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February 24, 2020February 24, 2020

Statement Regarding Vision Expo East 2020

Over the last few weeks, The Vision Council and their partners at Vision Expo have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus and the threat it poses to members of the global vision care and services community. The Vision Council expresses their concern for everyone impacted by the COVID-19 virus including those in China who play such a critical role in the delivery of eyewear and eyecare in the United States. In addition, thoughts are with everyone at the MIDO eyewear show as they made their announcement over the past weekend. It is their hope that this health crisis subsides as quickly and safely as possible.

At this time, the upcoming Vision Expo East will take place as scheduled at the Javits Center in New York City. The Show will open on Thursday, March 26 at The River, one of three new neighborhoods set to debut at Vision Expo East 2020. Education at Vision Expo will take place March 26–29, 2020. The Vision Expo main Exhibit Hall will be open from March 27–29, 2020. They are working with the Javits Center to implement enhanced on-site safety measures, including increased cleaning and sanitization across the show. In accordance with the recommendations set forth in the U.S. EPA’s Emerging Pathogen Policy regarding cleaning disinfectants effective against the COVID-19 virus, sanitizing and disinfection materials will be made readily available for public use.

Vision Expo is following local, state and federal public health guidelines, including those issued by the CDC. The Vision Council encourages all show attendees to use their best judgment in helping prevent the potential spread of all germs.

The well-being of everyone at Vision Expo, from attendees and exhibitors to staff on-site, is of the utmost importance to The Vision Council and their partners. They will continue to work diligently to ensure Vision Expo and other events live up to their high standards and they will continue to provide updates as we get closer to Vision Expo East.

For more information and updates on the measures in place for Vision Expo, please refer to the statement on the Show website.

February 22, 2020February 24, 2020

MIDO Postponed Due to Corona Virus

In response to the CoVID-19 virus emergency, MIDO Board of Directors have announced the postponement of the prestigious 50-year MIDO anniversary to an undefined date between late May and mid June. MIDO was planned Feb 29th to March 2nd.

In a statement posted on the MIDO website, Giovanni Vitaloni, President of MIDO said, “We took this decision out of respect for the current alarming situation and for our exhibitors and visitors.”

While corona virus originated in China in December, several clusters of confirmed cases and deaths have occured in other countries, including Italy. According to press reports, Italy has locked down 11 towns and asked more than 50,000 people to self quarantine. A second Italian victim, a woman, died in the northern region of Lombardy according to an Italian government spokesperson.

Other countries, including South Korea, Iran, Israel and Lebanon have also reported cases and deaths from the virus.

View statement from MIDO Board of Directors.

February 21, 2020February 21, 2020

Safilo and Aquafil to Produce Eco-sustainable Eyewear

Safilo announces the introduction of ECONYL® regenerated nylon in its eyewear collections, thanks to a pioneering partnership with Aquafil, a recognized global player with over half a century of expertise in creating synthetic fibres.

ECONYL® is a regenerated nylon obtained through the regeneration and purification process of plastic waste, such as fishing nets, old carpets, and fabric scraps. ECONYL®, obtained through a process of depolymerization and re-polymerisation, performs exactly the same as brand new nylon and it can be recycled, recreated and remoulded again and again, with no loss of quality.

The choice of this material, never before used in the mass production of eyewear, is a tangible sign of Safilo’s further progression in its sustainability strategy and its commitment to bring innovation to a consolidated industry.

“Our investment to using recycled materials highlights our continued efforts towards promoting a responsible business,” explains Angelo Trocchia, CEO of Safilo Group. “This sustainable material will allow us to make our contribution and create products without using new resources. Our intention is to expand the use of ECONYL® as much as possible in order to decrease our carbon footprint.”

“Safilo has a long history of creating high-quality eyewear products, and we are happy to partner with such a strong player in the eyewear industry,” said Giulio Bonazzi, Aquafil’s CEO. “It is a completely new sector in which our ECONYL® material is now used, and it is this pioneering spirit that most unites us with a company like Safilo, which, like us, has innovation in its DNA.”

The new TOMMY JEANS eyewear collection, recently launched by Tommy Hilfiger, is the first that features styles made of ECONYL® regenerated nylon. Safilo will progressively introduce this material also in its other brands’ collections.

Click HERE for the full press release.

February 21, 2020February 20, 2020

Italia Independent Signs Global Licensing Agreement with CR7

Italia Independent Group announces that its owned eyewear company Italia Independent and Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand have agreed to an exclusive five-year global licensing agreement for the creation of eyewear collections licensed under the CR7 brand.

The first CR7 eyewear collection has been entirely inspired by, and designed for, Cristiano Ronaldo and will be unveiled as worldwide preview at MIDO 2020. The collection will be available to purchase in leading opticians and on the best e-commerce platforms starting from spring/summer 2020.

CR7 brand currently retails in over 70 countries around the world.

Italia Independent is distributed by Mood Eyewear in Canada.

Click HERE for the full press release.

February 20, 2020February 24, 2020

BC College of Optics: New IACLE Fellowship Earned

BC College of Optics (BCCO) announces that BCCO Optician/Contact Lens Fitter instructor David Watson has recently passed the rigorous International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) ‘Fellowship examination’ and has qualified to receive its prestigious IACLE ‘Fellow’ (FIACLE) credential.

IACLE is a world-wide organization of contact lens educators whose membership includes contact lens educators in various public and private Colleges and Universities throughout the world, including North & South America, Europe, Asia, China, Africa, Australia and UK.

Of a total of 150 IACLE members who sat for this IACLE Contact Lens ‘Fellow’ examination, only 19% of examination candidates passed. David Watson joins four other Canadians who currently hold IACLE Fellow (FIACLE) status.

A Province of British Columbia licensed Optician & Contact Lens Fitter, David Watson graduated from BC College of Optics program in 1995. He then spent the next 12 years in private practice before joining BC College of Optics as a full-time opticianry instructor in 2007.

Statement Regarding Vision Expo East 2020

MIDO Postponed Due to Corona Virus

Safilo and Aquafil to Produce Eco-sustainable Eyewear

Italia Independent Signs Global Licensing Agreement with CR7

BC College of Optics: New IACLE Fellowship Earned

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