TrendSpotting
THE BIGGEST TRENDS + NEWS YOU CAN USE

Ready for the Party?

The kids’ eyewear market is primed for merriment—the opportunities in this unique, fun-filled niche are abundant. Get the party started with some key intel and statistics to know about kids’ eyewear and the kids’ market overall.

—Erinn Morgan

15‐20 million

The number of children in the U.S. under the age of 18 who wear Rx eyeglasses. (By comparison, the number of American adults who wear Rx eyeglasses is 158 million.)

Source: The Vision Council

74.2 million

The number of children in the U.S. under the age of 18. While there is a small increase in the number of children in the country in recent years, the under-18 population is expected to remain stable in the coming years.

Source: 2010 U.S. Census Report

#2

ECPs say children’s eyewear is their second-largest specialty product category, coming in just after Rx sunwear.

Source: Eyecare Business Market Trends Study 2015

22%

The percentage of ECPs who say kids’ eyewear is their fastest-growing product category.

Source: Eyecare Business Market Trends Study 2015

78%

Most practitioners (a full 78%) fit children with their first pair of contact lenses between the ages of 8 and 12.

Source: Eyecare Business Market Trends Study 2015

$29.7 billion

Sales of childrenswear (including apparel and accessories) topped out at $29.7 billion in 2015. Girls’ apparel accounted for 38% of those sales, while boys’ apparel was 32%.

Source: Euromonitor International 2016 Childrenswear in the U.S. Report

On Dante: Champion CU7011 from L'Amy with Powerflex hinges

5 Questions for…

Daniel L. Mannen, O.D., FAAO, VSP Global Chairman of the Board

Daniel L. Mannen, O.D.

The VSP Global Board of Directors recently named Daniel L. Mannen, O.D., FAAO, as Chairman of the Board for a two-year term. Dr. Mannen is the first-ever returning Chairman of the Board—he served a two-year term previously from 2006 to 2008.

Dr. Mannen has been in private professional practice in Oregon for 30 years, and his emphasis is on ocular disease. Originally from eastern Oregon, Dr. Mannen received his degree in optometry with high honors from the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, OR. He has also served as president of the Oregon Optometric Physicians Association.

Dr. Mannen represents a truly optometric family—his wife is also an optometrist, and his two children are well on their way through optometry school. He is also an avid golfer.

What does your role with VSP entail?

The Board of Directors has the primary responsibility to set policy and provide direction for the company. It is my job as chairman to set the tone for the board by creating an environment that leads to new ideas and innovative approaches to our business functions.

How do you balance your role with VSP and your private optometry practice?

It is definitely a challenge to get it all balanced. Delegation is the key on both fronts, and I am blessed with an excellent Board of Directors and an excellent optometric team.

How does your practice—and how might others—not only survive but thrive with managed care today?

I believe the secret sauce in practice is to make the most of every doctor/patient interaction. Each visit provides an opportunity to further the connection with our patients and to strengthen our role in their pursuit of health and wellness. Managed care has afforded us more frequent opportunities for patient interaction and, as such, can work to our advantage.

What is the VSP Global Premier Program?

The VSP Global Premier Program helps create opportunities to keep patients more connected to their private practice doctor, increase revenue, and help improve capture rates while expanding a practice’s flexibility to better serve their patients. We’re actively incorporating feedback from practices to improve and evolve the program.

How does the program benefit independent O.D.s and VSP members?

It’s really about providing more value to private practice optometrists and VSP members. We have heard from doctors that the Premier Program brings new patients in their doors, keeps them connected and coming back, and delivers more opportunities for growth. For VSP members, the program helps them maximize their vision benefit and enjoy the products, services, and patient experience they want.

Specs Appeal

What celebrities are wearing this month

FESTIVAL FRAMES
Actress Emma Roberts tops off her look for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with Jimmy Choo’s “Andie” style from Safilo.
Credit: Getty Images

TELL ME ABOUT IT, STUD
Actress, singer, and dancer Julianne Hough recently rocked the house as Sandy in “Grease: Live” on Fox. Here, Hough takes on the laid-back look in John Varvatos style V602 from REM Eyewear.

MIRROR, MIRROR
At an event celebrating Burberry’s The Regent Eyewear Collection at Sunglass Hut SoHo, model and DJ Harley Viera-Newton tries on Burberry sunwear from Luxottica.

SPIFFY SPECS
Tom Hiddleston, the star of the new AMC miniseries “The Night Manager,” in Etro style ET629S by Marchon.