New Horizon: Contemporary Design Meets Indigenous Storytelling

Optik Voila May-June 2026 AYA Horizon C1 Turquoise

AYA Optical introduces Horizon, a contemporary geometric optical frame crafted from lightweightstainless steel for exceptional comfort and durability. Featuring original commissioned artwork byOjibwe artist Donald Chrétien, Horizon blends modern design with meaningful Indigenous storytelling.

Each frame includes a cleaning cloth displaying the full artwork and its cultural significance.

Distributed by Claudia Alan: www.claudiaalan.com

About AYA Optical:

Celebrate Indigenous Art with Us!

We believe that art is transformative, and that eyewear can be the canvas to share stories and art from around the world. AYA Eyewear was first launched in 2009 in collaboration with renowned First Nations Artist Corrine Hunt and has continued to flourish and grow every year.

We are committed to the details and realize that beautiful design takes time, precision, and attention, so we don’t cut corners. We stand by our product. We treat our artists as our partners and make sure that their stories and art are always shared in the most heartfelt authentic way.

We take pride in our service and seek opportunities to give back to the communities we serve and the artist’s charities of choice.

AYA Eyewear is truly a brand that stands out from the crowd and is loved by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike.

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May 27, 2026May 27, 2026

Demi + Dash Eyewear Now Available in Canada Through Centennial Optical

Canadian eye care professionals can now access Demi + Dash, the next generation of pediatric eyewear, through their Centennial Optical representative. Designed specifically for growing kids and tweens, Demi + Dash combines trend-forward styling with the durability, comfort, and performance active young patients need every day.

Developed from the pediatric expertise behind the trusted Dilli Dalli brand, Demi + Dash delivers fashionable eyewear solutions for style-conscious kids ages 7–12 seeking frames with a more mature aesthetic while still providing the flexibility and durability parents and ECPs expect.

The collection features vibrant colours, translucent finishes, sporty styling, and contemporary shapes designed to appeal to today’s younger eyewear wearers while supporting long-lasting comfort and everyday durability.

Demi + Dash is built around two core technologies engineered specifically for active kids and tweens: IntelliFlex II (Flexyz™) and 180° Spring Hinge constructions.

Flexyz™ Technology Highlights

Multi-directional flex technology designed to enhance durability and comfort
Hidden hinge technology for a cleaner, more fashionable appearance
Lightweight translucent TR-90 construction
Adjustable core wire temple tips for improved fit and retention
SoftTouch™ temple tips for enhanced comfort
Sport-inspired styling with vibrant translucent colour options

180° Spring Hinge Collection Highlights

Spring hinges engineered to flex up to 180 degrees for increased durability
Acetate and metal combinations that deliver a more mature, fashion-forward look
Contemporary shapes designed specifically for tweens
Fun pops of colour, laminations, and pattern detailing
Comfortable, lightweight fit for all-day wear
Ideal for children transitioning into more fashion-driven eyewear styles

Additional Collection Features

Sizes ranging from 45–54 to accommodate growing kids and tweens
Pediatric fit expertise developed from the trusted Dilli Dalli platform

Sport-inspired styling designed to balance comfort, durability, and everyday wearability

Source: Centennial Optical

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May 27, 2026May 27, 2026

The Vision Council Foundation, AccuWeather and The Skin Cancer Foundation Partner on National Sunglasses Day 2026

The Vision Council Foundation, AccuWeather and The Skin Cancer Foundation have announced a joint campaign ahead of National Sunglasses Day 2026, marked each year on June 27, aimed at promoting a broader public message around daily UV protection.

According to the organizations, the collaboration brings together eye health, skin health and weather information in a single awareness effort centred on the importance of protecting the eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses, protecting the skin with clothing, hats and broad-spectrum sunscreen, and checking daily UV conditions through AccuWeather’s UV Index.

The campaign comes as the groups point to ongoing gaps in sun-protection habits. The Vision Council cited its 2025 Market inSights with 2026 Forecast report, which found that more than 37 per cent of American adults do not regularly wear sunglasses. The Skin Cancer Foundation, meanwhile, noted that skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the United States, with UV radiation identified as its leading cause.

