STORY BY MARISSA WALSH

Sometimes we all need the change of perspective that comes with working with other people. New energy and a different point of view can spark fresh, exciting ideas. So, it’s no surprise that collaborations are in fashion. We’ve got some dreamy optical and sun collaborations here, including one with an eyeglass shop. Start brainstorming — you could be next! 

ic! Berlin x Tarian (ABOVE)

Jeremy Tarian interned at ic! Berlin in 2009, when he won his first Silmo d’Or award. He launched his own label in 2012, but returned to his roots for this colorful collab, which includes model VegeTarian 1.

(866) 634-8990 | ic-berlin.de

$509

141 x Eyes on Fremont

Seattle optical shop Eyes on Fremont had been selling more acetate model LOLAs than any of 141’s other retailers, so they teamed up with Eyes’ Nate Ogura to develop a stainless steel version, which also features a metallic gold interior influenced by the store’s signage.

(888) 847-9874 | 141eyewear.com

$239

Inspired by Jared Leto/Carrera

Academy Award-winning actor Jared Leto is known for his unique style on (and off) the red carpet, and that includes his eyewear. This designed-for-him collection includes star-making model CA 144/V.

(800) 631-1188 | mysafilo.com

$169

Common Projects + MOSCOT

102-year-old New York City eyewear institution MOSCOT and hip fashion brand Common Projects team up for the rerelease of classic model TYPE ONE. Shiny minimalism for sweater weather.

(212) 477-3796 | moscot.com

$300

Robert Marc + Sally Hershberger  

Modern aviator model RM 781 with 18K rose gold lenses was inspired by celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger, the creator of Meg Ryan’s famous shag haircut. It’s hard to resist an “I’ll have what she’s having” joke here.

(212) 675-5200 | robertmarc.com

$895

Garrett Leight California Optical X Clare V. 

California cool meets French New Wave in chic model CLARE V., a collaboration with Los Angeles-based accessories designer Clare Vivier. The retro shape and cotton-candy color would be equally at home in a Demy film or at Disneyland.

(310) 392-2100 | garrettleight.com

$340

Gigi Hadid for Vogue Eyewear

Model of the moment Gigi Hadid designed smart model VO4084. The retro shape channels the ‘90s but the contemporary colorways will attract Gigi’s fans ... who probably don’t remember the ‘90s.

(800) 422-2020 | vogue-eyewear.com

$139

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 edition of INVISION.

Article One was honored for most creative booth design at Vision Expo West.

Winner Winner

Vision Expo announced winners in several categories at Vision Expo West. Those include the 2017 Vision Choice Award recipients: First place went to Lunette USA, second to FGX International and third to Miraflex. Winning booths were voted on by attendees, who cast ballots for their favorite exhibitor in two categories: “most creative booth design” and “best use of technology.” Article One (shown) won the former and Kuusoft Software Corp. the latter. Both received $1,000 in credits to use towards future Vision Expo shows. visionexpo.com

Smart Glasses Get Active

A study conducted by the University of Southern California Center for Body Computing and VSP Global using a prototype of VSP’s Level smart glasses found interaction with social networks and use of digital coaches via a smartphone app connected to a biometric sensor embedded in the eyeglasses provided incentive for users to increase activity. Researchers found study participants were motivated by digital coaching using text message prompts sent at pre-determined times to encourage daily step goals. Juniper Research has identified smart glasses as the highest growth sector of the consumer wearables segment over the next five years, reaching 11 percent of the overall wearables market by 2021. uscbodycomputing.org

But ... Why?

National Vision is now accepting entries for its 2017-2018 grant program. Inspired by Simon Sinek’s TED Talk on “Start With Why,” National Vision is asking students to share why they chose optometry school and what their mission as an OD will be for the chance to win a $5,000 grand prize. Open to third- or fourth-year optometry students in the U.S., questions and submissions should be sent to carly.schenck@nationalvision.com by Jan. 31, 2018. The winners will be announced before March 1, 2018. nationalvision.com

Digital Education Needed

A new study commissioned by CooperVision reveals that while the use of digital device screens may pose vision challenges, only a few U.S. ECPs are talking about it. Only 6 percent of U.S. consumers reported that they had spoken with an ECP regarding concerns about screen time, but 64 percent of contact lens wearers and 60 percent of glasses wearers reported they would be very interested or somewhat interested in exploring ways to reduce eye strain with their ECP. The study was conducted among 1,129 U.S. adults (18+). More from the study can be found online. coopervision.com

L’amy Suits Up With Canali

L’Amy America has signed a license agreement with Canali for a luxury collection of sunglasses and ophthalmic frames. Synonymous with tailor-made Italian luxury and men’s elegance, the new Canali sunglass and ophthalmic collections will preview at the Mido in 2018. Supported by a host of point-of-purchase materials including displays, lifestyle imagery, and product packaging, the Canali eyewear collection will be available around the globe in March 2018. lamyamerica.com

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 edition of INVISION.

Nationwide, statistics show 25 percent of the contact lens-wearing population wear dailies while the remaining 75 percent wear two-week or monthly lenses. Three main reasons they choose these lenses over daily disposables are price, a challenging prescription or astigmatism. In those cases, solutions are a must for cleaning and disinfecting lenses. The cost of a year’s supply of solution is about $100, so even after buying monthly lenses and the solutions to clean them, they often still work out to be less expensive than dailies.

