Blog

June 16, 2021June 10, 2021

Blue Light Protection: A Marriage of Protection and Aesthetics

In the Focus on Optics section of the May-June issue of Optik Magazine, Nikon Lenswear presents Blue Light Protection.

UV rays are invisible yet they pose a considerable amount of danger not only to the skin but, to the human eye as well. Exposure to UV light can cause short-term problems such as photokeratitis which is basically a sunburn of the eye.

Today’s electronic devices, including computers, tablets, smartphones and TVs emit high-energy blue light. Because of the growing popularity of these devices, the exposure to blue light sources has drastically increased, leading to negative effects on our health and eye vision.

Nikon was the first to invent blue light cut lenses in 2011 and has now just introduced Pure Blue UV. With Nikon’s Light Purification Technology, embedded molecules within the lens intelligently filter UV and part of the blue light before it reaches the patient’s eyes.

Essentially this light purification technology captures the invisible danger you can’t see while offering enhanced aesthetics. So now whether your wearers are conducting virtual meetings or capturing memories of their in-person events, they can enjoy a better look without blue light reflections being visible on the lens.

Pure Blue UV is a new material that allows protection and aesthetics to co-live together. It is the best looking solution compared to standard lenses with similar levels of protection and offers up to 35% blue light cut.

Find out some simple steps to keep in mind when recommending Pure Blue UV in the full article featured in May-June Optik.

June 15, 2021June 14, 2021

Marketing4ECPs Announces Partnership with Otto Optics

Marketing4ECPs, a provider of eyecare-focused digital marketing solutions, is pleased to announce its partnership with Otto Optics, a contact lens sales generation and process automation platform.

“We are excited to announce this partnership and join forces with Otto Optics”, said Kevin Wilhelm, Marketing4ECPs Co-Founder and CEO. “This partnership will allow our clients, and network of eye care professionals an amazing opportunity to grow their contact lens revenue, improve patient experience, while streamlining in-office workflows”.

Otto Optics was founded in 2020 by Alex McIntosh and Adam Geiger. Together, they launched a platform that communicates with patients at the moment they require new contact lenses and allows them to re-order with a single click.

Partnered with all major contact lens manufacturers, patients are able to re-order their favourite brand seamlessly through their mobile device. “We built Otto to streamline workflows in the practice and capture real opportunity for additional contact lens revenue”, says McIntosh. “Our vision was to create a software that retained more of the contact lens business that might be walking out the door or re-ordering online.”

Otto Optics is founded on a few key pillars:

Seamless integration into existing practice operations
Automatic patient enrolment
White-labelled branding for the practice
Zero-risk, pay-for-performance pricing model

The partnership with Otto Optics further strengthens Marketing4ECP’s position within the eye care industry. This partnership provides their clients with exclusive pricing, integration within their practice website, and a marketing launch package.

To learn more about Otto Optics please visit the link below.

Otto Optics: www.ottooptics.io

June 14, 2021June 14, 2021

CooperVision Presents Expansive Scientific Research During 2021 BCLA Virtual Conference

CooperVision announced its scientific research program for the 2021 British Contact Lens Association Virtual Clinical Conference and Exhibition, which began Sunday, June 13. For the first time, the biennial event is streamed live over the course of 30 hours, welcoming members of the global eye care community to experience and discuss the latest category advancements.

More than 20 CooperVision-authored and sponsored investigations were accepted by the conference committee. The papers and posters span a range of topics that underpin the contact lens industry’s evolution, including new data and insights on the complex lifestyle factors involved with addressing presbyopia, misperceptions surrounding soft toric lens fitting, and understanding children’s acceptance of innovative optical interventions for slowing the progression of myopia.

“Our commitment to developing evidence-based approaches for many of the world’s toughest vision challenges involves sharing the underlying research with peers. It’s a privilege to present this work at the 2021 BCLA Conference, especially with its extension to an even more diverse group of eye care professionals (ECPs), scientists, and educators participating virtually,” said Gary Orsborn, Vice President, Global Professional, Medical & Clinical Affairs for CooperVision.

