On Friday, September 22, Blackfin heartbreakingly and suddenly bereaved of Maria Luisa Pramaor. An elegant yet tenacious woman, she epitomized dedication, positivity, and hard work. Maria Luisa was instrumental in founding the company back in 1971. As the 18^th employee of Luxottica, at a time when the leading eyewear multinational was but a nascent venture nestled within the Belluno mountains, she had the foresight and prowess to carve out a path that positioned her as one of the first female entrepreneurs of the region and the eyewear industry.

Life presented its fair share of challenges to Maria Luisa, yet she faced them with an unwavering optimism. She always stressed the importance of leading by example to both her collaborators and her family.

Those at Blackfin will remember her for her radiant smile, unwavering determination, and gracious courtesy which subtly hinted at a gentle yet firm conviction that nothing in life is random, and in all its forms, life is indeed beautiful.

“It is with profound sorrow that I announce the sudden passing of my mother, Maria Luisa Pramaor, the founder of our cherished company. She wasn’t just my wonderful and tender-hearted mother; she was a beacon of positivity, energy, and resolve, radiantly optimistic, deeply in love with life, and always envisioning the future. While such words might often be seen as cliché, those fortunate enough to have known her understand they genuinely capture her essence. We’ve lost our shining guiding light, the beacon that lit our way. Her legacy continues within us, and from this day forward, we commit to pouring even more passion and dedication into all we do, to honor her memory and unparalleled legacy. I know she’d want us to respond with strength and resolve, and so we shall. For you, Maria.” – Nicola Del Din, CEO.

Click HERE for the press release.

Meta Platforms and EssilorLuxottica introduced their next generation of smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, during the annual Meta Connect event.

The new collection offers the first ever eyewear with live streaming and Meta AI built-in, higher quality camera, and improved audio and microphone systems paired with a redesigned, more intuitive app and charging case.

The livestreaming function allows content creators to broadcast their experiences and POV in real time, hands-free. It opens a new level of authenticity and relatability in the content that’s being created, sharing live from their eyes. The wearer can toggle between the glasses and phone camera to Instagram Live or Facebook Live for up to 30 minutes. The Meta AI offering is exclusive to the U.S. at launch, wearers will be able to use the voice prompt “Hey Meta” to dive deeper into a moment of creativity and control features on the glasses. As a commitment to privacy continues to be at the core of the product, the company has made the privacy LED light bigger and more noticeable.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses collection has taken a leap forward in audio and camera quality. Its camera goes from 5 MP to an ultrawide 12 MP – which takes high-quality photos and immersive 1080p videos in portrait orientation. The discreet open-ear speakers now have increased bass response and noise suppression, enhancing the overall audio quality. Each pair can be found with five built-in microphones to support seamless switching between music and calls, while still allowing the wearer to hear the ambient sound of their surroundings and stay attuned to the world around them. The listening experience now includes bass response and noise suppression, enhancing the overall audio quality for a more complete audio experience – whether it’s for listening to a favorite album or reliving moments personally created.

“We’re incredibly proud to collaborate with Meta to build this nascent category from the ground up. The new Ray-Ban Meta collection is in a league of its own with features that have never fit inside a pair of glasses before. The world sees you in a pair of your favorite Wayfarer, perhaps with your own prescription and Transitions lenses that go from day to night, but you know you have this powerful universe of tech inside. Meta AI, live streaming, and insanely crisp audio and calling capabilities – all hands-free,” said Rocco Basilico, Chief Wearables Officer for EssilorLuxottica. “This is what we imagined when we first decided to enter this space. Truly wearable, life-enhancing technology. And it will only get better.”

The Ray-Ban | Meta collection is available for purchase on October 17^th at Ray-Ban stores, Ray-Ban.com, Meta.com as well as select EssilorLuxottica retail stores LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, and through the company’s wholesale distribution network in Canada and other countries.

Click HERE for the full press release.

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Starting September 27 and through November 27, all MIDO exhibitors can apply to participate in the Certified Sustainable Eyewear (CSE) Award, created by MIDO in partnership with ANFAO and Certottica, that assesses sustainability in the eyewear industry at an international level.

Recycled materials, reduced consumption in the production and distribution processes, maximization of the supply chain, elimination of waste, degree of recyclability, use of renewable resources and any certifications already achieved, are some of the criteria the jury will use to determine the winners of the award’s 2^nd edition.

Winners will be announced during MIDO, February 3 – 5 at Fiera Milano Rho. The award is divided into six categories: CSE Award Sunglasses Europe, CSE Award Sunglasses Rest of the World, CSE Award Frames Europe, CSE Award Frames Rest of the World, CSE Award Cases Europe and CSE Award Cases Rest of the World.

To participate, entrants must complete the online form available in the “Take Part” section of the website www.mido.com.

Starting October 18, applications will also be open for the BeStore Award, in recognition of the best optical center in the world, and on October 26 registration will open for the Stand Up For Green award, which will be assigned to the most sustainable stand, based on its focus on environmental impact and use of materials.

Visitor registration is now open. To participate, complete the form at this link https://www.mido.com/en/entry-pass. 

