Author Archives: Envision Magazine

Transitions Optical Launches e-Learning Portal

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Transitions Optical Launches e-Learning Portal

Transitions Optical, launched an online learning portal, providing eyecare professionals a central source for continuing education. Found at Transitions.com/Learn, the portal offers optical professionals a wide range of education courses, links to helpful industry resources, as well as forums to discuss and share relevant information about the courses with other eyecare professionals. Canadian opticians can take the courses to earn continuing education credits, made possible through Transitions Optical’s collaboration with the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC).

“Continuing education is essential to the growth and development of the optical industry,” said Tim Schmidt, industry relations and education manager,Canada, Transitions Optical. “The e-Learning portal provides access to not only education materials, but also a network of peers with shared interests to make the learning experience more dynamic.”

In the Repository section of the new portal, users can find all of the courses with descriptions, outlines of each course, and links to relevant websites, white papers and other resources. Industry professionals can also interact with like-minded individuals in the course forums. Users can keep track of their courses in the Personal Desktop section. This customized area allows them to schedule course tests and review the courses they have already completed.

The learning portal is currently available in English, with plans to launch in French in early 2012. The site requires user registration; however, courses currently are available free of charge.

DirectLab Network New Nominations

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DirectLab Network New Nominations

DirectLab Network is pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Hahn as salesNorth Americavice president and president of DirectLab Atlantic.

With more than 25 years of experience in the optical industry, Hahn will be a considerable asset in the growth of DirectLab Network. Early in his career, he worked in theAtlantic Provincesas a representative in frames and accessories first with MenradCanadaand later with MarcolinCanadaand Ronor International. In 1996, he moved toMontrealas export manager for Ronor and later became director of business development for Ronor in theUnited States.

“I am proud to have Ted Hahn as my associate to develop the Atlantic market. With his integrity and knowledge, Ted brings our network to another level,” stated Daniel Beaulieu, CEO, DirectLab Network.

DirectLab Network is also pleased to announce the appointment of David Landry as territory sales manager – Atlantic Canada.

On behalf of DirectLab Network, Landry will be responsible for building strategic partnerships with eyecare professionals inNew Brunswick,Nova Scotia,Prince Edward IslandandNewfoundland.

“David Landry’s highly respected 25 years of knowledge and experience in the optical industry especially in Atlantic Canada combined with his most successful 18-year career with a premier lens supplier in Rodenstock is a tremendous asset to our lens network,” stated Ted Hahn, VP sales, DirectLab Network. “We are proud to have him work with us as we build our network in Atlantic Canada.

Silmo Paris – a Gateway to the Capital

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Silmo Paris – a Gateway to the Capital

The Mondial de l’Optique 2011 will take place at the best possible time right in the middle of Fashion Week Paris, an international event featuring the major fashion shows and hosting the world’s most influential buyers and journalists.

Alongside this major convention, the French capital is also an attractive city for shopping and leisure activities, with brand new and constantly refurbishing stores, a host of restaurants to tantalise the taste buds and party, and areas ideal for walking and relaxation. 

With its vast array of new museums and galleries,Parisis a showcase for prominent art exhibitions. This autumn brings a number of unforgettable events for visitors to enjoy: ‘Lucas Cranach’ at the Musée du Luxembourg, ‘Odilon Redon, prince du rêve (prince of dreams)’ at the Grand Palais, ‘Kees Van Dongen’ at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, ‘Manet, inventeur du moderne (inventor of the modern)’ at the Musée d’Orsay, ‘Dogon’ at the Musée du Quai Branly, ‘Paris-Delhi-Bombay’ at the Centre Pompidou… so many exciting exhibitions to explore on the fringes of this major autumn gathering dedicated to the international optics and eyewear sector from September 29 to October 2 2011.

New LineArt Charmant Canon Collection Builds on Simple Elegance

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New LineArt Charmant Canon Collection Builds on Simple Elegance

LineArt Charmant will provide eyewear with surprising wearing comfort and style in the new Canon Collection. By expanding its offering with more style options, this line, distributed inCanadaby Perfect Optical, will appeal to an even larger female audience.

