News
Focus on Vision and Job Performance
Assuming most of your adult patients are employees somewhere, you have reason to discuss not just what they do at work…but where they do it and under what conditions. Providing solutions for what a new survey says is a workplace problem can make the difference between a productive employee and a frustrated one.
Nine out of 10 employees say that the quality of their work has been negatively impacted by problems with their vision—and half admit that this is a regular occurrence, according to results from the 2015 annual Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey, supported by Transitions Optical, Inc.
The most common vision problems reported: tired eyes (40%); dry eyes (31%); headaches (27%); and blurry vision (21%). Light was the top complaint, including bright glaring light and light reflected from computer screens or digital devices.
While vision problems affect nearly all employees, the survey pointed out just how little has been done to address their issues: just 13% of employees say they have addressed these issues with their employers—and only half say they discussed workplace vision problems during their last eye exam.
Moreover, the study found that only one in three employees discuss their occupation or their workplace light conditions with an eyecare professional. This points to a huge opportunity to open a discussion with patients about their vision at work, and to talk about the myriad solutions eyecare providers have on hand to help, from AR lenses, computer/office lenses, photochromic lenses, and blue-light filtering options.
To help, Prevent Blindness (preventblindness.org) has declared March Workplace Eye Wellness Month, and to raise awareness is offering free information on topics ranging from eye strain to industrial eye safety. Additionally, its Healthy Eyes Educational Series offers information and downloadable hand-outs.
The FACT FILE
ACCORDING TO A RECENT EYECARE BUSINESS SURVEY OF ECPS…
70%
OF PRACTICES SAY DAILY DISPOSABLES ARE THE HOT CONTACT LENS MODALITY
80%
USE P.O.P. TO PROMOTE CONTACT LENS SALES
90%
SAY THEY HAVE MORE SUCCESS KEEPING
PREVIOUS WEARERS IN CONTACT LENSES
ONCE THEY BECOME PRESBYOPIC
8½
IS THE AVERAGE AGE AT WHICH KIDS ARE OLD ENOUGH FOR CONTACT LENSES
TAYE Launches National Campaign
Think About Your Eyes has launched its 2015 television, radio, and digital advertising campaign to educate consumers on the benefits of vision health. The first phase of the campaign began last month, and spotlights the importance of annual comprehensive eye exams and their impact on overall health, as well as the symptoms of eye strain. The message will reach an estimated 129 million adults and generate 1.1 billion impressions throughout 2015.
The 2015 campaign will include more than 5,000 TV spots across 22 targeted cable networks during prime time viewing hours, as well as other time slots throughout the day; more than 540,000 radio spots on more than 5,200 stations; and digital ads will be placed using a cross-platform strategy spanning desktop, mobile, and tablet, reaching more than 61 million impressions over more than 2,000 sites.
INFO: thinkaboutyoureyes.com
Rush to Speak on Leadership Issues
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) will host “An Intimate Conversation with Luxottica’s Holly Rush,” facilitated by Washington Post Live editor Lois Romano, on Thursday, March 19 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.
Presented in a talk show format, Romano will engage in a dialogue with Rush on various themes.
The OWA Champagne Breakfast event will also honor women optical leaders, including the Pleiades honoree Maureen Cavanagh of the Vision Impact Institute, and the Pyxis honoree Amy Spiezio of Eyecare Business. Both honorees will make short presentations on mentoring and giving back followed by a champagne toast in their honor.
The OWA will also host its traditional Annual Star Award Ceremony and Networking Event for the award presentations of the 2015 Pleiades Award and Pyxis Award, on Friday, March 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Calvin Klein flagship store at 654 Madison Avenue. Registration is required for both events.
INFO: opticalwomen.com
PRESENTA NOVA, LUNEAU MERGE EFFORTS
Briot USA and Visionix, brands of Luneau Technology, have formed a partnership with optometric office interior design specialists Presenta Nova.
Briot USA and Visionix offer lens finishing equipment and diagnostic equipment. Presenta Nova creates custom display solutions for optical showrooms. Special offerings from Presenta Nova include its virtual reality office builder, which allows clients to “walk” through a proposed layout.
The companies note they share similar business values—including providing customized solutions, innovative design, and flexibility in offerings—that will create a symbiotic relationship between two industry leaders within their product channels.
The collaboration will begin with Vision Expo, with each company showcasing a line of products in the other’s booth spaces. Presenta Nova will also host a special “After Show Event” in its NYC showroom. For information, visit presenta-nova.com.