The travel packages have also been activated for visitors from the United States, Central and South America and Canada https://www.mido.com/en/accommodation.

To always be up to date on the latest news, visit www.mido.com and the official MIDO social channels Instagram (@mido_exhibition), Facebook (@MIDOExhibition), Twitter (@MIDOExhibition) and Linkedin.

Click HERE for the full press release.

For other related news on Optik NOW, click HERE.

PPG announced an exclusive supplier agreement with Flō-Optics, a developer of digital manufacturing technology for the ophthalmic industry, for the application of PPG HI-GARD® scratch-resistant coatings using Flō’s proprietary digital printing technology.

The agreement will enable the first ever digitized lens coating solutions using additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, technology. The digitized process will enable ophthalmic labs to apply coatings to lenses with precision for a customizable production method that allows for lenses with unique performance capabilities. In addition to allowing lenses to be more functional, the process makes lens coating more efficient, reducing material consumption, lowering production energy requirements and offering faster turnaround times compared to traditional application methods.

“Since the inception of PPG Hi-Gard coatings, our approach has been to provide innovative, protective optical solutions that are on the cutting edge of technology,” said Zachary White, PPG global segment manager, new markets, Optical Monomers and Coatings. “PPG has a history of successfully collaborating with disruptive companies like Flō, leveraging technological and manufacturing know-how to introduce step-change advancements to the industry.”

Flō’s digital coatings technology is achieved through multimaterial and multilayering techniques that expand customization and automation options, reduce production complexity, increase scalability and deliver consistent quality.

PPG Hi-Gard lens coating solutions provide a durable, scratch-resistant coating on ophthalmic lenses made from plastic lens materials. The optical quality of plastic lenses is maintained, and lenses coated with Hi-Gard lens coating are four to six times more abrasion resistant than uncoated lenses.

Click HERE for the full press release.

New research previewed during Vision Expo West reveals that creating and maintaining a positive contact lens culture within eye care practices takes a multifactorial approach, offering several pathways for patient and business success. The Contact Lens Institute^™—in partnership with The Vision Council—presented a sneak peek of its forthcoming report, “The Culture Calculation: Data-Backed Behaviors for Contact Lens Success,” from the conference’s Innovation Stage.

The organizations jointly surveyed 173 members of the U.S. eye care community, asking a range of questions regarding beliefs and behaviors when it comes to cultivating contact lens enthusiasm among their colleagues and patients. Responses included perspectives from optometrists, opticians, ophthalmologists, and practice administrators.

“Since 2021, our See Tomorrow initiative has uncovered valuable consumer insights for the eye care community. The latest effort turned the lens inward, for the first time quantifying what’s involved to create, nurture, and expand positive contact lens cultures,” said Stan Rogaski, executive director of the Contact Lens Institute. “Unlocking this knowledge has the potential to inspire better patient satisfaction and practice management outcomes alike.”

Chief among the previewed findings is that 94% of respondents believe their practices already have a positive contact lens culture. 84% of practices encourage doctors and staff to recommend contact lenses, with the same percentage encouraging patients to consider this form of vision correction.

Those beliefs are in stark contrast to actual behaviors. The new data indicates that only 49% of practices discuss contact lenses with the majority of eligible, non-lens wearing patients. This validates prior See Tomorrow consumer research, in which more than two-thirds of patients did not recall contact lenses being discussed during their last two office visits. In a related survey earlier this year, 44% of glasses-only wearers expressed interest in contact lenses, but stated the possibility was never raised by their doctor or staff.

The research team also asked the eye care community to rate the importance of more than 20 factors that affect a positive contact lens culture. Product access and advancements topped the list, followed closely by elements over which a practice has more direct control, including education and training, in-office advocacy, and the emotional and professional benefits staff receive by prescribing contact lenses.

The final data set within the preview focused on the financial upsides of contact lenses.  Surprisingly, only 47% of respondents indicated their practices quantify the business impacts of contact lens patients compared to patients who rely on other forms of vision correction. Of those that do perform some type of assessment, 56% report that contact lens patients are more profitable. This raises several questions regarding tracking and analysis methodologies, the under-utilization of strategies such as prescribing glasses to current contact lens patients, and myths that may color perspectives on the topic.

“The golden thread across our culture research findings is opportunity—opportunity to have more patient conversations, opportunity to enhance certain practice elements to motivate colleagues, and opportunity to better measure the substantial economic value of contact lenses to the eye care community,” said Rogaski.

The expert panel at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center was moderated by Charissa Lee, OD, FAAO, a member of the Contact Lens Institute Board. Joining her were Alysse Henkel, senior director, Market Research & Analytics for The Vision Council, as well as 2023 Contact Lens Institute Visionaries Shelby Brogdon, OD, McFarland Eye Care, Little Rock; Sabrina Gaan, OD, Eyes on Plainville, Plainville, Mass.; and Lisa Hornick, OD, FAAO, Stanford Ranch Optometry, Rocklin, Calif.

The comprehensive “The Culture Calculation: Data-Backed Behaviors for Contact Lens Success”  report with additional reporting categories and analysis will be published in mid-October 2023.

Click HERE for the full press release.