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August 18, 2026August 18, 2026

Transitions® Launches Light in Motion Tour Across Canada This Fall

Transitions® will bring its Light in Motion Tour to Canada this fall, offering optical professionals an evening‑based educational experience focused on the science of light and the latest advancements in photochromic lens technology. Rooted in the idea that light is constantly changing—and lenses should adapt accordingly—the tour aims to equip eyecare professionals with practical insights to support patient conversations and recommendations.

Through live demonstrations, presentations and hands‑on exploration, attendees will discover how Transitions® light intelligent lenses™ dynamically respond to varying light conditions, gain a deeper understanding of light modulation and its impact on visual comfort, and explore how Transitions® technology integrates with leading smart glasses brands.

1-EN-TRANSITION_VISUEL_INFOLETTRE_LIGHT IN MOTION TOUR_V4-01

Three Canadian Stops Confirmed

The Light in Motion Tour will visit multiple cities across Canada, with confirmed dates including:

September 21, 2026 — Vancouver (Fairmont Hotel)
September 29, 2026 — Toronto (Globe and Mail Centre)
October 6, 2026 — Montréal (Espaces Waverly)

Participants will also have the opportunity to experience the newest innovation: Transitions® Color Touch™, featuring five colors and two subtle effects.

The evening will include networking opportunities with peers and direct engagement with the Transitions® team. Attendees will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win Ray‑Ban Meta or Oakley Meta AI glasses equipped with Transitions® lenses.

Registration details and additional information are available here: https://tpro-dev-app-wus-001.azurewebsites.net/CanadaPro/en/TransitionsInLightMotionTour. Seats are limited.

Click HERE for the press release.

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August 18, 2026August 18, 2026

The DuraVision Plus Difference

Clear, sharp vision matters. In fact, 88% of lens wearers rate it as essential. ZEISS Lenses are designed to meet this need, and coatings are made to handle everyday challenges.

ZEISS DuraVision Plus sets a new benchmark in lens coating technology. It represents the most advanced protection and optical performance ZEISS has ever created. Backed by over 80 years of expertise by ZEISS in anti-reflective coatings, the innovative coating processes of DuraVision® Plus coatings feature specially designed hard coatings.

This continuous drive to invent and refine brings together cutting-edge lens technology with refined aesthetic, creating coatings that look as good as they perform.

ZEISS DuraVision Plus coatings protect and refine your lenses, blending advanced optical performance with everyday practicality. By minimizing glare, resisting scratches, and repelling smudges, ZEISS lenses remain crystal-clear, durable, easy to maintain and always perform at their best.

Engineered for Excellence

CleanGuard™ Technology: Uses advanced molecular surface chemistry to resist smudge adhesion and repel fine particles. This enables up to 3x faster cleaning compared to previous ZEISS coating generations.
Proven Durability: State-of-the-art hard coatings and ion bombardment create dense, robust layers that protect lenses against the demands of everyday wear.
Effortless Maintenance: Highly smudge-resistant and easy to clean, they are up to 46% more smudge-resistant than previous ZEISS coatings.
High Clarity: High-end anti-reflective coating layers minimize reflections for clear, undistracted vision and a polished appearance.

Upgrade your offering today with the ZEISS DuraVision Plus portfolio.

Contact your sales representative for more information.

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August 17, 2026August 17, 2026

WCO, Alcon and IACLE Partner to Advance Global Dry Eye Education

World Council of Optometry and Alcon logos 2026

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon are expanding their global dry eye education initiative through a new partnership with the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE). This collaboration will allow university instructors worldwide to easily access the program’s digital learning tools—including the updated WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel and the Dry Eye Management Map—directly through the IACLE Teaching Online Platform (IACLETOP).

IACLE represents more than 1,100 members across 86 countries, spanning over 600 academic institutions, making this partnership a significant step toward strengthening dry eye education for students and educators around the world.

Updated Dry Eye Wheel Integrates TFOS DEWS III Recommendations

The newly released version of the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel incorporates the latest guidance from the TFOS DEWS III report. This interactive tool supports eye care professionals in managing dry eye disease through three key steps: mitigation, measurement, and management.

Complementing the wheel, the Dry Eye Management Map provides an evidence‑based, interactive framework to help educators, students and clinicians navigate dry eye disease. Both tools are available in multiple languages—including Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish—with more translations underway.

“We are grateful to have an incredible partner in IACLE to help us spread the word about these resources,” said Cindy Tromans, president of WCO. “Dry eye disease is a growing issue worldwide, so it’s critical that educators easily be able to access the program tools and use them to educate the next generation of ECPs.”

Strengthening Education for Future Eye Care Professionals

Alcon emphasizes the importance of practical, evidence‑based education in dry eye management. “By expanding access to the WCO Alcon dry eye initiative through IACLE, we can help equip educators and students around the world with the latest tools that support consistent, patient‑centered care today—and create new opportunities to advance dry eye education in the future,” said Carla Mack, Global Head of Professional Education and Development at Alcon.

IACLE’s involvement ensures that instructors can directly integrate these resources into their teaching. “This allows members to share the Dry Eye Wheel with their students, helping the next generation of ECPs to be patient‑care ready,” added Craig Woods, Executive Manager of Educational Development at IACLE.

Dry eye disease is a chronic condition affecting nearly 1.6 billion people worldwide, driven by factors such as increased screen use, environmental triggers and aging populations.

