Author Archives: Envision Magazine

Sàfilo and Jimmy Choo Extend Their Licensing Agreement

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Safilologo Jimmy ChooSàfilo Group and Jimmy Choo have extended their licensing agreement until December 31, 2018, for the design, production and distribution of the Jimmy Choo eyewear collections of sunglasses and optical frames. According to the Italian distributor, this reflects the outstanding growth of the brand’s eyewear business across all major countries, especially in Europe and North America.

“We are proud to count Jimmy Choo among our leading luxury fashion and top-growth eyewear brands,” commented Luisa Delgado, CEO of Sàfilo Group. “The brand’s uniquely glamorous and confidently iconic style inspires us to create distinctive eyewear that has exceptional appeal in the markets where it is distributed via premium quality channels. We see great potential for accelerated growth, particularly in Asia Pacific, China, and Latin America, enabled by our new commercial leadership capability.”

“We are very pleased to prolong our partnership with Sàfilo,” said Pierre Denis, CEO of Jimmy Choo. “We enjoy a strong and collaborative partnership producing designs that reflect the personality of the Jimmy Choo brand and the design vision of our Creative Director, Sandra Choi. Sàfilo’s expertise in commercial execution enhances the quality of our brand in the highest points of sales across the world. We look forward to further expanding our eyewear presence globally.”

Rodenstock Transfers its Canada Business to Distribution Partner Plastic Plus

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Rodenstock NEWPlastic- single PP LOGO 2014

Rodenstock, Germany’s leading manufacturer of spectacle lenses and frames, will hand over its Canadian business to Plastic Plus Ltd., Canada’s leading optical lab and lens supplier.

Effective January 1st, 2015, Plastic Plus will act as exclusive production and distribution partner of the German based Rodenstock group and will serve the Canadian market through a central production lab in Toronto. “We are pleased to have found a reliable and experienced business partner in Canada, who will market our superior product portfolio and deliver excellent services to our clients,” confirms Oliver Kastalio, CEO of Rodenstock Group. “With Plastic Plus, we will sustainably strengthen our position in the Canadian market.”

Plastic Plus is Canada’s largest independent lens manufacturer. With one of the most highly advanced labs in the industry and the most state-of-the-art technology, the family run business sets high quality standards for its lenses. “We are very pleased to partner with Rodenstock – a company which is renowned for its unique family of products and brands,” says Paul Faibish, CEO of Plastic Plus. “Our local production clients will benefit from a wider product choice, individual service options and even shorter delivery times in the future.”

All existing Rodenstock business partners in Canada have been officially informed over the past days and can expect a smooth transition.

Oakley Launches New Lens Technology That Enhances Snow Visibility

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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.

The Magic Mixing Formula: Optifair Does it Again

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OptifairBy Paddy Kamen

Who knew that it was possible for everyone could enjoy a continuing education (CE) and trade show event that serves both optometrists and opticians? Ali Khan thought it just might work, back in the days when the two professions seldom interacted. Now, 20 years later, the Optifair model, delivered twice yearly by Khan’s Academy of Ophthalmic Education (AOE), has proven itself a resounding success.

The most recent conference and show took place Oct. 19, 2014 at the Embassy Grand Convention Centre in Brampton, ON. The formula worked its usual magic, with optometrists and opticians showing up on the trade show floor at staggered times, with 30-minute interludes in between. This format serves exhibitors well by controlling the flow of traffic to their booths. The interlude promotes cross talk between the professions, which Khan says was more evident last year because of the regulatory changes in Ontario that now allow opticians to work for optometrists without losing their licences. “The professions are now more interested in connecting and exploring how they can work together,” he points out. “These changes have broken down barriers for both groups and Optifair provides a great networking forum for them.”

One of the reasons for the success of Optifair is the high quality of the CE. Khan and his team continually keep abreast of the issues, listening to the education needs of the professions and responding with fresh and relevant topics, delivered by top notch international speakers. Optifair is also on track with the latest technologies for the CE experience. The April 2014 conference featured a special two-hour grand rounds session for optometrists, with a panel of six ophthalmic doctors representing different specialties, who were presented with challenging cases. Delegates asked questions from the floor via their smartphones, rendering the need to stand up at a mike and ask questions obsolete. “They just loved it and participation was so good that the panel couldn’t even get to all the questions,” notes Khan. “With changes to their scope of practice, one of the key needs of optometrists is to discuss dispensing of medication and this session really helped.”

