Vision Expo West 2023 Kicks Off in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS—Vision Expo West 2023 has just begun at The Venetian Convention Center & Expo here in Las Vegas. We extend a warm welcome to all attendees on behalf of the show organizers, The Vision Council and RX. This year's event boasts over 400 exhibiting companies on the lively show floor, premieres the brand-new EYEnovate series, enhances education opportunities, streamlines the attendee experience, and presents an exciting lineup of engaging sessions and energetic events centered around buzzworthy industry topics.

Ray-Ban and Meta Launch Their Next Generation of Smart Glasses

MENLO PARK, Calif. and CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Meta Platforms, Inc. (META: NASDAQ) and EssilorLuxottica (ESLX:PA) introduced their next generation of smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Wednesday during the annual Meta Connect event. Ray-Ban Meta represents a significant upgrade in features and performance from Ray-Ban Stories, the first collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban’s parent company, EssilorLuxottica, released in September, 2021. The new collection offers the first ever eyewear with live streaming and Meta AI built-in, higher quality camera, and improved audio and microphone systems paired with a redesigned, more intuitive app and charging case.

Optical Women’s Association Announces New Leadership—Lorie Lippiatt, OD, Is Named New President, Succeeding Deb Bulken

DALLAS—The Optical Women’s Association announced the addition of a new president and four new board members. Dr. Lorie Lippiatt, optometrist for MyEyeDr. in Salem, Ohio, and previous vice president of the OWA, has assumed the position of president, effective immediately. Additionally, the following women will be joining the OWA board of directors: Dr. Beverly Bianes, optometrist and co-owner of Pack & Bianes Vision Care; Christina Perraud, director of Planning and Inventory for MyEyeDr.; Kerri Ann Raimo, managing editor at Broadcast Med; and Erika Plank, director, Provider Communications at VSP.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Increased for the Week of Sept. 11–17, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations increased last week, Sept.11–17, when compared with the previous week at a rate of 20 index points. That places gross revenue at a level 4 index points above where it was at this point in time (Week 38) when compared with last year (2022), 14 points above the same period in 2021, 4 points above 2020 and 17 points above 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.

Zenni Optical Expands Leadership Team and Forms New B2B Platform, Zenni Business, to Offer a Suite of Eyecare Solutions

NOVATO, Calif.—As Zenni Optical embarks on its next 20 years, one of the world’s leading online eyewear retailers, which marked its 20th anniversary in May of this year, reports that it continues to build a team that can drive innovation and growth and create new ways to bring eyewear and eyecare to customers and businesses. Zenni has added several new members to its leadership team who will work together "to elevate the importance of eye health, revolutionize the prescription process and optimize Zenni’s global operations and manufacturing," the company told VMAIL.