Product: Service Plan Portfolio
Top Line: Essilor Instruments USA announces a portfolio of innovative service plans for new and existing Essilor Instruments finishing products – including such hallmark products as Mr. Blue, the Kappa and Gamma edging systems and Triplets.
Close Up: The support portfolio includes basic service plans for parts-only; to parts and labor; to comprehensive parts, labor, and preventive maintenance. “Essilor Instruments USA developed these flexible service plan offerings so that our customers could choose the appropriate coverage for their products and meet their individual needs,” said Michael Olmsted, vice president, services. “Service plans offer added protection beyond the standard one-year warranty – eliminating customers’ concerns about unexpected repair expenses and giving them the peace of mind knowing that our well-trained team of service professionals is available to provide prompt, effective service and support,” said Olmsted.
Vital Stats: Essilor Instruments USA offers the full line of Essilor edging equipment, including the Mr. Blue edging system, the Ultimate Kappa, Ultimate Gamma and Triplets finishing systems, as well as consumables and spare parts for all Essilor edgers.
www.essilorinstrumentsusa.com, (855) EZ-FINISH

Product: QSpex Q-Polar Lens
Top Line: QSpex Technologies announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted the it a patent for applying polarized film and scratch resistant coating to lens casting molds. The technology available through this patent forms the basis of the QSpex Q-Polar lens, which will become another unique lens option available through the QSpex Premium Lens System starting in September 2011. The system enables eyecare professionals to cast progressive and single vision lenses in their office.
Close Up: The QSpex Q-Polar patented process involves pre-applying a polarized film and scratch-resistant coating to the inner surface of molds. Both the scratch-resistant coating and polarized film then transfer from the mold during the lens curing process to become an integral part of the lens.
Vital Stats: Q-Polar lenses provide 99 percent polarization efficiency. Due to the unique patented QSpex polarization process, and unlike many other brands of polarized lenses, Q-Polar lenses are virtually stress-free, resulting in clearer visual performance. Q-Polar lenses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB. Plus Q-Polar lenses can be drilled as well as edged, notched or grooved with any edger.
www.qspex.com, (888) 259-9845

Product: “Make a Spectacle of Yourself” Contest
Top Line: The Think About Your Eyes Campaign will invite consumers to “Make a Spectacle of Yourself” with the launch this week of a new Facebook contest. The contest, part of the campaign’s ongoing efforts to promote eye health awareness, encourages entrants to protect their eyes with proper eyewear that blocks 100 percent of UV rays and to show off their eyewear by submitting a photo. More than 30 million Americans suffer from a serious eye disease, many of which could be avoided through wearing proper UV protective eyewear.
Close Up: The “Make a Spectacle of Yourself” Facebook contest will offer four lucky winners the chance to win a $400 general use gift card, and the winning photos will be featured as profile images on the Think About Your Eyes Facebook page. Entrants can submit an original photo of themselves or their child wearing eyewear by visiting the Think About Your Eyes Facebook page and clicking on the Contest tab. The contest begins on June 13 and ends on July 10 and is open to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older.
Vital Stats: Think About Your Eyes is a public awareness initiative focused on educating consumers about the importance of vision health and comprehensive eye exams. This nationwide messaging campaign, sponsored by the Foundation for Eye Health Awareness with generous donations from Essilor, Luxottica, VSP Global and Transitions Optical encourages people to take better care of their eyes.
www.Facebook.com/ThinkAboutYourEyes

Product: VisionWeb Insurance Processing for American Optometric Association Members
Top Line: VisionWeb is adding its insurance processing services to the AOA Member Advantage program, which provides member-only benefits on valuable services for optometric practices. AOA members will now have access to exclusive pricing on VisionWeb’s comprehensive suite of electronic claim filing services.
Close Up: As part of the AOA Member Advantage program, VisionWeb is dedicated to providing AOA members with a claim filing solution they can rely on, at a price every practice can afford. Both new and existing VisionWeb customers can benefit from the discount available in the program. AOA members that enroll with VisionWeb as a new customer will have their $250 enrollment fees waived and will receive 15 percent off their monthly subscription fees. AOA members already filing claims with VisionWeb can also take advantage of the 15 percent monthly fee discount.
Vital Stats: AOA members that utilize VisionWeb’s complete electronic claim filing service will have the ability to manage all of their commercial and government payers in a single online location, and will have access to all of the features of the service including patient eligibility verification, claim submission and tracking, secondary claim filing, and ERA management.
www.visionweb.com, (800) 590-0873; www.aoa.org/memberadvantage