Author Archives: Envision Magazine

Rodenstock Presents the New ColorMatic IQ Photochromatic Lenses

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This year marks the introduction of ColorMatic IQ® intelligent ophthalmic lenses from Rodenstock, an in-house development from a company that has been the undisputed pioneer of photochromism for more than 40 years. ColorMatic IQ®, which was just released inCanada in high index plastic in 1.6 and 1.67, is the photochromatic lens with the fastest lightening in the market. To spectacle wearers, this means an even greater advantage, because the first seconds are decisive when changing to other light conditions.

As a photochromatic lens, ColorMatic IQ automatically adapts to the light conditions of its surroundings. The lenses lighten noticeably faster in the first two minutes, compared with other products. This makes the self-tinting lenses the perfect companion for active and comfort-oriented spectacle wearers and outdoor enthusiasts, who really value maximum reliability and the greatest wearing comfort.

The attractive plastic lenses with an index of 1.67 or 1.6 are particularly thin, which ensures an elegant look and a pleasant feeling for the wearer, even for those with greater visual impairments. ColorMatic IQ® is available as a single-vision or progressive lens and provides optimum light protection. Fully 100 per cent of harmful UVA and UVB radiation is absorbed. The lenses also perform an anti-aging function. Due to their perfect UV-400 protection, the lenses protect the sensitive skin around the eyes, and the wearer simply looks younger.

Available in three colours – grey, brown and green – where all its competitors’ products are only available in grey and brown, the ColorMatic IQ stands for the highest quality, the best materials, and innovation that is “engineered inGermany.”

Leis Vision Will Distribute CooperVision Contact Lenses

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Leis Vision is pleased to be an official distributor for CooperVision contact lens products. Leis Vision has established a broad base of clients who require high quality specialty contact lens products for their more demanding cases.

“We feel that with the addition of these CooperVision products at Leis Vision, we will be better able to address the contact lens needs of our customers and provide a comprehensive range of products to solve many of the clinical challenges the professional practitioner faces,” says President Uno Leis. “The CooperVision products we provide include the Biofinity Spheres and Biofinity Toric lenses,” he adds. Amongst the brands offered are Biomedics, Proclear, CV Encore, Frequency 55, Biofinity.

Crizal by Essilor: New Product, TV Ad Campaign and Consumer Promotion

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From mid-May to the end of October Essilor will present a complete and powerful program including Crizal Sapphire™, a national TV ad campaign and consumer promotion advertised on the Essilor UV Report to support eyecare Professionals in their efforts to sell Crizal lenses to consumers.

Crizal Sapphire, the clearest lens ever created, completes the range that already includes Crizal EC™, Crizal Forte™ and Crizal® Sun™, thus offering an antireflective solution to meet the needs of every eyeglass wearer. Crizal Sapphire maximizes light transmission through the lens for ultimate clarity of vision and presents 50% less reflection than Crizal Forte for enhanced visual comfort and greater aesthetic appeal. Its light blue residual reflection is barely visible to the eye. Its exceptional super-hydrophobic, antistatic and scratch-resistance properties are the result of Essilor exclusive patented technologies.

From May 30 to the end of October, Crizal will star in a national advertising campaign that will air on major television networks. More than 10 million Canadian consumers will be reached 8.3 times! Demonstrating the benefits of wearing Crizal lenses every day, the campaign is designed to increase traffic to your store, make it easier for you to sell Crizal and grow your business.

From July 1 to September 30, a Crizal promotion for consumers will give them the chance to win one of four travel certificates worth $7 500 each. The Go Your Way Crizal promotion will be advertised on The Essilor UV Report on the Weather Network and City-Page on theweathernetwork.com and will invite consumers to visit their eyecare professional to participate.

Mido Unveils the dates of its 2012 Show

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The 42nd edition of Mido, the International Optical, Optometry and Ophthalmology Exhibition and the main international event dedicated to that sector, will take placeMarch 11-13, 2012. “To meet the wishes of many exhibitors and visitors, the event dates will include two week days,” stated Cirillo Marcolin, vice president delegate of Mido.

“The decision on the dates is the result of discussion and negotiation designed to respond to many requests. Other considerations were the availability of participants such as Fieramilano, the other exhibitions hosted at the centre in Rho-Pero and Mido exhibitors, and the wishes of visitors fromItalyand abroad,” he says.

