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Registration Now Open for Vision Expo West 2020

Vision Expo announces that attendee registration for Vision Expo West 2020, taking place Sept. 23–26 in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo Convention Center, opens today, Thursday, June 11, 2020 under the banner of ONE Vision – ONE Focus – ONE Future. Additionally, co-owners of the Show, The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, have released information regarding plans for health and safety policies at the Show, including Reed Exhibitions’ creation of a Health & Safety Task Force to develop and implement policies and best practices around COVID-19 response and prevention.

The goal of the Health & Safety Task Force is to organize Vision Expo West in line with guidance from public health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), state and local governments and the protocols put in place by venue partners. The Health & Safety Task Force will continually update and adjust the policies and best practices to be implemented at Vision Expo West as more information and guidance becomes available from Las Vegas government and public health officials. At this time, the Health & Safety Task Force is focused on five operational pillars:

  1. Show layout and logistics, including floorplans and recommended booth guidelines
  2. Physical distancing, including capacity and flow of people
  3. Health screening and medical response
  4. Cleaning, sanitization and personal protective equipment
  5. Conference, special events and talent handling

“The safety and wellbeing of everyone in attendance at Vision Expo West is our top priority. With that in mind, we are committed to providing ongoing communication regarding the health and safety protocols that will be implemented at the Show,” said Fran Pennella, Vision Expo event vice president at Reed Exhibitions. “We are monitoring the Las Vegas reopening rollout very closely and will develop and update our protocols as needed over the coming weeks. We will communicate regularly with all our attendees and exhibitors so that we can bring the vision community together again under the best possible circumstances.”

“Following a period of disruption and unprecedented challenges for the industry, it is more important than ever to bring the community together for an inspiring weekend of connection, learning, and doing business. To that end, we are organizing the show around the concept of ONE Vision – ONE Focus – ONE Future. Vision Expo West is where the optical industry will unite and get back to business,” said Mitch Barkley, Vice President of Trade Shows and Meetings at The Vision Council. “We are pleased to share that we have had an overwhelmingly positive response from exhibitors so far, with a majority of our Vision Expo East exhibitors onboard, as well as several exhibitors participating in Vision Expo West for the first time. Additionally, we look forward to sharing details in the coming weeks on the new and exclusive content originally planned for Vision Expo East 2020 that will be showcased at Vision Expo West 2020.”

Additionally, The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo Convention Center have developed extensive protocols for cleaning, health and safety. The “Venetian Clean” Commitment was developed with information provided by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), CDC and WHO as well as additional guidelines and procedures for sanitation and cleaning, with an emphasis on the prevention of virus transmission.

To further supplement the extensive guidelines and procedures that The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo Convention Center have in place, the Vision Expo Health & Safety Task Force is considering additional protocols like a ‘no handshake’ policy and non-invasive entry screening. Final protocols will be announced closer to Vision Expo West in accordance with the latest public health guidelines and government recommendations.

For more information and to register for Vision Expo West, visit visionexpowest.com and follow Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

AAOF Announces 2020 Joe and Janet Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award Recipient

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announces the recipient of the Joe and Janet Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award.

Sidra Sarwat

Sidra Sarwat is a first-year Ph.D. candidate at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales. Her research project entitled, “In Vivo Labelling and Bioimaging of the Tear Film Using Silicon Quantum Dots,” was chosen out of the six applicants who applied for the award. Sidra presented an impressive resume of experience in clinical research, volunteer service and lecture presentation.

The award provides a first- or second-year M.S. or Ph.D. vision science or physiological optics student with a $2,000 research project seed fund in the area of cornea/ocular surface or contact lenses.

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

Click HERE for the full press release.

ic! berlin Appoints Sylvia Jensch as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

The internationally experienced strategist Sylvia Jensch has taken over the position of Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at the Berlin eyewear manufacturer ic! berlin. She is responsible for the management of all marketing and sales activities worldwide.

Sylvia Jensch has undertaken the areas of marketing and sales worldwide since May 1. “I joined the company to give the brand-new impetus. Together with a very talented and committed team, we want to continue to push the successful internationalization of ic! Berlin,” says Sylvia Jensch.

Sylvia Jensch is an internationally experienced expert for prestige brands. In her marketing career, she has held various positions within the WELLA Group, and later with Procter & Gamble. Sixteen years ago, the German-British moved to the European market leader for hotel cosmetics, ADA Cosmetics International. As CMO/ CSO, she successfully repositioned the company in the market as an innovation and sustainability expert and accompanied the post-merger integration of Pacific Direct Ltd. into the ADA Group from the London office.

Jörg Reinhold, CEO of ic! berlin, emphasizes: “I am very pleased that we were able to bring Sylvia to Berlin. I highly appreciate her curiosity, speed and extensive experience. Unconventional, clear, lively, Berlin. We’re a good match.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

HUGO HG 1093 Vintage-Inspired Optical Frames

Vintage-inspired with a contemporary twist, these HUGO HG 1093 men’s optical frames are crafted with an acetate front in a distinctive drop-shape silhouette and finished with a coloured HUGO line across the metal temple for an urban look. Adjustable end-tips provide added comfort. Offered in varying tones including black, gray, Havana and dark Havana.

Distributed by Safilo: www.safilo.com 

CooperVision Partners with Canadian Health & Family to Promote Awareness of the Myopia Epidemic

With myopia projected to impact 50% of the world’s population by 2050, CooperVision Canada has partnered with Canadian Health & Family to promote awareness of childhood myopia through an educational segment available to stream online at www.healthandfamily.ca/MyopiaEpidemic

The segment—which originally aired on television networks CTV and HGTV, and again last month on CTV Toronto and CTV Montreal—features Debbie Jones, BSc, FCOptom, FAAO, clinical professor at the University of Waterloo and clinical scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE). Dr. Jones has been studying the effectiveness of the FDA-approved CooperVision MiSight® 1 day lens which has been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children by 59%. She was also involved in a study that examined myopia prevalence locally in Waterloo, Ontario and the surrounding area that revealed that 35% of study participants were living with uncorrected myopia. 

“At CooperVision, our goal is to elevate the standard of care such that no case of paediatric myopiagoes untreated,” said Alexandra Donkin, General Manager for CooperVision Canada. “Our partnership with Canadian Health & Family on this educational segment is one part of our work to get there. Parents, pediatricians, teachers and everyone in the life of a child need to be aware of the myopia epidemic and its impact. Only through awareness of the issue can a resolution towards slowing the progression be achieved.”

The segment also features the story of a young MiSight® 1 day clinical study participant, who shared how the freedom offered by contact lenses is a benefit for her active lifestyle, and a word from Joshua C. Smith, OD, past president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, who emphasized the impact that time spent outdoors can have on reducing a child’s risk for developing myopia.

In addition to the television broadcast and online streaming, CooperVision has planned a digital advertising campaign featuring the segment, which will run in targeted markets through October.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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