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NEW - 2020mag.com

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NEWS
• David Holmberg named
CEO-elect of Eye Care
Centers of America…
• CIBA Vision realigns
management, kicks off
‘Visionary Partners’ program…
• $4.5B B&L takeover
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VISION MONDAY/NOVEMBER 19, 2007
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Opti-Dot-Com: Another Newsworthy Milestone
IN THIS ISSUE
News
Oakley acquisition just one factor
In Luxottica’s plans for growth . . . . .6
Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens names Gleek
new executive director of commercial
operations, North America . . . . . . . .10
Meyer moves on from Satisloh, Schweiter’s
Siegrist to take on CEO role until
successor is named . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
St. John Knits and Visibilia announce
eyewear licensing agreement . . . . . .18
Allison S.p.A. signs license with Byblos
brand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Influential testing lab COLTS
celebrates 10th anniversary . . . . . . .25
Silmo Wrapup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Scene & Heard
Harbor University draws strong
turnout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Sunglass Association of America elects
officers, directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
10
18
Exam Lanes
Opticians Association elects officers at
national convention . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
STREET SERIES EYEWEAR
NOT ONLY CATCHES THEIR EYES,
IT ALSO PROTECTS THEM.
28
Retail Dispensary
Launches
Polycore offers success building tools for
ECPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Second Looks
Armani releases new styles . . . . . . .56
Silhouette unveils SPX full rim
collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Ray-Ban Ultra offers two limited edition
sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Columns
High Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
F.Y.Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Sun Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Contact Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Inside the Lab
32
60
Business Essentials
Revolvr and Slik (shown above), part of our Street Series collection,
feature light, comfortable Grilamid shatterproof frames.
PLEASE CALL 1-800-776-7842 TO REQUEST A CATALOG OR TALK WITH A WILEY X ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE
WILEYX.COM
Addressing Family and Medical Leave
Act abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Balance Sheet
FGX Int’l IPO raises $192 million .80
can look up information as you need it and when
you need it. We are debuting the industry’s firstever video channel, Vision Monday Web TV, highlighting the latest on special events, designers,
brand messages, lenses and new technologies and
practice management. Users can see the Most
Viewed stories on the site, a new feature. We’ve
also added a downloadable PDF version of the
most recent print issue of VM. And the site provides easy links to our E-newsletters and the latest
stock quotes and financial news in OptiStock.
The new VisionMonday.com is another milestone in a series of industry firsts,
and will be a constantly changing,
fresh take on all key eyewear and
eyecare developments, market
trends and, of course, news, with
the added dimensionality that
today’s Internet can bring—more
visuals, more community and reader
involvement, new ways of providing
information packages to help readers make the
best business decisions.
“Should we be checking regularly to learn, research,
analyze and be entertained about this constantlychanging optical business, in all its facets, foibles and
fashions?” We answer with a resounding, “Yes.”II
WHAT’S ONLINE
Extra
Santinelli debuts Lex Lens Edger
Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
They’re young. They’re edgy. They’re
shatterproof. Introducing Wiley X
Street Series Eyewear. Youthful good
looks meets amazing functionality,
with sunglasses that are Rx ready
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expect anything less from Wiley X?
Twenty years ago, Vision Monday changed the communication
framework of the optical industry
when it published its first freestanding national edition in January 1987. “Is there really enough
going on in the eyewear business
for a newspaper to exist?” people
Marge Axelrad asked us. “Will you find enough
Editorial Director
to write about?” Many, many
editions, special reports, cover stories, exclusive rankings, event coverage and company profiles later, the
answer is “Yes.”
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11/12/07
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David Holmberg Named CEO-Elect of Eye Care Centers of America
PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Pennsylvaniabased HVHC Inc. has announced the
retirement of David McComas as chief
executive officer of Eye Care Centers of
America (ECCA), effective Dec. 31, 2007.
On Jan. 1, 2008, David Holmberg will
become ECCA’s chief executive officer.
Holmberg formerly was executive vice
president of operations for Jo-Ann
Stores, Inc. (JAS). His previous experience includes three years as president,
Cole Licensed Businesses, a provider of
retail optical services for Sears Optical,
Target Optical, and Pearle Vision Canada, based in Cleveland.
In addition, Holmberg held several
key management positions at Zales Corporation (ZLC) in Dallas including
executive vice president, Zale U.S., and
president, Zale Canada. Holmberg
holds an MBA from the University of
Texas at Dallas and is a graduate of the Ward and Sears retail chains. He has been
Harvard Business Schools Advanced ECCA’s CEO since July 2001, and added
Management Program.
responsibilities as chairman in January ’04.
“We are grateful to Dave
HVHC acquired San
McComas for his many years
Antonio,
Texas-based
of service and his valuable
ECCA in 2006. As a wholly
contributions that have
owned subsidiary of HVHC,
made the company very sucECCA operates and/or mancessful,” said HVHC presiages more than 400 optical
dent and CEO Robert Gray.
retail stores in 36 states. The
“I have enjoyed leading
company offers frames, lensthe efforts of the ECCA staff
es, accessories and sunglassas we grew the company
es in retail operations under
David Holmberg
during the past decade, and
11 regional chains, each a
I’ve greatly appreciated my relationship recognized leader in its respective marwith HVHC,” said McComas. “I’m ket.
proud that ECCA is well positioned as
According to Gray, Holmberg’s leadership will give ECCA and HVHC the
one of the top retail optical chains.”
McComas joined ECCA in July 1998 as ability to continue its commitment to
chief operating officer, having previously held customer choice by maintaining a
positions with the Circuit City, Montgomery blended network of private practitioners
and retail chains to meet the diverse
health care and vision care needs of
employers and consumers.
“David Holmberg has an impressive
list of credentials and brings a great deal
of retail experience and enthusiasm to
the job,” Gray said. “We know that
David will make many contributions to
our vision business in the years ahead.”
“Joining HVHC is a great opportunity,” Holmberg said. “The company has
built an excellent reputation in the
CIBA Vision Realigns Management,
Kicks Off ‘Visionary Partners’ Program
TAMPA, Fla—At last
month’s American Academy of Optometry (AAO)
meeting here, CIBA Vision,
the eyecare unit of Novartis, announced a realignment of management
responsibilities for the
Americas, effective Oct. 29.
Francesco Balestrieri is
At a CIBA Vision press briefing during the American Academy of
now president of CIBA’s Optometry meeting (l to r): Brian Holden, OD, of Australia’s Institute
North America region. for Eye Research, with CIBA Vision’s Kevin Roe, OD; Andrea Saia;
Balestrieri, a 14-year Henna Inam; and Rick Weisbarth, OD.
CIBA Vision veteran, was previously “to drive patient satisfaction and practice
general manager for the company’s mar- profitability” by offering help with patient
kets in Germany, Austria and Switzer- segmentation, lifestyle dispensing, inland. He took over responsibilities for office marketing, professional education
North America from Henna Inam, who and practice building, according to Inam.
has been president of CIBA’s Americas
The Vision Partners program kicked
region. Inam has now taken on the glob- off this summer as a test with a small
al role of chief marketing and innovation number of practices. In early October, it
officer for CIBA Vision, leading the was expanded with a mailing to 22,200
company’s worldwide marketing efforts. ECPs of a kit containing posters and
Responsibilities for Central and South other in-office materials.
America went to Tariq Aziz, who is now
“Our goal is to refresh these tools for
president of Latin America for CIBA ECPs every six to 12 months, and to
Vision. Aziz, who will be based in Mexi- broaden the number of ECPs participatco City, was previously president of busi- ing,” Inam said.
ness development for CIBA Vision at its
Coming late this month from CIBA is
corporate headquarters in Atlanta. The another marketing tool, this one aimed at
Latin America operations will now be consumers and housed on the Web site for
combined with CIBA’s emerging mar- its FreshLook color contact lenses:
kets group, according to Andrea Saia, www.freshlookcontacts.com. The new
CIBA Vision’s chief operating officer.
FreshLook Color Studio feature will allow
Also at the AAO meeting, CIBA consumers to upload photos of themselves
announced a new Visionary Partners pro- to “try on” different colors of CIBA’s
gram for eyecare practitioners, designed FreshLook CLs.
—Cathy Ciccolella
vision industry, and has established
itself as a major national presence. I’m
looking forward to being part of the
executive team.”
ECCA employs nearly 5,000 people
throughout the U.S. Its retail locations
joined the 89 other optical retail sites
owned by HVHC—including locations
in New York, New England, and Pennsylvania.
In 2005, HVHC acquired Viva International Group, a New Jersey-based ophthalmic and sunglass design and distribution company. The purchase of Viva, and
the acquisition of ECCA has enabled
HVHC to provide clients with a full spectrum of vision products and services with
a fully integrated delivery system.
HVHC Inc. is a for-profit company
that holds the stock of DVSC, Inc., Davis
Vision, Inc., Viva International Group
and Eye Care Centers of America.
