News

Consumers Targeted with Digital Eye Strain Info

The Vision Council used the backdrop of January’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to introduce its latest research on a topic that has been quickly engaging the attention of ECPs and lens and coatings designers alike: digital eye strain.

Findings of The Vision Council’s new report examine the impact of digital media on vision health. It reveals that nearly 95% of Americans spend two or more hours every day on digital devices, permeating all aspects of our personal lives. The report found that the majority of Americans experience digital eye strain as a result—an issue that is compounded by a severe lack of awareness about how this use affects our eyes and vision health.

The report, “Hindsight is 20/20/20: Protect Your Eyes from Digital Devices,” takes a generational look at digital device use and how each age group is impacted by the surge in overuse.

“Many people assume digital eye strain is an unavoidable part of living in a digital world, but there are simple ways to ease the strain on eyes,” says Mike Daley, CEO of The Vision Council. “The vision community as a whole has identified technology use as a challenge for eye comfort and health. As a result, over the past several years, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of innovation to help reduce the strain to eyes that many experience from digital devices, and The Vision Council is working to educate consumers on these incredible solutions.”

In an effort to educate avid digital device users, The Vision Council once again connected with CES attendees about the benefits of computer glasses and coatings, demonstrating the latest in computer eyewear technology and teaching additional ways for individuals to minimize digital eye strain.

The Vision Council encourages eyecare providers to engage their patients in discussions about healthy vision maintenance, including the impact of their daily electronic device use and the Digital Eye Strain symptoms to monitor for, as well as eyewear options that can reduce symptoms in the future.

In addition to releasing the report, The Vision Council has created a downloadable infographic that ECPs can use in their practices to help educate patients about the prevalence of digital eye strain, and the products available to help.

To view or download a copy of the report: thevisioncouncil.org

The FACT FILE

1 in 4
CHILDREN USE DIGITAL DEVICES FOR MORE THAN 3 HOURS A DAY

61%
OF ADULTS EXPERIENCE DIGITAL EYE STRAIN DUE TO PROLONGED USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES

1/3
DON’T DO ANYTHING TO ALLEVIATE THEIR SYMPTOMS. DON’T MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS

25%
OF ECPs CONSIDER COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME (DIGITAL EYE STRAIN) ONE OF THEIR PROJECTED GROWTH AREAS*

Sources: *Eyecare Business Market Trends Study; all others from The Vision Council’s digital eye strain report

Cavanagh to lead Vision Impact Institute

maureen Cavanagh has been named president of the Vision Impact Institute, currently supported by Essilor. The mission of the Vision Impact Institute is to raise awareness of the importance of healthy vision, including the socioeconomic impact of Uncorrected Refractive Errors (URE) and quality of life benefits of visual correction.

At an annual cost of $16.1 billion, URE is the most costly “eye condition” in the U.S. The Vision Impact Institute provides a unique database of scientific research and peer reviewed studies directed to government policy-makers, industry leaders, and influential advocates, and uses evidence of this kind to reinforce the need for healthy vision, eye examinations and eye screenings with a provision for optical correction.

In a related announcement, Essilor of America has named Kristan Gross, formerly director of corporate communications, to director of content and communications for the Vision Impact Institute. In this new global role, she will be responsible for creating and executing a successful content and communications strategy for raising awareness of the Vision Impact Institute worldwide. She will work with advertising agencies, public relations firms, and the African Vision Research Institute (AVRI) to expand the database of worldwide evidence and make it available to government policy makers, influential advocates, and industry leaders to reinforce the importance of healthy vision and the need for vision correction.

Cavanagh joined Essilor in October of 2005, as the director of Definity lenses, launching the brand throughout the Essilor network following the acquisition of The Spectacle Lens Group. Soon after, she was named vice president of integrated retail, carving out a separate division and launching a new platform to meet the needs of surfacing retail customers for Essilor. In December 2009, Cavanagh was promoted to president of Nassau Vision Group and OOGP, overseeing several stock lens and contact lens distribution centers, along with a local digital lens laboratory, Nova, and the Shore lens division.

