Archives de l’auteur : Envision Magazine

Making Vision Care Less Remote for Canada’s Aboriginal Population

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By Evra Taylor

While Canada is facing a health crisis, the country’s First Nations and Inuit population have a much steeper mountain to climb than the rest of us in order to overcome its insufficiencies.

It has long been known that Canada’s aboriginal population suffers from an immediate hypersensitivity to drugs and alcohol, and an astoundingly high suicide rate. The problems, however, don’t stop there. Ocular health and the needs of this sector have become a growing concern among government and community groups which recognize the urgency of stemming diseases that can result in tragic vision loss.

The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) is an advocacy organization based in British Columbia, whose mandate is to foster “a holistic, coordinated and strength-based approach to health” for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Government of Canada established the group, which is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, as a vehicle to help improve healthcare in various sectors, including environmental health and infectious diseases.

In 2011, the Vision Institute of Canada launched its first-ever campaign, “Aboriginal Vision Health Awareness Year,” which was designed to promote eye healthcare for the aboriginal population. More specifically, the campaign focused on educating the public about the ocular effects of the skyrocketing incidence of diabetes in the general population, and particularly among native groups in which obesity is a rampant problem.

The campaign promoted yearly comprehensive eye examinations for aboriginal people with diabetes, particularly children. First Nations individuals have a disproportionate incidence of diabetes, and it occurs at a much earlier age than in the general population.  In fact, those with diabetes are 25 times more likely to experience vision loss and blindness than other populations.

A team of optometrists has made it its mission to provide practical, “on the ground” eyecare services to Quebec’s aboriginal population to help ensure that their eye health needs are met. At Donnelly Optical in Montreal, all of the optometrists on staff spend considerable time servicing the vision health needs of roughly 10,000 inhabitants in 14 communities in Nunavik – the Arctic territory flanked to the west by Hudson Bay and to the east by Ungava Bay.

This group of optometrists, which has been serving the needs of this population for roughly seven years, rotates trips up north every four weeks for two weeks at a time. The staff sees a lot of elderly patients, along with people in their twenties. “We see very high astigmatic corrections, which we don’t see in the general population. They seem to be fairly myopic as well.  Their eye health, however, is very good,” explained practice founder James Donnelly.

Through his years of experience, Donnelly has an informed perspective on the preponderance of diabetes in these communities. “The people have gone through a generation in the villages for the past roughly 60 years. The children are no longer hunting or fishing as much as before. Now they’re into processed foods like chips and colas. We’ve tried to help them through education, which is probably the only way we’ll make any inroads.”

Donnelly has developed a diabetic retinopathy screening program in which he examines patients once a year, evaluates their condition, and arranges follow-up care with an ophthalmologist or other eyecare specialist, as needed.

One of the efforts at encouraging better nutrition in Canada’s north was a program that gave diabetic patients food coupons strictly for healthy foods. Unfortunately, the initiative has been cancelled.

Canada’s eye and vision care benefits for aboriginal people can be reviewed at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/pubs/nihb-ssna/index-eng.php#eye-yeux.

With the help of those government initiatives that remain in place and dedicated eyecare professionals like Donnelly’s group, the hope is that our native population will see a noticeable improvement in the eye health of its communities.

Exploring Optical Coherence Tomography

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By Netan Choudhry, M.D, FRCSC and Jennifer George

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is among the newest non-invasive imaging technologies to surface in modern medicine. Though useful across the medical spectrum, OCT has made its most significant clinical impact in ophthalmology. By measuring reflected light from discontinuities in tissue, OCT applies the principles of interferometry to create three-dimensional cross-sectional images of the retina and anterior segment of the eye with ultra-high spatial resolution. Achieving image resolutions significantly greater than traditional ultrasound technology, OCT images measure between one and 15 microns. Imaging can be performed both in situ and in real time, enabling a wide range of research, clinical and biomedical applications. From start to finish, OCT only takes about five to 10 minutes. An effective, patient-friendly imaging technology, OCT has already been proven to outperform its imaging predecessors.

OCT was the result of collaborative efforts by Tufts University School of Medicine, the New England Eye Center, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, and Lincoln Laboratory at MIT. First demonstrated in 1993, OCT was able to produce in vivo tomographs of the human macula and optic disk. A non-contact imaging technology, OCT provides images of the cornea and angle of the eye in addition to other morphologic aspects of the retina. OCT is much like a vertical biopsy of the retina; however, light is used in place of a knife. Avoiding any physical contact with the eye, OCT of the retina is the most advanced diagnostic tool for diseases of the retina since the emergence of fluorescein angiography.

The images produced by OCT possess such high resolution because the imaging technique is based on light rather than radio frequency or sound. When an optical beam is directed at a tissue, a very small portion of the light reflecting from the tissue is collected. Most of the light is scattered and, rather than forming a clear image, it creates glare. Optical coherence is the principle of physics that allows the filtering of scattered light. During OCT, an interferometer is used to detect only coherent (non-scattered) light. The interferometer removes scattered light from the light that is reflected in order to generate an image that is not only glare-free, but three-dimensional and ultra-high in resolution.

