Blog

May 23, 2019

Blackfin Revs up for the Modena Centro Ore

Blackfin renews its partnership with the Modena Cento Ore, the only race in Italy, and one of the few globally, in which the drivers race on track and in special stages on roads closed to traffic.

Blackfin is again an official partner of the 2019 edition and will provide the drivers with a pair of the modern caravan-style Ventura sunglasses for use on and off the track. Ventura is a retro-inspired double-bridge frame that combines the technical features and design emblematic of the Blackfin DNA.

Five select teams racing in the Modena Cento Ore will also have the opportunity to be the first testers of the ultra-new Blackfin Luminar polarized lenses. Blackfin Luminar styles are designed for driving or to be worn under a helmet, ensuring superior visual performance and the comfort of a perfect fit.

The Modena Cento Ore is a combination of rally and speed circuit racing.

The dates are June 4^th to 9^th, 2019 to experience the race excitement along a course that crosses Italy from east to west, with the finish line and podium ceremony in Piazza Grande, by way of the Imola, Mugello and Misano circuits, where, at the latter, an adrenaline-filled night race will be held.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 23, 2019May 10, 2019

New Adhesive Gel Able to Repair Corneal Injuries

A new biomaterial adhesive gel developed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School could reduce the need for surgery to repair injuries to the cornea.

The technology, known as GelCORE (gel for corneal regeneration) was detailed in the March issue of Science Advances under the title of “Sutureless repair of corneal injuries using naturally derived bioadhesive hydrogels.”

There are 1.5 million new cases of corneal blindness worldwide each year, with only 5% of these being treated with corneal transplant surgery, according to the authors.

The standard treatment for corneal injuries, cyanoacrylate glue, has the drawbacks of poor biocompatibility, low transparency, and doesn’t easily integrate with corneal tissue.

Reza Dana, Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and corresponding author on the study, said they aimed to make a material that was strongly adhesive that didn’t only close the wound but also let the cornea heal.

“We wanted this material to allow the cells of the cornea to mesh with the adhesive and to regenerate over time to mimic something as close to the native cornea as possible,” he said.

GelCORE is a clear, viscous material composed of modified gelatin and photo-initiators, which can be applied to the cornea with a dropper or a syringe. After exposure to blue light for around four minutes the material hardens and adheres to the cornea around the defect.

The researchers used a blue light instead of a photo-initiator that requires ultraviolet light because UV can cause photochemical toxicity or DNA damage in the cornea.

The resulting material is hard and transparent but still allows corneal cells to grow into the material and allow for natural regeneration.

“Our hope is that this biomaterial could fill in a major gap in technology available to treat corneal injuries,” Dana said.

Read the complete paper at https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/3/eaav1281

May 22, 2019

Essilor’s Partnership with Royal Government of Bhutan Achieves Milestone

Essilor and the Royal Government of Bhutan officially launched their partnership to make Bhutan the first country in the world to eradicate poor vision with a monumental milestone – the delivery of 10,000 pairs of eyeglasses for use in its Bhutan School Sight program. To mark the occasion, Her Majesty Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck, Queen Mother of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, who made possible the partnership with her patronage, presented eyeglasses to citizens in a launch ceremony.

Organized by the Ministry of Health, the Bhutan School Sight program which offers free vision screening for all students aged six to eighteen and equips those in need with free glasses, is underway and will be completed by October. The adult screening program will begin in 2020.

As part of the partnership, starting from the last quarter of 2019, nearly 200 health assistants will be trained to conduct basic visual acuity tests, distribute simple reading glasses and direct patients with vision correction needs to eye health practitioners. These health assistants will be able to conduct vision screenings for the residents in their communities.

In December 2018, as reported on Optik NOW, Essilor signed Letters of Intent with the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Central Monastic Body to sustainably strengthen the country’s vision care infrastructure and eradicate unprotected and uncorrected poor vision from its population. Today, 25% of those in Bhutan suffer from uncorrected poor vision, and a large portion is at risk of exposure to UVA/UVB rays due to high altitudes. Together, the partners will address the two greatest barriers to good vision – access and awareness – through training and capacity building, philanthropic support and raising awareness.

Chairman of Essilor, Hubert Sagnières, said: “Good vision transforms more than just a person’s health and wellbeing – it reduces inequalities and positively impacts the daily lives of individuals, their families and their communities through their ability to learn, work and be safe.” Sagnières continued; “We are pleased with the progress of our journey together so far and look forward to many more milestones.”

Her Excellency the Health Minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo mentioned, “We hope that through this partnership, the prevalence of poor vision is significantly reduced, that every Bhutanese who requires refractive error correction has access to eyeglasses.”

The partnership sees Essilor donating 400,000 pairs of corrective eyewear and sunglasses, dispensed via existing healthcare programs.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 21, 2019May 10, 2019

Fitson Eyewear’s Spring 2019 Collection

Gone are the days where your customer needs to sacrifice style or quality when searching for high-fashion eyewear. Designed in Montreal, Fitson along with its partner brand Code ™ offers eyewear that is the perfect mix of style, function and affordability. Model 5008’s angular shape is the perfect “on trend” accessory—at the perfect price!

Distributed by COS: https://canadianoptical.com/

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019

Nikon Launches RelaxSee Neo Series

Nikon launches the RelaxSee Neo Series; a therapeutic lens with a variable accommodative support that relieves eye fatigue related to exposure time in near vision.

With RelaxSee Neo Series you can choose the accommodation support for your patient that offers the best visual experience, as such 0.75D, 1.00D, 1.25D. The lens is customizable and available in a wide range of materials and options (Clear, Transitions and Polarized).

When RelaxSee Neo Series is used along with SeeCoat Blue Premium, patients get better contrast and optimal eye strain protection.

Click HERE for the full press release.