The AOE also offers CE opportunities combined with travel and recreation. A 2014 summer cruise from Venice to Istanbul was a great success. The next such event takes place next summer at Deerhurst Resort in Muskoka. To learn more, visit: www.aoece.com.

Bandage It Up!

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MakingContactBy Shirley Ha, HBSc, OD, FCOVD

Therapeutic bandage contact lenses (BCLs) have been around since the 1970s, yet emergency room doctors and nurses are still patching eyes with antibiotic ointment for non-penetrating injuries. When used appropriately, BCLs are safe and effective, and should be the first treatment option, rather than the last, for many corneal injuries, ocular surface diseases/disorders and post-operative conditions. BCLs typically do not have prescriptions in them and are available in hydrogels, silicone hydrogels, scleral lenses and collagen shields.

The main function of BCLs is to protect the compromised corneal surface from external hazards while the cornea is healing from injuries such as corneal laceration, chemical burns and epithelial defect due to mechanical trauma; from ocular surface diseases such as recurrent corneal erosion (RCE), Sjogren’s syndrome and filamentary keratopathy; and from surgeries such as pterygium removal, penetrating keratoplasty and keratectomies, including photo refractive keratectomy and biopsies.

Patients requiring BCLs have symptoms of redness, tearing, photophobia and blurred vision and they experience pain, from mild to excruciating. BCLs are part of the armamentarium, together with topical anaesthetics and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); they are used to help manage and control pain by shielding the loose and regenerating epithelium from the constant rubbing action of the eyelids during blink, such as in RCE cases and in painful bullous keratopathy when blisters at the epithelium rupture.

CornealBandageFor challenging cases where BCLs have failed, such as in chemical burns, neurotrophic corneas, persistent epithelial defects and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, some eye surgeons are using the FDA-approved cryopreserved amniotic membrane products, AmnioGraft® and PROKERA® biologic corneal bandage that can be inserted in the clinic.  These tissue products are processed by  Bio-Tissue® and are indicated for corneal and conjunctival healing. AmnioGraft® is currently being distributed by Labtician Ophthalmics in Canada. PROKERA® is expected to be approved by Health Canada some time in 2015.

ECPs are choosing extended wear (EW) silicone hydrogels for their BCLs because of their high oxygen permeability, flexibility, availability, ease of fit and comfort. Their disadvantages are their lipophilic properties, decreased wettability and fixed lens diameter. For safeguarding near and/or beyond the limbus, larger-diameter scleral lenses or larger-diameter bandage soft contact lenses (BSCLs) are more suitable.

For soft BCLs, the steepest base curve that will allow minimum lens movement without it adhering to the eye should be chosen as the initial trial lens. Instilling a drop of anesthetic will help make the insertion hassle-free for the ECP and pain-free for the patient. After the analgesic effect has worn off, patient comfort should be assessed and the BCL fit re-evaluated to ensure that it is centered, has good corneal coverage, is tighter than a conventional contact lens fit and is moving just a little.

With the right training about personal hygiene, lens insertion/removal, a lens care regime that includes digital rubbing and timely replacement, accidental decentration and loss of the BCL are unlikely. If the BCL falls out, it should be cleaned thoroughly and re-inserted or thrown out and a new BCL inserted. The patient should be encouraged not to touch/rub the eye or reposition the lens, except to protect it with ocular lubricants. An aerated eye shield can be worn at night if the patient has nocturnal lagophthalmos and sunglasses can be worn during the day for light-sensitivity symptoms.

The patient should be counselled that they need to be seen frequently by their ECP because the eye that requires the BCL is already compromised and wearing a BCL is not without risk. The risk of microbial infection or even ulceration is higher than normal so consider using an initial supportive collagen shield soaked in antibiotic and steroid medication that dissolves within 12 hours, then covered by a BCL, for example. Alternatively, a stand-alone BCL that allows for adjunct therapies such as delivery of drugs and ocular lubricants is equally as effective.

Patients should use their BCLs for as long as required for the basement membrane to regenerate and for the tight junctions in the epithelium to restore adhesion. They must also use antibiotics due to the increased risk of infection with extended wear contact lenses (EWCLs) for as long as they are wearing BCLs.

In easy cases, it might take as little as one day for the cornea to completely heal, as in mild RCE. On the other hand, it might take as long as several years in complicated, chronic cases – persistent epithelial defects or bullous keratopathy, for example. Patients with longstanding BCLs can be monitored regularly, every one to three months, with a change in antibiotics every three months to prevent drug resistance.

