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7 things you missed at Vision Expo East 2016

Article

Even if you made it to New York for last week’s Vision Expo East, there’s a good chance you didn’t catch all the big news that came out of the show.

New York City-Even if you made it to New York for last week’s Vision Expo East, there’s a good chance you didn’t catch all the big news that came out of the show.

Click here to check out all of our Vision Expo East coverage

Vision Expo East celebrates 30 years

 

 

Ashley Mills, vice president of tradeshows with The Vision Council, shares all the exciting things attendees enjoyed during Vision Expo East’s 30th year.

Next: Hoya partners with Frameri

 

Hoya partners with Frameri Eyewear

Hoya Vision Care announced its partnership with Frameri, creator of the interchangeable frame and lens system. As part of the partnership, Frameri frames with Hoya lenses will soon be available for sale at 500 independent eyecare practices throughout the continental United States. The rollout is slated to happen throughout 2016.

Frameri’s frames allow the wearer to interchange their lenses and frames. The partnership presents an opportunity for independent optical practices to increase their annual revenue while providing a unique offering to their patients.

Consumers who are very function oriented can have one pair of frames and be able to exchange lenses depending on their visual demands throughout the day. For consumers who are more fashion-forward, the reverse is true. The lens shape is the driver of the frame fashion. These wearers can utilize one pair of premium Hoya lenses and still enjoy different looks.

“Independent eyecare professionals will be critical to our success,” says Frameri founder and Optometry Times blogger Konrad Billetz. “We are excited to collaborate with Hoya as it is already a driving force for innovation among the independent practices it services. I know the important role independent eyecare providers play in our lives. Being able to offer them a product that benefits their patients and their businesses is a great opportunity.”

More from Billetz: Why ‘Made in Italy’ is often a lie

Orders will be placed by ECPs with a Hoya laboratory via a dedicated Frameri website. The Hoya laboratory will manufacture the lenses and combine with the frame or frames the patient selected. The entire kit will be assembled and shipped back to the ECP, providing a seamless experience for the patient.

“Unlike the sharks, we understand the eyecare business and saw unique value in partnering with Frameri,” says Barney Dougher, president of Hoya Vision Care, North America, referencing Frameri’s appearance on the hit show Shark Tank. “Frameri has a great story, patented technology, and utility that offers brand differentiating opportunities to independent practices.”

Related: After Shark Tank, Frameri online optical find success

Next: CooperVision's EyeCare Prime subsidiary introduces LensFerry S

 

CooperVision’s EyeCare Prime subsidiary introduces LensFerry S

EyeCare Prime, a subsidiary of CooperVision, Inc., announced an additional version of its LensFerry service-LensFerry S. The service enables practices to offer patients subscription-based ordering of their one-day contact lenses.

LensFerry S is now available to all eyecare practices in the United States. Participating practices will have the ability to enroll one-day contact lens wearers in the service, which divides the annual cost of one-day lenses into automatic monthly payments and quarterly lens deliveries.

LensFerry S includes contact lenses from all manufacturers at eyecare practitioners’ specified prices, and the prescribing practice receives the sales revenue as if the lenses had been paid for in-office.

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LensFerry was first introduced last year. The full version of the service is the first and only mobile commerce solution specifically developed for eyecare practitioners. It allows patients to order contact lenses-including monthly, two-week, and one-day modalities-via a mobile device, tablet, or computer for direct shipment to their homes. It also includes the ability to send custom-branded email and/or text reorder reminders, text-to-reorder functionality, and subscription-based ordering options.

The LensFerry S service is available to eyecare practices for $49 per month, plus $2.50 per shipment. For every completed patient annual subscription through LensFerry S, EyeCare Prime will make a donation to Optometry Giving Sight for an eye exam.

Next: Essilor offers new blue light solutions

 

Essilor offers new blue light solutions

Essilor of America launched the newest product in the Eyezen brand portfolio, Eyezen+. Eyezen+ lenses are clear, single vision with embedded protection from 20 percent of blue light and offer patients a small amount of accommodative relief to alleviate eye strain caused by digital devices use.

