NEW YORK—The Optometric Center of New York (OCNY), the affiliated foundation of the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry, will host its 15th Annual Eyes on New York Gala at The Plaza here on Friday, March 16, 2018.

Industry leaders Kenneth Lombart and Richard Lombart, co-founders of Lombart Instrument, will be honored during the festivities and Haag-Streit USA’s Steve Juenger will serve as the gala’s corporate chair.

The signature event will also celebrate Our Vision for Children, SUNY Optometry’s capital campaign for a new Center for Pediatric Eye Care.

SUNY Optometry received a $1.5M grant from the State of New York to expand 3,000 square feet of its clinical care facilities in November 2016. Funds raised through Our Vision for Children will be used to purchase new equipment, cutting edge diagnostic technology and modern furnishings to create a welcoming environment for young patients and their families. The new facility will also provide a state-of-the-art educational environment that incorporates clinical research and evidence-based practice to train future eyecare professionals, the organization said.



“Proceeds from the 2018 Eyes on New York Gala will directly support our pediatric-focused and family-centered eyecare services for children in the New York City metropolitan area,” said Barbara Saltzman, OCNY president. “And we are quite pleased to honor the Lombart brothers for their decades of leadership in the ophthalmic industry.”

Kenneth Lombart and Richard Lombart entered the ophthalmic industry with their father, Adolph, who founded Lombart Lenses in 1954. The company became the nation’s largest manufacturer of hard contact lenses and established relationships with leading manufacturers, including Reliance, Bausch + Lomb, American Optical, Marco and Tokyo Optical, now, Topcon.

Lombart bought American Sterilizer’s instrument division in 1979 to create Lombart Instrument, which was the nation’s largest distributor of ophthalmic equipment by 1987. The Lombarts sold the business to Atlantic Street Capital in 2016.

“Rick and Ken built their business on personal relationships, trust, and integrity,” said Scott Lombart, Richard’s son, who continues as a member of the Lombart Instrument team. “They surrounded themselves with an incredible team and really made it a family. We are deeply proud to call them ‘Dad’ and ‘Uncle’ and we are honored as a family to be a part of SUNY Optometry’s pediatric expansion and the incredible work that the College does.”

More than 300 attendees supported last year’s Gala. Details about tables, tickets and the salutatory journal ads are posted here.