The Lizard King sunglasses from the Vinyl Factory Icons collection have a strong design, combining acetate worked in three-dimensions, and a finely crafted stainless steel with a vintage amp style. Its polarized lenses with their inside anti-reflection coating add great visual comfort to this awesome frame.
Distributed by Optiman Group: www.optimaninc.com
Manchester, NH – Blanchard Contact Lenses announced their support of IndyCar driver Gabby Chaves, in the No. 88 Harding Racing car. Chaves has been wearing Onefit™ Scleral Lenses since February of 2017, and reached out to Blanchard to express his gratitude for what the lenses have done to help continue his racing career. From there, a partnership was formed and the Onefit™ Scleral Lens logo can be found on Chaves’ helmet as he aims to make history on Sunday, May 28th at the 101st Indianapolis 500.
After being named Rookie of the Year in 2015, Chaves had problems with his vision deteriorating and was issued a restricted IndyCar license for the 2016 IndyCar season, where he tried to make do with heavy prescription glasses and soft contact lenses – both of which were very uncomfortable for him when driving. Even with the glasses and soft contacts, he was still very close to failing the yearly IndyCar eye exam for the 2017 season. When the IndyCar eye doctor expressed serious concerns about this, Chaves took matters into his own hands. In February 2017, he found an eye care practitioner who performed a Corneal Cross Linking procedure and prescribed him Onefit™ Scleral Lenses. Not only does Chaves now have better than 20/20 vision in both eyes and an unrestricted IndyCar license, he also told Blanchard recently: “Today was opening day for practice, and for once I didn’t even have to think about my eye comfort or sight all day.”
The Onefit™ platform of scleral lenses are designed with minimal lens mass and tear lens thickness to deliver optimal oxygenation to the cornea. From inception, Onefit lenses were designed to meet or exceed Holden-Mertz, Harvitt-Bonanno criteria for optimum oxygenation of the cornea and limbal stem cells. The platform of lenses offer a wide variety of design applications for many different indications.
“We designed Onefit scleral lenses to provide an array of benefits, many of which make them the ideal choice for athletes or active individuals such as Gabby Chaves” said Jean Blanchard, President of Blanchard Contact Lenses. “We are happy that Gabby shared his success story with us, and are excited to support him in the Indy 500 and look forward to a continued partnership” added Blanchard.
For more information on Onefit™ Scleral Lenses, visit http://blanchardlab.com/products/onefit/, as well as the consumer website https://www.onefitlenses.com/.
Laval, QC — IRIS, The Visual Group, announced its acquisition of “Blanchard & Soicher” in Fredericton, New Brunswick as well as acquiring a controlling interest of “la Clinique optométrique Ste-Thérèse”.
The Blanchard & Soicher clinic was founded in 1984 by Drs. Marisa Blanchard and Mel Soicher, and offers the full gamut of optometric services and is known for its family-style approach. This acquisition is a first step into the penetration of the Maritime market and adds another notch in the furtherance of its pan-Canadian expansion project.
Regarding the significant equity in the Ste Therese clinic, established in 1963, IRIS is continuing to pursue its pan-Canadian expansion strategy. Drs. Marie-Claude Thibault, Valérie Bélisle and Isabelle Lacroix will remain partners.
“We are very pleased to have acquired this optometry clinic that has been such an integral part of the Ste Thérèse community for over fifty-four years. Drs. Marie-Claude Thibault, Valérie Bélisle and Isabelle Lacroix are the third generation of optometrists to practice in this clinic founded by Drs. Jacqueline Moreau and Henri Allard and in which Dr. Louise Gagnon has been practicing since 1976” claimed Dr. Chaiken, president and CEO of IRIS.
Click below for the full press releases:
IRIS, Clinique optométrique Ste-Thérèse
Etnia Barcelona introduces “BE ANARTIST”, its new global campaign inspired by the icons of cinema and art, by the photographer Biel Capllonch.
Based on the artistic avant-gardes, Etnia Barcelona has created a Manifesto and an Anartist Decalogue, composed by 11 commandments, to deepen in its brand identity and to claim that the brand is more than colour, culture and quality.
“BE ANARTIST” is a campaign composed by different photographs that express the Anartist’s attitude, that challenge the viewer, provoking him. Filled with film references, the campaign photos recall mythical movie scenes such as “A Clockwork Orange”, “The Big Lebowski” or ”Pulp Fiction” and they are a tribute to movie directors such as Hitchcock, Lynch, the Coen Brothers or Kubrick.
All of the pictures have a common element: all the Anartists are wearing Etnia Barcelona’s
glasses. A campaign where all the eyewear collections of the brand are the protagonists.
Each collection responds to some concerns and conveyed and expressed through the creations. Different collections for different personalities: Originals for the purest ones, Advance for the techies, Vintage for the old school lovers and Capsules for the most daring ones.
Biel Capllonch is photographer bonded to the image of the Sonar Music Festival from many years, for its transgressive aesthetics and cultural references. His work is irreverent and highly influenced by the world of cinema, strengthening the cinematographic aspect of his photos. This is precisely what he has done for the “BE ANARTIST” campaign, capturing the “Anartist” essence of Etnia Barcelona in each of the scenes.
