Safilo Group to Use Eastman's Sustainable Materials in its Eyewear Collections, Starting in SS22

PADUA, Italy—Safilo Group, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of eyewear, is announcing the introduction of Eastman Acetate Renew and Eastman Tritan Renew in its sunglass and optical products. Both products are part of a broad portfolio of sustainable resins now offered at scale by Eastman, a global specialty materials provider and pioneer in molecular recycling. The new materials will enable Safilo to increase the sustainability of its products across its wide brand portfolio, the company said.

Scientists Take Important Step Toward Using Retinal Cell Transplants to Treat Blindness

Retinal cells derived from a cadaver human eye survived when transplanted into the eyes of primate models, an important advance in the development of cell therapy to treat blindness, according to a study published on January 14 in Stem Cell Reports. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a layer of pigmented cells in the retina, functions as a barrier and regulator in the eye to maintain normal vision. RPE dysfunction can lead to eye disorders including macular degeneration and can cause blindness, which affects about 200 million people worldwide.

Seven States Now Permitting Optometrists to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines, AOA Reports

Seven states allow ODs to administer vaccine, Zeiss acquires lab from U.S. Vision, National Vision reports double digit Q4 gains, Tracker says all optical sales categories recover, and Grand Vision expects gradual improvement for 2021, all topped this week’s VMAIL news feed. Click on the headlines below to catch up on anything you might have missed.

Zeiss Vision Care Acquires Optical Laboratory from U.S. Vision

SAN DIEGO, Calif.—Zeiss Vision Care announced yesterday that it has acquired U.S. Vision’s optical laboratory in Blackwood, N.J. Details of the transaction were not announced. The 72,000-square-foot facility, which Zeiss describes as being “state-of-the-art,” joins the Zeiss Vision Care production network in the Americas. As part of the transaction, Zeiss has hired 150 former U.S. Vision employees.

National Vision Reports Double-Digit Sales Gains for Q4 and Significantly Raises ‘Whitespace’ Growth Opportunity to Boost Number of New-Store Openings

DULUTH, Ga.—National Vision Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE) reported Wednesday that net sales in the fourth quarter increased 23.6 percent to $496.7 million, driven by comparable-store sales growth of 14.3 percent (the adjusted comparable-store sales growth was 10.6 percent). It marked the second consecutive quarter of double-digit comparable-store sales increases after the coronavirus slowed much of the U.S. retail business in the early part of 2020.