Cole Haan Launches Advertising Campaign

MidwestLens notes that "Cole Haan’s fall advertising campaign will debut in the September issues of women’s and men’s fashion and lifestyle titles as well as a mix of digital regional print, out-of-home and direct mail starting in mid-August." Read more.

Efva Attling's New Collection

"Efva Attling, who has been hitting the headlines with her new store in New York, has launched a collection of eyewear with a strong retro feel. Her cateye and aviator styles along with sturdier acetate models capture current trends, while small, subtle touches inspired by Efva’s jewellery collections are also part of the look. Efva Attling’s October 2011 collection comprises seven optical styles in acetate and metal and two styles of sunglasses." That's the start of the Eyesurf post. Read more.

Pucci Introduces Fall Collection

"This Fall, Emilio Pucci revitalizes the eyewear collection through the innovative incorporation and mastering of shapes and lines," so starts the post on Eyesurf. "Iconic prints from the Pucci Palazzo archives highlight frame end pieces, strong brows and sleek temples. Depth and dimension is displayed with translucent patterned temples. Fluid lines curve to hug female silhouettes and frame shapes range from full rounds to modified cat-eyes." Read more.

Columbia Comes Out with New Collection

Eyesurf notes that the "new for Fall 2011, Columbia Eyewear extends its multi-faceted ophthalmic collection with 3 new models perfectly suited for the active-lifestyle, but designed to have minimal environmental impact. This proprietary new acetate offers the “tri-fecta” in eco-friendliness." Read more.

L'Amy Launches Winter Holiday Charity Program

"L’Amy America announces a special charity program on behalf of the company and their customers," reports Eyesurf. "Entitled Help the World to See a Better Tomorrow, TODAY the program allows eye care professionals to participate in donating to those in need. From the day participants begin until New Year’s Day, for every L’Amy America frame sold from the optician to the consumer, one frame will be donated to charity on behalf of the company’s participating customers. Frames will be given to a number of highly respected charities such as Lions Club International, New Eyes for the Needy, Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity (VOSH) and Eyewear for Kids. Each of these noble organizations is renowned for its service and dedication to giving the gift of vision around the world." Read more.

New McQueen Sunwear

The new Alexander McQueen sunglasses collection has a classic individuality and a non-conformist spirit, combining vintage inspirations in a contemporary and unmistakable luxe style, so goes the Safilo press release. "The latest eyewear models celebrate the brand’s signature icons. The skull, a McQueen accessory motif, conveys a iconic appeal on the new styles. Natural wood, another unmistakeable signature material highlights a contemporary feel and leather the collection’s newest luxury element, underscores sophisticated references to the brand’s ready-to-wear creations." Read more.

Scientist Discover New Mechanism That Regulates Color Vision

"New York University biologists have identified a new mechanism for regulating color vision by studying a mutant fly named after Frank ('Ol Blue Eyes) Sinatra," according to MedicalNewsToday. "Their findings, which appear in the journal Nature, focus on how the visual system functions in order to preserve the fidelity of color discrimination throughout the life of an organism. They also offer new insights into how genes controlling color detection are turned on and off." Read more.

Luxottica North America Reorganizing Retail Group

VisionMonday  reported this morning that "Luxottica's North American Retail Group has made a series of organizational and operational changes recently, VMail has learned, which includes the adoption of a new management and regional reportig structure for its North American retail brands and the creation and reorganization of a new internal 'EyeCare Centers of Excellence' group." Read more.

AOA Releases Info about 3D in the Classroom

3D@Home Consortium announces the release of a new public health report, '3D in the Classroom:  See Well, Learn Well', authored by the American Optometric Association in consultation with 3D@Home and its member organizations.  The document is a joint effort of several top authorities in the optometric community, educators and vision researchers.  It is designed to help teachers, students, and parents understand 3D and its impact on the visual systems. Most significantly, the document illustrates how viewing 3D improves the retention of presented materials and can assist in the diagnosis of vision issues that have not been detected by traditional testing. Read more.

Retail Growth in Eyewear Sector Predicted

Despite growing competition and a more frugal consumer base, eyewear retailers can look forward to five more years of growth. The aging US population will continue to drive demand for prescription eyewear, especially as consumers remain in the workforce longer. Another benefit to eyewear retailers will be the healthcare reform bill, which will give more people access to vision care, boosting demand. To ward off competition from online and discount retailers, operators will increasingly offer eye exams given by in-house optometrists. Read more.

Detecting Glaucoma Earlier

MedicalNewsToday reports that "Writing in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, researchers in the US have analyzed and ranked the various risk factors for open angle glaucoma so that patients can be screened at an earlier stage if they are more likely to develop the condition." Read more.