In summary, BCLs are effective and can safely be used, with topical antibiotic coverage when necessary, to protect the ocular surface when it is healing from diseases and after injuries and surgeries. When applied early in the treatment plan, a permanent reduction in visual acuity is unlikely. Patients also benefit and appreciate the pain relief they inherently bestow. BCLs are rewarding and patients will love you for them!

A New Frontier in Cataract Surgery

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CataractSurgeryBy Netan Choudhry, M.D, FRCS and Jennifer George

The earliest cataract surgeries date back 4,000 years. Since it was first performed in ancient Egypt, India and Japan, cataract surgery has undergone a long process of evolution, leading to today’s modern procedures.

The need for cataract surgery has only increased over time. Cataracts are now one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults aged 55 and older. Over 2.5 million Canadians currently suffer from cataracts and this number is expected to double to five million by 2031. Fortunately, it is also one of the most treatable causes of blindness.

The lens of a healthy eye is circular and biconvex, bulging outward like the surface of a magnifying glass. It is also transparent, allowing light rays to pass through it. This transparency is integral to the proper functioning of the lens. Like the lens of a camera, the passage of light through the eye’s lens determines the clarity of one’s vision. In a healthy eye, light can travel through the transparent lens to the retina, where it is converted into neural signals delivered to the brain. These signals become the images one sees. In patients with cataracts, however, a clouding of the eye’s lens occurs, resulting in blurred and out-of-focus vision. For the retina to capture a sharp image, the lens must be clear, whereas having a cataract could be likened to seeing the world through a window covered in petroleum jelly.

Though cataracts can severely impair vision, treatment has greatly advanced in the last decade. Cataract surgery has become routine in Canada, with more than 250,000 procedures performed annually. It is also one of the most successful surgeries, with over 95 per cent of patients reporting improved vision afterwards. Until recently, the preferred method of removing cataracts in the developed world has been phacoemulsification. This technique utilizes ultrasonic energy to soften the dense lens material of the cataract, which is then extracted from the eye with suction and irrigation. In this traditional surgery, handheld blades are used to create incisions within the cornea to access the cataract. A surgical instrument is then used to manually create an opening in the lens capsule that holds the cataract. The goal is to make the incisions precise and the openings in the lens capsule as circular as possible, in the right location, and the correct size to accommodate the lens.

Recently these manual procedures have been performed in an automated fashion with the use of the femtosecond laser (FSL). FSL technology has been widely used in various refractive surgery applications in recent years. The approach utilizes photodistruption, which results from a focused beam of pulsed light energy. The focused pulse creates optical breakdown with significantly low pulse energy, thereby minimizing damage to the eye. Studies have examined the potential advantages of more precise corneal incisions and capsulotomy formation. The precision of FSL can allow a surgeon to create the circular opening with the exact intended size, shape and location, and clinical studies indicate that the opening is almost 10 times more accurate than the manual alternative.

With FSL, surgery is highly customizable. Patients will receive more precise treatment with gentler and easier cataract removal. And because FSL is less invasive, the procedure results in little to no discomfort. The added low-energy approach of FSL also results in faster recovery times, placing this new approach on the cutting edge of cataract treatment. With bladeless surgery offering individual precision, FSL can now provide patients with results that were hitherto unattainable.

Richard Mewha Designs Unique Luxury for Bevel

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RichardMewhaBy Paddy Kamen

Anyone who wants to look more handsome or beautiful will be thrilled to encounter Bevel frames, designed by president and head designer Richard Mewha.

Mewha is a designer who can’t draw, a visionary of gorgeous eyewear who works with design partners to bring his ideas to life. His aesthetic philosophy is simple: “We design eyewear to enhance the face, complexion and hair colour. I see a lot of frames, especially at the trade shows that make the wearer look like she is dressed up for Halloween. I’m not conservative, nor am I looking to create something bizarre just so it will be noticed. Our frames are creative and interesting and made to enhance the appearance of the wearer.”

Mewha didn’t set out to become a designer but instead came upon it gradually, starting with musical-cultural influences. Growing up in punk rock-era England, he was into music and the fashion that went along with it. “Then I decided to go to business school, with the aim of working for a design or fashion company,” he says.

