Ronor Expands Digital Printing on Essentials

MCQUADDigital printing is now available for the first time directly on the Ronor’s MC Quad bottle, offering unprecedented quality for both the printed image and the overall product. “Our devoted R&D team is constantly looking for new products and technologiesthat could be offered in a format to benefit our ECPs,” says Jenny Tzelardonis, communications director and brand manager.

The MC Quad is first in the Ronor Multi Clean range to offer digital printing, the large, flat surface lending itself well to being printed in this way. The possibilities are unlimited, as any high-quality image can be printed successfully. Ronor’s design team has put together a carefully selected image bank, which provides a more ready-to-go option as well.

“We have some very creative customers and have seen some really amazing artwork during the years, which is also what inspires us to continually expand our printing possibilities, “says Tzelardonis.

Centennial Optical Launches Spine Eyewear and Announces a Strategic Partnership for Revo

SpineIntroducing a revolution in performance, Centennial Optical debuts Spine – a game-changing product line in which design, function and aesthetics are driven by the need to create a cohesive solution for consumers.

Inspired by the interaction between vertebrae, Spine transcends age-old hinge limitations. Constructed with micro-injected metal (MiM) hinges, Spine Eyewear will morph to fit any face shape or head size with the lightest touch, gripping all day long. Due to its dual springs and spun-wire cable, the temples also automatically retract when removed from the face – heightening their preservation capabilities. Designed for everyday wear, Spine is a modern collection that features classic, minimal shapes packed with elements that create comfortable, durable eyewear with flexibility in all directions. Simply put, the fit, feel and functioning of Spine Eyewear is unparalleled.

“Spine brings a new level of functional technology to eyewear that leads to remarkable fit and performance. We are proud to collaborate with the teams at Mondottica and Rem Eyewear for the worldwide distribution of this patented technology,” said Allen Nightingale, VP of Centennial Optical.

The introduction of this line is a unique global collaboration between Centennial Optical, REM Eyewear and Mondotticca, combining teams with a remarkable cache of talent, and decades of experience in every aspect of the eyewear industry. Through this seamless international partnership, Spine will be fully supported to achieve success in the Canadian, U.S., and global markets, demonstrating all parties’ dedication to serving the needs of customers everywhere.

Morevover, Revo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sequential Brands Group, announced that it has entered into a long-term distribution agreement with Centennial Optical for distribution of its performance eyewear in Canada for both optical and non-optical markets.

“We are thrilled to be working with Centennial Optical as they bring incredible expertise and insight to the Canadian market,” stated Cliff Robinson, co-president of B. Robinson Optical of New York, which manufactures Revo sunglasses under an exclusive license agreement with Sequential. “We look forward to partnering with them to bring an iconic performance eyewear brand like Revo to optometrists, opticians and independent sport/specialty retailers across Canada.”

“Revo essentially invented performance eyewear and our intention is to build upon this great heritage to help grow the brand throughout Canada. Our company will work closely with Revo and we are very excited to have this opportunity to bring such an innovative sunglass brand to optical market and retailers,” added Centennial Optical VP Allen Nightingale.

Founded in 1985, Revo quickly became a global performance eyewear brand known as the leader in polarized lens technology, the company reports. Revo sunglasses were first created by utilizing lens technology developed by NASA as solar protection for satellites.

Oakley Launches New Lens Technology That Enhances Snow Visibility

OakleyOakley Canada announced the release of PrizmTM, a revolutionary lens technology that dramatically enhances contrast and visibility over a wide range of light conditions.

The groundbreaking technology improves the eye’s ability to perceive detail in the snow, such as contours and texture, improving visibility so one can see clearly and ski or ride with more confidence.

“If there’s a product out there that can better your performance and technology that legitimately helps you, you need to have it. Prizm is solid for any kind of light. It’s at the forefront of what lens technology has to offer,” said slopestyle Olympic medalist Mark McMorris.

Prizm also works over a much wider range of light conditions than a traditional snow lens, so there is no need to switch lenses as conditions vary through the day.