Unique, smart and sophisticated women who seek a simple paired-down elegance that fit their ophthalmic frame will be satisfied by a piece of art that suits their lifestyle and attitude.

The harmony between the set of four delicate Excellence Titan strings and little cubes expresses a modern and simple elegance with a variety of touches, such as monotone or two-tone finishes, as well as feminine matte and lustrous colours.

Rimless styles have the thinnest titanium pieces that mount lenses using Charmant’s original Pressure Mount System and the frame provides long-lasting wearing comfort and a surprising lightness, while being secure and fitting gently. This creates a symphony between the natural beauty of the wearer and the frame.

The front designs of the nylor or rimless style includes rectangular lens designs for small faces or medium-sized faces, as well as a refined shape of a slight cat-eye for progressive lens users.

Mizyake Couture Features 6 New Models for Men.

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Mizyake Couture Features 6 New Models for Men.

The new models, designed inJapanand distributed by Optika Eyewear, are made with a mix of acetate and stainless steel, materials that are used for the first time by Mizyake. The frames designed for rugged use by men, feature a light weight durable stainless steel construction.

The model 4148 provides a distinguished business man look, featuring laser cut out designs on temples, which do not obstruct side visibility.

Other models feature full rim, stainless steel front, with a mix of bold side temple designs and excellent progressive lens depth for men.

Unique Hinge Technology for Luxurious Eyewear Collection

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Unique Hinge Technology for Luxurious Eyewear Collection

Erlik officially launches its 2011 eyewear collection through Kickstarter.com. Erlik is the only brand of eyewear designed inMontrealand produced inMilan,Italy. The latest collection includes more than 11 optical models and 13 sunglasses with multiple combinations to fit every consumer need. Its distinctive frames use a unique hinge technology which translates into a luxurious, high-quality eyewear product and allows the consumer to personalize their purchase, thanks to its interchangeable temples.

Made from a selection of innovative materials, the blueprints for the hinges are a closely held trade secret. The long lasting hinges apply delicate pressure to each temple and retain their position once the wearer has adjusted them to their face. This results in a perfect customized and truly comfortable fit. Unlike traditional eyewear brands, Erlik offers an assortment of fashionable temples that can easily be switched out to create different looks and match each individual style. Working with Carl Zeiss Vision, a world leader in lens manufacturing, Erlik’s lenses come in a variety of shades and always exceed the quality requirements set by the industry.

“Through creativity and innovation, Erlik wants to redefine the way consumers view and choose eyewear. The appeal of our product is that it lets everyone create their own style and reflect their true personality,” saysAlexandre Masse, founder and creative force behind Erlik.

For the launch of its new collection, Erlik was approved by the team at Kickstarter.com, the largest financing 2.0 platform for creative projects in the world. From May 17 toJune 13 2011, Erlik has promoted the collection to a worldwide audience and offered unique promotions. The visitor was invited to view a small video, to read up on the company and purchase the new models at amazing prices.

Danica Patrick to endorse William Rast Eyewear and Racing Eyewear

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Danica Patrick to endorse William Rast Eyewear and Racing Eyewear

William Rast, the “New America” denim culture brand, founded by Justin Timberlake in 2005, and winner of the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, has signed a multi-year endorsement agreement together with their eyewear license partner Viva International Group, for racing superstar Danica Patrick to endorse William Rast Eyewear and William Rast Racing Eyewear. Patrick will be wearing William Rast on and off the racetrack and will be featured in upcoming campaigns.

Patrick’s endorsement of William Rast, coincides with the consumer launch of the William Rast Eyewear line this year, which includes both optical frames and sunglasses for women and men, and a special William Rast Racing Eyewear collection that features sporty, athletic styles with upgraded materials and features.

William Rast, known for its contemporary American-made premium denim for women and men, has had a strong connection to the world of racing since its inception through the presentation of its New America aesthetic and philosophy to iconic races and events. This year at the Indy 500, William Rast not only announced the partnership with Danica Patrick, but also won the prestigious race with the William Rast car, piloted by Dan Wheldon.

Frank Rescigna, president of Viva says: “We are excited to be partnering with Danica Patrick and to be adding William Rast’s modern attitude to this classic racing event. As a groundbreaking athlete, Danica is a perfect fit for the William Rast brand, and  an ideal ambassador for the William Rast Racing Eyewear collection.”