L'Amy and Carven Join Hands

"L'Amy Group has signed a worldwide optics and solar brands Balmain and Carven. The launch will take place at the show Mido in Milan in 2012. Silmo late September at the show in Paris, the group will present its first collections Cerruti, Paule Ka, Ted Lapidus, Kaporal and Le Temps des Cerises," reports the Fashion-Daily News. "The first collections for men and women of the two French houses Mido exhibition will take place in Milan from 4 to 6 March 2012. In 2010, Balmain was launched with two models of solar Oliver Peoples, one of the biggest names in bezel California who signs the solar arrays Paul Smith. Previously, four other French claws will start their collaboration with the licensed Amy Group: Cerruti, Paule Ka, Ted Lapidus, Kaporal and Le Temps des Cerises. The presentation will be held to retailers, for all of these claws, Silmo the show to be held from September 29 to October 2." Read more.

VSP CEO Receives Award

The National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO) today announced the recipient of its 2nd Annual Most Influential in Specialty Health Award: Rob Lynch, President and CEO of VSP Global, which includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits company in the nation; Marchon Eyewear, one of the world's largest eyewear and sunwear manufacturers; Eyefinity, which offers technology solutions for practice management; and VSP Optics Group, an industry leader in new lens technologies.Read more.

Glasses as Sole Therapy Work with Strabismic & Amblyopia

"Glasses as the sole therapy can improve and even resolve the vision of children with strabismic and combined strabismic-anisometropic amblyopia, according to research published online September 29 in Ophthalmology. The finding should encourage clinicians to consider prescribing glasses until their patients stop improving, before resorting to patches or atropine, first author Susan Cotter, OD, MS, told Medscape Medical News." Read more.

Dunst "Fetes" Launch of Bulgari's Eyewear Collection

WWD reports that "Kirsten Dunst stopped by the Ilori New York SoHo boutique Tuesday night to fete the launch of Bulgari’s Le Gemme eyewear collection. Wearing Bulgari jewels and a floor-length, long-sleeve white Derek Lam dress, the 29-year-old actress posed for photographs and chatted with partygoers." Read more.

North America Doesn't Do Enough for Toxoplasmosis

"North American babies who acquire toxoplasmosis infections in the womb show much higher rates of brain and eye damage than European infants with the same infection, according to new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine," reports MedicalNewsToday. Read more.

Tura's Fall 2011 Line

"The [Tura] Intricates grouping of four beautiful designs brings refreshing details to this elegant-to-wear group. These designs will appeal to those interested in today’s current fashion trend of customized femininity," according to MidwestLens. The collection "offers frames with unique feminine appeal. Each design is unique with a special temple treatment featuring special use of material or color processes." Read more.

Importance of the Gene Related to Night Blindness

"A scientist from The Scripps Research Institute has determined how a particular gene makes night vision possible. The study focuses on a gene called nyctalopin. Mutations in the gene result in inherited 'night blindness,' a loss of vision in low-light environments," according to a MidwestLens post. Read more.

Happenings with Three Eyewear Lines

Eyesurf reports on news from the eyewear industry.

Fendi: "The Fall/Winter 2011 Fendi Eyewear Collection features luxurious materials and intricate detailing synonymous with the house of Fendi. The legendary Zucca pattern, a staple throughout all collections, has been replicated onto temples creating a window through which crystal inlays are displayed. Classic detailing seen throughout the Fendi Ready-to-Wear collection and accessories are replicated onto temples. A new detail to the collection is the Fendi Pequin pattern that wraps and extends down full temples." Read more.

Jil Sander: "This Fall season, Jil Sander debuts a collection of sun wear and ophthalmics that are pure in design and minimalist in nature. Each frame is a vibrant statement created through colorations from the staple blue to modern influenced red, purple, olive, fuchsia and horns. Shapes contour the female silhouette with metal brows sculpted to slightly curved and modified ovals molded out of rich zyl. New this season is beveled end pieces accented with the scratched texture. Ophthalmics are molded from rich zyl into vintage shapes with  Jil Sander subtly laser etched at temples. The Fall/Winter 2011 collection remains clean, pure and modern." Read more. 

Montblanc: "Marcolin, one of the world’s leaders in the eyewear industry and Montblanc, one of the leading international brands in the luxury segment, announced today the renewal of the licensing agreement for design, production and worldwide distribution of Montblanc optical frames and sunglasses." Read more.

OD in Australia Calls for Vigilance of CL Sales

"Paul Sheehan, a qualified optometrist and the Managing Director of Sydney-based YourLens (www.yourlens.com.au), an online wholesale distributor of contact lens to the profession, has called for increased vigilance, and an overhaul of laws surrounding the sale of contact lenses in Australia," according to MIVision. Read more.