Hand-selected technology from both the Briot USA and Visionix lines will be available in the Presenta Nova showroom.
RODENSTOCK RETURNS TO U.S. MARKET
Rodenstock, the optical brand best known for high-technology ophthalmic lenses and fashion frames, is returning to the U.S. and will be available to ECPs in mid-2015 through EGMA, LLC.
EGMA Lens Factory LLC, a leader in the Middle East/North Africa optical industry and a manufacturing partner and distributor for Rodenstock, has established a new lab and distribution center in Dallas. Headed by president and CEO Poya Eghterafi, the new U.S. beach-head will feature a 15,000-square-foot optical lab to manufacture the full range of Rodenstock proprietary free-form lenses as well as AR coatings and photochromics.
Also leading the EGMA team as senior vice president-lenses is Alan Yuster, an industry veteran of more than 25 years with key experience in management, sales, and operations. Yuster was vice president of lenses for Rodenstock USA in the 1990s.
EGMA will be at Vision Expo, booth 4957.
OPTICAL PRO ELKIN DIES
Cynthia Murphy Elkin, a longtime optical industry professional, passed away February 13. She enjoyed a long career as a spokesperson and trainer for The Vision Council, and conducted eyecare mission trips to Honduras. She and her late husband Jim owned Point of View Eyewear in Falls Church, VA, for over 30 years, and she was active in the local business community there.
”Cindy possessed the most positive, upbeat attitude, endearing sense of humor, and compassionate heart,” says Rene Shepherd, a longtime friend and senior director of education at The Vision Council.
“From an optical perspective, Cindy’s contributions reached across the globe via the classrooms she lectured in, the patients she fit, the quotes she provided, and her coaching of fellow opticians, and her work with Vision mission trips.
“She was both a driver and a doer,” Shepherd says. “She didn’t just talk the talk.”
Elkin leaves behind four children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband James, and her daughter Kathy. She also leaves behind her special friend, Lou Miller.
Industry Execs Gather for Summit
The Vision Council names new officers
the Vision Council’s annual Executive Summit met at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, for three days in late January. Attended by more than 325 senior executives from the industry, the focus of both general and breakout sessions was on networking, leadership, and business strategy development, as well as what’s ahead in both business and the economy.
During the event, The Vision Council officially inducted its 2015 officers and Board of Directors, including: Walman Optical’s Marty Bassett, chairman of the Board; Mike Hundert of REM Eyewear, vice chairman; Ken Bradley, Eschenbach Optik of America as secretary/treasurer; and Shamir Insight’s Raanan Naftalovich, immediate past chairman. Also elected to the Board were Bob Colucci of Essilor, Glenn Rusk of Safilo, Holly Rush of Luxottica, and, for a second term, John Corsini of Super Systems Optical Technologies.
The program also showcased presentations from economic and business strategy experts, including: futurist Jack Uldrich who discussed transformative technology trends; Roger Martin on integrated business thinking; and Brian Beaulieu who presented a business and economic forecast. Industry presenters included Massimo Renon, global head of sales for Kering Eyewear, who spoke publicly for the first time about the direction of his company. And recently retired CEO of The Vision Council Ed Greene was honored for his years of service and many contributions to the optical industry.
Next year’s Summit will be held Jan. 27 to 29 at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, FL.
1. (l-r) The Vision Council’s Deb Castor and Rene Shepherd; 2. Silhouette’s Jan Corey; 3. Kering Eyewear’s Massimo Renon; 4. (l-r) REM’s Mike Hundert with recently retired Vision Council CEO Ed Greene; 5. ClearVision’s Peter Friedfeld discusses 3D printing; 6. (l-r) Zyloware’s Jamie Shyer and Shamir’s Ranaan Naftalovich; 7. Younger Optical’s Nancy Yamasaki with The Vision Council’s Jeff Enders; 8. (l-r) Robin Rhodes (Essilor Instruments), Bob Colucci (Essilor), Pam Colucci, and David Eichelberger (Adlens)
New Faces, Same Focus at Transitions
Academy unveils new product offerings, awards
nearly 500 industry professionals were introduced to the new Transitions Optical executive team at the 19th Transitions Academy, held at the end of January at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. After Essilor acquired 100% of Transitions Optical, Inc., last year, some executive faces changed. But, as they took the stage to kick off the Academy festivities, those new faces explained that though some things have changed, others will remain constant.
“The people who originated the brand and the technology are still here,” explained Bertrand Roy, Transitions general manager for North America, adding that the company is continuing to invest in new technology, and will be “keeping what is unique about Transitions.”
