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EyeMed Introduces Three-Tiered Managed Vision Care Plan

Posted: 5/22/2013 1:00 PM
MASON, Ohio— EyeMed Vision Care, one of the leading managed vision care plans in the U.S. and a division of Luxottica Group, today announced the launch of EyePrefer, which offers three levels of coverage. Reflecting the current attitudes and behaviors employees have toward vision care, the new product offers three options—Essential, Enhanced and EyeMax—which will enable covered employees to choose a plan that fits their specific household needs and budget.

Nominations Open for VM’s Most Influential Women in Optical

Posted: 5/24/2013 12:24 AM
NEW YORK— From board room to exam room to back office, the list of optical jobs is almost limitless and within this diverse spectrum, women occupy many positions of influence, often playing pivotal roles that shape the character of the companies and organizations in which they work.

This is why Vision Monday will once again be highlighting The Most Influential Women in Optical in our upcoming July 22 issue, marking the 11th anniversary of our signature Special Report saluting women in the eyewear/eyecare industry. We are currently seeking nominations via an electronic survey form. The deadline for submitting nominations is June 10. For this year’s Annual Report, please consider women who are making a difference in the following four categories:

Executive Suite: Candidates are women who hold the positions of president, CEO, CFO, CMO, CIO or COO that guide their companies forward, inspire leadership among their teams and peers and achieve high performance.

Mentors: Candidates are women who are team builders, developers of talent, who via example or education and training successfully influence others to learn and to grow in their business, professions, or within their organizations.

Rising Stars: Candidates are women who are “up-and-comers” in their careers and within their companies or arenas within the industry.

Innovators: Candidates are women who have initiated new product developments or special programs in the arena of marketing, technology or retail, who have spearheaded innovative business enterprises.

To nominate your choices go to the survey where you may select up to a total of two nominees for each category on the electronic nomination form. Be sure to look for the results as we profile these influential women in the July 22 issue: Vision Monday’s 2013 “Women of Influence.”

Please visit visionmonday.com to review an alphabetical listing of past years’ honorees and to read prior years’ Special Reports.

Optical Community Helps Those Devastated by Tornadoes in Oklahoma

Posted: 5/24/2013 12:21 AM
MOORE, Okla.—As this suburb of Oklahoma City digs out from tornado devastation earlier this week, members of the optical community in the region and throughout the country have stepped in to help those in need.

Essilor Vision Foundation Announces New York Charity Golf Classic

Posted: 5/24/2013 12:18 AM
DALLAS—The Essilor Vision Foundation will host the annual New York Charity Golf Classic at Muttontown Club in New York on Monday, July 22, 2013.

OneSight Marks 25 Years and Launches New ‘Sustainable’ Program With Public Schools

Posted: 5/24/2013 12:15 AM

NEW YORK— Top industry leaders recently came together here to unite efforts with OneSight, the global vision care nonprofit. The event marked the organization’s 25 years and kicked off a new project to partner with United Federation of Teachers (UFT) / NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative to create OneSight Vision Centers in two NYC public schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Read more in the latest edition of A Greater Vision, as event host Luxottica, the founding global sponsor of OneSight, updated industry leaders on the organization’s growing scope of charitable work.

Many in Optical Community Unharmed by Oklahoma Tornados, Disaster Relief Begins

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:33 AM
MOORE, Okla.— With communications still impacted in much of this hard-hit town outside Oklahoma City here, some eyecare professionals were directly impacted by tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma earlier this week, however, many of those in the optical community in the vicinity appear to have escaped unharmed.

April 2013 Optical Business Barometer Shows Decrease in ECP Ratings

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:30 AM
NEW YORK—The Optical Business Barometer (OBB), a monthly gauge of general business attitudes among independent ECPs sourced by Jobson Research, stands at a 3.65 rating for April 2013.

ABB Optical Group Is New Name for ABB Concise and Optical Distributor Group

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:27 AM
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.—ABB Optical Group, the recently merged company of ABB Concise and Optical Distributor Group (ODG), has developed a new, updated logo and many other brand identity enhancements to reflect the new identity of the company, which was formed when the two major distribution firms combined in a merger announced last January, as reported in VMail.

Carl Zeiss Vision Names Joe Wende, OD, as Vice President, Managed Care

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:24 AM
SAN DIEGO— Carl Zeiss Vision has appointed Joe Wende, OD to the newly created position of vice president, managed care.

SPY Inc. Announces CFO Resignation

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:21 AM
CARLSBAD, Calif.— SPY Inc. (OTCBB: XSPY) has announced that its chief financial officer, Michael D. Angel, has made known his intention to resign from his position.

OD Excellence Names Jim Grue, OD, Director of Health Policy Integration

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:18 AM
HEALDSBURG, Calif.— OD Excellence (ODX) has named Jim Grue, OD, director of health policy integration. In this new position, he will publish articles and whitepapers on industry topics surrounding health care, and he will hold monthly webinars available to ODX members.

