Author Archives: Envision Magazine

Wescan Unveils Evatik Sunwear for the Sophisticated Urban Male

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Wescan Unveils Evatik Sunwear for the Sophisticated Urban Male

Wescan Optical, a division of Westgroupe, has unveiled at Vision Expo West inLas Vegas,Nevada, its new Evatik Sunwear line. The official launch is slated for February 2012.

A sophisticated combination of high-quality fabrications, lightweight materials and uncompromised engineering, Evatik Sunwear captures the true essence of distinct style. The inaugural collection consists of 18 models in stainless steel and acetate, with diverse eye shapes ranging from the modern rectangle to vintage aviator styles. Intricate temple detailing and two-toned colouring infuse each masterfully crafted frame with a masculine elegance.  

“Men’s eyewear can traditionally be divided into two distinct categories: fashion and technical,” explainsBeverly Suliteanu, creative director and vice president of product development at Wescan Optical. “By marrying cutting-edge technology with fashion-forward styling, Evatik Sunwear defies traditional convention and offers today’s urban male the ultimate accessory to express and enhance his personal style.”

Dually inspired by fashion and performance, Evatik Sunwear perfectly blends modern, masculine styling with superior lens capabilities. With function at the forefront, all lenses are 6-base, allowing for 100% RX-ability. All models are available with CR-39 and polarized lenses, providing the consumer with a choice of lens options to best fit their needs. Regardless of the material, all lenses are hydrophobic, and have a built-in scratch -resistant coating, 100% UVA and UVB protection, and a backside 7- layer anti-reflective coating. The innovative cast-in technology creates a structurally stronger and longer lasting lens.

Each pair of Evatik Sunwear frames includes a folding, hard case and an attractively designed Evatik cleaning cloth. Retailers will enjoy a range of supportive marketing materials, including a nameplate, mirror, banner, counter cards, and 3- and 6-piece displays.

Introducing the Carbon Fiber Collection by Optiq

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Introducing the Carbon Fiber Collection by Optiq

The name says it all. Optiq’s latest collection, Carbon Fibre, consists of six men’s models in a variety of semi-rimless and metal, using carbon fibre as a key design element. The material, lighter than aluminium but stronger than steel, continues to be popular.

Designs include a weave accented on the temple, as in semi-rimless model 5652, or an inlaid weave in a black metal square frame, as in model 5651.

The styling in this collection is ‘urban industrial’, which appeals to men who are looking for a look that is modern and enduring. The Carbon Fibre collection is affordable because, while Optiq’s models are made in the same factories as expensive designer brands, they cost a lot less.

Educational Website and Brochure Promote Proper Eye Health for Children

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Educational Website and Brochure Promote Proper Eye Health for Children

To help eyecare professionals prepare for the back-to-school season, Transitions Optical, Inc. is offering new, consumer-friendly education tools and resources through its Eye Didn’t Know That! program.

Refreshed with a new look and design, the updated Eye Didn’t Know That! website, found at www.EyeDidntKnowThat.ca, offers interactive resources for kids and classroom curricula that can be shared with teachers to educate students about eye health. The site’s newResourceCenter includes a wide range of materials that ECPs can leverage:

  • Lesson plans, developed by MORE Health, provide a clear and engaging script to help eyecare professionals facilitate interaction with students during in-classroom presentations.
  • Fact sheets and checklists are available to help parents and teachers understand the link between healthy sight and learning, and to determine if a child may be struggling from a vision problem.
  • Posters and colouring pages are available for eyecare professionals to use in-office to educate patients about the eye health needs of children.

ECPs can also share the new Eye Didn’t Know That! 12-page brochure with families, or within their local communities. The brochure features a number of games, activities and information for children of all ages, along with basic tips for parents, caregivers and teachers. It can be downloaded from theTradePartnersResourceCenter at www.EyeDidntKnowThat.ca, or ordered through Transitions Optical Customer Service.

Skaga Signs a Garden Shapes Collection for the Fall

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Skaga Signs a Garden Shapes Collection for the Fall

This Fall, Garden Shapes is the design theme for the Skaga collection. Looking for the garden, the creative design team has drawn inspiration from the dynamics between nature’s own forces of wild growth and the structured shapes created by the human hand.