The human eye is extremely sensitive to detail in certain colours, but that detail is lost in flat, low contrast white snow. Like an equalizer would boost treble or bass to enhance sound, Prizm lenses boost the sensitive colours and filter the rest, leaving vision with crisp detail that is not washed out by the flat light.

“This new technology takes the same approach as noise-cancelling headphones. It tunes down the irrelevant colours and lets you focus completely on the colours that are most important to your sport,” said Ryan Saylor, Oakley’s director of advanced product development. “This means that you won’t be distracted by background colours, and you can see all the contours and textures of the snow more clearly. You really won’t see snow the same way again.”

Prizm lens technology is on sale in the 2014 Oakley Snow Goggle Collection and is available in

three different lens options: black iridium, jade iridium and rose, giving consumers the perfect lens for any light condition.

Fun with Slope and Snow

GottiThe new Snow Goggles for the slopes from Götti Switzerland now feature a three-dimensional finish providing it an even more dynamic look. Besides their technical features, they impress with their Götti-tested style factor, both on and off the slopes, of course.

The latest model is equipped with an anti-fog system with double glazing and optimum ventilation. Even under heavy loads, the new Snow Goggles’ light and durable structure stays in shape and comes in three different colours. They sit comfortably when combined with a helmet and offer perfect UV protection.

A Range of Products to Suit Every Demand

NikonNikon’s single vision lens portfolio has been revamped to accommodate new technologies, availabilities, wider power ranges and additional stock options.

The new SeeMax AP, available with complete customization features, is now offered in 1.50 clear, 1.60, 1.67 and 1.74, clear and Transitions®.

With the Viewfit digital technology, the Nikon Lite now offers the widest range of options, base curves and diameters. It also takes into account fitting parameters to reduce the negative effects of special wearing conditions.

The Solo presents new surfaced options including Transitions® which will be on the market in January 2015.

The Future Perfect?

TheFuturePerfect

By Brian P. Dunleavy

The end of the year is always a good time to make plans, set goals and think about the future.

In this installment of Lens Focus, we’re going to look at where new technology is taking the science of spectacle lens design. If you thought freeform technology revolutionized how your clients see, just check out how these new innovations have taken lenses to the next level.

Watch out, Google. By now, everyone has heard about Google Glass – as well as the product’s promises and pitfalls. Now Sony is entering the rapidly burgeoning “smartglass” market with its new Smart EyeGlass. In essence, the specs act as a secondary screen for an Android-based smartphone, displaying information in the lenses of the wearer, using a tiny projector and hologram system. According to the company, the glasses have a camera mounted in the left-hand lens and use an accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to track the wearer’s movements, overlaying information to create augmented reality. They connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing Android apps to operate through the glasses. Sony plans to launch developer kit versions of the Smart EyeGlass within a year.

Space, the final frontier. Speaking of augmented reality in eyeglasses, Space Glasses also claim to improve on the technology of “smart” eyewear with, its manufacturers claim, 15 times the viewing area of Google Glass. Space Glasses also include audio speakers that add virtual sounds to the user experience, as well as microphones that capture and interpret the user’s spoken commands, using speech recognition technology to respond to requests for desired information and actions. Inventor Dr. Steve Mann has been developing augmented reality systems since the 1980s, through his work at the University of Toronto. In essence, his eyeglass-based technology takes real-world human sensory inputs and enhances them with digital data obtained from the Internet. Dr. Mann is now working as the chief scientist and product developer with Meta Company, which is marketing Space Glasses.

Like the products from Sony and Google, Space Glasses can support prescription lenses, and all three companies plan to work with eyecare providers (optometrists and opticians) in the delivery of their prescription versions.

SmartGlasses

Then again, who needs glasses? An important market segment for ECPs – computer users – may no longer need eye care services or the premium lens products designed to meet their unique vision needs. Brian Barsky, OD, a professor of computer science and vision science (and affiliate professor of optometry) at the University of California-Berkeley, and researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed computer hardware and software improvements designed to achieve increased image resolution and contrast. In one of their projects, they modified an iPod touchscreen by adding a standard light field display consisting of a film with tiny pinholes sandwiched between thin layers of plastic. The team also developed computer algorithms to adjust the light intensity from each pinhole. With this technology, they can use a person’s eyeglass prescription to compute an altered image customized for that individual. Their findings were published recently in the journal ACM Transactions on Graphics.