Among several CooperVision presentations regarding presbyopia is an exploration of the daily complexity involved in dealing with the condition, and how this may affect ECP choices. Ethnography Research to Understand the Vision and Switching Experiences of Living with Presbyopia defines three usage personas based on lifestyle choices and self-perception, as well as ranking the activities and locations in which near vision needs were paramount—not all of which were anticipated.

As a leader in soft toric contact lenses, CooperVision continues to discover and tackle ECP hesitancies that present obstacles to successfully fitting people with astigmatism. This dedication is reflected in two papers being presented for the first time at BCLA.

A CooperVision-sponsored project with Eurolens Research delved into the impression that prescribing toric and multifocal soft contact lenses consume more of an ECP’s time compared to sphere options. Chair Time Required for the Fitting of Various Soft Contact Lens Designs employed a retrospective chart review from a large, multi-practitioner optometric practice, examining time stamp data for fitting spherical, multifocal and toric lens designs with the same silicone hydrogel material. The authors found no differences in fitting times, allowing ECPs to cast aside perceptions that have become outdated as soft lens designs and related tools have evolved.

CooperVision’s myopia management studies have set a high bar for the category. During BCLA, three papers across the optical intervention spectrum will add to the profession’s body of knowledge about children’s acceptance:

Myopia Progression and Slit-Lamp Findings in Children: MiSight^® 1 day Clinical Trial
Experience with a Novel Myopia Management Spectacle Lens Technology
Evaluation of Children in the Netherlands Fitted with Custom-Made Ortho-K Contact Lenses

In addition to its scientific program, CooperVision has organized several educational workshops and sessions as part of the application and skills development tracks. It is also a co-sponsor of the BCLA Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR) initiative, which will factor prominently into the conference.

Click HERE for the full press release.

June 11, 2021June 10, 2021

New Look Vision Group Regains Its Freedom

In the May-June issue of Optik Magazine, contributor Jean-François Venne had a chat with Antoine Amiel from New Look Vision who will soon no longer be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company will go private again following its acquisition by the American private equity firm FFL Partners and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ).

The new set of shareholders also includes the family of Dr. H. Doug Barnes, founder of the Eyemart Express chain in the U.S. The purchasers have agreed to pay $50 CDN per share for all of the Class A common shares. The transaction is valued at approximately
$800 million.

New Look Vision’s decision will therefore provide liquidity to the former controlling shareholder Benvest Capital and the other shareholders. However, the transaction is mainly motivated by strategic considerations. Being listed on the stock exchange requires a company to perform what Antoine Amiel, the President and CEO of New Look Vision, describes as a “quarterly striptease.” Every three months, the company must publish its financial statements, detail its performance, acquisitions and even reveal, to some extent, its strategic orientations.

Privatization will also provide more financial leeway. It is very difficult for a publicly listed company in Canada to maintain a debt level that exceeds three times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for any length of time.

Read the full interview in Jean-François’ article in the May-June issue of Optik Magazine.

Check out more articles from Jean-François Venne HERE!

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021

MIDO Sets February 2022 Date for In-Person Edition

The date is set for February 12, 2022, to finally gather again in person at MIDO. With the launch of the next major exhibition, the doors closed on MIDO 2021 | Digital Edition, in an online version.

Almost 50,000 interactions on the business platform, 438 display pages, over 5,700 registered users, 50% international attendance. These are the numbers of the “transition” edition – between the pandemic and February 2022. MIDO’s B2B trading continues on the platform, puttingbuyers and exhibitors in contact until the next edition.

Geographically speaking, the majority of participants in this edition were European, followed by Americans and Asians. This digital format offered more than 30 exclusive events – all available online – and 60 speakers, an array of prominent guests who alternated throughout the show.

“The first ever MIDO 2021 I Digital Edition has closed, and we are extremely pleased with the outcome, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the entire team,” stated MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni. “Despite the very turbulent year that put us to the test, we were able to strengthen and build new confidence and trust, and we produced a digital trade show that came as close as possible to an in-person fair.”

Click HERE for the full press release.