Landing a job with Alain Mikli in 1986 marked the beginning of Mewha’s fascination with eyewear. Hired as a sales rep for Paris, he was moved to New York City in short order, where he was promoted to North American sales manager by the time he was 25. Mewha was attracted to Mikli’s high-fashion eyewear (“bordering on bizarre,” he says) and thrilled that he, personally, no longer had to endure boring frames: “I had been wearing horrible eyeglasses that I was ashamed of, before I started working with Mikli,” he admits.

His next position was with Optical Shop of Aspen, a high-end west coast American retailer. “They were just starting as an importer of Matsuda and developing a wholesale business. Over time I became involved in production meetings with the factory. I learned how the design side and the product side work together to create saleable eyewear. My experiences there helped me to establish contacts with the top manufacturers in Japan.”

Mewha is a self-proclaimed ‘Japan-snob’ and has never considered making his frames anywhere else. His Japanese design partners understand what he wants to achieve and the quality is unparalleled.

The other key to realizing Mewha’s vision is Rick Nelson, an optician of 40 years, with whom he founded New York City-based Bevel in 1999. “Rick understands frames and lenses like no one else and together we find the balance between aesthetics, comfort and excellent vision.”

BevelFramesThe Bevel brand is distinguished by minimalist design, luxury materials and, especially, colour. “I love combining colours and follow my instincts, rather than fashion trends. In titanium, I have an affinity for pastels on the inside of the frame and an exterior colour that contrasts with the complexion of the wearer. In acetates I gravitate to deep, rich colours and multiple granular effects that have an earthy, three-dimensional feel to them.”

Always innovating, Mewha believes in the value of reaching for, and realizing new levels of design and craftsmanship, confident that discerning customers will appreciate superior products.

In recognition of their commitment to the technical side of eyewear production, Bevel was recently awarded a U.S. patent on a hinge they developed for titanium frames in 2009. A second hinge with strong visual design elements was invented for acetate frames in 2012. “The original hinge was designed to better tailor the fit of the temple to the wearer,” says Mewha. “The second hinge adds flex and a distinctive design detail.”

Another technical innovation from Bevel is 3-mm moulded titanium frames, launched in spring 2014. Mewha wanted to create a chunkier look while preserving the lightness, comfort and balance that are hallmarks of Bevel frames. The manufacturing process is complex and uses a total of six dies. Mewha explains: “We start with a block of titanium, which is punched out from a titanium sheet using the cutting dies, and then pressed twice using the other two stamping dies. The burrs left after stamping are trimmed using the trimming dies and then milled using a milling machine to smooth the edges.

“Once we have the frame, we polish it very thoroughly, and then it is coloured using electroplating for the shiny colouring. We then mask a part of the frame and hand spray the rest to get the matte finish on the other part. It’s been a huge commitment and we’re thrilled with the result.”

BevelAzzuriBevel continues to innovate with materials, aesthetics and technology, drawing ever more consumers to the retailers who are selected to carry their collections. Mewha still can’t draw, but clearly he has everything he needs to bring his visions to life, making women more beautiful and men more handsome with the addition of très chic Bevel frames.

Good Sports

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GoodSportBy Brian P. Dunleavy

Most healthcare professionals see the Internet as a source of misinformation and/or disinformation for patients seeking answers to their medical needs. However, for opticians and optometrists trying to meet the increasingly specialized visual needs of sports enthusiasts visiting their dispensaries, the World Wide Web may provide some keys to success. Many ECPs have been forced to turn there to learn about the latest in spectacle lens products and treatments for sports ranging from hunting and fishing to skiing and snowboarding. (See the feature on page 8 of this issue to learn more about the latest in sports eyewear.)

“Most of the knowledge we have in lenses for sports comes from self-education and experience,” explains Gina Kay, optician and co-manager of the Toronto location of Cristall Opticians, a three-location, family-owned optical shop. “In many cases, the patients are so well-educated about their sports and the vision needs related to them that they teach us a lot.”

Where to go for vital information on this application for spectacle lenses has long been the question. ECPs estimate that as much as 10 per cent of the lenses they dispense are used by wearers for a sports-related activity, most commonly hunting and fishing, although a growing number of patients participate in so-called “action” sports, including snowboarding, biking and racing (both running and auto/motorbike). Despite this, education programs are often lacking in curriculum devoted to sports lenses.

If you’re wondering what lenses and/or lens treatments will work for the sports enthusiasts in your client base, there are places to go before getting lost on Google.

Read all about it

The proliferation of sports specialty magazines in response to the increased consumer interest in outdoor activities can help opticians and optometrists as well. According to Kay, many of these magazines publish feature articles that describe the “visual environments” specific sports participants experience; some include advice columns on eyewear needs. Many of these publications are online now, with searchable article archives. Sport-specific online chat rooms and web sites are also excellent resources.

