Blog

February 26, 2021May 19, 2026

Transitions and The Optical Group Offer 30-Day Challenge Promotion

Transitions Optical and the Optical Group have partnered to offer a 30-Day Challenge incentive to promote Transitions^® lens products. The promotion will run until the end of March 2021 and is open to all Optical Group members across Canada.

To participate, individuals must register at transitionschallenge.com/TheOpticalGroup. Once registered for the contest, participants are encouraged to recommend Transitions^® lenses to all patients and report sales on a tracking sheet. At the end of each month, participating members send their tracking sheet to cscanada@transitions.com. Names will be individually entered into a monthly drawing for one of 30 available $100 CAD gift cards chosen each month. Then, at the end of March 2021, all submitted tracking sheets will be entered to win the grand prize of one of three $1,000 gift cards. Participants can recommend and dispense any Transitions lens product, including Transitions Signature GEN 8 lenses (including Transitions Signature GEN 8 Style Colors), Transitions^® XTRActive^® lenses (including Transitions XTRActive Style Mirrors) and Transitions^® Vantage^® lenses.

“We are thrilled to start 2021 on a positive note, with an incentive program that engages independent ECPs through our partnership with the Optical Group,” said Christine Zeggil, National Key Account Executive for Transitions Canada. “We know that once people try Transitions lenses, they are often fans for life – repurchasing at extremely high rates. With this promotion, we can encourage more people to try the Transitions lenses that best fit their needs and lifestyle.”

“We are pleased to partner with Transitions Optical to bring additional opportunities to support independent ECPs across Canada, said Ruth Priebe, Director of Operations for the Optical Group. “Transitions Optical’s 30-Day Challenge provides a fun incentive for more of our members to learn about Transitions lens products and for a chance to win in the process.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

February 25, 2021February 25, 2021

CNIB Partners with Global Sighted Assistance Leader, Be My Eyes

CNIB and Be My Eyes, a global leader in assistive technology and provider of real-time video assistance for people with sight loss, announced their partnership.

Through this new partnership, CNIB will be joining the Be My Eyes network, becoming the first Canadian organization to offer “Be My Eyes for Work”. This value-added service will be available for all CNIB employees and volunteers.

The internal facing service, “Be My Eyes for Work”, will offer employees and volunteers access to a closed network of sighted colleagues, for easy access to visual assistance with work-related tasks and helping to foster a strong collaborative culture.

“CNIB has hundreds of employees across the country and serves thousands of Canadians with sight loss – all of whom will benefit tremendously from sharing information over live video,” says Will Butler, Vice President of Community at Be My Eyes. “With Be My Eyes’ advanced availability algorithm and administrative tools, we’re empowering CNIB to deliver that video support efficiently and with high satisfaction rates. We’re thrilled to see Be My Eyes for Work taking root in Canada and look forward to welcoming other corporate leaders who want to help their employees and customers do more.”

Additionally, CNIB Frontier Accessibility, CNIB’s social enterprise dedicated to accessibility in all aspects of work and life, is now a distributor of “Be My Eyes for Work” and “Specialized Help” across Canada, helping organizations work towards championing a culture of accessibility and inclusion both externally and internally.

Instead of reaching Be My Eyes’ network of sighted volunteers, “Specialized Help” connects users directly with bilingual Be My Eyes Support Specialists who have signed confidentiality agreements and received specialized training to help with personal matters, navigation and wayfinding.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Silmo’s Homage to Bernard Maitenaz

The Chairwoman of Silmo Paris, Amélie Morel, and the Silmo executive board were sad to learn of Bernard Maitenaz’s passing, an extraordinary figure whose contributions to eye health are acclaimed by the entire profession.

Lively and open-minded, a pioneer and a visionary, Bernard Maitenaz was always eager to share his knowledge, speak with colleagues, and take an enthusiastic view of the future.

He was close to the industry, and he was close to Silmo. From the launch of the first Silmo d’Or awards in 1994, he worked diligently as a panel member, bringing his keen expertise to the “lenses” category. When the Silmo Academy was founded in 2010, he assiduously participated in the Scientific Council, serving the vision sciences with acumen and clairvoyance. An enthusiastic researcher who was always looking forward, Bernard Maitenaz was sincerely involved in our industry, and he will be sorely missed by the professionals who were fortunate to work by his side.

The whole Silmo team pays tribute to this great man.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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.