The latest advances in research now allow OCT to possess numerous biomedical applications. It can provide high-resolution images of pathology that would otherwise be challenging to obtain without compromising the physical integrity of the retina. OCT could also prove useful where other imaging technologies yield a high false negative rate, or in the guidance of surgical interventional procedures. OCT has proven to be a useful clinical tool in the imaging of certain macular diseases, including macular edema, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, schisis cavities associated with optic disc pits, macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy and more.

OCT technology in ophthalmology is already into its third generation of devices. The initial devices were based in time-domain technology and, in the second generation of instrumentation, spectral-domain technology was utilized. The resolution increase from time-domain to spectral-domain was a leap forward, allowing for re-characterization of retinal pathologies and providing a deeper understanding of the etiology and natural history of retinal disease such as diabetic edema (Figure 1).

Figure 1

OCT has also enabled eyecare providers to monitor the response of diseases like diabetic retinopathy to treatments such as laser and intravitreal medical therapy, and has thereby become a great teaching tool for patients about their disease state.

The next generation of OCT devices is moving even deeper, towards the most posterior region of the eye. Swept source OCT offers higher resolution at 100,000 A-scans per second and utilizes longer wavelengths of light (1050-nm) to image the eye, offering simultaneous anterior and posterior imaging. For the first time, eyecare providers will be able to clearly visualize the cornea, vitreous, retina and posterior sclera in a single three-dimensional image, further revolutionizing clinical practices. As OCT technology continues to evolve, it will advance our understanding of eye disease and strengthen our ability to provide care.

Italian Delegations Make Connections

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By Nicky Fambios

Building on their 2012 success in Toronto, the Italian Trade Commission, in collaboration with the Italian Optical Goods Association (ANFAO), held its second i-Glasses workshop at Loews Hotel Vogue in Montreal on May 14 and 15.

Delegates from 18 Italian companies (more than double last year’s number)  had approximately 900 appointments with representatives of over 50 Canadian eyecare businesses.

According to first-time visitor, Amin Mamdani, “It was a little bit like optical speed dating.” The buyer and vice president of operations for Josephson Opticians in Toronto was attracted to the event, in part by the prospect of developing new relationships. He found the 20-30-minute sessions provided the opportunity for solid introductions to be made. “There’s not enough time to go over everything a company has to offer,” says Mamdani. “But all of the exhibitors were excellent about following up afterwards.”

Giulia Valmassoi, administrative director of Thema Optical, participated as an exhibitor for much the same reason. “We don’t have distributors because we prefer direct contact with our customers,” she explains. “We feel it helps us better meet their needs and really encourages feedback. Canada has a lot of potential and we were hoping to make some new connections.” Valmassoi was pleased with the results: “We opened new accounts and had the chance to start dialogues with a number of managers.”

The family-run business was showcasing its iGreen eyewear line, a collection of distinctive, high-technology frames with interchangeable temples made from revolutionary polymers that are as strong as metals, yet ultra-flexible.

For Mamdani, this kind of product originality is an important factor for eyecare professionals (ECPs) to consider. “The i-Glasses workshop offers some fantastic private label opportunities,” he states. “This is also a great occasion to find something unique.” Differentiation is crucial in today’s competitive market and the event had no shortage of novel items to help practitioners stand out.

The Dulf Design collection, presented by the Lastes Group, was a prime example of the possibilities available to ECPs. Designed by Austrian architect Heidulf Gerngross, and manufactured in Italy, the collection integrates the Golden Ratio theory of proportion often associated with Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man and frequently found in furniture design. Each shape and colour is limited to only 75 pieces, ensuring the line’s exclusivity.

Returning for the second time, Trevi Coliseum showed off the latest that theirClark, Coliseum and Cotton Club collections had to offer. The company’s export manager Stefano Vanin also took the opportunity to introduce the recently launched 2Senses frame to Canadians. 2Senses looks like an ordinary pair of glasses; however, this ingenious model allows for a hearing aid to be inserted discreetly into one or both temples, rendering it nearly invisible.

With so much in the way of innovation, creativity and quality, it’s no wonder that Mamdani doesn’t hesitate to recommend i-Glasses to other ECPs. “It’s well organized, there’s no pressure to buy and it’s the perfect platform for understanding Italian manufacturing,” he explains. “There’s definite value to this event.”

Italian Trade Commissioner Pasquale Bova is glad to hear it. “We’re very pleased with the success of the workshop,” he shares. “We’re looking forward to making it even better next year.”

Asian Optical Fair Offers the Right Mix

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By Nicky Fambios

Located in south-eastern Korea about 80 km from the seacoast and nestled in a basin surrounded by mountains, Daegu is a bustling, modern manufacturing city with over 2.5 million inhabitants. This scenic metropolis was the setting for the 12th annual Daegu International Optics Show (DIOPS), which took place April 17 – 19, 2013.

