Eye-Catching Inventions

Right in the mix with “unbreakable” pantyhose and a sleep coach for babies, optical products from Acuvue and Aira made Time’s list of the 50 best inventions of 2018. The ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology photochromic contact lenses, a strategic partnership between Johnson & Johnson Vision and Transitions Optical, scored a spot on the list, as did Aira’s groundbreaking technology that connects blind and low vision people with remotely located agents for real-time assistance. —Kerri Ann Raimo

The Industry’s Oscars

Following record-breaking attendance in recent years, MIDO kicks off its 49th edition of the highly anticipated eyewear show on Feb. 23-25 in Milan.

“MIDO is to eyewear what Oscar night is to cinema,” says MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni. The results of MIDO Outlook, in which the industry’s global players share their expectations for the next three years,will be revealed at the show, as will the latest Optical Monitor survey. The survey provides insights on the current state of the U.S. and other markets. —K.A.R.

For more information: mido.com/en

A Beautiful Collab

Selima Salaun, eyewear designer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, boasts Selima Optique locations in New York, Santa Monica, and Paris. The luxe retailer’s latest endeavor is a joint project with celebrated hairstylist Takamichi Saeki. Located in NYC’s Gramercy region, the Takamichi Beauty Room (a beauty boutique offering curated products as well as a one-chair salon) is connected via a sliding door with the Selima Optique Reading Room, a small, well-edited store selling primarily optical frames with a small selection of gifts like cards and notebooks. —K.A.R.