Lens, heal thyself. Historically, eyeglass wearers – particularly those with lenses made from certain materials and/or treated with certain coatings – experienced issues with durability. Although newer lens products are less problematic in this regard, there is room for improvement. Enter Essilor. They have filed an application with the U.S. patent office for a lens treatment that effectively self-repairs when scratched. Essilor would not comment on the patent application – except to confirm its existence – as the product is still in development.

The products mentioned above may not come up in your client consultations next month or even next year. But they’re definitely worth keeping an eye on for the future.

VEW 2014 on the Theme of the Latest Technology

VisionExpo_4C_LV_tealAs wearable technology continues to invigorate the world of eye care through both form and function, Vision Expo West, International Vision Expo & Conference has introduced a targeted new continuing education track dedicated to educating attendees on what this technology means for the industry’s future, and how to maximize its business potential.

The six-hour Wearable Tech track, held Friday, Sept. 19 at Vision Expo West 2014, highlighted everything from Google Glass to augmented reality goggles to GPS and Bluetooth-enabled frames.:

• The Glass Class: a one-hour group discussion about Google Glass and other wearable technologies that relate to eyecare;

• The Future of Digital Vision and Wearable Technology: need-to-know information about smart glasses and other wearable technology innovations, and how to effectively market these solutions;

• Technology Within the Blink of an Eye: a look at how the next generation of GPS and Bluetooth heads-up display technology is integrated into unique frame designs to maximize field of view;

• Eye2: What you Need to Know About Eyewear and Eyecare’s Pivotal New Role in Wearable Technology: a discussion and demonstration of the latest developments in wearable optical technology, from smart glasses and contact lenses to augmented and virtual reality systems and low vision devices, and how these technologies are benefitting patients;

• Wired and Blurry!: an overview of products designed to increase contrast, comfort and focus for the digital generation.

In recognition of the ways new technology is changing the practice and business of eyecare, Vision Expo West offered more than 38 hours of continuing education on how professionals can integrate technology into every aspect of practice for improved patient outcomes and profitability. Additionally, the popular 10-hour Spectacle Lens Expert track returned this year to educate attendees on the latest lens technology, trends in freeform lens processing and digital eyestrain.

DVF and Marchon Unveil Limited Edition Google Glass Collection

DVFMarchonDiane von Furstenberg and Google joined forces to launch the DVF | Made for Glass collection, a collaboration that melds the boldness and creativity of Glass Explorers with the confidence and independence of the DVF woman. The two brands first collaborated on a short film “DVF Through Glass” which provided an insider’s view of Diane von Furstenberg’s Spring 2013 runway show.

The limited edition collection of frames and shades is a watershed moment as technology meets fashion. Glass is smart eyewear with a tiny screen above the right eye that can connect wirelessly to the Internet, providing the wearer with access to information when he needs it without it getting in the way.

The development of the DVF | Made for Glass collection also involves a close partnership between DVF and Marchon Eyewear, the brand’s longtime licensing partner.

“Diane von Furstenberg is a visionary in the world of fashion and design,” said Claudio Gottardi, president and CEO of Marchon, a VSP Global company. “It was a natural fit to combine her innovative spirit with our own to produce this groundbreaking collection that is the first to unite the leaders in fashion, technology and optical. DVF | Made for Glass is poised to take wearable technology to the next level in high fashion.”

The full collection is sold on www.google.com/glass/start, and as exclusive packages on Net-A-Porter.com. Net-A-Porter is the first third-party retailer for Glass alongside MrPorter.com.

Essilor Launches NeKsia

NeKsiaEssilor Instruments International has just introduced NeKsia, a new edging solution that addresses eyecare professionals’ on-going need for efficiency, quality, and ease of use.