Menicon 

Unique pH multipurpose solution for rigid gas permeable lenses 

(800) 636-4266, meniconamerica.com

Bausch & Lomb 

BioTrue multipurpose solution 

(800) 553-5340, bausch.com

Abbott Medical Optics 

Blink RevitaLens multipurpose disinfecting solution 

(866) 427-8477,  abbottmedicaloptics.com

Alcon Laboratories 

Opti-Free Puremoist

(800) 862-5266, alcon.com 

The Lifestyle Company 

PuriLens Plus Saline preservative-free solution

(800) 622-0777, purilens.com

Lobob Laboratories 

Optimum by Lobob cleaning and disinfecting solution, Sof/Pro daily cleaner, Lobob hard lens solutions

(408) 432-0580 loboblabs.com

Smart Ways to Sell Contact Lens Solutions 

Dr. Roxanne Achong-Coan
Coan Eye Care, Ocoee, FL

We’re a specialty practice that has sold solutions for over a decade. I fit a lot of modalities and my patients use CooperVision’s AquaClear Hydrogen Peroxide or LifeStyle Company’s PuriLens Plus Saline solution. They’re preservative-free and good for dry or sensitive eyes. Whether they order bi-monthly, monthly, ortho-k, scleral, gas permeable or hybrid, we package the solutions with their lens supply and make it affordable. Generally, it’s a three-month supply they re-order through us or online. If patients order from the manufacturer’s website, we get a percentage. If a patient has issues with irritation, we change their solution and often that works. If they don’t work we give them a full refund.

Dr. Roy Kline
Drs. Kline, Boyd and Chivers, Glens Falls, NY

We do a lot of specialty lenses. About 25 percent of our monthly contact patients need solutions. When we prescribe a solution to anyone using soft contacts, we team it with BioTrue. All solutions disinfect but lenses in newer materials need to be kept moist; BioTrue does that. It’s a natural formulation that acts as a wetting agent. For rigid gas permeable lenses, I recommend Bausch’s Boston solutions to keep them clean. GP wearers tend to be product-loyal. If a patient has issues with a multipurpose solution, I go to a hydrogen peroxide solution like Clear Care from Alcon. Once I’m done fitting lenses, our staff give the patient detailed insertion instructions and recommend solutions. It’s important to emphasize using correct solutions instead of generic ones. 

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 edition of INVISION.

When it’s time to add or replace someone, how do you know you’re reaching the right potential candidates? Sure, a general classifieds site, like Craigslist, might work (and that’s a big might), but the more specific you can be in your search, the better. These tips will point you in the right direction. 

Pamela Peters, CPOA, CPOT, practice manager at Midwest Eye, describes CovalentCareers.com as being “like Match.com for employees and employers.”

“Sometimes there just isn’t optical talent available when you have a need,” says Jason Sharpe, vice president of operations for Eye-Kraft Optical, Inc., who has used Pro Staff to find temp-to-perm lab employees. “Ask for smart, motivated candidates. Find one you think you can train.”

Jocelyn Mylott, director of optical services for five D’Ambrosio Eye Care Massachusetts locations, relies primarily on headhunters, direct conversation, and word of mouth for recruiting. When those don’t work, her practice purchases a file (on CD) from the state that lists all in-state licenses and informs them directly of openings.

While sites like Indeed, Career Builder, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter are more general, they are also true go-to sites for jobseekers. Don’t discount them!

Points to Consider When Searching for a New Employee

• Spend some money. Some sites have both free and paid options. Consider the advantages to the paid side. Peters, who uses CovalentCareers.com, says, “We initially [used] the free version, but we didn’t feel it was getting to the people we wanted it to get to.” 
• Sell the position. Applicants must impress you, but first, you have to impress them. “I like to write a fun, upbeat ad — instead of a stuffy, boring one — while still sounding professional, so people realize this is the place they want to work,” says Colleen Galanti, optical manager, Pascarella Eye Care & Contact Lenses in Newtown, PA, who has had success with Indeed and Opticians on Facebook.
• Be thorough. When word-of-mouth and other grassroots approaches don’t work, Mylott’s practice goes for volume with a purchased CD from the state that lists all in-state licenses. “We do a direct mailing regarding our opportunities,” she says. (The CD has mail addresses, no email.)
• Find an agency that knows optical. An agency that can speak “ECP” offers added value to your effort. Sharpe has had success using Pro Staff. He says, “You want to be able to say, ‘I need an optician’ or ‘edger.’”
• Understand the range of resources available. Specific knowledge can only help you. And since many practices don’t have an official human resources department, the HR responsibilities may very well be yours. Check out the Society for Human Resource Management for tools that will help you build a strong practice from the inside out, and increase the likelihood of strong employees sticking around long term.

What Businesses Are Saying

“The people who are looking [for an optical position] at Covalent are really looking to work for an eye doctor. We’re not afraid to bring in people who don’t have any knowledge in the field. That’s fine by us. We don’t mind training — at least we already know that interest is there. It’s worth the investment. Covalent gives you quality people who are interested in working in this field and in improving their knowledge. We’ve had a very positive experience with it.” — Pamela Peters, CPOA, practice manager, Midwest Eye, Downers Grove, IL

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 edition of INVISION.

 STORY BY MARISSA WALSH

One of the definitions of “launch” is “to send forth, catapult, or release.” It’s an optimistic word for putting it out there and inherently implies hope. This year was packed with hopeful introductions of many fun and appealing new lines, brands, products and licenses. Here are a few of our 2017 favorites.  

KREWE (ABOVE)

Their sunglasses were already a celeb and cult favorite, so New Orleans-based KREWE expanded to optical this year. Handcrafted models MARENGO and ROYAL are classic silhouettes with a high cool factor.

sales@krewe.com | krewe.com

$235 / $315

COCO AND BREEZY

Founded by twin designers Corianna and Brianna Dotson, who handmade their early designs, Coco and Breezy has been on fire since they launched to a larger audience this year with Eastern States Eyewear. Cozy up to red-hot model HESTIA.

(800) 645-3710 | eseyewear.com 

$290

COSMOPOLITAN

Distinctive designs and bold colors made the Cosmo line stand out from other fashion-magazine launches this year. Holiday-party ready model GIGI perfectly embodies Helen Gurley Brown’s sparkly spirit.

(877) 886-2824 | matcheyewear.com

$150

STEVE MADDEN

An impressive launch that built upon, but was not dependent on, the shoe line, we appreciated the focus on the sometimes-overlooked men’s market. Solid offerings include textured model CHIPPA.

