Blog

February 24, 2021May 20, 2026

SH-UTX Blends Scott Harris Style with High-Tech Materials

Europa Eyewear introduces ultra-thin acetates into their Scott Harris line with six new styles. Take everything you expect from Scott Harris and cut it in half. Well not everything- keep the fresh styles, vibrant colours, and premium quality. NOW make it roughly 50% thinner. That’s Scott Harris UTX. SH UTX combines handmade acetate with high-tech heat compression, resulting in ultra-thin acetate. Paired with stainless steel temples, SH UTX looks are lightweight, but heavy on style.

www.europaeyewear.ca

February 24, 2021February 24, 2021

CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Launches New Fitting Software for Paragon CRT and Dual Axis CLs

CooperVision Specialty EyeCare launched its innovative Paragon CRT^® Software for eye care professionals (ECPs). The easy-to-understand, topography-guided tool includes several features aimed at simplifying the fitting process for first-time CRT^® and CRT^® Dual Axis contact lens prescribers.

With a few on-screen clicks, ECPs will be able to seamlessly change lens parameters, assess fluorescein patterns of different lenses on the same patient, and see simulated lens changes on a patients’ eye prior to ordering warranty exchanges. In addition, ECPs can upload patient topography maps and customize CRT^® and CRT^® Dual Axis lenses for each patient.

The software is available to download at ecp.paragonvision.com/software.

“As trends and demands continue to change, it’s imperative for us to deepen our partnership with the specialty eye care community. Part of strengthening our clinical relationships and enhancing our support for the industry is to listen and evolve our portfolio and related tools,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragón, President, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. “With the introduction of Paragon CRT^® Software, ECPs can more confidently fit our lenses on hard-to-fit patients, and ultimately, grow their practice.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

Transitions Extends Successful Certificate of Authenticity Contest in Canada

Transitions Optical announced it will extend its successful pilot contest to drive awareness about the importance of making sure patients receive authentic Transitions^® lenses when purchasing Transitions photochromic lenses. The contest rewards eye care professionals (ECPs) and patients for registering their lenses using the Transitions lens Certificate of Authenticity (COA) after receiving their lenses. The contest will run from February 1st through December 2021.

“We launched this contest last year and were blown away by the results – recording a 60% increase in registrations of the COA,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing manager, Transitions Optical in Canada. “The winners were thrilled to receive amazing prizes and more importantly, we drove awareness about the value of receiving authentic Transitions brand lenses.”

This year’s contest will include additional assets for ECPs to leverage in their practice – including a contest guide, poster, counter card and social media assets. These assets will include a QR code that will drive the consumer directly to the COA registration page, giving them faster access to the page. To register, the patient will need the ECP’s location ID number to write on the back of the COA that ECPs give to patients when dispensing their lenses. The patient should register their lenses on the Transitions Certificate of Authenticity page, including their ECP’s location ID. Once registered, patients are eligible to receive one (1) monthly prize, including Bose® headphones, Airpods, Bose frames, Sonos one wireless speaker or a JBL Flip 5 speaker. Eye care professionals are eligible to win Transitions lens branded gift packs.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Essilor Pays Tribute to Bernard Maitenaz, Inventor of the Varilux Progressive Lens

Bernard Maitenaz, the inventor of the Varilux^® progressive lens that redefined an entire industry, passed away in his home city of Paris on February 22, 2021, aged 94.

One of the founders of the Essilor Group and the Valoptec employee shareholders association, and at the helm of the company between 1981 and 1991, Bernard Maitenaz’s commitment to Essilor continued well beyond his retirement, as Honorary Chairman of the Essilor Board of Directors.

In the words of Paul du Saillant, Chairman and CEO of Essilor: “A true pioneer and inventor at heart, Bernard will also be remembered for the values with which he led Essilor between ‘81 and ‘91, and which he promoted within Valoptec throughout his more than 70-year career. Without him and the invention of the Varilux® progressive lens, the optical industry and Essilor would not be what they are today. We owe Bernard enormously, and he will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.”

Here is a video about Bernard Maitenaz’s life and career:

Click HERE for the full press release.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

COS Celebrates 70 Years of Support and Innovation

It all began in 1951 in Montreal, where Fred and Judith Hochstadter were about to revolutionize the optical industry in Canada. COS began as a small private home office with business activities in Quebec and Ontario. Over the years, the COS Family grew from the original downtown Montreal office to its current location on the west side of the city, serving eye care professionals across Canada.

70 years and 3 generations later, the Montreal family business continues to develop strong and lasting relationships with its customers.

Looking back at a successful journey:

In 1964, the high-end eyewear manufacturer Silhouette was founded and immediately appointed COS to be the exclusive distributor of the brand in Canada. In 1993, Silhouette offered COS to distribute the adidas sport eyewear collection, a stretch which lasted for 25 years. The trust placed in COS by the Silhouette Group from the very beginning is still a source of great pride almost 60 years later.

The Danish brand Inface joined the company’s brand portfolio in 2002. A number of years later, it introduced the nifties collection, offering products specially designed for fine facial features. Recognizing the importance of this niche in eyewear, Inface and COS worked together to develop this unique collection which combines the best of Danish design, sized for small faces. When Design Eyewear Group purchased the inface brand, they finally made this vision a reality. Inface and Nifties are now two popular and trendy brands that, despite changes of ownership, chose to stay at COS.

Faced with the complexity for optical laboratories to edge and drill Silhouette rimless frames, COS decided to open its own lab. When the opportunity presented itself, COS added adidas sun Rx lenses to its lens portfolio becoming the only Silhouette distributor to develop adidas 8-base sun Rx lenses thanks to the lab which was already in place.

COS and its lab took innovation even further by creating their own brands. Fitson was launched in 2012 followed by Code in 2015. Designed in Montreal by COS employees, these brands offer new trendy and affordable products.

2021 marks the 70^th anniversary of a family initiative that continues to transform the Canadian eye care industry every day by delivering high quality services.

Click HERE for the full press release.