Blog

October 30, 2018October 26, 2018

Hoya Surgical Optics Acquires Mid Labs and Fritz Ruck

HOYA Surgical Optics announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire two medical device companies: US-based Mid Labs and Germany-based Fritz Ruck.

Mid Labs is a Californiabased company focused on the research, innovation, development, engineering and manufacturing of ophthalmic medical surgical devices used to prevent blindness caused by certain retinal diseases and traumatic injuries. Fritz Ruck is based in Eschweiler, Germany, and manufactures dual function phacoemulsification machines and accessories as well as distributes other ophthalmic devices and instruments.

“Our acquisition of Mid Labs and Fritz Ruck and their combination with HOYA Surgical Optics is a natural strategic step in leveraging the HOYA Group’s existing ophthalmic and optical strengths in the eye. Together with our HOYA Vision Care (eyeglass lenses), HOYA’s Eye City retail chain (contact lenses) and HOYA Surgical Optics (IOLs) divisions, Mid Labs and Fritz Ruck represents a strong future potential complement for further technological and product advancements in our eye and vision healthcare businesses. We hope to continue establishing our business development, corporate venture capital, M&A and partnering presence in the developed and emerging markets in the medical device therapeutic areas,” said Mr. Augustine Yee, Executive Officer, CLO and Head of Corporate Development and Affairs of HOYA Group.

The transaction is expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.

Click HERE to read the full press release.

October 29, 2018

A Canadian Winner at the Silmo d’Or Ceremony

By Isabelle Boin-Serveau

The International Opticians Association (IOA), an international organization dedicated to improving and developing the profession around the world, partnered with Silmo for the first time to promote the profession internationally with the International Optician of the Year award.

The first optician to receive this new award is Robert Grimard, ODD, from Montreal. He opened his first clinic in 1980 and his business has since grown to include several branches in Quebec, one in New Brunswick and another in Manitoba. IOA president Fiona Anderson says that “Robert Grimard demonstrates the professionalism, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that are at the heart of this award and the profession. He has been an Executive Committee Member of the Opticians Association of Canada since 1992. Since 2015 he has also been the Chairman of the Opticians Council of Canada. He has been a supporter of the IOA and is passionate about promoting the skills of our profession and encouraging the best vision care for consumers around the world.”

We had an opportunity to hear from the winner: “It is with great pride that I accept this honour. I would like to share it

with the Grimard Optique team, my profession and especially with all my colleagues at the Opticians Council of Canada (OCC).

In an industry that continues to evolve I welcome the growing importance of the role of opticians. I once again thank Silmo and the International Opticians Association (IOA) for this recognition.”

Photo – left to right: Elaine Grisdale, Head of Professional Services and International Development at Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), Robert Grimard and Fiona Anderson, president of the International Opticians Association (IOA).

Don’t miss the full Silmo report in the November issue of Optik Magazine coming soon!

October 26, 2018

Jane Balek Named Think About Your Eyes Executive Director

The Vision Council announces the hiring of Jane Balek as Executive Director of Think About Your Eyes, the vision industry’s public awareness campaign encouraging patients to schedule an annual eye exam with their optometrist.

Balek brings more than 20 years of experience working with non-profits and associations, most recently with the School Nutrition Foundation, where she served as executive director. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Executive Director of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) where she oversaw business development, marketing, communications and partnerships and sponsorships. While at NAfME, she concurrently served as the CEO and Executive Director of Give a Note Foundation where she spearheaded six national awareness campaigns impacting millions of students with the support of companies such as 20th Century Fox, Radio Disney and Nintendo.

“Jane’s expertise in the campaign and association space will provide the leadership TAYE needs to grow in industry support and impact even more patients,” said Dr. Steve Loomis, chair of Think About Your Eyes. “We look forward to further success from the campaign under Jane’s leadership.”

Think About Your Eyes is projected to reach 95% of its target audience in 2018 through a variety of advertising efforts, yielding more than 1 billion impressions. In 2017, Think About Your Eyes messaging resulted in 3.4 million incremental eye exams, and industry revenue of $750 million.

“Think About Your Eyes is a crucial campaign for both the vision industry and the public,” said Balek. “I am looking forward to growing the campaign and continuing to raise awareness about the importance of annual comprehensive eye exams.”

Balek will officially begin her role Monday, November 5. For general campaign inquiries, and industry partners interested in supporting the campaign, please contact Laurel O’Connor, Senior Communications Manager, at loconnor@thinkaboutyoureyes.com

October 25, 2018October 23, 2018

Colour Changing Contact Lens Monitors Drug Levels in Eye

Contact lenses that can deliver drugs to the eye, and also provide a real-time indication of the rates of drug delivery have been developed by researchers at the China Pharmaceutical University in Nanjing.

Delivering drugs to the eye is a difficult challenge. Studies show that less than five percent of active drugs in eye drops are actually absorbed, and much of the drugs go into the bloodstream where they are ineffective.

Drug-delivering contact lenses can be a useful method to have drugs absorbed by the eye, but there are challenges in monitoring the rate of drug delivery in real-time.

The research team lead by Dawei Deng and Zhouying Xie created their prototype contact lenses using molecular imprinting, a method of creating lenses that have tiny cavities capable of holding medical compounds. These cavities were then loaded with the glaucoma drug timolol.

The researchers then immersed the contact lens in artificial tears and monitored the drugs being released from the contact lens.

As the timolol is released, the structure of the polymer material of the contact lens changes, resulting in a colour change in the material that is visible by both the naked eye and a fiber optic spectrometer.

The result is a safe method of monitoring drug release from contact lenses in real time, without the use of a dye.

The researchers said, “The contact lens can be further used for controlling release of many ophthalmic drugs and has high potential to be a new generation of functional contact lenses.”

This research was published in the October issue of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

October 24, 2018May 20, 2026

Marble-ous Eyewear

Thanks to neubau eyewear, the marble effect is now coming through as a feature on the noses of young urbanites with a keen eye for innovation, sustainability and quality product. The new marble-look frames such as the Lukas are manufactured from naturalPX as well as lightweight stainless steel. Lukas impresses through a timeless shape combined with refreshing details making them both classic and unconventional at the same time.

Distributed by COS: canadianoptical.com