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EssilorLuxottica Signs Agreement to Acquire Optical Investment Group and Establish Optical Retail Footprint in Romania

EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica announces that it has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of the entire share capital of Optical Investment Group, a leading retailer of optical eyecare and eyewear products in Romania, from Innova/6, a private equity fund from Innova Capital Group, and a group of individual minority shareholders.

The agreement represents a significant step forward in elevating the optical market in Romania for the benefit of all industry players. It will allow the Company to grow appreciation for quality eyewear and eyecare solutions among consumers in the 19 million people country, while at the same time continuing to deliver our innovations to our more than 1,800 valued customers and partners who remain at the heart of our strategy.

Optical Investment Group was set-up in 2019 in cooperation with Innova Capital by combining two established Romanian optical retail chains – OPTIblu and Optiplaza. Over the past five years, Optical Investment Group has not only significantly expanded its network of traditional stores, but has also developed e-commerce channels, with a total of more than 650 talented employees and optometrists. Optical Investment Group operates through the country’s largest optical retail network comprising 99 directly operated stores, under three well-known banners: OPTIblu, Optiplaza and O51.

We are pleased to welcome Optical Investment Group into our network, a well-established player in the Romanian optical market with an experienced management team and a deep knowledge of the local dynamics. Allowing us to further grow our retail presence in the CEE region, this acquisition supports our objective to elevate the Romanian market and expand access to high quality vision care for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”

Francesco Milleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EssilorLuxottica

The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Click HERE for the press release.

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Optometry Giving Sight Kicks Off 2024 World Sight Day Challenge

Optometry Giving Sight logo a turquoise eye with black icons in the shape of people for the iris
World Sight Day Challenge

To support its mission to eradicate uncorrected refractive error through the growth and expansion of optometry around the world, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has issued its 2024 World Sight Day Challenge.

The theme of the Challenge—the organization’s largest annual fundraiser—is “Giving Together, Seeing Forever,” which celebrates the collective power of the optometry community to give the gift of sight to millions of people in need.

“The projects we support are almost entirely funded by individuals and businesses within the eye care community. Dollars donated help deliver access to eye care for people of all ages where the need is greatest throughout the world. We use donations to meet the immediate need globally for eye exams and eyeglasses, and to provide a long-term solution by expanding the optometry profession in places where it’s needed most.”

Lois Schoenbrun, Executive Director, Optometry Giving Sight

Optometry Giving Sight’s World Sight Day Challenge runs from now through the end of October, with World Sight Day to be celebrated on October 10. Those interested in taking on the Challenge by leading fundraising efforts at their practice or company can visit givingsight.org/wsdc to register and receive a toolkit with ideas and resources. Others may choose to make one-time or recurring donations at givingsight.org/donate-wsdc/

“Ending avoidable blindness and vision impairment is a cause that truly hits home and is tailor-made for optometry practice participation. He and clinic staff have participated in the challenge for nearly 20 years, the last 12 of them by sponsoring a 5K run. After so many years of participating in the World Sight Day Challenge, the highlight of our participation is the pride in knowing that Vision Clinic, as a group and as individuals, is working to make a positive impact worldwide. I love Optometry Giving Sight — a simple but classic name that describes exactly what we’re doing. “

Steve Rice, OD, of Vision Clinic in Springfield, MO

“Your level of involvement in the World Sight Day Challenge is up to you”, he adds. “You can do a little or a lot. Whatever you do, you’ll find your staff, your patients, and you expanding the benevolence that is likely already a part of your practice to make change throughout the world.”

With funds raised, Optometry Giving Sight provides grants to programs focused on long-term solutions, including those that establish optometry schools, vision centers, and optical labs in underserved communities both at home and around the globe. Individuals receive education and training to become optometrists who then provide ongoing eye care for years to come.

Over the last two decades, OGS funding has provided basic eye care services to more than 8 million people, assisted with training more than 14,000 eye care personnel, established more than 130 vision centers, and served people in more than 47 countries. For more information, visit givingsight.org.

Click HERE for the press release.

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Industry’s Most Valuable Education Program Unveiled: VEW Presents Premier Conference Program

Vision Expo

Experience the pinnacle of eye care education at Vision Expo West. This September’s educational program is now unveiled offering attendees new insights and knowledge on a diverse range of topics, from disease management and practice growth to lens innovations, the latest eyewear trends and more.

Kicking off Wednesday, September 18, the day before the exhibit hall opens at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Vision Expo’s VisionEd, will feature a line up of clinical Optometry education and the return of OptiCon @ VisionExpo. The four-day conference and trade show will welcome thousands of eye care professionals, ophthalmic experts and industry innovators.

This year’s program promises to deliver an unparalleled blend of robust top-notch presentations from the industry’s most respected experts designed to inspire, educate and elevate.

Vision Expo West will offer the industry’s leading continuing education and accreditation programs, led by world-renowned experts in 150+ hours. In addition to the education, attendees can explore and forge business opportunities in the expansive exhibit hall featuring over 350 brands, designers and manufacturers from around the globe showcasing groundbreaking innovations in frame design, lens advancements, diagnostic instruments and practice management solutions.

“We are thrilled to offer such a high-caliber educational program at Vision Expo West. The quality of our educational sessions reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing the knowledge base of vision care professionals. We believe that these sessions will provide significant value and inspire attendees to excel in their practice.”

Fran Pennella, Vice President of Vision Expo at RX

“Our courses have been carefully developed by an advisory board of thought leaders in the industry and are designed to address the critical areas of vision care. We have made concerted efforts to bring in top speakers who are at the forefront of their fields to ensure that our program remains relevant and provides ample opportunities for accreditation and professional growth.”

