Blog

May 21, 2025

AYA Eyewear Announces New Jim Yellowhawk Styles

On the heels of a successful launch earlier in the year, AYA Optical introduces two new Jim Yellowhawk styles from their unique collaboration. Featuring stunning ledger art, these eyewear styles pair Jim’s extraordinary artwork with handcrafted materials. Wakan and Dragonfly are modern designs made from high-quality acetate, bringing revered symbols from Lakota culture to the global marketplace.

Dragonfly is a striking new style featuring the Four Winds Design by Jim Yellowhawk in bright hues, in a combination of metal and acetate clubmaster frame. You are sure to leave a lasting impression, and maybe even strike up a conversation, with these frames adorned with Jim’s Four Wines artwork , symbolizing harmony amongst the four races of people. In gloss black acetate and silver or caramel acetate and gold. $185

Photo of Wakan by Stephanie Seaton of Rez 13

Wakan is a stunning new metal frame featuring Jim Yellowhawk’s Sun is Life design. Says Yellowhawk,” The yellow and red triangles represent butterflies, a powerful symbol of hope, transformation and connection, that carry our prayers to the creator. “ A classic frame that draws attention with its bold artistic touches, Wakan is comfortable, versatile and a style standout. Wakan is available in matte black or matte brown. $185

As always, partial proceeds from the sale of this collection will be donated to communities in need.

About Jim Yellowhawk

Jim Yellowhawk comes from a family of artists from the Itazipco Band of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He has been immersed in the art of his ancestors since his youth. A master of ledger art, collage, and modern mediums like neon light, and even dance, Jim’s art is a vivid celebration of culture, resilience, and storytelling. His work is rich with symbolism, featuring motifs like the eagle and buffalo, which reflect the circle of life and unity in Lakota culture. Jim’s work is deeply rooted in the tradition of Plains Indian ledger art, a narrative form that thrived from the 1860s to the 1920s and experienced a revival in the 1960s. Named for the ledger books that Plains Indians repurposed for canvases, ledger art tells stories and expresses cultural identity through drawings and paintings on cloth or paper.

The artwork of Jim Yellowhawk can be found in some of the most interesting corners of the world, including galleries and private collections worldwide. A blanket design of his was featured last year online in Italian Photo Vogue, and his art now will be made available on five striking AYA optical frames.

“I am excited to be presenting more of Jim’s immense talent to the world with these new styles, and stretching AYA’s aesthetic to new heights. Our first Jim Yellowhawk collaboration was an out- the-door success, launching at the Oyate Health Centre where Jim did art signings. I can’t wait to launch these new styles with Jim May 24^th at OHC, in Rapid City South Dakota.” Carla D’Angelo, AYA founder.

Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e-newsletters!

May 21, 2025May 21, 2025

DaTE 2025: Exhibitor List Online

Just four months until the opening of DaTE 2025, the much-anticipated innovative eyewear event, scheduled from Saturday 13 to Monday 15 September at the Cocoricò in Riccione. The exhibitor list is now available on the official website: dateyewear.com/en/exhibitors, clear proof of the enthusiasm and confidence that businesses have invested in this new edition.

In addition to Italian brands, makers from France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland and the United States – to name just a few – will be exhibiting. More than 90 brands have confirmed their participation and will also add to the excitement in the iconic Riccione pyramid on the evening of September 13th, when exhibitors and visitors can enjoy the DaTE Disco Party (full details will soon be available on the official website).

Registration for industry professionals opened on February 8th, the day DaTE made its debut at MIDO 2025 with a striking pyramid installation showcasing all the key concepts of the new format – vision, innovation, creativity, technology, and more. Use this link: dateyewear.com/en/visitatori

“We are very pleased with these early – and far from guaranteed – results,” remarked DaTE President Davide Degl’Incerti Tocci. Being able to confirm all the available stand spaces in just a few months is a major milestone of which we are extremely proud. The response from exhibitors and partners shows we are working in the right direction and motivates us to move forward with even greater energy toward the forthcoming edition.”

As already announced, DaTE 2025 will feature a completely reimagined format, designed to reflect the new challenges and developments in an industry that is constantly evolving. It will be a traveling event, to be experienced together in many different Italian cities, like Bologna, Napoli, Roma and Milano.

Admission to DaTE is free of charge, open only to eyewear industry professionals, opticians, buyers and journalists.

Click HERE for the press release.

Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e-newsletters!

May 21, 2025November 12, 2025

Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise for Advanced Wet AMD

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration, (AMD), the more severe form of AMD, occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the macula.

Currently, most cases of wet AMD are treated with drugs to slow blood vessel growth. However, these drugs may stop being effective and are not effective if vision loss is advanced. A new study by researchers in China, published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, explores an alternative: removing abnormal blood vessels and transplanting stem cell-derived retinal cells to try and repair the damage.

