June 11, 2020 — Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies in the industry and beyond are sharing their efforts to help eyecare professionals, and the public, weather these turbulent times.
Here, we share a roundup of some recent initiatives:

Essilor and Essilor Vision Foundation have partnered to donate more than 100,000 pieces of PPE to hospitals and first responders, optometry schools, and Vision Source practices. As local governments ease shelter-in-place orders, Essilor has made available PPE safety kits for any employee who needs one. 

Through its new In-Office Sterilization division, the Eye Designs Group has launched four office disinfecting packages. The packages include the patented Electrostatic EPIX360 sprayer technology from EMist and the eco-friendly medical grade hypochlorous acid disinfectant + sanitizer from Clean Republic. In addition, to promote disinfected spaces and safety protocols, each package includes a window cling, signage blocks, a signage plaque, and social distancing floor graphics.  

To help optical labs rescale or reopen, IOT has launched the IOT Restart Program, offering information on restarting surfacing operations, virtual technical services consulting and training, quality control assessments, and more. All elements of the program are offered to IOT partners free of charge.

Maui Jim introduced a “Welcome Back to Retail” program to support independent optical retailers. The program includes:

• A New Sun & Ophthalmic Account Wall Unit Program, providing access to new, in-store display units and bonus certificates for eyewear when qualifying wholesale orders of optical and/or sun frames are placed. This makes customers eligible for the National Online Sales Incentive (below). The program ends Aug. 31, 2020.
• 2020 National Online Sales Incentive, which sends the retailer with the highest combined unit volume percentage and sales increase over the same time period in 2019 on a trip to Maui, Hawaii. This program runs from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2020. 
• Non-Prescription Sunglass Certificate: Retail partners that place a qualifying order will earn a certificate for a complimentary pair of non-prescription Maui Jim sunglasses for use towards a local charity or a local hero recognition program. This will run from June 1 through August 31, 2020.

Faive Kovalis, O.D., owner and founder of SmartOD.com, introduces a new B2C website: myodonline.com. The site is designed to provide optometrists with the chance to expand their offerings and provide patients the opportunity to browse and purchase from the comfort of their homes. With this customized website, the optical store will supply its own logo, choose its own frame lines, lens options, and prices for each item. Offices will have the flexibility to fulfill orders using the lab of their choice. Patient payments will go directly into the office’s bank account. This B2C website will be incorporated and accessible on each individual companies’ website for consumers to access.

Shamir’s new hands-free digital measuring device, Spark Mi Up, allows ECPs to take all required measurements with a few clicks, while maintaining a safe distance with patients. Patients look into the mirror device and an image appears on the optician’s computer screen, along with an immediate and accurate PD measurement.