Over 200 exhibitors displayed their offerings across more than 20,000 square metres at EXCO (Daegu Exhibition and Convention Center), a contemporary building featuring an eye-catching curved glass façade. Nearly a quarter of the exhibitors were foreign businesses, primarily from France, Japan and China.

Not surprising then, that the show attracted 17,000 visitors and upwards of 1,400 international buyers. In an interview with Envision: seeing beyond magazine, DIOPS CEO Jimmy Son notes: “The quality of Korean manufacturing is well-known globally and in high demand. We have experience in every area of optical manufacturing and have been making contact lenses since 1961. The precision of the instruments we manufacture and the technology behind our designs are recognized world-wide. And our frames and sunglasses are lighter than average, therefore more comfortable and more flexible.”

Alternative Eyewear President Paul Storace agrees. “I associate Korean manufacturing with high-tech,” he says. “And the Korean people are hardworking and diligent.”

Storace travels to Korea regularly for business but this was his first time attending DIOPS. “I wanted to put it into context with other international shows I’ve attended,” he explains. His verdict? “It’s not quite at that level yet,” he admits. “With the majority of exhibitors being local distributors and a small group of international players, the fair is primarily geared to the domestic market.”  Storace believes that the current economic climate, as well as recent political tensions in the region, may have impacted the number of foreign businesses in attendance.

However, those factors didn’t deter several guest lecturers who took part in the academic segment of the event. Among them was Envision: seeing beyond Publisher Martine Breton. Also a first-time visitor, Breton was impressed with the organizers’ efficiency and preparedness. “Although they had translated the material I was presenting into Korean for handouts, I was a bit nervous about lecturing to more than 100 opticianry and optometric students who spoke little or no English,” she says. “But I was quickly put at ease when I met the translator who had been assigned to assist me.”

Breton addressed the students about the Canadian vision care industry, starting with a demographic overview of the nation’s populace and a summary of the roles played by the different eyecare professionals (ECPs). She then moved to the realities faced by ECPs in their practices – from services and sales to human resources and training. Says Breton, “The survey of Canadian ECPs we did last year served as the foundation for the presentation. Thanks to that pivotal initiative, I was able to provide an accurate portrait of our industry and answer the students’ many questions.”

Aside from her address, she had the opportunity to visit the exhibitors’ hall, as well as touring a Shinhwa International manufacturing facility. Shinhwa International is a leading Korean eyewear company, the developer of Beta Memory temples and the producer and Asian distributor of several Allison S.p.A collections, including United Colors of Benetton and GF Ferre. Breton notes, “It doesn’t take long to see why Korean manufacturers have such a solid reputation. The employees pay very close attention to every detail. They are meticulous in their processes.”

That’s the message Jimmy Son is hoping to spread around the globe. DIOPS’ busy CEO travels extensively in order to increase awareness of the fair and attract more international exhibitors and buyers. He explains, “There are quite a number of optical industry trade shows around the world and buyers cannot attend all of them. My job is to demonstrate Korea’s advantages and show them the possibilities.”

And it seems to be working. About five years ago, Korean exports to Japan totaled $4.5 million; in 2012, that number rose to $45 million. Son believes that multinationals are increasingly frustrated by certain countries’ manufacturing issues – problems such as substandard product quality and lengthy holidays that delay production. And that is when Son offers his solution: “Everybody is looking for the perfect blend of great designs, advanced technologies, the best price and the quickest delivery. And that is exactly what DIOPS has to offer.”

The next Daegu International Optics Show is scheduled for April 16 – 18, 2014.

Incredible New Hope for the Amblyopic Brain

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By Paddy Kamen

Photo credits: Pierre Dubois, McGill University Health Centre

Science has once again leapt from a mindset of stagnation to a world of discovery, and a Canadian vision scientist has led the way. In an exciting development, Dr. Robert Hess and his team of international collaborators demonstrated that both eyes can learn to work together for improved vision when one of them is amblyopic. “This was previously thought impossible,” comments Hess, director of the Research Department of Ophthalmology at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).

The research was recently published in the prestigious journal Current Biology, with Hess as the senior author. The key scientific principle that underlies the research is the notion of brain plasticity: the idea that the brain can change at any age in response to experience. And so, Hess uses the language ‘the amblyopic brain’ as opposed to ‘the amblyopic eye’.

“We have known for some time that the amblyopic eye is quite normal and the problem is in the visual processing regions of the brain. But the old way of thinking was that the amblyopic eye learns ‘bad habits’ early in the child’s development and that these habits are only amenable to change through patching the good eye. Thus, the so-called ‘lazy eye’ has been forced to work harder or better for hundreds of years. This has been the main ‘treatment’ for amblyopia and it has serious limitations.”