Get equipped

Erin Clarke, an optician at Aurora Eye Care in Grande Prairie, AB and an active outdoor sports enthusiast, says local sporting goods retailers have been an excellent source of information on different sports for Aurora’s optical staff. “They can explain some of the visual conditions and challenges with different sports because they deal with them all the time,” she says.

Partner up

Vendors who manufacture sport-specific products often provide plano sunwear or other eyewear for their respective customer bases. Kay says Cristall has partnered with a company that specializes in gear for motorcyclists to market prescription sunwear designed for optimal vision on the road. Clarke adds that she and her team at Aurora have researched the best prescription lens inserts for ski goggles and other sports specialty eyewear products to ensure the dispensary and its supplier partners offer them.

History lesson

It may seem clichéd, but a thorough patient/client history makes identifying the right lens products easier. According to Kay, “asking the right questions and communicating with your clients allows them to tell you in their own words what they need.” While she emphasizes that they won’t necessarily tell you what lens tint will help them see better in the woods while hunting, they may describe visual problems they’ve had.

“Then it’s up to you, with your expertise and the resources you have – your supplier partners, for example – and maybe a little trial and error, to find the right products for them. Ultimately, the best way to make sure you are providing the best lens options for sports enthusiasts is combining your knowledge of lens tints and lens design technology with your clients’ knowledge of what they do. With all the technology we have now, there are lenses that will work for what they need. As opticians, we need to position ourselves as the experts who will help to find them.”

Focus on Ebola: Managing the Ocular Effects of the Disease

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EbolaBy Evra Taylor

With the continuing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) crisis in West Africa, all eyes are focused on survival, as they should be. As of October 2014, the disease had already claimed the lives of more than 3,000 citizens, according to the World Health Organization.

EVD was first identified in 1976 but there have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than in all the others combined. In fact, the Ebola crisis is reported to be the worst the world has ever seen. “The average case fatality rate is 50 per cent, which is significantly higher than the lowest level of previous outbreaks, which ranged from approximately 25 to 90 per cent.”

Some of the symptoms of EVD, such as body aches, fever, vomiting and cough, are the same as those of the flu. However, patients may present with more serious symptoms like chest pain and bleeding, both internally and externally, including bleeding from the eyes.

Moreover, optometrists travelling abroad to provide healthcare support for those afflicted face the possibility of contracting the disease. In terms of transmission through tears or contact lenses, the information is inconclusive. It is not yet known whether tears or tear fluid on a contact lens can carry the EVD virus.

Reasonable and Responsible Precautions

One mode of transmission is direct contact with the body or bodily fluids of an infected person, whether living or deceased. Additionally, EVD can be transmitted through indirect contact, through objects, surfaces, clothing or bedding contaminated by the body fluids of a live or deceased infected person.

Healthcare workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced. Careful adherence to health guidelines is essential in addressing the challenges posed by Ebola and helping to minimize the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization’s guidance for care of patients with Ebola, published in September 2014, states: “Strengthen and carefully apply standard precautions when providing care to ALL patients, regardless of the signs and symptoms they present with. This is especially important because the initial manifestations of hemorrhagic fever may be non-specific. Hand hygiene is the most important measure. Gloves should be worn for any contact with blood or body fluid. Medical mask and goggles or a face shield should be used if there is any potential for splashes of blood or body fluids to the face, and cleaning of contaminated surfaces is paramount.”

The federal government reports that there have been no cases of Ebola in Canada and that the risk to Canadians remains very low. Canada’s new Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Gregory Taylor, has stated that this country has been preparing for the possibility of Ebola cases emerging as the result of overseas travel.

“Canada is well prepared with a number of systems in place to identify and prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases like Ebola, such as working closely with our international partners to gather and assess information and administering the Quarantine Act at all points of entry into Canada,” Dr. Taylor said in a statement.

“The Public Health Agency of Canada is working closely with its provincial and territorial partners and the agency’s National Microbiology Laboratory is well connected with its network of provincial labs to ensure Canada is ready to detect and respond quickly.”

Canadian ECPs are justified in reassuring their patients about the low risk of contracting Ebola. However, in light of the disease’s 21-day incubation period, the importance of high-level precautions cannot be overestimated.

Don’t let sports eyewear pass you by: your patients need it!

