NASA website. Read more.

Maryland AG Files Antitrust Complaint against Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

“The nation's largest maker of contact lenses is being accused of violating Maryland's antitrust law by conspiring with retailers to set a higher minimum price for their products, Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced today,” reports Southern Maryland Online. “Attorney General Frosh said that the Office of the Attorney General Antitrust Division has filed a civil complaint charging Florida-based Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., the makers of Acuvue lenses, with violations of the Maryland Antitrust Act. The complaint seeks civil penalties and an end to the anti-competitive pricing policy.” Read more.

New Online Program to Support In-School Vision Care Programs

The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH) has partnered with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) to create a new online resource to support school nurses in the implementation of stronger vision health programs for the students they serve. More than 12.1 million school-age children, or one in four, have some form of a vision problem which includes refractive errors such as near- and farsightedness, astigmatism, and strabismus. Significant vision problems can begin well before a child reaches school-age. Vision impairments are common conditions, affecting 5 to 10 percent of all preschool-aged children. According to the National Eye Institute, two to five percent of children ages three to five have amblyopia, three to four percent have strabismus, and 10-15 percent have significant refractive error. Read more.

Marchon and Lacoste Continue Deal

Marchon Eyewear, Inc., has renewed of its global licensing agreement with Lacoste. Originally signed in 2011, the long-term extension of the licensing agreement grants Marchon the rights to design, produce and distribute Lacoste-branded sun and ophthalmic collections. Read more.

Alcon to Sponsor Eurovision Song Contest

“Confirmation of the partnership was announced by Jon Ola Sand, the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, on behalf of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). "We are delighted that Dailies is renewing their partnership with us again this year. We are very much looking forward to working with them to prepare exciting activities for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest” Sand says,” according to the Eurovision.tv website post. “’Alcon is proud to partner with the Eurovision song contest which is a perfect event to put in the spotlight our contact lens product: Dailies AquaComfort Plus. Our Dailies contact lenses are recognised for their refreshing comfort throughout the day, so wearers can enjoy every moment of the Eurovision!’ said Per Iver Nielsen, Business Unit Head Vision Care, Alcon Nordics.” Read more.

A Roundup about the MIDO Eyewear Convention

Didn't have time to hop on a jet to fly to Milan last month. Do you want to see some of the latest and crazy eyewear at the MIDO Convention? Go to this DW site.

Children's Book That Tests Eyes Rated the World's Most effective Ad Campaign

"A children's book in Australia, which makes it easier for parents to screen their child's vision, has been named the world's most effective advertising campaign," according to a post on Mashable. "Australian ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi created Penny the Pirate book, which has eye tests disguised as images on its pages, for optometry company OPSM. The Warc 100, an annual ranking of marketing campaigns that tests effectiveness of ads, placed the book and app as its number one campaign for 2016, based on its performance in 2015. Combining a traditional book and a tablet app that is available for free, Penny the Pirate incorporates multiple vision tests into a fun kids' book, allowing parents to test their eyesight as they read the story to their child. No frightening optometrist visits here." Read more.

101 Million People Have Uncorrected Refractive Error

"Uncorrected refractive error -- nearsightedness, farsightedness, and other focusing problems correctable by prescription lenses -- is responsible for moderate to severe vision impairment in 101 million people and blindness in seven million people worldwide, reports a new study." That's part of a post on Science Daily. Read more.

Link between ADHD and Vision Impairment

"A new study sheds light on a link between noncorrectable vision problems and ADHD in children," reports Science Daily. "Results from a large survey of 75,000 children suggest an increased risk of ADHD among children with vision problems that are not correctable with glasses or contacts, such as color blindness or lazy eye, relative to other children. This finding suggests that children with vision impairment should be monitored for signs and symptoms of ADHD so that this dual impairment of vision and attention can best be addressed." Read more.

The New $395 Nikes for Runners

“Nike Vision has a new line of sunglasses out for runners this spring, and the top-end Vaporwing Elite and Vaporwing will run you $395 (about £275 or AU$560). That's the kind of price we're used to seeing for so-called smart glasses, but these sunglasses don't recharge or have any electronics in them. Yet Nike says a considerable amount of technology went into designing and building them,” according to a recent post on CNET. “The new sunglasses, for which Nike Vision developed "new materials and vision technology," are designed to conform to the shape of a runner's face but also offer good ventilation to prevent fogging. On top of that lensmaker Zeiss created 'state-of-the-art optics that deliver advanced acuity, so the athlete can lock on a moving target, accurately identify objects and assess distance.'” Read more.