Patching helps less than half the time, says Hess. “When it does work, it can improve vision quite a bit, and even get the vision to almost normal. But patching doesn’t usually get the two eyes working together. Restricting children to operating in a low vision world can be dangerous to their safety and it causes stress. It also stresses the parents as they try to keep the kid wearing the patch.”

Hess knows from personal experience how stressful patching an eye can be. As part of an experiment he patched one of his eyes for four days. “It had a devastating effect on me,” he explains. “While it disrupts your 3D vision, reduces the visual field and makes one clumsy, the main problem was that I became depressed and the world looked dull and boring. After four days, my family was begging me to take off the patch. I certainly wouldn’t have predicted such a dramatic effect.”

Vision scientists have long assumed that binocular vision or stereopsis is not terribly important, asserts Hess. Now he knows that it is, in fact, essential to a sense of well-being. “One can get good at compensating, but it takes more trial and error to learn simple tasks and this can affect self-esteem in children. There is more research coming out on hand-eye coordination and the importance of stereopsis. Three-dimensional vision gives life a richness that we take for granted.”

Hess’ team began thinking about amblyopia in a different way, hypothesizing that the amblyopic eye is not passive by nature but is instead actively suppressed by the stronger eye. “In the visual areas of the brain, signals from the good eye turn off signals from the other eye, in order to avoid confusion. We think this happens in infancy or early childhood as a reaction to an eye that is not straight or in which the vision is poor. The two eyes should be working together but instead one eye dominates, turning off the brain connection in the other eye and leading to a loss of function. So we thought, why not try to get the eyes working together?”

Hess learned that visual contrast is the determining factor in the ability of the strong eye to dominate. He explains: “We arranged viewing conditions that reduced contrast to the stronger eye. Using the popular video game Tetris, we placed head-mounted goggles on the subjects that presented aspects of the game dichoptically, where the weaker eye saw the geometric shapes falling and the stronger eye saw only the ground-plane objects. The information was thus distributed between the two eyes in a complementary manner. We lowered the contrast in the stronger eye, until we found a level at which it didn’t suppress the amblyopic eye. Over time we increased the contrast to the stronger eye until it approached normal vision, while at the same time not suppressing the amblyopic eye.”

This was a controlled, crossover study in which one group of subjects played the game monocularly with the weaker eye (having the stronger eye patched), and the other group played the game dichoptically. After two weeks, the dichoptic group showed a dramatic improvement in the vision of the weaker eye (three lines on the letter chart), and over half of the subjects regained 3-D depth perception by a factor of 3 in a Randot test. When the monocular patching group, which had showed only a moderate improvement, was switched to the new dichoptic training, their vision also improved dramatically.

A large clinical trial with children, comparing this technique to patching is in the planning stages.

“We already know that it works with the younger population but a formal controlled study is essential to prove efficacy,” says Hess. “If our method comes out on top, it can take the place of patching, giving an improved quality of vision to millions of children, and helping them to enjoy the richness of life and to learn more easily.”

Meeting the Blue Light Challenge

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By JoAnne Sommers

These days, it’s impossible to escape blue light. TVs, computers, smartphones, tablets and e-readers bombard our eyes with blue light emissions day and night.

Electronic devices aren’t the only culprits. Energy-saving light bulbs (notably LEDs) may be “green” but they also emit a significant proportion of blue light (also known as High-Energy Visible [HEV] light). While present in natural light, blue light occurs in abnormal proportions in artificial light sources.

Blue/HEV light covers wavelengths from 380 to 500 nanometers (nm). Although the eyes’ natural filters block UV light, they do not block blue/HEV light, meaning it is able to pass through the cornea, the crystalline lens and the vitreous and potentially damage the retina. HEV light is toxic for the crystalline lens and retina which can lead to retinal cell death and early cataract formation.

Now, multiple lens manufacturers have developed new products designed to address the dangers posed by blue light.

Dr. Francine Behar-Cohen is founder of the INSERM (French Institute of Health and Medical Research) 598 Unit, which is dedicated to the physiopathology of ocular illness. She says that HEV light has long been identified as the most dangerous light for the retina. “After chronic exposure, one can expect… (long term)… growth of macular degenerations, glaucomas and retinal degenerative diseases.”

There is also a growing body of evidence that cumulative lifetime exposure to blue wavelength light increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). According to Alexander Wunsch, a German photobiologist and physician, energy-saving lamps, and more generally fluorescent lamps, emit light containing an excessively significant proportion of short wavelengths.

“Chronic exposure to a short-wavelength light highly contributes to macular degeneration,” he says.

Blue light, which scatters easily, can also reduce contrast and add to eye fatigue, or digital eyestrain, which is now the number one computer-related complaint in the U.S.

Nor is digital eyestrain limited to adults or the workplace. Because of their growing use of digital devices, children are also at risk.

