News

{APRIL 2014}
Hot List

1
PROPER PROTECTION

The eye protection needed to prevent eye injuries during various activities is determined by standards set by ASTM. The eye-safety standards by sport are as follows.

• ASTM F803: Eye protectors for selected sports, including racket sports, women’s lacrosse, field hockey, baseball, and basketball.

• ASTM F513: Eye and face protective equipment for hockey players.

• ASTM F1776: Eye protectors for use by players of paintball sports.

• ASTM F1587: Head and face protective equipment for ice hockey goaltenders.

• ASTM F910: Face guards for youth baseball.

• ASTM F659: High-impact resistant eye protective devices for Alpine skiing.

Also, protective glasses or goggles that block UV should be worn when snow or water skiing. They will help shield the eyes from sunburn and glare.

Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology

2
TIMES 10

Essilor reports that protective eyewear made with polycarbonate lenses is 10 times more impact resistant than standard plastic lenses.

3
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

The American Optometric Association’s 2013 American Eye-Q survey revealed that
32%
of adults wear eye protection during contact sports and
50%
of parents make sure their children wear eye protection during contact sports.

4
BIG NUMBERS

According to VSP, more than
50 million
Americans participate in sports.

Management Changes at Transitions Following Acquisition

essilor International has finalized the acquisition of PPG Industries’ 51 percent ownership stake in Transitions Optical, Inc., and 100 percent of the capital of sun lens maker Intercast. Essilor previously owned 49 percent of Transitions. With the finalization comes the announcement of management changes at Transitions.

Richard C. Elias, senior vice president of PPG and CEO of Transitions Optical, Inc., has retired after 40 years with PPG, including 24 at Transitions. Dave Cole, Transitions’ president, has been named vice president for PPG’s packaging coatings business following more than 20 years with Transitions.

Paddy McDermott is the new Transitions president, reporting directly to Bertrand Roy, senior vice president, strategic partnerships, Essilor. McDermott joined Transitions in 1993 and has held several key positions with the company globally. Roy will lead the Transitions Optical business for the Essilor Group. He has been with Essilor International for 27 years and was instrumental to the foundation of the original Transitions Optical joint venture between PPG and Essilor. PPG is expected to remain a partner of Essilor, contributing to the development of photochromic dyes and technology.

Previously, Essilor announced the acquisition of Coastal Contacts, which runs online vision care retailer Coastal.com.

1. Richard C. Elias
2. Dave Cole
3. Paddy McDermott
4. Bertrand Roy

SHAMIR DEBUTS INOTIME LAB

In an effort to help independent ECPs compete with big-box optical retailers and Internet websites, Shamir Insight has unveiled InoTime, a first-of-its-kind microlab in Philadelphia, offering local ECPs the ability to dispense Shamir lenses with a three-hour turnaround from door to door. The lab will utilize Satisloh equipment and local bicycle courier provider TimeCycle to process and deliver lens jobs for ECPs within a five-mile radius of the lab, which is located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.

Though InoTime is powered by Shamir, company representatives stress that it will act as a stand-alone lab, so cooperating ECPs will be able to offer Shamir lenses at competitive price points. As part of the service, InoTime has released a computer and smartphone-enabled software platform with which both ECPs and their patients can track the progress of their orders and receive real-time alerts.

To ensure quality and offer personalized service to local ECPs, the InoTime lab will only produce a limited amount of jobs per day, around 150, regardless of demand. Should the local volume increase, instead of expanding the existing lab, InoTime will open additional locations to meet the demand.

Shamir chose Philadelphia for its density of optical locations, the favorable delivery system (TimeCycle), and its per capita income. The company’s goal is to create relationships with 100 local ECPs within the first year, and hopes to expand to other metro areas in the future.

INFO: inotimelens.com

InoTime’s Hilaire van der Veen (l) and Danny Sisso (r) with Satisloh’s Larry Clarke (c) at the press unveiling of the InoTime Philadelphia lab

Oakley: Designed to Disrupt

Oakley, Inc., celebrated the 30th anniversary of its performance sports eyewear and launched a new campaign with an event held in Hollywood. Announcing the details of the company’s Disruptive by Design brand platform, Oakley CEO Colin Baden unveiled innovation pillars. “This is a pivotal moment in the history of our brand,” says Baden. “We will open our blast doors for the first time, celebrate our legacy and culture of disruption, and set out our blueprint for future innovation.