(800) 645-3733 | cvoptical.com

$175

RAY-BAN

Ray-Ban gave their loyal fans more to love this year by adding a prescription lens program. Ophthalmic models like RB5121 combine the style customers want with the prescription lenses they need. Identical to the classics, the prescription lenses feature the etched Ray-Ban logo.

(866) 472-9226 | ray-ban.com

$175

GX BY GWEN STEFANI JUNIORS

Gwen Stefani’s popular gx line expanded into kids this year with exuberant results. Timely tween-dream model GX800 comes with six interchangeable magnetic emojis for the temple. 

(800) 242-8872 | tura.com

$175

MARCHON X LONGCHAMP

Longchamp bags embody timeless style — so does their eyewear. Dig your bag out of the closet and get matchy-matchy with elegant model LO2604. We have sunglasses to look forward to next year.

(800) 645-1300 | marchon.com

$185

This article originally appeared in the November-December 2017 edition of INVISION 

Fresh and Clean 

Examining someone’s eyes or fitting them for glasses is close work. Make sure everyone’s breath smells sweet and fresh with custom packaged mints featuring your logo from MY CUSTOM CANDY. Win/Win.

PRICE varies

mycustomcandy.com

Bird's Eye View 

Handmade independent eyewear deserves a good perch. This bird eyeglass holder from UNCOMMON GOODS provides a generous beak to display all your special pieces.

$36

uncommongoods.com

Design Dreams 

EYE DESIGNS released a new, full line catalog. Inside, ECPs will find everything necessary to walk them through their step-by-step journey from design dreams to their grand (re)opening reality. The catalog is free ... the reno is not.

Free

eyedesigns.com

Read Clearly, See Clearly 

Entrepreneur James Chen has authored Clearly, How a 700 Year Old Invention Can Change the World Forever, in support of his global campaign to enable access to glasses for everyone.

$29.95

clearly.world/the-book

Warm Up

STORMIN’ NORMAN’S offers a perfectly on-theme collection of luxury scarves. Made of premium Turkish fabric, folks looking to take the chill off can choose from the company’s exclusive designs or design their own.

$40 ($50 custom)

info@snoptical.com

This article originally appeared in the November-December 2017 edition of INVISION

Focus On Style 

Transitions Optical offers new materials to help ECPs find the style in eyewear and merchandise their office to better display options to patients. The three new tools are a Lens Style Guide PDF by Transitions Change Agents Sheena Taff and Darryl Glover to help ECPs talk to patients about trends in eyewear, pair frames with lenses, and display eyewear; a Style One-Page Handout, a shortened version of the Lens Style Guide; and Style Brainshark, an overview of the style ABO course. Transitions also provides social media posts that can be shared on practice accounts. transitionspro.com/style

Optical Show Slow Growth  

The Vision Council released its quarterly VisionWatch report for Q2 2017. Results indicate the vision care industry generated $40.17 billion in revenue, up 0.2 percent, or nearly $85.7 million, over 2016. Eyeglasses claimed the largest share at 55.6 percent, or $22.32 billion in revenue, while contacts revenue rose 3.1 percent to $4.89 billion. Sunglasses rose 1.9 percent to $4.21 billion with 103.85 million pairs sold, the same as the previous year. Independents are the largest component of the U.S. vision care industry — generating $18.3 billion in revenue, up 0.4 percent. While lenses and frames make up the bulk of revenue for independent opticals, exams are a close third with over $4.22 billion in revenue.
thevisioncouncil.org

Dalies Domination

Data from ABB OPTICAL GROUP shows daily disposables dominated market share in January-September 2017. The data, which represents organic practice growth or same-store sales within the group, indicates dollar growth of soft contact lenses was up 7.4 percent, fueled by daily disposables, which grew nearly 20 percent. Dailies’ share is 44 percent compared to 21 percent for the two-week modality. Dollar growth of multifocals was up 15 percent; torics grew 11 percent. abboptical.com

For the Kids

VSP Vision Care and Prevent Blindness launched Vision to Share: ‘Clicks for Kids’ to help bridge the gap in access to vision care for children. With every click or share, VSP will donate $1, up to $20,000, so Head Start children ages 3-5 in 25 underserved communities have more access to screenings, comprehensive exams, and treatment before entering school. VSP will provide one of the 25 Head Start centers with additional screening equipment. seemuchmore.com/clicks-for-kids

Eating Out > Eye Exams 

The majority of Americans prioritize eating out over spending on eyecare, according to a survey by STAAR Surgical, makers of the Visian ICL. Asked about spending priorities, only 20 percent named eyecare, compared to 64 percent for eating out, 47 percent for clothes, and 39 percent for gadgets. Almost half said they only get an eye doctor appointment if their sight has deteriorated. A quarter said they don’t find appointments important. invmag.us/111701

This article originally appeared in the November-December 2017 edition of INVISION

American Pie (ABOVE)

Snowboarder Zak Hale grew up riding California’s Big Bear Mountain. Now based in Salt Lake City, he shows off model Cliffside as the newest member of SPY’s snow team. Check out his on and off-snow adventures on Instagram @zakhale. spyoptic.com

$120

Climb Every Mountain

Sturdy model Seamount 200 from COSTA’s popular new optical line is now available in an additional colorway. Taking its name from mountains that form underwater, it offers a sleek, sporty fit. costadelmar.com

$240

Do You 

It’s the holiday season — embrace your inner DIVA (model 5484) and show off your wild interior. Oh, and don’t forget the Austrian Swarovski crystals, or the champagne. eseyewear.com

$425

On Pitch

‘Tis the season for non-boring eyewear. Melodic model 3038 from RANDY JACKSON earns a standing ovation with an unexpected Tokyo tortoise pattern on the temple. zyloware.com