“We came up with what we consider a very good solution: the show will run on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Monday is a day on which stores are closed in many regions of Italy and in other European countries. We think this will meet the needs of our audience and help it decide to visit our exhibition

A New Concept for Optical Lenses

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Lensnet Club LLC announces the launch of a unique concept inCanadaand the signing of an exclusive license with DirectLab Network. The concept introduces a new solution for independent eyecare professionals to help them improve their profit margins.

Lensnetclub.com offers over 15 collections of HD lenses online and a wide selection of personalized lenses (in all materials and indexes) from worldwide manufacturers recognized and approved by the top labs in the U.S., Europe, China, Korea, India, Japan and Canada. All are delivered within seven days or they are free under certain conditions explained on the company’s website.

The goal is simple: to enable professionals to save up to 60 per cent off the cost of ophthalmic lenses, thus enabling them to better compete with Internet sales to consumers and providing a valid alternative to major chains with large-scale purchasing power.

A company spokesperson says the platform is adapted to the current optical lens market, similar to what Expedia.ca does for the travel market.

Joining the club is very easy. Professionals are invited to use the platform of online ordering through Lensnet Club. The system then allows them to choose the right product for their needs at the most economical cost.

Lensnet Club invites ECPs to register and visit http://www.lensnetclub.com/.

i2i Eyewear Will Distribute Issey Miyake

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i2i Eyewear is proud to announce an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement with Issey Miyake Eyewear for Canada. “We are very excited about this collection and having the distribution rights for all channels of trade allows us to maintain the integrity of the label and ensure proper placement of the collection,” says i2i Eyewear President Minaz Mawji.

This is the first optical and sunglass collection from Issey Miyake to be presented in Paris. The project is based on an exclusive licensing agreement between Miyake Design Studio and i2i Eyewear for the Canadian distribution of the eyewear collection and the Issey Miyake label.

The collection is characterized by its simple yet radical, sharp yet comfortable design. The major characteristics lie in the original and technologically innovative hinge that is made possible not only by the latest technology but also attention to function. The innovative and functional design represents the spirit of Issey Miyake.

Particularly on the temples, the design concept of the STREAM eyewear collection reflects the serene or turbulent flow of our lives.

The collection is comprised of three different temple designs for men and women and includes a total of 30 shapes, made with metal or acetate fronts.

The careful attention to lightness and aesthetic simplicity is reflected in the way the different materials are worked out: milled acetate is designed to accentuate the sensation of fluidity while the combination of stainless steel and milled acetate with the reversed tip end shape visually lengthens the silhouette of the side.

The colours, worked in different shades or subtle contrasts, come in a wide range of metallic greys, deep blacks, gun blues, whitened silvers, and muted plums in semi-matte, brushed or antique finishes and are enhanced on the men’s sunglasses with bright orange or watery green end tips.

Reflecting the high quality of the designer eyewear, particular attention has been paid to the finishing touches, such as hand-polishing, IM-signed nosepads and other fine details.

Charmant Builds on Exceptional Wearing Comfort

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The Charmant Group introduces in its flagship CHARMANT collection 2011 new rimless styles that provide wearers with an amazing lightness and superior wearing comfort.

 CHARMANT generally stands for modern classic style, innovative technology and superior comfort. With Excellence Titan, Charmant’s exclusive and most advanced material, combined with it’s special Pressure Mount lens system rimless styles are ever more comfortable and reliable.

Amongst the new Spring/Summer frames distributed in Canadaby Perfect Optical, the CH11900 model should be stressed. It is the perfect sophisticated hinge-less rimless style for refined male users. Whole temples made of Excellence Titan give a most gentle wear, and the special end tips offer the finest grip. It has a minimal front with a masculine lens shape together with a very clean profile. Dual colouring gives the wearer a personality.

Play With All You’ve Been Dealt

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By James W. Ahola, B.A.Sc.

I was on holiday a little while ago with extended family. The beach was beautiful, the sun warm and the time with family precious. We did a number of things as a large group but one of the most frequent activities was playing cards. Now when we play cards as a family, we always play for money. It is only quarters, dimes and nickels, but by the end of the night they can add up; my kids know this and hence love to play. Usually mommy and daddy sponsor their game play. The games we play are simple enough for a child to understand but they also involve strategy and chance and require wits, which makes it fun for everyone. At the end of the trip I was amazed at the stash of cash my nine-year-old daughter was putting into her suitcase. For her it was a very good vacation.

