Four percent of the world's population is blind or vision impaired, even though 80 percent of the blindness is avoidable. For example, a good deal of blindness is the result of trachoma, which affects 84 million people, annually leaving 8 million visually impaired, and river blindness, which infects 18 million people, resulting in blindness for more than a quarter million. The lives of 153 million people, who have no access to eye care, could be changed dramatically.

That could change on October 14 with international support from optometrists and opticians. If you think you may want to help Vision 2020, you can get the low-down by using this link.

Participants in the program include IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness), World Blind Union (WBU), International Council of Opthamology, Merck & Company, Carl Zeiss, Light for the World, International Centre for Eyecare Education, and many more. 

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 7:44 AM EDT
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You might be surprised at the finding of a recent study: "Different disinfecting solutions used during storage of silicone hydrogel lenses result in different levels and types of contamination." That's the report on the OSN Super Site. "The unnamed study examined 232 participants wearing one or more of three silicone hydrogel lenses and using one or more of four contact lens solutions. At one month follow-up, between 76% and 92% of all cases were contaminated. Researchers found use of different contact lenses did not affect the contamination rate or the types of microbes," reports the site, home of several ocular journals.Go to the site for more details.

A similar study was concluded about two years ago in Israel with similar results.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 9:54 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 10:14 PM EDT
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The Journal of Consumer Research has discovered the smaller the logo, the higher the retail price. "Only 28 percent of the sunglasses that cost $600 or more had a visible logo as opposed to 87 percent of the sunglasses that cost $100 to $200," according to a story from Bnet.com. The conclusion: The not-rich buy status, the rich buy quality.

In another JCR study, researchers found out that Consumers remember the sounds of numbers in prices and associate certain sounds with value. The researchers studied the ability of number-sounds to convey meaning and influence price perceptions.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 9:46 PM EDT
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Luxottica's CEO, Andrea Guerra, noted that as the company comes off the second quarter with record sales and profits, he is looking forward to the rest of the year, according to a story in Vision Monday. Reportedly its North American retail brands did well except for Pearle.

The article also noted: "Guerra cited about 10 'special projects' that are underway, designed to help boost second-half results. Included among those are the wholesale division’s upcoming launches of the Chanel Bouton, Prada Swing, Tiffany Key and Burberry April shower eyewear collections. On the retail side, LensCrafters is preparing a strong back-to-school promotional effort, according to Guerra, who also expects sales gains to be generated by the new Sunglass Hut store design launched in April."

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 6:36 AM EDT
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"About one-fourth of the problems were things like infections and eye abrasions in contact lens wearers. These are sometimes preventable and can result from wearing contact lenses too long without cleaning them."

Without immediate access to Pediatrics magazine, which published the study, we could not discover how many of the problems associated with the complications come from children wearing cosmetic contact lenses.

By the way, the story, which first appeared yesterday, is receiving tremendous play in the media, so you might find yourself fielding questions from parents whose children are or might be candidates for CLs.

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 6:58 AM EDT
Updated: Monday, 26 July 2010 7:32 AM EDT
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Earlier this week Luxottica opened a new retail outlet in Melbourne, Australia. A press release about the store stated, "With a simulator room for testing glasses and sunglasses for glare and wind resistance, a product vault featuring stunning and exclusive designer glasses visible from every area of the store, touch-screen interactive mirrors that allow people to play back their new look, a secure play place where parents can leave their kids while they shop, the concept store reflects the next generation in experiential shopping."

Its CEO Andrea Guerra said the company's long-term goal is for this concept to be adapted globally. There are plans for more stores in Australia to debut in the next two to three years, and additional stores could in the future be opened in key markets such as China, the UK and the United States, according to the press release. He reportedly said, " "With the features the new store concept has to offer consumers, quite simply it sets new standards for international retailing." 

Posted by ct3/opticalceu at 11:12 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 20 July 2010 11:43 AM EDT
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