Author Archives: Envision Magazine

An Iconic Tint and a Glamorous Spokesperson

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EssilorEyecare professionals throughout Canada are now able to present Transitions® Signature™ VII Graphite Green lenses to all their customers. Those everyday lenses combine all the benefits of the latest generation of Transitions lenses that react better to indirect light and become darker than ever in higher temperatures, with a gray-green tint that provides truer perception of colours and a fashionable look.

ECPs and their customers might recognize the iconic green colour of the lens, as it dates back to the 1950s when the tint was applied to sunglasses worn by U.S. Navy pilots. The gray-green hue was originally developed based on research that showed how human eyes respond differently to various colours in the visual spectrum. The gray-green lenses were then formulated to emphasize certain colours to help pilots locate and track objects against a variety of outdoor backgrounds such as earth, sky and water.

“Our exclusive graphite green Transitions Signature VII lenses allow wearers to see the world in a shade of green that helps things look natural, and the iconic colour also brings a sense of style to eyeglass lenses,” says Kristel Bordeleau-Tassile, Essilor Canada’s Transitions brand manager. “Essilor is proud to partner with Transitions Optical to launch the latest in photochromic lens technology and bring back a popular lens colour that looks great and offers better vision in variable and bright light conditions.”

Laurence Leboeuf – glamorous and socially conscious
Aware of the importance of maintaining good visual health, Laurence Leboeuf has agreed to join the Canadian campaign to launch Essilor’s Transitions® Signature™ Graphite Green lenses. She perfectly represents the target market for these new corrective lenses: young, trendy adults, always on the move and enjoying the glamorous side of life. Laurence started her TV career at 11 in the television series Virginie. After she learned English in 2004, she was cast in 15/Love and won a Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actress for that role. Laurence has been actively working in both languages and receiving critical acclaim ever since. She was most recently seen in the TV series Trauma (in French) and 19-2 (in English).

Nikon Displays two New Products

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NikonNikon presents Nikon Radiance FP, its new line of dedicated sunwear lenses that cater to almost any prescription and frame while offering optimal polarized protection.

Developed with Flex-View Technology, Radiance not only offers limitless fashion possibilities but also functionality: base curve selections, decentration possibilities, edging expertise and fitting parameters. According to the company, patients can now benefit from the highest level of visual comfort, in any type of situation. Radiance is available in 1.50, 1.60 and 1.67 indices, grey and brown in single vision or progressive lens designs.

Moreover, Transitions® SignatureTM VII graphite green, the latest addition to the Transitions line of photochromic lenses, is available on Nikon lenses, namely on DigiLife FP and Balance Digital FP progressive lenses, 1.50, 1.60 and 1.67 indices (full power range), NL (1.50) and NL3 (1.60) single vision surfaced spherical lenses.

DVF and Marchon Unveil Limited Edition Google Glass Collection

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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.

Modern Optical Appoints Don Coulson to Lead Canadian Business

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Don Coulson has joined Modern Optical Canada, a division of Modern Optical International, as vice president of Canadian sales and operations. In this newly created position, Coulson, an industry veteran and Canadian native, will lead the company’s Canadian sales, marketing and business development efforts. Coulson, who is from Barrie, Ontario, brings over 25 years of eyewear and eyecare experience to his new role, including fourteen years on the road serving the western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Prior to joining Modern Optical Canada, Coulson was with Hilco Canada, Optiq Frames, Viva International Group and Imperial Optical.

“Don’s stellar reputation and extensive experience with generating growth, creating innovative programs and building high-performance teams make him uniquely qualified to thoughtfully expand our presence throughout Canada,” said Ken Weissman, president of Modern Optical International. “As the industry’s leading provider of value eyewear, we fill an important niche for thousands of ECPs. With Don’s keen leadership, we look forward to offering the same razor-sharp pricing, quality products and solid warranties to the many ECPs throughout Canada.”

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Modern Optical International is a Chicago-based family-owned business started in 1974. Modern is an industry leader in providing quality eyewear for men, women and children with 17 unique collections representing over 800 styles.

Full Acetate for Women

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OptikaOptika Eyewear unveils its new Soho models for Fall 2014. Their top-selling collection is totally revamped and ready for the new season, featuring 15 new styles for both men and women. What are the key points? “Acetates, acetates and acetates” answers Optika Eyewear VP of Sales Richard Allan. “For women, we have really worked out colours to make an impact. As per our ST8469 brown model, we designed an unique mix of brown and black acetate to make a statement. as well, it has beautifully worked acetate temples that add to the colourful flair.”

Optika loves working with acetates in matte colours, as demonstrated by the ST8464 indigo model. “Using a matte finish on our acetates gives the optical frames that worn-in vintage look. Along with beautiful colour tones, it is sure to get you noticed.”

For men, Optika Eyewear features mostly stainless steel metal optical frames. The focus is on style and durability, since all Soho frames are made from super light-weight stainless steel.