$188.85

Eurostar

Vintage-inspired acetate and metal model Place des Vosges from TARIAN pops with Parisian personality. Pack these winter suns for a long holiday weekend on the continent. jeremytarian.com

$430

Claim to Frame 

Larsen from BLAKE KUWAHARA, nominated for a 2017 Silmo d’Or, features his frame-within-a-frame technique (in this case, frame-within-a-frame-within-a-frame.) blakekuwahara.com

$625

Holly Jolly

Also nominated for a Silmo d’Or frame award, the handcrafted model Dublin by L. A. Eyeworks is bold and beautiful. These statement-makers in a candy-colored hue look good enough to eat. laeyeworks.com

$560

This article originally appeared in the November-December 2017 edition of INVISION

An estimated 2,000 people a day injure their eyes on the job, according to Prevent Blindness America. About 90 percent of these injuries could be prevented by taking proper precautions ... like safety eyewear.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires that eye protection meet the 2010 version of the ANSI/ISEA Z.87.1 standard. This covers a safety frame, a certain lens thickness based on the Rx and the lens material, generally polycarbonate or a safety grade Trivex. Some ECPs have developed a niche by becoming specialists in prescription safety eyewear and generate additional business devising programs for employers to protect their employees’ eyes at work.

Wiley X

ANSI Z87.1 rated XL-1 Advanced features a matte black frame, removable Facial Cavity Seal and interchangeable smoke grey and clear lenses.

(800) 776-7842, wileyx.com

HOYA

ZT45 8-base black safety eyeglasses with an Array Wrap or Sync Wrap lens

(800) 818-4692 hoyaoptics.com

Kenmark Group

W036 from Wolverine

(800) 627-2898, kenmarkoptical.com

Pyramex Safety Products

Emerge frame with a full reader +1.5 or +2.0 lens or a prescription lens

(800) 736-8673, pyramexsafety.com

Hilco

Industrial Safety Frames OG240S and OG225S

(800) 955-6544, hilcovision.com

Armourx

Armourx 7102 in pink with the side shields removed

(877) 938-2100, armourxsafety.com

Essilor Prescription Safety

Prescription safety glasses with either Varilux, Crizal or Transitions lenses 

(800) 553-9705, essilorpse.com

Smart Ways to Sell Safety Eyewear

Dr. Linda Chous
United Healthcare and The Glasses Menagerie, Minneapolis, MN

Workplace eye safety isn’t just about working in a factory anymore, but working at a computer too. A lot of employers have contracts with safety frame companies; I often provide the Rx but they get the eyewear through the employer. I tell them to “come back after and our optician will make sure they fit.” We offer this at no charge. We’ve developed relationships with employers and see their employees through a vision care plan. We make sure their HR person understands the importance of eye safety and we’ll go in and discuss it with their staff. It helps my business to be seen as an expert and reinforces the need for regular eye exams so there are no accidents on the job.  

Ken Herchuck
Prescription Safety Glasses, Shannon Optical, Castle Shannon, PA

Prescription safety eyewear is the staple of our business. We custom design programs for employees of manufacturers, mostly in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. First, we assess their needs (e.g., if they need side shields). The trend now is a one-piece wrap. Some popular wrap frames are the ZT200 from HOYA and Hilco’s OnGuard collection. Armourx has a better selection for women. We find polycarbonate is the most impact resistant and 90 percent of the time poly is what we use. In the past three years, Trivex has become available as a polarized Transition. But, poly is still the most cost-effective. We do our own finishing on site so this gives us a leg up on quality control as we can double-check lenses before we edge them.

This article originally appeared in the November-December 2017 edition of INVISION.

Whether you’re in the market for a big-ticket piece of equipment, looking to renovate, or opening your doors for the first time, researching financing options can be at once enlightening and exhausting. These suggestions come from ECPs whose lenders have ranged from national outlets to community banks.

Points to Consider When Trying to Get Financing

Look local. As a community business, it may benefit you to work with a local bank. One Minnesota ECP says local banks don’t get as many larger, out-of-town business loans and may be aggressive with terms on your behalf to secure one. He says, “They know what you bring to the community and are witnesses to the sustainability of the office.”

Expect the unexpected. “My accountant set me up with a line of credit,” says Hosack. “I was paying a fee for it for a couple of years, and thought, ‘I don’t need this.’” Sure enough, her edger broke before the holidays last year and Hosack covered the bulk of a replacement with the credit, changing her perspective. “For anyone buying a business, you really do need that line of credit,” she says. “It saved me.”

Be conservative. Whitaker suggests a conservative approach. “Plan a monthly goal [for paying it off],” he says. “If you are starting cold and haven’t repaid larger loans before, expect these to be personal loans as well: you will ‘put up’ your home, car — all you have — as collateral.”

Leverage relationships. Wendy Salle bought an edger with financing from Stearns, but it wasn’t her first time working with the lender. With an existing relationship, you can get preapproved for future purchases. “You go to [a] show, negotiate your deal and just send in your paperwork,” she says.

Educate yourself. Once you start reaping the benefits of your enhanced (or new!) practice, you may find you can pay off your loan quicker than expected, so be sure there’s no prepayment penalty. If you have extra cash on hand you should be able to pay down your loan.

WHAT ECPs SAY

Rather than having to do paperwork for different finance companies, now I just call my representative at Stearns and she takes care of everything. Once the vendor receives the funds from Stearns, they ship your equipment. By financing expensive equipment, you get to take the full tax deduction that year, even though you are paying it off over time. Usually you can finance anywhere from 36 to 60 months, and if you can pay a large deposit you save on interest. You can often even choose your monthly due date.  — Wendy Salle, Salle Opticians, Atlanta, GA

This article originally appeared in the November-December 2017 edition of INVISION.

