VISION EXPO EAST

Big Business in the Big Apple

If this year's Vision Expo East is any indication, optical is back in a big way. Preliminary figures report VEE 2011 attendance reached nearly 15,000, a seven percent increase from last year, solidifying the show's reputation as a must-attend optical event.

New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center buzzed with excitement as show-goers milled through the maze of companies from around the world showcasing the latest fashion trends in eyewear and accessories and the newest technologies in frames, lenses, equipment, and more.

The three-day affair boasted many new product launches and fun giveaways, as well as events and entertainment. Here's a quick look at some of the happenings and new products from International Vision Expo East 2011.

1 ASTUCCI

Bubble Collection

The unisex bubble-patterned collection of eyewear holders offers an array of designs and sizes, from petite purse cases to extra-large sunglass cases.

INFO: astucci.com

2 BOLLÉ

B-Clear lens technology

Designed for cyclists and runners, new models Vortex (pictured), Helix, and Draft feature Bollé's new B-Clear lens technology. Supporting these advanced new lenses are aerodynamically shaped frames constructed with durable and extremely lightweight proprietary b88 nylon.

INFO: bolle.com

3 CALIFORNIA ACCESSORIES

LED Day/Night Readers

These lightweight, USB-rechargeable readers feature two ultra-bright LEDs for improved visibility day or night.

INFO: calaccessories.com

4 COBURN TECHNOLOGIES

Minilab LaunchPad

LaunchPad is a disposable free-form process and the focal point of the Free-Form Minilab, a complete, affordable system designed specifically for small labs and retailers.

INFO: coburntechnologies.com

5 ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS

Triplets edging system

The Triplets edging system comes complete with tracer, blocker, and edger. Components can be configured to meet personalized in-office needs, including increasing memory from 200 to 1,000 jobs and shape display and modification.

INFO: essilorinstruments.com

6 ESSILOR OF AMERICA

Crizal SunShield

These No-Glare sunlenses reduce UV glare by 30 percent and neutralize 99 percent of visible glare and reflections on the lens backside.

INFO: essilorusa.com

7 HILCO

Animal Safari Collection

Hilco's Animal Safari Collection features a variety of on-trend eyewear accessories in one convenient, readymade display.

INFO: hilco.com

8 LEYBOLD OPTICS

TC-2 Hydrolyic Coating Unit

The TC-2 applies super hydrophobic technology using plug-and-play, minimal training, and simple-to-use operations that accept uncut or edged lenses (in frame or out) with a 10-minute cycle time.

INFO: leyboldoptics.com

9 LUXOTTICA

Dolce & Gabbana: DG3085

Dolce & Gabbana revisits its roots, revamping the classic animal print in electrifying colors. Part of the Animalier collection, the style features a bright and bold “Animal Print” theme in a thick acetate construction with custom acetate pattern on the temples.

Info: luxottica.com

10 MARCHON

Pucci: EP120S

Ready for summer, the latest sun look from Pucci is a vintage-inspired rounded rectangle sunglass featuring the iconic Emilio Pucci logo at the temple tips as well as the Medea pattern. The model is available in tar, fuchsia, brown, turquoise, and mustard.

INFO: marchon.com

11 MOREL

MARIUS MOREL

1880: Theodore

Six acetate models fall into the Theodore grouping. The design is full of character, featuring three micro-shapes with overhanging endpieces and three complementary models including one trendy semi-rimless style. The frame is made from high-quality handcrafted acetate, decorated with chrome-plated rivets at the start of the temples.

INFO: Morel-france.com

12 OAKLEY

Fast Jacket

If you want to change the game, change your lenses with Oakley's new simple release system, SwitchLock Technology. Utilized in Fast Jacket, you can adapt your vision to the environment.

INFO: oakley.com

13 PIXELOPTICS

emPower!

An electronic Rx lens system operated in automatic or manual mode and controlled by a fingertip swipe to the temple.

INFO: pixeloptics.com

14 PRO FIT OPTIX

Metzler Eclipse lenses

Metzler Eclipse photochromic lenses are available in branded product and proprietary private-label options.

INFO: profitoptix.com

15 SAFILO

Tommy Hilfiger: TH1044s

A great fashion comeback story, Tommy Hilfiger has reinvigorated his styles and relaunched his eyewear collection. Style TH1044s is available in blue, Havana, black, dark light gray, and black white horn.