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Feature

By Paddy Kamen

Physical fitness rules in western pop culture, where professional athletes are superstars and the girth of film actors is under constant scrutiny. Do these cultural values translate into increased physical activity for the average person? It’s hard to know, but there are definitely more sports-equipment stores in Canada than ever before.

The focus on fitness products in the retail world creates an excellent business opportunity for eyecare professionals because ever-cooler and more technologically advanced equipment is the name of the game. Both amateur and professional athletes need eye protection and you are the perfect retailer to provide it.

You’d best start out by asking your patients if they play sports. According to Pat Salamat, Canadian vice president of sales for Liberty Sport, this is the first of the Three I’s: Inquire, Inform and Introduce. After you ask ‘Do you play any sports or engage in solo fitness activities?’ it becomes almost a duty of practice to inform patients of the risks to vision inherent in their sport, and/or the path to better performance through improved optics. The reason this becomes a duty is that over 100,800 Canadians end up in emergency rooms each year as a result of sports-related eye injuries. You sure don’t want a tennis-playing patient claiming that you didn’t let her know that the second-leading cause of sports eye injuries in Canada is racquet sports. Not only should you inform her, you can also introduce the solution if you carry a good selection of sports-specific eyewear.

This feature gives you an overview of the best of the best in sports-protection eyewear. And the cool factor leads the way: just look at this stuff – it’s gorgeous!

LuisGarneauThe Louis Garneau company, founded by renowned Canadian cyclist Louis Garneau (with over 150 racing victories globally), knows a thing or two about sports eyewear. Perfect for winter sports, their Nordic Shield, with lift-up lenses that are also interchangeable, offers tremendous versatility, depending on the activity chosen and the prevailing light conditions. The nylon frame resists impact and varied temperatures.

The Course Kit from Louis Garneau is another example of versatile sports eyewear for the all-round athlete. Worn by Quebec-city-based 2014 Ironman Kona, Hawaii winner, Pierre-Yves Gigou, the Course Kit is extremely lightweight, with vented lenses and a frame that helps to prevent fogging. This amazing eyewear works in every light condition and at all temperatures. Cyclists, cross-country skiers and triathletes find it indispensible.

CocoonsBecause not everyone can invest in prescription goggles for winter sports, Live Eyewear presents their stylish Cocoons® fitover snow goggles. “It was time for us to bring our experience in the fitover sunwear category and attention to detail to the table,” says Kieran Hardy, Live Eyewear president. “The public trusts in the Cocoons brand as a global leader in fitover eyewear. Because we consistently deliver the best in fitover performance, quality and value, our new goggles will reward loyalty to the brand.”

Cocoons goggles come in a wide variety of styles, each featuring a dual layer, anti-fog lens system with air apertures to eliminate condensation on the internal lens surface. The high-contrast orange lenses offer a glare-blocking silver mirror finish, delivering superior visual acuity.

“These Cocoons retail at a great price point, so there’ll be no question that you’re equipping your customer with the best in technology combined with unparalleled value,” adds Hardy.

Gotti_GoggleDesigner Sven Götti, who hails from Switzerland (another land of snow), turns his keen design aesthetic to light, flexible snow goggles in white, black and yellow, each featuring coloured, mirrored, double-glazed lenses. An anti-fog design for optimum ventilation make these helmet-compatible goggles consistent with their sophisticated finish and dynamic look. We wouldn’t expect anything less than perfection from this prominent Swiss company.

VuarnetOlympic gold medal ski champion, Jean Vuarnet, lends his name to the famous Vuarnet brand, known for superior eyewear and mineral lenses for all sporting activities.

“Our bestselling lens, Skilynx, was created in 1960 and used by Jean Vuarnet when he won the Olympics in 1960,” says Marketing Director Kristin Wells-Kelly. “This lens is ideal for all winter sports. We also offer the PX 5000 lens in limited sport frames for mountain climbing and all sports executed in extreme light conditions.”

All Vuarnet mineral lenses are manufactured in their factory in Meaux, France, just outside Paris. Mineral lenses are known for exceptional optical quality: “The optics are much better than polycarbonate and they have a very hard surface, making them resistant to scratching. The 16-hour chemical plating process guarantees that they are shock-resistant as well.” says Wells-Kelly.

Vuarnet has released an updated version of the aviator-style GLACIER sports sunwear made of Mazzucchelli acetate and ultra-light metal with inserted rubber. The leather side shields with a magnetic metal structure allow the shields to be adjusted for better eye protection. The side shields are also removable to meet the needs of city life. Combine the GLACIER with the SKILYNX mineral lenses and you have a match made in heaven.

