Tom's Hooks Up with Bain to Accelerate Growth

Toms, the company that turned the idea of One for One into a global movement, signed with investment firm Bain Capital to accelerate growth of the company and its giving programs. Founder Blake Mycoskie continues as company visionary and retains 50% ownership. Founded eight years ago, it began as a shoe company that matched every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need – One for One. Since then, Toms' giving has grown to serve other basic needs. Its Eyewear gives sight to a person in need with every pair of eyewear purchased, and Its Roasting Co. gives one week of clean water to a person in need for every bag of coffee purchased. To date, TOMS has given over 25 million new pairs of shoes to children in need and helped restore sight to more than 250,000 people. Read more.

Diversified Ophthalmics U.S. Distributor for Unilens

Unilens Vision Inc. assigned Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc., as its U.S. distributor for C-Vue family of disposable contact lens. The lenses are available for sale now through all thirteen Diversified Ophthalmic locations. Read more.

Infographic about Myopia in Children

AllAboutVision.com has expanded its website about myopia and children, adding five articles for patients and their parents along with the infographic. The company has added it to its list of free eye health infographics that eye care professionals can share with their patients.

OptiCon Coming This Week

Linda Conlin, president and founder of OpticalCEUs and F.E. Enterprises, will present at upcoming OptiCon, sponsored by the Opticians Association of America. The association released a schedule of events. The conference will run from Sept. 4 to 6 at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville.

Johnson & Johnson Partners with "X Factor"

"Contact lens giant Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (J&J) partnered with television talent show The [British] X Factor [tv show] to provide the friends and families of those auditioning the opportunity to try contacts lenses from its Acuvue range. Across the programme’s four days of auditions at London’s Wembley SSE Arena, J&J offered one-to-one consultations to interest potential contact lens wearers," according to Optometry Today. "'Everyone who visited the specially established contact lens booth during the auditions was given a free Acuvue trial voucher. The partnership “aimed to encourage young people and contact lens considerers to visit their local practices and become an Acuvue wearer,' J&J explained." Read more.

New Eyewear from Ogi Eyewear

Midwest Lens reports that "making a statement as the next noteworthy thick angular cat eye, the 9206 enters the market with an edgy yet inviting appearance. This desirable style encompasses many rich designer details, giving it an exquisite look unlike anything we’ve seen before. Available in 4 designer color schemes of pink mingle, purple mingle, yellow mingle and green mingle, the 9206 assures confidence to the face behind the frame. From the vibrant acetate fronts to the matching colored metal hinge accents, the 9206 presents itself as a frame to forever be remembered." Read more.

New Eyewear from Nike Vision

"Nike Vision introduces the Nike Flexon Hyper collection, a groundbreaking new line that combines the wearable style and lightweight comfort of plastic-framed eyewear with the progressive strength and flexibility of our advanced memory metal—Flexon," says Midwest Lens. "Designed specifically for active people who are tough on their frames, the Nike Flexon Hyper collection is built with a dual-injected manufacturing process featuring a TR-70 chassis sealed inside rubber, with Nike Flexon encased in the nosebridge. All three materials are ultra lightweight and flexible, and thanks to Nike Flexon’s innovative memory properties, the frames can bend, but are engineered to return to the original fit and shape. The result? Comfortable, more durable frames that are designed to take on the abuse of life." Read more.

Treating Vision Problems Induced by Space Travel

"To reduce and better treat spaceflight-induced visual impairment, University of Houston (UH) optometrists are collaborating on a NASA study that examines ocular changes seen in a number of astronauts," according to SpaceRef. "The research, developed by Heidelberg Engineering, uses Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which is a technique for obtaining subsurface images of translucent or opaque materials at a resolution equivalent to a low-power microscope. OCT effectively images reflections from within tissue to provide cross-sectional views. This technology is being used to investigate changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, the optic nerve and retinal structures in astronauts exposed to long-duration microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS)." Read more.

Essilor's Profits Up an Adjust 3.5%

According to a MarketWatch report, "French lens maker Essilor International said on Thursday net profit more than doubled in the first half, boosted by the company's recent acquisitions. Net profit for the first six months rose to EUR699 million euros ($923.6 million) from EUR310 million as revenue rose 7.9% to EUR2.78 billion from EUR2.58 billion. Profit adjusted for acquisitions and other 'nonrecurring' items rose 3.5% to EUR325 million, Essilor said. The CAC 40-listed company--whose main brands include Varilux, Crizal, and Foster Grant--has made several acquisitions over the past year, including U.S. sunglass maker Costa Inc. for $270 million." Read more.

Will.i.am Launching Eyewear Line

"Will.i.am is bouncing with enthusiasm," starts the Women's Wear Daily post. "Perched on a gray leather and concrete built-in sofa in his sleek black recording studio (which looks like the modern-day version of the villain’s den in the James Bond classic 'Dr. No'), he is discussing his newest venture, ill.i Optics by will.i.am. The dual-gender optical and sunglass line launches Sept. 16 in selected retailers worldwide." Read more.