Looking Forward to Canadian Healthcare Reform

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Looking Forward to Canadian Healthcare Reform
ByEvra Taylor Levy

It’s no secret that one of the major – and most-talked-about – issues inCanadais our healthcare system. Professionals working within the medical community, as well as those of us using its services, are feeling the effects of a national healthcare infrastructure struggling on life support.

In a speech to the Empire Club of Canada last February, Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull, President of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), said, “Today, Canadians are saying that health care is as big a concern as the economy and they want action now,” and he asked the federal government to create a Health Care Action Plan based on Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

In December 2010, Turnbull launched an initiative he hoped would engage Canadians in a cross-country dialogue designed to inspire new ideas and solutions to the healthcare crisis that has crippled our ability to answer the needs of an aging population.

Turnbull’s grassroots approach was intended to spark conversations with healthcare consumers in what could, ideally, be deemed, “healthcare for the people, by the people”. The program began with a website asking Canadians to provide feedback on what a transformed healthcare system would look like to them. More than 50,000 hits confirmed Turnbull’s sense that the time was right for a community-based forum to discuss specific issues of interest to Canadians in their respective provinces.

As a second part of the action plan, town hall meetings were held in partnership with CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel), and Maclean’s and l’Actualité magazines. These events have been staged in cities includingHalifax,Edmonton,Toronto,Vancouver, andQuebec. Turnbull says he witnessed tremendous enthusiasm and a high turnout on the part of the public. In fact, each meeting was sold out.

The response in each city reflected its participants’ unique perspective. InEdmonton, the feeling was, “We need to have a grassroots social movement because the government won’t lead us in healthcare reform. We need to advocate for this change”. InVancouver, Turnbull said, there was a lot of energy around the idea of a publicly funded healthcare system. Torontonians expressed the need to address access to healthcare. Apart from those specifics, Turnbull said, the cities shared the same basic concerns.

The key issues discussed at these meetings were: access to clinic and hospital-based primary care; access to surgeons; availability of pharmaceuticals regardless of one’s ability to pay; and greater availability of preventive healthcare resources. All of these factors clearly are relevant to opticians and optometrists in their ongoing efforts to provide optimal care to their patients in both urban and rural settings.

One of the elements that surfaced was the need for a shift in thinking toward a paradigm in which consumers share responsibility for their own healthcare, and feel a sense of accountability. “We are examining the question, ‘what is the individual’s and family’s responsibility when it comes to healthcare?’ We have moved away from a curative, acute care model to one in which patients are engaged in their own health,” Turnbull stated.

Meetings were also convened with physicians across the country, who expressed the same concerns as healthcare consumers. A key discussion point was the growing need for long-term, home-based care, rather than community-based care. Said Turnbull: “This model offers many efficiencies including a financial saving. We also need to work on integrating various healthcare workers and resources, leading to a more comprehensive approach to care.” Montreal MDs expressed the need for greater radiology and diagnostic services, and raised the issue of the current shortfall in primary and long-term care facilities.

Turnbull summed up the town hall events as a reflection of Canadians’, “huge appetite for discussion on healthcare matters”. He will be gathering the information gleaned from the national dialogue and, together with an expert panel, the CMA will look at how to get to where they want to be. A report of Turnbull’s findings will be presented at the CMA annual meeting in August.

Given their major role in the medical community, Canadian ocular health professionals have an important stake in the discussions – and the outcome – of healthcare reform programs being considered under the aegis of the CMA and other concerned organizations. There is no doubt that healthcare is a priority for all Canadians and that a healthcare action plan is something to which we all look forward.

Consumers are Hot for Hilfiger

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By Paddy Kamen

No One Embodies Hip American Classic Designs Like Tommy Hilfiger

Designer_HilfigerTommy Hilfiger is a natural entrepreneur, beginning his retail career in 1969 with just $150 and 20 pairs of bell-bottom jeans. After opening a small chain of stores called People’s Place, Hilfiger began designing clothes. He had a knack for creating garments that people wanted, but couldn’t find elsewhere. In 1979 he moved to New York City to pursue his fashion career in earnest, introducing his first signature collection in 1985. It’s been a strong upward trajectory ever since, with product offerings that include apparel for men, women and children, jewelry and watches, along with licensed fragrance products and home collections.

