Blog

December 14, 2021December 13, 2021

Transitions Launches New Resources at the Transitions Canada PRO pages

Transitions Optical in Canada has announced the launch of new content now available at Transitions.com including an updated Virtual Try-On (VTO) tool and new PRO pages that detail features and benefits of the two new Transitions XTRActive products. Eyecare professionals can find free marketing resources to support their day-to-day patient care on the same pages.

“We know that ECPs have limited time and want to provide the most useful information to them, and for their patients, in the most accessible way,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing and sales manager, Transitions Optical in Canada. “We hope that through the release of these new resource, we can build on the momentum from this year with our new range of Transitions XTRActive products, educational events – both virtually and in-person – and provide updated and new ways for patients to experience the product benefits.”

Patients and eyecare professionals can find the NEW and updated VTO resources HERE, featuring a new interface that allows users to try on the full mix of Transitions GEN 8 lens colors (7) and style mirrors (3), select from extended frame selections, have access to “Tool Tips” to guide first time users, and a new “Get Advice” feature that delivers a frame and lens recommendation using face shape recognition and questions about the user. Thanks to the “Find Your Transitions” option, the visitor will be able to search for an eyecare professional near them.

The site also now features new product pages for Transitions^® XTRActive^® Polarized^™and Transitions XTRActivenew generationlenses. For eyecare professionals, free marketing resources are available on the Transitions Pro pages where they can find materials for Transitions XTRActivePolarized^™, Transitions XTRActivenew generation,and TransitionsSignatureGen 8lenses. Moreover, eyecare professionals can join the Transitions Certified Partner Program and become a recognized Transitions specialist or a Transitions certified provider through the free certification program available 24/7.

Click HERE for the full press release.

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021

Fight the Leading Cause of Working Age Blindness: Diabetes

In Canada, someone is diagnosed with diabetes every three minutes.

A diabetes diagnosis holds many implications for a person: it impacts a person’s blood sugar levels, their diet, and their daily activities.

1 million Canadians are living with diabetic retinopathy. They are at significant risk of blindness if disease progression to diabetic macular edema. In fact, Dr. Michael Brent advised 20 years after diagnosis, 100% of Type I and over 80% of Type II have developed diabetic retinopathy.

Vision research has delivered treatments that in 3 out 4 of the cases vision can be stabilized, and in some cases, repair the damage, but only if they are diagnosed early.

It is critical to avoid blindness that people living with diabetes receive an annual eye exam. However, research undertaken by Fighting Blindness Canada’s Clinician-Scientist Emerging Leaders Dr. Felfeli, Dr Ballios and their colleagues found only 60% of Ontarians with diabetes are receiving an annual eye examination.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Fighting Blindness Canada did their part in raising awareness and sharing resources about diabetes and the risk of diabetic retinopathy and losing your sight.

First, COVID-19 is impacting eye health for people living with diabetes. In a study released in October, there were:

• 10,470 fewer anti-VEGF eye injection claims for diabetic macular edema in 2020 compared to 2019.

As a result of the almost 3 million fewer optometry visits, the report found:

• 11,575 missed referrals for diabetic retinopathy – some of which would have required urgent care.

The report found an additional 199 people likely developed vision loss from diabetic retinopathy due to missed referrals during the pandemic in 2020.

There was an increase in the proportion of referrals later in 2020 which were urgent after services resumed.

It speaks to an urgent need for a National Vision Health Plan to stop the crisis of preventable blindness. Please sign our petition for this plan at www.StopVisionLoss.ca.

The cost of vision loss and blindness in Canada: The impact of COVID-19 was released in October by Fighting Blindness Canada and our partners Canadian Council of the Blind, Canadian Association of Optometrists and Canadian Ophthalmological Society.

Second, Fighting Blindness Canada is a supporter of Diabetes Action Canada (DAC). DAC is a pan-Canadian research organization that was launched in 2016. Funded jointly by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) Strategic Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) program, non-profit organizations, and private sponsors.

