Elegance and modernism unite on the stunning OS-9349, a retro-inspired modified square-shaped frame. Ultra-feminine and designed for the trendsetting woman, the Mauve Cobalt colourway features a front made of translucent acetate with chic custom lamination along its sides, for an enhanced aesthetic. A spring hinge is used for added comfort and fit.
Distributed by: www.westgroupe.com
The results of the first annual Optik-Seneca College Optician writing contest have been announced.
Opticianry students at Seneca College were invited to submit an 800-word article from a list of suggested topics, including personal essays on “Why Opticianry”, “The Impact of AI on Opticianry” and, “The Use of Social Media in Patient Education”.
Prizes were awarded to the winning entries based on creativity, clarity of communication and fluency.
The Opticianry writing contest provides an opportunity for tomorrow’s peer influencers and future educators to showcase and develop their communication skills.
Many eye care professionals develop their writing expertise to a very high level and find additional freelance employment as specialized contributors or take on additional tasks to manage a practice’s communications efforts.
The 2023 Optik – Seneca Opticianry Writing Contest Winners are:
| 1st Place | Laxmi Paudyal | $200 |
| 2nd Place | Mackenzie Doan | $100 |
| 3rd Place | Rana Jounes | $50 |
Congratulations to Laxmi Paudyal, who provided a fresh, energetic and impassioned perspective on her personal motivation to become an Optician, starting with a serendipitous encounter with a complete stranger.
Mackenzie Doan’s entry is an insightful essay on how Artificial Intelligence will impact the role of Opticianry.
Rana Younes provided a delightfully clever and “artistic” entry on how she wants to change the world.
“All of the entrants are to be congratulated. We hope that they continue to develop their writing skills as they advance their professional careers. We often hear that today’s graduates can’t write. These winning entries prove that assumption wrong!” said David Pietrobon, Publisher of Optik Magazine.
Optik will be working with each of the winners through the editorial process to publish their entries in Optik Media later this year.
Optik is a division of VuePoint IDS Inc, a Canadian based publisher providing an array of B2B publications and continuing education services in the Canadian and International markets.
Preliminary results from a new study indicate that individual question responses within the widely-used Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) symptom questionnaire can be correlated to specific clinical measures, providing eye care professionals better insight on treatment pathways. The CooperVision-supported work is being presented at the ARVO 2023 Annual Meeting this week.
Association of Clinical Signs with the Ocular Surface Disease Index: Preliminary Results from the Multicenter Neurosensory Abnormalities in ocular SurfAce Disease Study (Hom M., et al.) from the NASA Study Group probes deeper than past reports of overall OSDI score correlations. The multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional investigation assessed patients who presented for ocular surface disease care. In addition to completion of the OSDI, measures were taken for tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), lissamine green conjunctival staining (LGS), Schirmer’s test, and meibomian gland grading (MGG).
Preliminary analysis included 250 participants across 13 sites. Significant correlations were identified between decreased TBUT and difficulty reading (r=-0.166, p=0.009). Increased CFS was associated with increased frequency of gritty sensation (r=0.166, p=0.008). Decreased Schirmer’s test was associated with increased symptom frequency in windy conditions (r=-0.195, p=0.002). MGG and LGS show no significant correlations.
“These outcomes should help eye care professionals derive even more value from their OSDI questionnaires, pointing them toward potential underlying issues and treatments,” said Anna Sulley, BSc(Hons), MCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA, Director, Global Medical Affairs at CooperVision. “We’re privileged to partner with some of the top researchers and institutions in ocular science, with the aim of improving fundamental clinical practice. The works being shared at ARVO 2023 reflect this collaborative spirit.”
An additional CooperVision-supported study on display in New Orleans demonstrates the effect of ceasing and then restarting contact lens use after three months in symptomatic wearers as measured by psychophysical responses to repetitive cooling stimuli.
Click HERE for the full press release.
SightGlass Vision announced positive outcomes of multiple studies designed to evaluate the performance of its Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lenses, which are designed to slow the progression of myopia in children. All are being presented this week at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Most prominent is the reporting of 42-month data from the company’s pivotal CYPRESS study extension. Results reinforced the safety and efficacy of Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lenses in children aged 6–10 at the study’s start. The latest investigation re-enrolled 98 participants from the original three-year, double-masked, randomized, multi-site clinical trial to generate six additional months of data. Outcomes again demonstrated statistically significant improvements in axial length (AL) and cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (cSER) between the test and control groups.