With more than 400 retail stores in 36
states, Eye Care Centers of America, Inc.
is the third largest retail optical chain in
the U.S. The company’s brand names
include EyeMasters, Binyon’s, Visionworks, Hour Eyes, Dr. Bizer’s VisionWorld, Dr. Bizer’s ValueVision, Doctor’s
ValuVision, Stein Optical, Vision World,
Doctor’s VisionWorks, and Eye DRx.
Founded in 1984, the company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. II
$4.5B B&L Takeover Closes,
Taking CL Company Private
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—It took slightly more
than five months for one of the optical
industry’s largest recent acquisitions—the
$4.5 billion takeover of Bausch & Lomb
(B&L) by private equity firm Warburg Pincus—to close, taking B&L private and leaving industry observers waiting to see what
changes if any the new owners might make
in the company’s plans and operations.
The acquisition officially closed Oct. 26
at a total purchase price of approximately
$4.5 billion, including about $830 million
of debt. B&L’s stock ceased trading on the
New York Stock Exchange—where it had
sold under the symbol BOL—that same
day and was delisted after 69 years of
public trading.
B&L shareholders will receive $65 per
share through the Warburg Pincus acquisition.
“With a strong and supportive partner
in Warburg Pincus, we are well-positioned
to create new opportunities for Bausch &
Lomb and advance our leadership in the
eye health industry,” commented Ron
Zarrella, B&L’s chairman and chief executive officer, on the day of the closing. “Our
customers will continue to receive high
levels of service, product quality and innovation, and our commitment to serving
their needs remains steadfast.”
Said Elizabeth Weatherman, a Warburg
Pincus managing director, “We’re delighted
to be partners with Bausch & Lomb, a global leader in vision care, ophthalmic devices
and pharmaceuticals. We look forward to
helping the company build upon its rich heritage and premier brand in ophthalmology.”
B&L’s shareholders approved the acquisition—first announced May 16—in a special vote on Sept. 21. The B&L acquisition
had become a competition on July 5,
when Advanced Medical Optics made a
higher offer for the company. But after
some public wrangling between the two
companies, AMO withdrew its offer 27
days later after pressure from B&L to
prove that AMO’s own shareholders would
approve its deal. II
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UV exposure, and lens material.
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Oakley Acquisition Just One Factor in Luxottica’s Plans for Growth
MILAN—With its $2.1 billion acquisition of Oakley set to close in midNovember, Luxottica Group is already
working on integration plans for its new
indirect, wholly owned subsidiary.
But Luxottica officials have a lot more on
their plates right now than just the Oakley
deal. On the retail side, company executives are “reassessing” the Licensed Brands
business Luxottica acquired in October
2004 as part of its $717.3 million purchase
of Cole Vision. Also on the drawing board
are plans for further growth of the firm’s
lucrative sunwear business, including
expansion of the new high-end Ilori chain.
At the same time, the company’s wholesale business continues to prosper, posting
its 10th consecutive quarter of growth in
Q3. The wholesale division had a doubledigit increase in revenues as well as a rise
in profitability in the quarter, according to
chief executive officer Andrea Guerra.
Wholesale market share in North America
is “significantly improved” over three
years ago, he said, as Luxottica prepares to
launch its first upscale Tiffany eyewear collection next month.
As expected, Oakley’s stockholders
voted on Nov. 7 to approve that company’s
acquisition by Luxottica, during a special
meeting at which approximately 83 percent of Oakley’s total shares were voted in
favor of the transaction. Stockholders were
set to receive $29.30 per share following
the official closing of the deal.
Approval of the acquisition was never
in doubt: a two-thirds majority of stock
ownership was required for approval,
and Oakley chairman Jim Jannard, who
owns (and votes) just under 64 percent
of the company’s shares, had come out
in favor of the deal. Oakley’s board of
directors had also unanimously recommended acceptance of Luxottica’s
merger agreement, which the two companies finalized on June 20.
The addition of Oakley’s eyewear collections and retail stores—including the
Optical Shop of Aspen locations and the
Icon sunwear chain—makes Luxottica’s
2008 outlook “a whole new journey,”
Guerra declared.
Meanwhile, Luxottica executives are
currently re-evaluating the company’s
Licensed Brands leased departments—
in Sears, Target and BJs Wholesale
stores—after those locations posted a 3
percent drop in comparable-store sales
in an otherwise strong third quarter.
While Luxottica’s LensCrafters and
Pearle Vision stores saw their combined
comp-store sales rise by 2.6 percent in
Q3, the Licensed Brands chains continue to lag, in part because their massmarket customers are more impacted by
the current slowdown in the North
American economy, according to Guerra. “We like the [Licensed Brands] business,” he acknowledged, “but we may
not like all the business.”
Added the Luxottica CEO, “Licensed
Brands remains a simple and profitable
business yet today. It may be dilutive [to
Oakley Posts Double-Digit Gains
In Third Quarter Sales, Income
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif.—Oakley reported
strong gains in both its net sales and net
income in its third quarter ended Sept. 30.
In the quarter, Oakley’s overall sales
soared 25.5 percent, to $263.8 million.
The company’s sales in the optics category reached $192.2 million, up 29.1 percent, in the quarter.
“This marks our fifth consecutive quarter of significant double-digit optics growth,
with strength across all product types,
sales channels and geographies,” said
Oakley’s chief executive officer, Scott
Olivet. Richard Shields, the company’s
chief financial officer, noted “very strong
growth” in the third quarter in sunglasses
and prescription eyewear in particular.
The company’s total U.S. revenues in
the quarter were $148.9 million, a 27.5
percent increase. U.S. wholesale volume
rose 22.4 percent to $85.6 million in the
period, while U.S. retail sales were $63.3
million, up 35.2 percent.
In the first nine months of 2007, Oakley’s worldwide net sales reached $726.1
million, up from $565.5 million in last
year’s first nine months. Net income in the
nine-month period was $50.9 million,
compared to income of $37.1 million in
2006’s first nine months.
“Our 2007 efforts, including highly integrated product launches and marketing
campaigns, the introduction of our Rolling
O Lab, increased training for our dealers
and an expanding retail base to tell our
story, are driving solid results and setting
a strong foundation for future growth,”
Olivet declared. II
Luxottica Retail’s overall financial picture] drew a totally different customer than a
today, but it will be good long-term.” While nearby Sunglass Hut in Ilori’s first weeks
saying the company needs to “streamline of operation: “Both had significant sales
our strategy” regarding the Licensed levels in the three weeks, and the Sunglass
Brands operation, Guerra declined to give Hut comps were up double-digit.”
specifics on the three Licensed Brands
On the wholesale side, Guerra said he
chains’ individual performances.
expects “another year of above-10 perLooking ahead to 2008, Guerra indi- cent growth and increased profitability.”
cated intentions to maximize recent In addition to the upcoming launch of
investments in Luxottica Retail’s lab the Tiffany collection, which he said is
network by expanding lab services to “set to become another jewel-grade
the Pearle franchisee network, which is brand in our portfolio,” Guerra noted,
currently “very fragmented”
in terms of its lab providers. “We think...the growth trend
Guerra also expects a
that we’ve seen so far
strong year for Sunglass
will continue yet for another
Hut, targeting an 8 percent
couple of years.”
gain in 2008 comp-store
sales for the sunwear chain.
—Andrea Guerra
Plans call for transitioning
460 more Sunglass Hut stores to the “We are also working hard on leveraging
chain’s new store design by next sum- the great continued success of Ray-Ban,”
mer’s sunwear season.
with a new limited-edition Aviator collecGuerra noted that Sunglass Hut’s tion—tied to Ray-Ban’s 70th annivercomp-store sales have increased by 44 sary—planned for the holiday season.
percent in North America in the last
As for Luxottica’s wholesale business
three years; the sunwear chain’s third- in North America, where Guerra said
quarter comp sales were “in line with the company has been “under-repreluxury department stores,” he added.
sented” at the wholesale level for the
Luxottica’s second upscale Ilori sunglass past three years, “we think that the
store opened in San Francisco in early growth trend that we’ve seen so far will
October. Guerra said the first Ilori location, continue yet for another couple of
in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, years.” II
‘‘
By Cathy Ciccolella
Senior Editor
DR. ROBERT REED JR.
All Eyes, Optometry
St. Joseph, MI
Luxottica Sees Revenue, Income
Climb in Q3, First Nine Months
MILAN—Luxottica Group showed improvements in most areas of its business in its
third quarter and the first nine months of
fiscal 2007, ended Sept. 30.
In the third quarter, Luxottica’s consolidated sales rose 2.7 percent (up 8.1 percent at constant currency rates), to
€1,151 million. Retail sales in the period
were flat at €838 million, (up 6.4 percent
at constant currency rates); worldwide
retail comparable-store sales rose 2.9 percent. The company’s third-quarter wholesale revenues rose 9.8 percent (up 12.8
percent at constant currency rates) to
€395 million. Wholesale sales to third
parties rose by 10.9 percent in the quarter over the same period last year (up
13.1 percent at constant currency rates).
Luxottica’s wholesale division posted a
positive quarter despite the fact that sales
in many European countries were affected by
poor weather conditions during the summer,
chief executive officer Andrea Guerra noted.
