Blog

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

A Frame for Each Athlete

Jean-François Venne, Optik Magazine’s contributor, spoke with three big players in the sports sunglass industry as well as with Neurodynamic Vision. Here is his preview of new products from Julbo, Smith Optics and Oakley, just in time for the spring-summer season.

Julbo :

Since the brand was launched in 1888, Julbo, distributed in Canada by Lanctôt, has had ample time to develop its expertise in sports and outdoor eyewear.

EVAD-1 smart frames are their latest innovation. Information such as heart rate, speed, distance travelled, etc. is displayed directly in the field of vision, with MicroOled’s ActiveLook technology. Bluetooth enables the frame to connect with various apps that provide the biometric data. EVAD-1 smart frames are equipped with Reactiv photochromic lenses. These smart frames will be available for purchase in Canada in 2021.

For high performance eyewear, Julbo offers NXT photochromic lenses, made from Trivex. The photochromic pigmentation is produced by casting at moderate temperature and integrated directly into the lenses. Julbo is also one of the rare companies that offers category 4 lenses, such as Spectron 4, which filters 95% of visible light.

Smith Optics:

Since it was founded in 1965, Smith Optics has been a must-have brand when it comes to sports sunglasses. The brand has become widely known for introducing the first interchangeable lens system for sunglasses and snow goggles and for innovating with ventilation systems.

The propietary ChromaPop™ polarized lens technology improves the perception of colours. Smith Optics offers many types of materials, based on impact resistance and clarity requirements. Elite lenses are MilSpec (Military Specification) certified and provide the best protection against impact, while the ChromaPop+ polarized lenses provide the most clarity.

The Attack collection features MAG interchangeable technology, which enables the wearer to quickly swap various types of ChromaPop lenses to adapt to light conditions. The Guide’s Choice model features wide temples and an aggressive wrap for side protection from the sun and are equipped with ChromaPop+ lenses.

Oakley:

Oakley, distributed in Canada by Luxottica, launched its Sutro Eyeshade frames, inspired by an iconic 1980s model, in February 2020 which are shaped in the form of a mask. The top of the lens is pierced with circular venting ports in the same way as the Eyeshade was in the 1980s. Unobtainium® nose pads prevent the frame from slipping.

The Prizm Snow lens accentuates cyan and reds, which are colours that are the most detectable against snow. Prizm Golf accentuates green and brown, while Prizm Road sharpens whites and enhances yellows, greens and reds, helping riders spot changes in the texture of the road and avoid hazards.

Continuing to Evolve

For Warren Modlin, CEO of Neurodynamic Vision in California, the approach to vision in the sports industry should evolve over the next few years. He recalled that we generally measure visual acuity by sitting a person on a bench and asking them to identify white letters on a black background. Yet, these are not the conditions in which athletes develop. But, the use of certain visual functions varies from one sport to another. A tennis or baseball player will rely heavily on following the ball with their eyes, while a soccer or basketball player must quickly recognize formations.

Find out what materials Modlin expects could replace polycarbonate in high performance lenses by clicking HERE to read the full article.

May 1, 2020May 4, 2020

Safety First: #united4eyecare from Manufacture to Sale

Safilo continues to globally implement multiple controls and prevention measures in response to the current situation, following all safety procedures throughout the entire supply chain, from manufacturing sites to the distribution network.

Safilo has put in place dedicated prevention measures that are being enforced locally, in Safilo’s North American distribution center in Denver, CO and in the company’s Smith manufacturing plant and lensing facility based in Clearfield, UT.

Safilo continues to provide uninterrupted service, taking orders 24/7 online via their B2B websites and via customer service centres. Safilo N.A. customer service teams continue working remotely and operating with regular hours and a new chat feature was introduced on the b2b site in the U.S. and Canada.

Virtual training seminars have been extended through the end of May. Customers can contact their Safilo sales rep or visit www.mysafilocanada.com for sign-up details.

Protective eyewear solutions are being developed, including face shields and safety glasses produced in Safilo factories in the U.S. and Italy, that will be available for eye care practitioners to use in-store and to retail to end consumers. Products will be available in the near future with more details to follow.

Safilo launched #united4eyecare and has repurposed a portion of their manufacturing facilities to produce safety glasses and facial shields to be supplied to hospitals and frontline medical workers in critical need around the world.

Click HERE to read the full press release.

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020

Johnson & Johnson Vision Announces New Appointment

Johnson & Johnson Vision has appointed Rajesh K. Rajpal, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs.

In this role, Dr. Rajpal will lead the integration of rapidly evolving medical and clinical insights into new product development to address unmet needs of patients and eye care professionals around the world. He will also oversee clinical trials and the generation of surgical and vision care evidence, and serve as the critical liaison to government agencies and to the academic, scientific, and industry communities.

Dr. Rajpal joins Johnson & Johnson Vision from Avedro, where he served as Chief Medical Officer. Active in research and professional education, Dr. Rajpal has served as principal investigator in numerous clinical trials, authored multiple original peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, and has lectured internationally on topics related to corneal disease, cataract and refractive surgery.

He is the founder of the See Clearly Vision Group, an ophthalmology and optometry group practice with multiple offices in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

Dr. Rajpal earned his medical degree and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Medical College of Virginia followed by a Fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020

Patented IRPL® Technology Now Available in Canada

I-MED Pharma announces Health Canada approval for the E>Eye Laser, which is now available to Canadian eye care professionals. With exclusive Canadian distribution rights, I-MED Pharma brings this device to the Canadian marketplace.

E>Eye is the first and only CE certified medical device in the world using patented IRPL^® technology developed specifically for the treatment of dry eye disease caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), the leading cause of evaporative dry eye.

This new type of polychromatic pulsed light produces perfectly calibrated and homogeneously sequenced “cold light” pulses which safely stimulate the meibomian glands to resume secretions, restoring the lacrymal film and improving symptoms associated with ocular dryness.

Daniel Hofmann, President of I-MED Pharma stated, “The E>Eye is a revolutionary device that offers patients an affordable, long-lasting solution for dry eye management. It is radically different from other existing treatment options for dry eye disease and it has many advantages over traditional IPL devices currently on the market.”

Click HERE for the full press release.

April 30, 2020April 29, 2020

CooperVision Commitment to OGS Continues

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) announces that CooperVision has renewed their partnership agreement for three years through 2022. CooperVision is Optometry Giving Sight’s largest corporate donor and has been supporting our work in Giving Sight and Hope since 2008, and as such OGS recognizes them as their Global Platinum Partner in both the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to CooperVision’s partnership support, the company provides funding in a variety of ways that includes its patient rebate program, World Sight Day Challenge participation worldwide and its global charitable giving program, Cooper Giving.

“CooperVision is delighted to continue to support Optometry Giving Sight as we are committed to their efforts to bring accessible and sustainable eye care to communities throughout the developing world,” says Jerry Warner, CooperVision’s President of North America.

Eric Anderson, Interim Executive Director for OGS adds, “We couldn’t do what we do without CooperVision’s outstanding commitment. We are so very grateful to their leadership and their employees in advancing the cause of bringing eye care to those who are in need. Thank you CooperVision!”

Click HERE for the press release.