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May 29, 2020May 29, 2020

Lensbox™ Partners with Key Stakeholders to Launch COVID-19 Initiative

Lensbox, a Canadian-owned technology and healthcare company, announced that it is working with key stakeholders across vision healthcare in Canada and the US, to ensure telehealth and e-commerce delivery is available with low barriers, as a first line of defence, to mitigate the impact and further spread of COVID-19.

As eye care clinics attempt to slowly re-open in the ‘new normal’ post-pandemic setting, the COVID-19 global crisis has left many patients stranded without in-person access to eye care services and products. The pandemic has also wreaked havoc on independent eye care clinics, owned by doctors of optometry, who have the burden of overhead costs, with many weeks of closure and limited services still ahead of them.

“As an eyecare technology company, Lensbox is stepping up to support eye care business recovery, and to fill in the service gap for patients, immediately and safely”, states Founder and CEO, Sanaz Malekeh.

The strategy is working. A significant number of independent clinics have already launched their e-clinics in partnership with Lensbox, offering a complete telehealth and e-commerce solution, creating deeper and expanded day-to-day digital connections with their patients through the platform.

“While COVID-19 has been a tragic and challenging time globally, it has acted as a catalyst for a new vision for many forward-thinking doctors. We are embracing and co-creating the future of eyecare, knowing that disruptive technology can be an impetus for growth and service delivery improvements. Previous to the pandemic, and for many years, optometry has been concerned with online suppliers shipping unregulated products to our patients, sometimes from grey markets, and never requiring a valid prescription”, states Dr. Pavan Avinashi, Lensbox Vice President of Business Development.

Lensbox is also launching the Lensbox Vision Foundation this summer, a charity supported by industry partners and governments, providing tele-optometry and affordable eyewear to chronically underserved patients in remote communities throughout North America.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 29, 2020May 29, 2020

AAOF Announces 2020 William C. Ezell Fellowship Recipients

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announces the eleven recipients of the 2020 William C. Ezell Fellowships. The Ezell Fellowship program is named after the founding President of the AAOF, William C. Ezell, OD. It was established to provide recognition and support to talented post-doctoral students who are pursuing an advanced degree in optometric research and education. To date, over 430 William C. Ezell Fellowships have been awarded since the inception of the program in 1949.

Funding for these Fellowships is provided by leading optometric companies, private endowments, and other generous business organizations that represent most sectors of the industry.

The AAOF congratulates the following recipients who have been selected as the 2020 – 2021 Ezell Fellows:

Michael G. Harris Ezell Fellowship Afua Oteng Asare, OD, MPH, MSc University of Toronto

AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies (CCLRT) Ezell Fellowship Erin Tomiyama, OD, MS, FAAO University of Houston College of Optometry

American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Ezell Fellowship Eugene Appenteng Osae, OD University of Houston College of Optometry

Danne Ventura / Essilor Ezell Fellowship Reynolds Kwame Ablordeppey, OD State University of New York College of Optometry

Facebook Ezell Fellowship Lyndsey Ferris, OD, FAAO Indiana University School of Optometry

Irvin M. Borish / Essilor Ezell Fellowship Young Hyun Kim University of California Berkeley School of Optometry

John N. Schoen Ezell Fellowship Justin Courson University of Houston College of Optometry

Merton C. Flom Leadership Ezell Fellowship Kelsy Steele, OD, MS, FAAO The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Mike Daley / Essilor Ezell Fellowship Kwaku Osei, OD, FAAO University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS) Ezell Fellowship Billie Beckwith-Cohen, DVM, MBA, FAAO University of California Berkeley School of Optometry

Rod Tahran / Essilor Ezell Fellowship Rabia Mobeen, BOptom, MPhil University of New South Wales

This year’s Ezell Fellows will be honored at the AAOF’s Annual Celebration Luncheon on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Academy 2020 in Nashville, TN.

Source: American Academy of Optometry

May 29, 2020May 21, 2020

5 Patient Types Suitable for Second Pair Sales

By Maria Petruccelli

Maria Petruccelli is the Director of Channel Marketing at Hoya Vision Care based in Dallas, Texas. Maria has worked in all aspects of the optical field for more than 25 years. Here is a glimpse of her recommendations for 5 different patient types.

