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January 25, 2022January 25, 2022

CAO Endorses WCO Myopia Management Standard of Care Resolution

The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) has endorsed the World Council of Optometry (WCO) myopia management as standard of care resolution. In a position statement, the CAO said that it supports the WCO resolution and endorses evidence-based myopia management as a standard of care for all at-risk patients. The CAO recognizes that myopia is a global public health issue and cannot be considered merely an inconvenience of uncorrected vision.

CAO President Dr. Harry Bohnsack said, “Since the World Health Organization’s release of the World Report on Vision in 2019, CAO’s Council has been concerned about the increasing prevalence of myopia globally. The World Council of Optometry’s standard of care for myopia management provided CAO with a foundation upon which to build our position to ensure that all those who are at risk of myopia receive the best preventive and curative eye health and vision care from Canadian optometrists. We are appreciative of Dr. Debbie Jones, clinical professor at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, for her visionary leadership in conceptualizing and drafting this position statement.”

The WCO and myopia management category leader CooperVision introduced the resolution in April 2021 defining evidence-based standard of care as comprising of three main components:

Mitigation — Optometrists educating and counseling parents and children, during early and regular eye exams, on lifestyle, dietary, and other factors to prevent or delay the onset of myopia.
Measurement — Optometrists evaluating the status of a patient during regular comprehensive vision and eye health exams, such as measuring refractive error and axial length whenever possible.
Management — Optometrists addressing patients’ needs of today by correcting myopia, while also providing evidence-based interventions (e.g., contact lenses, spectacles, pharmaceuticals) that slow the progression of myopia, for improved quality of life and better eye health today and into the future.

WCO President-elect Dr. Sandra Block said, “The Canadian Association of Optometrists statement of support reinforces the importance of addressing the shift in how we, as optometrists, address and treat the myopia epidemic. The World Council of Optometry is grateful for CAO’s leadership in bringing this message to Canada and hope similar organizations around the world follow.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 24, 2022May 20, 2026

American Optical’s Timeless Historic Styles

Known for its heritage and quality, American Optical’s eyewear division pioneered metal eyewear manufacturing in the US, dating back to 1833. As the first sunglasses on the moon and a favourite of JFK, AO has long been known for their innovation, quality, and iconic sunwear.

The 2020 relaunched collection celebrates AO’s most impactful styles – the Original Pilot™, the General, and the Saratoga, all made in Illinois, using the finest globally sourced materials.

Featured model: Saratoga in Gray Crystal

Distributed by Europa: www.europaeyewear.ca

January 24, 2022January 27, 2022

A Model of Independent Optometry: Celebrating 25 Years of Success

Opto-Réseau is a network of 83 independent clinics located throughout Quebec. And even though it is celebrating its 25^th anniversary, it is a banner fully committed to remaining at the cutting-edge of the industry. In fact, more than half of the network’s optician and optometrist owners are under the age of 45.

Remaining Independent While Helping Each Other

Since 1996, collaboration and wellbeing have been at the core of Opto-Réseau’s mission. They are the reasons why the network has experienced impressive growth.

“Since our foundation, our network has been focused on helping each other. This has truly been the key to our success and the reason for our growth over the past 25 years. Our network includes health care professionals who are entrepreneurs at heart. They appreciate their independence because it allows them to offer services and products that are adapted to their own clients. Furthermore, our network enables members to share their expertise and knowledge with each other,” said Christine Breton, President and Executive Director of Opto-Réseau.

Clinics who join Opto-Réseau can take advantage of its purchasing power along with a multitude of other services related to marketing, sales, human resources, and IT. Administrative and business management services are also provided to assist entrepreneurs in increasing their performance.

Opto-réseau has developed a multifunctional software solution in this regard (Orion) to help clinic owners effectively manage patient files, appointment bookings, inventory and more. This custom platform allows customers to create a personal account online to access various functionalities such as ordering contact lenses.

“Our members can also become shareholders.” continues Ms. Breton. “This is a major advantage in the market, and it reaffirms the vision we have of our business model which is all about focusing on the growth of the clinics in our network.”