From his initial stores in New York and Beverly Hills, the Tommy Hilfiger name now represents a global entity with sales of more than $2 billion, 982 signature locations and over 7,000 stores that carry his products worldwide. As one of the leading American designers, Hilfiger has won numerous awards, including “Designer of the Year” from Parsons, “Menswear Designer of the Year” from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and several FiFi Awards from the Fragrance Foundation.

In 2003, Hilfiger stepped down as the chairman of his company, retaining the title of honorary chairman and principal designer. The firm was taken over by Apax Partners in 2006 and sold again to Phillips-Van Heusen in 2010, the year that marked the brand’s 25th anniversary.

This fall, Sàfilo Group will debut the Tommy Hilfiger Eyewear Collection. Their expert designers have created a classic, modern collection that reflects the Tommy aesthetic. Jade Sanscartier, spokesperson for Sàfilo Canada, says the collection is geared to the brand-conscious, under-40 suburban and small-town shopper. While this is a unisex collection that will appeal to many young women, the offering is somewhat stronger for men.

“Tommy Hilfiger is very much part of the North American fashion mindset,” says Sanscartier. “Those who are drawn to it appreciate style at an affordable price. The collection is understated and yet unmistakably Hilfiger, with subtle embellishments like placards, logos and colours that will be recognized by aficionados of the brand. The fact that we see Hilfiger products like apparel and fragrances every day enhances its appeal.”

Tommy Hilfiger sunwear features understated but visible logos in contemporary plastics and metals. A wide range of aviator shapes is available in metal or acetate, including modern metal looks, metal shields, oversized acetates and smaller, sporty acetates. The small aviator in metal, with a metal plate on the temple, is both elegant and sporty, sophisticated for any age. Plastic temples in interesting laminates stand out.

The Rx collection is distinguished by strong personality, combining a preppy flair with vintage feel. Geeky oversized frames continue to appeal to the youth market and Tommy Hilfiger is on trend with plastics and metals in Rx models. “They epitomize American cool, mainstream enough to appeal to the fashion-conscious shopper, and leaning toward the conservative side of the trend,” notes Sanscartier. “The titanium frame is amazingly light, while looking substantial. With the Hilfiger logo etched right through the temple and an interesting front that speaks of design, it presents an edgy, sporty look.”

Both sun and Rx collections feature playful colours including red, pink, white and blue.

There’s little doubt that consumers are still hot for Hilfiger, a designer who has a keen instinct for trends, both current and anticipated. And the eyewear collections, distributed by Sàfilo, capitalize on Hilfiger’s savvy and a brand with undisputed recognition.

Special Contact Lenses Can Help Avoid Car Accidents

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Special Contact Lenses Can Help Avoid Car Accidents
By Paddy Kamen

Driving more slowly at night seems to make sense from a safety standpoint. But when you’re driving slowly because you can’t see properly then all bets are off.

A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

[i](the official publication of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) found that multifocal contact lens wearers, while driving slower, also had a reduced ability to recognize road hazards.

For the study, 11 adults aged 45-64 drove on a closed circuit driving track at night. Their performance was judged on five criteria: road sign recognition, hazard recognition and avoidance, the ability to stay in the correct lane, near target recognition, and the distance required to recognize standard street signs. Participants’ only experience with vision correction prior to the experiment was using reading glasses for near vision.

The study also found that multifocal contact lens wearers had to be much closer to road signs to detect them than did those wearing eyeglasses. Poor vision has serious implications for road safety because not reading signs from a safe distance may result in sudden, dangerous lane changes.

The fact that low light conditions appear to significantly alter safety in night driving for multifocal contact lens wearers and others on the road is a concern that hasn’t previously been recognized or addressed. The study’s lead author, Byoung Sun Chu, Ph.D, formerly of theSchoolofOptometry, Queensland University of Technology inBrisbane,Australia, points out that eyecare practitioners may need to rethink vision correction for those who drive long distances at night.

