Blog

November 20, 2019October 18, 2019

The Azalée Concept

Morel’s new Koali collection is a lightweight design with an elegant style.
Inspired by the combination of airiness and femininity, the use of “trompe
l’oeil” (optical illusion) is to the finest effect for this “two-in-one” frame with negative space.

The frame’s design demonstrates elegance with delicate but distinct lines. The openwork design uses two thin rims to allow contrasting tones to work together with a subtle shade combined with a brighter contrasting colour or finish.

Distributed by Lanctôt: www.rlanctot.com

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019

Essilor Recognized as a “Diversity Leader 2020” by the Financial Times

Essilor has been awarded the title of “Diversity Leader 2020” by the Financial Times, recognized in the publication’s new annual ranking of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Group is listed 62nd out of a total of 10,000 companies scanned as part of this first-of-its-kind ranking which assesses companies’ success in promoting all types of diversity.

This award is an endorsement of Essilor’s continuous commitment and concrete initiatives towards greater diversity and inclusion within the Company. At Essilor, diversity is defined and fostered across multiple areas, ranging from gender balance, integration of people with disabilities, openness to all forms of sexual orientation to generational and cultural diversity.

Essilor is an official sponsor and active participant in the EVE programme whose ambition is to tackle the issue of women’s progression within the professional world and has launched W.I.L (Women In Leadership), an internal initiative to help develop more women into leadership positions in the Asia-Pacific-Middle-East-Africa scope of the Group.

When recruiting, the Group also makes sure that at least 50% of candidates are women, and when hiring at executive level that at least one woman is on the shortlist.

This latest recognition by the Financial Times follows on from a strong score of 94 points out of 100 in the Gender Equality Index by Essilor, which the Company measured earlier this year based on the methodology defined by the French government.

Laurent Vacherot, CEO of Essilor, declared: “We receive Financial Times’ award with pride. Diversity has been a key value for Essilor from the very beginning, shaping both our culture and identity and contributing to our continued success. For us, promoting diversity and inclusion is not only an ethical obligation, it is also one of our fundamental convictions: to achieve our ambition to provide better vision and protection to 7.7 billion people on the planet, we need a full diversity of talents. Diversity and inclusion are key vectors of our ability to innovate as they nourish our creativity and bring together varied perspectives, thereby creating value. With more than 69,000 employees worldwide, the diversity of our talents and culture is one of our greatest strengths.”

The Financial Times’ “Diversity Leaders” ranking was established based on an independent survey from a vast sample of more than 80,000 employees. In addition, the opinions of human resources and recruitment experts have been considered to refine the analysis. The participants evaluated listed and privately held companies across 10 European countries1 and 26 industry sectors on various diversity dimensions such as general diversity, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and disability. The 700 companies receiving the highest total scores were recognized as the Diversity Leaders 2020.

Click HERE for the full press release.

November 19, 2019November 19, 2019

First Ever WOF Student Travel Fellowships Awarded to Attend 3rd WCO and Academy 2019 Orlando Joint Meeting

The World Optometry Foundation (WOF), the Foundation of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) which supports the goals and objectives of the WCO, announce the first ever recipients of the World Optometry Foundation (WOF) Student Travel Fellowships.

The program was started in 2019 to encourage optometry students to further educate themselves about optometry around the world by providing a $1,250 stipend for travel expenses for the 3rd World Congress of Optometry and Academy 2019 Orlando joint meeting held October 23-27, 2019 in Orlando, Florida, USA at the Orange County Convention Center. WOF Student Travel Fellowships were presented during the International Reception on Friday, October 25, 2019 during the joint meeting.

Mr. Armin Duddek President of the World Optometry Foundation (WOF) stated “WOF is pleased to have provided these five deserving optometry students with the first ever WOF Student Travel Fellowships to attend the 3rd World Congress of Optometry and Academy 2019 Orlando to improve their knowledge concerning global optometry and to provide these students the opportunity to make meaningful connections with others in the optometric field at the joint meeting.”

The 2019 World Optometry Foundation Student Travel Fellowship Awardees:

• Alvin Munsamy, BOptom, MOptom from South Africa

• Isaura Ilorena Dos Santos, BOptom from Mozambique

• Memoonna Arshad, MPhil from Australia

• Nabeela Hasrod, BOptom, MPhil from South Africa

• Nnenne Onu, OD, MSc from Nigeria

Registered undergraduate, postgraduate students studying at an optometry school or graduate students studying for professional qualifying examinations at an institution outside North America were eligible to apply for the WOF Student Travel Program provided that their country or educational institute was a member of the World Council of Optometry.