Eyezen+ are the only lenses in the Eyezen brand portfolio to contain the Smart Blue Filter feature.

Eyezen+ lenses are offered in a wide range of prescriptions and materials. For comprehensive eye protection, Eyezen+ lenses should be combined with a Crizal No-Glare lens treatment, according to the company, and eyecare professionals can add Crizal Prevencia for protection against harmful light.

Three Eyezen+ lens designs are available, and the patient’s age determines which design is right for them:

• Eyezen+ 1: patients aged 18 to 34

• Eyezen+ 2: patients aged 35 to 44

• Eyezen+ 3: patients aged 45 to 50

In related news, Essilor announced the availability of Smart Blue Filter, a clear feature embedded into the lens to reduce exposure to harmful blue light. Essilor’s Smart Blue Filter feature is available in select Varilux Digital (PAL) and Eyezen+ products at no additional cost. Additionally, Transitions adaptive lenses will also have the built-in Smart Blue feature.

Essilor partnered with the Paris Vision Institute to research a range of high-energy visible light to identify the specific light bandwidths that are most hazardous to the eyes. The research revealed that exposure to blue-violet light located between 415 to 455 nanometers on the light spectrum is potentially harmful to the retina over the long term. Essilor’s Smart Blue Filter feature blocks 20 percent of this harmful blue light while allowing the beneficial blue-turquoise light-located between 465 to 495 nanometers-to pass through to the eye, according to the company.

Next: Transitions expands consumer campaign to include social media influencers

 

Tim Gunn and Transitions VP of Marketing Sherianna JamesTransitions expands consumer campaign to include social media influencers

Transitions Optical, Inc. launched a new consumer outreach campaign that will highlight the stories and experiences told by influential Transitions lens wearers and speak to a younger, more fashion-focused audience.

In 2016, Transitions Optical will continue to work with a handful of familiar faces-including Emmy-winning co-host and mentor for “Project Runway,” Tim Gunn-as well as nine additional influencers in the U.S. and Canada who have strong social networks in the music, technology, and fashion categories. Combined, they have a social footprint of over three million.

“In 2015, we started to address consumer concerns about how they would look in Transitions lenses and our influencers significantly increased positive conversations about the brand,” says Patience Cook, director, North America marketing, Transitions Optical.

More from VEE: Mastering social media marketing for your practice

The influential eyeglass wearers have already begun posting to their individual digital accounts or sites, helping the Transitions brand grow its social media footprint. Additionally, many of the influencers are featured in the newly launched Lens Book, which showcases a collection of photography and quotes highlighting why each trendsetter has chosen Transitions lenses to help protect their eyes and bring out the best in everything they see.  

Eyecare professionals and consumers alike can expect to hear from Transitions Optical and the following high-profile eyeglass wearers within videos, media interviews, and more in 2016: 

• Allen Stone, musician-Soul artist Allen Stone proves himself deeply devoted to making uncompromisingly soulful music that transcends all pop convention. Allen Stone relies on his glasses to make up his signature look, and in 2015, Stone was featured in a video series produced by Rolling Stone for Transitions Optical. 

• Coco & Breezy, fashion entrepreneurs and eyewear designers-Corianna and Brianna, also known as Coco and Breezy, are the founders of a cutting-edge sunglass brand based in New York City. By combining a diverse look, fashion aesthetic and eyeglass expertise, they are able to tell the compelling story behind Transitions lenses.

• Tim Gunn-Tim Gunn is a lifelong glasses-wearer, and in his second year as a Transitions Optical spokesperson.

Transitions Optical will also be working with the following individuals to connect with their fans and followers:

• Coyote Degroot, owner/optician, Labrabbit Optics

• Sarah Evans, digital correspondent and blogger

• Laurence Leboeuf, Canadian TV and movie actress

• Irma Martinez, celebrity fashion stylist

• Leandra Medine, fashion blogger

• Phil Oh, street-style fashion photographer

• Robbie Stilez, Canadian photographer

Eyecare professionals can find videos, images, and posts featuring these Transitions lens wearers at Transitions.com/BeyondtheLens.

