Blog - OptikNow

July 23, 2026July 15, 2026

J.F. REY Highlights SLEDGE Collection at SILMO Paris 2026

J.F. REY is highlighting SLEDGE, a collection that places engineering at the centre of eyewear design.

Introduced in 2023, SLEDGE is built around a patented hinge system developed by the J.F. REY design studio. The compact, screwless Flex mechanism is integrated into the temple and is designed to provide controlled flexibility, mechanical precision and smooth movement.

The collection uses titanium, acetate and hybrid constructions, combining materials such as Grade 5 titanium, surgical stainless steel, carbon fibre and premium acetate. According to the company, the result is a lightweight, durable frame construction designed for comfort and long-term wear.

SLEDGE also features satin finishes, material contrasts and a signature graphic colour line that extends from the temple to the endpiece, creating a distinctive visual identity.

The collection continues to evolve with new interpretations, including a dedicated women’s series unveiled for SILMO Paris 2026. J.F. REY positions SLEDGE as a platform for exploring the relationship between technical design and creative expression.

The frames are also designed with replaceable components, intended to simplify servicing for opticians and extend the life of the product.

J.F. Rey Sledge assembly — J.F. Rey SLEDGE-23

The SLEDGE collection is available here: https://www.jfrey.fr/en/sledge-collection/

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July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

HOYA Vision Care Launches New Sensity Light-Adaptive Lens Options in Canada

HOYA Vision Care Canada has announced the availability of new additions to its Sensity light-adaptive lens portfolio for eye care professionals across Canada, including Sensity 3, Sensity Colours and Sensity Shine.

According to HOYA, Sensity 3 lenses are designed to provide improved activation, fade-back speed, colour stability and long-term durability compared with previous Sensity generations and selected competitive benchmarks. The company reports that Sensity 3 darkens 21% faster than the previous Sensity generation and fades back 44% faster.

HOYA also states that Sensity 3 offers greater resistance to performance fatigue over time and improved colour stability under UV exposure. The lenses are available in two natural colour options, Silver Grey and Bronze Brown, across all materials. Additional colours, Emerald Green and Oceanic Blue, are expected in 2027.

The company says Sensity 3 lenses provide Category 3 outdoor performance, indoor clarity, reduced blue-light exposure indoors and outdoors, and 100% UVA and UVB protection.

HOYA has also introduced Sensity Colours, a line of light-adaptive spectacle lenses combining photochromic performance with fashion-oriented tint options. The range includes six tint options, with two solid colours and four gradients.

Sensity Shine is also returning to the Canadian market, offering a mirrored light-adaptive lens option with a fashion-focused appearance. According to HOYA, Sensity Shine is available within the Sensity Colours and Sensity Dark portfolio.

“With Sensity 3’s durability, leading colour stability and improved fade back speed, HOYA is now offering the best photochromic package,” said Manisa Wozniak, global head of product category management at HOYA Vision Care. “We believe these improvements best meet the needs of patients, so eye care professionals can have a competitive advantage when dispensing photochromics.”

Eye care professionals in Canada can contact their local HOYA territory manager for more information.

Source: Hoya Vision Care Canada

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July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

AAO Announces 2026 Award Recipients

Each year the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) recognizes distinguished individuals who have made countless important contributions to advancing the profession of optometry.

“The Academy’s award recipients exemplify the highest standards of excellence in research, education, clinical care, leadership, and service,” said Charlotte Joslin, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, Awards Committee Chair. “Nominated by their peers, these individuals have made lasting contributions that strengthen our profession and inspire future generations of optometrists and vision scientists. We look forward to celebrating their achievements together at Academy 2026 Anaheim.”

The Academy announces the 2026 award recipients:

Suzanne M. Fleiszig, OD, PhD, FAAO, FARVO

Charles F. Prentice Medal and Lecture Award

Philip Morgan, PhD, MCOptom, FBCLA, FAAO

Glenn A. Fry Award and Lecture

(American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award)