Luxottica and Valentino Team Up

“Leading luxury eyewear maker Luxottica Group and the Valentino fashion house, have announced they signed a new and exclusive eyewear license agreement for the design, manufacture and worldwide distribution of Valentino eyewear,” notes the Hong Kong Standard. “The 10-year agreement will be effective from January 2017. The first collection presented under the agreement will be on the market from the beginning of the same year. Valentino eyewear will embody timeless elegance of the fashion house, taking inspiration from ready-to-wear collections and accessories, in a perfect balance between tradition and innovation in full respect of the DNA and the iconic values of the brand.” Read more.

Italian Frame Makers Reportedly Doing Well

“2015 was an excellent one in the post-economic crisis era for Italy's eyewear sector, industry experts said here on Friday,” reports the Shanghai Daily. “At the opening conference of MIDO, the Milan eyewear show which runs from Saturday to Monday, it was announced that in 2015, Italian eyewear production totaled 3.6 billion euros (3.9 billion U.S. dollars), up by 12.5 percent over 2014. In 2015, there were 870 companies in the country, 0.2 percent more compared to 2014. Exports of frames, sunglasses and lenses, which account for almost 90 percent of production by the sector, rose by 12.3 percent over 2014 to 3.4 billion euros. The main export market for sunglasses and frames in 2015 remained Europe, with 49 percent share of exports, followed by United States with 30.5 percent and Asia which absorbed 18.2 percent, posting a growth of 14 percent, with China at 42 percent. In terms of suppliers, imports from Asia continued to take the lion's share at 73 percent, figures showed. The Made in Italy was a driving factor for exports, MIDO president Cirillo Marcolin said. Sophisticated consumers are willing to spend more, so that higher costs for companies are more than offset by the benefits of product image and quality, he noted.” Read more.

Safilio Scouts New Talent in the Eyewear Field

“Italian eyewear manufacturer Safilo is scouting out new design talent through a mentorship program in partnership with Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue,” goes the pot on Luxury Daily. “'A Forward Vision for Eyewear Heritage' claims to be the first tutoring project of its kind dedicated to the tradition and craftsmanship of eyewear. The three winners will have the chance to experience the inner workings of Safilo, which produces the eyewear for licensees including Dior, Jimmy Choo and Givenchy.” Read more.

Alcon Offers Kits for New Dailies Users

If you have patients using Alcon's Dailies AquaComfort Plus contact lenses for the first time, Alcon has a limited supply of kits just for them, according to an item on Eyewire. It contains the following: insertion and removal instructions, rebates and coupons for Alcon OTC products, consumer brochure, carrying case, a kit to carry the material home from your office, and trial lenses. Quantities are reported to be limited, so contact your Alcon rep soon. Read more.

B+L Introduces Ultra Contact Lenses for Presbyopia

Bausch + Lomb recently introduced Ultra contact lenses for presbyopia. The silicone hydrogel lens reportedly has B+L's MoistureSeal with the progressive design in its Biotrue ONEday. The new product is a monthly. Read more.

Essilor Buys Vision Direct

Essilor International strengthened its online presence with the purchase of Vision Direct Group Ltd, a £33-million European contact lens retailer, according to a press release published by PEHub. “Vision Direct does a majority of its business in the UK and Ireland, but is also active in several other European countries and enjoys a reputation for excellent customer service. This move further strengthens Essilor International’s current positions in online optical retail in Europe, by complementing existing activities in the Nordic countries.” Read more.

FDA Updates Warning about Peroxide as a Contact Lens Cleaning Solution

Under new regulations, there will be a red warning label and red tip remind your patients that contact lens solutions with hydrogen peroxide require special handling. (This is a sample bottle. Actual products may have a different design, depending on the brand.)

Sharpen Your Optical Skills at OpticalCEUs Spring Continuing Education Seminar

Sharpen your skills. Dust off your imagination. And pick up the latest optical ideas—from sun lens technology to specialty contact lenses. It's yours at OpticalCEUs Spring Seminar on April 10 in the Celebrity Ballroom of Foxwood's Fox Tower (formerly MGM Grand). In the second level ballroom, you can earn up to 7 ABO/NCLE credits. Oh yeah, almost forgot. There's a free banquet lunch for all attendees.