Separate work calculated age-independent myopia AL growth to evaluate Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lens efficacy. Because AL growth occurs even in persistently emmetropic eyes as a child develops and is most rapid before preadolescence, deriving an age-adjusted measure is valuable for clinicians and researchers. Physiological AL growth was determined based on age-matched emmetropic eye growth data from the Orinda Longitudinal Study of Myopia, then compared to AL growth observed in the original three-year CYPRESS study. Children in the test lens group showed 0.23 mm (73%, p=0.003) less pathological AL change than the control group (test: 0.08 ± 0.06 mm; control: 0.31 ± 0.05 mm).
“The extensive and rigorous science we are communicating at ARVO 2023 demonstrates the depth of our commitment to advancing myopia control, while also building additional confidence in the efficacy, safety, and overall performance of Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lenses,” said Andrew Sedgwick, CEO of SightGlass Vision.
In addition to the featured CYPRESS presentations, SightGlass Vision and its research partners will display several scientific posters at the meeting. A study from the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) shows that Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lenses have no significant effect on accommodative lag after short-term wear. Work from Indiana University suggests that Diffusion Optics Technology™ contrast-reducing micro-dots do not limit high quality spatial details and good visual performance, while another Indiana investigation concludes that wearers are unlikely to notice substantial contrast decreases when looking through the spectacle lens treatment zone.
A SightGlass team also examined the effect of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on myopia progression in North American children who participated in the CYPRESS study.
Spectacle lenses with SightGlass Vision™ Diffusion Optics Technology™ use thousands of micro-dots to softly scatter light to reduce contrast on the retina, a unique mechanism of action to control myopia progression in children. Over the last 18 months, this patent-protected technology with clinically proven efficacy made its commercial debut in several markets, including China, the Netherlands, and Israel, as well as through preliminary market trials in other countries. The company operates as a joint venture of CooperCompanies and EssilorLuxottica.
Click HERE for the full press release.
If you reside in a part of Canada that has an active Specsavers consumer media campaign, you likely haven’t missed the inaugural “Specsavers Love” TV and radio ad spots which were deployed to support their Canadian Launch in 2022.
Starting on April 24, 2023 Specsavers will debut its iconic 20-year tagline, “Should’ve Gone to Specsavers,” in a new integrated multi-channel campaign.
The new ad spots are intended to build on the humour and wit of the inaugural campaign using sophisticated cinematography in an identifiable “Canadiana” setting while keeping a touch of humour and incorporating the “changing lives through better sight” messaging.
The New Campaing is a Global Approach Adapted to Canada.
The “Should’ve gone to Specsavers ” is a highly established campaign in different regions around the world, and the new spots represent its Canadian debut.
The ads show vision-related mishaps in various outdoor adventures on the backdrop of nature landscapes, while working in a world of suspended disbelief and presenting the implausible as entirely plausible.
“With the successful establishment of Specsavers in Canada, this new generation of marketing aims to delight audiences and inspire Canadians to be as excited about eye health as we are,” said Catherine Walsh, Director of Marketing, Specsavers Canada. “The strength of Should’ve Gone to Specsavers is the gentle reminder it gives Canadians of all ages to look after their eye health while also making them smile.”
The centrepiece of the campaign is a 30-second ad that features a father and son on a fishing adventure – the two of them settled on a boat in the middle of a lake among beautiful mountains. The story introduces us to a young man with a worried look on his face, asking his dad if he has seen the boat keys. “Nope,” his father responds, cluelessly, as the spot shows him casting his rod with keys attached instead of a lure. “I could stay out here forever,” the viewer hears the father remark as the iconic tagline appears on screen.
“These spots called for sophistication in the execution by tonally and visually maintaining a level of restraint,” says Richard James, Creative Director, The Agency. “Nothing in the filmmaking overtly alludes to comedy – we approach the comedy in an underplayed manner through authentic settings and characters, effortless performances and observed cinematic style.”
The campaign will be on TV, out-of-home, radio, digital and transit ads in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
Click HERE for the full press release.
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
