New from Seventh Street

The new Seventh Street eyewear collection proposes new optical frames featuring playful shapes and lively colours, dedicated to young wearers. Original, contemporary and urban: the new models enthrall with their unique, sparkling personality, so goes the perky company statement about the line. Read more.

New from Gucci

For Autumn/Winter 2012-2013 Gucci unveils vintage style sunglasses, revealing magnetic, romantic and dreamy glances on the latest men’s runway. Intellectual rebels bohemian charm, new poètes maudits with a self-confident attitude create a very personal style: this is the distinctive nature that characterizes this model with the acetate front and the semi matte metal bridge which underline its aviator timeless appeal. The metal temples, with a low relief shiny/matte manufacturing creating a web effect, are emphasized by a unique cut that highlights the subtle Gucci logo: this is the perfect luxury accessory for the modern dandy. Read more.

New from Yves Saint Laurent.

The YSL 6360/S  is a women’s rounded frame sunglasses (on left) in acetate, studs on the front, and engraved ‘Saint Laurent’ logo on temples in transparent blue, olive Havana, gray, burgundy, black panther, black. The man's YSL 2310/s is a square-frame sunglass in acetate with studs on the front and an engraved ‘Saint Laurent’ logo on temples. It comes in walnut horn, brushed matt black, brushed Havana, black, spotted Havana, matt granite, purple/beige/blue, and caramel/beige/Havana. Then there's the YSL 2313, an optical version of the 2310 in black, brushed black, spotted Havana, dark horn, transp;arent gray with brushyed black temples, transparent beige with brushed Havana temples, purple/beige/blue,  and caramel/beige/Havana. Read more.

New from Blue Bay

The Blue Bay eyewear collection presents its new sunglasses and optical frames for the next season: an interplay of colours and shapes, as well as lively patterns and appealing colour combinations highlight the new models’ young and pop personality. Holiday inspirations for the new collection: these modern and dynamic sunglasses and optical frames are the perfect accessories for lively young people who have an open, forthright personality. Read more.

New from Marc Jacobs

 Marc Jacobs has created a limited edition sunglasses style: five hundred individually numbered pieces detailed in Swarovski crystals are the embodiment of the brand’s chic and individual style. It calls on two hallmarks of the brand: a vintage inspiration and unexpected details. A cascade of over two hundred and fifty tone-on-tone sparkling crystals, match the deep red or hematite front perfectly. Read more.

Then there's the  new Marc Jacobs eyewear collection that celebrates the polka dot. This playful, glamorous icon is a recurring theme can certainly be considered one of Jacobs’ signature motifs. These new special edition sunglasses feature a fun eclectic design: oversize silhouettes and a geometric shaped frame are embellished with eccentric details, including black polka dots that highlight the red translucent frame and an acetate butterfly with central white pearl . Read more.

Transitions Offers ECPs Quiz

"Transitions Optical, Inc. introduced a new, interactive quiz, challenging eye care professionals to find out if they’re prepared to meet the needs of their culturally diverse patients," according to the AOA announcement. "Available through the Transitions Cultural Connections program, the quiz can be accessed free-of-charge at www.MyMulticulturalToolkit.com/Quiz." Read more.

New from Ermenegildo Zegna

"Sun-faded colors, soft silhouettes and fabrics treated with innovative techniques that enhance their highly contemporary elegant quality flows through Ermenegildo Zegna new eyewear collection," notes Midwest Lens. "The spirit is sophisticated yet informal, dominated by an interplay of subtle contrasts: technological materials and vintage-feel patina treatments. The finishing of plastic processing or high-technology brushing, mixed with the natural shades of acetates, convey interesting tactile effects. Glossy and matt, streaked and antique, are blended with the grains of natural wood inserted in the temples and with lines of metal, to create a vintage yet modern combination." Read more.

New Collection Called Cody Air

"From the founder/designer of Zero G Titanium comes an all-new eyewear collection… Cody Air. This collection takes inspiration from the Machine Age and Art Deco Era – a time in history when builders took pride in hand craftsmanship, artisans did not cut corners, things were built to last and designed with passion, pride & quality," according to Midwest Lens. "Cody Air’s aerodynamic, patent pending designs are influenced by the industrial designs of iconic aircraft and automobiles which focused on functionality and symmetry. This streamlined eyewear collection is cut from a single sheet of surgical grade stainless steel with no screws or solder-points. Cody Air embodies super sleek, ultra comfortable and minimal." Read more.

Eye Care Professionals Promoting Organ/Tissue Donation

"Leaders of several major ophthalmic organizations are asking healthcare professionals to join them in giving the gift of life by registering as eye, organ and tissue donors," notes Midwest Lens. "The 'Are You A Donor?' campaign will continue by targeting the ophthalmic community at the 2012 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, November 10-13 in Chicago." Read more.