An Inside Guide to VM’s D.A.R.E. Awards and ‘Best of’ Optical Shops on VisionMonday.com

Posted: 5/22/2013 12:15 AM

NEW YORK—Do you know an eyewear retailer who’s grabbing the social media reins and capturing customers with such ease it makes you want to ditch your Rolodex for a Facebook page? Or maybe you’ve been awed by a selection of eco-based frames perfectly lit by a retailer’s efficient use of LED lighting? If you can answer yes to these questions and more, then run, don’t walk, to www.visionmonday.com/dare and nominate an eyewear retailer who really stands apart (Or nominate yourself—we dare you).

Now in its third year, the Vision Monday D.A.R.E. Awards, being sponsored by Europa International, include six different categories of optical excellence. Here, we’ve rounded up award descriptions, expert tips and examples of past honorees for four of this year’s D.A.R.E. Awards as highlighted in Vision Monday’s print editions.

On another retailer front, with consumers constantly in ‘share’ mode, small businesses can often feel they are at the mercy of ratings and reviews. However, some optical retailers have benefitted from this state of transparency by turning community polls and readers’ choice surveys into opportunities for outreach and growth. VM spoke to independents across the U.S. who have been voted by their communities as the “best” optical shops in their regions—a status which, when leveraged properly, can increase sales and customer base. Open your eyes to five ECPs who have seen a boost in businesses as a result of their “Best of” titles in Loved the Most From Coast to Coast: Statuses Rise With Contest Wins.

Essilor Steps Up Sun Protection Initiative With 10-Year Licensing Agreement for Safilo’s Polaroid Branded Ophthalmic Lenses

Posted: 5/21/2013 7:15 AM
CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France and PADUA, Italy— Essilor (ESSI:PA) and Safilo (SFL:BrsaItaliana) have signed a 10-year licensing agreement for the design, manufacture and worldwide distribution by Essilor of polarized ophthalmic lenses under the Polaroid brand for use with eyewear products in general, a move that is in line with Essilor recent initiatives to promote sun and UV protection.

Essilor is convinced that there is an important need to raise awareness of eyecare professionals and consumers on the need to protect their eyes from the sun and UV hazards and promote all solutions available, amongst which are sun prescription and polarized lenses, the company said in a statement.

VM’s Top 50 U.S. Retailers Surpass $8 Billion in Estimated 2012 Sales

Posted: 5/20/2013 12:30 AM
NEW YORK—The country’s 50 largest eyewear/eyecare retailers and optometric practices achieved another new high in combined optical sales in 2012, according to Vision Monday’s exclusive and signature ranking and report on the Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers, available here and in the May 20 print edition of Vision Monday, posted online today.

Eyewear Designs Relocates to New Facility

Posted: 5/20/2013 12:27 AM
BETHPAGE, N.Y.— Eyewear Designs Ltd. has announced their relocation to a newly renovated building on the site of the former Grumman Aerospace Corporation here.

The Vision Council Hosts Congressional Briefing to Raise Awareness for Veterans With Low Vision

Posted: 5/20/2013 12:24 AM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.— The Vision Council recently partnered with the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) to sponsor an educational lunch briefing on Capitol Hill titled “Veterans and Low Vision 101: Cost-Effective Solutions Improving the Lives of Our Men and Women in Uniform.”

New Research Report Illustrates ‘Managed Vision Care Patient Experience’

Posted: 5/20/2013 12:21 AM
NEW YORK—What are the key drivers of the consumer’s experience with his or her vision plan? How did their vision plan customer service satisfaction measure up?

All About Vision’s Ron Walker Is Featured Guest on May 22 ‘Power Hour’

Posted: 5/20/2013 12:18 AM
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.—Patients’ questions and concerns about eyecare topics and how ECPs can help them with answers are the focus of the Wednesday May 22 edition of “The Power Hour,” which will feature guest Ron Walker, co-founder of All About Vision.

Eyewear That Really ‘Sings’ and the Emergence of Smart Glasses on VisionMonday.com

Posted: 5/20/2013 12:15 AM

NEW YORK—Thanks to last Thursday night’s American Idol finale, we now have another star to add to our playlists. In this week’s edition of Bold Face VM highlights some of the current strong female singers we have on shuffle. Check out their eyewear that really “sings” as Bold Face features sunwear styles from Marchon, Sama Eyewear and Safilo.

Vuzix, a Rochester, NY-based company, is establishing itself as an innovator in the emerging market for smart glasses and augmented reality eyewear. In an exclusive interview with Eye² editor Andrew Karp, Vuzix CEO Paul J. Travers shared his perspectives on what’s driving the smart glasses market, what types of consumers will buy the glasses, and how Vuzix is designing its next generation product with an eye toward eyeglass fashion. Read this and other features in the latest edition of Vision Monday’s Eye² online at VisionMonday.com.


Friday, May 24, 2013