Rx for Success

By Marge Axelrad
Monday, November 12, 2018 12:31 AM NEW YORK—A number of eyecare retailers, both national chains and independents, along with several major lens, laboratory and frame companies are continuing to bring new ideas to product innovation, diverse lens choices and more streamlined delivery systems to the category of prescription safety eyewear (SRx) to serve the needs of manufacturing and industrial workers and to bring attention to good eye-care and effective vision correction products to themselves and their families

High Tech Driving Vision: Then and Now

By Ted Giola, Contributing Editor
Monday, November 12, 2018 12:30 AM Ask someone today about high tech eyewear, and they will probably mention Google Glass. But do they know that 100 years ago, the most high tech eyewear was goggle glasses? Or that the emergence of the auto had as much impact on eyewear as the invention of the computer—and is still changing it today?

Hoya Offers Drivers Two New Photochromics

By Staff
Monday, July 9, 2018 12:00 AM LEWISVILLE, Texas—Hoya Vision Care is launching Sensity Dark and Sensity Shine, extending the Sensity line of brand-differentiating photochromic lens technology. Sensity Dark activates behind the windshield of the car and fades back to full clarity. The lenses are also priced the same as original Sensity.

Transitions Taps Designer Christian Siriano as Brand Ambassador

By Staff
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 12:15 AM PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Transitions Optical has named fashion designer Christian Siriano as ambassador for its new brand campaign, Light Under Control. The move comes as the brand aims to modernize itself, focusing more on style and fashion, and addressing consumers’ desires to personalize their eyewear, Transitions Optical said.

Essilor Debuts Essential Blue Series Lenses

By Staff
Monday, June 11, 2018 12:00 AM DALLAS—Essilor of America is launching the Essential Blue Series brand of blue light filtering lenses which provide a combination of Harmful Blue Light protection and clarity all in one lens. The lenses deliver up to three times more protection from harmful blue light than standard clear lenses, according to Essilor.

Transitions Optical Launches Snapchat ‘Try-on Experience’ in Combination With Consumer Campaign

By Staff
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 12:18 AM PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Transitions Optical has partnered with Snapchat to create an interactive augmented reality try-on experience, according to an announcement earlier this week.

Eyeglass Lens Sales Help Boost Hoya’s 4Q 2017 Revenue

By Staff
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 12:24 AM TOKYO—Hoya Corp. (TOKYO: 7741) reported that sales for the Hoya Group during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2018 rose 7.6 year on year, reaching 135,923 million yen.

Essilor Cites Currency Impact on First Quarter 2018 Revenues

By Staff
Monday, April 30, 2018 12:24 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Essilor (Reuters: ESSI.PA) reported Friday that consolidated revenue for the first quarter ending March 31, 2018 fell 5.8 percent from year ago to €1,825 million. The company, which is awaiting approval from regulatory authorities in China for its merger with Luxottica, attributed the decrease to a negative currency effect that primarily reflects the euro’s appreciation against the U.S. dollar as well as against the Brazilian real, Canadian dollar and Chinese yuan. Essilor’s revenue rose 3.8 percent in constant currency, or 3.2 percent on a like-for-like basis. 

Stanton Optical Expands Further into Texas With Two New Locations This Month

By Staff
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 12:15 AM PALM SPRINGS, Fla.—Stanton Optical, a unit of Vision Precision Holdings, continues its expansion in Texas with the opening of two new locations this month, according to a company announcement. One of the new stores is opening in the Sunland area of El Paso, and another new optical store is opening in Killeen, Texas. Both stores are set to open in April, according to the announcement. The new locations are Stanton’s 11th and 12th optical units in Texas, and raise the Stanton Optical total location count to 73 across the nation as of this month. Both new Texas stores will include an on-site lab that offers customers an opportunity to receive their prescription glasses within 15 minutes, the announcement noted.

Essilor Offers Lenses, Vision Expertise to Aid Needy in the Commonwealth

By Staff
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 12:21 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Essilor has pledged to provide eyeglass lenses to 200 million people in the Commonwealth who are living below the poverty line, while continuing to increase the number of eyecare providers there and improve access to them. Comprising 53 countries, the Commonwealth has a population of 2.4 billion. It is estimated that 900 million people suffer from uncorrected refractive errors; approximately two-thirds of them live below the poverty line. Essilor’s commitment will be made in partnership through the $1 billion Vision Catalyst Fund. The Fund is a new initiative under development by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, civil society and public-private stakeholders, to provide sustainable solutions for eye health to entire populations in Commonwealth countries and around the world.

Vision Council Reports on Prop 65 Violation Notice Issued in California

By Staff
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 12:24 AM ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council has informed its members about a recent filing of a Proposition 65 Notice of Violation against a retailer in California for allegedly selling sunglasses containing BpA.

Barberini and Banca Degli Occhi Del Veneto Onlus Foundation to Research Dry Eye

By Staff
Thursday, March 29, 2018 12:27 AM VENICE, Italy—Barberini Eyewear and Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto Onlus have agreed to support a study that the Foundation will conduct on the use of optical glass ophthalmic lenses with selective action against infrared radiation, verifying their protective effectiveness in patients affected by dry eyes. “Dry eye is a diffuse condition, which may be present alone or associated with other favorable ocular and systemic conditions. This agreement aims to evaluate the effect of the use of optical glass ophthalmic lenses, normal or graduated, by patients with moderate dry eyes," said Dr. Diego Ponzin, medical director of Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto Onlus.

Zeiss Seeks to Close ‘Gap’ in UV Protection With New Technology

By Staff
Monday, March 12, 2018 12:27 AM SAN DIEGO—Carl Zeiss Vision is introducing a new technology, Zeiss UVProtect, that is designed to close what it said is a dangerous gap in UV protection.

Smart Reading Glasses to Debut at Vision Expo

By Staff
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 12:11 AM

Essilor Posts Solid 2017 Earnings and Strong Q4

By Staff
Friday, March 2, 2018 12:30 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Essilor International (Euronext Paris: EI) reported solid earnings for 2017 and a strong fourth quarter for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017. The lens maker generated €7,490 million in revenue for 2017, an increase of 6.7 percent, excluding currency effects. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased by 3.1 percent. Essilor said contribution from operations, which does not include the cost of sales and operating expenses, is expected at a minimum of 18.3 percent of revenue versus a reported figure of 18.2 percent in 2017, and down from 18.6 percent in 2016. Operating profit was €1,248 million, a 1.5 percent increase over year ago.