In addition to a unique business opportunity and the various tools available, Opto-Réseau members also have access to a large networking platform where mutual trust, kindness, and professionalism reign.

Click HERE for the full press release.

This post is sponsored by Opto-Réseau.

January 20, 2022January 20, 2022

Andy Wolf: Grow With Us

Austrian eyewear brand ANDY WOLF is taking many steps further into a more sustainable future: the entire year is dedicated to the motto “Grow with Us”. Starting in January, there will be a square meter of wildflower meadow with every ANDY WOLF frame sold and the first products made from Acetate Renew will be launched in Q2.

“We want to become even more sustainable in all areas of the company. We firmly believe that even small steps lead to a greener future – a future that also thinks about the next generation.” Wolfgang Scheucher, cofounder of ANDY WOLF.

Last year, the brand recultivated adjacent meadows and fields with native wildflower seeds and transformed them into a veritable sea of flowers. In 2022, every purchase of an ANDY WOLF frame will recultivate and preserve one square meter of wildflower meadow in Austria.

As a further step towards sustainability, ANDY WOLF will switch its acetate collection to the new, most sustainable acetate in the industry: Acetate Renew, of the Italian acetate producer Mazzucchelli & Eastman. Starting in 2022, ANDY WOLF acetate frames will be successively converted to the new Acetate Renew. ANDY WOLF plans to produce 23% of its entire acetate collection from sustainable material by the end of 2022, and 75% of all acetate frames will be made from Acetate Renew by the end of 2025.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022

CooperVision Showcases Myopia Control, Ortho-K, and Scleral Contact Lens Leadership at GSLS 2022

CooperVision and its Specialty EyeCare unit will present a comprehensive portfolio of products, services and resources at the 2022 Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS). Several professional educational sessions will champion the company’s latest contact lens innovations and evidence-based research in myopia control, myopia management, and irregular cornea. The annual event takes place in Las Vegas from January 19-22.

“CooperVision is dedicated to creating greater access to life-changing eye care technologies that address even the toughest vision challenges,” said J.C. Aragón, President, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. “Our unmatched portfolio of innovative lens designs for myopia management, irregular cornea, and presbyopia management, empowers eye care professionals to differentiate themselves while positively impacting the lives of their patients.”

Innovations in Myopia Management and Myopia Control

With exponential growth in attention surrounding myopia progression in children, CooperVision will emphasize its extensive portfolio of leading contact lenses at GSLS. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about MiSight^® 1 day for myopia control, and Paragon^® CRT and iSee^® ortho-k lenses for myopia management.

The company will also share the recently announced seven-year results from its international MiSight^® 1 day clinical study. Mean axial elongation showed no evidence of rebound, meaning that myopia control treatment gains were retained after treatment was ceased over a 12-month period.

On Thursday, January 20, and Friday, January 21, CooperVision will lead multiple discussions surrounding myopia management, including:

Act Today, Change Tomorrow: MiSight^® 1 day Certification Lunch & Learn

Thursday, Jan. 20 | 12 – 1:30 p.m. PT

Justin Kwan, OD, FAAO, CooperVision and Debbie Jones, BSc, FAAO, Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE)

Perspectives on Myopia Management Treatment Options | A Dialogue with your Colleagues

Thursday, Jan. 20 | 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. PT

Moderator: Lyndon Jones, PhD, DSc, FCOptom, FAAO, Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE). Panelists: Andrew Neukirch, OD, Carillon Vision Care, and Christopher Gee, OD, Iron Horse Optometric Group.

Improve your Ortho-K Fitting Game | Rapid Fire Case Series with Dr. Maria Liu

Friday, Jan. 21 | 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. PT

Maria Liu, OD, FAAO, PhD, UC Berkeley School of Optometry, Leah Johnson, OD, FAAO, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare

Growing Momentum for New Optimized Pupil Optics (OPO)

On Friday, January 21, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare will lead a breakout session on its new Optimized Pupil Optics (OPO) for its Onefit™ Med and Onefit™ MED+ scleral contact lenses.

Click HERE for the full press release.