Blog

January 31, 2022May 20, 2026

WestGroupe’s OTP Collection Makes Eco-Friendly Look Good!

Perfect for those looking to make a fashion statement, OTPS-2016 features one of the biggest eyewear trends for 2022: the chunky rectangular shape. Adding to its undeniable appeal is its eco-friendly character, with biodegradable acetate and sustainable TS lenses, which take less energy to produce than traditional sun lenses. This bold yet classic style is available in three colourways.

Distributed by: www.westgroupe.com

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022

Specsavers Launches First Integrated Marketing Campaign in Canada

Specsavers have launched its first integrated marketing campaign in Canada, entitled ‘That’s Specsavers Love’.

The 45-second TV spot has a tongue-in-cheek approach, that turns common phrases about eyes into unexpected clinical statements using a sensual background music and a 1970s style voice-over.

The spot doesn’t fail to also communicate the company’s value-driven eyewear positioning with explicit price promotion. Television media is complemented with print, digital, social media, public relations, and a partnership with the Vancouver Canucks.

“We are thrilled to show Canadians what Specsavers is all about – the campaign perfectly reflects why Specsavers has become a household name and a market leader in the 10 other countries we operate in,” said Catherine Walsh, Director of Marketing, Specsavers Canada. “Another example of the standout Specsavers marketing the brand is appreciated for in many countries, this campaign reflects our promise of inclusive, expert eye care and stylish value-driven eyewear – all with a human touch and prioritizing communities around each individual Specsavers location. That’s Specsavers Love.”

The first wave of the integrated marketing campaign will run for a three month period from January 24 to April 30, 2022 in British Columbia.

The campaign includes 15, 30 and 45-second videos across social media and television, a 30-second spot on radio, as well as print ads. ‘That’s Specsavers Love’ campaign will also come to life through in-store signage, digital banners, organic social media content and public relations.

In addition, to support the company’s marketing efforts, it has partnered with the Vancouver Canucks on TV spots on Sportsnet Pacific, billboard animation and a Closer Look integration tapping into an element of the game that commands a second look.

The campaign will run in other markets in Canada as Specsavers enters new provinces.

Link to Full Release

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

New Paper Examines Top 10 Myths About Fitting Soft Contact Lenses

A new peer-review paper from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) seeks to shift persistent views about contact lenses that are no longer accurate based on current evidence. Addressing common myths and misconceptions in soft contact lens practice (Walsh K, Jones L, Moody K) has been published by Clinical and Experimental Optometry, the official journal of Optometry Australia, the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, and the Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists.

The work offers contemporary evidence that challenges ten legacy perspectives held by eye care practitioners, which can prevent optimal patient care and business success. Members of the eye care community can download the complete publication at no cost via Open Access.

“In 1992, Nathan Efron explored a variety of common myths and mistruths around the fitting and wearing of contact lenses. Remarkably, three decades later, more than half of the current misconceptions we’ve identified were also acknowledged in those original papers. While there has been extraordinary technological and clinical progress over that same time, it has proven more difficult to shake off some long-held incorrect views and established clinical practices,” said Lyndon Jones, CORE’s director.

The authors grouped the top ten present-day myths into three broad categories—contact lenses and care systems, patient-related concerns, and business focused barriers—then reviewed each with clear evidence-based data and practical guidance. The misconceptions include:

Increasing oxygen transmissibility improves lens comfort,
Hydrogels should no longer be fitted,
Patients will be more successful wearing contact lens materials that demonstrate low levels of deposition,
When a patient reports discomfort, the first—and most appropriate—option is to change the lens,
Young children are less successful with contact lenses,
Multifocal fitting is not successful,
Wearer non-compliance can make contact lens wear just too risky,
Patients with low astigmatism do fine with spherical lenses,
Focusing on growing my contact lens business is too time-consuming,
And my contact lens business will not grow because as many patients as I fit end up dropping out.

Evidence was available to debunk nine of the ten beliefs. This opens the door for eye care practitioners to recommend and successfully fit contact lenses to a wide range of patients, from children through to seniors, using all soft lens material types and replacement frequency options. The literature review also demonstrates the business benefits of contact lens practice through proactive recommendation and paying attention to factors that drive successful wear and reduce drop out.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

CooperVision and IRIS, The Visual Group Co-Sponsor Canadian Speed Skating Medalist Kim Boutin

CooperVision announced its co-sponsorship of Canadian speed skater Kim Boutin alongside IRIS, The Visual Group. Boutin, a short track medalist on the world stage, will serve as a spokesperson for MyDay^® daily disposable contact lenses—a high-performing 1-day lens made with innovative CooperVision^® Aquaform^® Technology.

“I lead an active lifestyle, so I need a lens that is comfortable throughout the day,” said Boutin. “MyDay^® allows me to go full-speed while skating, without the fear of my lenses drying out in cold weather conditions.”

“CooperVision is focused on helping people to see better each day. We’re proud to help Kim to accomplish that on and off the track,” said Enrique Contreras, Country Manager, CooperVision, Canada.

Boutin is the first Canadian female short track speed skater to have been awarded three individual medals in the world’s most visible athletic competition.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

Sea2see Announces B CORP Certification

Five years after creating the first “seastainable” eyewear brand, Sea2see’s François van den Abeele has announced that the company has earned the prestigious B Corp™ certification.

This certification is world-renowned and is awarded to companies that meet strict standards of social and environmental performance. The rigorous process requires that a company answer over 300 detailed questions on governance, workers, communities and impact on the environment and is highly valued as a recognition of good business practice, accountability and social and environmental proactivity.

In a statement, Sea2see’s Founder van den Abeele said:

“We are proud to say that we are a certified B Corp, which for us means being part of a movement that isn’t competing to be the best in the world, it is competing to be the best FOR the world. This certification represents a tremendous step for us as we mark our 5th anniversary and reflect on our progress to date. The B Corp™ Certification reinforces our “seastainable” mission and purpose for our whole community around the world…”

Committed to a model of sustainable innovation and social responsibility, Sea2see was the first eyewear company to champion a vertically integrated sustainable business model, transforming plastic waste into a reusable raw material, and creating its own infrastructure for collecting marine plastic and therefore having a direct impact on the environment and creating a new source of income for the waste collectors. Subsequently, the raw material is used to create the high-quality frames in Italy.

Click HERE for the full press release.