The company’s net income from contin-
uing operations rose 5 percent to €112
million in the quarter.
In the first nine months of this year, Luxottica’s consolidated sales were €3,778 million, up 5.9 percent (up 11.4 percent at constant currency rates). Retail sales dropped
0.2 percent (up 6.5 percent at constant currency rates) to €2,520 million. Retail compstore sales increased by 2 percent.
Luxottica’s wholesale sales in the ninemonth period were €1,514 million, a 16.4
percent increase (up 19.7 percent at constant currency rates).
The company’s consolidated net income
from continuing operations reached €395
million, an increase of 19.8 percent.
Said Guerra, “Results for the first nine
months of the year reflected steady growth,
thus further confirming our forecast for the full
year, which we raised in July.” He noted that
the nine-month increases occurred “despite
a 7.5 percent weakening of the U.S. dollar
against the Euro during the period and a slowdown in the U.S. economy.” II
When you are on the
road all the irrelevant
things fall away – it
becomes the road, the
bike, and you. It’s about
dedication, motivation,
and moving forward.
Working together with
Luxottica compliments
my guiding philosophies
and has been essential
to my success.
Luxottica
&me
To learn more about Dr. Robert Reed and the advantages of partnering with Luxottica go to www.luxandme.com
sm
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Sàfilo Group Sees Sales, Profit
Climb in 2007’s First Nine Months
PADOVA,
Italy—Sàfilo
Group
(SFL.Mi) posted a net profit of €38.7
million, up 33.1 percent, in the first nine
months of 2007. The company’s net
sales rose 7.1 percent (up 11 percent at
constant currency rates) to €903.9 million
in the nine-month period, and highlighted a balanced growth by product
between prescription frames and sunglasses, an announcement said.
Sàfilo’s third quarter performance was
“penalized by the unusual division of
deliveries during the course of 2006,
weaker in the first half of the year, especially toward European markets, as a
result of certain production capacity constraints which were then overcome with
the start of the third quarter,” the company announcement noted. In Q3, sales
dipped 0.9 percent (up 3 percent at constant currency rates) to €236.1 million
Euro; Sàfilo's net profit in Q3 was €5.4
million, down 25 percent.
“I believe it is appropriate to focus
attention on the results of the first nine
months of the year for the important
signs they highlight,” said Vittorio
Tabacchi, chairman of Sàfilo Group.
“The brands which are of strategic
importance have achieved results which
are more than positive, and the new
licenses, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Hugo
Boss, and A/X Armani Exchange, have
already obtained excellent performances. Balenciaga, Max&Co and Banana
Republic, currently being presented, are
being very positively received and we
expect the same reception for Jimmy
Choo, whose first collection will be on
the market at the beginning of 2008.”
In the first nine months of the year
sales in Asia registered the highest
growth rate, up 16.5 percent (up 27.3
percent at constant currency rates), followed by Europe, which grew by 15.2
percent compared to the same period
last year. Sales in America grew by 6.7
percent (down 0.9 percent at current
currency rates), due to the contribution
of new licenses and to the further development of the retail channel, according
to Sàfilo. II
Vision Care Gains Boost Hoya’s
Second Quarter ’08 Net Sales
TOKYO—Hoya Corp. [Nikkei:
7741.T], based here, posted a 1.9 percent increase in net sales, to 100,980
yen, in consolidated results for the second quarter ended Sept. 31, 2007. Sales
declines in Hoya’s eletro-optics business
were offset by a strong performance in
its vision care division. Hoya’s operating
income declined 4.5 percent to 26,849
billion yen from second quarter 2006.
Ordinary income was 28,119 billion
yen, a 9.4 percent increase from year-ago.
Net income was 21,020 billion yen, down
8.2 percent from year-ago. Hoya noted
that the year-on-year increase in consolidated net sales and ordinary income was
an historical high. Although operating
income and net income decreased yearon-year basis, both increased from the
first quarter which ended June 30, 2007.
For its vision-care division, which manufactures eyeglass lenses, Hoya posted
net sales of 31,368 million yen, an 8.2
percent increase over the year-ago period.
The slump in the Japanese domestic
market for eyeglass lenses continued as
before but Hoya said it realized growth
in the high price bracket through the
value-added enhancement of products
centered in high-function coatings and
newly-designed progressive lenses. In
the low price bracket, however, overall
sales in the domestic market were at
essentially the level as in the previous
year due to stiff price competition.
In eyeglass lenses in markets overseas, the expansion continued to
advance in sales for newly designed progressive lenses, high refraction lenses
and other high value added products in
Asia-Oceania, Europe and North America and the markets remained firm,
according to Hoya. There was an overall
increase in the sales volume year-onyear in spite of tough competition due
to a price offensive in low-end lenses.
Net sales for Hoya’s health care division, which manufactures contact lenses
and operates retail shops, rose 14.2 percent, to 11.908 million yen, versus the
year-ago period. In contact lenses, Hoya
said it will continue to pursue differentiation from competitors through expanded sales in bifocal lenses and other high
value added products through the consulting sales taking advantage of “specialized knowledge.” In intraocular lenses, soft intraocular lenses, especially
yellow-lenses, have been demonstrating
robust performance in the market,
recording an increase in sales volume
year-on-year, the company reported. II
Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens Names Gleek
Executive Director of Commercial Ops
VARESE, Italy—Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens has announced new appointments
and changes in the company’s North
American organization.
Gaetano Sciuto, general manager of
Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens, announced
the appointment of Al Gleek to executive director commercial operationsNorth America.
Gleek will expand his current role with
Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens to be responsible for sales, marketing, new business
and product development as well as the
branded sunglass Rx programs for Carl
Zeiss Vision Sunlens in North America.
Gleek succeeds Mark Espinet, former
commercial director of the Americas. Reporting to Al Gleek will be Zemia Garrett, key
account manager, North America.
Gleek also serves the sunglass industry as the current executive vice president
of the Sunglass Association of America.
Sciuto stated, “Al’s expertise in the
Visor # PU 15041 BK - Avalon # PU 15036 GR
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Distributed by
Al Gleek
sunglass and ophthalmic industry will
further enhance and expand our relationship to our customers as the
world’s leading provider of high quality
fashion and performance sunglass
lenses.” II
Meyer Moves on from Satisloh,
Schweiter’s Siegrist to Take on CEO Role
BAAR, Switzerland—Satisloh has
announced the departure of Dr. Urs
Meyer, CEO Satisloh Worldwide,
effective Jan. 1, 2008. “Dr. Meyer
leaves Satisloh after seven years to
pursue an exciting new opportunity
outside the optical industry,” the
company said.
Beat Siegrist, CEO of Schweiter Technologies Group—Swiss parent company
of Satisloh—will be acting Satisloh CEO
until a replacement is hired.
“Under Urs’ leadership, two major
ophthalmic equipment companies (Satis
and Loh), were successfully merged to
become a market leader. He’s leaving
the company after its third straight
record-setting year, and we’re positioned
to enter 2008 with new products and
technologies that will benefit all of our
customers substantially,” said Larry
Clarke, president and CEO of SatislohNorth America. Clarke continued,
“Beat’s vast optical industry experience
and leadership skills ensure that Satisloh
will continue to grow and look to the
future as we go through this management change.”
“I’d like to thank Urs for his dedication to Satisloh and putting the organization in a market-leading role. I
spent more than three exciting years
of my career leading Satis and I’m
pleased to be involved closely with
the optical industry again,” added
Siegrist. II
Services Held for Janice Heffner
of FEA Industries
MORTON, Pa.—Janice Heffner of FEA
Industries died on Oct . 26 in Media, Pa.,
following a brief illness. Heffner, who was
52, served as chief financial officer of FEA
Industries, a Morton, Pa.-based wholesale
lab, for the past 14 years. Prior to joining
FEA, she was a senior accountant for the
Philadelphia Electric company.
An integral part of FEA’s management
team, Heffner was responsible for capital budgeting and financial planning. In
the last five years, FEA has grown from
200 jobs per day to over 1,000.
“Her fiscal management allowed
FEA to grow at a rapid pace without the
cash flow constraints encountered by
most rapidly growing companies,” said
William Heffner, her husband and president of the lab.
In addition to her husband, Heffner is
survived by her sons William and
Michael and a daughter, Stefanie. II
eyewear
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP, LEFT: GF FERRÉ FF158; PUCCI EP603S; BENETTON BE011
FROM TOP: ETE BOLLENE UPUPA, GUCCI GG2970-S; RALPH LAUREN RL 8007
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: MONTBLANC MB1858; BOZ KEBELLA; CYNTHIA ROWLEY 0257
rated, vibrant color makes a
striking statement that grabs
attention and pops on the face.
Not just for the bold this trend
has a wide range that can be
interpreted from full on electric
lime to more subdued violets.
Silmo
Highlights Top Trends
for Spring/Summer ’08
PARIS—Trade shows are the perfect stomping ground
for picking up on the latest trends. The European
shows can always be counted on for pushing the envelope just a little bit more than their U.S. counterparts
and last month’s Silmo exposition was no exception.