RudyProject_AgonRudy Project shines with their new ImpactX-2 lenses in Clear to Laser Red and Clear to Laser Brown. These photochromic lenses light your way with 65 per cent better photochromic performance, 25 per cent faster activation and activation behind car windshields. Best of all: they are unbreakable and so protect the eyes in the event of falls or other impacts.

Comfort and perfect vision are aligned in the new high-performance Proflow™ Carbonium from Rudy Project. Developed with input from professional athletes and biometric engineers, this eyewear gives cutting-edge advantages to athletes, including a patented ‘flying’ temple design, which permits minute adjustments for maximum comfort and works together with the all-new Dorsal Stabilizers™, a system which ensures perfect alignment and directional stability for most head shapes, thus preventing the glasses from pitching down and placing excess pressure on the nose and ears.

 

RandyJackson_ProflowAlso from Rudy Project, the Agon is an ultra-technical glass, worn by the 2013 Tour de France® Green Jersey winner, Peter Sagan. Available with interchangeable lenses, the Agon features adjustable temple tips and nose pieces that secure the glasses with a precise and custom fit. An aerospace alloy is used in their manufacture. The half-rim structure guarantees a broad field of vision and air circulation is ensured by adjustable ventilation slits on the lenses.

Both the Proflow Carbonium and the Agon are Rx-able, via digital backside surfacing and can be made with no-line bifocals. Congrats to Rudy Project for constantly pushing the envelope in favour of athletes.

SundogSundog Eyewear is leading the pack with TrueBlue™ lens technology, as worn by world ultramarathon champion Ellie Greenwood and LPGA Superstar Paula Creamer. This blue light-filtering technology is based on the research of physicist and inventor Dr. James Gallas, whose company, Photo Protective Technologies (PPT), is a leading innovator in photoprotection using melanin. Sundog has signed an exclusive global agreement with PPT for the next generation of melanin lenses.

TrueBlue lenses have demonstrated proven results in golf, running and fishing. Athletes will appreciate superior glare reduction, maximum visual clarity, enhanced definition and improved performance. The eyewear frames that hold this lens technology include Bolt, Clutch and Prime. All frames are made with Max Flex RILSAN® and use Megol temple tips and adjustable Megol nose pads to provide non-slip comfort. Check out Sundog for guaranteed performance at a price point that won’t break the bank.

Spy_AnglerSpy has the ultimate outdoor package for people who enjoy fishing, made of Grilamid® with polycarbonate toric lenses. The new Angler shows up with Trident™ polarization, Hytrel™ nose pads and temple tips, and small temple openings handy for attaching a cord. This virtually indestructible eyewear is oversize, and definitely masculine.

Spy_BravoBravo is another first for Spy, a mid-size snow goggle that rocks the slopes with high-performance features like a one-handed lens changing system, a free bonus lens, scoop venting and anti-fog coating, along with silicone ribbing on the strap to keep the goggle in place on the helmet.

Both the Angler and Bravo are available with Spy’s new Happy Lens™ technology. In addition to enhancing colour and contrast, the Happy Lens induces positive physiological and psychological changes by blocking short-wave blue light and UV rays, while allowing in the sun’s long-wave blue light. Exposure to long-wave blue light is associated with increased alertness and positive mood. Spy has a patent pending on the technology behind Happy Lens. As one of the oldest independent eyewear brands in North America they are proud to be constantly innovating.

MauiJim_SwitchMaui Jim’s PureAir styles have been extremely well received by everyone who has tried them for climbing, fishing, racquet sports and running. They also work well for more rugged sports, especially those that require undistorted views through ultra-clear lenses or need the great visual definition and depth perception that comes from the use of three rare earth elements in the PolarizedPlus2 lens technology. The Grilamid TR90LX frames are light, thin, flexible, durable and easily fit under helmets. The frames have performance features like embedded rubber in the temples and adjustable rubber nose pads that enhance stability and performance.

Also from Maui Jim, the Switchback full-wrap eyewear is receiving stellar reviews from cyclists around the globe. This is Maui Jim’s first style with easily interchangeable lenses. Superior ventilation and incredible comfort are augmented by the gripping fit that make the frames stable for both cyclists and runners. The Switchback comes with a PolarizedPlus2 coloured lens and a clear lens, with other lenses available.

