Blog

May 12, 2020May 11, 2020

AAOF Announces Recipients of the 2020 Johnson & Johnson Vision Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care Grants

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announces the 2020 Johnson & Johnson Vision Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care Grant recipients. This award recognizes outstanding fourth-year student clinicians who have demonstrated skillful knowledge of the contact lens field. Each winner will receive a $500 educational award and a personalized plaque commemorating their accomplishment.

2020 Recipients and Institutions Attended:

-Camille Leblanc, University of Montreal, School of Optometry

– Angela Zhang, University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science

-Alice Han, Illinois College of Optometry

-Tyler Kerr, Indiana University, School of Optometry

-Patrick Patterson, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry

-Nicholas Pike, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Optometry

-Abigail Zielke, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University

-Taylor Erhardt, Midwestern University Arizona, College of Optometry

-Esther Lee, New England College of Optometry

-Kristen Moore, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry

-Crystal Victor, Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry

-Jasmine Barker, The Ohio State University, College of Optometry

-Liandra Jung, Pacific University, College of Optometry

-Janice Chau, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University

-Taylor Kiyota, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University

-Jared Freedman, Southern College of Optometry

-Mariya Klyuzner, State University of New York, College of Optometry

-Mohammed Haque, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry

-Connie Chen, University of California Berkeley, School of Optometry

-Megan Wagner, University of Houston, College of Optometry

-Caroline Mendus, University of Missouri – St. Louis, College of Optometry

-Nitya Murthy, University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry

– Brooke Segerstrom, University of the Incarnate Word, Rosenberg School of Optometry

– Esther Lautz Abuata, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 8, 2020May 8, 2020

Safilo Announces PPE Protective Eyewear Solutions Program

Safilo announces a PPE Protective Eyewear Solutions program developed for eye care professionals (ECPs) and retail partners in the United States and Canada who are in need of protection for their office and store personnel, as they re-enter the workplace, as well as options to sell to their customers.

Safilo has quickly industrialized a quality range of affordable, durable and even stylish protective eyewear solutions, in its own manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Italy as reported on Optik NOW last week.

Safilo’s PPE Protective Eyewear Solutions program will consist of four items with a focus on speed to market. One will be offered under the Safilo corporate logo. Additional options for Safilo’s Smith and Polaroid brands will also be offered. The collection will include three full face shields, one with a wrap-around goggle with an optional Rx compatible ocular docking station, and one safety shield option.

All can be pre-ordered through the company starting May 15 with shipping starting from June.

Click HERE for for the complete press release including product descriptions and information on how to order.

May 8, 2020May 4, 2020

Albert Mo, the Magician from McCray Optical

Jessie Strype, Optik magazine’s contributor, spoke with Albert Mo, from McCray Optical. He talks about the history of the McCray name and where they stand today. Albert tells us about the company and the magic tricks he gets called upon to deliver.

McCray’s list of services/products has grown over the years. When McCray first started, they had some screws and nose pads and a few tools bought from the United States. From their 200 square-foot basement HQ nearly 40 years ago, they now have over 9,000 SKUs of product within an 18,000 square-foot facility servicing independents and chain stores alike across North America, Africa, Europe and South America.

The most common modification Albert does is nose pad implants for narrow bridges. He also explains in detail one repair that he is particularly proud of which was to make a temple hinge from scratch.

Optik also asked Albert what changes he foresees in the industry and how that applies to the future of McCray. Read on to find out!

The full interview with Albert Mo by Jessie Strype is available in the April – May Issue of Optik Magazine.

Click here to view the full interview.

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020

How will COVID-19 Impact Us?

By Cortney Murchie

For all eye care professionals, 2020 was meant to be our year. Now, just 4 months in, we are all too well aware that COVID-19, has halted life as we know it and left us all in limbo.

Given the uncertainty of this time, we have had to adapt and change the way we practice. All of us charting unknown territories that has forced some offices to close their storefront and operate completely online, while some remain open taking emergencies only.

I personally did not anticipate the magnitude to which this would affect us and our industry. I still held hope that this would be under control as rapidly as it appeared even when the optical events we were all looking forward to were held in question by the threat of COVID-19. MIDO, held in Milan, Italy, and arguably the most prestigious international eyewear show, was the first to officially be rescheduled, initially to July 2020 and then to February 2021. Still, I did not fathom the impact it would have on the entire world.

Then, Vision Expo East, held at the Javits Center in New York City, where ECPs congregate for a four-day divertissement that includes one of the most dynamic showings of optical collections in North America officially announced March 3 that it would be cancelled and consolidated with Vision Expo West in Las Vegas this September. This announcement was when it finally started to hit me. This wasn’t going away anytime soon, and the way in which we operated was going to change.

The Javits Center in New York City has since been converted into a field hospital for COVID-19 patients as NYC has become a hot zone for the coronavirus, further putting into perspective, the degree that this is not only affecting our industry but the entire world.

On March 11, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 was officially being declared as a global pandemic.

Here in Alberta a state of public health emergency was declared on March 17, 2020 and shortly thereafter Optometry offices were open for emergencies only. I had watched fellow Opticians from around North America deal with this earlier, yet nothing prepared me for how this would make me feel. I went from seeing patients daily for adjustments, repairs and frame selection to spending just over a month watching webinars and doing continuing education at home. I’ve been left missing the comradeship and communication with my co-workers and patients.

The impact COVID-19 has had on my life both professionally and personally has been profound – as it has been for most people – and I find comfort in talking to friends and other ECPs about what this means to them and what it means to you.

Over the next few weeks, I will be talking to fellow ECPs around North America regarding COVID-19 and how it is affecting them and how they feel this could impact our industry as a whole.

Together we are stronger, and we can help each other navigate through this pandemic and shift our focus to ways in which this will change our daily operations.

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020

Essilor Canada Launches Protect & Enhance Rebate + Family Offer

As the country progressively reopens and economic activity slowly returns following COVID-19, Essilor Canada supports independent eye care professionals (ECPs) as a partner in the recovery. By offering rebates, patients will not have to compromise on how they protect and enhance their vision with a focus on potential harmful blue light protection, UV protection and anti-fog products.

As a new normal begins, Essilor Canada is there to provide the solutions patients will need most. Increased screen time during isolation means possible eye fatigue and an opportunity to discuss the impact of potential harmful blue light and the need for blue light protection. Upcoming brighter days will require UV protection so Xperio® or Transitions® lenses for style and protection. Also, with new recommendations to wear masks for safety reasons, there is OptiFog® which prevents lenses from fogging up.

The Essilor Canada Protect & Enhance rebate offers a no hassle 20% rebate on all Crizal®, Transitions® and Xperio® brands between May 11^th and July 10^th. The rebate is also valid on Crizal® OptiFog® long-lasting fog-free vision treatment.

In addition to the Protect & Enhance rebate, Essilor Canada is broadening its Multi-Pair Offer so a patient can extend it to any of their immediate family members and benefit from a 2^nd, 3^rd or even 4^th pair all at 50% off. Now not only can a patient be properly equipped with the lens solution needed for their lifestyle, the offer extension provides the flexibility for all family members to receive the quality lenses they deserve to see more and do more. This family offer is also valid until July 10^th.

“We know ECPs seek offers that can easily translate to benefits for both themselves and their patients,” says Christophe Perreault, Essilor Canada President. “Our offers respond to the habit and lifestyle changes currently happening to better serve patient needs. And while the economy slowly returns, we understand that there will be various challenges and hurdles our customers will face in this new reality. These offers are one way in which we’re partnering with ECPs to stimulate business recovery. ”

Click HERE for the full press release.