Vibrant color, filigree temples, graphic prints and elements of nature all emerged as trends worth watching
—Deirdre Carroll
for Spring/Summer ’08.
Going Graphic - Be it checks, hounds tooth,
plaid or argyle, frames borrowed heavily from the
graphic prints and patterns usually found in clothing to add more visual interest further blurring the
line between eyewear as a fashion accessory and
medical necessity.
PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY LUXOTTICA GROUP - MOD. AV 7036
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Vivid Vision - Bright, satu-
- The use
of natural materials, or those
with a natural appearance, like
wood, horn, animal skins, bamboo and feathers give a feeling of
artisan crafting and lends each
piece with a distinct nuance of its
very own.
Fancy Filigree - Why choose plain basic
temples when you can have beautifully wrought filigree ones? That seems to be the question
behind this delicate trend. Though floral patterns
aren’t obligatory, they sure do take glasses one
step closer to pieces of artwork.
© 2007 ADRIENNE VITTADINI LLC
AL
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“Drivewear has improved
my driving on the highway
and the fairway.”
“Drivewear is the best tip
I got all year.
Pretty smart idea.”
For Drivers
So advanced they even activate behind the windshield,
For more helpful information for your patients, look for the
Drivewear®, Activated by Transitions™ provides drivers with
Drivewear Owner’s Manual with each prescription. Patients
the best visual acuity for the driving task. Drivewear cuts
can register their purchase, receive a free keychain and
glare and bright sunlight; the changing color of the lens
enter the Drivewear Sweepstakes to win great prizes!
enhances vision in overcast, sunny and all daylight
driving and outdoor conditions.
®
Combining NuPolar polarization and Transitions
™
Photochromic Technology, these lenses make the driving
task safer and more comfortable for all your patients.
Available in single vision and Image® progressive lenses
“A quick response is
very important to me.”
“So comfortable!
And protecting my eyes
protects my kids.”
Of All Kinds
And All Kinds of Optical Professionals:
Robert Glass, OD, Costa Mesa CA: “Stunning contrast sensitivity improvement
in the car. Cuts right through the smog and haze, while allowing enough light for
comfortable, clear vision. And it really does adjust for lighting conditions.”
Visit www.drivewearlens.com to order free in-office
materials. And go to “Contact Us” to let us
know what kind of drivers you are
putting in Drivewear!
Dan Warner, Optician, Newark NY: “Overall they are exceptionally useful and
effective driving lenses. They do respond to changing light conditions.”
Alan Greenhill, OD, Melbourne Australia: “When Image Drivewear lenses were
launched we contacted patients who had expressed interest in progressives.
By far, the majority decided to order them and in the months since their release
we have heard nothing but praise.”
Janet Benjamin, President, Laramy K Optical: “Drivewear is a like a pair of old
jeans, they’re so comfortable! And the contrast is phenomenal. Sharpens in all
conditions: we’ve had rain, fog and even a little sunshine!”
Drive Smart. Drive Safe.
®
Drivewear, NuPolar and Image are registered trademarks of Younger Optics, Torrance CA. Transitions and the swirl are registered trademarks, and Activated by Transitions is a trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc.
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Despite Drop in Attendance Silmo Celebrates 40 Years
PARIS—The combined forces of the
Coupe du Monde (World Rugby finals)
and a city-wide metro transit strike created challenges for the opening days of the
Silmo optical exhibition’s 40th anniversary edition held here last month.
The rugby finals, which brought
crowds of sports enthusiasts into town,
plus the extension of a large-scale public transit protest that tumbled over
from Thursday into the show’s inaugural day on Friday and parts of Saturday,
affected travel and impacted the exhibition’s attendee traffic.
Overall attendance dropped 8.5 percent, to 42,669 visitors, compared to 2006,
but the French opticians were the most
seriously hit with a drop of 11.1 percent
down to 20,354 visitors, while foreign professional visitors only saw a 6 percent
drop to 22,315 attendees. However, by
the first afternoon, the crowds had picked
up but mobility around town remained a
concern. Nevertheless, an estimated
1,000 exhibitors spanning frames, sunglasses, lenses, instruments, equipment
and materials focused their attention on
new introductions and programs.
The strike and the rugby finals weren’t
the only possible reason for decreased
traffic. “The show is slow for many reason, the strike, rugby but what we have
sold here we usually would be selling for
November 1st and we started selling two
weeks ago at West,” said Maurizio Marcolin, chief executive of style and licensing for the Marcolin Group. “It shows
that this show is becoming less and less
important and more expensive to run.
Paris is best for the local retailers.”
The reorganization of the show’s halls to
provide 15 percent more exhibition space,
accommodated a new showcase area for
French optician groups, special trend
exhibits and a relocated Village area, comprising an estimated 95,400 meters.
Many had good things to say about the
changes in the new layout. Alessandro
Lanaro, CEO of Modo, “Our location is
good and we only have good things to say
about the show. It is unfortunate that
some of our customers had some trouble
getting here but Paris is one of our
favorite shows and it is always successful
for us.”
“Odyssey,” a special anniversary gala,
held on the opening night, included an
awards ceremony for Fashion and Technology Innovation at the 14th Annual
Silmo D’Or awards.
Winners included the Essilor Varilux
Physio Fit in the lens category, the Axys
frame from Oxibis in the technological
frame innovation category, the Tam Tam
frame from LaFont in the infants eyewear
category, the Junior 22G from Minima in
the teen eyewear category, the Adidas Agilis
in the sports eyewear category, the Acrobat
Lcd from Etex in the low vision category,
the Moon style from Gold & Wood in the
STYLE S H O W N , R IVIER A . W W W. K E N M A R K O P T I C AL.C O M 8 0 0 . 6 2 7 . 2 8 9 8
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(Clockwise from top left) the Silmo 40th anniversary poster,
attendees register on day one, the team from Mykita
accepts their D’or Award for best product environment,
Silmo president Guy Charlot welcomes attendees at the
Odyssey gala, Alain Mikli accepts his Silmo D’or in the optical frames category.
sunglass category, the Carapace from Studio
Mikli, HL 10 from Herrlicht and the
Kaprisse from Boz in the optical frames categories, the CV 5000 from Topcon Europe
Medical in the equipment/tools category,
the L.O.F.T from Obe in the equipment /
components categories, the Skyscout from
Medas in the optics instruments category
and the PLV set from Mykita in the product environment category. II
collections that connect
Dana Buchman creates sophisticated clothing for discerning women.
Her eyewear collection is a direct extension of her aesthetic for design,
incorporating her signatures: color, novelty and attention to detail.
(800) 689-3700 ext. 3012
The silhouettes are beautiful, luxurious and elegant.
Page 18
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St. John Knits and Visibilia Announce Eyewear Licensing Agreement
IRVINE, Calif.—Luxury apparel label
St. John has announced a multi-year
license agreement with Venice, Italybased Visibilia SpA for production and
worldwide distribution of their premier
eyewear collection.
Consisting of high-quality sunglasses
and prescription frames, the collection
will be exclusively available in St. John
boutiques for spring 2008 and will then
launch globally in May 2008 at MIDO,
the industry trade show in Milan.
St. John, best known for its exceptional knitwear, said it chose Visibilia as
a partner “for their artisanal craftsmanship and innovative designs.”
“Eyewear is a natural extension of
the St. John lifestyle and complements
our California roots. In selecting a partner to work with, it was important for us
to choose someone whose ideals match
those of St. John,” said St. John CEO,
Glenn McMahon. “We know Visibilia’s designs and production will be of
the same excellent quality and classic
style that our customers expect from St.
John.”
“St. John is our ideal partner,” said
Dan Emanuel Levi, president of Visibilia and deputy president of ANFAO
(Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers’
Association). “It‘s exciting that our first
U.S. partnership is with such an iconic
American brand. We shared an instant
Essilor Posts 8.5 Percent
Revenue Gain for ’07 YTD
CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Essilor
International [Reuters: ESSI.PA] posted
consolidated revenue of €2.2 billion for the
nine months ended Sept . 30, 2007, up
8.8 percent, or 8.5 percent on a like-for-like
basis. Changes in scope of consolidation
accounted for 3.8 percent of growth, corresponding mainly to acquisitions made
since the beginning of the year and, to a
lesser extent, to businesses acquired in
2006. The currency effect was a negative
3.6 percent, according to Essilor.
Essilor attributed its performance to
several factors, including approximately 5
percent growth in lens sales volume and
the roughly 3.5 percent impact of favorable changes in the price mix. The company reported it is experiencing strong
demand for new generation lenses offering new materials, optical designs or coatings. Sales of medium and high-index
lenses and photochromic lenses are particularly robust. In all, value-added lenses
now account for over half of the company’s total lens sales.
Essilor’s consolidated sales grew
throughout all regions during the first
three quarters of 2007. Europe grew to
€987 million, up 10.2 percent, or 7.4 percent like-for-like; North America rose to
€932.4 million, up 5.6 percent or 8.3
percent like-for-like; Asia-Pacific reached
€200.9 million, up 14.2 percent or 12.8
percent like-for-like and Latin America
increased to €79.8, up 16.5 percent or
15.3 percent like-for-like.