Patience Cook, associate director of marketing, North America, unveiled plans for the 2015 consumer message, “See life through a new lens,” which includes partnering with bloggers and social media leaders. A new TV tag will call out Transitions XTRActive lenses, which will see expanded availability in new materials this year, including a new color—brown. Attendees enjoyed professional development and workshops on the newest Transitions technologies and building Transitions sales in their practices. Two panel discussions (lead by ECP and lab award finalists) focused on best practices for presenting product and engaging customers.
Always a highlight at Academy is the awards ceremony. Southern Eye Specialists, P.C., in Atlanta, led by Rohit Sharma, O.D., was named Eyecare Practice of the Year.
“If you think small practices can’t do big things, you’re wrong,” Dr. Sharma said. “This is our entire practice,” motioning to the three other staff members joining him on stage.
Walman Optical was named Lab of the Year, and Henry Ford OptimEyes was named Regional Retailer of the Year. Also recognized during the awards ceremony was Costco Optical as National Retailer of the Year, and Opto Reseau was named Retailer of the Year, Canada.
1. Bertrand Roy and Catherine Rauscher kick off Academy; 2. Southern Eye Specialists is named Eyecare Practice of the Year; 3. Walman Optical is named Optical Lab of the Years; 4. Award finalists participate in panel discussions; 5. Manuel Solis leads a hands-on product demonstration; 6. Competition is fierce as attendees enjoy a teambuilding exercise
FYI
News bits from the industry
{PEOPLE}
WestGroupe has appointed Dr. Francesco Ferro to the position of export sales manager. Based in Italy, Ferro will play a critical role in the expansion of WestGroupe outside of the North American market. He is a 25-year sales and management veteran, with 10 years of experience in the optical industry.
Kenmark has promoted Pat Gantt to southwest regional manager. She has been with Kenmark for more than 16 years, and has been integral to Kenmark’s sales growth, the company notes.
Grady Lenski, Vision-Ease
PFO Global has expanded its management team and appointed Tim Kinnear as chief financial officer, George Moore as executive vice president of information technology, Ken Elstad as executive vice president of sales, and Jeff LaPlante as executive vice president of business development.
Optical industry veteran Grady Lenski has joined Vision-Ease as its new vice president of sales, North America. Lenski brings more than 30 years of business growth, sales, and customer service management experience.
Greg Nugent has joined the Adlens board of directors as a non-executive director. Nugent ran campaigns at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
Prevent Blindness has announced several new additions to its board: Andrew Alcorn of Block Vision, Dr. Chad Overman of Walmart, and Dr. R. Tracy Williams of the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision. Additionally, Kevin Bakewell of AAA The Auto Club Group has been appointed chief volunteer officer (CVO) association chair; Mary Blankenship Pointer of Republic Bank and Trust will serve as the new board treasurer; and Torrey DeKeyser of the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama will serve as secretary.
Shamir Optical announces the retirement of longtime executive Hilaire van der Veen, who had been with the company for 22 years, most recently as vice president of business development. Over the next two years, van der Veen will provide consulting services to Shamir.
{BUSINESS UPDATES}
Spectera Vision Laboratory, a United-Healthcare company and one of the largest independent optical laboratories in North America, has earned ISO 9001:2008 certification for its Quality Management System (QMS).
1. Pat Gantt, Kenmark; 2. Dr. Francesco Ferro, West-Groupe; 3. Todd Banks of Robertson Optical blocks lenses ready to be surfaced in the company’s newest free-form digital lab
Robertson Optical Laboratories, which has been processing free-form lenses since June 2009 through its digital lab in Atlanta, is now producing free-form through its newest digital surfacing lab in Columbia, SC. According to its owners, this is the first full-service, in-house, free-form digital lab in the state.
Vision Source has bolstered its relationship with Essilor to offer additional cost-saving benefits by enabling Vision Source clinicians to now prescribe Essilor’s TruClear and Viso private label products to patients who have EyeMed benefits.
Marchon Eyewear, Inc., has opened a new regional office in Singapore with a sales and marketing force.
Super Systems Optical Technologies completed a year of high-volume sales with the U.S. military, which uses the Fast Grind lens fabrication system around the world to make eyewear for U.S. troops. After a four-year evaluation within the industry, FastGrind was chosen by the military as the best lens surfacing system for its needs.
Schneider Optical Machines has announced a new booth number for Vision Expo East, LP7454, for visitors to see their Rx lens processing solutions.