Billowing blades of grass winding around each other, the fantastic engineering skills of birds building their nests and trellis work transformed into functional designs are just a few examples of shapes and patterns inspired by the garden that can be seen behind the beautifully crafted details of this eyewear range.

The 2446 model presents an expressive and generous front. The colours are muted and understated yet have a light, lustrous feel thanks to the transparent acetate they are made from. The braided detailing on the titanium sidepieces is inspired by beautiful trellis work in a matt gold shade.

SILMO 2011 Is Stepping it up a Notch

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SILMO 2011 Is Stepping it up a Notch

Galvanising creativity, stimulating the imagination, facilitating visits by professionals, SILMO boasts an action packed programme with a variety of events complementing an impressive roster of exhibitors. Not to be missed:

  • SILMOACADEMY(meeting centre hall 5): a major symposium intended for eyewear professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge. Topics to be addressed at this year’s event: children’s vision, reading and myopia.
  • SILMO MERCHANDISING WORKSHOP (hall 6 – D124): Specialist merchandising support for all opticians wishing to generate more visitors to their store and make optimal use of their sales area.
  • SILMO TRENDS VIEW: a trends lookbook presented in the form of an interactive digital magazine which can be viewed on a giant screen and on the exhibition website.
  • SILMO D’OR awards (entrance to hall 6): the work of all those competing for the profession’s international awards will be on display before the awards ceremony.
  • SILMO TV (hall 6 – D126): all the news from the profession with lively debates and interviews broadcast live by Acuité.
  • SILMO LOW VISION (hall 5 – L28): information and awareness-raising on sight impairment.
  • SILMO “FRENCH EXCELLENCE” (hall 6 – E 121): promotion of the French optics and eyewear sector, featuring the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF – Best craftspeople inFrance) and Alutec (technological eyewear association).
  • SILMO STAR FOR A DAY (hall 6 – B 105): win a photoshoot with a fashion photographer (you will be automatically entered when you register for your badge at silmoparis.com). 

Visionary Program Delivers One Million Reasons to See a Better Future

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Visionary Program Delivers One Million Reasons to See a Better Future

InKwaZulu-Natal(South Africa), the one millionth patient recently received an eye exam and the eyecare they need thanks to an innovative program initiative of Optometry Giving Sight, the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE), Standard Chartered Bank and the KZN Department of Health.

The Giving Sight to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) programme, as it is known, is a visionary effort and example of the power of public-private partnerships. The target of reaching one million patients in KZN started in July 2007 with the objective of providing accessibility of eyecare services to communities throughout the province using the existing public health system. The ultimate goal is already achieved – the program now paves the way for ongoing eyecare services in the public health system that will serve millions more long after the initial program has concluded.

The World Sight Day Challenge (WSDC) is one of the global key campaigns run by Optometry Giving Sight which not only celebrates World Sight Day on October 13th, but also raises much needed funds for eyecare projects like The Giving Sight toKwaZulu-Natal programme.

Companies such as Optiq Frames, look forward to participating in events like the WSDC in October. Optiq Frames President Joe Nadler has chosen Optometry Giving Sight as its corporate charity. “I have always been impressed with the difference they make to so many people around the world and feel it is important to give back in a meaningful way.”

Optiq Frames has given thousands of frames to children inCanada, and will continue to provide to children in need, but has added Optometry Giving Sight to expand its reach.

Marcolin Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

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Marcolin Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

Fashion industry luminaries turned out in full force to celebrate the Marcolin’s 50th anniversary. Diego and Andrea Della Valle, Dean and Dan Caten, Renzo Rosso, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Neil Barrett were just a few of the notable guests at a fabulous evening enjoyed by all.

Surrounded by contemporary art inaugurated especially for the event, guests were invited to sip champagne and mingle amongst the ‘La Visione oltre lo Sguardo’ exhibition, set in the new Marcolin showroom in Milan at 36 Corso Venizia. A visual multimedia and multi-sensory experience consisting of drawings and paintings, as well as sculptures, videos, and installations by young and internationally acclaimed artists such as Grazia Toderi, Elisa Sighicelli, Marcus Schinwald, Kerstin Braetsch, Matthew Brannon, Tobias Rehberger, Sharon Lockhart, and Atelier Van Lieshout. The group of artists was selected by Tar Magazine – the Milan-based biannual publication with an international outlook, edited by Martina Mondadori and Fracesco Bonami – together with Giò Marconi, one of the biggest names on the Milan contemporary art scene, and Marcolin S.p.A style and licensing officer Maurizio Marcolin.

