A survey conducted by Transitions Optical involving 1000 Canadian consumers provides some insight into consumer satisfaction and expectations of eyecare professionals.

 

According to the findings, more than 9 out of 10 respondents considered an accurate comprehensive examination to be the most important aspect of visiting an optical retailer. Furthermore, 8 out of 10 indicated that they were satisfied in this regard.

 

Customer service (83%); a wide variety of frames (81%); an attractive, well-organized frame display (74%), optometrist recommendations (74%), and optician recommendations (67%) stood out as the other important aspects of visiting an optical office.

 

Nearly 70% of the respondents deemed it important to have an informative discussion with the optician about lenses; 60% felt the same way about frames. Nevertheless, only 68% of respondents rated their-customer-service-experience as excellent or very good, while just over half considered that their eyecare professional did a really good job at personalizing lens recommendations.

 

According to Isabelle Tremblay-Dawson, marketing manager for Transitions Optical in Canada, “the results are helpful to show eyecare professionals the opportunity to grow their practice with increased patient satisfaction.”

Source:

www.transitions.com

 

Marchon International Ltd. recently named Pierre Bessez the new Senior Vice-President of Corporate Initiatives.   

 

In this newly created position, Bessez will support President and CEO Claudio Gottari’s efforts to run the company and develop corporate projects. His first mission will be to head Marchon Canada. Bessez will report to Steve Wright, Senior Vice-President for North America. 

 

Pierre Bessez has over 30 years of fashion industry experience. Before joining Marchon in 2006, he left his mark as President of Stetson, Christian Dior/Chemise and Burberry US. “Between his knowledge of our industry and his international marketing experience, he has the perfect skill-set to manage our key projects,” said Claudio Gottari as he congratulated Bessez on his new role. 

 

Manlio Ciralli will replace Bessez as Vice-President of International Brands and EMEA (Europe, Middle-East and Africa) Marketing. Marchon’s portfolio includes such prestigious brands as Fendi, Calvin Klein, Pucci, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste and Ferragamo.

 

 

Israeli researchers are putting forward a new approach to restore sight to the blind without surgery or implants.

 

Many of the degenerative diseases of the outer retina are characterized by degeneration of photoreceptors, while other cells remain intact. Researchers at Technion University in Haifa, Israel, are attempting to use retinal ganglion cells as photoreceptors by making them sensitive to light with optogenetics. Optogenetics modifies the targeted neurons by making them express photosensitive ion channels normally found in photoreceptors.

 

Then all that needs to be done is to transmit visual information to these cells that they can interpret, since they do not have the multilayer network of cells that normally amplifies and preprocesses these signals for photoreceptors. To achieve this end, the researchers use holographic projections produced by eyeglasses equipped with miniature cameras that transmit the real-time image to holographic projectors mounted on the temples.

 

“Our approach is different and attempts to stimulate the surviving retinal cells without the need for direct implants onto the retina,” pointed out Professor Shy Shoham.

Source:

http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/73347.htm

 

New Look Eyewear achieves record sales in the second quarter ended June 29.

 

At $24.0 million, this represents an increase of 12.7% over the corresponding period last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $2.7 million, compared to $2.0 million last year. During this period, New Look increased its network by three stores operating under its banner and concluded affiliations with two independent optical clinics. The chain now has 76 locations, in addition to a laboratory.

 

According to Martial Gagné, New Look’s president, “the second quarter of 2013 surpassed all previous quarterly milestones regarding revenues, EBITDA, net earnings, and cash flows, and represents an outstanding performance by the company and all its management and associates.”

 

Overall, New Look’s sales increased by 7% for the first six months of the year, while net earnings were up 28.6%.

 

New Look will pay a dividend of $0.15 per Class A common shares, payable on September 30, 2013, to the shareholders of record as of September 20, 2013.

 

Source:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/new-look-eyewear-inc-announces-record-results-second-quarter-2013-announces-its-quarterly-tsx-bci-1818027.htm  

 

The world’s first trial in regenerative medicine will be aimed at treating a form of age-related macular degeneration with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Unlike with stem cells from human embryos, there are no ethical issues involved with this type of cell.

 

The clinical trials will take place in Japan. Japan’s Ministry of Health has signed off on the project put forward by the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation – a Kobe hospital centre – following approval from a commission of experts in June.

 

The researchers intend to use cells taken from the patient’s body to grow retinal cells and then implant them back into the patient. The cells, which will be returned to a near embryonic state, will be able to recover their immaturity and their ability to differentiate themselves in response to their surrounding environment.

 

This method for reprogramming adult cells to stem cells – a crucial step for regenerative medicine – was developed by the Japanese researcher Shinya Yamanaka and British researcher John Gurdon. This discovery earned them the Nobel Prize in Medicine. In Japan, work involving iPSCs is a research priority receiving highly significant funding from the government.

Source:

http://www.lapresse.ca/sciences/genetique/201307/19/01-4672327-medecine-regenerative-debut-des-premiers-essais-cliniques-mondiaux-sur-lhomme.php