Business In Banff
Essilor hosts its annual meeting
the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies was home to Essilor of America’s national sales meeting in January. It also represented an opportunity for attendees—a mix of Essilor executives, sales, and marketing leadership teams as well as independent distributors—to meet new Essilor of America president Eric Leonard.
Among the many new program announcements, sessions detailed new Varilux lenses offerings, a total of 14 tints that will be coming to Xperio UV later this year, as well as expansion of Transitions XTRActive and Transitions Signature VII offerings.
Details were also released on new consumer ad campaigns and the ongoing Power of 3X consumer program, which now includes Xperio UV as well as Varilux, Transitions, and Crizal.
Attendees heard from AOA president David Cockrell and Essilor veteran and new CEO of The Vision Council Mike Daley. There was also a tribute and raffle to create a special fund honoring a longtime employee, the late Mary Lou Maguire.
One of the annual highlights of the meeting is the presentation of the Independent Distribution Division Laboratory Awards, led by IDD president Bob Colucci. Announced at a special murder mystery-themed evening event, this year’s recipients included: Superior Optical Lab, Transitions Award of Excellence; Luzerne Optical Laboratories, Ltd., for Xperio UV; Diversified Ophthalmics for Crizal; I-See Optical Lab for Varilux; and IcareLabs for achievement with X-Cel. Walman Optical was named IDD Lab of the Year, and VSPOne Optical Technology Center took top managed care lab honors.
1. Denise Brady, center, receives first ever MaryLou McGuire Spirit of Essilor Award. With her are (l) Howard Purcell and Ellen Haag; 2. (l-r) Dukgun Kim, Jeff Angerbauer, Carl Bracy, Gabriel Keita, and Bill Markham at the awards banquet; 3. Howard Purcell, O.D., presents at EOA Opening Session; 4. Eric Leonard presents at EOA Closing Session; 5. Stephen Shawler speaks during EOA Award Banquet about the Essilor Vision Foundation; 6. Pete Hanlin, LDO, director of technical marketing, presents during Product University; 7. At the awards dinner (l-r) Sherri Rajan, Meghana Dhall, Morgan Maxwell, Avanti Upponi, Dukgun Kim, Tamara Sanders, Kameron Brewer; 8. Enjoying the awards dinner: (l-r) Bidisha Rudra, John Carrier, Bob Colucci, Rick Gadd
Essilor Creates Vision for Life Program
Essilor has created the Vision For Life program, dedicated to improving lives by improving sight. The group has committed 30 million euros (roughly $34 million) to this initiative, making it the largest global strategic giving program dedicated to eliminating Uncorrected Refractive Error (URE), or poor vision.
Vision For Life is a strategic giving program that aims to accelerate initiatives targeting poor vision through awareness raising, capacity-building and the creation of basic vision care infrastructure. The sustainable development of local vision care will create jobs, help alleviate poverty, and bring socioeconomic development to individuals and the communities in which they live, Essilor notes.
Vision For Life will fund various public interest projects. These range from community vision care actions led in cooperation with nonprofit organizations, including local Essilor foundations, to the setting up of vision centers and skills development in areas without access to primary eyecare. The program will also support public awareness campaigns and advocacy to drive better understanding of the importance of good vision.
The Vision For Life program will be administered by two nonprofit entities, the Essilor Social Impact Fund, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation in the U.S., and the Essilor Social Impact fonds de dotation (endowment fund) in France. A governing board for each entity will decide the allocation of funding for projects in accordance with their respective investment criteria.
VISION SOURCE LAUNCHES LEARNING PROJECT
Independent optometric alliance Vision Source has launched “Optical Dream,” a practice development initiative that will be offered to its 3,000-plus member practices throughout 2015. The Optical Dream will provide both enhanced awareness and unique sales training to each member of the optical and office staff, improving patient experience and practice profitability, according to the alliance.
The Optical Dream solution, provided exclusively to Vision Source members, will incentivize staff to learn and execute strategies that have proven to be effective at many of the most successful practices in the country.
It is a web-based solution filled with edu-tainment provided through a gamification interface. It features a user-friendly program that leverages metrics, technology, and teamwork within Vision Source practices as teams drive their practice growth in 2015. Within this simple process, the opticians, optical dispensers, doctors, and staff have multiple chances, based on their participation, and performance, to win cash, prizes, and all-expense paid trips to Paris and other destinations.