Click HERE for the full press release.

November 19, 2019November 20, 2019

Marc Tersigni Announced as Canadian Manager for ABB Optical Group

ABB Optical Group, a large USA-based provider of optical products, services and business solutions for the eye care industry, announced that Marc Tersigni has joined ABB Optical Group as Country Manager for its Canadian operations. Tersigni was previously the President and then Chief Strategic Officer of Essilor Canada until December 2017. Prior to this, Tersigni was Essilor’s country managing director in the United Kingdom.

In his new role, Tersigni will be responsible for leading business operations in Canada as ABB Optical Group will begin distributing contact lenses to Canadian eye care professionals starting in the first quarter of 2020.

“Marc is the best person to lead ABB Optical Group’s Canadian business unit. His knowledge of the industry, especially the Canadian eye care market, and his passion for providing superior service will be essential in ensuring that we meet the needs and expectations of the many eye care professionals we will be supporting in Canada,” said ABB Optical Group Chief Executive Officer Tom Burke.

The one-stop contact lens distribution model, common in the United States, has not been implemented in Canada. ABB asserts that this model will enable eye care practitioners to better compete in the marketplace by operating more efficiently, and providing better, faster service to patients.

ABB Optical Group announced in September 2019 plans to expand contact lens distribution into Canada, by first servicing the needs of Calgary-based FYi doctors. While ABB efforts will begin with FYi, in a statement to Optik Tersigni said, “The position is based in Toronto, and I will build an organization for Canada from Toronto.”

“Efficient contact lens supply chain management gives eye care professionals the opportunity to better serve their patients and provide an overall improved patient experience,” said Tersigni. “Along with working to provide Canadian eye care professionals the best in products and services, I am very excited to be a part of a growing company that is making a substantial economic investment in Canada by having a distribution facility located in Canada and providing job opportunities to Canadians.”

According to the company, ABB offers other business solutions for the optical industry that could benefit Canadian eye care professionals in the future, such as lens fabrication, ophthalmic lens distribution, frames distribution, practice development strategies, data and analytics, and gas permeable contact lens manufacturing.

Click HERE for the full press release.

See Previous Announcement of ABB Launch into Canada.

November 15, 2019November 15, 2019

Focus on Contact Lenses at opti Munich

At opti, from January 10 to 12, 2020 at the Fairground Munich, trade visitors can discover all of the new developments on the contact lens market. Hall C6 will accommodate 25 exhibitors focusing on contact lenses and contact lens supplies.

opti introduces five companies that will be presenting their new products:

CooperVision
In addition to the improved clariti® 1-day lens range, the company will discuss the growth and solution potential in the area of dropout, in line with its future communication approach “In the blink of an eye”.

Hecht Contactlinsen
Hecht will present seefree®, a one-of-a-kind ortho-k product. Their special feature is the fitting: a software calculates the initial suggestion for individual seefree® lenses before the contact lens fitter can select and optimise the rear ortho-k surface.

Menicon
Menicon is the only company in the world that offers both ortho-k as well as soft contact lenses specifically approved for controlling myopia in Europe. In the spring of 2020, Menicon will launch the Bloom™ Myopia Control Management System in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It constitutes a comprehensive concept on myopia management that comprises three product groups and is rounded off by fitting software.

MPG&E
Not only is MPG&E celebrating its 20^th anniversary at opti 2020, the company will also be presenting products with particularly great potential for the future: Visitors can look forward to learning about two contact lenses for managing myopia in children and teenagers, DreamLens, a contact lens that boosts the wearer’s vision at night, and several product debuts.

SwissLens
SwissLens is fully dedicating itself to the areas of myopia management and new contact lens materials. SwissLens has expanded its product portfolio and will be presenting a special contact lens for both myopia management and orthokeratology.

Wöhlk Contactlinsen
Since May 2019, Wöhlk Contactlinsen GmbH has been part of an international cooperation with the Japanese contact lens manufacturer SEED Co. Ltd. Visitors can look forward to learning more about the company’s new focus on presbyopia.

Click HERE for the full press release.