Blog

May 22, 2018May 18, 2018

First Ever Canadian Optical Lab Survey Now Available

Your optical lab is the most important partnership for an eye care professional that dispenses eyewear. Optical labs can help you out of a dispensing challenge and sometimes, it must be said, might create a new one for you! Creating perfect eyewear in a consistent and timely manner is a daunting challenge. So, how is your lab doing?

Here’s your chance to let us know what you think about the optical labs that you rely upon. Optik is launching a comprehensive survey to determine Canadian eye care professionals’ attitudes toward the optical labs they most often use. Which labs do you use? How you rate them? What are the key factors in selecting and keeping your favourite optical lab? These are some of the questions in the survey.

Complete this 10 minute survey and participate in our $500 Give Away Optical Lab Survey Contest. See contest rules here.

Eligible respondents have a chance to win one of five $100 GIFTPASS gift cards. Winners will be announced in the October Optik Magazine.

May 21, 2018May 18, 2018

Safilo North America Appoints Stephen Wright Chief Commercial Officer

Stephen Wright will begin as CCO effective June 19^th 2018, replacing outgoing Henri Blomqvist, who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

Stephen Wright has held a number of positions within the eyecare industry during his career, including President of Altair Eyewear, Senior Vice President of the Americas for Marchon Eyewear, and most recently President of VSP Global Omni-Channel Solutions.

“We are very happy to welcome Stephen and to count on his expertise and deep knowledge of the US market, its relevant stakeholders and the different dynamics. US is an historical market for Safilo and we were intent on selecting a leader with a deep knowledge of the specific market needs, able to work hand in hand with all of our different customers,” comments Angelo Trocchia, CEO of Safilo Group. “We want to be closer and closer to the market, to better understand what is truly relevant for our local consumers, capitalizing more on our strong brand portfolio and on our independent business approach.”

Click HERE to read to full press release.

May 18, 2018May 15, 2018

Polaroid Eyewear Launches Heritage Collection

Polaroid launches Heritage, a unique project that brings together capsule collections from different eras, starring original pieces revisited in line with the latest trends and retraces the brand’s history, from the 1930s to today. Each collection features timeless silhouettes reinterpreted with a contemporary twist, embodying an aesthetic that goes beyond fashion trends.

The late 1930s witnessed a groundbreaking event when the Chrysler Corporation ran the first commercial 3D movie, filmed and viewed using Edwin Land’s polarized sheets, at the 1939 World Trade Fair in New York City. The new movie genre was to be watched with Polaroid’s unique 3D glasses.

This revolutionary event is the inspiration behind the first capsule collection of the Heritage project.

Sophisticated and unique, clip-ons make a comeback in the collection: the new PLD 6045/S acetate model features a rectangular shape and comes in three colorways – white, black, and red. The front bears the original wording “press,” which indicated where on the frame one needed to apply pressure to attach the clip-on to the glasses, while the original metal mount detail is also still visible on the front.

Distributed by Safilo: www.safilo.com

May 18, 2018May 17, 2018

Dreamcatcher Eyewear Launches Workshop Program

Dreamcatcher Eyewear in Toronto is now accepting registrations for their training program for the creation of unique, handmade eyewear.

The program will consist of four sessions (one per week) of 2-3 hours each. Students will be guided, step by step, from the design phase to selecting the raw acetate, to producing the finished product: hand-made, old-fashioned eyewear. All materials and tools will be provided at the workshop, including quality Italian Mazzucchelli acetate in a wide array of colours. The experience is designed to deliver “the experience of old-school handmade eyewear crafting in a very fun, hands-on, and educational way.”

Future workshops will incorporate additional materials, including metal.

Registration will be ongoing, and inquiries may be directed to info@dreamcatchereyewear.com or 647-334-2580. Registrants may apply at any time.

May 18, 2018May 16, 2018

New Canadian Guideline for Screening for Impaired Vision in Older Adults

The guideline, published in English and French in the Canadian Medical Association Journal by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC), is aimed at primary care practitioners.

The task force considered the benefits of screening for visual impairment in primary health care and referring patients to optometrists for formal vision testing. The new guideline recommends against primary care screening of older adults not reporting concerns about their vision.

“We found no evidence of benefit to patients aged 65 years or older from being screened for impaired vision as a way to prevent limitations on daily living or other consequences,” said Dr. Brenda Wilson, Task Force Impaired Vision Working Group Chair. “The task force therefore recommends against screening for impaired vision in primary care settings for people living independently in the community.”

This guideline was last updated in 1995, where primary screening was recommended for elderly patients with at least a 5 years’ history of diabetes.

The new guideline is available for download in English and French.

The Statement Aviator: Sunday Somewhere’s New Sun Collection

Sunday Somewhere debuts its sun collection with Olive (SS2060), a bold flat-top aviator in premium acetate, featuring warm-tinted lenses and refined two-tone colourways.

Learn More

Three blue gift boxes with gold ribbons illustrating the article Giving Back with Purpose

Giving Back with Purpose: A Conversation with Kelsey Gagnon

Recently Dr. Roxanne Arnal, CFP®, CLU® spoke with Kelsey Gagnon, Associate Director, Advancement, School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Waterloo about the Waterloo Eye Institute capital campaign and the ongoing needs of students. In the following interview, learn more about the numerous benefits of charitable giving and the tax advantages available to donors.

First Ever Canadian Optical Lab Survey Now Available

Safilo North America Appoints Stephen Wright Chief Commercial Officer

Polaroid Eyewear Launches Heritage Collection

Dreamcatcher Eyewear Launches Workshop Program

New Canadian Guideline for Screening for Impaired Vision in Older Adults

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The Statement Aviator: Sunday Somewhere’s New Sun Collection

Giving Back with Purpose: A Conversation with Kelsey Gagnon

Alcon Launches PRECISION7 One-Week Replacement Contact Lenses in Canada

Seeing with the Heart: The Power of Giving Back

U.S. Optical Industry Reaches $69.5 Billion Despite Declines in Product Volume and Eye Exams

The Statement Aviator: Sunday Somewhere’s New Sun Collection

Giving Back with Purpose: A Conversation with Kelsey Gagnon

Alcon Launches PRECISION7 One-Week Replacement Contact Lenses in Canada

Seeing with the Heart: The Power of Giving Back

U.S. Optical Industry Reaches $69.5 Billion Despite Declines in Product Volume and Eye Exams

The Statement Aviator: Sunday Somewhere’s New Sun Collection

Giving Back with Purpose: A Conversation with Kelsey Gagnon

Alcon Launches PRECISION7 One-Week Replacement Contact Lenses in Canada

Seeing with the Heart: The Power of Giving Back

U.S. Optical Industry Reaches $69.5 Billion Despite Declines in Product Volume and Eye Exams

The Statement Aviator: Sunday Somewhere’s New Sun Collection

Giving Back with Purpose: A Conversation with Kelsey Gagnon

Alcon Launches PRECISION7 One-Week Replacement Contact Lenses in Canada

Seeing with the Heart: The Power of Giving Back

U.S. Optical Industry Reaches $69.5 Billion Despite Declines in Product Volume and Eye Exams