Replacing the most widely used benchmark 3D edging systems of all time, the Kappa level edgers, NeKsia offers a truly next-generation solution, designed to achieve high performance, while incorporating one of the most user-friendly and productive processes in the world.

Rounding out the full range of Essilor’s system offerings, the new NeKsia combines high-precision edging and speed, along with modern, sought-after features such as extended tracing capabilities, accurate lens centering regardless of the lens power, touch screen technology, enhanced MMI, and powerful, optimized automatic and customizable edging cycles.

Ideal for busy eyecare professionals looking for workflow optimization, this winning formula can keep up with the most demanding productivity and quality needs.

New Brain-Training Technology Improves Reading in Most Presbyopes

By Paddy Kamen

SpecialReport-Presbyopes

GlassesOff1 is well named for it does just that, allowing most people between 40 and 60 to leave their reading glasses behind, for many years!

Exciting new technology from an international team of neuroscientists improves vision by leaving the eyes alone, and instead stimulating the brain’s visual cortex. The game-like training is delivered via a smart phone application (for iOS and Android devices), available for approximately $15 a month. The program involves training for three, 12-minute sessions per week over approximately three months. Users are expected to be able to read without glasses or magnifiers after 10-15 hours of training.

Nature’s Scientific Reports published the results of a study2 conducted at the University of California, Berkley that showed the aging brain can overcome, or at least delay the effects of age-related deterioration of the eyes. In some cases, subjects over age 50 who had presbyopia showed improvements comparable to the vision in the younger, control group.

Without correction:

All users became able to read a font smaller than the standard newspaper size

90 per cent of subjects regained the ability to read for longer periods without adverse effects such as headache

The reading speed of small, font-size text improved considerably

Eye age was reduced by 8.6 years.

The study was the first to conclusively prove that improvements associated with this training originate in the brain and are not the result of improved performance of the eye as might be seen in accommodation, pupil size changes or depth of perception.

SpecialReport-UriPolatProf. Uri Polat is the co-founder and chief scientific officer of GlassesOff. He is also the director of the Visual and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory at the Eye Research Institute of the Sheba Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University. In an interview with Envision: seeing beyond magazine, Professor Polat explained that there is still some debate about how the training works in the brain to improve vision. “With age, people lose the flexibility of the crystalline eye,” he said. “The images are fuzzy, or blurred. The brain’s task is to take the information and make it reliable. My conjecture is that even though the electrical information conveyed to the brain from the eye remains less reliable, the brain becomes more efficient and faster at interpreting that information.”

Blur discrimination is a function of contrast detection and so the GlassesOff training system uses contrast detection as a key aspect of its training. The app constantly monitors the contrast detection threshold and progressively increases levels of difficulty. Intervals between visual stimuli are shortened, thus training the brain to process images is faster.

The GlassesOff training is personalized for each user and begins with a vision assessment. “The vision evaluation is very sophisticated and accurate,” says Polat. “As we know, many factors can affect vision evaluation, including effort, fatigue, lighting, and the amount of time the user has to respond. So results are not always consistent from one optometrist to the next. Our test presents accurate images that look the same on any device, with images presented for limited duration. We get a very clear understanding of the user’s near-vision capability and the app will re-test from time to time as the user goes through the training.” Every session offers personalized feedback so that users can monitor their progress.

Adult amblyopia, previously thought to be untreatable, also yielded to the perceptual training developed by Prof. Polat before GlassesOff was established. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)3, a two-fold improvement in contrast sensitivity and letter-recognition tasks was reported in patients between 9 and 55 years of age.

Prof. Polat says current applications for this technology are the ‘low hanging fruit’: “We’re not just improving vision performance, but also processing speed, decision making, reading speed and reaction times.” He expects this perceptual training to also be applied to athletic training and other tasks that depend on fast visual processing and reaction times.

1. www.glassesoff.com

2. http://www.uripolat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/srep00278.pdf

3. http://uripolat.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/2004-polat-pnas-amblyopia.pdf