RoweBots Inc., a supplier of tiny embedded, real-time operating systems (RTOS), reported its Unison Operating System is is a component in Alivios, an
intelligent eyewear that is said to improve vision for individuals with eye diseases. The Unison OS controls a high definition video
camera, a Texas Instruments (TI) DaVinci digital media processor, and
near-to-eye displays. Read more.
"It is a sales boom that puts even the
most virulent marketing craze in the shade. Cautious parents are
flocking to buy sunglasses specially engineered to protect their babies’
eyes from the sun’s damaging rays, almost from the moment they are
born," reports the DailyMail. "Demand for the
high-specification designs has taken off to such an extent that one
British company has reported sales doubling every year – even though the
UK has been experiencing the worst summer weather in decades." Read more.
Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect
Vision GmbH (TPV) will introduce the Victus Femtosecond Laser Platform at the upcoming XXIX
Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
(ESCRS 2011). The platform is a first-of-its-kind technology,
capable of supporting cataract, refractive and therapeutic procedures in
a single platform. The versatile platform is designed to enable greater
precision compared to manual cataract surgery techniques, potentially
enhancing the patient experience.Read more.
At the same conference, B+L will introduce "its new enVista glistening-free, hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens," according to a post on Sys-Con. The lens reportedly "represents a significant step forward in IOL technology. Setting the enVista
apart from currently available IOLs is the unique combination of aspheric,
aberration-free Advanced Optics technology, designed to deliver enhanced
contrast sensitivity and better vision quality, with a clinically proven
glistening-free material. In addition, the enVista lens design is intended
to minimize posterior capsular opacification (PCO), a common long-term
problem with IOLs that can cause patient vision to become clouded
post-surgery." Read more.
The Ford Volunteer Corps has joined forces with OneSight on an
eyeglass drive in the Metro Detroit area. Employees and local residents
are being asked to bring in their old eyeglasses for free distribution
to eye care clinics around the world.Read more.
"Discount eyewear retailer Specsavers is exporting an Australia-made ad to Ireland," reports a Numbrella post. "The spot, created by Smart Melbourne, features a woman who mistakes
an engagement ring for a pebble because of her poor eye sight, and skims
it across the water." Read more.
"Italian eyewear company Luxottica Group has deployed merchandising
and supply chain solution from Groupsoft...to expand its global retail infrastructure for its Sun
retail chains," according to RetailTechnology. "The solution utilizes SAP Retail enterprise
platform. According to Michael Braine, vice president of Retail IT for
Luxottica, the company has licensed SAP Retail to streamline its
merchandising and supply chain execution for the company's eyewear
retail store chains. He added that Groupsoft was chosen for its
retail-specific resources that had both general industry knowledge and
SAP IS-Retail specific experience." Read more.
Baseball legend Johnny Bench will promote the new eStore being launched by OpDocs (OpDocs.com),
an online fashion eyewear glasses retailer recently started by three
practicing optometrists, goes the company's press release. In the midst of a busy public speaking and
mentoring schedule, Bench has served as a mentor to the University of
Cincinnati baseball team. Bench has taken a great interest in the team;
he recently included them as part of a study of the benefits of High
Performance Vision Training, an approach to improving visual perception
that increased the team’s batting average by 34 points in a single year. Read more.
Business2Community notes that "over the course of 2010, Fatheadz nearly tripled its
sales revenue. According to Rico [Elmore, the CEO of
Fatheadz Eyeware], one of the factors that helped
Fatheadz realize exceptional growth this past year was their strategic
decision to align with athlete sponsors. Auto racers are frequently
seen wearing cool shades, so Fatheadz established a marketing
partnership with USAC (United States Auto Club). At USAC’s race events,
Fatheadz gives out souvenir ‘Hero Cards’ to their loyal fans. Imprinted
on the back of each Hero Card is a QR code that brings the user to a
mobile-formatted web page that highlights the driver appearing on the
front of the card. From here, users can read more about the driver and
order the same eyeware they wear. The result of this novel campaign has
been terrific." Read more.
When White House press secretary Jay Carney recently fielded a
question about, of all things, his eyewear, he plunged into a danger
zone more fraught than his sparring sessions with reporters over Syria’s
regime or the latest unemployment figures. The question was a little
flirty, a little taunting.