Essilor posted consolidated revenue of
€723.3 for the third quarter of 2007, up
9.5 percent, or 8.6 like-for-like. Growth
accelerated in North America, led by
Essilor’s prescription laboratory network
which enjoyed significant momentum. II
connection with St. John because of our
mutual love for craftsmanship. We both
design with the customer in mind and
want to provide them with a product of
unmatchable quality and detail.”
Celebrating its 45th anniversary this
year, St. John was founded in 1962 by
Robert and Marie Gray. Renowned for
its innovative knits, St. John evolved
from a small family operation to a global luxury brand. The company, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., employs
approximately 4,000 people and operates out of offices and manufacturing
facilities worldwide. St. John is a leading supplier of its distinct fashion collections to top luxury specialty stores
around the world, including among
others, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom,
Sak’s Fifth Avenue and its 28 company-owned retail boutiques. The St.
John brand generates over $500 million
in retail sales volume worldwide. St
John has been majority owned since
1999 by Vestar Capital Partners, a New
York based private equity firm, in partnership with the founding Gray family
and certain members of senior management.
Visibilia, one of the major international
competitors in the sunglasses and prescription frames categories, has licenses
for the production and distribution of
brands in the Italian fashion and accessories industry including Blumarine,
Jeckerson, Laura Biagiotti, Mandarina
Duck, Tom Tailor, Trussardi and
Emanuel Ungaro. With an extensive network of single-brand agents, Visibilia
product is distributed nationwide
through the most highly qualified opticians in each region. The company operates with its own branches in Germany,
Spain and Hong Kong, and with a closeknit network of independent distributors
in more than 80 other countries. II
Happy as a clam
Tickled pink
Truly delighted
Flying high
Thrilled to pieces
Pleased as punch
Allison S.p.A. Signs License With Byblos
PADOVA, Italy—Allison S.p.A has
signed a five-year worldwide eyewear
license with Byblos.
The Byblos prêt-à-porter and accessories brand is designed by Manuel Facchini.The Byblos collection, consisting
of 20 sunglass styles and 20 ophthalmic
eyewear models, debuted at the recent
Silmo exhibition in Paris last month
“This new agreement allows us to
enhance our portfolio with a brand that
creates a strong impact”, stated Allison’s President Silvio Vecellio Reane.
“Byblos is an important brand in the
history of eyewear and we’re certain
that the modern and sophisticated spirit for which it is recognised will be a
source of inspiration for successful collections.”
Mathias Facchini, Managing Director
of Swinger International Spa, the company that owns Byblos, pointed out, “The
decision to have Allison produce and distribute Byblos eyewear was based on the
excellent quality of the products and on
that company’s ability to fully understand the brand’s stylistic design concepts, so closely related to the world of
architecture and contemporary art.” II
Introducing GT2™ Progressives by ZEISS—
Engineered for Total Satisfaction.
(OW CAN A PROGRESSIVE LENS CREATE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SATISFACTION )T HAS TO OFFER MAXIMUM
CLARITY q BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED TO SUIT THE WEARERlS NATURAL PREFERENCES
.OW :%)33 HAS BROUGHT THESE ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN '4 '4 WAS DEVELOPED USING PROPRIETARY
:%)33 /PTICAL /PTIMIZATION AND -ANAGEMENT q THE INNOVATIVE DESIGN STRATEGY THAT COMBINES
LEGENDARY :%)33 OPTICAL PRECISION WITH BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH INTO VISUAL BEHAVIOR
4HE RESULT IS A PROGRESSIVE LENS UNIQUELY TAILORED FOR WEARER ERGONOMICS AND OPTIMIZED FOR
MAXIMUM CLARITY 3IMPLY PUT A TRUE DELIGHT FOR THE EYE
For more information, contact your Carl Zeiss Vision
Representative or call 1-800-358-8258.
8Vga OZ^hh K^h^dc
53! WWWVISIONZEISSCOM
#ARL :EISS 6ISION )NTERNATIONAL 'MB( '4 IS A TRADEMARK OF #ARL :EISS 6ISION )NTERNATIONAL 'MB(
(800) 689-3700 ext. 3012
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U.S. House of Representatives Passes ‘Vision Care for Kids Act’
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S.
House of Representatives passed the
“Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007” here
last month. The legislation, aimed at
making it a national priority to combat
undiagnosed and untreated vision problems in school-aged children, received
overwhelming support from the House
and passed with bipartisan backing.
“We are thrilled that the ‘Vision Care for
Kids Act’ has reached this important juncture on Capitol Hill after years of work,”
said Mike Daley, chair of the Vision Council of America’s (VCA) Government Relations Committee. “This bill is proof that
when the vision community works together, things can really get done.”
The “Vision Care for Kids Act,” H.R.
507, is designed to provide children
with the follow-up care needed after
being identified with a potential vision
problem by a comprehensive eye exam
or vision screening. Bill sponsors include
U.S. Reps. Gene Green (D-TX), Vito
Fossella (R-NY), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ),
Eliot Engel (D-NY), John Sullivan (ROK) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).
The Vision Care for Kids Act would
establish a federal grant program focusing on treatment and designed to bolster children’s vision initiatives in the
states and encourage children’s vision
partnerships with non-profit entities.
H.R. 507 directs the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, through
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), to provide $65 million in grant funding to proven efforts to
allow more children, particularly those
under 9 years of age who are already
known to be at-risk for vision problems,
to receive comprehensive eye examinations and appropriate care from their
local optometrist or other eye doctor.
Grants would also go toward supporting
public education and awareness efforts
designed to promote early detection and
treatment of vision.
“Good vision is critical to learning.
This important legislation will improve
vision care for children to better equip
them to succeed in school and in life,”
“We are thrilled that the ‘Vision
Care for Kids Act’ has reached this
important juncture on Capitol Hill after
years of work.”
—Mike Daley
VCA Government Relations Committee
Green said. “Together, with the support
of the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Vision Council of
America, we will make a difference in
the lives of children across the country.”
“Now that is has cleared the House of
Representatives, our next step is to get
VCA Eyewear & Accessories Division Sets Up
Task Force on Lead-Based Paint
NEW YORK—Pointing out its members
are responding to recent general media
coverage and heightened awareness
and concern about the damage of leadbased paint in some toys and other consumer products, the Eyewear and Accessories division of the Vision Council of
America (VCA) has established a task
force to look proactively at the issue of
the possibility of the presence of lead
paint and coatings in eyewear frames.
James Shyer, chairman of the division
and COO of Zyloware, said, “We want to
stress that most VCA E&A members do
not feel that lead paint is a problem in
modern eyewear manufacturing, which
most companies already monitor
through their own testing, audits and
quality-control efforts with their manufacturers.
“The Eyewear division, at its recent
meeting in Las Vegas last month, felt
the VCA has a responsibility to the
industry, retailers and the public to be
proactive and explore the issue, and
see if there’s something we need to do
with the guidance of volunteer task force
members and VCA’s technical staff,” he
it through the Senate in an expeditious
manner,” noted Ed Greene, VCA chief
executive officer.
The “Vision Care for Kids Act” is
supported by the alliance of VCA,
American Academy of Ophthalmology,
said, adding, “There have been no incidences reported whatsoever; lead is not
used in eyeglass frame materials, but
the issue is possible lead in paint or
coatings. By being proactive, we avoid
possibilities of potential problems down
the road.”
The task force will include some
members of the VCA eyewear and
accessories division as well as Jeff
Endres, technical manager, VCA.
There are currently 92 member companies in the VCA’s Eyewear & Accessories division. II
the American Association for Pediatric
Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the
American Optometric Association and
Prevent Blindness America. Also supporting the bill are the National Association of Vision Care Plans, National
Head Start Association, Opticians Association of America, Reading Is Fundamental and Vision Service Plan.
“The Green-Pascrell Vision Care for
Kids Act is an important assignment for
Congress and a timely reminder for
America of what needs to be done to
help concerned parents and teachers
ensure that no child is left behind in
the classroom due to an undiagnosed or
untreated vision problem,” said Kevin
Alexander, OD, president of the AOA.
Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Chris
Dodd (D-CT) have introduced S. 1117, the
Senate companion bill to H.R. 507, which
has been referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
For more information on the “Vision
Care for Kids Act for 2007” or to write to
your senators, visit www.2020advocacy.com. II
Polarized Clip-Ons
PERFECT VISION.
(800) 689-3700 ext. 3012
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INDEPENDENT. IT’S WHY WE CARE.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIFERX TECHNOLOGY
» Highly sensitized polycarbonate resin allows
the dye to be crystal clear.
» Photochromic dye formulated to fade
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» Fast darkening speed.
» Hard-coated with Tegra® coating for superior
scratch-resistance.
» 100% protection from the sun’s harmful UVA
and UVB rays.
» Thinner and lighter polycarbonate for a more
attractive appearance.