Mitch Barkley, Vice President of Trade Shows, The Vision Council

OptiCon @ Vision Expo:

Opticians and other Allied Health Professionals can unlock a world of knowledge and growth with the OptiCon @ Vision Expo education package. This comprehensive education package is the gateway to professional advancement and success. OptiCon @ Vision Expo West 2024 will introduce new courses covering trends and developments in the profession, with 100+ hours of content available over four days, allowing attendees to customize their learning experience from five tracks: clinical concepts, spectacle lens, contact lens, allied health and business.

“We are honored to host a spectacular lineup of distinguished speakers who will share their expertise and experiences, inspiring us to think creatively and critically about the challenges and opportunities facing opticianry today as well as in the future,” says OptiCon Advisory Board Co-Chairs, Lanard Atkins and Phernell Walker. “Attendees will have ample opportunities for networking and collaboration to connect with old friends and forge new relationships; it is through these connections that we can collectively drive progress and create a lasting impact in our industry.”

View package details »

Accredited Course Highlights: 

Ask the Experts – A three-part course series eligible for a total of six accredited hours focusing on trending topics including: ‘When Your Patient Has OSD’, ‘When You’re Treating Your Glaucoma Patients, ‘When You Are Managing The Retina’

Top 15 Diagnoses You Should Never Miss – These are the top fifteen diagnoses that eye care professionals do not want to miss.

Unveiling Uveitis – This course describes a modern approach to uveitis management and will provide a thorough review of common etiology, risk factors, systemic and ocular manifestations, and management and treatment strategies. Case examples will emphasize relevance.

Case Files: The Glaucoma Chronicles – This course will discuss a broad range of glaucoma cases from three unique settings. Tools for diagnosis, risk assessment, and management of disease will be highlighted across the spectrum of glaucoma severity with multiple perspectives provided.

Telehealth is Here to Stay. Really! – Telemedicine has quickly become the most practical way for health care providers to stay connected with patients, provide needed care, and still receive reimbursement. Once past the technical, system and billing issues, most patients and providers found the interactions productive and even preferable for many types of visits. Now we are asking, is this a stop-gap solution? Will this become more mainstream long-term? Will patients respond positively to a virtual visit? Can office and staff make this a productive, efficient component of the workflow and care delivery systems? The answers to these questions are yes, yes, and yes!

Selling Efficiently and Effectively in a Busy Practice – This course helps opticians in a very busy practice combine exemplary customer service while maximizing the limited time that may be available to work with a patient in a very busy dispensary.

View the full list of courses »

“With hands-on workshops and interactive case discussions you become part of the meeting rather than just merely attending. With over 100 courses filling over 150 hours of education, Expo positively has something for all in attendance,” shares Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, Education Planning Committee Chairman.

Professionals interested in attending the Vision Expo West education program are encouraged to register early to secure their spot. For more information and to register, please visit https://west.visionexpo.com/en-us/seminars/education-pricing.html

Click HERE for the full press release.

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BITTER: The Perfect Blend of Sculptural Beauty and Bold Colours

GIGI Studios Bitter

Introducing the BITTER sunglasses from the Odd Fruits capsule collection; a women’s model with a handcrafted frame made of high-quality Italian acetate. The oval-shaped BITTER stands out for the variety of thicknesses and laminations that add depth and new nuances to this design.

Meticulously created by the GIGI STUDIOS team in Barcelona, the Odd Fruits collection incorporates bold colours and delicate sculptural shapes with soft bevels and geometric silhouettes, a statement of style and personality.

Distributed by GIGI STUDIOS: gigistudios.com

About GIGI STUDIOS:

GIGI Studios is a brand founded in Barcelona by a family that has always been surrounded by glasses. This family spirit has led to partnerships with independent eyewear sellers and distributors in more than 45 countries. At GIGI Studios, we transmit knowledge and experience while passionately embracing the future.

Without distinction, GIGI Studios wants to support people in their self-expression by making them feel more creative and self-confident. GIGI Studios’ designs are the result of constant improvement, a process of exploration through materials, shapes, and colours seeking designs that enhance the uniqueness of the individual.

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Angela Bonfanti Becomes First Female President and CEO of CNIB

CNIB announced that Angela Bonfanti, a 13-year veteran of the CNIB team, became the organization’s first female president and CEO. After holding several leadership positions at CNIB – including, most recently, the position of Chief Operating Officer – Angela succeeds John M. Rafferty, who has been CNIB’s president since 2009. 

“It’s an understatement to say that I’m excited and honoured to be taking on this role. After 13 years with CNIB, I know what we’re capable of as a team, and it’s absolutely limitless. I’m thrilled to discover what we’ll accomplish together in the years to come for our community of people impacted by blindness from coast to coast to coast.”

Angela Bonfanti, President and CEO, CNIB

CNIB Angela Bonfanti
Angela Bonfanti

As the daughter of a person who is blind, Angela has been a lifelong champion of the rights of Canadians living with blindness or low vision. And with more than a decade of experience with CNIB, she not only understands the nuanced challenges facing people who are blind, Deafblind, or who have low vision, but she has been instrumental in tackling those challenges – from implementing innovative community programs to driving crucial changes to legislation affecting Canadians who are blind to leading the urgently-needed development of CNIB’s virtual services during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“She is a skilled, passionate, experienced, and forward-thinking leader who has proven, time and again, that she puts the needs and goals of our community first, always. Although we reviewed a wide range of strong candidates for this role, including both external and internal candidates from across Canada and internationally, Angela is the one who fully encapsulated the qualities we need in CNIB’s next president.” 

Robert Fenton, Chair of the Board of Directors, CNIB

In taking on the presidency of CNIB, Angela also proudly becomes the first female president and CEO of our affiliate organization, CNIB Deafblind Community Services (DBCS). 

To learn more about Angela, visit cnib.ca/ceo

Source: CNIB

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