In May 2012, Cavanagh was elected as the U.S. representative for Essilor employee shareholders on the Valoptec Board of Directors. Prior to Essilor, Cavanagh held various executive positions within the optical industry, including Cohen’s Fashion Optical, Marine Optical, and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.

A 23-year optical industry veteran, Cavanagh is a certified optician and graduated from Bridgewater State University.

SUTHERLIN NEW OPTICAL LAB LIAISON

Steve Sutherlin, president of Sutherlin Optical laboratory in Kansas City, MO, has been named the new Optical Lab Division Liaison for The Vision Council. He fills the seat left by Mike Daley, who became CEO of The Vision Council in late 2014.

Sutherlin has led Sutherlin Optical as its president since 1991 and has worked at the organization since 1974. As president, Sutherlin grew the company to one of the 20 largest independently owned optical laboratories in the United States. Sutherlin Optical was a family-owned business through 2007, when it became an Essilor Partner Lab.

He brings to the position expertise in the optical industry and outstanding leadership experience, The Vision Council states. He held the position of president of the Optical Laboratories Association from 2005 to 2006, and was a member of the Association’s Board from 1998 to 2007. He was also the president of the Midwest Optical Laboratories Association for two years and was inducted into the Optical Laboratories Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

With Glass Sales Halted, What’s Next for Wearables?

google has shut down its Explorer program, effectively halting all sales of its Google Glass. In a message on its Google+ page, the company announced it plans to move the Glass unit out of the Google[x] research and development division to become a standalone unit at Google. It also hinted at “future versions of Glass.”

Google’s move left many speculating as to what would happen with the device, and where it left those in the optical industry who had worked along with Google to adapt the device to spectacle lenses.

In a statement to Eyecare Business, VSP notes that, “We have a long-standing collaborative relationship with Google, providing them with access to expertise and counsel across all facets of the optical industry. Our current relationship remains intact and we’re excited to see the next phase of the Glass program.”

VSP providers will continue to serve as experts in fitting and prescribing Rx lenses for Glass, and VSPOne labs remain the preferred facilities to process Glass lens orders, it stated. In addition, the DVF Made for Glass collection with Marchon Eyewear licensor Diane von Furstenberg will still be available for sale through Net-a-Porter and Google.

Rochester Optical has also created spectacle lens designs to work with smart glasses, called Smart GOLD. Patrick Ho, Rochester’s CEO, told EB that he, too, is looking forward to whatever Google Glass’ next phase will be.

“They will be refocusing and positioning Glass 2.0 for the public rollout, which will include a redesign and a more consumer-friendly price,” says Ho, adding that he sees indications that Google Glass is set for success in both the occupational and enterprise settings with recent announcements that the ‘Glass at Work’ program is continuing to grow and Google is supporting their partner network.

Patrick Ho of Rochester Optical

“We have invested huge amounts of energy into the development of our unique lens technology, frames as fashion, and Safety Eye Protection accessories designed for use with smart glasses—because we know smart eyewear, and that includes Google Glass, is here to stay. The widespread adoption of this platform by enterprise, occupational and consumers has begun and is set to continue.”

Luxottica is also among the companies stepping into the smart eyewear ring, announcing plans to develop frames for Glass under its Ray-Ban and Oakley brands, and inked an R&D deal with Intel to fuse eyewear with smart technology.

{SOLUTION}

The answer’s to last month’s “Back to Basics’” puzzle.

Opti Munich 2015 Wraps With Success

the first optical industry trade show of the year, opti Munich attracted a healthy crowd to kick off 2015 with a look at new products and technology. The event drew 25,850 visitors who placed orders worth more than an estimated 178 million Euros from 525 exhibitors, organizers report.

Other features of the show included a preview of the future of vision with Smart Glasses and the new Walk of Frames. Overall, the event was given top ratings of “very good to excellent” by 95.5 % of the visitors, show representatives note.

