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DaTE 2025: Exhibitor List Online

DaTE Redefinign Boundaries logo 2025

Just four months until the opening of DaTE 2025, the much-anticipated innovative eyewear event, scheduled from Saturday 13 to Monday 15 September at the Cocoricò in Riccione. The exhibitor list is now available on the official website: dateyewear.com/en/exhibitors, clear proof of the enthusiasm and confidence that businesses have invested in this new edition.

In addition to Italian brands, makers from France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland and the United States – to name just a few – will be exhibiting. More than 90 brands have confirmed their participation and will also add to the excitement in the iconic Riccione pyramid on the evening of September 13th, when exhibitors and visitors can enjoy the DaTE Disco Party (full details will soon be available on the official website).

Registration for industry professionals opened on February 8th, the day DaTE made its debut at MIDO 2025 with a striking pyramid installation showcasing all the key concepts of the new format – vision, innovation, creativity, technology, and more. Use this link: dateyewear.com/en/visitatori

We are very pleased with these early – and far from guaranteed – results,” remarked DaTE President Davide Degl’Incerti Tocci. Being able to confirm all the available stand spaces in just a few months is a major milestone of which we are extremely proud. The response from exhibitors and partners shows we are working in the right direction and motivates us to move forward with even greater energy toward the forthcoming edition.”

As already announced, DaTE 2025 will feature a completely reimagined format, designed to reflect the new challenges and developments in an industry that is constantly evolving. It will be a traveling event, to be experienced together in many different Italian cities, like Bologna, Napoli, Roma and Milano.

Admission to DaTE is free of charge, open only to eyewear industry professionals, opticians, buyers and journalists.

Click HERE for the press release.

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Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise for Advanced Wet AMD

Fighting Blindness Canada

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration, (AMD), the more severe form of AMD, occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the macula.

Currently, most cases of wet AMD are treated with drugs to slow blood vessel growth. However, these drugs may stop being effective and are not effective if vision loss is advanced. A new study by researchers in China, published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, explores an alternative: removing abnormal blood vessels and transplanting stem cell-derived retinal cells to try and repair the damage.

In a study with 10 patients, those who had complete removal of the blood vessels showed improved retinal structure, and their vision remained stable or improved over a year with few side effects. This suggests that the transplanted cells survived and started to repair some of the damage in the retina. However, patients with only partial removal experienced ongoing bleeding, inflammation, and no vision improvement.

This is an interesting study, however more studies with larger groups will be needed to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness and safety.

About Fighting Blindness Canada

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is the largest charitable funder of vision research in Canada.

Over our 49-year history, FBC has contributed critical funding for the development of sight-saving treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases. By raising and stewarding funds, FBC is helping drive forward research that supports our goal of understanding why vision loss occurs, how it can be slowed and how sight can be restored.

We are an invaluable resource for individuals and families impacted by blindness, providing accurate eye health information through our website and educational events, as well as engaging with government and other stakeholders to advance better vision health policies.

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Marchon and Plastic Bank Announce Renewal of Global Partnership

Marchon Plastic Bank logos 2025

Marchon Eyewear announces the renewal of their global partnership with social fintech, Plastic Bank. The partnership began in 2022 with a focus on Marchon’s Dragon brand with a plastic offset program. In 2025, the partnership will focus on the same plastic offset program, but this time with the spotlight on Marchon’s Nautica and Columbia eyewear.

The partnership will help gather discarded plastic from the environment and improve the lives of collection community members in vulnerable coastal areas, particularly in Brazil. With this collaboration, the two companies are creating environmental, social, and economic impact. By choosing Nautica or Columbia eyewear, customers are contributing to Marchon’s annual commitment of stopping a minimum of 45,455 KGs of plastic from polluting the environment – that’s the equivalent of 2,272,750 PET plastic bottles of 500ml.

“We are very proud to renew our partnership with Plastic Bank, and these brands are certainly a natural fit,” said Gabriele Bonapersona, Chief Brand Officer, Marchon Eyewear, Inc. “By continuing our successful partnership and putting a focus on Nautica and Columbia eyewear, we are solidifying our commitment to social responsibility and advancing our EYES ON TOMORROW™ initiative – building a more sustainable future for our eyewear and our processes.”

“At Plastic Bank, we are enabling prosperity for communities and regeneration of the environment. Marchon’s partnership with Plastic Bank bears testament that businesses can prosper with the people and planet by prioritizing social and environmental impact. Together, we are empowering customers to create change each time they choose Nautica or Columbia.”

David Katz, Founder and CEO, Plastic Bank

Nautica eyewear features sun and optical styles within the Wavemaker collection designed with Eastman Tenite™ Renew, while the Columbia eyewear features frames within the collection crafted with plant-based resin. Both Nautica and Columbia offer classic, easy-to-wear eyewear designed for those who are fashion and environmentally conscious.    

Click HERE for the press release.

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BostonSight® Elects Michael Nash, MBA and Ramam Atmakuri, MSc, PMP, to Board of Directors

BostonSight logo

BostonSight® announced today it has elected Mr. Michael (Mike) Nash and Mr. Ramam Atmakuri to the BostonSight Board of Directors.