On the Town
A who, where, and when of the industry’s latest events
PROJECT RUNWAY GALA LAUNCH
Emilio Pucci and Marcolin Group celebrated the worldwide launch of the Emilio Pucci Eyewear Collection, the first after their agreement signed last June. The event was held Jan. 26 at the Ambassade d’Italie in Paris.
Laudomia Pucci, CEO of Emilio Pucci, together with Giovanni Zoppas, CEO of Marcolin Group, and the Italian Ambassador Giandomenico Magliano welcomed the guests to a cocktail reception followed by an exclusive dinner with the support of Baccarat providing sparkle to the night. Late drinks and music closed an unforgettable evening.
(l-r) Maurizio Marcolin, Laudomia Pucci, and Giovanni Zoppas
Guests include: (l-r) Jean Thierry Besins, Poppy Delevingne, Peter Dundas
COLD WEATHER, HOT FASHION
Despite the cold and dreary weather, Fashion Week was hot in New York City, as Lacoste hosted its fashion show on Valentine’s Day at the Theatre at Lincoln Center. Lacoste Eyewear is distributed by Marchon.
Photos: Alessandro Lucioni/Imaxtree
WELCOME TO NEW YORK
Italian eyewear brand Italia Independent officially opened its first U.S. boutique in the Soho section of New York City. Editors, fashion influencers, and VIPs enjoyed customized sunglasses painted on-site by New York street artist Bradley Theodore, known for his downtown New York graffiti of fashion powerhouses Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, and Diana Vreeland as colorful skulls. Following the boutique opening, guests partied at the New Museum to DJ sets from downtown darlings The Misshapes and DJ Kitty Cash and experienced a live painting by Theodore, inspired by Italia Independent.
DJ Kitty Cash and host Lapo Elkann
Actors TJ Miller and Kate Gorney
Artist Bradley Theodore
CELEBRATING MIRANDA
Luxottica and Michael Kors feted the launch of the Miranda Eyewear collection in a celebration held Feb. 18 at the newly opened Michael Kors Soho flagship store in New York City. The event not only spot-lighted the eyewear but also saw some of the most stylish women in attendance wearing the Michael Kors 2015 collection.
Actress Allison Williams
Alexandra Richards enjoys the paparazzi treatment
Michael Kors with Hanneli Mustaparta
Photos: Getty Images for Michael Kors
License Line-Up
The first deliveries will launch this month, with a “Made in Italy” sunwear capsule collection, available exclusively across the MCM worldwide boutique network. The launch represents the beginning of a partnership between these two global players in the fashion business.
The MCM eyewear collection will launch September 2015 in Asia, with a global roll-out planned for January 2016. The eyewear collection will be sold in MCM boutiques, department and specialty stores, and select optical stores worldwide, according to a joint statement by the companies.
CLEINMAN GROUP JOINS FIGHT AGAINST BLINDNESS
Members of Cleinman Performance Network raised more than $50,000 for the Foundation Fighting Blindness at its 2014 Chicago session. A dollar-for-dollar match from the Gordon Gund Foundation brought the total to more than $100,000.
All charitable donations will be used exclusively for research projects to cure blindness.
“I continue to be humbled by the generosity of our Network membership, my team, and our sponsors, who generously contributed to this meaningful cause,” says president and CEO Alan Cleinman.
Guest speaker Tom Sullivan spoke to Network audiences about the power of optometry to provide solutions to patients and their families as they confront vision loss and work to find a cure. A globally known speaker, singer, and activist who works closely with the Foundation, Sullivan inspired tears and laughter with stories of achievements in life.
His appearance was made possible by a gift from HOYA Vision Care.
Puzzle
Technology and Personalization
LENS TALK
{WORD SEARCH}
Today’s lens technology has opened up a whole new world of accuracy and personalization, giving ECPs an armory of solutions from which to choose. This puzzle includes terms that relate to measuring and manufacturing quality ophthalmic lenses. Test your skills on locating each of the words in this fun puzzle.
By Jenean Carlton, ABOC, NCLC
WORD BANK
Bevel
Bifocals
Center Thickness
Digitally Surfaced
Edge Thickness
Effective Diameter
Etchings
Fabrication
Glass
Grooved
High Index
Lenses
Molded Designs
Occupational Segments
Optical Center
Polycarbonate
Polyurethane
Precise Measurements
Progressive Addition Lenses
Refractive
Resins
Scratch Resistant Coating
Single Vision
Specialty Equipment
Thin Film Coatings
Trifocals
Wrap Angle
{SOLUTIONS}
The answers to the January 2015 Word Search
The answers to last month’s “Back to Basics’” puzzle.
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