So register now!!!

Here's what our speakers will offer you: Our speakers will help you:

• The Nature of Light and Its Practical Applications Speaker: Joe Forte (1 ABO) 9am-10am
• Explore the Cornea Speaker: Linda Conlin (1 NCLE) 10am-11am
• Managing Ocular Allergies & Ocular Surface Disorders with Single Use Lenses Speaker: Joe Forte (1 NCLE Pending) 11am-Noon – NEW!
• Specialty Contact Lenses are Not That Special Speaker: Joe Forte (1 NCLE) 1pm-2pm
• Shades of Green Speaker: Deborah Kotob (1 ABO Pending) 2pm-3pm – NEW!
• Lens Enhancements Speaker: Deborah Kotob (1 ABO) 3pm-4pm – NEW!
• Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses Speaker: Joe Forte (1 NCLE) 4pm-5pm

Register now! Earn accreditation! Have some Foxwoods fun!

Our Lecturers
Linda Conlin: For over 15 years Linda, an Adjunct Instructor with the Goodwin College Ophthalmic Sciences program, has provided continuing education and training for opticians at the state and national levels. She is ABO and NCLE certified, licensed in CT, MA and RI, and has written for 20/20 and EyeWitness magazines. She founded OpticalCEUs and launched OpticalCEU.com and Optical News from OpticalCEUs news blog for opticians.

Deborah Kotob: Deborah, the ECP Education Facilitator for Vision-Ease, creates and presents ABO, NCLE and JCAHPO seminars related to optics and best practices. A Massachusetts-licensed optician, she has owned two optical businesses and was a sales representative for MODO and Luxottica. Deborah has achieved ABOM and NCLE certifications.

Joe Forte: Joe, the director of contact lens services for Greenwich Ophthalmology Associates, lectured at CUNY Tech, Vision Expo and Optifair. He is certified as an Advanced Level speaker, and was program director of the Interboro Institute College of Opticianry where he taught courses in various areas of contact lenses and optics. Joe has been a Fellow of the CLSA since 1992.

Give Me My Contacts Or Give Me…Just Give Me My Contacts

It’s a matter of personal freedom so don’t tell me what to do. That’s the argument of Arizona’s House Health Committee which is considering a bill that would allow contact lens prescriptions to be valid for two years, notes the Verde Independent. Rep. Heather Carter says there’s no medical reason for the restriction—although she’s not a health-care professional. The Independent noted that she “sniffed” at the health-care reasons for the one-year prescription when Annette Hanian, OD, testified. Read more.

Nano-Scale Device Manipulates Light for Contact Lenses

“Researchers at RMIT University and the University of Adelaide have joined forces to create a stretchable nano-scale device to manipulate light.” Reports Phys.org. “The device manipulates light to such an extent that it can filter specific colors while still being transparent and could be used in the future to make smart contact lenses. Using the technology, high-tech lenses could one day filter harmful optical radiation without interfering with vision - or in a more advanced version, transmit data and gather live vital information or even show information like a head-up display. The light manipulation relies on creating tiny artificial crystals termed ‘dielectric resonators,’ which are a fraction of the wavelength of light - 100-200 nanometers, or over 500 times thinner than a human hair.” Read more.

Porn Actors Happy without Eyewear

For nearly six hours, members of California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board listened too nearly 100 porn actors complain how proposed protective eyewear regulations for the porn film industry would ruin the “aesthetics” and “fantasy” of the porno film, said the LA Daily News. After all, who wants to see “Long Dong” Whoever or the Busty Babes of Brooklyn wearing protective eyewear? Read more.

Cara Delevingne Stars in Chanel Film

Karl Lagerfeld filmed actress Cara Delevingne modeling Chanel's new line of sunglasses in the above film, reports the Prusuitist. Read more.