Laser Correction of Spherical Myopia

Carl Zeiss Meditec reports that the first 29 subjects in the VisuMax IDE clinical trial in the US have been treated with the ReLEx smile procedure for the correction of spherical myopia with the VisuMax femtosecond laser. One month results for the first 15 subjects will be presented at a Carl Zeiss Meditec symposium at the 2012 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in Chicago. The company received conditional approval from the US FDA to initiate the clinical trial in April 2012. Read more.

FDA Considering Presbyopic Implantable Lens

Presbia, a medical device producer of near-vision restoration, reportedly has received a letter from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) indicating that it is being actively considered for an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE, G120225) for its Presbia Flexivue Microlens, an implantable corneal inlay solution for presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision.Read more.

Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield Hooks Up with 1-800 Contacts and Glasses.com

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has teamed up with 1-800 Contacts and Glasses.com to give its members exclusive savings on their vision needs. This offer will make it easy for members to use unspent Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account dollars before the end of the year. Anthem members reportedly can save $20 off a purchase of $100 or more, plus free shipping at 1-800 CONTACTS and Glasses.com. Anthem members do not have to have vision coverage to take advantage of the deal. This offer is available to all plan members.Read more.

New Research on Color Blindness

"Now, a host of new research and tools promise to improve life for the estimated 32 million Americans—8% of men and 0.5% of women—who have some degree of colorblindness," reports Yahoo! Finance picking up a story from the Wall Street Journal. "For many, getting through the day—avoiding wardrobe perils and worse—has often involved bringing in a second pair of eyes. But new websites and smartphone apps offer to help identify or enhance hard-to-see colors. Videogame manufacturers are increasingly including 'colorblind' modes in their games. And researchers are homing in on more specific vision tests that may allow mildly colorblind people to qualify for jobs that, until now, have been closed to them." Read more.

New from Bioeyes Glasant

"Lightness, harmony and performance are the ingredients that best describe the original Bioeyes Glasant models that animated the 2012 edition of the French exhibition," notes Mido 365 News. "Pramaor, the Italian company that is the "quality leader" for crafting titanium, presented the premiere of three totally feminine frames for women who are demanding and do not want to relinquish style. The Glasant Bioeyes BE652 family has been enriched with three new models that are sophisticated and elegant, the perfect combination of technology and refined beauty." Read more.

Discovered Cells Could Lead to Treatment of Eye Conditions

"Eye experts and scientists have discovered specific cells in the eye which could lead to a new procedure to treat and cure blinding eye conditions," says Science Daily. "The study found that cells called corneal limbal stromal cells, taken from the front surface of the eye have stem cell properties and could be cultured to create retinal cells. This could lead to new treatments for eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa or wet age-related macular degeneration, a condition which is a common cause of loss of vision in older people and will affect around one in three people by age 70." Read more.

Creating a Form of Macular Degeneration from Stem Cells

A Science Daily post reports that "for the first time, researchers have taken skin from patients and, using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, turned them into a laboratory model for an inherited type of macular degeneration." Read more.

Four-Year-Old Wins Most Beautiful Eyes Contest

South Dakota-native Ava Lloyd has won Prevent Blindness America's Most Beautiful Eyes Contest. PBA awarded the four-year-old a $10,000 educational scholarship at the charity's annual banquet earlire this week in Chicago. PBA flew Ava and her parents to the windy city. The national contest began earlier this year when parents of children ages zero to 17 were encouraged to submit photos of their children, which PBA posted on its Facebook page. Read more.

Seeing with Sound

"Common wisdom has it that if the visual cortex in the brain is deprived of visual information in early infanthood, it may never develop properly its functional specialization, making sight restoration later in life almost impossible," starts the Science Daily post. "Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in France have now shown that blind people -- using specialized photographic and sound equipment -- can actually 'see' and describe objects and even identify letters and words." Read more. There's additional information on the same study at this Science Daily post.

College Squash Assn. Issues Warning about Safety Eyewear

"As the season gets underway, teams and players are reminded that proper eyewear is required for all college squash matches, including warmups and match play," notes a post from the College Squash Association. "Standard eyewear (i.e. everyday prescription glasses) may not be worn in place of acceptable eyewear. The CSA has detailed Eyewear Rules, which includes the following language:

"Approved eyewear must be worn for the entirety of a match, from the beginning of the warm-up until the match’s conclusion. Standard eyeglasses may not be worn in lieu of approved eyewear, even if the eyeglasses have plastic lenses. In the event of a player not having approved eyewear for their match, the rules for a self-inflicted injury apply. In the event that a player’s eyewear breaks during a match, the injury rule may be required to determine the result. This would only be needed in the case of prescription glasses that can not be immediately replaced. In the event of a player not having approved eyewear and a suitable replacement not being found, the player may forfeit the match."

Read more.

New from Jones New York

"Jones New York has been crafting superlative specs inspired by their sophisticated, polished, modern apparel for five years," according to Eye Surf. "Fall 2012 is no different. The new collection delivers on the promise of enduring quality and style. For the Jones New York woman, Delicate gold wrap hinge detail and easy, chic shape create a quiet elegance." Read more.