By Andrew Karp: Group Editor, Lenses + Technology

 
Lately, it seems like hardly a week goes by when eyewear and eyecare isn’t
making news.

The year got off to a fast start at the Consumer Electronic Show, where both optical vendors and consumer electronics companies unveiled a plethora of new 3D eyewear styles. CES also proved to be an ideal showcase for Pixel Optics, which previewed its emPower auto-focusing eyeweaBy Andrew Karp: Group Editor, Lenses + Technologyr. Pixel’s PR efforts have resulted in segments on “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” and Fox News, as well as a feature in The New York Times Sunday business section.

Last month, New York Fashion Week again proved to be an ideal launching pad for eyewear, with new designer eyewear styles prominent on the runways and new eyewear concepts from suppliers such as Polaroid and Silhouette garnering media attention.

On March 7, Essilor kicked off a multimedia national consumer advertising campaign for Crizal lenses.

Later this month, golf fans will watch the Transitions Championship, the annual golf tournament sponsored by Transitions Optical. This high visibility, PGA Tour event will include tie-ins with “Think About Your Eyes,” the on-going national consumer campaign to raise eye health awareness sponsored by the Foundation for Eye Health Awareness, which Transitions Optical recently joined.

I can’t recall a time when so many positive messages about eyewear and eyecare have been directed at consumers. Eyecare practitioners have an exciting opportunity to continue the conversation with customers and patients and explain how they can benefit from new eyewear technologies and fashions while improving their eye health. ■

akarp@jobson.com