“Disruptive by Design is laying the foundation for the future,” notes Baden. “Our total number of design and utility patents issued and applications pending is close to 1,000, and 200 of those were amassed over the last two years. We now have our sights set on three key innovation pillars: Enhanced Vision, Wearable Electronics, and Customization. This is the beginning of a new era of brave design and disruptive technologies from Oakley.”

The brand platform was unveiled to global media in context of the company’s heritage in product design and development. Voiced by two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey, the Oakley story of disruption was told for the first time at RED Studios in Hollywood, “a beacon of disruption in cinematography established by Oakley founder Jim Jannard,” company representatives note.

Following the unveiling, global media joined Oakley designers and engineers as well as athletes who use or have used the company’s inventions to redefine the face of sport—from Greg LeMond to Shaun White, Andy Hampsten to Bubba Watson—for insights into the future of Oakley design and research and development.

1-2. The event at RED Studios in Hollywood showcases Oakley artifacts and a laboratory to show off the company’s mad science; 3. Rapper Lil Jon arrives at the party in one of the Tesla electric cars used to ferry VIPs to the event; 4. Oakley CEO Colin Baden discusses disruption, the past, and the future; 5-6. Athletes make the scene, including golfer Bubba Watson (5) and snowboarder Shaun White (6); 7. Celebs Kelly Osborne (l) and Adrian Grenier toast Oakley’s anniversary

REGISTER NOW FOR PB’S NATIONAL EYE HEALTH SUMMIT

Registration is now available for Prevent Blindness’ (PB) third annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 18, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. At the event, PB will release a new report projecting the potential burden and economic impact of vision problems into the future. The Summit will also include a variety of presentations related to this year’s theme of conditions/issues that co-exist with vision problems, such as “Forecasting the Prevalence and Cost of Vision Loss and Eye Disorders” and “The Impact of Diabetes Among Children on Future Eye Disease,” among others.

Registration is free to attendees, but seating is limited. For more information, or to register for the event, visit preventblindness.org/eyesummit.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To inquire about Summit sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nita Patel, npatel@preventblindness.org.

A New Optimism

the 44th MIDO – International Optics, Optometry, and Ophthalmology Exhibition drew a reported 45,000 people (25,000 internationally and 20,000 from Italy), an increase of 5.4 percent.

“Many new companies chose MIDO for their debut,” says MIDO president Cirillo Marcolin. “Some noteworthy names returned, there was a desire to increase business areas, and a buzz could already be felt on the eve of the exhibition. And it delivered the expected results.”

In addition, the organization’s vice president, Giovanni Vitaloni, noted an upswing in optimism based on results of on-site polling: “A new, more positive outlook is gaining ground among the people working in the industry.”

The event hosted a number of new collection and product launches as well as a number of educational and entertainment opportunities.

MIDO 2015 is slated for February 28 to March 2.

INFO: mido.it

1. Dr. Thomas Windischbauer, MBA, COO/CFO (l), member of the executive board, and Silhouette CEO and executive board member Daniel Rogger discuss the company’s plans for its anniversary year and the future; 2. (l to r) The Vision Council’s Ed Greene, Shamir CEO and The Vision Council chairman Raanan Naftalovich, and Francesco Gili, vice chair of ANFAO, at an event hosted by The Vision Council’s European Sunglass Association division in Milan; 3. At GARAGE MILANO in Milan, Marcolin hosts an opening of the Sguardi “Views,” which featured a sensorial pathway that walked guests through 14 of Marcolin’s brands represented by installations, all created by young Italian artists through several kinds of mediums and art expressions (Mont Blanc installation shown); 4. Jacky Lam, general manager at Okia, presents the company’s latest, a High Definition Acetate that is green while offering the appearance of textures in crisp detail; 5. A lounge in the design area is hopping; 6. Blackfin presents its partnership with Cipriani, illustrating true “Made in Italy” style; 7. MEI System Inc.’s U.S. sales director Barry Lee presents the company’s smaller, dispensary-friendly system

MIDO: STYLE STORIES

Mirrors are still a major story. Shown: Italia Independent style 0027

Another big story for the show is the frame within a frame featuring metal and plastic frame fronts. Shown: Lindberg Strip style 9703

Face a Face takes shapely temples to the stylish extreme: distinctive tips with a kick (l), and Okia’s photorealistic finishes

Florals and photorealism are capturing the imagination of materials designer/manufacturer Mazzucchelli

FYI

News bits from the industry

{PEOPLE}

The Optical Women’s Association has appointed Jean Sabre, owner and practice administrator of Uptown Vision in Minneapolis, MN, to its board of directors.