Roll with It (ABOVE) 

Grind and go with the model 7112 from NIKE SB EYEWEAR, shown here on pro skateboarder Justin Brock. Among the collection’s first-ever optical styles, this style is ideal for skateboarders as well as those who just appreciate the look. marchon.com

$165

Cool Rider

Ride the optimized wavelength with the POLAR 3FX HDR lens from Rudy Project, with hydrophobic and UV-resistant coating. Order the lens on its own, or in the Sintryx — the company’s first mountain-biking frame. rudyprojectdealer.com  

$125

On the Scene

The model Kinsley, a glam-meets-chill metal frame with acetate tips, stays true to the wearable fashion customers have come to expect from BCBGMAXAZRIA. cvoptical.com

$210

Thin Is In

The model HEB 138 from HACKETT BESPOKE features UTA (aka ultra-thin acetate) in this gentlemanly throwback. A sandblasted outer matte finish with a gloss interior — not to mention the keyhole bridge — make this style a perfect fit. mondotticausa.com

$285

Floral Arrangement

Offering a heartfelt nod to nature in its lily-inspired design, the model Lilium II from KOALI is a handcrafted Mazzucchelli acetate that runs no risk of wilting. morel-france.com

$270

Head Turner

Made with strong-yet-flexible high-density cellulose acetate (HDCA), the model RR052 from ROBERT RÜDGER works the room in comfortable style. poetseyewear.com       

$149

Peak Performance

Whether you’re sailing, driving, or just chillaxing, you’ll be anything but blue with the Blue Polarlynx lens from VUARNET. This category 3, anti-reflective-coated lens offers high levels of infrared protection, visible light absorption and blue light protection. vuarnet.com

$650

On Fire

Get the layered look with the new lens-over-frame construction of the RAY-BAN mirrored lens, available across the Blaze collection. my.luxottica.com

$198

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of INVISION. 

The MIU MIU MU 05PV in Light Havana. Help your patients leave their comfort zone with this one. William Chancellor, Eye Can See Eyewear, Mcdonough, GA 

Faniel, the colors and styles intrigued people looking for something different. - Dorothy Reynolds, Optical Alternatives, Milford, CT

Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B. was hot. New sizes are a little bigger, so fat faced girls like me can fit into some. Kathy Maren, Comb Eyecare & Eyewear, Western Springs, IL

Kate Spade Lucyann. We’ve had it forever and never really sold well, but we sold three in November! Erin Pillsbury, Shasta Eye Medical Group, Redding, CA

Marie Claire, lower-end sturdy and functional fit budgets. Stacey Harlander, Cny Eye Care, East Syracuse, NY

Ray-Ban, Gucci and Edward Silver. BJ Chambers, Carrera Optical, Mcqueeney, TX

Freakshow and Vinyl Factory hands down! These gems from Mad Vision have cool retro styles, amazing materials. Katie Mcelvaine, OD, Springfield Family Vision, Springfield, MO

Vari. Patients do multiple pairs in different colors. Kim Riggs, OD, Kimberly Riggs OD, Ligonier, PA

STATE Optical, we pushed the “handmade in USA” thing. Michael Martorana, OD, Falls City Eye Care, Louisville, KY

Dilem by L’unique Optique. Interchangeable temples. The new styles are awesome with great temple options. Paula Hornbeck, eEye Candy & Eye Candy Kids, Delafield, WI

Carolina Herrera. No contest. Colors are amazing. Cindy Henderson, Eyear Optical, Hixson, TN

Carrera Rx for men and Liz Claiborne for women. Traditional styles for the November crowd. Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY

Avalon’s Parade. Received a new order and they usually sell out quickly. Pauline Buck, OD, Behavioral and Developmental Optometrists, Miami, FL

Calvin Klein, especially the new luxury line, has done very well. It fills a niche in our frame assortment that was lacking. Jesse Ellis, Claris Vision Dartmouth - Optical, North Dartmouth, MA

Lindberg Spirit and Plate models. Great quality and style, customizable. Kate Giroux, Macpherson Opticians, Arlington, VA

Silhouette for sunglasses. In winter it’s more work to sell sunnies, but their lightweight frames surprised us. Leah Johnson, Central Texas Eye Center, San Marcos, TX

Barton Perreira and anything in oxblood. Jill Schnurer, OD, Village Eyecare Co., Clarkston, MI

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of INVISION.  

Lighthouse eLearning for Residents 

Lighthouse Guild is offering ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents free access to an eLearning program titled, “Introduction to Vision Rehabilitation.”

The program is designed to provide ophthalmologists with an introduction to vision rehabilitation and basic strategies to help their patients. It is self-paced, divided into 10 modules, and can be completed in approximately two hours.

The 10 modules review terminology and the impact of vision loss, and highlight the importance of vision rehabilitation services. The program also discusses optical principles and selection and use of low vision devices. aao.org

Red, White and Blue

Coastal.com’s the LOOK published a year-long study which tracked the most popular glasses in the U.S. state by state. Their findings include that blue is a new classic color; Alaska buys purple frames at nearly three times the national average; and Massachusetts, Maryland and California are the top three for their love of Aviators. You can see how each state rates in terms of frame shape and color in the full report published on their site. coastal.com

ABB Cares Winners Announced

ABB Optical Group announced seven non-profit organizations, nominated by ECPs nationwide, that will receive grants of $1,000 to $5,000 for outstanding programming and community impact through the Fourth Annual ABB Cares Program. The 2017 ABB Cares grant recipients are: Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation in Las Vegas ($5,000); Junior Charity League of Concord in Concord, NC ($2,500); Special Olympics Florida in Clermont, FL ($2,500); Mercy Health Center in Athens, GA ($1,000); Plano Child Development in Chicago ($1,000); Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company in Strathmere, NJ ($1,000); and Valley Center for the Blind in Fresno, CA ($1,000). abboptical.com

Patients Happy With Plans

J.D. Power’s 2017 Vision Plan Satisfaction Report has found that overall satisfaction among vision plan members increased to 757 (on a 1,000-point scale) in 2017, the highest in the four years they’ve conducted the study. The increase is attributed to better coverage, costs, and communication. UHC/Optum ranked highest in satisfaction with vision plan insurers at 780. Highmark/Davis Vision/HMInsurance and Eyemed tied for second at 765.  The report includes responses from 1,300+ vision plan members.  jdpower.com

Minorities Still Matter

The National Optometric Association and Transitions Optical have released “Why Minority Eye Health Still Matters.” The paper discusses caring for African American and Hispanic patients. Geared toward ECPs and optometry students and faculty, it explores ECPs’ role in reducing vision impairment related to diabetes, hypertension, and glaucoma. transitionspro.com/multicultural

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of INVISION.   

