Since Fall of 2019, Dragon has been producing eyewear using plant-based plastic, further asserting the brand’s commitment to social responsibility. The resin is made from castor bean oil, a highly sustainable alternative to petroleum.
Dragon is sourcing castor beans from farmers participating in the Pragati Project, a sustainability and educational program aimed at improving standard of living for
farmers. Featured model: DR5001
Distributed by Marchon: www.marchon.com
Beginning in 2016, WestGroupe and Carl Zeiss Vision Canada pledged to make a donation to Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) for each of their new ValuePak Frame and Lens packages sold. ValuePak packages include Superflex® Frames with synchrony® Lenses from Carl Zeiss Vision which are manufactured in Canada.
Their generous promotion continues and over $77,000 has been donated through the initiative since its inception. Both companies are now recognized as OGS Canadian Platinum Partners.
WestGroupe and Carl Zeiss Vision’s commitment to help people in need through the sale of each ValuePak pair has made a significant impact on vision in areas of need around the world. Their support has helped fund vital projects such as the establishment of a school of optometry in Vietnam, and equipment for the growing optometry program in Malawi. Both countries are benefiting through newly graduated optometrists who are now providing comprehensive eye exams where there was previously very little or no eye care available.
Click HERE for the full press release.
Joining forces to support continued shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Colorado, Smith and Black Diamond support Colorado mountain bike manufacturer Yeti Cycles as they shift focus to produce face shields for health care professionals fighting COVID-19 from the front lines.
Smith’s donation of 4,000 yards of goggle strap material, along with Black Diamond’s donation of 5,000 headlamp straps, will help Yeti Cycles complete 10,000 face shields being manufactured at its headquarters in Golden, Colorado. Calling on the Yeti Tribe to connect with those in need through social media efforts, the initial run of face shields had been claimed by healthcare workers and first responders across Colorado within the first 24 hours. The group is looking to source additional materials to increase shield production quantities in order to meet urgent demand.
“Yeti typically designs products from the ground up, but in this case, we wanted an efficient way to make the most effective thing. Time is critical, so we’re doing it with materials we’ve pulled together from industry friends and available through our supply chain. It’s not surprising, but everyone we contacted wanted to help and their help was critical in this coming together so quickly,” said Steve Hoogendoorn, co-owner of Yeti.
Click HERE for the full press release.
Research published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters explained why photodynamic cancer therapy causes night vision in patients. Photodynamic therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses light to destroy malignant cells. The interesting side effect patients have reported is night vision seen as silhouettes and outlines in the dark. Only now have researchers discovered the mechanics of this phenomenon.
The Mechanics of Night Vision
Photodynamic therapy involves injections of chlorin e6, a photosensitive compound. It’s the reaction between chlorin e6 and rhodopsin in the retinal photoreceptors rods that causes the apparent night vision to occur. Normally we see with visible light because of a compound in our eye called retinal being triggered by visible light. After triggering, retinal separates from rhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein in the retinas of our eyes, and an electrical signal is transmitted to our brain to interpret what we see. In the case of night vision seen by these cancer patients, infrared light combined with the chlorin e6 changes retinal in the same way it does under visible light conditions. “This explains the increase in night-time visual acuity,” chemist Antonio Monari, from the University of Lorraine in France tells CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research).
Using Molecular Simulation to Understand Chemical Reactions
The researchers used molecular simulation to model the movements of individual atoms as well as the breaking or creating of chemical bonds. It took several months of testing various simulations with millions of calculations before it was able to accurately model the chemical reaction caused by infrared radiation. “For our simulation we placed a virtual rhodopsin protein inserted in its lipid membrane in contact with several chlorin e6 molecules and water, or several tens of thousands of atoms,” Monari told CNRS.
Molecular simulation is a powerful tool and can help us better understand fundamental mechanisms. For example, it can help understand why certain DNA lesions are better repaired than others and help select the best therapeutic molecules by mimicking their interaction in a simulated model.
Vision Expo is launching the Virtual EYE2EYE Series, a series of virtual panels and interactive conversations inspired by Vision Expo’s EYE2EYE educational series. Launching Wednesday, April 15, the Virtual EYE2EYE Series will take place on a weekly basis with a new topic every Wednesday and Friday. The series will feature several panels originally scheduled for Vision Expo East 2020 presented in adapted formats, as well as new, timely conversations addressing current challenges in the vision community related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During this unsettling and very disruptive time for the industry, we recognize that it is more important than ever to stay connected, to support one another, and to learn from each other.” said Fran Pennella, Vision Expo event vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “We hope that this series will serve as both an inspiring outlet that encourages creative dialogue, as well a useful tool for members of the industry to share advice and information as we continue to adapt to an unprecedented reality that is evolving on a daily basis.”
