Nine West Teams with Marchon

"The Jones Group...has entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Marchon Eyewear, Inc. (“Marchon”) for the creation, production, marketing and global distribution of ophthalmic eyewear frames and prescription-ready sunglasses under the Nine West brand." That's the word from Eyesurf. Read more.

New Cleaning Solution from Menicon

"Menicon America has released a new lens care system for cleaning and disinfecting gas permeable contact lenses. The system contains Menicon Unique pH, Menicon Progent and Menicon Rewetting Drops; and it is available for purchase online at the newly launched Menicon WebStore," says a post on ContactLensHeadlines. "In conjunction with the launch, Menicon Progent now has FDA-approval for in-home use. Previously only available for office use, the solution is recommended for biweekly cleaning. Menicon Progent cleans gas permeable (GP) lenses and removes protein deposits after 30 minutes without manual rubbing." Read more.

Rugby Player's CL Slips "Behind" the Eye

"But [Josh McGuire] is still coming to terms with having to wear contact lenses after suffering a detached retina in a match against the Bulldogs on April 29," says the Australian DailyTelegraph. "The 21-year-old prop needed attention during Brisbane's 40-10 thrashing of the New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night when he copped an accidental finger in the eye. 'The contact lens slipped out and went right around the back of the eye,' Broncos coach Anthony Griffin said last night. 'It was just a little poke in the eye, but Josh gets a fright when these things happen, as you would expect after what he went through.'" Read more.

Gurung's Eyewear Gets Thumbs Up

"But even amid grand gestures, small touches like Prabal Gurung's curious eyewear proved that the style set yearns for - and applauds - the unexpected," reports the DailyNews. Read more. You can read more about the designer's work on ElleUK.

Optical News from OpticalCEUs Reaches Milestone

Less than a year ago, OpticalCEUs launched its blog from this site, and today, the site drew in its 10,000th pageview. The blog, which paraphrases news in the optical field for your convenience, has attracted readers from around the world. Naturally most readers work and practice in the United States. Usually a blog of this nature would attract readers from countries whose primary language is English. Not so. About a quarter of the blogs readership comes from France and Germany.

Versace Stays with Luxottica Despite Restructuring

"Italian top fashion house Versace is expecting higher revenues in 2012 after launching a collection for Swedish retailer Hennes & Mauritz this year and revamping its Versus second line, its head told Reuters," reports ShareNet. "As part of restructuring, Versace has cut minor licences to develop its own products. However, [Chief Executive Gian Giacomo] Ferraris said he will keep its contract with Luxottica , the world's biggest eyewear maker. 'I will not end it,' he said. 'We are putting everything into place to further increase revenues in 2012. We are well beyond our initial targets,' ...Ferraris said at a crammed Versace flagship store during Thursday's Vogue fashion night." Read more.

The World's Most Expensive Eyewear: $75K

"Clic Gold teamed up with jewelry designer Hugh Power to launch world’s most expensive eyeglasses made of 18 k gold. Each pair will have a price tag of $75,000," according to a Speedlux post. "Clic Gold’s founder Ron Lando...is the ...worldwide patent holder for CliC Eyewear, the skeleton for the gold eyeglasses....Each pair ...takes over 50 hours to hand craft....This is a limited edition and only 300 pieces will be made. Each order takes from 6 to 8 weeks to process." Read more.

Moscot Rocks during Fashion Week

Brett Dennen

Madi Diaz

This past Thursday, eyewear iconoclast Moscot celebrated Fashion's Night out with live performances at the Orchard Street Gallery and Music Space. The venue was at capacity with fans turning out en mass to see Madi Diaz and Brett Dennen perform two intimate sets in the historic location.First up was Madi Diaz, who hit the stage performing songs from her EP, Far From Things That We Know. Next up: Brett Dennen who sang a mix of songs from his new album, Loverboy, and old favorites. Dennen also treated the packed house to an impromptu jam session with Tom Freund and Josh Osswald. 

Legal Challenge to National Health Care Law Shot Down

"A federal appellate court in Richmond, Va., on Thursday threw out a pair of cases challenging the constitutionality of President Obama’s 2010 health care law, ruling for varying reasons that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing to sue." That's the lead to a New York Times post. Read more.

Menicon Expanding CL Production

"Menicon Co. Ltd. (Nagoya, Japan), which has pioneered the injection molding of contact lenses, has reorganized its non-Japanese entities to accelerate the introduction of new products and services to support its growing contact lens and related businesses," says PlasticsToday. "As part of the move, the company created a new global management team at its Menicon Holdings B.V. operation in the Netherlands All Menicon Group companies outside Japan will be unified under one entity, Menicon Holdings (Emmen, Netherlands), which will serve as Menicon's international headquarters and oversee all commercial operations outside Japan." Read more.