INFO: safilo.com

16 SERENGETI

Serengeti's Polar PhD

lenses: Vetera

Made possible by a unique material and new manufacturing process, Serengeti's Polar PhD lenses, shown in style Vetera, are an advancement in sunglass technology and performance. Trivex provides the platform for the lenses.

INFO: serengeti-eyewear.com

17 SHAMIR INSIGHT

Relax lenses

A single-vision free-form lens, Relax lenses are designed to ease eyestrain and visual fatigue for pre-presbyopes.

INFO: shamirlens.com

18 SUPERFOCUS

Superfocus lenses

Options include many product and pricing tiers, and Corbu, a snugger-fitting frame design.

INFO: superfocus.com

19 TRANSITIONS OPTICAL

XTRActive 1.50 FT-28

Features include a slight indoor tint, moderate activation behind a car windshield, and outdoor darkening to around 80 percent in full sun.

INFO: transitions.com/pro

20 VISION-EASE LENS

ChangeRx lenses

ChangeRx photochromic lenses are available in 1.50 hard resin in single-vision, flattops, and PALs, and come in gray and brown tints and varying powers and bases.

INFO: vision-ease.com

21 VIVA INTERNATIONAL

William Rast: WR 1004

Style WR 1004, from the William Rast Eyewear Spring 2011 Collection, features a woodgrain effect incorporated into the design of this acetate style. The frame style is also equipped with custom flex hinges and detailed with WR “dub” symbol and New America flag metal logo plaques.

INFO: vivagroup.com

22 VSP

UNITY PLx and SVx lenses

VSP's UNITY PLx free-form PALs and SVx free-form single-vision lenses combine technology with value and are positioned to simplify the free-form experience.

INFO: vsplab.com

23 WESCAN OPTICAL

Kliik Denmark: KL-438

A combination frame made of Mazzuchelli acetate and stainless steel temples. The laser-cut temple pattern, coupled with two-tone color combinations, adds texture and depth to the design in brown, purple, berry, and blue.

INFO: Kliik.com

24 WILEY

Climate Control Series: Curve

The Curve is a small frame designed for women, youth, and narrow faces. The Curve is prescription-ready and available in a gloss black frame with three lens options: smoke gray, polarized smoke green, and photochromic LA Light Adjusting smoke gray.

INFO: wileyx.com

25 YOUNGER OPTICS

Short-corridor PAL Adage

The Adage lenses are now available with Transitions photochromic technology in gray or brown. The lenses are ideal for small frame sizes.

INFO: youngeroptics.com

1. Coburn Technologies' Curt Brey (l) and Alex Incera at Coburn's press conference; 2. The Vision Council's CEO Ed Greene (l) and Optical Laboratories Association executive director Bob Dzuiban; 3. Matt Lytle (l) and Raanan Naftalovich of Shamir Insight at a press conference; 4. A Jimmy Crystal New York frame display adds pizzazz to the show floor; 5. The Lapis Luna vintage jazz band at the PixelOptics booth serenades attendees

6. Essilor of America's Howard Purcell (l) and Carl Bracy (r) with Bob Colucci (c) at Essilor's press conference; 7. Pro Fit Optics and Nigura Metzler announced a partnership, Smart Eyewear Complete Eyewear program; 8. Amy Ahl, Rochester Optical, Shamir iPad winner; 9. Transitions Optical R&D team members at their booth; 10. A flipbook filming at Luxottica's Persol station; 11. Mykita's (l to r) Daniel Haffmans, Phillip Haffmans, and Moritz Krueger at the frame company's party at the CUE Art Foundation; 12. Drawing winner Sheila Crawford with A&A Optical's Robert Liener; 13. George Westinghouse High School students at the Zyloware booth; 14. ClearVision Optical's team at the BCBGMAXAZRIA event; 15. A&A asks attendees, “What will you Celebrate?” in honor of its 40th anniversary; 16. Shamir drawing winner Sue Devore, Pearle Vision Center; 17. Bevel's Soccer for Charity event raised over $1,000 for Doctors Without Borders; 18. Clay Musselwhite at Pixel Optics' emPower! press conference

19. Courtney Muller (l) and Tom Loughran (r), vice presidents of Reed Exhibitions, present the Best New Product award to Carla Montana and Peter Montana of Miraflex Glasses; 20. The latest products are displayed throughout the New Product Gallery; 21-24. Models pose in some of the season's latest clothing and eyewear fashions at the Safilo Runway Show, emceed by fashion expert Carson Kressely

