Blog

May 1, 2018

Kering and Balenciaga Partner Together

Kering Eyewear and Balenciaga announce their partnership for the development, production and worldwide distribution of Balenciaga sunglasses and prescription frames.

The first Balenciaga Eyewear collection is to be launched with the Spring 19 collection, available through a highly selective distribution network from January 2019.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Kering Eyewear”, said Cédric Charbit, Balenciaga’s CEO. “We will rely on their exclusive expertise to fully exploit and reach Balenciaga’s potential in the category. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank Marcolin for their contribution in developing the brand over the past years.”

“We are extremely proud of our new partnership with Balenciaga, one of the most authentic and innovative brands in the fashion industry and the last Kering brand with an eyewear presence which was not yet managed by Kering Eyewear,” said Roberto Vedovotto, Kering Eyewear’s President and CEO. “I am sure that Balenciaga, particularly considering the brand’s strong creativity, will add substantial value to Kering Eyewear’s already outstanding portfolio of luxury brands.”

Source: Kering Eyewear

May 1, 2018May 1, 2018

Essilor Achieving Revenue Targets in First Quarter of 2018

Essilor announced that consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2018 totaled €1,825 million ($2,282 million CAD), representing an increase of 3.8% in constant currency.

This included 2.9% growth in the Lenses & Optical Instruments division, driven by new products, instruments and e-commerce and 6.6% growth in the sunglasses and readers category. In North America, the lens business grew in the United States while declining slightly in Canada.

“Everyone at Essilor continued to execute our growth strategy during the first quarter in order to achieve our goal of eradicating poor vision around the globe. After this sound start to the year, notably thanks to good performances in sunwear and e-commerce, we are confident that we will meet our full year targets as the rollout of new products gathers pace over the next few months. Moreover, the combination with Luxottica will create new and exciting opportunities for consumers and the optical industry in the short and long term.” Commented Hubert Sagnières, Essilor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Click HERE for the full press release.

April 27, 2018

Götti Wins Frame of the Year at Optician Awards

The Optician Awards 2018 Frame of the Year prize went to the DC05 sunglasses of Götti’s Perspective Collection. The Optician Awards were held during Optrafair at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole on Saturday, April 14th.

“For me, rimless glasses are the most prestigious discipline in the design of glasses. Achieving the technical requirements with so few materials took over eight years of development. We are very pleased that the jury has honoured this innovation with this award,” says designer and owner, Sven Götti.

Click HERE for the full press release.

April 26, 2018April 28, 2018

NEI Study Finds Omega-3 No Better than Placebo for Dry Eye

A trial conducted by the Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) research group found that omega-3 supplements did not outperform the placebo over a period of 12 months.

The trial involved 535 participants who had at least a six-month history of moderate to severe dry eye. 349 participants received a daily dose of 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids in capsule form, while the remaining 186 participants received an olive oil placebo.¹ The results of the study were published in the April 13 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants were allowed to continue taking their previous dry eye medications, including artificial tears and anti-inflammatory eyedrops. “Omega-3s are generally used as an add-on therapy. The study results are in the context of this real-world experience of treating symptomatic dry eye patients who request additional treatment,” said study chair for the trial, Penny A. Asbell, M.D., of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Fish oil omega-3 supplements are a $200-million a year market in Canada.²

Patient reported symptoms were recorded using the Ocular Surface Disease Index, a 100 point scale that measures dry eye severity. After the 12 month trial period both groups reported significant improvement (13.9 points on average for the omega-3 group and 12.5 points for the placebo group) but the difference between the groups was not considered statistically significant.

“The findings also emphasize the difficulty in judging whether a treatment really helps a particular dry eye patient,” said the leader of the coordinating center for the study, Maureen G. Maguire, Ph.D., of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. “More than half the people taking placebo reported substantial symptom improvement during the year-long study.”

A majority of the study participants (61% in the omega-3 group and 54% in the placebo group) reported an improvement of ten points or more on the OSDI scale. Standardized tests measuring tear quality and amount and conjunctiva health also did not show significant differences.

“The trial provides the most reliable and generalizable evidence thus far on omega-3 supplementation for dry eye disease,” said Maryann Redford, D.D.S., M.P.H., program officer for clinical research at NEI. “This well-controlled investigation conducted by the independently-led Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) Research Group shows that omega-3 supplements are no better than placebo for typical patients who suffer from dry eye.”

https://www.nei.nih.gov/content/omega-3s-fish-oil-supplements-no-better-placebo-dry-eye
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/marketplace-fish-oil-omega-3-benefits-safety-1.3326587

April 24, 2018April 24, 2018

UW Optometry Professor Kristine Dalton to Receive Teaching Award

The Faculty of Science have honoured Prof. Kristine Dalton and Dr. Rick Marta as this year’s Excellence in Science Teaching Award (ESTA) winners for their dedication to hands-on learning and mentorship. Teaching is a core mission at the University of Waterloo and this prestigious award acknowledges the special role Science faculty members play in inspiring the next generation of science and technology professionals.

Kristine Dalton is an assistant professor in the School of Optometry & Vision Science. She has been a pioneer in the field of sports vision, establishing and directing Canada’s first Sports Vision Clinic at the University of Waterloo, which has expanded to include the new Brain Injury Clinic.

“Modeling the change we seek to promote, Kristine is already creating a lasting impact and enhancing our School’s reputation for innovation and excellence in teaching,” says Prof. Stan Woo, Director of the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Dalton’s students praise her dedication in-and-outside the classroom, whether she is teaching a large class, supervising a graduate student, or training students in a clinical setting. Her hard work and unique qualifications as an educator, professional optometrist and outstanding researcher have been inspiring to students, who consider her a role model and mentor.