Luxottica’s Guerra May Be Ousted

According to a post on Reuters.com, Luxottica’s CEO Andrea Guerra may be ousted:

The board of Italy's Luxottica will discuss on Sept. 1 the future of Chief Executive Andrea Guerra, who is expected to leave the world's biggest luxury eyewear maker following disagreement with owner Leonardo Del Vecchio.The group said in a statement on Monday the board would discuss management structure and Guerra's position. The meeting will be followed by a conference call for analysts and investors, Luxottica said. Three sources close to the matter told Reuters last week that Guerra, one of Italy's most-respected executives, was set to leave after clashing with Luxottica's founder and Chairman Del Vecchio. Read more.

Just last week, the company reportedly will close 50 Sears Optical shops. Read more.

Native American Ancestry Risk Factor for Eye Disease

“New research, led by the University of Southern California (USC) Eye Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC, shows for the first time that Native American ancestry is a significant risk factor for vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy among Latinos with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults in the United States, affecting more than 4 million Americans age 40 and older,” according to Medical News Today. “The research was published online in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, the peer-reviewed academic journal of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world” Read more.

Fix Patient Flow with Principles of Industrial Engineering

“Here’s a typical day at many …[practices or optical shops for that matter, the bosses, doctors, or  you]  consider how to bring in more patients because the insurers are squeezing prices and competitors are ramping up advertising. …[ECPs] rush …seemingly without enough hours in their day. Meanwhile, patients sit in the waiting room, growing frustrated (and those calling the hospital sit on hold), even as exam rooms are empty and multimillion-dollar equipment sits idle. What’s going on here?” That’s the question asked by strategy + business. Here’s its answer: Apply four specific of industrial engineering. It’s written for hospitals, but the article’s principles could apply to any optical shop or optical practice. Read more.

Card Cheat Wins Using Marked Deck and Contact Lenses

“Bruce Koloshi’s strategy for cheating at poker at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut one night last September was, the authorities said, unusual. He marked the cards with ink that he believed only he could see with the special contact lenses he was wearing,” states the New York Times article. “His reason for doing so was even more unusual. He said he was trying to win enough to make bail in Louisiana, where he was facing felony charges for doing the same thing. It turned out that others could see his supposedly invisible ink — casino surveillance operators, if they played the video from their cameras in black-and-white rather than color. A surveillance operator at Mohegan Sun did and called in the state police, who arrested Mr. Koloshi.” Read more.

Trauma, Surgery, Injections Cause Common Eye Infection

“The most common cause of endophthalmitis, a potentially blinding condition that can occur after eye trauma, eye surgery, and eye injections, are the well-known staphylococci ("staph") and streptococci ("strep") bacterial strains, according to a study published in the August issue of Ophthalmology and based on a review of 25 years of cases at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE).” That’s the word from Science Daily. Read more.

Vision Loss Increases Risk for Death, Says Study

“Vision loss can adversely affect the ability of older adults to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), such as using the telephone, shopping and doing housework, which are all measures of an individual's ability to live independently, and that subsequently increases the risk for death,” reports Medical News Today. “Visual impairment (VI) can have negative effects on a person's physical and psychosocial health. VI is associated with a variety of functional and health outcomes. The authors used data from the Salisbury Eye Evaluation study to examine the extent to which visual acuity (VA) loss increased the risk for death because of its effect on functional status over time. The study included 2,520 older adults (65 to 84 years) from September 1993 through July 2003 from the greater Salisbury, Md., area. Study participants were reassessed at 2, 6 and 8 years after baseline.” Read more.

Luxottica Reportedly to Close 50 Sears Opticals

Two days after newspapers were reporting that Luxottica’s CEO Andrea Guerra was facing troubles, Vision Monday reports that Luxottica will close 50 Sears Optical locations.

Luxottica Retail’s Licensed Brands division will close 50 Sears Optical locations in the U.S., VMail has learned. The news was shared internally with associates. In response to a query from VMail, the company did not provide which specific locations would close, but a Luxottica spokesperson said, “Today, we are sharing the difficult, but necessary decision to close 50 Sears Optical locations across the U.S. The impacted stores have served their customers and communities well, but have struggled with results over time. The Sears Optical team is incredibly committed to the long-term, sustainable growth of the brand….”Read more.

New Sports Goggles from Liberty Sports

“Liberty Sport’s popular F8 frame series continues to inspire. The All-Pro and All-Pro Goggle were created to bridge the gap between teen and adult sizing – with a look that plays for all ages. Available in three trend-conscious colors, both the frame and goggle compliment today’s busy lifestyle. ‘F8 All-Pro meets the needs of active teens and adults who no longer wear frames exclusively for sports,’ says Linda Laube, EVP of Business Development.” That’s the post from Midwest Lens. Read more.

New Eyewear from Alexander McQueen

The Alexander McQueen eyewear collection for Fall/Winter 2014/2015 uses cut off metal studs, perforated flat metal and a textured effect. These latest styles showcase Alexander McQueen’s signature craftsmanship. The color palette ranges from classic colors such as blue, black, burgundy to oxidized metals such as ruthenium, copper and bronze.

New Eyewear from Bottega Veneta

The new styles of this season’s Bottega Veneta eyewear collection feature subtle signatures of the brand including the Intrecciato motif, interpreted through sculpted texture on the temples or lasered on precious leather and on the photoengraved studs. The introduction of flash mirror lenses offer additional options to select styles. Read more.