BostonSight Mr. Mike Nash

Mr. Nash, now a Customer Experience and Technology consultant and mentor, was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer at HP Inc. where he led all aspects of Customer Experience Strategy, Measurement and Culture. Also at HP, Mr. Nash served as Global Head of Portfolio Strategy and Chief Technologist for Personal Systems. Prior to HP, he was a Vice President in the Kindle business at Amazon.com, and he spent almost 19 years at Microsoft most recently as Corporate Vice President for Windows Product Management.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science with honors from the Cornell University College of Engineering and an MBA with distinction from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Palmer Scholar. Mr. Nash brings a unique perspective to the board as a BostonSight PROSE® patient for nearly 23 years.

BostonSight Mr. Ramam Atmakuri

Mr. Atmakuri is currently the Executive Vice Chair Emeritus at LV Prasad Eye Institute in India and served earlier as Executive Vice Chair, managing non-clinical operations across their network. He has also served as Vice President and head of global delivery centers in India for multinationals, led multidisciplinary teams across continents, successfully managed mergers and acquisitions, and delivered several multi-million-dollar transformation programs that resulted in business growth.

Mr. Atmakuri’s passion for social impact brought him to LV Prasad Eye Institute and now to BostonSight’s Board. He holds a master’s degree in applied statistics, a diploma in operational research, is a Certified Quality Analyst, and PMP® certification holder, and has won several awards for project management excellence and global leadership.

“Mr. Atmakuri brings strategic leadership in establishing partnerships and a global vision for healthcare in emerging markets, while Mr. Nash is experienced in introducing revolutionary technology that helps to improve customers’ lives,” said Sara Yost, President and CEO of BostonSight. “Their expertise will be invaluable as BostonSight expands and integrates advanced technologies to fuel research, innovation, and industry collaborations that drive the adoption of specialty lenses in the U.S., and worldwide.”

Click HERE for the press release.

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Costa Sunglasses and PADI Join Forces to Protect What’s Out There

Costa logo et photo divers

With a long-standing, shared commitment to sustainability, the two organizations will team up to scale ocean conservation efforts above and below the surface.

Costa Sunglasses has always chased one mission: to make the best sunglasses while uniting the world in a shared responsibility to protect our blue planet. Today, Costa takes a powerful step forward on this journey, announcing a new partnership with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, PADI®. ​ Bound by a shared passion for exploration and ocean conservation, the partnership aims to unite their global communities—diving deeper into their shared commitment to safeguard the world’s waters, while inspiring more people to push past the shoreline and take real action.

Costa Padi Big Island
Costa Pro & PADI Ambassadiver Rachel Moore

“PADI and Costa have a long-standing shared commitment to protecting our blue planet—but together, we can do even more,” said Jed Larkin, Costa Brand Director. “We’re proud to partner with PADI to amplify meaningful action and inspire a new wave of ocean advocates. As the health of the ocean reaches a tipping point, this collaboration allows us to welcome more people into the wonder and responsibility of the watery world—so they can see it, love it, and ultimately fight to protect it.”


From the surface to the seafloor, both organizations have long been committed to protecting marine ecosystems and conserving the watery world we all rely on. As part of the partnership, Costa will support the PADI AWARE Foundation with a donation to help advance its mission of achieving balance between humanity and the ocean. Harnessing the collective power of 29 million PADI-certified divers and the global dive industry, the Foundation tackles the ocean’s most pressing threats—plastic pollution among them. Working alongside PADI, Costa will rally a global network of volunteers, driving efforts to protect vital marine habitats and champion sustainable practices that keep ocean ecosystems thriving.

Costa Pros & PADI Ambassadivers Gádor Muntaner and Rachel Moore
Costa Pros & PADI Ambassadivers Gádor Muntaner and Rachel Moore

“As the world’s largest diving organization, PADI is leading a powerful movement to restore ourselves, our communities and the blue planet we call home.” said Katie Thompson, Sr. Director of Environment and Sustainability at PADI. “Working with Costa was a natural next step in this. Through this partnership, PADI joins more than 20 conservation allies and 2,400 Costa Pros who share the same calling—allowing us to amplify our efforts.”

With a bold blueprint for ocean action, PADI aims to eliminate marine debris, protect marine species, and expand blue carbon habitats. PADI’s Dive Against Debris program actively engages divers to remove underwater debris while collecting vital data that contributes to global conservation efforts. These insights form the foundation of the world’s largest citizen science movement for marine research, driving meaningful policy change and amplifying the voice of the dive community in support of a global ocean conservation agenda.

Protecting the waters we love is part of Costa’s DNA. In 2015, Costa launched the Kick Plastic® program to tackle the single-use plastic polluting waterways and ignite a global movement. Since then, the initiative has led to 50 tons of lenses recycled, 3 million plastic bottles eliminated through its guide program, and more. As part of its ongoing efforts, Costa introduced a paper alternative to single-use plastic bags. The new Vela™ FSC™ certified paper bags are weather-resistant, durable, transparent, and curbside recyclable. The brand also repurposes 1/2 ton of discarded fishing nets every year to create its Untangled™ Collection of eyewear.

Source: Costa

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