Olsen Twins Launch Sunglass Line at Oliver Peoples

"Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen rolled into the Oliver Peoples Madison Avenue boutique on Tuesday night for a party celebrating their first eyewear collaboration. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the reluctance of The Row designers to engage much with the public or the press, they have cheekily named a pair of $340 oversize tortoise sunglasses 'Don’t Bother Me,'" writes the New York Times. "'Whatever you write tonight, however the story comes together, it’ll feel like you’re writing about someone else,' Mary-Kate said to a reporter invited to cover the party. Ashley, standing nearby, nodded. The chunky glasses befit the Olsen twins for reasons other than the not-so-welcoming name, of course. They have a kind of past-meets-future look, as if they drew their inspiration from little old ladies from the 1950s but would now likely be seen on someone like Kate Moss or Jessa from 'Girls.'" Read more.

Porn Stars Protest Eyewear Regulations

"More than 100 adult film performers plan to gather in Sacramento Thursday to protest an expected ruling by California regulators that mandates condoms and eyewear for actors on all porn sets statewide." That's the word from the LA Daily News. Read more.

Jeb Bush Gets Hair Cut and Contact Lenses,. Trump Tweets In.

There wasn't much news from the Bush campaign, so a New York Times reporter filed the following story:

And now, a joke from Jeb Bush. "Ashley, how are you doing?" he said at the start of his news conference on Tuesday, turning to an ABC reporter, Candace Smith.

There were bemused smiles, but mostly silent stares.

“I’m not wearing my contacts, so-—,“ he said, as another reporter, Ashley Killough of CNN, looked on. “I’m joking.” 

At least one person chuckled.

Ms. Smith is petite and black; Ms. Killough is tall and white.

Mr. Bush, the former Florida governor, typically wears glasses, but his campaign said he had gotten contact lenses Monday morning. It seems he was, in fact, wearing them.

“Yeah, I’m wearing them,” he said when pressed. “I got home yesterday for the first time in three weeks, I think — two and a half weeks. And I went to the eye doctor and got a haircut. Big news in the Bush campaign.”

Read more.

Donald Trump apparently could not bear Jeb Bush getting any kind of decent publicity, so the Mouth tweeted: "'Jeb Bush just got contact lenses and got rid of the glasses. He wants to look cool, but it's far too late. 1% in Nevada!," according to the Daily Mail. Read more.

Brad Pitt Wears Silhouette's at Premiere for "The Big Short"

Oscar nominated Brad Pitt reportedly wore a pair of Silhouette's Titan Minimal Art glasses to the New York premiere of The Big Short, two months ago. This sleek rimless style embodies Silhouette's minimalist aesthetic and use of innovative materials for an airy, ultra lightweight look. Read more.

Feds Arrest Man Selling Counterfeit and Contaminated Contact Lenses

"Federal authorities are accusing a Las Vegas man of selling counterfeit contact lenses, some found contaminated with bacteria," reports MyNews4 of Las Vegas. "The Justice Department said Wednesday that 29-year-old Dmitriy Melnik was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of trafficking counterfeit goods, introducing misbranded devices and conspiracy. Authorities said he illegally and knowingly imported from China and South Korea thousands of colored contact lenses packaged with counterfeit trademarks and brand names on them, including Ciba Vision FreshLook Colorblends." Read more.

Eyes Damaged by Zika Virus

"Infants infected with the Zika virus may be born not only with unusually small heads, but also with eye abnormalities that threaten vision, researchers reported on Tuesday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology," reports the New York Times. "The study described damage to the retina or optic nerve in 10 of 29 newborns examined at Roberto Santos General Hospital in Salvador, Brazil. All the infants were presumed to have been infected with the Zika virus and had small heads, a condition called microcephaly. Other causes of the defect, like infection with rubella or toxoplasmosis, were ruled out." Read more.

Rate of Glaucoma Determined by Smart Contact Lenses

"Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center have found that smart contact lenses that emit patterns of electrical signals can be used to detect the rate of glaucoma. The smart contact lens system, known as Triggerfish, is from Swiss startup Sensimed and is designed as a diagnostic. It offers an automated, continuous recording of ocular dimensional changes when worn over a 24-hour period," reports Fierce Medical Devices. "In addition to the lens itself, Triggerfish includes an adhesive antenna, which is worn around the eye during that period and transmits the data through a cable from the antenna to a portable recorder that's worn around the patient's neck. Data is transferred via Bluetooth from the recorder to software installed on a health care provider's computer. This latest data on this lens system was published online today in the journal Ophthalmology." Read more.