For more information on the WCO and Alcon dry eye initiative, visit dryeye.worldcouncilofoptometry.info.

Source: World Council of Optometry

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August 17, 2026August 17, 2026

New Contact Lens Update Offers Communication Tips for Presbyopic Patients

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has released Issue 91 of Contact Lens Update, a bi‑monthly publication designed to support eye care professionals with clinical insights, practical tools and patient‑focused resources. The latest issue centers on one of the most common—and often sensitive—topics in practice: how to communicate effectively with patients experiencing presbyopia.

“No one likes to be reminded that they are getting older,” notes Lyndon Jones, principal scientist at CORE. He emphasizes that practitioners play a crucial role in reassuring patients that presbyopia is universal and that safe, effective contact lens options exist to reduce dependence on spectacles. Issue 91 provides guidance to help clinicians navigate these conversations with confidence.

Expert Guidance from Leading Practitioners

In the opening editorial, Dr. Shalu Pal, optometrist and owner of The Yorkville Eye Institute (Canada), shares a comprehensive clinical guide on managing presbyopia with contact lenses. Her article outlines:

A proactive approach to early patient education
A personalized method for explaining accommodative status
A step‑by‑step overview of the fitting process
Best practices for assessing visual satisfaction

Her insights offer practical strategies that practitioners can incorporate into daily patient care.

The feature article, authored by Dr. Susan Gromacki, director of the contact lens service at First Sight Vision Care (United States), highlights patient perspectives on presbyopia. She reviews findings from a questionnaire and focus group involving adults aged 36–48, exploring their feelings about presbyopia and preferred correction options.

Contact Lens Update issue 91 Left to Right - Shalu Pal, Susan Gromacki, and Marc Vincent — Left to Right – Shalu Pal, Susan Gromacki, and Marc Vincent

Clinical Tools and New Research Insights

This issue’s clinical insight is a downloadable patient handout created by CORE. The full‑colour PDF explains the basics of presbyopia and outlines different contact lens correction types—an accessible resource to help practitioners discuss pros, cons and lifestyle suitability with patients.

The conference highlight, contributed by Marc Vincent, head of Professional Affairs at CooperVision France, summarizes a study involving 1,064 new and experienced contact lens wearers across 118 French practices. Presbyopic participants were fit with soft daily disposable or frequent‑replacement multifocal lenses and rated:

Overall comfort and satisfaction
Ease of handling
Quality of vision

The study also reported continuation rates and reasons for discontinuation, offering valuable real‑world data for practitioners.

Free Access to Tools, Training and Back Issues

In addition to a complete archive of past issues, ContactLensUpdate.com provides a free resource library featuring professional tools, patient materials, images, videos and technical training produced by the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE). Eye care professionals can access Issue 91 directly or subscribe for automatic email delivery.

The publication is supported by the educational divisions of Alcon, CooperVision, and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

Source: Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

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August 14, 2026August 14, 2026

Don’t Let “The Blur” Stand in the Way of Children’s Learning

CAO launches a national awareness campaign on children’s eye health and the rising epidemic of myopia

The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) is launching a new digital awareness campaign urging parents to prioritize regular comprehensive eye exams for their children. Eye exams play a critical role in ensuring every child is set up for success in the classroom, yet eye health often receives less attention than other routine health care.

According to the release, “Children rarely realize anything is wrong with their vision — they assume everyone sees the world the way they do.” As CAO President Dr. Allison Scott explains, this is why parents are often surprised when a vision problem is diagnosed. A comprehensive eye exam remains the most reliable way to detect these “invisible” issues early, giving children the clear vision they need to thrive at school and beyond.

Running throughout August on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube in English and French, the campaign highlights a simple but powerful message: Myopia Can Hide in Plain Sight. It is supported by provincial optometry associations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, along with industry sponsors Alcon and CooperVision.

Early Exams Are Essential for Healthy Visual Development

As children grow, their eyes develop rapidly — and eye conditions can emerge just as quickly. Optometrists frequently encounter “invisible” issues such as myopia, now increasingly common among children.

CAO recommends that parents schedule comprehensive eye exams beginning at six to nine months, again between two and five years, and annually until age 19. After age 19, eye development stabilizes, allowing healthy adults to transition to exams every two years. Even in the absence of symptoms, regular exams are crucial for early detection and timely intervention.

Myopia: A Growing Global Concern

Detecting myopia early allows immediate action to slow or halt its progression. Nearsighted children may struggle to see distant objects such as road signs, whiteboards, movie screens and televisions. Myopia has both genetic and environmental components, including increased screen time and near work.

Research shows that myopia now appears earlier — around 6–7 years old — and progresses more rapidly than in previous generations. High levels of myopia can lead to sight‑threatening complications such as retinal detachment, cataracts, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy. By 2050, myopia is projected to affect 50% of the world’s population.

Industry partners echo the urgency. Vanessa Johari Hansen of Alcon Canada notes that “clear vision is the cornerstone of a child’s ability to learn, grow, and build confidence.” CooperVision Canada’s Enrique Contreras adds that correcting vision is only part of the solution, as myopia often progresses with age — reinforcing the need for innovative management options.

Beyond clinical care, healthy habits such as spending more time outdoors and limiting screen time can help reduce the impact of myopia.

For more information on CAO’s awareness campaign, visit opto.ca/the-blur.