DAC is researching a national diabetic retinopathy screening program aimed at preventing diabetes-related vision loss. This program hopes to help address the barriers that many Canadians with diabetes face in receiving regular eye exams.

Thanks to TD Bank support of Fighting Blindness, 3 Community Health Centres in Toronto are working with “Project Open”. The research project is data mining OHIP billing data to identify individuals with diabetes that have not received an eye exam and through each Centre’s diabetes clinics, be invited to receive this examination. The goal is to prevent blindness. With this project, we hope to develop the model so it can be rolled out across the country.

And more good news, CIHR has granted funding in November to expand the screening research beyond Ontario to Alberta, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Third, on www.FightingBlindness.ca is extensive disease information about diabetic retinopathy. There is a way to share your story about your vision loss journey.

Let’s work to change Diabetes being the leading cause of blindness in working age Canadians.

By: Doug Earle, President & CEO, Fighting Blindness Canada (November 30, 2021)

Click HERE for the full press release.

December 9, 2021May 20, 2026

Dramatic New Looks from Cinzia

The Cinzia 5137 proposes an edit to the old phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Better yet, “Say what you mean while wearing amazing glasses.” A strong square shape paired with moody, textural, tortoise colourways speak volumes. Temples that smartly taper to metal temple tips provide extra sophistication.

Featured model: CIN-5137

Distributed by Europa: www.europaeyewear.ca

December 8, 2021December 8, 2021

Transitions® XTRActive® Polarized™ Nominated as Consumer 2022 Product of the Year™ Finalist in Canada

Transitions Optical in Canada has announced that Transitions^® XTRActive^® Polarized^™ lenses have been selected as a Product of the Year^™ Award finalist for 2022. The new line of Transitions XTRActive product line, including the polarized lenses and Transitions^® XTRActive^® new generation lenses, launched earlier this year and will be widely available in Canada in late Q4 or early 2022.

“We know that consumers value the benefits of Transitions^® lenses, and Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses offer the additional benefit of polarization to an everyday photochromic lens. With the two new XTRActive products, we have a wide Transitions portfolio that covers all patients’ vision needs,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing & sales manager, Transitions Optical Canada. “We know that consumers value them especially for their indoor clarity, performance behind the windshield and extra darkness and polarization outdoors. We are thrilled to be a finalist and hope to become the winner!”

The Product of the Year^™ Canada contest, run annually, is the largest consumer-voted awards for product innovation in the country. Winners will be announced in mid-to-late December 2021.

Click HERE for the full press release.

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021

Safilo, Special Olympics International Together Again Until 2024

Safilo Group and Special Olympics, the international non-profit organisation dedicated to transforming the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, renew their partnership, which will see them united again for the next three years.

Thanks to this renewal, Safilo and Special Olympics have further strengthened their relationship, which began in 2003 and is now celebrating its 18^th anniversary. It is an important milestone especially considering that over the years more than 1.3 million frames and sunglasses have been donated to Special Olympics athletes all over the world, as part of the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® program.

Safilo’s commitment is represented not only by the donation of optical frames, but also by the personal involvement of the Group’s employees who have participated, as volunteers, in initiatives linked to the organisation of Opening Eyes events.

“We are very proud to announce the renewal for the next three years of our partnership with Special Olympics, as we are continuing to strengthen the journey we began 18 years ago,” said Angelo Trocchia, CEO of Safilo Group. “Our goal from the very first day has been to create a lasting relationship and commit ourselves daily to supporting specific programmes aimed at correcting sight defects with the awareness of having a decisive and positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world through the donation of our frames and sunglasses.”

“Special Olympics is honored to gain the continued support of Safilo Group as part of a shared commitment to providing inclusive health for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” says David Evangelista, President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.

In addition to donations of frames and sunglasses, the partnership also provides Special Olympics athletes with the opportunity to benefit from eye examinations and referrals for follow-up checks through Opening Eyes services supported by Safilo and other cooperate sponsors in the eye care community.

Click HERE for the full press release.