Put an Eye on It

Did you know AMAZON sold large adhesive googly eyes? Me neither, until now and my life will never be the same! Add them to doors, car hoods, the fridge door and never doubt that when people think eyes, they think you. 

$10.99

invmag.us/011803

Head to Toes

NW77TH has a Socks Collection of eyewear. To celebrate it, they issued a series of handcrafted eyewear themed socks. The catch? It’s a promo for accounts that carry the NW77th Collection. I’m sold. 

Price Upon Request

nw77th.com

Urban Eyes

Is an office refresh in your future? Want something fast, easy and cost-effective? Think URBAN WALLS decals! With several options available — glasses, winking eyes, closed eyes — there is a decal to fit any mood and décor. 

Price Varies
uwdecals.com

Before You Buy

There are so many eye drops available it’s overwhelming! To help ECPs help consumers, THE MENTHOLATUM COMPANY and CEDARS/ASPENS offers a downloadable resource, Before You Buy Eye Drops: What You Need To Know. 

Price Free

invmag.us/011802

Lock It Up

ENNCO DISPLAY wants to help you lock up your frames. Their most popular locking frame rods, the Mino and the Alumina, come in multiple frame combinations and are even tax deductible! 

Price Starting at $172 

ennco.com

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of INVISION.   

Eye drops, fish oil tablets and punctal plugs: No, these aren’t garage bands you never heard of. They all treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. So much sexier, right? Turns out, there are only two prescription eye drops approved for long-term use: Restasis from Allergan and Xiidra from Shire. Another Rx medication could soon give them a run for their money — Novaliq’s CyclASol, a clear, ophthalmic solution of cyclosporine entering Phase 3 studies. Dry eye disease can be complex, so the good news is there are a wide range of options available depending on the severity. Whatever your preference or your patient’s needs, there is a solution that works.

Oasis Medical

Oasis TEARS Lubricant Eye Drops, Oasis LID & LASH Eyelid & Lash Cleansing Pads, Oasis REST & RELIEF Hot & Cold Eye Mask

(844) 820-8940 oasismedical.com

The Mentholatum Company

Rohto Dry-Aid Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops

(877) 636-2677  rohtoeyedrops.com

Allergan

Restasis MultiDose Gel Drops

(844) 469-8327 restasis.com

Beaver-Visitec 

Extend Absorbable Synthetic Implants

(866) 906-8080 beaver-visitec.com

Shire

Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution)

(844) 694-4747 xiidra.com

Lacrivera (a division of Stephens Instruments)

VeraPlug FlexFit Punctal Occluder

(855) 857-0518 lacrivera.com

Bausch + Lomb 

Lacrisert prescription lubricant

(800) 828-9030 bausch.com

Smart Ways to Sell Safety Eyewear

Dr. Jeffry Gerson 
GRIN EYE CARE,OLATHE, KS

If a patient comes in with symptoms of dry eye we start with a prescription for eye drops like Restasis or Xiidra they can pick up at a pharmacy. I usually pair the drop with a steroid like Lotemax which can offer immediate relief. I ask the patient to come back in six weeks and generally there’s improvement. Restasis and Xiidra on their own can take several weeks to take effect so using them with a steroid is common practice. Some people don’t want to take medicine or they find Rx drops too expensive, so I jump into supplements. I suggest patients use nutritional products such as a fish oil like Nordic Naturals or a tear drop like EZ Tears. For eyelid-based dry eye, I routinely put in punctal plugs to make tears stay in their eyes longer. Both Restasis and Xiidra offer rebate programs, so patients with insurance need only pay between $30-$40 a month. If they don’t have insurance and have to pay $300 a month, then I suggest Serum Tears. Patients go to a lab to get their blood drawn and centrifuged to separate the blood components. It’s mixed with saline and diluted into a bottle of preserved artificial tears that can be kept in a freezer at home for about $100 a month. I usually find something that will work so finances are not a limiting factor.

Dr. Michael Cooper SOLINSKY EYECARE, WEST HARTFORD, CT

For many of my mild to moderate dry eye disease patients, artificial tears alone, or in combination with other therapeutic treatments, are often my first line of therapy to minimize visual fluctuations, dryness, and related discomfort.  However, the effects of some artificial tears can often be short-lived, only providing temporary relief and require repeated instillations. I have been recommending Rohto Dry-aid to many of my dry eye patients because it has been shown to be fast-acting. It can offer consistent and continuous dry eye relief and can protect the ocular surface throughout the day.

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of INVISION.   

“Happy new year! Here’s to the future!” The new year is all about looking ahead, right? Sure, but it’s also a great time to look back and incorporate some of the best elements from the past into the here and now. Your customers are likely feeling this, too, so give them a blast from the past with these retro and vintage-inspired styles.

TVR Arnel (ABOVE) 

The Arnel from True Vintage Revival is a limited-edition remake of the classic rounded horn-rim silhouette made famous by the legendary James Dean. But it’s not just a remake. It’s new and improved, retaining all the style and charm of the original but using the latest in materials, technology and quality. The TVR Arnel, also known as the JD frame, is handmade in Sabae, Japan, of Japanese 4mm Celluloid, which retains the material’s luster with a thinner rim for additional comfort and fit. Additional design details include platinum spear rivets, a keyhole bridge and 7-barrel hinges.

tvropt.com

 $475

Lisa Loeb

Sing along with oval cat-eye model Shiggle — in two torts, lavender or sage — accented with marbleized guitar picks on the temple tips.

