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Wayne Gray, Vogue Founder, Honoured by Canadian Red Cross

Wayne Gray, Vogue Optical founder and philanthropic entrepreneur, will receive the 2016 Humanitarian Award for Prince Edward Island by the Canadian Red Cross in October in Charlottetown. Gray has made significant contributions to various causes including vision research, blindness and providing eyewear to the poor.

While Gray learned the optical trade in Ontario and Quebec, it was in PEI, that Gray’s Optical was renamed Vogue Optical and grew to more than 60 locations before the recent sale to NewLook Vision Group.

Among the many donations, was the establishment of the $250,000 Doreen Gray Endowment Fund in appreciation of the care his wife received before being claimed by cancer in 1999.  In 2015, his Gray Family Foundation presented the hospital a second endowment of $1 million to buy equipment for its eye surgical suite.

For additional information:

Source: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2016-09-05/article-4633021/Wayne-Gray-will-receive-Canadian-Red-Cross-Humanitarian-Award/1

Allergan Acquires Gene Therapy Company RetroSense Therapeutics

Allergan and RetroSense Therapeutics LLC, a private, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on novel gene therapy approaches to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness, announced that Allergan has acquired substantially all of the assets of RetroSense in an all-cash transaction.

Under the terms of the transaction, Allergan has paid RetroSense a $60 million upfront payment, and has agreed to potential regulatory and commercialization milestone payments related to its lead development program, RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the potential treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare, inherited genetic disorders characterized by progressive peripheral vision loss and night vision difficulties followed by eventual central vision loss and blindness in many cases.

To read the full press release, click HERE.

 

100 New Fashion Eyewear Brands to Debut at Vision Expo West

Las Vegas, NV – Eyewear visionaries are set to gather next week at International Vision Expo West for an early glimpse at designer styles and cutting edge lens designs. Fashion meets function at the top eyecare event for the Americas, held September 14-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Over 100 new fashion brands will debut fall lines, accessories and new eyewear trends throughout Vision Expo’s high-end fashion pavilions—the Eyewear & Accessories pavilion, The Galleria and The Suites—including Luxottica, Marchon, Safilo, De Rigo REM, Clearvision, Kenmark, Zyloware, LaFont, Pro Design, Ogi, Robert Marc, Oliver Peoples, Mykita, Lindberg and Sama, to name a few. With over 90% of ODs and Opticians reporting that Vision Expo is a good source to find the latest trends in eyewear, attendees will want to search online for the full listing of new exhibitors. Hundreds of new products and show specials are also listed online and on the official mobile app.

Not to be missed, all exhibit hall lounges will host a Visionaries champagne toast on Thursday, September 16 and Friday, September 17 from 4:30-6:00pm. With a special appearance from eyewear designers and DJs Coco and Breezy at the Thursday event in The Galleria Lounge, these champagne toasts celebrate Think About Your Eyes’ campaign success in raising awareness of the importance of annual eye exams and resulting in nearly 1 million additional eye exams in 2015.

In addition to The Galleria Lounge—which displays a new look this year—a new Eyewear & Accessories and Learning Lounge has been added, complete with charging stations, WiFi hotspots, rest areas and access to beverages. The full show map is now available, with the lounges located at the following:

  • The Galleria Lounge – G24042
  • Learning Lounge – LP3091
  • Eyewear & Accessories Lounge – 18053

From seeing fashion on the floor to learning about the latest trends and techniques in the classroom, Vision Expo West offers a strong variety of opportunities to grasp all you need to know about eyewear designs and technology through courses like “The HOW? behind the WOW! at retail,” “Must Have Eyewear Fashion Trends for 2017,” “THE BIG PICTURE – Eyewear Challenges and Solutions in the Year 2020,” and “Which Frame Material is Right for My Patient?”.

Ocuco Sponsors Defending Paralympic Champion Runner at Rio Games

paralympics jasonOcuco are proud sponsors of Jason Smyth in his challenge to defend his title in the 100m race at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio this month.

Jason already has four Gold Paralympic Medals and holds three world records. The Irishman, crowned the ‘The Fastest Paralympian on the Planet’, tops the world rankings for the T13 category of the 100m and believes he can go even faster.

Jason lost his vision when he was 8 years old due to an inherited condition called Stargardt Disease, which causes severe macular degeneration. Alice Austin, Ocuco Sales and Marketing Director, says, “Jason is an inspiration to us all and we look forward to welcoming him home with, hopefully, another gold medal.”

We wish Jason the best of luck on September 9th in Rio.

Safilo and Max Mara Announce Early Renewal of Licensing Agreement

Padua/Reggio Emilia– Safilo Group and Max Mara brand announce the early renewal of their licensing agreement for the design, manufacturing and worldwide distribution of the collections of optical frames and sunglasses. The new agreement will now run until December 31, 2023.

Safilo and Max Mara enjoy a partnership which spans nearly 20 years, dating back to 1997. They share a proud Italian heritage, a deep commitment to craftsmanship, authentic products and impeccable design, all elements that they both place at the heart of their respective long-term business growth strategies. Max Mara Eyewear was recently selected by Vogue.com as one of the ‘7 Best Accessories from the Milan Fall Winter 2016 Fashion Week’.

To read full press release click HERE.

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