Now I will admit that when playing against my daughter I do not play the same way I would if playing against others; however, not everyone at the card table shared my philosophy, especially her brothers. All were playing to win, and for several of them the thought was that if you’re old enough to play and win, you’re also old enough to play and lose.

My daughter was able to play some very strong hands. Sometimes I could not believe the cards she was dealt. She was a considerable opponent, and could not be dismissed because of her stature. When she played she didn’t just play the cards in her hand; rather, she was fully engaged. I remember one hand in which my brother-in-law, Mark was battling it out with my daughter and she was holding her ground. Mark, playing to win, laid down a card that caused her to lose the hand. As she threw her quarter into the pot she said, “Uncle Mark likes to pick on little girls.” To which grandpa said, “Hey Uncle Mark… take it easy on my granddaughter!” Over the next few hands Uncle Mark felt the sting of grandpa and others around the table. Soon he was out of the game. My daughter’s pigtails bobbed as she did a little dance to celebrate Uncle Mark’s exit from the game. You don’t mess with a little girl in pigtails.

I forget whether my daughter won that game and she certainly didn’t win all of them. However, she was a strong player because she didn’t just play her cards, she played the table, and with all she had. She turned her “weakness” of being a little girl into a strength that others simply couldn’t compete with. Was it fair? No. But neither was it fair that Uncle Mark was twice her size, had been playing cards much longer than she has been alive, and that he was not holding back in trying to separate her from her money. He had his advantage and she had hers.

Today’s marketplace is like a card game, one filled with fierce and stiff competition. Businesses are in competition for market share, and it seems like more and more competitors are getting into the game every day. There are big competitors and small competitors, and fair play is not the rule of the day. Everyone is playing to win. Like a card game, in the marketplace there is an element of chance, and success is a result of strategy and wits, which requires that you give everything you have.

It can sometimes seem unfair, and it actually is when you consider that small independents are trying to compete with national corporate chains. Big conglomerates have million-dollar marketing campaigns, prime retail locations and more at their disposal. But it could also be deemed unfair that the small independent can make decisions more quickly and service their community more uniquely, while having less overhead. On both sides of the coin, the game is simply not fair.

As I write this a TV commercial is flashing across the screen advertising a new vehicle. One of the major selling points is a feature that was developed by the auto manufacturer, branded by the same company and owned solely by that company. Hey they are focusing on something the competition cannot compete with! That’s not fair!

No, its not. Unfair play can be broadcast in HD on national television and no one is surprised or shocked. No one calls their MP or shakes their head in disapproval, because unfair play is accepted. Cheating and lying may be punishable infractions, but unfair play is fair game.

Whether you are competing for market share, a job, or nickels and dimes in a pot, it is important that to gain advantage you do not play a fair game. It may not be nice or what your mother told you but it’s reality. The opposition has distinct advantages. So what? So do you. The important thing is that you focus on and exploit your advantages. Find those advantages and exploit them to their fullest. Big business does it, small business does it, and little girls in pigtails do it, too. Because to win in any competitive market you need to play with more than just the cards you are dealt.

Low Vision: The Growing Challenge

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By JoAnne Sommers

It is already being called an epidemic and with the rapid aging of Canada’s population, vision loss is sure to become a far greater concern in the near future. According to CNIB, someone in this country develops blindness or vision loss every 12 minutes. An estimated 836,000 Canadians — one in 38 of us — are currently self-identified as living with blindness or partial sight. In addition, more than three million other Canadians live with some form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts. While they may not have experienced vision loss yet, if left untreated most of these people are at high risk.

After age 40, the number of cases of vision loss doubles approximately every decade, reflecting the fact that many causes of low vision are age-related. Statistics Canada says that by 2026 one out of every five Canadians will be a senior, which means the incidence of low vision will almost certainly rise dramatically.

Defining Low Vision
Almost everyone can manage their activities when their vision is between 20/30 and 20/60. If a person’s vision falls between 20/60 and 20/190 they are considered partially sighted or as having low vision. At 20/200 or worse, they may have some vision but are classified as “blind”. (Note: some people may be classified as blind if their field of vision is less than 20° across, even if their vision is better than 20/200.)