(866) 604-5700, classique-eyewear.com

$149-$169 

Marciano

Past and present collide in model GM0315, a sophisticated throwback from the Spring/Summer 2018 collection.

(800) 345-8482, marcolin.com

$240 

Kilsgaard

Created in Denmark, acetate model The Thief steals the show with a classic P3 look.

(800) 654-6099, designeyeweargroup.com

$325 

Fossil

Round and round model FOS 7017 goes, a metal frame with adjustable nose pads and acetate-covered, thin temple tips.

(800) 631-1188, mysafilo.com

$145  

Neubau

Lightweight stainless steel model Erwin is an avant-garde take on a double bridge, unisex design in graphite matte, eclectic silver, eclectic silver/black, and glorious gold.

(518) 272-5500, silhouette.com

$249.95  

Komono

The name may mean “small things” in Japanese, but model Franklin isn’t small at all in seven bold colorways.

(844) 240-4130, komono.com

$139.95  

Bon Vivant

Live well — literally — with model Isabelle, a retro-glam look with French flair. And watch out for Bruno, Isabelle’s fashion-forward partner in crime in this collection.

(888) 560-1060, ogieyewear.com

$299 

Xavier Garcia  

Vintage flavor and floral inspiration combine to make model Daniela a creative thinker’s dream come true. Made from steel block, with laminates applied atop the rims.

(888) 281-9987, prismeoptical.com

$240

This article originally appeared in the January 2018 edition of INVISION.   

These newer eyewear companies — all born in 2012 or later — express unique vision and articulate their reverence for innovation through their designs. 

Ruth (ABOVE) 

Classic but modern. Hard but soft. Feminine but wild. The RUTH sunglass from Caroline Abram in violet is a radical juxtaposition of form and fashion. A timeless cat eye shape with a contemporary nylon front featuring leather texturing paired with sleek titanium temples. Old and new, sensual and simple, a frame for women who aren’t afraid to be their perfectly imperfect selves. 

carolineabram.com

$476.00

Kuboraum

Hand-hammered finishing and a six-rung bridge element give model H54 a bona-fide rustic-meets-futuristic sensibility. The masks, as the company calls them, are conceptualized in Germany and handmade in Italy.

kuboraum.com

$564

Krewe

The architecture of the Big Easy’s French Quarter iron balconies offers inspiration for the BUFF PALLADIUM with a rounded shape.  

(504) 684-2939, krewe.com

$275

Article One 

Part of the Mixed Materials Capsule, the VISTA offers a combination of sheet metal and acetate. The Pinoptik family, which runs the northern Italy factory where it’s made, also produces a line of prosecco ... file under “Best Multitasking Ever.”

(844) 376-4669, articleoneeyewear.com

$285

Privé Revaux

Hit the books with the SCHOLAR, made with corrosion-resistant nickel silver and TR90, and featuring three-barrel hinges. 

priverevaux.com

$29.95

Smoke X Mirrors

The glamour of the ‘50s comes to life on the BUONA SERA, an all-acetate frame. It’s romance all around for a style inspired by Italian music and made in France. 

(203) 733-4173, smokexmirrors.com

$245

Kirk & Kirk

Color and light share the driver’s seat on the double decker that is the Spectrum collection. The ANNA, an acrylic frame, features two of the eight new colors created for the line. 

(44) 1273 963129, kirkandkirk.com

$449

Fetch

Introducing everyone’s new best friend: The Fetch Find Collection, including the RILEY, which features embedded locator technology to solve the lost eyewear problem once and for all. All profits from the collection go toward animal welfare and rescue. 

(877) 274-0410, fetcheyewear.com

$150

Perverse

No matter how you shuffle the deck, the ACE is in the cards. A cool product of L.A.’s autumn 2016 heatwave, Perverse delivers style, substance, and sexiness. All polycarbonate and full-framed acetate styles are Rxable.

(213) 741-0655, perversesunglasses.com

$50

Freakshow

Created in France in 2013, this upstart made its way to the U.S. in late 2017. Inspired by all things cinematic, the frames — including the MAGNUM — are made with a nylon composite material. The transparency and shades of the colors define the collection.

(888) 961-4675, madvision.com

$205 

This article originally appeared in the February 2018 edition of INVISION.   

When it comes to bundling services, the telecommunications companies have it down to a fine art. Bundling phone, Internet and TV can save consumers a lot of money. That principle is becoming more common in the optical industry. Some frame companies have partnered with lens manufacturers to offer combined product while others promote a lens and premium lens features option.

Essilor has its Ultimate Lens Package which offers packaged lens features for single vision and presbyopic patients. Tifosi Optics, with its lightweight durable frames, is pairing them with HOYA Rx lenses. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder then some of these bundled packages could look very attractive to your patients. 

EyeOs Premium Readers 

SmartRx complete prescription eyewear package with aspheric or digital single vision lenses, as well as 100 percent backside digital progressive lenses. All SmartRx eyewear packages come with premium AR.

(800) 625-1880 eyeoseyewear.com

Shamir

The Shamir Autograph III: For Work – Shamir WorkSpace, and Play – Shamir Attitude III Fashion.

(877) 514-8330 shamirlens.com

Tifosi/Hoya

Advanced Sun Packages feature a Coppertone polarized lens and can be purchased in SingleVision iQ lenses or in the HOYALUX Array progressive lenses. Tifosi’s Marzen Tortoise frame with HOYALUX Array Brown lenses.

Tifosi Optics (866) 310-0996 tifosioptics.com
HOYA (800)818-4692 hoyaoptics.com

Essilor

The Ultimate Lens Package includes Eyezen+, Crizal Sapphire 360° UV and Transitions Signature VII for single vision patients and Varilux X Series, Crizal Sapphire 360° UV and Transitions Signature VII for presbyopic.  