Turning Contact Lenses into Computer Screens

"Researchers from the University of South Australia plan on taking wearable visual aids to a new level by turning contact lenses into computer screens, according to Phys.org," reports HNGN.com. "Using an polymer film coating with the ability to conduct electricity, the research team has developed a proof of concept for their new invention- contact lenses that can receive electronic prompts, just like a computer screen." Read more.

NBA Star Westbrook Gives Colbert Eyewear Makeover

"Sure, he's a massively successful NBA star, but Russell Westbrook is also famous for his adventurous fashion sense. And considering the fact that the All Star MVP's signature style move is wearing bold glasses, it's only reasonable that he decided to launch his own eyewear brand, Westbrook Frames, in 2014," reported Esquire magazine. "He recently talked to us about what inspires the line's designs, and last night he appeared on The Late Show to help Stephen Colbert inject a little more personality into his glasses game. Some of the models look downright absurd on a guy like Colbert, who jokes that he "doesn't have enough skull" for one style, and compares himself to mid-'80s Sally Jesse Raphael in another. But the first ones—classically styled acetate frames with a keyhole bridge, selected by Westbrook—actually look pretty great." Read more.

Adrian Marwitz Launches New Marketing Campaign

"In close conceptual cooperation with the award-winning German eyewear manufacturer Adrian Marwitz, fashion photographer Sacha Tassilo Höchstetter was in charge of creative direction for the new eyeglass campaign. Styling of model Jelena Nebendal was done by Alex Huber, and Ben AYER c/o BALLSAAL took care of the hair & beauty look," wrote GoSee. "Since 1918, the name Marwitz has been synonym with high-quality eyeglass frames. The business started by his grandfather is continued by Adrian Marwitz in the new millennium. He has a passion for eyeglasses as a fashion accessory: extraordinary design, the material titanium and first-class manual production in Germany." Read more.

New Crocs Eyewear from A&A Optical

"A&A Optical announces the release of four styles (12 skus total) from Crocs Eyewear Junior Collection: JR031, JR036, JR6005, JR6006," according to Midwest Lens. "The Crocs Eyewear Junior Collection features the Crocs™ brand’s signature spirit, with the vibrant colors and comfort kids love. The collection uses an assortment of high quality materials such as ultra-lightweight stainless steel, hypo-allergenic silicone rubber and flexible polymer. Ideal for an active child’s lifestyle, all styles are lightweight for minimal pressure, flexible for easy adjustments, and durable with minimal wear and tear." Read more.

Maverick Eyewear from Carrera

"Carrera introduces The Maverick Collection of eyewear this spring," according to Midwest Lens. "The collection, comprised of three optical frames and six sunglasses, was devised For Out There Characters. These Mavericks are known for their unconventional minds. They are independent, unique and untamed. Fearless enough to go their own way. Brave enough to make it happen." Read more.

New BCBGMAXAZRIA Eyewear from ClearVision Optical

"Eyewear industry leader ClearVision Optical introduces the newest release from BCBGMAXAZRIA, featuring 8 new fashionable styles," writes Midwest Lens. "Featuring youthfully charged, on trend shapes like deep cat eyes, rounds, and wayfarers, the latest release offers brand inspired accents, colors and design techniques. Sculpted temples featuring patterns drawn from nature are prominent, as are rich, Italian and laminate materials in a boldly colorful palette. The BCBGMAXAZRIA iconic stud bar hardware and butterfly logo further align the eyewear with the retail brand." Read more.

New Line of Eyewear, Called Neubau

"Neubau eyewear, which was presented for the first time at the OPTI trade fair in Munich, is an homage to creativity, innovation and the zeitgeist of the Millennial Generation. The worldwide launch of its optical eyewear collection will be in June 2016, with 12 models in six colors each. The first neubau sunglasses collection will follow in October 2016," notes Midwest Lens. "Backed by Austrian manufacturer Silhouette International Schmied AG, neubau eyewear joins a portfolio of brands that includes Silhouette Eyewear and adidas Sport Eyewear, contributing a new, distinctive blend of innovative urban design, youthful appeal and highly sophisticated technology and materials. To support the launch of neubau as well as its other brands and products, Silhouette has recently increased its number of employees by 20% and anticipates solid growth across the United States." Read more.