By Staff
Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:20 AM
GOLDEN, Colo.—In August, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) issued its 2024 World Sight Day Challenge in support of its mission to eradicate uncorrected refractive error through the growth and expansion of optometry around the world. The Challenge is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. This year’s theme is Giving Together, Seeing Forever, which OGS said celebrates the collective power of the optometry community to give the gift of sight to millions of people in need. The Challenge runs from now through the end of October, with World Sight Day scheduled to be celebrated on October 10.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—In early August, The Accessories Council announced that its sixth annual Design Excellence Awards will take place on November 4, 2024, in New York City with a formal awards event at The Fifth Avenue Hotel. This year, most notably for lovers of independent eyewear, the awards have been expanded to include a number of new categories, including new entries for Independent Eyewear (1-2 brands) for Optical and Sun. Interested independent eyewear designers can apply for the Awards online
here.
By Staff
Thursday, August 8, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—From now through the end of September, aspiring eyewear designers have the chance to see their dreams become a reality with Europa’s seventh annual DB4K Design Duel, a design contest with one winning design that will be produced and appear in an upcoming DB4K collection. As in past years, the contest is easy to enter: ECPs can download the Design Duel coloring sheets for free from Europa
here, and their patients can design to their hearts’ content.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:20 AM
BARCELONA—Independent eyewear brand
Etnia Barcelona has launched Moi Aussi, a new art and design project that aims to support artists and bring their work to an international stage. This project begins at the Abbazia Della Misericordia church in Venice, Italy, recently acquired by Etnia Barcelona, which will become the Moi Aussi Creative Lab. Etnia Barcelona will invite two international artists each month to create their own work of art using eyewear at the Creative Lab. These art pieces will then be exhibited in different galleries and museums around the world, Etnia Barcelona said.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—
Prevent Blindness announced at the beginning of July that it is joining in support of July as Dry Eye Awareness Month, with the goal of educating the public and health care professionals about dry eye disease. For the fourth consecutive year,
OCuSOFT Inc., a privately held eye and skin care company specializing in eyelid hygiene and ocular health, is partnering with Prevent Blindness in support of Dry Eye Awareness Month. The National Eye Institute estimates that dry eye affects nearly 16 million Americas, as
reported in
VMAIL; in recognition of this, Prevent Blindness is offering a number of resources to help ECPs make the most out of educating their patients on dry eye this July.
By Staff
Thursday, June 20, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Summer has arrived, bringing warmer weather, longer days, kids out of school, and, of course, new eyewear. As we head into these hot days of July, August and some of September, there’s no better time than now to start thinking about how to refresh your practice or online presence to welcome in the new season. There are countless ways to bring some summer energy into your work life, from special sales to in-store décor and everything in between—so, we’re taking a look at how some indies are celebrating the start of summer. Get inspired—and stay cool out there.
By Staff
Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—This month, seven eyewear designers, many of which are independent, united to launch the third annual edCFDA Pride Eyewear Initiative. The designers Blake Kuwahara (Blake Kuwahara Eyewear), Christian Roth (Christian Roth Eyewear), Gai Gherardi and Barbara McReynolds (l.a.Eyeworks), Jeff Press (PRESS), Patty Perreira (Barton Perreira), Selima Salaun (Selima Optique) and Stirling Barrett (KREWE), are each offering a limited edition sunglass design, with a portion of the proceeds collectively benefiting
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), an organization dedicated to ending stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.
By Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—May is Small Business Month, an important marker for many independent ECPs who juggle life as both doctors and small business owners. While celebrating yourself and supporting other small business owners this May, it’s also a great moment to reflect on your business, where you’ve been, how far you’ve come and what your next steps might look like. In celebration of Small Business Month, the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce put together a list of 11 critical areas for business development, including a number of action items to help business owners get started.
By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—May is Healthy Vision Month. This year, because it overlaps with Mental Health Awareness Month, the
National Eye Institute (NEI) has dedicated Healthy Vision Month to “shining a light on vision loss and mental health—and sharing steps people with a visual impairment can take to thrive in their daily lives.” The NEI noted, “The United States is facing an
epidemic of loneliness and isolation with half of adults saying they feel lonely. That’s why Healthy Vision Month 2024 is focused on helping people with a visual impairment know how to access vision rehabilitation services, mental health support and social connection.”
By Staff
Thursday, April 18, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month, offering 30 days to focus on the eye health-related issues that women around the world face. As
reported in
VMAIL, more women than men live with vision loss, and women have a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, dry eye, glaucoma, refractive error and thyroid eye disease. As always, Prevent Blindness is offering
free resources, including fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, educational videos and web pages, on a range of eye health issues that predominantly affect women this month. On the local level, many ECPs use social media to spread important eyecare messages to women.
By Staff
Thursday, April 4, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Next Monday, millions will turn their eyes to the sky for a solar eclipse. For those in certain areas of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the eclipse will be total—but a partial eclipse will be visible throughout the entire continental United States. For ECPs throughout the country, reminding patients about the dangers of watching the eclipse unprotected has been a central focus for the past few months, as
reported in
VMAIL Weekend earlier in March.
By Staff
Thursday, March 21, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—No matter what the weather feels like where you are, Spring is officially here, bringing with it longer days, warmer air, gorgeous florals and that optimistic feel that comes with the change in seasons. As we warm into March and welcome Spring, there’s no better time than now to decorate the office, refresh your practice social media accounts or bring some new, brighter energy into your everyday. This week, we’re taking a look at how some indies are welcoming the start of Spring on social media. Feel free to get inspired for your own Spring celebration.
By Staff
Thursday, March 7, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—March is Save Your Vision Month, first proposed by the American Optometric Association as a way to remind all of us to keep eye health at the forefront of our minds. With its wide-ranging theme, Save Your Vision Month provides countless opportunities for the optical community to reach out, interact with our local communities, and champion the importance of keeping our eyes healthy and protected. There’s still plenty of time to get involved—and plenty of ways to make a difference.
By Staff
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Prevent Blindness declared February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month, encouraging the eyecare community to spread awareness and education about these conditions throughout the month. On their end, Prevent Blindness is offering a variety of free educational resources to the public and professionals, including fact sheets and social media graphics in English and Spanish, dedicated online resources and informative videos, as
reported in
VMAIL.
By Staff
Thursday, February 8, 2024 8:20 AM
NEW YORK—Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and no matter how—or with who—you spend it, February 14 provides all of us with a great opportunity to spread love. Ahead of the holiday, many ECPs are taking to social media to share messages about loving your eyes and your eyewear—and finding the perfect pair of frames as a gift for the ones you love this month. There’s still a little time left before the holiday, so feel free to get inspired and create your own social media posts, too.