Many great things have happened since the company’s founding, and over time, through a major commitment to work, unyielding effort, challenges and successes, Marcolin has become a leading player in the global luxury eyewear market, building a reputation as the “Eyewear Atelier” due to its unique products and unwavering attention to quality and aesthetics.

New Appointments at Rodenstock

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New Appointments at Rodenstock

Rodenstock Canada is pleased to announce that the company welcomes two new lens representatives. In keeping with its belief that lenses are very well represented by professional dispensers, Rodenstock has hiredJaime Lovegrove, RO for westernOntarioand Vanessa Sapack, CCOA forBritish Columbia.

Jaime LovegroveRO, has chosen to continue the family tradition, pursuing a career in the optical industry. Since graduating fromGeorgianCollegein 2007, Jaime has been working with a large Canadian eyecare provider as a licensed optician, contact lens fitter and store manager. Heavily involved in new associate training and national PR ad campaigns, Jaime is passionate about educating the public on high quality eyewear products.

Before entering the optical industry, Jaime spent two years living inSoutheast Asiateaching English and Science. Next on her travel agenda are theGalapagos Islands. She can be reached at 226-338-7372, or at jaime.lovegrove@rodenstock.ca.

Vanessa Sapach, has been appointed as the new lens account manager forBritish Columbia. Vanessa’s career as an ophthalmic dispenser has been based in the Kootenays for the past nine years and she has left behind many satisfied customers that wish her well in her new job. Over the years, she has attended many continuing education seminars, as she believes that education is critical to growth in the optical field.

Vanessa has relocated toVancouverwhere she will be closer to Rodenstock’s many customers, and still within sight of the mountains. While in the Nelson area, she would spend her days off enjoying hiking in the mountains and playing third base on a couple local softball teams.

Vanessa is looking forward to meeting and working with optometrists, opticians and dispensers in the BC region. She can be reached at 778-808-7166, or vanessa.sapach@rodenstock.ca.

HOYA Launches the Eye-M-Growing Kids Program

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HOYA Launches the Eye-M-Growing Kids Program

HOYA Vision CareCanadais proud to announce the launch of a brand new lens program for kids called the Eye-M-Growing Kids Program.

The program is offered to children up to 13 years of age and features HOYA 1.53Phoenixlenses, the tough, lightweight and clear lens perfect for use with kids to keep up with their active lifestyles. The patient has a choice of either Rx or stock edge and assembled lenses with HOYA’s state of the art scratch and anti-reflective coatings, and is entitled to a substitute pair of lenses as their visual demands change.

“HOYA has offered frame packages for kids in the past which were quite limiting to the consumer, so we felt we needed to change our approach in order to appeal more to the younger demographic and their parents” commentedBrittany Taylor, product manager at Hoya Vision CareCanada. “We are very excited for this program because it promotes the importance of growing with your patient and supporting them in their visual needs as they develop.”

The program is available all acrossCanadaand can be ordered through any HOYA lab.

EyeDispense, the First Apple iPad2 App for ECPs

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EyeDispense, the First Apple iPad2 App for ECPs

EyeDispense, a portable ophthalmic dispensing application, has been launched through the Apple App Store. Designed by Edinburgh, Scotland-based optometrist David Crystal, this application is a fast, professional tool for successful video dispensing, giving clients with poor vision an easy and enjoyable way to select a frame.

Utilizing iPad 2’s rear camera, the App allows the operator to take four different three-second video clips for the client to compare their frame choices at a glance. The choices can be emailed or uploaded to Facebook, should they want to ask for their friends’ or family’s opinion.

Designed for iPad 2, the new App is a versatile solution for video dispensing, allowing the operator to move around the practice.

Developer and owner of independent optical store Eyecare Plus, David Crystal commented: “I have developed this App especially for optical professionals, to make the purchase of spectacles an easier experience for clients without their optical correction. The hi-tech design of EyeDispense used in conjunction with iPad 2 will impress customers. We are delighted with the results in our store. As well as adding to our image as a leading practice with the latest technology, our clients are pleased that they can make a confident frame choice. It’s a truly cost-effective way to improve patient care.”