Alexis “Ceecee” Britten-Jones, BOptom, PhD

Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award

Nkem Okoroafor, BSc, OD, FNCO, FAAO

American Academy of Optometry – Essilor Award for Outstanding

International Contributions to Optometry

Swati Modi, OD, FAAO

William Feinbloom Award

VOSH/International

Brien Holden Humanitarian Award

Louise Sclafani, OD, FAAO

Carel C. Koch Memorial Medal Award

Kuniyoshi Kanai, OD, FAAO

Vincent Ellerbrock Clinician Educator Award

Evan S. Elam

Evan S. Elam, Nasim Maddah, Alexander W. Schill, and Jason D. Marsack, “Adding personalized wavefront correction to a scleral lens after lens manufacture,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 43, 112-122

Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics

(American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award)

Neil Pence, OD, FAAO

Michael G. Harris Family Award for Excellence in Optometric Education

(American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award)

Maria Walker, OD, PhD, FAAO

AAOF Outstanding Emerging Leader Award

Kurt A. Zadnik, FAAO

Life Fellowship Award

Jones JH, Mutti DO, Jones-Jordan LA, Walline JJ. Effect of Combining 0.01% Atropine with Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses on Myopia Progression in Children. Optom Vis Sci. 2022;99(5):434-442.

Garland Clay Award

(OVS)

Join us for the Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 2, at 8:00 AM during Academy 2026 Anaheim in Room 261 AB of the Anaheim Convention Center. One hour of CE credit can be accrued during this two-hour event.

SECTION AWARDS

Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies

Carol Lakkis, BScOptom, PhD, FAAO

Max Schapero Lecture Award

Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), University of Waterloo

Founders Award

The Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies Awards will be presented during the Section Awards Ceremony and Max Schapero Lecture on Wednesday, September 30, at 4:00 PM in Room 255 AB at the Anaheim Convention Center. Half an hour of CE credit can be achieved during this one-hour session.

Public Health & Environmental Vision Section

Edwin Marshall, OD, MS, MPH, FAAO, Dipl AAO

Henry B. Peters Lecture Award

The Public Health and Environmental Vision Section will hold its Section Awards Ceremony and Henry B. Peters Lecture on Wednesday, September 30, at 6:00 PM in Room 254 AB of the Anaheim Convention Center. Attendees receive an hour of CE credit for attending this event.

Click HERE for the press release.

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July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

J.F. REY Introduces IMAGINE Kids Collection for 2026

J.F. REY has introduced IMAGINE, its 2026 kids collection designed for children aged 4 to 12.

The collection focuses on colour, transparency and graphic detail, with frames intended to reflect the different personalities and stages of childhood. Designs range from brighter, playful tones for younger children to more refined colour palettes and graphic treatments for pre-teens.

According to the company, IMAGINE combines J.F. REY’s design approach with attention to ergonomics, comfort and durability. The frames are described as lightweight, flexible and adapted to different face shapes.

Designed in the brand’s creative studio in Marseille, the collection reflects J.F. REY’s emphasis on colour, graphic design and detailed finishing.

J.F. Rey ZELIE - 7373 — J.F. Rey ZELIE – 7373

J.F. Rey FIFI - 2281 — J.F. Rey ZELIE – 7373

More information on the J.F. REY Kids collection is available at: www.jfrey.fr/en/kids-collection/

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July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

Toulch Rimless and Audace Lunettes Announce Canadian Distribution Partnership

Toulch Rimless has signed an agreement with Audace Lunettes, which will serve as the company’s Canadian distributor.

The partnership brings together two Montreal-based eyewear companies and is intended to support the growth of Toulch Rimless and its Phi collection among eye care professionals across Canada.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Toulch Rimless. It is rare to have the opportunity to collaborate with a Montreal-based designer who creates such an innovative and distinctive product,” said Alain Lachambre, president of Audace Lunettes.

Lachambre said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to customer service, support for eye care professionals and the development of a Canadian eyewear brand.

For Toulch Rimless, the decision was also based on the relationship between the two companies.

“We invented the Toulch Rimless system because we had lived with the limitations of traditional rimless mounting for years,” said Michael Toulch, inventor of the Toulch Rimless system. “But invention is only the beginning. From our first conversations with Alain and his team, there was a level of mutual trust and a shared understanding of how eye care professionals should be supported.”

Under the agreement, Audace Lunettes will represent Toulch Rimless and its Phi collection across Canada.

Phi is built around Toulch Rimless’ patented mounting system, developed to rethink the technical architecture of rimless eyewear. The system received the 2025 SILMO d’Or for Technological Innovation in Eyewear.

Click HERE for the press release.

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