On Sept. 23, the Museum of Vision, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, will participate in Smithsonian Magazine's
seventh annual Museum Day. The Museum of Vision, the only institution in the United
States whose sole purpose is to preserve the history of ophthalmology
and celebrate its unique contributions to science and health, will join participating
museums and cultural institutions nationwide, including six San
Francisco museums, in opening their doors free of charge to all visitors
who download the Museum Day ticket from the Smithsonian Museum Day web
site: www.smithsonian.com/museumday. The museum has one of the world's leading collections of
ophthalmic history, containing approximately 38,000 items including
artifacts, archives and rare books. It current showcases the exhibit Collecting Ophthalmology: 30 years at the Museum in its San Francisco gallery. This exhibit highlights the wide array of artifacts dating from the 17th
century to the present day, such as the rare book
library, instrument collection, and eyeglasses. A preview can be found
online at the museum's website.
Carrera has launched a new campaign created by the agency D’Adda, Lorenzini, Vigorelli, BBDO. It continues with Carrera's "After All, No Regrets" headline and showcases a series of characters wearing Carreras in exhilarating life
situations.The campaign, which was created based on online and social media feedback from fans, aims to identify an ideal list of the top 10 things to do in life, with no regrets.
Keep an eye on a new health industry coalition launching today: Enroll America," says the Wonkblog from the WashingtonPost. "The 42-member coalition, which includes health heavyweights like the
American Hospital Association and Aetna, has been in the works for over a
year now. Today, it launches with a single goal: getting millions of
Americans, newly-eligible for affordable insurance under the health
overhaul law, actually signed up. And if it succeeds, the health law
could end up covering many more of the uninsured than the law’s authors
-- or its detractors -- ever thought." Read more.
The Chicago Tribunereports "VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services
company in the U.S., has launched an online Eye Pledge campaign: For
every person who visits seemuchmore.com/eyepledge and promises to take care of his or her own eyes, VSP
will donate a comprehensive eye exam and, if needed, a new pair of
prescription glasses to a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
(You don't have to submit private information.)
VSP has pledged to donate up to 50,000 vouchers for eye exams, worth more than $19 million." Read more.
Safilo reports that Giorgio Armani always pushes the boundaries where precious materials are
concerned, continually producing iconic and timeless pieces. Giorgio Armani presents the Precious Materials Collection,
the new 2011/2012 collection with exotic leather finishes. This unique,
one-of-a-kind eyewear has a refined and unmistakable style that is
skilfully hand finished by expert craftsmen. Read more.
MedicalNewsToday reports that "An investigation team in MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
and the Department of Brian and Cognitive Sciences, have identified
tiny molecular signals that administer how the connections between brain
cells mature when the eyes first see light." Read more.
"Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans returned to his hometown of Chester,
Pa., on Tuesday to work with VSP Vision Care to provide free eye exams
and glasses to thousands of children." Read more of the ESPN post.
According to a press release from the American Optometric Association (AOA), specific generations have different levels of
knowledge and varying views and habits when it comes to eye and vision
care. That's the result from its annual American Eye-Q survey. From seasonal eye allergies to UV protection to contact lens
hygiene, the survey finds that the traditionalist (or silent) generation
(1925-1945), baby boomers (1946-1964) and generations X (1965-1977) and
Y (1978-1994) all vary in their eye and vision knowledge and habits. For example, Younger generations are the most
diligent about following their doctor's contact lens wear and care
instructions. Gen Y-ers, are the most likely to replace their daily
disposable lenses on a daily basis as directed (43 percent), while baby
boomers proved to be the greatest offenders, with 67 percent admitting
to wearing lenses longer than recommended. Read more of the results.
"As the economy continues to
struggle and disposable income remains limited, consumers are now more
likely to consider eyewear as a medical necessity in order to justify
their purchasing decision,:" according to a post no VisionMonday. "A recent study by The Vision Council
indicates that a large majority of eyeglass users/buyers (83 percent to
87 percent) view eyeglasses primarily as a medical necessity while a
slightly smaller majority of sunglass wearers (75 percent to 82 percent)
see plano sunglasses as a medical necessity." Read more.
"Viva International Group introduces the Skechers Eyewear Fall 2011
collection, which includes four new women’s ophthalmic styles that
feature a dynamic fusion of trendy patterns and explosive color
combinations," according to MidwestLens. "Designed to coordinate perfectly with today’s fashions,
the frames’ graphics and designs reflect the core elements of the brand,
which offers a variety of optical and sun accessories for men, women
and children." Read more.