Kentucky MDs Strike Back at Blue-Grass-State's ODs

Today, the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons and the Kentucky Medical Association lodged a formal complaint with the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners (Board). The two organizations charge that the board and its task force violated Kentucky's Open Meetings Act as it developed regulations for a new eye surgery law that allows optometrists, who are not medical doctors, to perform delicate eye surgery. A task force (initially identified by the board as being appointed by the Governor) developed and the Board approved the regulation for the training they believe is needed for optometrists. They reportedly did so without following the tenets of the law, requiring open meetings in order for debate and discussion to be held. Although the Board stated in meeting minutes that the task force was appointed by the Governor, the Governor's office today denied ever appointing such a task force. Instead the Governor's office clarified that a task force was appointed by the Kentucky Optometric Association, but that no members of the task force were recommended or appointed by the Governor. These developments add further uncertainty to how the regulation was drafted.  Read more.

CareNow Needs Health Care Providers to Volunteer

CareNow, a local nonprofit organization formed to bring help and hope to the uninsured and underserved in America's urban centers, will transform the Los Angeles Sports Arena into a giant clinic to provide free healthcare services to men, women and children needing medical, dental and vision care. CareNow is looking for healthcare professionals (dental, vision and medical) to volunteer for the event. Volunteers may sign up for half day or full day shifts. CareNow/LA will take place on October 20 to 23 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Sports Arena located at 3939 S. Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. Read more.

B+L to Buy Technolas Perfect Vision

Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH (TPV), a leading ophthalmology laser company, have entered into a definitive agreement providing Bausch + Lomb with an option to purchase all outstanding and unowned TPV shares for a total company value of up to EUR 450 million, according to a company press release. TPV was established in 2009 through a joint venture between Bausch + Lomb and 20/10 Perfect Vision AG to develop and sell advanced refractive and cataract technologies. Read more.

Playing Video Games Decreases Effects of Amblyopia

HealthJockey reports that "amblyopia or lazy eye is a brain disorder in which one eye does not develop properly resulting in an inability to see precisely. A new study conducted by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, has disclosed that video games apparently help enhance the vision of adults suffering from amblyopia or lazy eye." Read more.

Austrailian Gov't. Stops Online Retailer from Selling CLs

"Following investigations by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the global online eyewear marketer Clearly Contacts (which trades under the name Coastal Contacts Pty Ltd) has withdrawn contact lenses from its Australian online retail site www.clearlycontacts.com.au," according to a MIVision post. "Coastal Contacts Pty Ltd received an official warning in accordance from the TGA for breaches to the 1989 Act. The company told the TGA they will comply with Australian legislative requirements...Industry sources have estimated that Clearly Contacts was filling in excess of 250 – 300 orders for contact lenses every working day and held approximately 7 per cent of the Australian market." Read more.

Finding Causes for Rare Forms of Eye Disorders

"According to a study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, researchers from the University of Leeds in collaboration with scientists at the Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, utilized next-generation DNA sequencing techniques to discover the causes of rare forms of inherited eye disorders, including cataracts and glaucoma in young children." That's a post from MedicalNewsToday. Read more.

Acuvue and Meaghan Martin Tweet thru Fashion Week

Fashion Week has descended upon New York City and Acuvue Moist CLs will give people the opportunity to "see" it through the eyes of actress Meaghan Martin and to participate in style icon Robert Verdi's annual Luxe Lab Twitter Party, according to the company's press release. Martin will attend multiple fashion shows and events and share them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EttejNahgaem, beginning on September 7th. Fashion followers are invited to join the conversation on Twitter using #1DAYatFW.  Read more.

NSAID and Lucentis Could Help with AMD

According to a paper published in the September issue of Retina, The Journal of Retinal and Vitreous Diseases, a pilot study suggests that the topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eye drop of Xibrom  (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.09%, administered twice daily may have an additive effect when used with intravitreal Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) in reducing retinal thickness in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, or NV AMD.Read more of the company's press release.

Silhouette Releases New Adidas Collection

"Austrian eyewear company Silhouette International is launching its 2012 collection, Celebrate the Sun, along with new colours from Adidas eyewear at the TFWA World Exhibition this month," according to MoodieReport. "Silhouette’s 2012 collection is comprised of 16 models from two different lines: Lifestyle by Design and the sportier Action by Design. The 16 models, mainly rimless designs, were designed to meet all the requirements of sun protection, high design standards, comfort, lightness and state-of-the-art processing." Read more.

Transitions Optical Works at the NCNW Celebration

Transitions Optical, Inc., will make a second appearance at the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Black Family Reunion Celebration on September 10 in Washington, D.C., says the company's press release. The event will kick off a series of outreach efforts in partnership with NCNW, a national organization that supports women of African descent, to promote the importance of eye health among the African-American community.  Read more.