The problems don’t end there. Evidence is mounting that exposure to blue light may lead to a whole host of other concerns. The Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Letter says that at night, light disrupts the body’s biological clock – the circadian rhythm – resulting in sleep problems. Research shows that it may also contribute to the causation of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

“Blue wavelengths – which are beneficial during daylight hours because they boost attention, reaction times and mood – seem to be the most disruptive at night,” says the Letter. “And the proliferation of electronics with screens, as well as energy-efficient lighting, is increasing our exposure to blue wavelengths, especially after sundown.”

Such an aggressive visual environment calls for special lens products and several companies have responded accordingly.

In 2012, Nikon introduced SeeCoat Blue to the Canadian market. It was the first in a new category of functional anti-reflective (AR) coatings that reduce blue light, while enhancing contrast and helping to reduce digital eyestrain, says Tibor Martz, director of Nikon’s Technical Assistance Groups.

“We wanted to eliminate a portion of the harmful blue light with a product that, unlike a sunglass, can be used indoors,” he explains.

SeeCoat Blue is a lens coating specifically designed to filter HEV light, as opposed to a tint, adds Martz. On the front and back of the lens the AR is applied in such a way that it effectively eliminates a portion of blue light in the 380-500 nm range. The amount of blue light that is blocked varies, depending on the intensity of blue light present.

According to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), blue light hazard function peaks at 435 to 440 nm, while LEDs peak at 440 to 455 nm.

SeeCoat Blue effectively improves contrast and reduces ocular stress, says Martz, while combining all the benefits of the latest coatings: scratch-resistance, anti-glare, dust elimination and antistatic properties. It also reduces the proportion of HEV light reaching the retina in order to protect visual health.

SeeCoat Blue is available on all Nikon Rx lenses that are also available with SeeCoat Plus.

The market for SeeCoat Blue is wide open, says Martz. “It includes kids who play video games, as well as both eyeglass wearers and non-wearers,” he says. “It’s largely untapped, much like the market for sunscreen in an earlier era.”

Essilor’s Crizal Prevencia™ is a clear lens that features selective photo-protection. Selective AR technology filters out harmful UV and blue-violet light while allowing essential light, including blue light, to pass through, and ensuring excellent transparency.

The lens, which will be launched in September, provides the best protection against UV and blue light, says Sakina Barrault, Essilor Canada’s senior brand manager.

“Crizal Prevencia is unique in that it only blocks the blue-violet light (415-455 nm) that damages retinal cells, while letting essential light, including blue-turquoise, pass through,” she explains.

Blue-turquoise light, which is in the 465 to 495 nm range, aids the pupillary constriction reflex and activates melatonin, which regulates mood, cognitive function and memory.

“Crizal Prevencia blocks twice as much blue-violet light as its competitors while allowing good colour perception and vision and keeping the lens transparent,” says Barrault. “Essilor has done tests with the Paris Institute of Vision which show that those who used Crizal Prevencia had a 25 per cent decrease in the death of retinal cells. At that rate, it could alleviate the cumulative risk of AMD.”

By blocking blue-violet light, the lens improves contrast and alleviates eye fatigue, adds Barrault. “It also benefits from the UV protection of Crizal lenses, giving you clarity of vision, while it eliminates glare, scratches, smudges, dust and water.”

The AR layer on the backside of the lens features Broad Spectrum technology, which virtually eliminates UV rays reflected into the eye from that location, she adds. “Ours are the only lenses with backside protection, which means they provide complete UV protection.”

Crizal Prevencia has the same availability as Crizal Forte lenses.

“It’s designed for adults, especially those over 45, who are more prone to cataracts and AMD than younger adults, as well as children, whose eyes allow in six times as much radiation as adult eyes,” says Barrault. “AMD results from a cumulative effect so the sooner you start to reduce risk, the better.”

HOYA’s Recharge™ is an anti-reflective lens treatment that reflects harmful blue light away from the eyes, while ensuring that the portion of blue light needed for optimal contrast and other health benefits is allowed to pass through the lens.

“Recharge reduces blue light by about 30 per cent in the HEV light range (380 to 500 nm),” says Maria Petruccelli, director of the professional business division, HOYA Vision Care Canada. “It increases contrast and visual sharpness, reduces glare, and provides a measure of protection from blue light risks. It also provides HOYA AR quality on physical attributes, including adhesion, scratch resistance, longevity and cleanability.”

Because Recharge helps to protect against the accumulated potential harmful effects of blue light, it may be prescribed for HEV light reduction to lower the long-term risk of blue light associated with retinal damage and cataracts, she says.

The eye has many natural defences against UV rays and blue light but they deteriorate as we age, Petruccelli notes. “The eye loses its ability to absorb rays harmlessly and releases them as free radicals. So Recharge adds a new health dimension to the benefits ascribed to lens coatings.”

Recharge is available on all HOYA FreeForm lenses (progressives, ST and single vision). “We also included our targeted designs for computer wear-TACT and Nulux Active. We want as many patients as possible to enjoy the benefits of blue light reduction.”

