Blog

November 9, 2017April 24, 2018

Mexx Eyes: Fashionable Metal Panto

Style 2711- No frills, refreshingly young and cool. Super fine-rimmed Panto made of metal with trendy double bridge. The sleek design remains subtly in the background and perfectly accentuates the minimalist design of the style. In terms of colour, the frame shines in bright gold or a delicate rose. Matt poppy red and azure blue – also with matt finish – complement the colour palette. Absolutely hip, but at the same time pleasantly unobtrusive. A real fashion highlight. We like! Mexx Eyes – Glasses for every day. For real people. For people who live life to the fullest, preferring authenticity to perfection.

Distributed by Lanctôt: www.rlanctot.com

November 9, 2017April 24, 2018

Researchers Identify Key Protein in Diabetic Retinopathy

Researchers found that inhibiting a certain protein reduced diabetic retinopathy, according to an article published October 23^rd in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The protein was identified as ARF6 (reduced ADP-ribosylation factor 6), a protein involved in amplifying and maintaining levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Wendy Zhu, assistant professor of Internal Medicine at University of Utah Health, explained, “What is exciting about this study is that we and our collaborators identified a compound (NAV-2729) that inhibits ARF6, which is crucial for the development of diabetic retinopathy.”

By inhibiting ARF6, blood vessel leakage and overgrowth of blood vessels in the retina were significantly reduced.

“ARF6 acts like a traffic cop at a busy intersection within a cell,” says Dean Li, vice president, Head of Translational Medicine at Merck & Co. and senior author on the paper. “ARF6 orchestrates multiple inflammatory signals that contribute to inflammation common in many diseases, including diabetic eye disease.”

Injections of ARF6 inhibitor were found to be more effective at reducing inflammation than anti-VEGF injections, the current standard of treatment, which is effective in only 40 percent of patients.

Shannon Odelberg, associate Professor of Internal Medicine at U of Utah, was hopeful that these results would have implications even beyond diabetic retinopathy, “We think these results are important because they identified a mechanism by which ARF6 controls VEGF receptor signaling and therefore may have much broader implications, extending to other diseases that involve VEGF receptor activation, such as cancer.”

More information: https://healthcare.utah.edu/publicaffairs/news/2017/10/diabetic-eye.php

November 8, 2017April 24, 2018

Circuit FLEX Sunglasses Are Now Available from Eschenbach

Eschenbach Optik’s new Circuit FLEX Sunglasses are an ideal choice when making prescription-corrected absorptive filters for patients with higher refractive errors. Their unique frames, featuring a removable 6-base adapter, allow them to accommodate stronger refractive errors while also providing 8-base wrap protection. Using Eschenbach’s Custom Solution service, these glasses can be prescription-corrected and the lenses can be customized in any tint color desired.

The Circuit FLEX frames are a stylish choice for both men and women and are available in two sizes, large and extra-large, each featuring a flexible nylon design. The rubberized nose and ear pieces provide a comfortable fit and the wrap around design offers full coverage protection. The gray polycarbonate lenses that come in the standard frames block 100% of UVA and UVB light and have 15% light transmission. Each pair also includes a protective zippered case with belt loop and key ring clip and a durable lanyard that snaps onto the glasses temples for safe keeping.

Click HERE for the full press release.

November 8, 2017April 24, 2018

AAO Donates in Honour of Brien Holden Humanitarian Awardee

The American Academy of Optometry is pleased to announce a $5,000 donation has been made to VOSH/International in honour of Ellis Potter, OD, FAAO, the 2017 inaugural recipient of the Brien Holden Humanitarian Award. Dr. Potter was recognized at the Academy 2017 Chicago Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 13, 2017.

The Brien Holden Humanitarian Award honours the memory and work of Professor Brien Holden, PhD, DSc, FAAO. This award recognizes an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to improve eye care within a country or region. In particular, the award acknowledges humanitarian efforts in the non-profit sector that build or support the development of sustainable eye care systems in developing communities. The Academy annually makes a $5,000 donation to the charity or cause of the awardee’s choice.

“The American Academy of Optometry has paid me the highest compliment with the Brien Holden Humanitarian Award. I in turn want to express my appreciation to the late Professor Brien Holden, and thank the Brien Holden Vision Institute, for educating, inspiring and motivating many to the cause of avoidable blindness. Additionally, my thanks go to the many non-profits, partners and individuals that have joined and supported sustainable eye care causes,” said Dr. Potter.

Dr. Potter was recognized for this award due to his lifetime record of humanitarianism and long and distinguished career with VOSH/International where he played a big role in helping the organization evolve from its original model that provided care in week long clinic trips to developing countries to a model that works with local optometry and health care organizations to create sustainable models. Dr. Potter, an Academy Emeritus Fellow, also holds the distinction of being a Diplomate and served as Chair of the Academy’s Comprehensive Eye Care Section. He was also awarded the VOSH/International Dr. Harry I. Zelter Lifetime Achievement Award at the VOSH/International annual meeting in Chicago in October 2017.

The Brien Holden Humanitarian Award, established by the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Holden family estate, will be awarded annually. Nominations for 2018 should include two letters of nomination from Academy Fellows and a CV of the nominee. Nominations are due by April 1, 2018 to HelenV@aaoptom.org.

November 8, 2017April 24, 2018

Safilo Shows Modest Growth Without Gucci

Safilo’s Board of Directors approved on November 8 their Q3 2017 results. They report that their group’s Core Brand net sales are up 1.3 percent compared to the third quarter of 2016.

In the first nine months of 2017 Safilo’s sales performance of their current brand portfolio was -4.0 percent, with their difficulties attributed to the implementation of a new Order-to-Cash IT system in Padua.

Sales in North America totaled $154.5 milion CAD in Q3 2017, down 13.7 percent from Q3 2016 at constant exchange rates. Safilo reports modest increases in revenue of their going forward brands of 0.4%, due to improving performance in their independent optical channel in North America.

Due to the exit of the Gucci license at the end of 2016, Safilo’s total net sales are down 15 percent compared to 2016, while gross profit is down 28 percent. The license with Gucci was replaced by a Strategic Product Partnership Agreement with Kering for development and manufacturing of Gucci Eyewear.

Read the full press release HERE.