As screen time and exposure to harsh lighting, both indoors and out, continues to rise for eyeglass wearers, Transitions Optical’s new campaign— “From Screens to Sun. Face the Light.”—aims to reinforce the superiority of itslenses in helping to enhance the vision experience and protect the eyes from ultraviolent rays and harmful blue light, indoor and outdoor.

Need for Dynamic, Light Protective Eyewear Amplified

A recent Transitions Optical study found that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 66% of prescription eyeglass wearers said they spend more time in front of digital screens and 22% of consumers report spending more time going outside into bright sunshine.

As a consequence, eyeglass wearers are becoming more aware of the important role lenses play in helping to protect and preserve their eye health—with 75% agreeing that lenses should help to protect from both ultraviolet light and harmful blue light.

Eyecare professionals have also taken note of the pandemic’s effect on their patients’ eye health. In fact, more than 70% of eyecare professionals agree that their patients have become more focused on eye care and protection since the pandemic began.

“Increased exposure to ultraviolent rays and harmful blue light emitted by the sun, harsh indoor lighting and electronic devices are putting consumer’s eyes into overdrive,” said Brian O’Neill, Global Vice President Innovation, Technology & Operations, Transitions Optical. “Our new campaign is reinforcing the superiority of Transitions lenses when it comes to helping eyeglass wearers to face the intense light situations they encounter in their daily lives.”

Cick HERE for the full press release.

On Saturday, June 18, Fighting Blindness Canada’s Cycle for Sight is back in-person, raising essential funds for vision research in the Toronto area and across the country. Being held at the Gibson Centre in Alliston, ON, the annual event encourages participants of all ages and abilities to get active to support over eight million – 1 in 5 – Canadians living with a blinding eye disease that puts them at significant risk of blindness.

“There are 1.2 million Canadians who are living with uncorrectable vision loss and that number is expected to grow to 2 million by 2050,” says Doug Earle, President, and CEO of Fighting Blindness Canada. “This is why raising funds for vision research to restore their sight is critical. We are so grateful to Cycle for Sight participants and their supporters in helping to prevent blindness.”

Joining Cycle for Sight this year is Canada Winter Games silver and bronze medalist Maya Jonas, as well as New Tecumseth Mayor Rick Milne to welcome cyclists at the starting line. Once the ride through some of Ontario’s most picturesque areas is complete, cyclists can enjoy food, prizes, and the opportunity to meet FBC-funded scientists who are making groundbreaking discoveries in vision research – all with protocols to keep cyclists and their families safe and comfortable.

For those unable to participate in-person, Cycle for Sight’s virtual component allows Canadians anywhere to help raise money for vision research by joining celebrated Parapan Silver Medalist, Paralympic 2024 hopeful and Amazing Race Canada alumni Lowell Taylor on a Zwift ride. Participants can create their own challenge at their own pace, whether it be walking, dancing, yoga or any other favourite physical activity, all in support of vision research funding.

Both the in-person and virtual event will honour participants’ accomplishments and share stories of individuals whose lives have been touched by the work of researchers funded by Fighting Blindness Canada.

Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022

Location: Gibson Centre and PPG Park, 63 Tupper St. W., Alliston, Ontario L9R 1E4

Choice of activities: Cycling (in-person), or any other type of activity that gets people moving (virtual)

cycleforsight.ca

Click HERE for the full press release.

CooperVision announced that its MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses will be available in higher prescriptions in June 2022. The expanded range—covering -0.50D to -7.00D (0.50D steps after -6.00D) in Canada and the U.S.— means that MiSight^® 1 day covers approximately 99% of prescriptions for all children who have myopia and less than 0.75D of astigmatism. The diopter extension for this innovative, specially designed lens will allow even more children to benefit from myopia management.

MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses are backed by the longest-running soft contact lens study among children. The clinical trial has proven that MiSight^® 1 day works for nearly all children with myopia, cuts myopia progression by half, works at any age a child starts treatment (8+), works for as long as the child wears them as recommended and data indicates that there is no rebound effect with MiSight® 1 day contact lenses.

With myopia on the rise globally, an increasing number of children may require the higher prescriptions that MiSight^® 1 day lenses will offer.

“Every diopter matters, particularly for children whose myopia progression may have already placed them at a higher risk for conditions such as myopic maculopathy and glaucoma. While early treatment is best, it’s never too late to start,” said Elizabeth Lumb, BSc (Hons) MCOptom, FBCLA, Director of Global Professional Affairs, Myopia Management, CooperVision, “Even older children starting with MiSight^® 1 day have seen their myopia progression cut by half.”

 Click HERE for the full press release.

Specsavers announces the opening of its newest location in Surrey, BC at the Central City location. It is an especially exciting moment to be able to share the celebration of the milestone 2,500^th store in one of their Canadian locations.

Driven by their purpose of “changing lives through better sight,” Specsavers aims to become Canada’s market leader by 2024 – opening more than 200 clinics and optical stores across the country, serving patients and customers in both urban and rural communities from coast to coast. Since opening its first Canadian location in the fall of 2021, Specsavers has opened a total of 12 locations across BC.

Specsavers celebrates this achievement in Canada alongside local owner and optometry partner Dr. Mannie Dhillon. All Specsavers clinics and optical stores are owned by local optometrists and opticians under a supportive franchise partnership model.

Click HERE for the full press release.