By Gwendolyn Plummer
Monday, March 11, 2024 8:30 AM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—
The Vision Council released new research featuring key insights into U.S. consumers’ experiences and preferences when purchasing frames for new glasses. Findings from the report, “Focused inSights 2024 Frame Trends,” underscore the diversity in eyewear preferences and purchase behaviors, highlighting opportunities for the optical industry to tailor product offerings and marketing strategies to meet consumer preferences. Notably, the report showcased just how much consumers value sustainable products and practices.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, March 7, 2024 8:30 AM
ATLANTA—On March 3, SECO 2024 closed its five-day annual event of optometric education. As
reported in
VMAIL, the event, which featured special sessions, breakfast symposiums, hot topic breakfasts, awards events and an exhibit hall featuring more than 160 exhibitors, welcomed thousands of ECPs here. From executives to education professionals to tech experts to ODs, SECO 2024 created a hub for optometric minds.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Monday, March 4, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—When we think about sustainability in our industry, we think about the obvious things: bio-acetates and recycled metals, reducing water usage and collecting contact lens blister packaging for recycling, motion sensor lights in the office, and reducing consumption wherever possible. But sustainability, in the bigger picture, is not about limiting ourselves to what impacts us directly—there are countless other ways to get involved with protecting and promoting our environment.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, March 1, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—In 1978, in California, The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned the first-ever Women’s History Week, the National Museum of Women’s History
reports. Organizers chose the week of March 8 to line up with International Women’s Day, an already established holiday, and, from there, the holiday grew. It was in 1981, according to the
Library of Congress, that Congress first passed Pub. L. 97-28, which authorized and requested then-President Ronald Reagan to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to pass Pub. L. 100-9, which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.”
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 8:30 AM
ORLANDO, Fla.—From February 11 through 14, hundreds of ECPs gathered here for the 2024 edition of Transitions Academy. In front of more than 1,300 attendees from around the world, Chrystel Barranger, president, Transitions Optical, and president, EssilorLuxottica Wholesale EMEA, announced the launch of Transitions Gen S, as
reported in
VMAIL from Academy. In addition to this major product launch, the three-day event included breakout educational sessions, a brand experience and a number of networking opportunities. Here, we’re taking a look at a snapshot of Transitions Academy through the eyes of independent ECPs who were on-site.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, February 16, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—Eye stroke, or central retinal artery occlusion, happens when the main artery that supplies blood to the retina is blocked, typically by a clot, depriving the retina of oxygen. Often categorized by painless, sudden loss of vision in one eye, it is similar to a stroke in the brain and can lead to permanent vision loss if the clot is not dissolved as soon as possible. At
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE), though, ophthalmologists have created a novel protocol to rapidly diagnose eye stroke and expedite care to prevent this potentially irreversible vision loss. Based on a recent study, the protocol describes using high-resolution retinal imaging in the emergency room along with rapid remote consultation to confirm diagnosis and expedite care.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 8:30 AM
MILAN—
Mido presented three major awards at its 2024 edition: the BeStore Award, the Stand Up For Green Award and the CSE – Certified Sustainable Eyewear Award. All three, which were presented at the OTTICLUB with Mido president Giovanni Vitaloni and radio host Petra Loreggian, awarded sustainable practices. First was the BeStore Award for Design which went to Anaïs Murith’s LENETA - Concept Store Optique, a Swiss optical center, for its combination of beauty, retro appeal, contemporary aesthetics and responsible selling.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, February 8, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK and MILAN, Italy—Over 40,000 people headed to Milan this month for the 2024 edition of
Mido. The show welcomed visitors from over 160 countries—including many Americans who made the trek across the Atlantic to take a look at Italian eyewear up close and personal. Mido organizers reported a major success this year, with an 11 percent gain in visitors over last year and an active presence overall. Mido president Giovanni Vitaloni said, “Prior to the show opening, we had hoped for an increase in visitors compared to last year. Thanks to everyone’s efforts and the industry’s trust in us each year, we achieved the ambitious goal we had set for ourselves." Here, we’re taking a look at how some ECPs spent their time in Milan.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Sunday, February 4, 2024 12:54 AM
Born between 1996 and 2010, Gen Z has grown up in a digital world—and a world informed by a warming climate, an ever-changing economic outlook and, of course, COVID-19. McKinsey cites Gen Zers as some of the first “digital natives,” those who have grown up with the internet as a part of their everyday lives. Few would remember life before WiFi. Still, Gen Z is a wide-ranging demographic: some young Gen Zers are still in middle school, while the oldest of the bunch may have homes, kids and careers. What brings Gen Z together is the things they care about.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Saturday, February 3, 2024 12:28 AM
WHAT: From the moment Pantone named “Peach Fuzz” its Color of the Year for 2024, it was clear the warm, peachy shade would make a mark this year. But unsurprisingly the eyewear industry was ahead of the curve, and peach frames are already here to make adopting the trend easy for everyone.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 8:30 AM
MILAN—The 2024 edition of
Mido kicks off this week, as thousands of members of the optical community make their way to Milan for the annual trade show. As always, the show, which is expected to host about 1,200 exhibitors from around the world, will focus on design, eyewear, eyecare and technology—as well as a renewed and growing focus on sustainability within the industry. On Sunday, February 4, the second day of the show, Mido will launch the 2024 edition of the CSE – Certified Sustainable Eyewear program, which was set up as part of a collaboration between ANFAO and Certottica and honors sustainability in the global eyewear industry.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Monday, January 29, 2024 7:30 AM
NEW YORK—January was Glaucoma Awareness Month, offering ECPs many ways to educate patients and the public about one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. Prevent Blindness is helping patients, care partners and professionals with a number of resources including a dedicated webpage, downloadable fact sheets that include financial assistance resources, shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish, educational videos, podcasts and much
more.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 8:30 AM
MUNICH—The 2024 edition of
opti wrapped up in Munich earlier this month, welcoming 21,500 visitors from 70 countries to visit nearly 390 exhibitors. In addition to the trade show’s standard fare, this year also highlighted sustainability in the eyewear space with the first-ever opti Sustainability Award, as well as the third opti BOX award.
By Gwendolyn Plummer
Friday, January 19, 2024 8:30 AM
NEW YORK—
National Eye Care Month, which falls each January, gives us all a chance to celebrate the important work the eyecare industry does every day. From saving sight around the world to helping a nervous child choose their first pair of glasses, there is no limit to the lives this industry changes—and a month like National Eye Care Month allows us to truly take time to recognize that work. National Eye Care Month gives ECPs the opportunity to remind patients and their communities of the importance of taking care of their eye health and, thus, their overall health. This weekend, we’re taking a look at how some members of the community have been celebrating on social media so far.