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What, specifically, are the challenges and opportunities for Rx Sunwear business given our current economic climate and what is predicted for the economy going forward?

Rx sunwear still provides one of the best opportunities for increased revenue even in this economic slow down. The challenge is for ECP’s to not forget that patients and consumers still want fashionable, trendy and performance Rx sunwear. Thinking that patients/consumers might not wish to have a second pair or update their Rx sunwear by prejudging due to the economy or the total bill is a great risk. Vision plans cover sunwear and while there may be sacrifices for other items during these tough times, eyewear is still a necessity and desired. Overall it is low cost fashion/sport statement. Going forward ECP’s must gain every dollar from every patient that walks in the door and great Rx sunwear is an excellent opportunity to capture those dollars

What should ECPs keep in mind about your company’s involvement in/dedication to Rx sunwear?

Carl Zeiss Vision has been the leader in Rx sunwear, in particular wrap Rx for the world’s leading brands of sunglasses. We were pioneers in developing our patented Spazio lens for Rx wrap frames. Premiering soon will be the most comprehensive Rx sunwear lens collection ever, combining our wrap and Rx sunwear technology, expanded polarized offerings and new patented mirror coatings and proprietary performance tint technology developed through Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens.

Which specific categories of Rx Sun lens products – polarized, high-base wraps, PALs, single-vision, mirror coatings – or others you’d like to mention – do you feel offer the biggest ‘upside’ business opportunity for optical retailers and ECPs this year? Why?

A few companies have developed wrap progressives and as that category grows ECP’s need to include this technology in the Rx sun category. Consumers want cool sunglasses that reflect their lifestyle and that means taking sport, designer and lifestyle sunglasses and converting them to Rx. This means dispensing and understanding wrap and new sunlens technology both in single vision and progressives. Also tint technology has greatly advanced and providing replications of the performance tints in branded sunwear for Rx has great potential. Offering just a standard gray or brown tint short changes the consumer looking for the same performance of the sunglass they picked off the rack. There are specific tints now for all activities that enhance participation in a sports or recreation.

In which of your company’s specific product lines are you putting the most sales and marketing support during 2009? Which products and programs are ongoing from 2008 and which will be new?

For Carl Zeiss Vision we are concentrating on our patented Free Form technology by introducing new innovative technologically advanced progressives including the just released Zeiss Individual, the most advanced progressive lens ever. Free Form is the future and we will continue to build on our outstanding platform and portfolio. On the Rx sunglass side, as mentioned, we will introduce new lens options in patented mirror and tint technology to complement our Spazio wrap single vision and our wrap progressive lens portfolio and for our standard prescription lens portfolio, expanding greatly fashion, sports, performance and lifestyle Rx sun lenses.