Eye Care for the Elderly
Topic: Eye Care
In a recent New York Times blog post, Paula Span writes: "Often seniors don’t consider vision problems a priority, especially if they don’t cause pain. An annual exam runs an average $150 nationally, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Since Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams, eyeglasses or prescriptions, many seniors are tempted to postpone the expense."

Now It's Off on Vacation
Topic: Optical--Sort Of
Yesterday, we said we would be absent for a while, taking a break. Alas we waited a day. Now our break begins. See you soon. Check with us in about eight days.

Hottest New Eyewear Designer?
Topic: Eyewear
Again Esquire Magazine has another hot tip for opticians and people who wear eyeglasses. Matt Singer and his Secret Identity collection are hot. Maybe, maybe not. Take a look and see what you think.

Ten Best Sunglasses, According to Esquire Magazine
Topic: Sunglasses
Recently the style blogger for Esquire Magazine came out with a slide show of the what the magazine considers the 10 best sunglasses of 2010. You might want to note as a sales pitch for your male customers.

Mayo Clinic Offers Tips on Sunglasses
Topic: Sunglasses
 The German site FinanzNachrichen.de reported the following (in English): "For shielding eyes from sunlight, not all sunglasses are created equal. In the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, Amir Khan, M.D., Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist, discusses some considerations for purchasing sunglasses to help ensure good eye health" The summary of Khan's article presents good, concise information that you could use as a flyer for your customers.

Younger Not Better for IOLs
Topic: Contact Lenses

OSNSuperSite reported that "a study examining primary IOL correction of monocular aphakia in infancy found that at 1 year, 63% of children in an IOL implantation-only group needed one or more additional intraocular operations, as opposed to 12% of children in a contact lens-only group.

"The additional operations were performed mainly to "clear lens reproliferation and pupillary membranes from the visual axis," according to the study."

For Soccer Fans or Any One Who Needs a Laugh
Topic: Optical
Do you need eyewear

Taking a Break
Topic: Optical--Sort Of
We recently launched Optical News from OpticalCEUs, and we already need a break. It's also July. Summertime. Playtime. We'll be back soon.

ANSI
Topic: Optical
ANSI, as in the organization that generates the ANSI standards, recently announced: "With the bright summer sun hitting beaches and backyards across the country this month, July has been designated UV Safety Month by the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives. Standards for sunglasses and other ophthalmic products are essential in keeping people’s peepers safe, healthy, and functioning at their best."The announcement comes somewhat late.

Believe It or Not: Excitement about Safety Eyewear Study
Topic: Safety Eyewear
Nanofilm recently announced that it would conduct a field test of its Defog It antifogging agent for safety eyewear. Phones were ringing off the hook. "The response shows professionals are looking for solutions to the hazard of fogged safety eyewear in utilities, pulp and paper, construction, law enforcement and military workplaces," says John Swett, Vice President of Sales and Marketing There is no cost to the participate in the test.

Safety Online reports that the 12-day program provides antifog products for company use and includes a 10-question survey about fogging as a factor in workers' failure to wear safety eyewear and fogged eyewear as a workplace hazard for workers in utilities, paper mills, steel manufacturers, construction companies and military units. You might want to let some of your customers know about this study.

J&J Supports Independent UK Opticians
Topic: Optical
Independent opticians in the United Kingdom have launched the "Eye Love My Independent Optician," promoting the benefits of independent practices. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has announced support of the program.

Globe Rupture Even with Safety Glasses
Topic: Safety Eyewear

In an article that appeared in The Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, authors reported that three months after routine cataract surgery, a patient was using his post-surgical eyeglasses on a tennis court. He fell directly on his face during a match. His globe ruptured. "Spectacle torsion is the suspected biomechanical process that led to the rupture."

Eyewear Market to Grow
Topic: Eyewear

In a report released today, the research firm GIA reported that despite "a temporary deceleration in growth in recent years primarily due to the recent economic recession, the global market for eyeglasses is expected to recover poise and gain steady momentum in the short to medium term period, to reach $95.66 billion by 2015. This projected growth in the market will be primarily driven by factors such as rise in refractive disorders, increase in the number of ageing individuals and growing awareness over the importance of eye protection."

Do Opticians and Optometrists Play Well Together?
Topic: Optical
That's the central question behind a surgey being conducted by the British online publication Optician. The website reports that its questions will "cover issues such as working hours, childcare arrangements, career progression and job satisfaction. Individual views are confidential and analysis of the results will be published in Optician. All those completing the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win £1,000 [about $2000]. Take part at opticianonline.net." We are not sure, however, if the website wants the opinions of Americans, but why not try?

A Hard Look at the Designer Sunwear Market
Topic: Sunglasses
In yesterday's Wall Street Journal, reporter Brett Arends asked the question, "Are designer sunglasses worth the price?" You will be surprised at what he has to say.

Convenience Big Factor with CL Customers, According to a Study
Topic: Contact Lenses
When you are dispensing contact lenses, you might want to remember this conclusion from a recent study about the Belgian market: "Convenience is very important in the contact lenses market and demand is high for disposable and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The two-weekly and monthly disposable category, even with sales dampened by the economic downturn, has retained its position as the most important sector in this segment. Belgian consumers are price-minded and the fact that two-weekly and monthly disposable contact lenses are cheaper and can be worn longer is important for consumers" regardless of the drawbacks.

CL Supports Ocular Health
Topic: Contact Lenses
According to a report released by the North American Press Syndicate , a new contact lens, called 1-Day Acuvue TruEye, "was designed, developed and clinically researched versus the ultimate benchmark: the natural eye," says Colleen Riley, OD, VP, Professional Development and Medical Affairs, Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. "The data suggest that it can help maintain ocular health with the near 'no lens' experience, and keeps the lens-wearing eye looking white and healthy, while also providing consistent comfort throughout the day."

New Way to Fix Myopia?
Using the research from the University of Houston College of Optometry and the  Vision Institute, located at the University of New South Wales, Australia, researchers reportedly have come up with a new way to control myopia. The announcement from Vision Cooperative Research Centre (Vision CRC) in Australia notes that "Professor Earl Smith from the University of Houston College of Optometry has demonstrated that if we move the central image onto the retina but leave the peripheral image behind the retina, the peripheral image can drive the eye to elongate, causing myopia to increase."

Court of Appeals Upholds Clariti Ruling
The U.S. Court of Appeals recently upheld a lower court's ruling that Clariti Eyewear did not violate two patents held by Aspex/Contour, according to a Clariti press release. The patents were for magnetic "clip-on" sunglasses.

Research Report on Germany's CL Market
Topic: Contact Lenses
Fast Market Research fnished a study of the German CL market concluding: "Two important trends influenced the market for contact lenses in Germany in 2009: towards convenience on the one hand and innovation on the other hand."