“Opti is characterized by creativity, reliability, stability, and continuous development, as well as healthy growth with respect to visitors and exhibitors. Above all, the basis of opti is quality. This is only possible because the industry is 100% behind its trade show in Munich,” explains Dieter Dohr, chairman of the management board of the GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH. “These advantages spread fast and the industry knows that the networking and contact opportunities provided by opti are unparalleled. This is also evidenced by the large number of first-time visitors.”

The next three opti trade shows are already scheduled: January 15-17, 2016; January 27-29, 2017; and January 12-14, 2018.

1. Opening press conference of opti 2015 (l to r): Thomas Truckenbrod of the Central Association Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA), Josef May of the German industry association SPECTARIS, and Dieter Dohr, of the Management Board of GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH; 2, New sunglasses from ProDesign Denmark; 3, Eyewear on display along the Walk of Frames; 4. A textured style in purple from Italian newcomer Pugnale & Nyleve; 5. Paper frames by Paper Style

INFO: opti.de

Executive Changes at Charmant

Kikuo Urayama

kikuo Urayama is the new president and CEO of Charmant USA, Inc., following the retirement of president Harry Aida and vice president of finance Bill Ferraro.

Urayama was previously vice president of Charmant USA from 1996-2000. He joined the company in 1994 as managing director of Charmant. After his stint as vice president of the U.S. division, Urayama transferred to Charmant Italia as vice president, and then in 2007, moved back to Japan as the general manager of the International Business Division and chief auditor of the Internal Audit Department. Most recently, he was COO of the Western Business Division, which includes Europe and the Americas.

“My experience over the last several years has fully prepared me to take on this exciting new challenge,” says Urayama. “I look forward to implementing new approaches, while taking care to respect and nurture our current relationships and business approaches.”

Upon his retirement, Aida returns home to Japan where his wife, sons, and grandchildren live. He had been with Charmant since 1998.

NEW TAYE PARTNERS ANNOUNCED

National eye health initiative Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) announces two new partnerships—the website All About Vision, and Visionworks—continuing the campaign’s growth and reflecting the increasing importance of getting an annual comprehensive eye exam.

Visionworks is leading provider of eyecare services with more than 650 optical retail stores.

“We’re excited to welcome Visionworks as a partner in the Think About Your Eyes initiative, and thrilled to see the dedication to consumer eye health coming from the industry’s retail leaders,” says Dave Plogmann, managing director of TAYE.

The partnership with All About Vision bolsters the campaign’s efforts to provide consumers with up-to-date information about vision health and its impact on overall well-being. It will provide content licensing and sharing, enhancing TAYE’s ability to educate the public on the importance of annual eye exams. Through the partnership, Think About Your Eyes and its members can utilize content developed by All About Vision’s Editorial Advisory Board of writers, editors, and reviewers.

INFO: thinkaboutyoureyes.com

{THE VAULT}
SUPPORTING THE TROOPS

This month The Vault features unusual WWII goggles from AO, now in the Optical Heritage Museum, that used color filter lenses for military application. American Optical played a pivotal role in supporting the visual needs of the U.S. Military during the 20th Century. As such, the Optical Heritage Museum has many unusual items from that time.

The tricolored lens is from 1943, and was modified from an AO Safety goggle. Each lens filter had three segments of different colors—red, yellow and blue. The goggles were used to help soldiers detect camouflage. How exactly it worked or how it was used is not known. Reader feedback is welcome!

Another unusual WWII AO military goggle is the AO E-1 dark adaptation pilot goggle (bottom photo). It was standardized on March 11, 1945, and used throughout the rest of the war. The red filter goggle was worn by pilots for 30 minutes before takeoff and was also useful for pilots during the flight if cockpit lights were on. It was also used in ‘blind training’ when worn behind a green tinted windshield, and helped when spotlights were shined on the planes when flying over enemy territory.

More information on the Optical Heritage Museum, located in Southbridge, MA, and its archives, are available on its website.

INFO: opticalheritagemuseum.org