CooperVision is now accepting submissions for its 2022 Science and Technology Awards program. The longstanding program fosters partnerships between recipients and CooperVision scientists to explore new dimensions in vision care, with the goal of translating innovative ideas into practical solutions.

“The needs of today’s eye care professionals and contact lens wearers are ever-changing. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers, we are consistently working to develop products to meet and exceed evolving customer expectations,” said Francis Erard, CooperVision’s Vice President of Research & Development. “Through the Science and Technology Awards program, we have cultivated multiple ideas and approaches that have led to significant product innovations. We’re excited for new partnerships that will once again raise the bar.”

Since 2014, the CooperVision program has made grants totaling more than $2 million to investigate matters such as ocular surface health, contact lens discomfort, contact lens functionality, and retinal response to optical defocus.

In 2022, submissions will be considered for the following subjects:

• Novel methodologies to enhance global ophthalmic clinical insights, with an emphasis on remote data collection strategies for intercontinental and local assessment of clinical contact lens performance and related ocular physiology.

• New technologies for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of myopia, including novel ways of collecting information about the visual environment.

Proposals may span proof-of-concept through translational stages and are eligible for two types of awards. The CooperVision Seedling Award is intended for investigation of early-stage concepts for a one-year period, with a maximum grant of $100,000. The CooperVision Translational Research Award is a two-year grant for substantive projects with funding up to $400,000.

CooperVision Science and Technology Awards are open to any researcher with principal investigator (PI) status holding an OD, MD, PhD or equivalent degree.

Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent before July 15, 2022. Additional information and the online application are available at www.coopervision.com/about-us/science-and-technology-awards.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Ray-Ban Stories – an EssilorLuxottica brand – has been awarded at two of the world’s most renowed design competitions: iF Design Award and Red Dot Design Award.

iF Design Award

The iF Design Award is one of the most important design prizes in the world. Ray-Ban Stories won two different prizes at iF Design Award 2022: the Design Award in the User Experience discipline, and The Gold Award in the Product discipline, which is the highest recognition in the competition.

Red Dot Design Award

Ray-Ban Stories has been awarded in the product design category for the 2022 edition, winning the highest award in the competition, the Red Dot: Best of the Best. This prize is reserved for the best products in a category, the ones which stand out for ground-breaking design.

Ray-Ban Stories

Ray-Ban Stories, the smart glasses from EssilorLuxottica and Meta, let you capture, share and listen. They feature dual integrated 5MP cameras to take photos and videos; discreet open-ear speakers for audio, and a three-microphone audio array to deliver rich voice and sound quality for calls and videos.

Ray-Ban Stories work with a companion app, Facebook View (iOS and Android), which allows people to import and edit content captured on the smart glasses and share it to any social app stored on their phone. The Ray-Ban Stories portfolio features 28 style, colour and lens variations including the iconic Wayfarer, along with the Round and Meteor styles.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Safilo USA recently paired up with San Francisco-based eyewear technology company Topology to create a visually appealing interactive platform and virtual product showcase to entice potential customers and generate sales leads.

This virtual selling tool, which debuted in the U.S. and Canada starting December 2021, has allowed users to browse through a virtual brand portfolio and view optical frames and sunglasses on the faces of real people while providing the opportunity to rotate the models’ faces 180 degrees to view how each frame fits from all angles.

The platform quickly resulted in thousands of unique visitors to the landing page and the virtual try-on demo, creating significant awareness and positive impact in growing the potential customer base.  Safilo customers and other retailers can contact a Safilo sales rep to receive a dedicated link to view the password-protected virtual platform. 

This is the second time that Safilo USA has collaborated with leading eyewear technology innovator Topology to introduce state-of-the art-technology to its customers in North America.  Show attendees at Vision Expo West, held in Las Vegas in September 2021, were able to virtually and safely try on Safilo’s various collections by scanning their faces into Topology’s proprietary Touchless Optical Platform (TOP) app and experience the company’s precision scanning, measurement, and photorealism technology.

“Safilo is committed to introducing our customers to new and beautifully designed collections supported by the newest eyewear technologies available. This latest collaboration with Topology – who traditionally offers their platform to optical retailers and e-tailers who need a Virtual Try-On and precise optical measurements for online and in-store customers – has been proven to be a very innovative and successful sales tool to virtually to engage our customers,” said Steve Wright, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Safilo North America.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Transitions Optical gathered optical industry leaders on April 21, 2022, in Victoria, BC for a discussion on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Canadian optical industry. The discussion highlighted eye health and eye care issues related to various ethnic groups in Canada and provided practical initiatives eye care professionals can implement to better serve their diverse patients.

The roundtable began by exploring how to better serve the three largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority populations in Canada: Asian Canadians, African Canadians, and Indigenous Canadians. Panelists continued the discussion by offering advice on a variety of topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as patient communications, dispensing and styling, creating an inclusive practice, advocating with colleagues, and increasing the pipeline of diverse individuals entering the optical industry.

