what's new
FYI
By Lindsey Aspinall

PEOPLE

Hunt McKenzie has joined Neostyle as the director of national accounts. His position entails the management of national accounts as well as the sales management of the western region.

Transitions Optical has named Martha Rivera the Hispanic market segment manager. In this newly created position, Rivera will work closely with the sales team to establish and maintain relationships with key accounts serving the Hispanic market.

Collard Rose Optical Lab recently sponsored an ABO seminar featuring Transitions and Younger Optics with Drivewear. In total, there were 85 attendees. Pictured above are the teams from Collard Rose and Transitions

BUSINESS UPDATES

NIDEK Co., Ltd., and Santinelli Inter-national are celebrating the anniversary of their 15-year partnership. Santinelli International introduced NIDEK's line of finishing equipment to the United States market in 1991 with great success.

McLeod Optical and Optical Prescription Laboratory are two new additions to Essilor of America's Independent Distribution Division (IDD), Crizal EXT labs. The labs now have the capabilities to produce Crizal, Crizal Alizé, and Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard AR in-house.

The new "Eye on Allergies" online consumer panel conducted by MarketTool's ZoomPanel, on behalf of Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., shows that 54 percent of responding contact lens wearers who suffer from eye-related allergies find it uncomfortable to wear their CLs. Research has shown that 1-Day Acuvue may provide improved comfort for two out of three patients suffering from allergy discomfort during CL wear when compared to a two-week CL.

Recently, Collard Rose Optical Lab sponsored an ABO seminar featuring both Transitions and Younger Optics with Drivewear. The seminar helped to educate ECPs on Drivewear, the new polarized-photochromic lens, and also included a special "Trans-itions and Kids" workshop. In total, there were 85 attendees.

Topcon Medical Systems has announced the acquisition of Anka Systems, Inc. Anka Systems brings an advanced Web-based software solution called EyeRoute. This software integrates data from ophthalmologic instruments into a single secure, digital environment allowing ECPs to have immediate access to their patients' tests.

Marketing communications firm Duffy & Shanley has announced a new client—Foster Grant. The relationship spans all areas of marketing, including advertising, media, and public relations.

Hunt McKenzie, who recently joined Neostyle

Eyefinity has announced the integration of its Web-based services with Insight Software LLC's My Vision Express business management and P.O.P software. With this integration, My Vision Express customers can now access Eyefinity's online tools such as VSP claim filing, online product and lab ordering, online continuing education courses, and access to practice management information resources. 

In an effort to educate parents about the importance of vision care for children, Vision Council of America's Check Yearly program and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) partnered last month to distribute vision health kits to librarians. Over 40,000 kits were distributed to both librarians and RIF volunteers.

AWARDS

Luxottica Group has announced that Ray-Ban presented Formula One Driver Jenson Button with a special award honoring his win at the F1 Grand Prix in Hungary. Ray-Ban has a strong partnership with the Honda F1 Racing Team and throughout 2006 the Ray-Ban signature appeared on the cockpit sides of the Honda Racing F1 Team's cars.

AIT Industries has announced the winners of the Edger and Remote Tracer promotional giveaway which began during Midwest Vision Congress and concluded at the end of Vision Expo West. Dr. David Rubin of Eye & Health Vision Center in Venice, Fla., was the Remote Tracer Winner, while Joe Nugent of Optical Gallery in Liberty, N.Y., was the AIT Patternless Edger winner.

Essilor of America will continue to serve as a sponsor and supplier for the Special Olympics

GOOD DEEDS

Blanchard Contact Lens and Rose K International recently issued a $10,000 donation to the National Keratoconus Foundation in support of the organization's patient outreach and educational programs for 2006. The contribution was donated to the organization during the ARVO meeting, held in Miami.

Essilor of America has announced that it will serve as the official global supplier of ophthalmic lenses and sponsor of the Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes
program with an extended contract through 2008. The program's mission is to improve the quality of life for the millions of individuals who have been diagnosed with intellectual disabilities by optimizing their vision, eye health, and visual skills through quality eyecare.

In order to support the National Federation of Opticianry Schools in advancing opticianry education, PPG Industries, Inc., has pledged a donation of 8,000 lenses made from Trivex material to the organization. The lenses will be used by students who are learning to block and edge lenses made from Trivex material.

CORRECTION

In the September issue of Eyecare Business, frame model P9975 featured on page 153 is part of the Pentax collection and not EasyClip. For more information on the Pentax P9975, call 800-277-3979.

Jenson Button tries on his new Ray-Ban frames

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