Prevent Blindness Declares October Is Contact Lens Safety Month

CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness has declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month to help educate the public on the best ways to protect their eyes through proper care. In addition to a dedicated webpage, fact sheets and shareable social media graphics, Prevent Blindness also offers the “Contact Lens Safety” episode as part of the Focus on Eye Health Expert Series. Dr. Thomas L. Steinemann, professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University, discusses a variety of topics with Prevent Blindness president and CEO, Jeff Todd, including advocating for contact lens safety, patient care, and the dangers of improper use of contact lenses.

New Private Equity Investor Takes Majority Stake in EyeSouth Partners

ATLANTA—EyeSouth Partners, a comprehensive ophthalmology platform, based here, announced that private equity firm Olympus Partners has taken a majority stake in the company. Founded in 1988, Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries including business services, consumer products, health care services, financial services, industrial services and manufacturing. Prior to the acquisition, EyeSouth was backed by Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm that had managed the company’s growth since its founding in 2017. EyeSouth’s physicians will remain significant investors alongside Olympus and management, the company said.

VSP Vision Acquires Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA)

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. and BOCA RATON, Fla.—Today, VSP Vision announced the acquisition of Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA)  from Nautic Partners. PECAA will continue to operate independently and be led by doctors, for the benefit of all independent eyecare professionals, the companies said, adding “The industry's two largest supporters of independent eyecare professionals are uniting to ensure the continued success and growth of private practice.” Serving more than 12,000 members, PECAA is the nation’s largest community of independent eyecare professionals. Since 2006, PECAA has delivered member-focused business services, group buying power to reduce costs, and a community of peers offering a network of support.

Safilo Group Signs New Financing Agreement, Early Repayment of Existing Bank Debt

PADUA, Italy—Safilo Group signed a new financing agreement for a total of €300,000,000, maturing in September 2027 and consisting of a term loan facility of €150,000,000, a revolving credit facility of €75,000,000 and a Capex line of €75,000,000. The utilization of this new term loan facility, set for Sept. 29, 2022, permits the simultaneous early repayment of the entire bank debt currently represented by the term loan credit facility signed in 2018 with maturity June 2023 (equal to €35,000,000 in June 2022), and by the SACE term loan credit facility signed in 2020, expiring in June 2026 (equal to €108,000,000 in June 2022).

Nominations for Jobson's 2022 EyeVote Readers' Choice Awards Are Open

NEW YORK—Vision Monday and 20/20 Magazine are hosting the 14th annual EyeVote Readers' Choice Awards to identify the optical industry’s favorite products and companies this year. These two Jobson Medical Information publications are teaming up once again this fall to get readers’ opinions by asking optical retailers’ and ECPs to identify their favorite products in 22 distinct categories: optical frames, spectacle lenses, sunglasses, sustainable materials for frames, sustainable materials for sunglasses, Rx sun lenses, contact lenses, optical equipment for wholesale prescription labs, optical supplies, ECP/retail in-office lab equipment, diagnostic instruments, practice management software, EHR software, online ordering website, patient engagement systems, dispensing/measuring fitting systems, online and social media marketing services, PPE, contactless dispensing devices, virtual try-on tools, telehealth solution and Social Purpose missions.