In June 2012, Eye Solutions Technologies LLC announced the launch of the BluTech Lens™ with H.E.L.P. (High Energy Light Protection) Technology. These patented lenses filter high-energy blue and UV light using ocular lens pigment (OLP) combined with melanin infused in a high-impact lens material (ANSI standard Z87.1).

“This is a breakthrough technology that could provide a medical benefit to millions of patients,” says COO David Israel. “We isolated the pigment in the crystalline lens of the eye that provides natural blue light filtration and combined it with melanin, to create what we refer to as ‘nature’s sunglass.’ It filters out light in the 400 nm range while allowing good light (in the 450 nm range) to come through and maintaining natural colour vision and improved contrast sensitivity. This makes them ideal for everyday wear.”

The Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test is the standard for measuring colour vision. A normal healthy eye makes one or two mistakes on the test and BluTech lenses get the same result, says Israel.

The lenses have a high Abbe value – 46 – for optimal clarity, combined with improved contrast and glare reduction.

BluTech lenses are designed for a wide range of wearers, from children through seniors, he adds.

“One market is kids, since they’re born without ocular lens pigment, which develops as they get older. Another is older people, particularly those predisposed to AMD, which includes people who have a poor diet, smokers, etc. Scientific studies point to blue light as a significant factor in the progression of AMD so it makes sense to try to protect their eyes.”

BluTech sun lenses are available polarized, and in either a brown or grey tint. Indoor lenses have a light brown tint, which is visually soothing to the wearer. “We have finished lenses only for indoors, and plano lenses for indoors and outdoors,” says Israel.

Centennial Optical recently introduced BluTech lenses to Canada and Rick Leroux, the company’s director of marketing and communications (Lens Division), says the early response to the product is very positive.

“Patients are requesting BluTech lenses from optometrists so there’s consumer demand for them. And the optometrists who dispense them are pleased with the results.”

Anyone can benefit from BluTech lenses, he adds.

“There’s a bit of an epidemic of AMD in North America and with the population aging, growing numbers of people are at risk. Anyone with a family history of AMD has a high level of risk and those with lighter-coloured eyes are at a somewhat greater risk of developing AMD. Plus, people of all ages are subjected to a great deal of blue light indoors. BluTech lenses represent an effective preventative measure without any side effects.”

The outdoor version provides up to UV500 protection and has a pleasing brown tint, he notes. “They are polarized with 80 per cent light absorption to eliminate glare, and they provide good contrast, colour and depth perception.”

The finished indoor version comes with an AR coating on both sides and features a slight brown tint, which can help to alleviate eyestrain.

Centennial’s BluTech product offerings are available in a wide range of finished, semi-finished and custom lenses.

Signet Armorlite introduced BluTech lenses to the U.S. market in 2012. The company uses BluTech Hi Impact 1.56 (indoor and outdoor) and BluTech 1.50 materials, says Associate Product Marketing Manager Lynne Roberts.

BluTech 1.50 (indoor) is available in Kodak Unique™ progressive lenses; Kodak Precise® PB and Precise Short PB progressive lenses; the Kodak MonitorView™ Lens (computer lens); and the Signetek™ processed Single Vision Lens.

BluTech Hi Impact 1.56 (indoor and outdoor) is available in Kodak Unique™ Progressive lenses; Kodak Precise PB and Precise Short PB Progressive lenses; the Kodak MonitorView™ Lens (indoor only); the Signetek™ processed single vision lens; and the Signetek processed Flat-Top 28.

“Our lenses use different forms of pigments combined with Kodak lens designs, which we consider a huge selling point,” says Roberts. “Consumers recognize and trust the Kodak name and many people are very loyal to the Kodak Unique lens design.”

The company has had a great response to the lenses, she adds. “Everyone is excited about BluTech, particularly because it has the potential to help those with a genetic predisposition to AMD.”

Look What’s New in Lenses

Company: Oakley
Product: Sport Specific Progressive lenses

Oakley’s Sport Specific Progressive lenses are designed for the way presbyopes need to see when cycling, golfing or fishing.

Details:
Oakley’s cycling lens was designed so the distance zone is significantly wider, the periphery clearer, the intermediate longer, and the near electronic zone is sized just right for the computer.

Golf lenses require clear vision in a large-enough distance zone vertically and horizontally to see the flag while standing at the tee. There, the chin is down and the ball needs to be seen clearly; when you’re putting, approximately the same distance is required, combined with the same need for clear vision. Finally, full add power is needed for scoring.

Oakley True Digital Golf is designed with a wider distance, while it increases the availability of the intermediate. The rate of power change is slower and stabilized for a longer intermediate. The rate of change ramps to only about half the add power, about 13 mm below the fitting cross. This is more consistent with golf’s “far mid-range” requirement, i.e. seeing the ball clearly while putting through the “putting zone” or at the tee, about four to five feet away. Oakley True Digital Golf finishes with a small add for scoring or reading the club’s menu.

Oakley True Digital Fishing provides a wide distance for a broad area of visibility and a large near for baiting, while providing enough intermediate and overall clarity for boating tasks. By extending the length of the intermediate, peripheral clarity can be enhanced while controlling usefulness of the near.