More often than not, eye care professionals sell only a single pair of eyeglasses to a patient. Since patients experience life in all different situations, why shy away from offering options to meet all of our patients’ eyewear needs?

Making recommendations isn’t always going to translate into selling multiple pairs, but it is going to educate the patient and set expectations on what different types of lenses are offered, along with benefits and limitations.

Patients fall into five key motivation groups:

The Fashionista

This patient will enter the clinic dressed in current fashion, interested in choosing frames that have a specific look and often is discerning about frame colour and shape. For this customer, offer an option that highlights their design sense or makes a statement to fit their clothing and style. For instance, Sensity Shine, Hoya’s photochromic combined with a light mirror coating reflects a fashion-forward look.

The Health Advocate

This patient values their health and well-being. The health advocate is often interested in proactive and holistic health solutions like vitamins and nutrition. For this customer offer a package with a beneficial visual solution. An example package is pairing a progressive featuring Hoya’s patented Binocular Harmonization Technology (BHT) with a blue light filtering material like BluTech or coating like Recharge.

The Sports Enthusiast

This patient values their life outside the office, and you could present eyewear as cool gear that may enhance their performance in their chosen activity. For this customer, you can offer a photochromic option and a polarized option. The photochromic lens will provide 100% UV protection in their everyday pair and a Coppertone polarized lens for their outdoor pair.

The Business Professional

This patient spends most of their day at the workplace. They want to optimize their time at work to be productive and comfortable. For this patient you can present an occupational lens as a tool that may increase productivity and provide eye comfort. Offer a task specific lens that is personalized to their working distance and specific need. Lenses like Hoya’s iD Space, Screen or Zoom can be customized to working distance and corridor length, with the added benefit of BHT.

The Student

This patient forms a large portion of clinics’ customer base. They may be in school full-time or part-time, spending a good deal of their time reading and utilizing devices close to their eyes. For this patient, school success is a must and optimizing their vision can be presented as one of their basic school supplies. You could offer a boost style lens like Hoya’s Sync III, to address symptoms of digital eye strain.

You will not sell a second pair every time to every patient. However, you can plant the seed with every patient that second and third pairs make sense and they should consider which pair they want to invest in next.

The full article by Maria Petruccelli is available in the April – May Issue of Optik Magazine.

Click here to view the full article.

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020

Essilor Canada, Supporter of the Local Economy

Since 1972 Essilor Canada has forged ties with the industry, suppliers and subcontractors to support the local economy and work as a partner of independent eye care professionals (ECPs).

Committed to improving lives by improving sight, Essilor Canada’s team of experts spans the country from coast to coast with a nationwide network of laboratories providing local services. These laboratories surface, process, edge and mount all custom-made Varilux® Series™ and Eyezen+™ lenses sold locally. This represents a total of more than 250 lens references.

“Our close proximity and local presence allows us to fully understand the needs of Canadians and our eyecare partners,” says Christophe Perreault, Essilor Canada President. “We are proud supporters of the local economy and our operations reflect this great opportunity to make better vision accessible to all Canadians.”

This local commitment is a business solution communicated as part of our “Partner in Powering Vision” framework, Essilor Canada’s new holistic servicing approach to ECPs which aims to stimulate recovery and strengthen its partnership with its customers both during and following the COVID crisis.

“Partner in Powering Vision” is comprised of five pillars with multiple touchpoints providing concrete actions for concrete results:

Innovative Business Solutions

Driving Traffic In-Store

Patient Experience Optimization

Partner in Insights

Community Support

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 28, 2020May 20, 2026

CARRERA 1114/G Optical Frame: Flag Series

Carrera’s latest optical frames are among the boldest of the season. A subtle texturized pattern on the frontal rims of this rounded metal aviator shape adds sophistication while the CARRERA iconic Flag detail is finished in high and low relief on the slim metal temples. CARRERA 1114/G optical frames are available in gold, palladium and dark ruthenium.

Distributed by Safilo: www.safilo.com