CostaHardcore fishermen started Costa back in 1983 in order to create sports sunwear that truly met their needs. Today, the company they founded is going strong, making the clearest sunwear for fishing, boating, biking and running.

The Hamlin model from Costa was named after esteemed Captain Ron Hamlin, who is known for releasing more than 25,000 billfish in his career. These co-molded Hydrolite frames, designed in his honour, offer a lightweight but durable fit.

The Inlet, also from Costa, is made from durable nylon, with spring hinges for a snug, custom fit. Both the Inlet and the Hamlin perform best with Costa’s patented 580™ lens technology, which blocks yellow light from entering the eye, creating razor-sharp colour enhancement and achieving the highest polarization level possible. The lenses eliminate reflective glare and protect against harmful UV rays. Available in 580G (glass) or 580P (plastic), lens colours include gray, copper, blue mirror, green mirror and silver mirror. Costa also offers a specialty sunrise lens colour, ideal for low light situations.

LibertyLiberty Sport Eyewear is a name well known to both professional and amateur athletes in a wide variety of sports. Pat Salamat, says they focus on sports protection and sports performance sunglasses. “With the number of sports-related eye injuries increasing we offer the widest range of sports protective goggles that surpass ASTM (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. From hockey to baseball and soccer, we have them all covered. Not only are they safe, but they are now considered cool gear.” 

Liberty’s performance eyewear for motorcycling has been very positively reviewed in the biking press. “We use technology which includes Dry Eye cups for bikers who suffer from this condition. They prevent wind and debris from irritating the eyes,” notes Salamat.

Switch Vision, another offering from Liberty, is an interchangable lens model that comes with both polarized and low-light amber lenses, which are attached to the frame with magnets. Salamat says these are perfect for the varied light conditions one encounters in outdoor sports, including hiking, rafting and biking. Replacement lenses for specific sports such as skiing and golf are also available and can be purchased separately. Switch was very well reviewed by the Colarado Mountain School, which offers courses including rock climbing and ski mountaineering.

Every frame that is sold by Liberty is Rx-able.

MarchonMarchon brings two exciting brands to the sports-specific eyewear category with Dragon and Nike. Dragon’s optical collection is inspired by athletes and designed for the sophisticated consumer with a passion for action sports. Their sponsorship roster has grown to include some of the best surfers, snowboarders, moto riders, and wakeboarders in the world. For surfers like Shane Dorian, there’s nothing to compare to Dragon’s Made in Italy floatable sunglass collection, specially formulated from lightweight, low-density, injection-molded thermoplastic material.

“Dragon’s floatable shades are designed to stay afloat in the ocean, pool or lake,” says Kristina Simeone, marketing manager for Marchon Canada. “Complete with Performance Polar and oleophobic and hydrophobic lens coatings, Dragon’s H20 Floatable sunglasses are the answer to never losing your shades in the water again.” The collection features three styles, in 10 colour-options.

Also from Marchon, Nike’s Young Athlete Suns offer the same quality and performance expected from Nike Vision but in kid-sized versions of the most-coveted adult styles. The collection features Carl Zeiss optics with an advanced lens technology developed specifically to protect young eyes from damaging sun rays. The frame technology focuses on durability, grip, coverage, adjustability and ventilation, making this eyewear perfect for the young soccer, baseball, tennis or basketball players in the family. Models include Spirit and Mercurial.

HilcoC2 Rx sports goggles from Hilco take the prize for eye protection on the field or the court. Offering an expanded field of vision – up to 20 per cent better, thanks to their V-Port technology – the goggles also provide superior ventilation and comfort. Athletes must be able to depend on visual clarity and comfort, both of which are found in spades in the C2 Rx, but the important extra bonus is protection for those sports where balls are flying fast and hard: baseball, lacrosse, tennis, basketball, soccer, squash and racquetball. The Hilco C2 Rx is approved by ASTM for ball speeds of up to 60 mph.

The C2 Rx is available in a wide choice of colours, sizes and wearing options, with fully adjustable temples with an interlocking strap. Hilco says they ‘think wide’ and they have certainly covered all the bases with this sports goggle.

A well-known sporting goods company once said, ‘Just do it!’ Putting aside any brand reference, I suggest that you ‘do it’ by making sports-specific eyewear part of your commitment to patient safety, comfort and satisfaction. This strategy will also strengthen your relationships with your patients and their understanding that you ‘get’ eyewear in a way the sports equipment retailers do not.