For complete product specifications, visit www.oakley.ca.

*****

Company: Rodenstock
Product: Multigressiv MyView 2

In June 2013, Rodenstock will release the Multigressiv MyView® 2, with new technology that implements different cylinder powers and axes between the near and distance: all in one progressive lens.

Details:
Listing’s Law is the principle that governs three-dimensional eye movements. The eye rotates with three degrees of freedom: it can rotate about: 1) a vertical axis to generate horizontal eye movements, 2) a horizontal axis to generate vertical eye movements, and 3) the line of sight to generate torsional eye movements.

MyView 2 corrects for the effect of Listing’s Law, says Rodenstock National Sales and Marketing Manager Martin Bell . “The rotation of the eyeball when viewing away from the standard gaze causes the relative astigmatic axis to change. If the prescription axis on the lens does not match the prescription axis on the eye itself, then the effective astigmatism reaching the retina is not fully corrected. To achieve sharper acuity, this axis change, both at near and at distance, should be corrected.

Multigressiv MyView 2 lenses will have the prescribed axis in the central area of the lens. This axis will be compensated according to Listing’s Law, giving a different axis in the distance periphery and another axis in the near zone. This compensation will give the wearer the effective prescribed axis in all areas of the lens, resulting in up to 25 per cent better vision in the near and intermediate zones (over Rodenstock’s MyView design).

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Company: Transitions Optical
Product: Transitions Vantage lenses

Details:
Transitions® Vantage™ lenses are revolutionary everyday adaptive lenses designed to both darken and polarize upon UV exposure to deliver noticeably crisper, sharper vision, even in the brightest outdoor glare. They not only adapt to changing light but also increase polarization as they darken, optimizing the angle at which light reaches the eyes to help control glare and light scatter.

The lenses feature variable polarization; they start out virtually clear/non-polarized indoors; outdoors, they darken and polarize. This technology provides the first polarized product that can be worn everyday as an alternative to ordinary, clear lenses.

Transitions Vantage is an everyday lens for patients who want superior vision and those who appreciate a vibrant visual experience, as well as early adopters who enjoy using the latest technological innovations, says Isabelle Tremblay-Dawson, Transitions Optical’s marketing manager for Canada.

They are available in single-vision and progressive lens designs from Carl Zeiss, Essilor, HOYA Vision Care and Nikon Optical, among others, she notes, adding that Transitions Vantage lenses come in most materials; eyecare professionals (ECPs) can contact their lab to determine specific availability.

Transitions Vantage™ demo tools (demo lens card and glare simulator) are also available for purchase.

For further information, visit the Transitions website at www.transitions.com.

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Company: Younger Optics
Product: Transitions Drivewear

Details:This fall, Younger Optics will release Transitions® Drivewear® sunglasses.

Drivewear sunglasses mark the beginning of the rebranding of the company’s highly successful Drivewear lenses. They are an extension of the Transitions Drivewear line, says Uzo Ubani, Younger’s country manager, Canada.

“For the first time patients will be able to visit an optical store and buy a pair ofplanoor Rx Transitions Drivewear sunglasses, in a fully branded Transitions Drivewear frame,” he notes. “In the past, they were only available as Rx semi-finished lenses.”

Drivewear lenses combine Transitions photochromic technology and Younger’s NuPolar® polarized lens technology to create a dynamic sun lens that will darken behind your car windshield, says Ubani. And while they were originally envisioned as driving lenses, Drivewear works well for a variety of activities, he adds.

“Golfers say they help to reduce their handicaps; Drivewear is also popular with boaters, fishermen and cyclists, among others,” he says. “Anyone who works outside in a dynamically changing environment can benefit from them.”

Transitions Drivewear lenses are activated by UV and regular ambient light, changing colour, depending on light conditions, because of their Transitions photochromic component. On an overcast day they are green/yellow, which brightens the environment, soothing the eyes and making it easier to drive in overcast conditions. In bright sunny conditions, they turn a copper colour inside the car and when you wear them outdoors in the sun they turn a dark reddish-brown.

Match Eyewear Canada Presents New Styles from the Float Kids Collection

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mod. K-39

When summer is in the air, Back to School planning can’t be too far behind.   Just in time and always on trend, Match Eyewear Canada introduces 7 new ophthalmic styles from the Float Kids collection, including 1 unisex, 4 girl’s and 2 boy’s models.

As a rule in fashion, the hottest trends for adults quickly translate into the coolest looks for kids, and eyewear is no exception.  The new Float Kids line follows that rule by combining adult-inspired designs with fresh and fun styling to create distinctive looks for kids to call their own.  ‘It’s all in the styling,’ says Ethan Goodman, President of Match Eyewear Canada.  ‘The design process doesn’t vary much from adults to children.  It’s the exciting and playful combination of colors, patterns and detailing that really lets kids express their own style.’  The 7 new releases from Float Kids are a tribute to that philosophy.

