Blog

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020

Fighting Blindness Canada Brings Laughter with New Comedy from the Couch Virtual Experience

On Saturday October 17, Canadians are invited to join from the comfort of their couch in a few good laughs, all in support of sight-saving research.

With COVID-19 continuing to impact in-person events, Fighting Blindness Canada’s longstanding Comic Vision and Last Call fundraising events from across Canada have joined forces to offer a NEW virtual Comedy from the Couch experience, complete with fun snacks delivered to your door, auction, prizes, and interactive activities.

“COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our fundraising this year, creating a $1,000,000 gap in critical funding for vision research and programs that allow us to serve the vision loss community,” said Doug Earle, President and CEO of Fighting Blindness Canada. “With Comedy from the Couch, we aim to touch the hearts of all Canadians, providing some much-needed humour during a time that has been challenging for all of us, while ensuring that finding new treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases keep moving forward.”

Comedy from the Couch will feature clips and conversations with comedian favourites from Comic Vision’s 21 year history, and will be hosted by Steve Patterson from CBC’s The Debaters and Vancouver’s Fred Lee, with a special conversation with Mark Critch from ‘This Hour Has 22 Minutes’. The virtual comedy experience will also feature live chats with select comedians, an online auction, contest, and highlights of Fighting Blindness Canada’s mission to fund vision research.

Comedy from the Couch tickets can be purchased until October 15.

How to Join: Tickets can be purchased at comicvision.ca

Click HERE for the full press release.

October 13, 2020October 13, 2020

Marchon to be First to Produce and Sell Eyewear Made with Eastman’s Sustainable Acetate

Marchon Eyewear announced an industry-first partnership with Eastman, a global specialty materials company. Marchon will be the first eyewear company to produce and sell frames using Eastman Acetate Renew, a fully sustainable material that will be used in Marchon’s proprietary and licensed brands frames.

Eastman will use their innovative carbon renewal technology, a process which is capable of recycling some of the most complex plastic waste. Through Eastman’s innovative recycling technology, the scrap from Marchon’s manufacturing of acetate frames can be diverted from landfills and used to produce new sustainable acetate for premium eyewear.

Acetate Renew, produced via Eastman’s innovative carbon renewal technology, is made from bio-based and certified* recycled materials and provides three key benefits to Marchon Eyewear.

Sustainable material with lower carbon footprint
Less landfill waste
Identical Performance

“This collaboration with Marchon marks a significant milestone for advancing a circular economy for the eyewear industry,” said Scott Ballard, vice president and general manager for Eastman Specialty Plastics. “With Acetate Renew, Eastman combines its 80-year history of material innovations for eyewear with technologies that help ensure the industry’s sustainability in the 21^st century.”

Eastman’s Acetate Renew is a cellulose diacetate composed of 60% biobased and 40% certified recycled content. The look and feel of the new eyewear will be identical to that of Marchon’s current frame collections.

Beginning in 2021, Marchon will begin to produce acetate sunglasses and ophthalmic frames by using Eastman’s Renew materials, further asserting Marchon’s commitment to social responsibility and bringing more sustainable practices to the eyewear industry.

Click HERE for the full press release.

October 9, 2020October 9, 2020

Nikon Optical Defines New Customer Experience by Being “Essentially With You”

During the lockdown, Nikon Optical Canada reached out to eye care professionals to better understand their new needs and challenges. The company announces new developments that will maximize the Nikon experience at both the ECP and customer levels.

Nikon has developed a new range of essential resources to help eye care professionals provide the best customer experience. This Fall, eye care professionals will be able to guide patients remotely with product selection and will have enhanced tools for ordering and tracking lenses online. In addition, Nikon has prepared promotional tools to be used in-store, as well as special offers and giveaways.

A new online ordering platform with enhanced features for an easy and user-friendly experience has been launched recently, as reported on Optik NOW. Now available as part of the I See Without Compromise promotion is the giveaway of the new Nikon anti-fog lens cloth.

Click HERE for the full press release.

October 8, 2020October 9, 2020

Canadian Ophthalmological Society Launches Public Awareness Initiative

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) have launched a public relations initiative highlighting that 75% of cases from serious eye diseases are treatable or preventable.

In collaboration with the the Conference Board of Canada, a newly released report shows that treating vision loss is projected to save $1.6 billion in direct health care costs in 2020, and is expected to reach $4 billion by 2040.

COS has teamed up with Bon Look, a rapidly expanding optical chain with more than 30 stores across Canada, as the “Know the Risks” exclusive contest sponsor. A quick and simple online risk assessment is offered to show if consumers area at risk of developing a serious eye condition. ( seethepossibilities.ca.)

The report, which examines the value of ophthalmology from a health outcome, health care efficiency, and societal/economic perspective, shows the large economic impact on health care systems, society and individuals.

According to the study, an estimated 263,400 individuals will have improved vision in 2020 through ophthalmic interventions. By treating vision loss, approximately 82,500 negative medical outcomes will be avoided, including injuries or other associated health care needs such as falls, hip fractures, depression, anxiety, admission into long-term care, and use of home care or caregiver services.

Dr. Colin Mann, President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, says, “Of all the disease categories in Canada, vision loss has the highest direct health care cost. The report shows that the economic benefits of averting vision loss far outweigh the cost of delivering ophthalmic interventions and help to safeguard the future of eye care in Canada.”

According to COS, the number of ophthalmic interventions in Canada increased by 30% between 2014 and 2018. Demand is projected to rise from around 1.1 million interventions in 2018 to 1.7 million interventions by 2040, driven by population growth and aging, as well as innovation and changes in clinical practice.

The Conference Board of Canada report, part of a series on The Value of Health Services in Canada, can be found here.

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020

Six-Part Webinar Series Announced to Help Practices Build a Better Future for Independent Optometry

Dr. Joseph Day, O.D., a practicing optometrist for over 30 years and his collective team of seven industry experts at East Main Vision Clinic located in Puyallup, WA, announce a forthcoming six-part webinar series entitled Building an Unconventional Practice conceivedto help independent practices build a better future.

During this new virtual series, geared towards O.D.s and independent practices looking to make positive change in their practice, Dr. Day and members of his East Main Vision Clinic staff will share their tools, resources, strategies and experiences to educate ECPs on increasing profitability, diversifying revenue streams to balance their managed care business and improving overall efficiency while elevating their practice, no matter what the obstacle.

Taking place over five consecutive Thursdays at 6pm PST, starting October 22^nd and concluding, after a two-week break, on Thursday, December 10^th, the webinar topics will range from leadership, business strategy and independence to marketing, patient and team loyalty and specialty eye care. The live webinars will be taped so they can be viewed later or referenced when most convenient.

Moderated by DezaRae Hedrick-Fortson, Regional Manager – Northwest Region, Safilo USA, each of the six live webinars will be 45-minutes long with a 15-minute Q&A. Included with each registration will be a “Monday Morning Tool Kit” complete with printable PDFs on topics such as “Successful Scripting,” “Practical Working Procedures” and “Functional Action Plans” that offices can implement to enhance their practice.

Open to all interested participants, early registration for the six-part series is $99.00 (U.S.) through October 22^nd at 5pm PST. To register for the Building an Unconventional Practice webinar series visit: https://www.emvc.net/landing/webinar-interest.

Safilo customers may register via www.mysafilocanada.com.

Click HERE for the full press release.