“One alternative is to prescribe multifocal contact lenses for daytime use and a different correction for driving at night,” notesChu.

Bausch + Lomb appears to be the only contact lens manufacturer that has responded to the needs of contact lens wearers who travel, live and work in low light conditions. Their PureVision® 2 HD contact lense is the latest lens specifically designed for crisp, clear everyday vision even in low light conditions. The unique lens design is optimized to help correct spherical aberration (an optical effect causing blurred vision, halos and glare) across the entire lens power range.

The number of people who would benefit from these lenses is not insignificant. StatisticsCanadanotes that Canadians drive approximately 15 million km each day between the hours ofmidnightand6 a.m., when visibility is lowest. And there are 640,000 truck drivers on the road every day, many of whom drive through the night. Glare and halos, which impede vision, limit a driver’s ability to visually detect road conditions or obstructions.

Another situation that may warrant the use of PureVision 2 HD contact lenses for effective vision is shift work. Nearly 30 per cent of all Canadians work shifts and almost 55 per cent of nurses work evening and night shifts where lighting conditions may be less than optimal for effective vision. Even ostensibly pleasurable activities like attending the movies can be negatively affected by glare and halos when individuals are wearing vision correction that doesn’t serve them well in low light conditions.

Bausch + Lomb commissioned a study on the effect of glare and halos, which was conducted by an independent market research firm, Market Probe: Europe. The study, titled Needs, Symptoms, Incidence, Global Eye Health Trends (NSIGHT), surveyed 3,800 spectacle and contact lens-corrected subjects, 15 to 65 years of age, from seven countries (China, Korea, Japan, France, Italy, United Kingdom and the U.S.) to better understand the eye-related symptoms that vision-corrected patients experience. The NSIGHT data provided valuable information on how often patients experience halos and glare and the degree to which they found them bothersome. 

About half of the spectacle and contact lens wearers surveyed reported suffering from the symptoms of halos (52 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively) and glare (47 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively) more than three times a week. More than four of five patients who experienced these symptoms found them bothersome (84 per cent and 89 per cent for halo and glare, respectively). These findings indicate that the severity of symptoms associated with halos and glare is sufficient to impact patient satisfaction with prescribed vision correction methods. Given how bothersome they found halos and glare, (90 per cent for halos, 91 per cent for glare) patients reported either having no solution to the problem or none that was satisfactory. Moreover, the same percentage of patients (89 per cent for halos, 87 per cent for glare) expressed an interest in an intervention that more adequately addressed these symptoms.

Dr. Jeff Mungar is an optometrist and contact lens fitter based inOakville, On. “Impaired vision in low light situations can be caused by a number of eye conditions, including halos and glares,” he says. “As the pupil dilates it throws light rays out of focus creating glare and halos as well as blurring.”

Mungar says that while aspherical lenses have been around for some time, he hasn’t found a product better than Bausch + Lomb’s PureVision 2 HD for low light conditions. “It corrects each Rx through the full range and so is more precise in eliminating the spherical aberration, resulting in crisp, clear vision. As just one example, I refit a woman who had been wearing a spherical disposable. While I couldn’t correct her to 20/20, she saw one line better on the chart because the spherical aberration was corrected. With this product we have reduced halos and glares along with excellent lens breathability and high levels of oxygen transmissibility. It’s a comfortable, moist, easy-to-use lens that not only improves vision but also leaves the wearer with healthy white eyes, devoid of strain. I recommend that eyecare professionals discuss vision in low-light situations with their patients to help ensure that appropriate solutions are identified for those experiencing halos and glare.”

The PureVision 2 HD is available for those who don’t require astigmatism correction. “If the patient has more than .75 units of astigmatism he or she needs an astigmatic corrective lens,” notes Mungar.

With the road safety implications of wearing regular contact lenses now understood, thanks to Dr. Chu’s study, one wonders if a massive public and professional education program is in order. Surely we would all have a lot to gain.


[i] The Effect of Presbyopic Vision Corrections on Nighttime Driving Performance, by Byoung Sun Chu, Joanne M. Wood, and Michael J. Collins, IOVS September 2010 51:4861-4866; published ahead of print April 7, 2010, doi. www.iovs.org.