Next: Shamir launches Spark Mi, Spectrum +

 

Shamir launches Spark Mi, Spectrum +

Shamir Insight, Inc., launched its newest measurement device, Spark Mi and its newest Freeform design, Shamir Spectrum +.

Spark Mi looks and acts like an ordinary tabletop mirror, but it is actually an advanced new measuring device that allows eyecare providers to take all required measurements in one click for clear and most dark lenses. Spark Mi will be available May 16, 2016. 

With Spark Mi, the patient looks in the mirror, wearing her chosen glasses. The optician clicks once, and the patient’s image is captured. The image appears on the optician’s computer screen, along with an immediate, accurate, automatically measured PD. The optician can now obtain other measurements needed from the computer: FH, frame box, DBL, vertex, and panoramic and pantoscopic tilt. 

Spark Mi is capable of clearly seeing the patient’s pupils even with dark lenses.

A USB cord is included with the Spark Mi to hook up the device to the ECP’s computer. Internet connection is preferred but not required.

In related news, Shamir Spectrum + is designed to provide progressive patients with an improved everyday solution for their visual needs. The design will be available beginning May 2, 2016. 

An upgraded version of Shamir’s Spectrum design, Shamir Spectrum + is an everyday progressive lens, which features a wider reading area and intermediate corridor. Compared to a standard progressive, the reading and corridor are up to 20 percent wider in Shamir Spectrum +, according to the company. The distance zone has been designed to be more stable as well, providing wearers with improved visual zones throughout the lens. The new design also incorporates Natural Posture, which allows for a more comfortable reading experience.   

The near viewing zone in Shamir Spectrum + is located within the lens corridor, taking into account the plus or minus power of the prescription. This reduces the need to tilt the head forward or backward or alternatively to lower or raise a book when reading to find the right viewing distance and angle. Any discomfort within the patient’s posture is minimized.  

Shamir Spectrum + will be available in 14 mm, 16 mm, and 18 mm fitting heights in 1.5, Trivex, 1.56, SuperLite 1.60, SuperLite 1.67, PolyPlus and SuperLite 1.74 in a variety of treatments including clear and Transitions Signature7.

Next: CooperVision seeks proposals for fourth annual science and tech awards

 

CooperVision seeks proposals for fourth annual science and technology awards

CooperVision, Inc. announced a call for proposals for the CooperVision Science and Technology (S&T) Awards Program. Now in its fourth year, the program fosters partnerships between award recipients and CooperVision scientists to explore advancement in contact lens technology and enable the translation of concepts into real world solutions.

The key focus areas for the 2017 Science and Technology Awards are:

• Strategies to improve contact lens comfort, with an emphasis on devices and non-pharmaceutical approaches with novel modes of action (ocular or non-ocular) to retain, manage, or enhance moisture at the ocular and/or lens surface

• Insights into the retinal response from optical defocus

• Technologies to expand the functionality of contact lenses as a wearable device for application beyond conventional vision correction

The CooperVision S&T Awards Program is open to researchers around the world. Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent by May 30, 2016. Upon approval of the letter of intent, applicants must submit a full proposal by August 29, 2016.

Two types of awards are available. The CooperVision Seedling Award is intended to incentivize collaboration with CooperVision in a new research area for a one-year period. The award enables investigators to generate preliminary data that could be used toward a future CooperVision Translational Research Award. The maximum total cash amount for a CooperVision Seedling Award is $100,000, including indirect costs.

The CooperVision Translational Research Award is a multi-year award for a substantive translational research project. Research under this award is milestone-driven in order to remain focused on a well-defined goal. It provides funding for up to two years, totaling up to $400,000, including indirect costs. A maximum of $250,000 can be requested for any one year. A CooperVision Translational Research Award may be considered for renewal at the end of the initial research period.

Research proposals should demonstrate significant potential for research discoveries and technological advancements that CooperVision can rapidly commercialize to improve the performance, enhance the functionality, and/or broaden the use of contact lenses.

For more information on the application process and materials, visit http://coopervision.com/our-company/science-and-technology-awards.

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