In a study with 10 patients, those who had complete removal of the blood vessels showed improved retinal structure, and their vision remained stable or improved over a year with few side effects. This suggests that the transplanted cells survived and started to repair some of the damage in the retina. However, patients with only partial removal experienced ongoing bleeding, inflammation, and no vision improvement.

This is an interesting study, however more studies with larger groups will be needed to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness and safety.

About Fighting Blindness Canada

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is the largest charitable funder of vision research in Canada.

Over our 49-year history, FBC has contributed critical funding for the development of sight-saving treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases. By raising and stewarding funds, FBC is helping drive forward research that supports our goal of understanding why vision loss occurs, how it can be slowed and how sight can be restored.

We are an invaluable resource for individuals and families impacted by blindness, providing accurate eye health information through our website and educational events, as well as engaging with government and other stakeholders to advance better vision health policies.

Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e- newsletters!

May 21, 2025May 21, 2025

Marchon and Plastic Bank Announce Renewal of Global Partnership

Marchon Eyewear announces the renewal of their global partnership with social fintech, Plastic Bank. The partnership began in 2022 with a focus on Marchon’s Dragon brand with a plastic offset program. In 2025, the partnership will focus on the same plastic offset program, but this time with the spotlight on Marchon’s Nautica and Columbia eyewear.

The partnership will help gather discarded plastic from the environment and improve the lives of collection community members in vulnerable coastal areas, particularly in Brazil. With this collaboration, the two companies are creating environmental, social, and economic impact. By choosing Nautica or Columbia eyewear, customers are contributing to Marchon’s annual commitment of stopping a minimum of 45,455 KGs of plastic from polluting the environment – that’s the equivalent of 2,272,750 PET plastic bottles of 500ml.

“We are very proud to renew our partnership with Plastic Bank, and these brands are certainly a natural fit,” said Gabriele Bonapersona, Chief Brand Officer, Marchon Eyewear, Inc. “By continuing our successful partnership and putting a focus on Nautica and Columbia eyewear, we are solidifying our commitment to social responsibility and advancing our EYES ON TOMORROW™ initiative – building a more sustainable future for our eyewear and our processes.”

“At Plastic Bank, we are enabling prosperity for communities and regeneration of the environment. Marchon’s partnership with Plastic Bank bears testament that businesses can prosper with the people and planet by prioritizing social and environmental impact. Together, we are empowering customers to create change each time they choose Nautica or Columbia.”

David Katz, Founder and CEO, Plastic Bank

Nautica eyewear features sun and optical styles within the Wavemaker collection designed with Eastman Tenite™ Renew, while the Columbia eyewear features frames within the collection crafted with plant-based resin. Both Nautica and Columbia offer classic, easy-to-wear eyewear designed for those who are fashion and environmentally conscious.

Click HERE for the press release.

Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e-newsletters!

May 20, 2025May 20, 2025

BostonSight® Elects Michael Nash, MBA and Ramam Atmakuri, MSc, PMP, to Board of Directors

BostonSight^® announced today it has elected Mr. Michael (Mike) Nash and Mr. Ramam Atmakuri to the BostonSight Board of Directors.

Mr. Nash, now a Customer Experience and Technology consultant and mentor, was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer at HP Inc. where he led all aspects of Customer Experience Strategy, Measurement and Culture. Also at HP, Mr. Nash served as Global Head of Portfolio Strategy and Chief Technologist for Personal Systems. Prior to HP, he was a Vice President in the Kindle business at Amazon.com, and he spent almost 19 years at Microsoft most recently as Corporate Vice President for Windows Product Management.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science with honors from the Cornell University College of Engineering and an MBA with distinction from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Palmer Scholar. Mr. Nash brings a unique perspective to the board as a BostonSight PROSE^® patient for nearly 23 years.

Mr. Atmakuri is currently the Executive Vice Chair Emeritus at LV Prasad Eye Institute in India and served earlier as Executive Vice Chair, managing non-clinical operations across their network. He has also served as Vice President and head of global delivery centers in India for multinationals, led multidisciplinary teams across continents, successfully managed mergers and acquisitions, and delivered several multi-million-dollar transformation programs that resulted in business growth.

Mr. Atmakuri’s passion for social impact brought him to LV Prasad Eye Institute and now to BostonSight’s Board. He holds a master’s degree in applied statistics, a diploma in operational research, is a Certified Quality Analyst, and PMP^® certification holder, and has won several awards for project management excellence and global leadership.

“Mr. Atmakuri brings strategic leadership in establishing partnerships and a global vision for healthcare in emerging markets, while Mr. Nash is experienced in introducing revolutionary technology that helps to improve customers’ lives,” said Sara Yost, President and CEO of BostonSight. “Their expertise will be invaluable as BostonSight expands and integrates advanced technologies to fuel research, innovation, and industry collaborations that drive the adoption of specialty lenses in the U.S., and worldwide.”

Click HERE for the press release.

Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e-newsletters!