Blog

January 4, 2017April 24, 2018

Transitions and OAC Announce 2016 Students of Vision Scholarship Winners

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Transitions Optical, Inc. and the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) are pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Students of Vision Scholarship program: Melanie Chin, Gabriella Courey and Laura Arrabi. Melanie Chin, a second year optometry student at the University of Waterloo, will be awarded a grand prize scholarship of $2,500; Gabriella Courey, a second year optometry student at the Université de Montréal, will be awarded a scholarship of $1,500; and Laura Arrabi, a first year opticianry student at NAIT, will be awarded a scholarship of $500.

This fall, applicants were asked to develop a project in the form of an essay, presentation or video sharing how they will educate patients and research the best optical lens solutions to protect against harmful blue light and UV. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges and evaluated based on their demonstration of creativity, strategic thinking and ethics. While many applicants displayed creativity and forward-thinking, Chin rose above the others with a comprehensive multimedia plan for blue light education. Additionally, Courey proposed in an essay several tactics of exceptional quality and Arrabi shared a notable overview for blue light awareness.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 3, 2017April 24, 2018

Prism-Containing Glasses Minimize Peripheral Vision Loss

New eyewear containing prisms can expand the visual field for patients with partial blindness, reducing collisions with other pedestrians, according research from the the Schepens Eye Research Institute at Harvard Medical School.

In the paper, recently published in Journal of Vision, the researchers used 42 patients with limited vision from retinitis pigmentosa to test their collision risk model, and found that the risk of collision is highest when objects approach from a 45 degree angle. “This means that any visual-field expanding device will be most effective if it can cover that angle,” explains lead study author Eli Peli, professor of ophthalmology.

Peli’s team is attempting to improve on their designs for visual-field-expanding eyewear, which uses prisms to bend light into still-functioning areas of the eye. These advances would improve vision not only for patients suffering from peripheral vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa, but also patients with hemianopia, Usher syndrome (a rare genetic disorder which results in vision and hearing loss), or advanced glaucoma.

Full paper available at: http://jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2592297

December 28, 2016May 20, 2026

Vinyl Factory’s Williams is Sure to Mesmerize

The Williams sunglasses are packed with a mesmerizing vintage appeal. And when you’ll get closer, you’ll notice a subtle material and colours alchemy which will complete the seduction process.

Distributed by Optiman Group: www.optimaninc.com

December 26, 2016April 24, 2018

Safilo Announces Entry into Wearables through Canadian Connection

MUSE Brain Sensing Technology — MUSE Brain Sensing Head Band

Safilo Group announced a partnership and licensing agreement with Interaxon Inc, a Toronto-based world leader in sparse EEG (electroencephalography) brain sensing technology that has been validated with over 100 research partnerships, including University of Toronto, McMaster University, NASA, IBM and others. Interaxon’s MUSE technology enables consumers, athletes and healthcare professionals to enhance personal wellness by helping improve their mental focus.

Safilo will enter the wearable segment by integrating Interaxon’s Muse technology into a new product Safilo^X, which will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January.

Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo Group, said. “It is neither another example of technology mounted on frames, nor technology for its own sake. With Safilo^X our group leverages its legendary passion for product and people for a wearable eyewear proposition of unparalleled fit and comfort, aspirational design and style, and compelling consumer relevance,”

Both Canadian and Italian scientific research partnerships with Safilo^X are already underway, including at the University of Toronto, University of Victoria, as well as the neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience centre at the Cattolica University of Milan.

Read the full Press Release here.

December 22, 2016April 24, 2018

Panelists Announced for The Vision Council 2017 Executive Summit

Join The Vision Council at the Ritz-Carlton, Orlando-Grande Lakes, Florida as industry thought leaders take the stage to discuss and debate hot topics.

Thursday morning, January 26, incoming Chairman of The Vision Council Mike Hundert delves into wisdom offered by Dave Holmberg, President and CEO, Highmark Health, Daniel Liberman, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at Essilor, and Dr. Alan Glazier, OD, Founder, ODs on Facebook, as they discuss what’s next for managed care, disruption in channels of distribution, new business models and the future for Optometry. This is a great opportunity to hear perspectives on relevant issues and opportunities in an open conversation format.

Thursday afternoon, peer insights continue during the Generational panel moderated by Keynote Speaker Hannah Ubl. Discover methods to leverage diversity and bridge the generational gap with practical and actionable solutions. Learn from industry leaders Don Oakley, President of VSP Optics Group, Holly Rush, CEO of Costa Del Mar, and Jenny Smith, Essilor Strategic Account Manager.

Transitions and OAC Announce 2016 Students of Vision Scholarship Winners

Prism-Containing Glasses Minimize Peripheral Vision Loss

Vinyl Factory’s Williams is Sure to Mesmerize

Safilo Announces Entry into Wearables through Canadian Connection

Panelists Announced for The Vision Council 2017 Executive Summit

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