Girls’ style KP-234, in polished acetate, is a funky take on geek chic, with bold geometric shaping, multi-layered colour blocking and interior floral temple graphics.  Not to be outdone by the girls, boys’ model K-39 features a rim wire front and grooved temples in polished stainless, embedded with logo-embossed rubber circles.  K-38 is a sleek unisex look in richly colored matte metal, with rectangular eye wires and tapered temples with a carved and notched texture and logo detailing.  The entire Float Kids collection is meticulously crafted from sturdy components, providing function and fashion to cool, active kids.

Match Eyewear Canada will feature the newly released models in integrated marketing efforts.  Available merchandising includes logo plaques, 1 and 3 piece displays, hanging posters and counter cards.  All Float Kids products are accompanied by protective cases and branded cleaning cloths.

Together with Optiq Frames, Match Eyewear Canada offers a diverse portfolio of fashion eyewear brands, including Adrienne Vittadini, Danny Gokey, Helium Paris, Float Titanium, Float Kids, Match Eyewear, Respec, Urban, Minimize, Minimize Kids, Image Café, CAT, Monika Schnarre, a.k.a., Sutton and Optiq Sun.  Focused on design, style and craftsmanship, Match Eyewear Canada deliver premium eyewear collections at accessible price points.

Eyefoods for Kids: A Tasty Guide to Nutrition and Eye Health

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The team that brought you Eyefoods: A Food Plan for Healthy Eyes is releasing a first-of-its-kind eye nutrition book for children this spring.

Eyefoods for Kids is a visual system book like no other. Using the unique Eyefoods® nutrition and health book format, young readers are encouraged to learn how the foods they eat contribute to eye health. Featuring detailed, full-colour illustrations, close-up photography, and easy-to-understand information on diet and nutrition, Eyefoods for Kids demystifies the workings of the visual system.

Written by optometrists and eyefood and health experts Dr. Laurie Capogna and Dr. Barbara Pelletier, Eyefoods for Kids is a fascinating guide to the wonders of one of our most important information-gathering systems. It is great as a giveaway to patients or local schools, or to retail in your practice.

Match Eyewear Canada Unveils Danny Gokey Sun

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Match Eyewear Canada’s introduction of Danny Gokey Sun at Vision Expo East was not only the debut of a new collection but also a new target audience for the brand – the sunwear line is designed for both men and women.

Though originally launched as a men’s collection, Danny Gokey ophthalmic models have always had a strong female following. Credit the contemporary retro styling, the continued popularity of Geek Chic, or the huge female fan base of the American Idol finalist, but the collection has always had a unisex appeal. In fact, the ophthalmic collection has recently been extended to include ladies’ styles. “We found that a significant percentage of sales could be attributed to women,” says Match Eyewear President Ethan Goodman. “We are excited about the new women’s looks, but the sunwear collection was definitely created with universal appeal in mind.”

The four launch models from Danny Gokey Sun reflect a modern interpretation of vintage charm, speaking directly to the classic, genuine and unique style of the brand and delivering effortless cool to men and women, aged 18 and 35.

Centre Vu Hosts Eyewear Design Icons

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Centre Vu, the fashion forward, Montreal-based optical centre, organized an innovative Eyewear Designers event on March 19th to promote three exceptional designers, Henrik Ørgreen, Claus Bellinger and Alexandre Masse along with their iconic brands Ørgreen, Blac and Erlik.

Whether by integrating new materials, the harmonious use of colours and shapes or the high performance of their products, these designers distinguish themselves with the thought-provoking use, creation and development of new technologies. The Eyewear Designers event presented designer collections and offered media and invitees to the opportunity to meet and chat with the artists. Centre Vu also had the pleasure of welcoming Nikon Optical, which presented its latest state-of-the-art technological advancements in ophthalmic lenses.

The event was the perfect occasion to understand what makes a simple pair of glasses a unique piece of art. It was easy to discern the artists’ passion through their commentary. High quality, originality, precision and perfection characterize each model. Every minute detail is well thought out. At Ørgreen, colourist Sahra Lysell explained how the exclusive glasses are made by hand, with a colouring process that consists of over 15 individual steps, skilfully carried out at the world’s leading colour labs in Japan.

Claus Bellinger and Alexandre Masse also explained each step in the production of their frames with the emphasis on their inherent characteristics. The three lines presented at Centre Vu are all distributed in Canada by Prisme Optical Group.

Centre Vu is a unique, ultramodern space of 10,000 square feet where one can find 5,000 frames from 125 collections, including 43 for sunglasses and 25 for children. The optical centre ensures personalised customer care thanks to its state of the art technological system which allows staff to establish priorities and define waiting times. The team is comprised of eight optometrists, 16 opticians, as well as numerous style consultants, laboratory technicians and receptionists. Centre Vu is also equipped with a high performance laboratory that allows frames to be repaired and lenses to be processed on site in less than one hour.