The French newspaper Les Echos recently disclosed details about a draft bill intended to allow opticians-optometrists to prescribe glasses.

 

In France, ophthalmologists are responsible for conducting eye tests and prescribing glasses and contact lenses. Justified by the reduction in the number of ophthalmologists by 2020, at a time when eye disorders will increase by at least 15%, the draft bill plans to “allocate certain acts, such as prescribing corrective glasses or contact lenses, to specially trained opticians.”

 

The text states that 2,000 opticians-optometrists are already trained and waiting to fully exercise their powers. The French Ministry of Economy and Finance estimates that health insurance savings will total $142 million (100 million euros) and that insureds or supplementary health insurance organizations (Ocam) will see savings of $370 million (260 million euros).

 

The National Union of French Ophthalmologists (Snof), which called on its members to go on strike September 30, issued a biting response through its president, Dr. Jean-Bernard Rottier. “The measures to demedicalize the sale of glasses are a threat to the eye health of the French people. A visit to an ophthalmologist is the only way to detect asymptomatic diseases, which sometimes have irreversible consequences: glaucoma, brain tumour… As doctors, we’re responsible for making sure that patients receive the best care possible to preserve their eye health. And when it’s threatened, we’ll fight for them!”

Watch for more information as it comes available…

Sources:

http://opticien-presse.fr/2014101101-le-gouvernement-prevoit-de-deleguer-la-prescription-de-lunettes-aux-opticiens-optometristes/

http://opticien-presse.fr/2014091602-projet-de-loi-croissance-et-optometrie-les-ophtalmologistes-atterres-appellent-a-la-greve/

 

Chicago-based private equity investment firm Wind Point Partners has acquired Vision-Ease Lens, manufacturer of LifeRx^®, ChangeRx, SunRx, Coppertone^®, Novel and Novella lenses. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

Vision-Ease Lens was owned by Insight Equity, another private equity investment firm, this time based out of Dallas.

 

“This recapitalization with Wind Point Partners will enable our long-term growth in some key areas, while continuing our excellence in day-to-day operations,” said Doug Hepper, president and CEO of Vision-Ease Lens, in a news release. “We will also be able to devote more resources to global growth.”

 

Wind Point is confident the deal offers good value: “Vision-Ease Lens is a strong investment for our firm because of its long-standing stability and position as a market leader in value-added ophthalmic lenses, as well as the breadth of its products and strong brand reputation,” said Nathan Brown, a managing director at Wind Point.

Source:

http://www.vision-ease.com/Home/About-Us/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25.aspx

 

 

“VISION” CATEGORY  

BBGR with“Sirus Plus”

 

“MATERIAL/EQUIPMENT” CATEGORY 

INTERACTIF VISUEL SYSTEME with “DEEP LIGHTS by Activisu”

 

“LOW VISION” CATEGORY

TELORION with “Telorion Zoom”

 

“CHILDREN” CATEGORY

CAROLINE ABRAM with “5+5=10” de Tête à Lunettes

 

“OPTICAL FRAME” CATEGORY

LUCAS DE STAËL with “Stratus”

 

“SUNGLASS” CATEGORY

MASUNAGA X Kenzo Takada with “Campanule K18”

 

“SPORTS EQUIPMENT” CATEGORY

BOLLÉ Sport Protective with “Coverage” collection Enfant

 

“FRAME TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION” CATEGORY

MORGENROT EYEWEAR with “Morgenrot SC3”

 

“SPECIAL PRIZE FROM THE JURY”

PIERO MASSARO with “PM415”

 

 

 

Novartis Canada employees have raised $150,000 for breast cancer research as part of the 10^thannual Ride for Life cycling event.

 

Out of the 80 employees representing the various divisions at Novartis Canada, 47 cycled the full 600 km from Toronto to Montreal in four days. The others took part in portions of the event, such as on the first day, at the Quebec border or on the final day at the arrival point at Novartis headquarters in Dorval.

 

Over the past ten years, Novartis has raised almost $1 million for breast cancer research during this event. Most of the cyclists have been personally affected by cancer.

 

The cyclists were met at the end of the event by Breast Cancer Foundation’s mobile exhibition, La Virée Rose, the objective of which is to raise awareness among the Quebec population. The agency’s director general, Francine Cléroux, is grateful for the dedication of Novartis employees over the past decade. “Their contributions have played an important role in the Foundation being able to invest more than $16 million into research over the past 10 years,” she said.

Source: http://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/1415640/ride-for-life-almost-1-million-raised-by-novartis-employees-for-breast-cancer-research-in-10-years

 

The organizers of the latest Vision Expo West are satisfied with the results from this year’s show. “Considering what is happening at other industry shows, the fact that we kept our attendee base (15,000) and the same exhibition area means we were successful,” says Tom Loughran, vice president of Reed Exhibitions Group.

 

Mr. Loughran points out that VEW offers its attendees the largest continuing education program in the industry. In addition to holding special complementary events outside the show, such as the contact lens forum, the show offered 39 various courses and almost 400 hours of training. Aside from the traditional clinical aspects, the 2014 program also gave ECPs an opportunity to acquire critical knowledge on the client experience and ways to increase their revenues, as well as on new technologies that have a direct impact on their practice, such as smart glasses or connected objects.

 

VEW also introduced some new equipment and frames, celebrities (Randy Jackson, Victor Ortiz), a video in progress (Sight: The Story of Vision) and several new apps for tablets that help take measurements and inform patients about their eye health.

 

In short, this year’s show was a full experience and plans for the next show are already underway. In 2015, it is to be held September 17–19 in Las Vegas.

 

Watch for the November issue of Opt!k Magazine to read our complete coverage of VEW 2014.