New Plastic Plus Patented Blue/Violet Filter AR Coating

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Plastic- single PP LOGO 2014It’s been a long time coming, but for users of today’s digital devices or those specifically affected by the irritating glare from various light sources – including LED, halogen and fluorescent lighting or high intensity discharge (HID) car headlights – there is the new PPS super-oleophobic anti-reflective (AR) with blue/violet filter from Plastic Plus.

For optical lens wearers who experience distracting reflections or discomfort from continual use of digital devices (eye strain/irritation, fatigue, neck and back pain and other physical symptoms including the possible onset of AMD or cataracts), Plastic Plus offers a new advance in AR technology. With the same high quality anti-reflective properties and increased light transmission as their other premium AR coatings, the new BVF AR filter blocks blue/violet light from computers, phones or tablet screens and potentially harmful HEV light caused by fluorescent bulbs and LED devices. It also significantly reduces nighttime glare from distracting HID headlights – a problem that is worse for older drivers because of their increased intraocular light scattering, glare sensitivity and photo stress recovery time.

Says Plastic Plus President Paul Faibish, “Our premium PPS super-oleophobic with blue/violet filter coating uses technology provided by and licensed through a global leader in AR technology, and can be applied to any of our hard coated surfaced lenses. As far as cost, the difference is very minimal. But for many patients, the addition of our new BVF coating can not only improve how well they view the world today… it could seriously affect how well they will be able to view the world in the future.”

Shamir Releases Three New Sun Lenses

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ShamirShamir Insight and Shamir Canada announce the launch of their newest Freeform® sun designs, Shamir Attitude® III – Fashion, Attitude ® III – Sport, and Attitude® III – SV. Each of the designs is now available to order.

The Attitude III® line utilizes Shamir’s new revolutionary technologies. EyePoint Technology III®, engineered to focus on the real world images the wearer sees to ensure an improved viewing experience for all patients, regardless of lens power and frame choice. All three designs also utilize As-Worn Quadro™, which offers four times greater design stability and gives wearers even greater comfort and ease of transition when switching between frames. Utilized in the Shamir Attitude III® -Fashion and Sport designs, Natural Posture™ is an ergonomic design concept that dynamically positions the near viewing zone within the lens corridor based on the plus or minus power of the prescription. IntelliCorridor™ is a technology which allows Shamir’s designers to control the power profile of the lens, based on the needs of the individual wearer, a vital technology in providing specialized intermediate vision for the Attitude III – Fashion and Attitude III – Sport designs.

Shamir Attitude III – Fashion is a performance sun lens designed to provide progressive wearers with a solution to meet their day-to-day outdoor needs. It provides expanded vision zones and enhanced peripheral vision, all in a design that fits in even the biggest fashion sunglass frames.

Shamir Attitude III – Sport is a specialized progressive sun lens suited for sports and active lifestyles. It has a wide and distortion-free far vision zone, ideal for dynamic sports.

Shamir Attitude III – SV is a single vision lens designed to provide patients with maximized visual comfort for all of their sport and outdoor needs. With greater optical design stability in any frame – large or small, wraparound or flat – Attitude III – SV provides expanded peripheral vision unlike any single vision sun lens before.

Both Attitude III – Fashion and Attitude III – Sport will be available in the following materials: 1.5 Hard Resin, Trivex™, 1.60 SuperLite™, 1.67 SuperLite™, and Polyplus™. Shamir Attitude III – SV will be available in 1.5 Hard Resin, Trivex™, 1.60 SuperLite™, 1.67 SuperLite™, and Polyplus™. All three designs are available to order from Shamir Canada.

Essilor Launches NeKsia

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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.

Importlux Expands its Portfolio with Arrow

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ArrowArrow commands extraordinary brand recognition for its fashionable yet functional apparel – like its famous shirts – and consistently ranks in the top 50 in consumer brand awareness in the United States. The elegant and stylish eyewear associated with the label is now distributed by Importlux.

“We are very excited to introduce Arrow to the Canadian market. Its quality design matched with its competitive price point will be a great asset for our customers,” says Importlux President Ramez-Raymond Tarazi.

The collection consists of 25 metal and acetate models for men, with sophisticated and elegant styles all in a trendy fashion. Current and timeless, chic and original, the Arrow models borrow ready-to-wear details and impose a whole new vision of the classic eyewear. The line also includes a range of titanium frames with deep and comfortable shapes matched with an incomparable finesse and refined colour treatment.

Audace Lunettes Innovates

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SasuraAudace Lunettes announces the launch of Sasura, a truly trendsetting brand that, for the first time, offers women the exclusive opportunity to design their own luxury eyewear. Through master craftsmanship, the affordable sunglasses are made of the highest quality in eyewear and jewellery design.

Using a universal patented keeper system with interchangeable Sasura jewels and other charm jewellery, the brand inspires women to express themselves. The charm pieces are made exclusively for Audace Lunettes in Thailand, some with silver or gold leaves, others with Swarovski crystals. The Murano glass pieces are made in Italy. Now, women can impart a piece of themselves to the sunglasses, being their own designers, while eyecare professionals increase their sales opportunities.

This unique, hand-finished collection is made with innovative technologies while respecting artisanal traditions. Sasura uses premium acetates and metals, as well as the finest crystals for the jewel pieces.