Laminate film
is molded to the
lens, placing the
photochromic layer
0.4mm below the
front surface.
PROPRIETARY LAMINATE FILM INCLUDES:
Front and back layer of polycarbonate encapsulating
a film containing:
» Optimized Resin
» Rapid Acting Photochromic Dye
THE PERFECT PHOTOCHROMIC LENS
FOR ALL AGES AND LIFESTYLES.
LifeRx™, Tegra®, Continua®, Outlook®, Illumina® and SunRx® are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Vision-Ease Lens. The Coppertone logo and the Coppertone
Girl and Dog Device are trademarks of Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc. used
by Vision-Ease Lens under license. ©2007 Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. ©2007 Vision-Ease Lens. All Rights Reserved.
VISION-EASE LENS
PRODUCT FAMILY
www.vision-ease.com | 1.800.328.3449
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IN THE NEWS
NEWS VIEWS
Hoya Vision Care, North America,
launched the Hoyalux iD Trip & Gift
Giveaway promotion in September
2006. The winning practices placed the
most Hoyalux iD orders during the 90day promotion.
Hoya’s patented Integrated Double
Surface technology separates the functionality and performance of the front
and back surfaces to enhance visual performance. Vertical power changes are
Hoya contest winners on their
weeklong getaway in Germany.
positioned on the front surface. Horizontal power changes are positioned on
the back. Hoyalux iD virtually eliminates common swimming and swaying
sensations, according to Hoya.
The winning Hoyalux iD Trip & Gift
Giveaway practices include: Eye Physicians of the East Bay, Oakland, Calif.;
Madison Avenue Optical, Seattle,
Wash.; Parmer Eye Care, Austin, Texas;
Edmonds Vision Center, Edmonds,
Wash.; Bexley Optical, Bexley, Ohio
Professional Eye Assoc., Dalton, Ga.; Pre-
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Influential Testing Lab COLTS Marks 10th Anniversary
cision Eye Care, Vancouver, Wash.; Foley
Vision Center, Eugene, Ore.; Paden Eye
Care Center, Medford, Ore.; Jim White
OD & Associates, Willow Parks, Texas;
Accu-Vision Center, Southington, Conn.;
DEPS Optical, Danbury, Conn.; Alain
Mikli, New York, N.Y.; Vision Optique,
Houston, Texas; Kuykendahl Eye Center,
Houston, Texas; Davison Road Optical,
Lockport, N.Y.; Pacific Eye Associates,
San Francisco, Calif.; Associated Eye
Care, Sanford, Maine; Valley Eye Care,
Corvallis, Ore. II
CLEARWATER, Fla.—In the decade
since COLTS Laboratories began operations, the company has become known
throughout the optical industry for its
extensive quality testing programs, innovative testing procedures, mystery shopper program and sought-after Performance Seal. Under the direction of
industry veteran John Young, the Clearwater-based company, which celebrated
its 10th anniversary in September, has
steadily expanded its range of services
and its client roster. COLTS (Cooperative Optical Laboratory Testing Services)
works with customers in 37 countries,
many of which have the COLTS Laboratories Performance Seal, includes Spec
Savers, the largest retail chain in the UK.
“We started 10 years ago in the ophthalmic field, and have grown in that
and in other areas since then,” said
Young. “A few of our 1,500-plus customers include Boeing and NASA—we
tested the 27 windows of the International Space Station—Rolex, 3M, Kimberly-Clark, Ingersol Rand, Wal-Mart,
Younger’s Drivewear Wins ‘Best
New Product Award’
This opportunity allows you to:
• Receive dramatic savings through significant company buying power.
• Benefit from national and regional cooperative advertising.
• Experience ease of operation through a comprehensive business
operating system.
• Utilize customer-generating activities that build traffic and
increase profits.
• Participate in point-of-sale customer retention programs.
• Participate in exclusive group vision plans.
NEWS VIEWS
Hoyalux iD Giveaway Winners Visit Germany, Tour Hoya Lab
MULHEIM, Germany—Representatives from 20 U.S. eyecare practices
recently returned from a weeklong getaway to Mulheim, Germany, a vacation
they won by participating in the Hoyalux
iD Trip & Gift Giveaway. The group
enjoyed excursions in France and Germany, including a guided tour of the
Hoya laboratory in Mulheim, where they
observed production of Hoyalux iD Integrated Double Surface progressive lens.
IN THE NEWS
TORRANCE, Calif.—At its recent annual meeting and awards banquet held in
Duluth, Georgia, National Vision presented its Best New Product Award to Younger
Optics for Drivewear, the new lens made
possible through the cooperation of
Younger Optics and Transitions Optical,
Inc. and designed specifically to address the
unique demands of the driving task.
“Each year, we evaluate all the
tremendous new products brought to
market,” said Des Taylor, NVI’s senior
vice president. “This year, for the first
time, we were excited to launch a product that combined two outstanding technologies—NuPolar polarizing technology
and Transitions photochromic technology. Drivewear has created a new lens category and has created tremendous new
excitement within our company—we are
pleased to partner with Younger Optics
and honor them with the Best New
Product Award at NVI.”
Jotinderpal “Sid” Sidhu, Younger Optics’
vice president, said, “We wish to thank NVI
for this great honor. We too are pleased to
partner with NVI and bring to market a
At the awards banquet are, left to right, Des Taylor, Bruce Steffey, Jotinderpal “Sid” Sidhu, Trish
Moynihan, Dan Cameron, and Reade Fahs.
whole new lens category: Drivewear.”
Designed specifically to meet the
unique visual demands of the driving task,
Drivewear is the first polarized photochromic lens to darken behind the windshield of a car. This allows Drivewear lenses to change color based on current driving
conditions in order to enhance the driver’s
vision. Drivewear lenses are Activated by
Transitions’ patented photochromic technology to automatically optimize visual
performance in variable light conditions
and to help protect eye health. Drivewear
lenses also utilize NuPolar to provide protection from blinding glare. II
Consumers Reports, US Navy and US
Army, UL Laboratories, LensCrafters,
Aqua Lung, PPG, Zeiss, Oakley, Sears
Optical, Bayer Corp., Pentax, Nokia,
Nikon, Motorola, Rockwell Scientific,
GE, Costco, Corning, and Bausch &
Lomb. In addition, we service over a
dozen universities, including MIT, as
well as other test labs.”
For optical companies, COLTS serves
a Consumer Reports-like function, conducting quality tests that yield objective
data on a wide range of products including ophthalmic lenses, frames, lens treatments and safety eyewear. The company’s influence is widely acknowledged by
retailers, optical laboratories and suppliers.
“COLTS has had a meaningful
The COLTS team in the company’s Clearwater, Fla. headquarters. Standing, left to right are Greg
Williams, Dale Payne, Ania Bulecka, Krystyna Majewska, Jason Fawell, Jill Baker, Dave Baker. Sitting, left to right, are Darin McCormick, Kimberly Hutton, John Young, Daryl Neely, Dorota Bak.
impact on the industry over the past 10
years,” commented Lynn Millay, senior
director, lens buying for Luxottica
Retail. “The implementation of independent testing has helped to positively
influence lens quality and consistency
in the optical category.”
Kurt Hollinger, president of polarized
lens supplier KBco, called COLTS “an
invaluable source for us to test and validate product.”
“We get samples from lots of different
manufacturers all over the world asking us
if we would purchase products,” he continued. “In a lot of cases, they don’t know
what requirements our products need to
meet. This is a way of standardizing, of
giving them a mark they have to hit.
“We are a better industry turning out
better products than 10 years ago,”
observed Hollinger. “With the retail
consolidation, the testing means that the
eyeglasses that people are selling have
to be great every time, and to do that
you have to supply great product.
COLTS allows you do that.” II
FUNKY
MODERN
F
U N
T O
W E
A R
VIBRANT
Drivewear Ad Rates High Among Readers
NEW YORK—In a recent study sponsored by 20/20, Younger Optics’ Drivewear ad scored top marks by readers
who participated in the study. Conducted by independent research firm Readex Research, the Message Impact study
was mailed to a random sample selected
from 20/20’s qualified circulation file.
The study measured quantitative and
qualitative feedback on 30 selected
advertisements that ran in the August
issue of 20/20. Participants were asked
to rate the effectiveness of each ad in
key areas of advertising such as attention-getting ability, believability and
information value, as well as provide
verbatim comment on what image the
advertiser gave them on the ad.
The Drivewear ad achieved the highest
believability, information value and overall scores in comparison with all other
ads studied. The Drivewear ad focuses
on the advanced photochromic and
polarization technologies behind Drivewear lenses, providing readers with illustrative photos and useful information on
their benefits. The ad has also been running in other optical publications this
year including 20/20, Vision Monday,
LabTalk and FRAMES Data publications. The next study is scheduled for
the February 2008 issue of 20/20. II
657
vivid
e
y
e
w
e
a
(800) 631-0188
www.ValueEyewear.com
659
r
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IN THE NEWS
NEWS VIEWS
Essilor Renews Commitment
To ‘Opening Eyes’ Program
DALLAS—Essilor of America continues
to help athletes around the world
through its participation in Essilor International’s partnership with the Special
Olympics – Lions Clubs International
Opening Eyes program. Celebrating its
10 year anniversary, Opening Eyes is the
world’s largest program dedicated to providing eyecare for people with intellectual disabilities. Most recently, at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in
Shanghai, China, volunteers screened
3,571 athletes in the Opening Eyes program. Twenty percent of those athletes
received new prescription eyewear.
