Blog

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

Canadian Eyewear Company Styles Black Pumas at Inaugural Concert

As the world watched history in the making at the 46th Inaugural virtual concert, Grammy nominated breakthrough band of the year Black Pumas performed, wearing STAGG Spectacles, by Canadian company Alternative & Plan B Eyewear.

Alternative & Plan B Eyewear collaborated with Adrian Quesada, producer and lead guitarist for Black Pumas to outfit them for some upcoming events. “We can’t think of a better partnership than the Black Pumas. Their soul and funk really speak to our 2021 spring collection, which is launching soon,” says President, Paul Storace, president of Alternative & Plan B Eyewear.

Quesada also wore the glasses on a performance of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert the night before their Inauguration performance. The Sanford model, a titanium frame was an eye-catching eclectic design.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 21, 2021January 21, 2021

CooperVision Introduces No-Cost Axial Length Estimator and Nearsightedness Assessment Tools

CooperVision announced it has developed two new tools – an axial length estimator tool for Eye Care Professionals (ECPs) and a nearsightedness assessment tool for parents. The online axial length estimator tool is intended for use with children and is now available to ECPs who are certified in the Brilliant Futures™ with MiSight® 1 day program. Certified ECPs can find more information at coopervision.ca/practitioner/axial-length-estimator. The easy-to-use nearsightedness assessment tool is available to parents at coopervision.ca/myopia-management/assessment-tool.

Clinical studies investigating the effectiveness of a myopia management intervention typically review changes in refractive error and axial length over time. While virtually all clinical practices are equipped to assess refractive error, many have not yet invested in diagnostic instruments to gauge axial length.

“Understanding axial length can provide valuable information for ECPs who are managing childhood myopia, especially since the consequences of myopia-related pathology are significantly linked to that measure,” said Elizabeth Lumb, BSc (Hons), MCOptom, FBCLA, EMEA Head of Professional Services for MiSight® 1 day at CooperVision. “Our new estimator gives additional information to help Eye Care Professionals better understand the significance of axial length.”

CooperVision worked with Eurolens Research at the University of Manchester to develop the new tool, based on research published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. The paper describes how standard optometric measurements of refractive error and keratometry readings – easily obtained in clinical practice – can offer a good approximation of absolute ocular axial length.

The CooperVision Axial Length Estimator uses a formula from an analysis of extensive MiSight® 1 day contact lens clinical study data that demonstrates a highly correlated agreement between measured and calculated axial length (R2=0.83). ECPs simply need to enter their patient’s refractive error (sphere and cylinder) and keratometry readings (in diopters or millimeters) to generate an axial length estimate.

CooperVision is making it easier for parents and guardians worldwide to assess if their children may be more predisposed to myopia. The new Nearsightedness Assessment Tool provides a short survey that asks questions about a child’s age, family history of myopia, and how much near work the child does daily.

“(…) The Nearsightedness Assessment Tool will help educate parents on myopia and direct them to a local Brilliant Futures™ certified practitioner who can provide a comprehensive eye examination and discuss all options to manage myopia progression including prescribing contact lenses that can slow the progression of myopia,” said Alexandra Donkin, General Manager for CooperVision Canada.

The assessment tool complements CooperVision’s Myopia Simulator, a web-based tool that Eye Care Professionals around the globe can use to help illustrate myopia by using images of a range of school environments (a classroom, a science laboratory and a gymnasium). The simulator provides a visual guide through the eyes of an uncorrected myope from -1.00D through to -6.00D. Using a sliding scale, each scenario brings to life the near, intermediate and distance vision with differing levels of myopia.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Joyce Family Foundation Gives Bursaries to 18 Students with Sight Loss

CNIB thanks the Joyce Family Foundation for their donation of 18 needs-based bursaries for Canadian undergraduate students with sight loss.

Since 2016, the Joyce Family Foundation has donated bursaries to 16 students who are blind or partially sighted, in addition to the 18 who will now benefit from the organization’s generosity. Some of the schools students have attended thanks to their support include Sheridan College, Algonquin College, the University of Ottawa, Saskatchewan Polytech’s Business Information Systems, and Grande Prairie Regional College.

Over the next three years, these bursaries will play an important role in making post-secondary education more accessible and affordable to students with sight loss in Canada. Each award will help a student overcome a financial barrier, whether the cost of tuition itself or adaptive technology to help level the playing field in the classroom – including iPads with magnification software, CCTVs, and more.

Click HERE for the press release.

Transitions Premieres “The Pulse,” A Virtual Event for Eye Care Professionals

Transitions Optical is redefining what it means for eye care industry professionals to gather online through a first of its kind, global virtual event— Transitions^® The Pulse. The Pulse event is free to attend and will broadcast on Tuesday, February 9, at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT and 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

The broadcasts will explore the state of the industry globally, and Transitions leadership will offer a sneak peek into future Transitions^® lens products, protection and style. The event will feature internationally renowned author and keynote speaker Doug Stephens, founder of Retail Prophet, who will share his unique perspective on retailing, business and consumer behavior. The Pulse will include:

Connect live – watch keynotes by expert speakers on the future of the industry and the latest innovations and solutions, including OAC accredited, skills training and professional development.
Get close – share best practices, look at future trends and discover fresh insights on consumers from all over the world.
Let us gather – to build the strength and intelligence we need to make our business thrive in 2021.

“Transitions The Pulse is not just another online webinar,” said Patience Cook, director North America marketing, Transitions Optical. “We want to bring together the optical community for a virtual event with connectivity at its core. Attendees from over 42 countries will connect and learn with peers while hearing from leaders in eyecare and beyond with compelling insights to transform 2021 into a year of opportunity.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 19, 2021January 19, 2021

CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Upgrades and Expands Manufacturing Facilities

CooperVision Specialty EyeCare announced investments in its Sherbrooke, Quebec and Gilbert, Ariz. manufacturing facilities.

The Sherbrooke facility—located southeast of Montreal—mainly produces Blanchard Onefit and Onefit MED scleral contact lenses. Accommodating increased volume demands from the Americas and other global markets, the site will benefit from several upgrades such as expanded advanced lathing technologies and renovated laboratory space.

The Gilbert site—in suburban Phoenix—currently produces Paragon CRT^® contact lenses and materials. The group’s ambitious expansion plans will grow the facility to more than 45,000 square feet by 2025, with a refurbished shipping and warehouse center, and a substantially larger specialty lens manufacturing floor.

Additionally, the group is undertaking a refurbishment and production expansion of its Netherlands facility to meet growing demand in Europe and China for its range of lenses.

“Extending our partnerships with the eye care community also insists that we regularly invest in our infrastructure, especially given upward demand,” said Juan Carlos Aragón, President, Specialty Eye Care, CooperVision.

Click HERE for the full press release.