Click here for the complete press release.
Warby Parker’s new Prescription Check is a mobile refraction service available for computer and smartphones that allows the user to check if their prescription has changed.
A short introductory video on Warby Parker’s website explains that the approximately 20-minute long vision test requires a phone, computer, a credit card (for measurement purposes) and a room with about 12 feet of space.
The results of the vision test will be sent to an eye doctor affiliated with Warby Parker, who can approve the prescription if it is unchanged or recommend a comprehensive eye exam. Warby Parker’s website emphasizes that the refraction test is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam from an eye doctor.
Initially only customers residing in the states of California, New York, Virginia and Florida are eligible, and only if they have no history of eye disease and if they have a prescription with sphere power between 0 and -6.0 diopters and cylinder between 0 and -2.0 diopters.
Warby Parker announces that they have plans to increase the number of eligible states and customers “soon.”
The technology in the Prescription Check app is similar to the controversial online vision tests developed by Opternative, and according to TechCrunch Warby Parker had considered buying the technology before deciding to build their own.
More information: https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/23/warby-parker-prescription-check/
The Canadian Association of Optometrists has appointed Joelle Walker as its new CEO, effective January 2026, succeeding François Couillard after more than 40 years of leadership.
Learn More
The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released a new video featuring eye care professionals from around the world sharing how they use the Dry Eye Wheel to support dry eye diagnosis, education, and management.
Read more
Silhouette unveils SPX Illusion 2025, featuring two new lightweight shapes— including a striking geometric design—offered in five trend-forward colors like Canary Green Havana and Smokey Blossom. A refined, featherlight way to express personal style with elegance.
Read more
EssilorLuxottica will acquire Signifeye, adding 15 Belgian clinics to its growing ophthalmology network and strengthening its integrated medical eye-care strategy.
Read more
CORE has published issue 87 of Contact Lens Update, summarizing key findings from the TFOS DEWS III dry eye reports. Expert-authored content and downloadable PDFs provide clinicians with practical guidance on diagnosis, management, and evolving best practices.
Read more
The Canadian Association of Optometrists has appointed Joelle Walker as its new CEO, effective January 2026, succeeding François Couillard after more than 40 years of leadership.
Learn More The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released a new video featuring eye care professionals from around the world sharing how they use the Dry Eye Wheel to support dry eye diagnosis, education, and management.
Read More Silhouette unveils SPX Illusion 2025, featuring two new lightweight shapes— including a striking geometric design—offered in five trend-forward colors like Canary Green Havana and Smokey Blossom. A refined, featherlight way to express personal style with elegance.
Read More EssilorLuxottica will acquire Signifeye, adding 15 Belgian clinics to its growing ophthalmology network and strengthening its integrated medical eye-care strategy.
Read More CORE has published issue 87 of Contact Lens Update, summarizing key findings from the TFOS DEWS III dry eye reports. Expert-authored content and downloadable PDFs provide clinicians with practical guidance on diagnosis, management, and evolving best practices.
Read More
The Canadian Association of Optometrists has appointed Joelle Walker as its new CEO, effective January 2026, succeeding François Couillard after more than 40 years of leadership.
Learn More The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released a new video featuring eye care professionals from around the world sharing how they use the Dry Eye Wheel to support dry eye diagnosis, education, and management.
Read more Silhouette unveils SPX Illusion 2025, featuring two new lightweight shapes— including a striking geometric design—offered in five trend-forward colors like Canary Green Havana and Smokey Blossom. A refined, featherlight way to express personal style with elegance.
Read more EssilorLuxottica will acquire Signifeye, adding 15 Belgian clinics to its growing ophthalmology network and strengthening its integrated medical eye-care strategy.
Read more CORE has published issue 87 of Contact Lens Update, summarizing key findings from the TFOS DEWS III dry eye reports. Expert-authored content and downloadable PDFs provide clinicians with practical guidance on diagnosis, management, and evolving best practices.
Read more The Canadian Association of Optometrists has appointed Joelle Walker as its new CEO, effective January 2026, succeeding François Couillard after more than 40 years of leadership.
Learn More The World Council of Optometry and Alcon have released a new video featuring eye care professionals from around the world sharing how they use the Dry Eye Wheel to support dry eye diagnosis, education, and management.
Read more Silhouette unveils SPX Illusion 2025, featuring two new lightweight shapes— including a striking geometric design—offered in five trend-forward colors like Canary Green Havana and Smokey Blossom. A refined, featherlight way to express personal style with elegance.
Read more EssilorLuxottica will acquire Signifeye, adding 15 Belgian clinics to its growing ophthalmology network and strengthening its integrated medical eye-care strategy.
Read more CORE has published issue 87 of Contact Lens Update, summarizing key findings from the TFOS DEWS III dry eye reports. Expert-authored content and downloadable PDFs provide clinicians with practical guidance on diagnosis, management, and evolving best practices.
Read more