“We are honored to impact the lives
of so many athletes at the largest event
in Special Olympics history,” said John
Carrier, EOA president. “Essilor annually donates more than 11,000 polycarbonate Airwear lenses and provides
comprehensive services to craft customized eyewear to athletes that need
prescription eyewear.”
Research conducted by Special
Olympics shows 68 percent of Special
Olympics athletes have had no eye
examinations in three years or more and
that 55 percent are in need of new or
modified glasses. Opening Eyes provides vision screenings to Special
Olympics athletes as well as educates
athletes, parents and coaches about the
importance of regular eyecare. The program also strives to change the attitudes
of eyecare professionals about the vision
care needs of persons with intellectual
disabilities. Opening Eyes uses research
to increase the knowledge of visual and
eye health needs of persons with intellectual disabilities.
As the official global supplier of ophthalmic lenses to Opening Eyes, Essilor
International supports the mission of
the Opening Eyes program to improve
the quality of life for millions of individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities through quality eyecare. II
PBA to Honor Seymour, Five Companies
At January Centennial Gala in N.Y.
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CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness Ameri- by macular degeneration through her
ca, the nation’s leading volunteer eye mother, Meike, who was diagnosed
health and safety organization dedicated with the disease more than 20 years ago
to fighting blindness and saving sight, and recently passed away. “Although
will honor actress Jane Seymour and there is no cure for macular degenerafive corporate partners at the organization, I’m encouraged about the new
tion’s Centennial Gala at the Waldorf advances being made to help curb the
Astoria on Jan. 10, 2008.
effects,” said Seymour. “Simply through
Although Prevent Blindness America is early diagnosis and treatment, the severcurrently based in Chicago, the group will ity of vision loss can be lessened.”
hold its celebration in New York, the birthSaid Hugh R. Parry, president and
place of the organization.
“Although there is no cure for
Five companies that have promacular degeneration, I’m
vided generous support to Prevent Blindness America over the
encouraged about the new
years, Alcon, Allergan, Novartis,
advances being made to help
Pfizer and VSP, will also be honorees at the event.
curb the effects.”
TV personality, Willard Scott,
—Jane Seymour
is the emcee for the event.
Actor/musician Tom Sullivan will pres- CEO of Prevent Blindness America, “In
ent Seymour’s award.
1908, two New York ophthalmologists
Individual tickets may be purchased decided to make a difference and
for $500 each online at www.prevent- improve vision care for infants. Thanks
blindness.net/gala. Tables for up to 10 to our volunteers and supporters, such
persons are also available. Ticket prices as Ms. Seymour, who continually donate
include cocktails and entertainment, a their time and efforts to protecting
full-course dinner, awards ceremony and vision, we’re embarking on our next
the Prevent Blindness America Centen- century of saving sight.”
nial commemorative book, and an
For details on tables, reservations or
opportunity to bid on items from the more information, please contact
silent auction.
Colleen Robbins at (312 ) 363-6023 or
Seymour has been personally affected crobbins@preventblindness.org. II
800-247-9796 • nationaloptronics.com
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Leave your mark on the world. Not on your glasses.
GRADUATION HONORS
TAMPA RECEPTION
Harbor University Draws
Strong ECP Turnout
CooperVision Hosts ECPs
During AAO Meeting
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.—
Harbor Optical hosted its seventh
annual Harbor University on Oct. 19
at the Hagerty Center here. Over
300 optometrists, opticians and
other industry professionals earned
continuing education credits free of
charge. Harbor University provided
13 hours of ABO and eight hours of
COPE approved courses.
Attendees were welcomed to Traverse City the evening before at Gail Houston of Rem Eyewear, visits with Brad White
of Anderson Eye Care in Grand Rapids, Mich. at the
Harbor’ita Madness, a Mexican fies- vendor’s exhibits during Harbor University.
ta-themed welcome reception held
at Harbor Optical. This event, which
included a lab tour, featured southwestern fare and margaritas and provided opportunities for the attending
professionals and sponsoring vendor
representatives to network.
Rory Aplanalp helped kick-off
Harbor University with a motivational
keynote presentation. Through a
combination of humor and real-life
examples, Aplanalp delivered a mes- Andy Bangert of Harbor Optical walks visitors through
sage of discovering internal motiva- the company’s AR coating lab.
tion and the attitude to “act-now” on
the things that will make a difference.
In addition to the optometrist and
optician tracks offered this year Harbor introduced Transitions Technical Institute (TTI). Sponsored by
Transitions Optical, this complete
track of courses was designed to
equip opticians and ODs with effective presentation techniques to
increase Transitions lens sales.
VM lenses and technology editor Andrew Karp
Upon completion of classes, fes- congratulates Harbor U. “grad” Kristen Scherphorn
of Alpine Family Eyecare Comstock Park, Mich., for
tivities continued at the Transitions “graduating” Harbor U.
Post Party. Attendees were treated
to live music, hors d’oeuvres, beer
and wine while they enjoyed a commencement presentation by
Andrew Karp, group editor of lenses and technology for Vision Monday, Lab Advisor and 20/20 magazine.
Following Karp’s presentation, TTI
graduates participated in a commencement ceremony. Completion
of two or more courses enabled Trying on the newest Tommy Hilfiger sunwear at the
Viva booth, were, left to right, Susan Delmar of Viva,
attendees to earn their “Harbor Karen Cross, Angela Stuart and Sue Lampen,
degree” making them a Transitions- of Sparta Optometry in Sparta, Mich., and Geff
Heidbrink, president of Harbor Optical.
certified eyecare professional.
Harbor University was sponsored by the following vendors: Aspex Eyewear,
Avada Eyewear, Charmant, Clear Vision, Essilor, GOAL Eyecare Solutions,
Hoya Vision Care, Innereactive Media, Kasperek USA Optical, Kenmark,
Megabyte Billing Services, Money Management Solutions, REM Eyewear,
Rollins Consulting, Sable Water Optics, Sàfilo, Shamir Insight, Seiko-Pentax,
Signet Armorlite, Transitions Optical, Viva International and Younger Optics.
TAMPA, Fla.—During last month’s
American Academy of Optometry meeting, CooperVision hosted a reception for
eyecare practitioners at the historic
Columbia restaurant in Tampa’s Ybor
City neighborhood.
Highlights of the event included mojito and sangria bars, as well as a variety of
Cuban and Spanish foods.
Among the hosts of the event were
Tom Shone, who officially took over as
president of CooperVision U.S. on Nov.
1, and Jeff McLean, CooperVision’s president of the Americas.
Jeff McLean (l), CooperVision’s president of the
Americas, and CooperVision’s Bill Shelly (second
from r) welcome Barry Farkas, OD, of New York
City and his uncle, Paul Farkas (r), OD, of Boca
Raton, Fla., to the CooperVision event.
Clarke Newman (l), OD, of Dallas and Doug
Benoit, OD, of Concord, N.H., enjoy the
CooperVision party.
Tom Shone (r), president of CooperVision U.S.,
catches up with Doug Parry, MD, of Lexington,
Ky., at the party during the American Academy of
Optometry meeting in Tampa.
Nikki Iravani (l), OD, CooperVision’s vice president of clinical and professional affairs, shares a
laugh with Noel Brennan, OD, of Melbourne,
Australia, and Lisa Badowski of Broomfield, Colo.
Ron Gall (l), OD, of Oakville, Ontario, chats at the
CooperVision party with Susan and Bruce Wick,
OD, of Houston.
EDUCATION GRANTS
VSP Provides Grants to Two
Canadian Optometry Schools
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—
VSP Vision Care recently provided
grants of $25,000 each to two Canadian optometry schools, University
of Waterloo and University of
Montreal. The grants were presented to the two schools by Dan
Mannen, OD, chair of VSP’s board
of directors.
Earlier this year, VSP began offering vision services to Canadian
employees of two current U.S. corporate clients for the first time.
Carat Advantage
Thomas Freddo, OD (l), clinical director of the School of
Optometry at the University of Waterloo in Ontario,
Canada, accepts VSP’s $25,000 grant from Dan Mannen, OD, chair of VSP’s board.
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Can I have your
Autograph ?
®
ELECTION TIME
Sunglass Association of America (SAA) Elects 2007/2008 Officers
LA BELLE, Fla.—The 2008 executive committee and board of directors was named—
and critical industry issues and trends explored—at the recent annual meeting of the Sunglass Association of America (SAA) held in Lake Las Vegas last month.
“More than ever, SAA membership represents a true cross-section of our industry,” noted
incoming association president, Dave Bibbey, VP product supply, Zoom Eyeworks, Inc.
