Business Updates

1-800 Contacts, Inc., reported signing long-term supply agreements with its three largest contact lens suppliers. The company has purchased directly from Bausch & Lomb, its fourth-largest supplier, without a written agreement since 2001 and does not expect changes.

Essilor Laboratories of America, Inc., has announced the completion of the Crizal Aliz�/TD2 Technology Center at Crown Optical Company, Inc. The new center, located in Greenville, R.I., is New England�s largest capacity anti-reflective lens coating facility.

ICU Eyewear has expanded its existing product return and recycling program (�Saving the Planet One Reading Glass at a Time�) to reach more customers and create new ways for people to discard of used or unwanted reading and sunglasses.

Shamir has new reimbursement denominations for the ReCreating Perfect Vision program. Through June 30, the program will pay the following amounts to all ECPs meeting the program�s requirements: Office will pay $6 per pair; Piccolo, Genesis, and Creation (clear or Transitions) will pay $12 per pair; and Autograph and Attitude (clear or Transitions) will pay $15 per pair. Visit www.2007RCPV.com.

Ultra Lens Optical Lab, located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has opened an AR coating facility featuring the Satisloh MC380H AR system, which produces an oleophobic and anti-static AR coating. In the past 18 months, the company

has installed both new surfacing and finishing technology.

A lab worker at the Crizal Inspection Station, located at the new facilities for Essilor Laboratories of America, Inc. The new center, Crown Optical, recently opened in Rhode Island

VISTAKON, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., has joined forces with MTV�s �Total Request Live� (TRL) show in order to give music lovers an opportunity to appear as a guest VJ on �My TRL.� Sponsored by ACUVUE, the contest offers four fans the chance to win this prize.

A new �lab first� purchasing group has been launched by Jerry Hayes, O.D. Red Tray Optical offers its members the maximum published discount from a select group of well-known frame suppliers and optical labs. For more information, call 800-416-7676 or visit the website www.redtrayoptical.com.

Awards

Essilor of America, Inc., has announced the winners of its �Go for the Goal Line,� which encouraged independent distribution division labs to increase their sales of Varilux Physio and Varilux Physio 360� products. Winners received a trip to the Miami Superbowl that included roundtrip airfare, four-night accommodations in Miami, a visit to the NFL Experience (pro football�s interactive theme park), and tickets to the game. The winning labs included: Soderberg, Italee Optical, Safe Lite, Walman, Interstate, Balester Optical, Deschutes, Davis Optical, Pinnacle Optical, Conejovalley, Continental Sales Corp., and Ultimate Optical.

Axel Wittenrood was honored as the AIT Salesperson of the Year, marking the third time he has been recognized with this award. He has been with the company as the Midwest sales associate since 2001.

Pictured from left to right are AIT�s Joe Vulich, company controller; Yordan Vulich, president; Mark Dehn, vice president sales; Axel Wittenrood, Midwest sales associate; John Vulich, vice president manufacturing; Matt Vulich, vice president marketing

The Kenmark Group has honored its top sales representatives. The Consistent Exceptional Performance award was given to Pat Gantt, while Rookie of the Year went to David Hill and Cliff Woodward. Most Improved/Extra Effort was given to Jamie Bradford. The Stock Order Award was given to Jody Griffeth and Jim Hargreaves, while the Largest Stock Order Increase went to Dean Campbell. Mindy Bernstein took home Sales Representative of the Year and the Sales Volume award.

Test Your Mettle Answers

Thanks to Essilor and the NFOS for providing this month�s questions and answers.

Optometry Answer:

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV)

Opticianry Answer:

+2.50 D

Save the Date

 (April 4, 18, and 25, 2007. Eschenbach�s seminar �Low Vision Care...What�s It All About?� to be held in Oakland, Calif., Jackson

Hole, Wyo., and Cincinnati, during the above dates, respectively. For more information, visit www.eschenbach.com.

(May 3-4, 2007. Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry Educational Meeting at the Mission Inn, Howey-In-The-Hill, Fla. For more information, call Arthur T. Young, OD, at 239-542-4627.

(May 4-7, 2007. MIDO, the International Optics, Optometry, and Ophthalmology Exhibition held in Milan, Italy. For more information, visit the website www.mido.it.

(May 9, 10, and 23, 2007. Eschenbach�s seminar �Low Vision Care...What�s It All About?� to be held in Tampa, Fla. and Omaha, Neb., Miami, and Huntington, W.Va., during the above dates, respectively. For more information, visit www.eschenbach.com.

(May 10-12, 2007. Midwest Vision Congress and Expo at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. For more information, visit the website www.midwestvisioncongress.com.

(July 27-29, 2007. Florida Optical Summer Showcase held at the Double Tree Resort on Cocoa Beach, Fla. Tabletop eyewear exhibits held on Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, visit www.pof.org or call 850-201-2622.

(Aug. 3-5, 2007. Southwest Florida Optometric Association, Inc., Educational Retreat at the Southseas Island Resort in Sanibel, Fla. For more information, call Brad Middaugh, OD, at 239-481-7799.