“Fully 90 per cent of those we serve still have some usable vision,” says Dawn Pickering, professional practice leader for Low Vision Services with CNIB in Toronto. “Only 10 per cent of our clients have no vision at all.”

The Causes of Low Vision

A variety of disorders that affect the eye and the visual system may cause low vision, including birth defects, injuries, inherited diseases and conditions such as AMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, refractive error and optic nerve damage.

The most common cause of vision loss is AMD and age is its greatest risk factor. While it may occur during middle age, studies show that mature adults (people aged 60+) are clearly at greater risk than other age groups. A study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that people in middle age have about a two per cent risk of getting AMD; that figure increased to nearly 30 per cent in those over age 75. An estimated one million Canadians have some form of AMD.

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of vision loss among Canadian seniors. The onset of glaucoma generally occurs later in life and people over 60 are six times more likely to get it than the younger population, according to the U.S. Glaucoma Research Foundation.

Diabetic retinopathy, which affects 500,000 Canadians, is the leading cause of vision loss in those under 50. Nearly all Canadians with Type I diabetes and 60 per cent of those with Type 2 develop some form of diabetic retinopathy during the first 20 years they have the disease.

More than 2.5 million Canadians have cataracts, which, fortunately, can be surgically removed and vision restored.

The High Cost of Low Vision
Low vision has a tremendous impact on quality of life: those who suffer from it sometimes lose their ability to drive, read, enjoy leisure, recreational and social activities, and even distinguish different colours. Studies have suggested that many people will become clinically depressed after a diagnosis and that those with vision loss are often socially isolated.

Low vision also exacts an enormous financial toll. A 2009 study by CNIB and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society called “The Cost of Vision Loss” found that it has the highest direct health costs of any disease category in the country — greater than diabetes, all cancers or cardiovascular disease. Vision loss costs Canadians $15.8 billion every year, a staggering $4.4 billion of which comes from lost productivity due to underemployment and unemployment. Everyone bears these costs: taxpayers (through federal and provincial/territorial governments), employers, individuals with vision loss, their families and friends.

One major contributor to the lost productivity cost is the very low employment rate among Canadians who are blind or have vision loss — 32 per cent. The CNIB study notes that this is much lower than the employment rate for Canadians with disabilities in general. Although most Canadians with vision loss are well educated, many of them face numerous barriers to employment, particularly attitudinal ones. A diagnosis of vision loss as an adult can also have a devastating impact on an existing career.

Low Vision Services
While little can be done to restore the lost sight of someone with low vision, many services are available to assist them. The first step, says Ryan Heeney, is a proper diagnosis. “Anyone who has low vision should have a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist,” says Heeney, national sales manager for Canada with Eschenbach Optik ofAmerica.

Once the cause is identified, the ophthalmologist may make a referral to other low-vision and rehabilitation specialists, such as CNIB. CNIB’s vision support services are the most comprehensive inCanada, ranging from low vision assessments and indoor and outdoor travel training, to training in the use of adaptive devices for computers and providing access to a full range of specialized library services, all at no charge.

CNIB has 60 low vision specialists across the country who provide functional assessments of visual abilities designed to identify the individual’s needs and goals, and make referrals to appropriate resources – either within CNIB or with community agencies.

“We get to know them, determine which services are best suited to them and develop a rehabilitation plan designed to meet their needs,” saysPickering.

CNIB provides life skills training to help manage the essentials of daily living, with an emphasis on maintaining independence – from safe and effective methods of cooking and doing household tasks such as laundry, to banking, writing and personal care.

“People with low vision are able to live with much greater independence than in the past, thanks to improved medical treatment and major technological advances,” she says.

Those advances include desktop, handheld and portable magnifiers, digital book players, screen magnifiers and talking GPS systems.

Technology has come a long way in its ability to assist the visually impaired, agrees Ken Patterson, Calgary-basedWestern Canada sales representative for Human Ware, which manufactures assistive technologies for those with visual and learning disabilities.

“The field is changing quickly,” says Patterson. “In the past we only had desktop devices but today there are many more portable devices available in all shapes and sizes.”

It’s important to remember that no single solution will meet every need, he says. “The only way to find out whether something works is to use it and see if it allows you to do what you want it to do. Everyone sees differently and you have to try things out before you can determine their suitability.”