The roundtable was moderated by Dr. Essence Johnson, OD and Transitions Diversity Advisory Board member. Participants included:

• Dr. Vi Tu Banh, OD
• Robert Dalton, executive director, Opticians Association of Canada
• Dr. Olivia Dam, MD, Ophthalmologist
• Aunalee Boyd-Good, Canadian certified optometric assistant
• Sophia Seward-Good, optometric assistant
• Dr. Danielle Gordon, OD and Transitions Change Agent
• Dr. Trevor Miranda, OD and Transitions Canada Pro Forum member
• Dr. Surjinder Sahota, OD and Canadian Association of Optometrists board member

“We recognize the importance of serving the unique eye health needs of ethnically and culturally diverse populations in Canada,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing and sales manager, Transitions Optical Canada. “We are honoured to gather this talented group of eye care professionals together to assist in the creation of resources that will inspire other professionals.”

A white paper is currently in development and will be available in the weeks to come on Transitions.com/en-canadapro.

Click HERE for the full press release.

A new survey from Transitions Optical reveals a need for eye care professionals to improve patient education on eye health risks in ethnic minority groups including Asian, African and Indigenous Canadians. The survey confirmed low awareness levels among all demographics of the correlation between their ethnicity and increased risks for certain eye health issues, revealed that most respondents do not believe their eye health can be affected by extended exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and found that nearly seven in 10 (67%) Canadians have not had an eye exam within the past year.

Considering patient preferences, the survey results also identify tangible ways eye care professionals can implement DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices to meet the expectations of their ethnically diverse patients and maintain or improve their eye health. Actions eye care professionals can take include hiring a multi-racial staff, offering in-language materials and taking time to get to know their patients on a personal level.

“In addition to validating a need for widespread education on the importance of UV protection and how a person’s ethnicity can put them at a greater risk for developing certain eye health issues, these results also present insights into ways eyecare professionals can better serve their culturally diverse patients,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing manager, Transitions Optical in Canada.  

The research was conducted in advance of a professional roundtable event, exploring the needs of growing minority demographics groups in Canada, sponsored by Transitions Optical in April 2022.

Key Findings

Poor Awareness of Eye Health Risks and Execution of Protective Eye Care Measures

Showing low awareness of important risks to eye health, only 27% of Canadian consumers surveyed believe vision loss is one of the main harmful effects of extended exposure to the sun’s UV radiation. Additionally, less than a quarter (22%) believe developing cataracts and just 18% believe macular degeneration are also harmful effects.

Demonstrating that low awareness levels may be leading to poor protection habits, a little over a third (34%) of Canadian consumers surveyed identify UV protection as a top impact on the type and brand of eyewear they would select for themselves. Additionally, of the 76% of Canadians surveyed who wear eyeglasses, only 16% of them have purchased eyeglasses with photochromic lenses in the past two years.

However, over half (55%) find that photochromic or Transitions^® lenses are appealing because they can make their eyes feel more comfortable and prevent them from squinting in bright light. Over half (52%) of respondents also agree photochromic or Transitions^® lenses are appealing because they protect their overall eye health.

“Poor awareness of the importance of eye protection from the sun paired with interest in photochromic lenses and the high-level of trust patients have in their eye care professional—as 95% of Canadian consumers report trusting their eye doctor to make the best recommendations for them—highlights an opportunity for eye care professionals to educate their patients on the dangers of sun exposure to the eyes and prescribe Transitions^® lenses, as they block 100% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays,” added Rajchenbach.

Nearly all (96%) of Canadian consumers surveyed have received a comprehensive eye exam in their lifetime. However, nearly seven in 10 (67%) have not had an eye exam within the past year. Indigenous Canadians (66%) were the least likely ethnic group to have had an annual eye exam within the past year. Barriers to care also differed among Asian, African and Indigenous Canadians. African (44%) and Asian (33%) Canadians were the most likely to say they did not receive a comprehensive eye exam within the past year because they forgot to schedule or attend, while Indigenous Canadians (35%) were the most likely to not receive a comprehensive eye exam because they report the cost is too expensive.

Additionally, over eight in 10 (81%) of Canadian consumers surveyed do not agree that their ethnicity puts them at an increased risk for certain eye issues. However, research proves otherwise and finds those with Asian ancestry have a higher prevalence and earlier age of onset of cataract than Europeans. Glaucoma is also six to eight times more common among those with African descent than Caucasians and are more likely to experience permanent blindness as a result of glaucoma. While little data exists on prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among Indigenous Canadians, as a group, they have more risk factors for developing the disease because they are at a significantly higher risk for diabetes, which increases risk for AMD.

Patient Preferences

When asked to identify factors that are important in choosing an eyecare professional for themselves, 64% of the ethnic minority groups surveyed agree that the best eye care practices include staff members from a mix of races and ethnicities—and this is particularly important among Asian and African Canadian populations, as over half (58%) of Asian Canadians and 57% of African Canadians agree that an eye care professional who is of the same race or ethnicity as they are will better understand them.

Click HERE for the full press release.