1-2. Eyes on New York Gala co-chair Mike Daley and co-chair VSP's Rob Lynch with honorees Marchon's Larry Roth and Al Berg; 3. OWA's Grady Culbreth presents the Pleiades award to Christie Walker; 4. Event sponsor Satisloh's Larry Clark with Live's Karen Zappia at the EyeRock Concert; 5. The Vision Council's Eve Zartman-Ball (l) and guest at the OWA event; 6. Matt Morris performs at the William Rast party; 7. Charmant Group's reps at the Puma launch party; 8. Andrea Sobel and Nicks Ericsson of the William Rast brand with Viva's Frank Rescigna; 9. Guests mingle at Safilo's Tommy Hilfiger party; 10. Enjoying the Oliver Peoples' party; 11. Event sponsor Luxottica's Dr. John W. Lahr and guest at EyeRock

Best in Show

MIRAFLEX GLASSES Flexible and Safe Glasses Show attendees selected Miraflex Glasses' Flexible and Safe children's frames as the Best New Product at Vision Expo East's New Product Pavilion. The collection for children three months to 12-years old has six frame models in 10 sizes and 22 colors. The frames are constructed from a light, malleable material that adjusts to the wearer's face. INFO: miraflexglasses.com

FRAME BUYERS
Attendees enjoyed 14 hours of CE under the Frame Buyer Certificate Program umbrella, co-sponsored by Eyecare Business and the Eyewear and Accessories Division of The Vision Council.

SOCIAL MEDIA FORUM

Dean Brownell, PhD, executive vice president of Feedback, presented The Social Media Forum to members of The Vision Council. GENERATIONS “Boomers love to read product reviews. Gen Y loves to write them. And Gen X loves to critique.” SENIORS “According to Pew Research, people over age 50 represent 42 percent of all social network users. That's up from 22 percent a year ago.” MILLENNIALS “People under age 24 only check email once every three days, but they text and are on Facebook all the time. One reason: they can delete and control.” FACEBOOK STATS ■ More than 600 million users ■ 450,000 new users a day ■ Topped Google as “most visited” in 2010 ■ Fastest-growing user demographic is women over age 55 ■ Average visitor spends seven hours a month on the site

1. Attendees celebrate EB's anniversary; 2. The Vision Council's Ed Greene and Deborah Malakoff-Castor; 3. Essilor of America's Danne Ventura and Rod Tahran, OD; 4. ClearVision Optical reps with EB's Amy Spiezio (l) 5. Shamir Insight's Bruce Mossman (l) with Sam and Michelle Morgenstern of The Optical Shoppe in Princeton, N.J.; 6. EB's (l to r) Dawn Schafer, Rob Verna, Karlen McLean, Ed Meagher, Stephanie De Long, Sue Tarrant, Amy Wauhop, and Mark Durrick

HAPPY 25TH

In 1986, the optical industry welcomed the International Vision Expo and Eyecare Business magazine, forever changing the way ECPs think about and conduct business. Twenty-five years later, International Vision Expo and EB are bigger and better than ever.

To commemorate their successes, and to celebrate the strides each have made over the last quarter century, International Vision Expo and EB co-hosted the 25th Anniversary cocktail reception at this year's VEE. Hundreds of attendees and company representatives took a break from their busy schedules and gathered in the New North Hall Lounge to help celebrate the milestone anniversaries and network over cocktails and good cheer.

Starstruck

1. Carson Kressely emceeing the Safilo Fashion Show; 2. Randy Jackson stopped by to talk about his eyewear collection from Zyloware; 3. Lisa Loeb promoted her eyewear collection at the Classique Eyewear booth; 4-6. Rex Ryan, Chord Overstreet, and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi with fans at the Revolution Eyewear booth

FASHION FORECAST

Andrea Praet, a trend specialist for Stylesight forecasting service, presented fashion trends for 2010. She pointed to two seemingly contradictory directions for spring/ summer: release (exaggerated sunwear) and restraint (authenticity, classics, essentials). “Texture is the new bling.” “Lush tropics is the new stripe.” “Golden brown is the beautification of brown. Copper is key.” The top new trends…round and thick. And key directions: rounded squares, “a 70s look…like an old TV.” Other trends: Oversized rounds. Winged rounds. Milky shades. A “print party.” Extreme blocky geometry.