“Protecting yourself from the sun isn’t a single habit, but a complete routine,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council and The Vision Council Foundation. “When you walk out the door, you should be reaching for your sunglasses and your sunscreen, and you should know what the UV Index looks like that day.”

The organizations said the partnership is intended to combine their respective areas of expertise into more practical, coordinated public guidance. As part of the campaign, The Vision Council Foundation will continue promoting UV-protective eyewear through National Sunglasses Day resources, while The Skin Cancer Foundation will contribute sun-safety guidance and AccuWeather will provide UV forecasting tools, including its hour-by-hour UV Index.

In a statement, Jonathan Porter, Senior Vice President, Weather Content and Forecast Operations and Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, said the initiative is designed to help translate detailed UV data into actions people can use in daily life. Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation, added that a complete sun-protection strategy should also include UV-protective sunglasses.

The three organizations said they will coordinate digital and social content leading up to and on June 27, with educational materials and campaign assets available through the Vision Council Foundation’s National Sunglasses Day toolkit.

Source: The Vision Council Foundation

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May 26, 2026May 26, 2026

AAOF and Meta Reality Labs Research Announce Recipients of the Myopia Research Grant

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) and Meta Reality Labs Research (RLR) announce the recipients of the Myopia Research Grant.

This grant provides three awards of $500,000 USD each to researchers working to accelerate the understanding of myopia and the role visual experience plays in its development and progression through longitudinal, open-science research.

These researchers will make not only their publications publicly available but also the data behind them according to the FAIR data principles, along with metadata artifacts necessary to interpret them. This will allow for additional comparison and harmonization, reproducibility, and federated analysis of these datasets by other researchers, enabling a collaborative effort to solve the riddle of visual experience’s role in myopia development.

“As myopia continues to emerge as a prevalent global public health concern, supporting innovative, open-science research has never been more important,” said AAOF Board President, Valerie Sharpe, OD, FAAO. “The American Academy of Optometry Foundation is proud to recognize these exceptional awardees whose work has the potential to meaningfully advance our understanding of myopia development.”

2026 Grant Recipients

Ranjay Chakraborty, BS Optom, PhD – Flinders University
Study: Objective Measures of Ambient Light Exposure and Near Work in Pre-Myopic Children: A Cross-Continental Longitudinal Study across 100 Degrees of Latitude: Light X Near Study

Safal Khanal, OD, PhD, FAAO – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Study: Longitudinal interaction of the visual diet with optical, structural, and neural factors in childhood myopia

Xiaoying Zhu, OD, PhD, MD, MS, FAAO – State University of New York
Study: Longitudinal measurements of visual diet and visuomotor activity in children

The Myopia Research Grant recipients will be formally recognized during Academy 2026 Anaheim at the Foundation First Night event on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Source: American Academy of Optometry Foundation

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May 22, 2026May 22, 2026

Bausch + Lomb Launches PreserVision AREDS3 Eye Vitamins in the U.S.

Bausch + Lomb has announced the U.S. launch of PreserVision AREDS3™ eye vitamins, a new formulation that combines the AREDS2 nutrients recommended by the National Eye Institute with a proprietary B-vitamin complex.

The new formula builds on Bausch + Lomb’s longstanding PreserVision line and is intended to support a broader range of people concerned about macular health, including those in earlier stages.

In a statement, John Ferris, president, Consumer, at Bausch + Lomb, said the launch reflects the company’s ongoing effort to expand options for people seeking earlier nutritional support for macular health.

Bausch + Lomb describes PreserVision AREDS3 as its most advanced PreserVision formula to date. The product is designed to provide what it calls triple-action support through AREDS2 nutrients, a B-vitamin complex, and enhanced absorption of key nutrients.

The company also pointed to a growing body of research examining the role of certain B vitamins in age-related macular degeneration, including studies discussed in a recent narrative review published in Ophthalmology and Therapy.

Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, said the addition of a B-vitamin complex may offer eye care professionals greater flexibility when discussing nutritional options with a broader range of patients.

PreserVision AREDS3 is now available in the United States through major retailers and online channels. For more information, visit www.preservision.com.

Source: Bausch + Lomb

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