The National Federation of Opticianry (NFOS) recently elected new officers at its 2014 annual business meeting, which was held in Dallas. The new officers include the following: president, Robert J. Russo, chairman of the Department of Vision Care Technology; vice president, Kimberly Strickler, New York City College of Technology; secretary, Sheri Red Shirt, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; treasurer, Sheldon O’Guinn, Tri-Service Optician School; executive director, Randy Smith, Baker College; and past president, Kristi Green, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Williams Group has announced that Gilan Cockrell, O.D., FAAO, has joined its team as executive vice president of corporate strategy. Prior to Williams Group, Dr. Cockrell was president of the Kansas Optometric Association in 1998, chairman of the State Government Relations Center for the American Optometric Association in 2007, co-founder of the Eye Care Council and “See to Learn” program, and recipient of numerous awards within his profession. He currently serves on the Kansas State Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Adlens has promoted Drew Oppermann to international sales manager. In his new role, Oppermann will develop the European markets for Adlens by growing strong partnerships in each country.

Jay Black has been appointed vice president, global marketing of Maui Jim.

{BUSINESS UPDATES}

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has welcomed FYidoctors as a platinum national sponsor in Canada in recognition of its ongoing support of sustainable eye and vision care projects being funded by OGS.

HOYA Vision Care has expanded its prescription laboratory network with the opening of a new lab in Tempe, AZ.

Tura Inc. has a new address: 989 Avenue of the Americas, FL21, New York, NY 10018.

1. Jean Sabre, Optical Women’s Association; 2. Jay Black, Maui Jim 3. Drew Oppermann, Adlens 4. Gilan Cockrell, O.D., FAAO, Williams Group 5. & 6. Envision hosts a free music workshop at its headquarters in Wichita, KS, for local blind or low vision residents

{AWARDS}

Transitions Optical, Inc., has announced the winners of its annual Students of Vision Scholarship contest. Grand-prize winners received $500 and an all-expense paid trip to Tampa, FL in April for a weekend of education and leadership training from industry experts and a tour of the Transitions Optical headquarters. Finalists received a $100 cash prize. This year’s grand-prize winners of the “Share Your Impact”-themed contest include: Clay Connolly, Michigan College of Optometry; Detlef Hans Sleichter, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University School of Optometry; Elsa Caroline, SUNY College of Optometry; Jebadiah Boseck, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College; Katherine Snikrah, The New England College of Optometry; Linh Phan, University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry; Taylor Chung, Seneca College; Vanessa Meyerowitz, SUNY College of Optometry. Additional finalists include Allie Thompson, Western University College of Optometry; Elizabeth Rafi, Durham Technical Community College; Candace Brown, University of Houston College of Optometry; Hector Santos, Erie Community College; Kishor Sapkota, Universidade do Minho; Lara DiPasquale, University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science; Sara Rosen, Hillsborough Community College; Sudheshna Miryala, InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry; Vitto Mena, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.

The National Federation of Opticianry’s newly elected officials (clockwise from top): Sheldon O’Guinn, Robert J. Russo, Sheri Red Shirt, and Kimberly Strickler

{GOOD DEEDS}

In February, Envision hosted a music workshop, bringing together musicians and individuals who are blind or have low vision. The day-long workshop covered the history, theory, and performance of various types of music and ended with a 90-minute dinner and jam session.

Puzzle
Game On
OPTICAL SHOP DESIGN AND DECOR

{WORD SEARCH}

When considering such an important investment as designing or updating an optical shop, it’s a good idea to look to architects, vendors, and interior designers who specialize in the optical industry. The words in this puzzle relate to designing and decorating an optical business. Even if you just want to spruce up your dispensary, the terms in this puzzle may help to inspire you in your own practice.

By Jenean Carlton, ABOC, NCLC

WORD BANK

Appeal

Architecture

Atmosphere

Brands

Carpet

Color trends

Efficiency

Fabrics

First impression

Floor plans

Focal point

Frame groupings

Functionality

Furniture

Interior design

Investment

Lighting

Merchandising

Mirrors

Organization

Patient flow

POP materials

Product security

Seasonal displays

Storage

Texture

Visual interest

Window displays

{SOLUTION}

The answers to the March 2014 Word Search

How’d you do?

Here’s a peek at the answers to the Photochromic Lenses: Benefits You Can See crossword puzzle from last month’s issue. For a full look at the clues and answers, visit us online at EyecareBusiness.com.