Blog

August 28, 2019May 20, 2026

Make People Green with Envy

Ørgreen Optics creates high-end designer eyewear in precious metals. Handcrafted in Japan with timeless, innovative and minimalist designs, offering quality and functionality. Padehatten is a charming panto-style unisex frame, ideal for middle-size faces. This classic design, updated with its sandblasted titanium frame and nose pads, offered in a modern colour pallet.

Distributed by Orgreen: https://orgreenoptics.com/

August 26, 2019May 19, 2026

#OptikEyeStyle Toronto Brings Eyewear Enthusiasts Together to Celebrate Eye Fashion

Eyewear enthusiasts from across the spectrum of the Canadian Optical industry gathered at the #OptikEyeStyle event in downtown Toronto on Thursday evening to celebrate independent eyewear for independent Eye Care Professionals.

Over 50 different designer eyewear collections from 20+ vendors displayed their wares in a visual extravaganza of eyewear artistry, craftsmanship and quality.

The event, combining a frame show with networking and education, was attended by over 120 persons including frame exhibitors, practice owners and optical buyers, educators and students, and industry VIPs.

The event was held in the Toronto Theatre district’s Artscape Sandbox, where the walls of the venue were transformed into a visual pageant of aesthetic eyewear designs.

#OptikEyeStyle event host, Rachel Hill, independent Optical owner from nearby St. Catharines, interviewed both attendees and exhibitors, exploring guests’ passion for high-end fashion eyewear.

“Friend of Independent” supporter Christine Zeggil, Central Canada Regional Manager, HOYA said of the event, “It’s fantastic, so many great people and wonderful frames and great partners.” The Optical Group and Digital ECP were also “Friends of Independents” supporters.

Photo credit: Albert Mo. McCray Optical

Seneca College Opticianry Professor Tatiana Mighui, remarked, “The event sparked interest and curiosity to delve into the websites of the frame makers who have displayed such amazing products.” She was joined by several Seneca Optician students attending the event.

Over 50 different high end frame collections provided an opportunity to start the conversations between customers and suppliers.

Watch the #OptikEyeStyle Video
Toronto, August 22nd, 2019

#OptikEyeStyle provided an opportunity to share perspectives and network.

Guests participated in an interactive fun excercise to dynamically create a word cloud to reflect the meaning of “Independent Eye Care Professional”.

Exhibitors and Attendees worked together
To define “Independent ECPs”

#OptikEyeStyle was created as an event for Independent Eyewear and Independent Eye Care professionals. In 2019, its inaugural year, the event was held in Vancouver on June 4 and Toronto August 22nd. The 2019 tour will finish in Montréal on September 5th. (Registration for Montréal is still open.)

For information on #Eyestyle 2020, please register here.

August 23, 2019August 20, 2019

Take the 2019 World Sight Day Challenge in October

There are 1.22 billion people around the world, millions of whom are children, who are blind or vision-impaired because they do not have access to an eye exam and glasses. The World Sight Day Challenge is a response to this alarming statistic and is Optometry Giving Sight’s largest fundraising campaign of the year. The challenge brings the global optometry community together to raise money and awareness to help provide eye care to those in need. The challenge is focused on World Sight Day, Thursday, Oct. 10, and runs throughout October.

“It is estimated that as much as 80% of what a child learns is processed through the visual system; an eye examination and glasses can mean the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragon, chair of Optometry Giving Sight. “A child’s ability to play and learn and to contribute at home and school is largely dependent on good vision.”

Nine-year-old Paul was living on the streets in Kenya after being abandoned by his parents. Paul also had an additional challenge as he has an unusual vision impairment with one eye being near sighted and the other far sighted. His daily life was difficult to say the least.

Fortunately, the head teacher of a local school for vision-impaired students noticed Paul foraging on the streets and struggling with his vision. The teacher was able to enroll Paul in his school and get him the care he needed at an Optometry Giving Sight funded vision center. Paul is now off the streets and flourishing at school.

The World Sight Day Challenge helps fund eyecare projects that help transform the lives of children like Paul.

For the past 13 years, thousands of optometrists, staff members, patients and students have taken the World Sight Day Challenge and made a difference by making a tax-deductible donation and/or by raising funds in their practice, school or company.

Optometry Giving Sight encourages everyone to join the World Sight Day Challenge and help transform the lives of people around the world by helping to provide access to eye care.

Click HERE for the full press release.

August 22, 2019May 20, 2026

Embrace Your Inner Rebel

Buffalo David Bitton Model BW001 is sexy and rebellious – designed with
custom laminated temples and signature pocket ‘V shape’ metal hardware.
All colours offer a colour-block design on the temple. Colours Tortoise and Grey feature signature denim prints on the colour-blocked temple manufactured with high definition printing. The signature branded endcap is precisely placed for a high-quality finish.

Distributed by Tura: http://www.tura.com/

August 21, 2019August 20, 2019

New Research Finds Commonality Between Hereditary Eye Disease and Lung Cancer

In research published July 2019 in Cell Reports, ophthalmology
researchers Douglas C. Dean, Ph.D, and Wei Wang, MD, Ph.D,
at the University of Louisville described metabolic changes that
result in reduced flow of glucose to photoreceptors. Rods and
cones utilize glucose as the main source of their metabolism and
function. Therefore, the disruption in glucose causes the starvation
and subsequent death of photoreceptors.

The researchers discovered that the disrupted glucose metabolism
found in Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is similar to changes seen in
lung cancer. This unexpected connection will make discoveries in
therapy useful for both diseases. “Both lung cancer and neurons
in the retina use glucose as a primary source for their metabolism.
Attacking glucose utilization is a major strategy in fighting lung
cancer.” Says Dean.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary eye disorder that affects 1 in
4000 globally. In the disorder, the photoreceptor cells in the retinaboth
the rods and cones deteriorate over time. In RP, the Rods
located in the outer regions of the retina are affected first causing
loss of peripheral and low light vision. In later stages, the cones,
located in the central part of the retina are affected. This causes RP
patients to lose perception of colour and visual detail in daylight
vision. In this later stage, patients may experience tunnel vision
and loss of clarity, making it difficult to perform daily tasks such as
driving, reading, recognizing faces and objects and walking around
without assistance.

The symptoms of RP typically occur in childhood. People with RP
often possess photophobia and have trouble seeing in low light
conditions. Because RP is caused by gene mutation, its progression
varies greatly from person to person. Some people with RP retain
central vision and a restricted peripheral vision into their 50s,
while others lose a substantial amount of their vision as soon
as early adulthood. Low vision aids are available to assist those
affected by RP to help them carry out daily tasks and maintain their
independence.

Ongoing research will help us find the causes and develop
treatments to prevent vision loss in RP. The National Eye Institute
(NEI) supports research for RP. Gene therapy in NEI supported
labs has shown promise to restore vision in a variety of types of
RP. Researchers are also evaluating various drug and nutritional
therapies for treating RP.