EYE2EYE’s Coffee Talk series will take place on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. ET. Moderated by a different industry expert every week, the series will provide guidance and actionable business strategies to help eye care providers protect their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as practical insight for keeping businesses afloat while the pandemic is still developing. Topics include how to determine profitable projects that employees can work on from home to improve retail operations; engaging with employees during closure; and implementing e-commerce businesses.
On Fridays at 4:15 p.m. ET, EYE2EYE will host Happy Hour, featuring up-and-coming as well as established creatives talking about what inspires them and providing advice on how to stay creatively engaged. The Happy Hour sessions will present several highly anticipated panels originally scheduled for Vision Expo East 2020, including The Art of the Collab, featuring some of the most prolific collaborators in the eyewear industry and Independence @ The Creative Edge, spotlighting retailers and vendors known for their keen sense of daring. The Happy Hour series also will present entirely new panels, like the Definition of Avant-Garde.
Happy Hour will also feature an adapted version of the Next Generation of Retail Speed Dating—one of the panels originally planned for Vision Expo East 2020—during which new and potential business owners will have the opportunity to learn from the industry’s most successful independent retailers. The adapted format will present one mentor per session for a Q&A session with audience members selected through an online application.
To register to attend the Virtual EYE2EYE Series, visit west.visionexpo.com/virtual-eye-2-eye.
The Canadian Association of Optometrists says optimizing optometric scope of practice is key to improving access to safe, timely eye care across Canada.
Learn More
ZEISS has introduced ClearMind, a new premium lens portfolio designed to provide extremely clear vision while helping reduce cognitive load.
Read more
Warby Parker has launched Warby Parker Sport, a new performance eyewear category featuring sport-focused frames and polarized lenses for active lifestyles.
Read more
Alcon and ARVO are continuing their partnership on the 2026 Eye Pitch event, which will showcase early- and mid-stage innovations in eye and vision research at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
Read more
Discover the journey of Dr. Vishakha Thakrar, a leader in scleral lenses and myopia management.
Read more
The Canadian Association of Optometrists says optimizing optometric scope of practice is key to improving access to safe, timely eye care across Canada.
Learn More ZEISS has introduced ClearMind, a new premium lens portfolio designed to provide extremely clear vision while helping reduce cognitive load.
Read More Warby Parker has launched Warby Parker Sport, a new performance eyewear category featuring sport-focused frames and polarized lenses for active lifestyles.
Read More Alcon and ARVO are continuing their partnership on the 2026 Eye Pitch event, which will showcase early- and mid-stage innovations in eye and vision research at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
Read More Discover the journey of Dr. Vishakha Thakrar, a leader in scleral lenses and myopia management.
Read More
The Canadian Association of Optometrists says optimizing optometric scope of practice is key to improving access to safe, timely eye care across Canada.
Learn More ZEISS has introduced ClearMind, a new premium lens portfolio designed to provide extremely clear vision while helping reduce cognitive load.
Read more Warby Parker has launched Warby Parker Sport, a new performance eyewear category featuring sport-focused frames and polarized lenses for active lifestyles.
Read more Alcon and ARVO are continuing their partnership on the 2026 Eye Pitch event, which will showcase early- and mid-stage innovations in eye and vision research at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
Read more Discover the journey of Dr. Vishakha Thakrar, a leader in scleral lenses and myopia management.
Read more The Canadian Association of Optometrists says optimizing optometric scope of practice is key to improving access to safe, timely eye care across Canada.
Learn More ZEISS has introduced ClearMind, a new premium lens portfolio designed to provide extremely clear vision while helping reduce cognitive load.
Read more Warby Parker has launched Warby Parker Sport, a new performance eyewear category featuring sport-focused frames and polarized lenses for active lifestyles.
Read more Alcon and ARVO are continuing their partnership on the 2026 Eye Pitch event, which will showcase early- and mid-stage innovations in eye and vision research at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
Read more Discover the journey of Dr. Vishakha Thakrar, a leader in scleral lenses and myopia management.
Read more