John Rae: A Powerful Advocate for Canadians with Disabilities

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By Evra Taylor

In some instances, the quality of a person’s voice provides a clue to their personality. In the case of John Rae, a booming voice reflects an equally strong presence and a gripping message to boot. The 62-year-old Toronto native has devoted his life to representing blind and disabled Canadians as a speaker, writer and, most predominantly, as an advocate for the rights and abilities of people like himself.

At around age 5, Rae was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa.  He was subsequently told that his vision would remain constant but it didn’t. “Many doctors are unable or unwilling to tell patients the truth about their condition,” he says. “They feel their role is to cure their patients and they’re not able to deal with disabilities. As blind people, we’re not sick and we don’t need to be cured. What we do need are opportunities to succeed and alternative techniques to help us do so”.

Rae describes experiencing the characteristic stages of retinitis pigmentosa: loss of colour perception, night blindness, and gradual loss of vision, followed by complete loss of vision. He says that unlike many people in the same situation, he escaped the emotional trauma usually associated with vision loss. Instead, he has a practical mindset. He received only minimal orientation and mobility training and he feels strongly that this type of training should be a requirement for the vision-impaired and should be provided at an earlier age than it usually is.

One rarely talked-about issue regarding living with a vision impairment is important to Rae: that of an overprotective home environment and the inadvertent harm it can cause. When he found himself faced with this predicament, he chose to leave home to attend theUniversityofWindsorand gain his independence. Rae contends that it is important for parents to have high expectations of their children, “but many of us have had to fight to overcome the effects of over-protectiveness and having a sighted person to do things for us. Being able to advocate for yourself is a skill that stands a person in good stead in school, at work and in community life”.

While he studied history and political science, Rae’s true passion was law, until he realized that, “Perry Mason and the practice of law have very little in common”.  In addition, he explains, “It was more difficult to obtain books in alternate formats back then – in Braille, tape or audio form, for instance. Braille is a blind person’s road to literacy. If you’re studying law, where every comma can make a significant difference to the interpretation of a text, you’re going to need Braille”.

Rae retired from full-time paid work six years ago. However, true to his heartfelt calling, he relishes his career as a civil servant, an active union member and a community advocate. His vast experience included working forOntario’s Disability Support Program (ODSP), which reports to the Ministry of Labour, and the Employment Equity Commission. That was followed by several years with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. Currently Rae is a full-time volunteer board member and first vice-president ofAlliancefor Equality of Blind Canadians. He also serves as the first vice-chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and is active with the Ontario Disability Support Program Action Coalition, an advocacy group that is seeking improvements toOntario’s social assistance program for individuals with disabilities. He focuses on policy work, speaking, writing and advocacy, trying to change the way in which blind people are portrayed.

Much of Rae’s time is focused on issues such as fighting poverty, access to information, and accessibility regarding web sites and transportation. “We’re trying to reduce barriers in our way. Unfortunately, new technologies have imposed several new barriers such as airport kiosks with touch screens which blind people cannot operate. On the plus side, a growing number of elevators have Braille or raised numbers and some ATM banking machines feature speech, allowing a blind person to bank independently”.

Rae is an avid traveller and has sojourned to 30 countries. He feels it is extremely important for blind individuals to travel. “Since we can’t see, we need to absorb the smells and sounds of a locale,” he explains. Rae also points out that because vision-impaired individuals cannot rely on photographs as travel souvenirs, travelling with a tour guide who talks a lot provides tremendous information about the locale. In the same vein, Rae loves touring art galleries and museums because each person viewing a work of art describes something different to him, allowing him to piece together his own picture.

This active spokesman encourages people to get involved with consumer groups and organizations for individuals with disabilities in their area. The Alliancefor Equality of Blind Canadians publishes the national magazine The Canadian Blind Monitor, available at the organization’s website: http://www.blindcanadians.ca/. The publication profiles blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted individuals and serves as an inspiration for people of all circumstances to be the best they can be and to define success on their own terms.

Rae states emphatically: “Our advocacy movement is always in need of new workers. The greatest legacy of the disability rights movement is the ability to participate in policy development, making recommendations on a collective level that will affect our lives. On an individual level, I see the personal growth in individuals who have done that.”