(800)377-4567 essilorusa.com

Smart Ways to Sell Bundled Lenses

Dr. Rahim KanjiModern Eyes Optometry, Virginia Beach, VA 

Patient satisfaction is the highest we’ve ever had with any Essilor product with the Ultimate Lens Package and its current incentive. A majority of our patients have some form of medical vision insurance which discounts the cost of the first set of lenses and a portion or all of the frame. They get the second set of lenses of equal or lesser value at no charge and are responsible for the retail price of the second frame. In my 13 years of private practice this is the first time I have seen a promotion of this caliber directly from a manufacturer. In the exam room I say to my patients, “there’s a manufacturer’s promotion going on right now where they’re giving away a second set of lenses at no charge to you. It’s a deal of a lifetime and may not be offered again, so I highly recommend you take advantage of it." The beauty is there’s a progressive lens and a single vision lens option. Both come with a smart blue filter, Crizal coating and Transitions. A majority of our patients take advantage of the polarized Xperio UV sunglass lenses for their complimentary second set of lenses. Before now, while many patients valued the importance of polarized sunglasses, very few actually purchased them until the Ultimate Lens Package came out in September. Our optical staff has been overwhelmed with multiple pairs sales and in the first few months of the promotion we sold more ophthalmic suns than we did the entire year leading up to the promotion. Many of our patients have also referred their friends, family members and co-workers to our office for the promotion too.

Sarah BocashEyelook Optical, Portsmouth, NH

Offering EyeOs’ SmartRx total frame and lenses package is a new avenue for us. We have always offered ZEISS lenses but previously when patients bought an EyeOs frame with a ZEISS CR39 lens with AR coating it cost them about $325.  For the past few months we’ve been offering EyeOs ophthalmic quality frames with very good quality lenses in a complete frame and lenses package that costs $159+ for single vision and $269+ for digital PAL. We’re aiming the total package at Millennials who want convenience and quality products at an affordable price. We can create a customer relationship with them by giving them better quality than they would get online and by having our optician fit them. I also love to use SmartRx as a second and third pair option when price becomes an issue. We’re a high-end boutique and this deal has opened the door for us to offer a quality product at a good price. It’s a product we’re comfortable standing behind. 

Dr. Cindy Seemann Design Vision Optical, Wauwatosa, WI 

Tifosi is a new sunglass line for us. We carry other sun lines with RX but they are more expensive. With the Advanced Sun Package, Tifosi fits a great price point and we love the option of having the HOYA lab do the RX lenses. Tifosi has the frames and HOYA has the lenses — brands that are very well recognized in the active sports market.

 This article originally appeared in the February 2018 edition of INVISION.   

Mod Squad (ABOVE)

Get your fine art fix with the latest additions to the MODERN ART COLLECTION. The model A389, one of three new styles, features a handmade zyl front and stainless steel temples. modernoptical.com

$180 

Buh-Bye, Blocks

Gone are the days where you needed super high-output machinery to get your lens edging done without blocks: the EZFIT NO BLOCK DEVELOPER from MEI gets the job done for small labs and high-volume retail stores. thelensedger.com

Price upon request

Good Day

Now available in the U.S., MYDAY TORIC DAILY DISPOSIBLES marry Biofinity toric’s design with MyDay’s Smart Silicone chemistry and filter 85 percent of UVA and 96 percent of UVB rays. coopervision.com

$99

Gone Fyshin'

Get your glitter on with the model F-3593, a sparkling cat eye. Accentuated by an embossed pattern, this stainless steel FYSH UK style features tonal layering and a rich color palette. westgroupe.com

$225

Purity and Simple

Inspired by the early 20th-century art movement of the same name, the Suprematism Collection from IC! BERLIN includes four sunglasses and one ophthalmic frame: Purity. The lightweight frames celebrate the fascinating simplicity of geometric shapes. ic-berlin.de

$479

Bet on Betsey

Your customers can dare to stand out with the BETSEY JOHNSON model Graffiti. One of five new styles in the iconic designer’s collection, this frame pops with bold design and unforgettable flair. imagewear.com

$159.98

Fab Fit

Accommodating size 55-14-140, the NM Elizabeth is one of four new styles in the NICOLE MILLER YOURFIT women’s ophthalmic collection. Flex hinges add comfort as translucent temples and rope detailing uphold the brand’s style standard. lamyamerica.com

$165

This article originally appeared in the February 2018 edition of INVISION.   

Want!

Seriously dying for these statement earrings from I STILL LOVE YOU NYC. Their Classic Eye Earrings are laser cut acrylic made by hand to order in Brooklyn, NYC. Available in blue and green, large and small, with brass posts.

$75.00

istillloveyounyc.com

Take a Seat 

The Clarity Counter Stool from LUMISOURCE offers a space-efficient seating solution with a chic, modern vibe. Its metal, wood, and acrylic construction is unobtrusive but visually appealing and its four sturdy legs and trapezoid foot rest will keep your customers comfortable.

$159.99

lumisource.com

Clean Scene

Whether you customize with your own concept or go with one of the available funkadelic designs, the Double Take cleaning cloth from STORMIN’NORMIN’s will get the job done. Each one is terry cloth on one side and full-color microfiber on the reverse.

$10

storminnormans.com

Who? Who? You!

Books, owls and glasses, was there ever a better grouping? Meet the coolest bookend you ever did see. This ULIGO laser cut metal bookend on Etsy comes in a bunch of colors... and two directions, obvi.

$70.43

invmag.us/021804

In Time for Vee

Jealous of all that eye nail art you see on Instagram but don’t have the time or patience to sit while someone paints little eyeballs? We got you. Get gorgeous, unique nails in minutes with this set of nail decals by YRNAILS.

$4.75

invmag.us/021805

This article originally appeared in the February 2018 edition of INVISION.