A former University of Waterloo professor has made the largest donation to the School of Optometry & Vision Science in the institution’s history.

On Thursday, the university said it received a gift of $1.5 million from George Woo, a former UW professor and student, and Judy Woo.

“The University will celebrate with the naming of the George & Judy Woo Centre for Sight Enhancement at a ceremony taking place Thursday,” the institution said in a media release.

George Woo earned his optometry degree at Waterloo in 1964 and taught in the School of Optometry & Vision Science for 26 years.

The university said he developed the low vision program at Waterloo and was the founding director of the Centre for Sight Enhancement, which will now bear his name.

According to his biography on the UW website: “All our children grew up in Waterloo,” said Woo. “We enjoyed ourselves enormously in those years at the University of Waterloo, and participated in all kinds of activities around the city during that period.”

Woo now lives in Hong Kong and is the dean of the faculty of health and social sciences and chair professor of optometry at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Source: University of Waterloo School of Optometry

With approx. 1,500 industry professionals and buyers attending the Firenze show, 100 companies and 170 Italian and international brands, DaTE has indeed proven itself an essential event for the entire eyewear industry, which in Italy generates more than 4 billion euro in turnover and employs a workforce of 18,000.

“Before the show opened, we had hoped to match last year’s good performance, and we did,” acknowledged DaTE President Giovanni Vitaloni. We are pleased with the outcome and with the quality of the professionals ‒ both exhibitors and visitors ‒ who participated. Attendance by international buyers was also good, aided, in part, thanks to our partnership with ITA (Italian Trade Agency). Again this year, DaTE delivered the best our independent eyewear market has to offer, staying true to its mission as an exhibition of the avantgarde.”  

The interest in the event was also confirmed through the social channels: more than 750,000 total users who followed DaTE, for a total of 2 million views and over 60,000 interactions with posts published on Facebook and Instagram.

This year, DaTE continues October 17^th in Milan, with a special non-commercial event open to everyone. Known as MEDD by DaTE – Milano Eyewear Design Day, it caters not only to industry professionals and the press, but also to enthusiasts, designers and students ‒ a space for creative exchange and reflection on design, with an emphasis on eyewear.

The MEDD by DaTE calendar of events can be found at https://dateyewear.com/medd/.

Source: DaTE

FYiHealth Group announces that it reached an agreement to acquire WestGroupe. Following this announcement, WestGroupe will continue to operate independently from FYi Health.

“We are delighted to welcome the WestGroupe team to FYi Health Group,” said Dr. Alan Ulsifer, Chair, and CEO of FYi Health Group.

The optical and eyecare market is changing, with new entrants constantly trying to disrupt the current procurement of eye care and eyewear.

One of the main goals of this acquisition is to work with our industry colleagues and grow as a team to advocate for fair wholesale pricing in the market. This partnership will have a material positive impact for both FYidoctors and WestGroupe customers.”

“Since its inception, WestGroupe has strived to be a leader in the North American optical industry by constantly trying to have a forward-looking approach to our business and industry. Our focus will always be to ensure that independent ECPs have the products and programs they need to be competitive in this ever-changing marketplace. 

Our partnership with FYiHealth Group will allow us to develop new ways to add value to our customer base. WestGroupe will continue to operate separately under the direct management of the Suliteanu family and Mike Debono.

FYiHealth Group was formed with the vision that doctors joining forces would be the future of the profession and the industry.

We are proud to be joining a team that has been a fierce advocate of this amazing industry we have in Canada,” said Michael Suliteanu, President of WestGroupe.

Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Click HERE for the press release.

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Distributed by: www.westgroupe.com

In a sector where science is constantly advancing, it is important for SILMO Paris to give all professionals access to the latest information, research and experiments in order to provide them with an understanding of the challenges and changes in the optical industry.

Since its creation in 2010, this place of progress, exchange, meeting of reflection for the entire optical eyewear industry, aims to accompany the optics-ophthalmics profession in their approach to excellence.

Thus, after an absence of two years, the SILMO Academy scientific symposium is back for its 11^th edition, which will focus on « improving the vision and quality of life of the most vulnerable patients. »

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

– Free sessions available in French and English – Paris Nord Villepinte

During this symposium, participants will be able to improve their knowledge and exchange with recognized international experts on two major future trends: myopia and the importance of good vision in an aging population. Identified by the World Health Organization as rapidly increasing, these two pathologies constitute a threat to public health on a global scale, generating a strong impact on the work of professionals worldwide.

Click HERE to see the full program and press release.