Added outgoing president Tibor Gross, executive vice president and COO, Barbara
Creations, Inc., “The valuable insights and expertise shared by our speakers enhance
the networking opportunities, collegiality and spirit of our annual meetings, and of SAA
membership.”
The SAA’s executive committee for 2008 includes: Incoming president, Dave
Bibbey, VP product supply, Zoom Eyeworks; Al Gleek, Carl Zeiss Vision-Sunlens, SAA
executive vice president; Henry Lane, Dioptics, SAA vice president and chair of the
SAA members from around the world convened in Lake Las Vegas for the 2007 annual meeting.
market research committee; Melanie Martin,
Sun Tech Optics, SAA vice president and
chair of public relations; Alvin Hutzler II, of
Cliff Weill, Inc., treasurer, and Ed Moody,
Costa Del Mar, vice president, membership.
The SAA’s board of directors for 2008
includes: David Vander Schaaf, Stylemark –
Riviera Division; Jack Flynn, FGX International; Steve Crellin, Magnivision; Tibor
Gross, Barbara Creations; Scott MacGuffie,
Smith Optics; Matt Banker, Achievia Optical
Solutions; Gerald Bedingfield, Opsales; and
Frank Maglietta, EyeMagine.
The new SAA president Dave Bibbey, Zoom
Gerry Fultz, managing director, Jobson Eyeworks, Inc., left, and Tibor Gross, outgoOptical Research International, provided a sta- ing president, Barbara Creations, Inc.
tistical update on sunglasses and over-thecounter readers. Rick Van Arnam, SAA legal counsel (partner of the New York firm
Barnes, Richardson & Colburn) provided an update on trade issues facing the industry,
including the latest FDA-related regulations, and topics tied to use of lead-based materials. Ken Frederick led a discussion on ANSI, ISO, ASTM and other technical matters
critical to industry participants and David Chao, Contour Optik, discussed Asian market
dynamics. Fashion and marketplace trends were detailed by Riccardo Polinelli, of
Polinelli S.r.l., and worldwide style tracker Britt Bivens, director of Promostyl Americas
provided insights into the cultural influences that will shape the styles of tomorrow.
BON ANNIVERSAIRE!
FREE VISION CARE
Oliver Peoples Celebrates 20th
Anniversary With Paris Soirée
Vision Screening Day Offered at
SUNY Optometric Center
David Schulte of Oliver Peoples (l) greets Antonio
Miyakawa of Luxottica and his wife.
NEW YORK—The University Optometric Center (UOC), the patient care
facility of the State University of New
York College of Optometry, recently
offered a Free Vision Screening day at the
Optometric Center here.
“The program was a success with more than
300 patients screened,” according to Liduvina David Heath, OD, (l) president of the SUNY College
Martinez-Gonzalez, interim chief operating offi- of Optometry with radio personality Joe Bartlett.
cer for the UOC. Of those patients screened,
142 scheduled appointments for comprehensive eye examinations and 44 glaucoma suspects
were identified, she said.
In addition to the free screenings, patients were able to meet local radio personality Joe Bartlett, host of WOR’s morning show. Bartlett was on hand at the UOC in
the late afternoon to meet patients and sign autographs.
The UOC provides critical vision care to thousands of New Yorkers across all
socio-economic levels each year. The series of Free Vision Screenings for both children and adults in the community is one of the most popular programs offered at
the UOC.
Left to right, Ralph Anderl of ic! Berlin, KG Nakanishi of
Nakanishi Optical Products and David Schulte ham it up for
the camera.
Joe Bartlett signing autographs for patients at the
University Optoemtric Center.
Michelle Walnum (l) and Larry Leight (r) both of
Oliver Peoples with Kris van Assche of Dior Homme.
PARIS—Oliver Peoples Eyewear
kicked off a year long celebration of
their 20th Anniversary in coordination with the Silmo trade show last
month. The company’s first Paris
press event was highlighted by a
grand soirée at the exquisite La
Maison France—Ameriques, an
extravagant and ornate historical
home tucked off the Avenue des
Champs- Elysees. The guest list
included Oliver Peoples customers
and chic Parisians from the fashion,
entertainment, and PR industries.
Kris Van Assche, the newly
appointed chief designer of Dior
Homme, who is collaborating with
Oliver Peoples on a special edition
sunglass, also attended.
AUT-ADF-PEC-110207
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Larry Sands (l) of Optical Shop of Aspen and
Larry Leight (r) of Oliver Peoples pose for a shot.
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Autograph lenses must be purchased through Pech Optical Corp. in order to receive benefits. Autograph is a registered trademark of Shamir Insight, Inc.
11/12/07
12:18 PM
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Opticians Association Elects Officers at National Convention
By Cathy Ciccolella
Senior Editor
SPOKANE, Wash.—The Opticians Association of America drew more than 400
opticians and students from the optical program at Seattle Central Community College to its recent national convention here.
The event included two days of education and an exhibit hall hosting more
than 60 exhibitors.
At the annual OAA Delegate Assembly,
Thomas Hicks of Oxford, Ohio, was elected president of the association, succeeding
Mark Cloer of Jackson, Miss.; Cloer
became immediate past president. Other
officers elected were Diane Charles of
Shoreline, Wash., first vice president;
Shirley Earley of Loveland, Ohio, second
vice president; and Jim Boggs of Cleve-
land, Miss., secretary/treasurer. Elected as
OAA directors were Thomas Barrracato of
Akron, Ohio; Sandy Brown, Louisville,
Ky.; Russ Fritz, Jr., of Hamden, Conn.;
Bob Reynolds of Atlanta; Roxanne Slancik of Saginaw, Mich.; and Mike Szczerbiak of Durham, N.C.
At its annual meeting in conjunction
with the convention, the Guild of Prescription Opticians elected Douglas
Brookhart of Ohio as 2007 Guild chairman; Brookhart now also serves on the
OAA board of directors.
Cloer was named the 2007 Guild Optician of the Year, the highest honor given
by the Guild of Prescription Opticians.
Larry Harper, former chairman of the
American Board of Opticianry, attended
the OAA meeting, bringing with him
the newly published U.S. Department
EYECARE NEWS
AOA OFFERS CONTRACT ANALYSIS
AS NEW BENEFIT FOR MEMBERS
ST. LOUIS—The American Optometric Association (AOA) recently launched a pilot contract
analysis service as a free member benefit. The service, provided through the AOA Office of
Counsel, offers analysis of prospective, unsigned managed care plan contracts and commercial employment contracts by a licensed attorney with expertise in contract review.
After a contract is submitted for analysis, an AOA attorney will provide a written explanation and analysis of the contact’s terms and provisions, including information about
items that may require further explanation.
The service is an informational review to help members understand the provisions of
contract documents, according to the AOA; the reviewing attorney will not make recommendations as to whether the member should sign the contract as is, nor will an
AOA attorney be able to act as the member’s personal attorney.
Contracts may be submitted by mail or fax, along with an analysis request form, to
the AOA Office of Counsel. For more information, visit www.aoa.org/contractanalysis.xml
or email to contractreview@aoa.org.
SUPERIOR VISION, TRANSITIONS OPTICAL
PARTNER TO PROMOTE EYE HEALTH
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—Managed-vision provider Superior Vision Services and Transitions Optical are linking for a co-branded marketing program promoting the importance of eye health among Superior Vision members.
The partnership will include educational initiatives to build awareness about the ability of
premium lens options to enhance and protect vision, according to the two companies; Superior Vision is offering a 20 percent discount on Transitions lenses through its vision plans.
Said Rick Corbett, president and chief executive officer of Superior Vision, “We
believe that this partnership will be extremely beneficial to our members, who will have
improved access to the most advanced eyewear and education to help them build a
regimen for a lifetime of healthy vision.”
By promoting the discount on Transitions lenses in existing enrollment materials and
during enrollment events and health fairs, Superior Vision will bring attention to the
benefits of photochromics, an announcement said. Transitions will also supply educational resources accessible to Superior Vision members through Superior’s Web site,
www.SuperiorVision.com.
“As today’s consumers are faced with escalating costs and stretched health-care dollars, it is more important than ever for the key players in the optical industry to promote healthy sight and elevate the role of eye health as part of overall health and wellness,” said Pat Huot, business manager, managed care, for Transitions. II
At the national convention, Thomas Hicks is
installed as the OAA’s new president by the group’s
second vice president, Shirley Earley.
of Labor “Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards for Ophthalmic Dispensers and Contact Lens Fitters.” The
publication was presented to the OAA
membership at the annual delegate
Mark Cloer (l) receives his award as 2007 Guild
Optician of the Year—the highest honor given by
the Guild of Prescription Opticians—from former
OAA president Larry Harper, also former chairman
of the American Board of Opticianry.
assembly meeting. For more information on this publication, the new standards are available on the OAA Web
site, www.oaa.org. II
Carl Zeiss Vision, Optometric Foundation
Honor 19 Optometry Students
TAMPA, Fla.—During the American
Academy of Optometry (AAO) meeting
here last month, Carl Zeiss Vision and the
American Optometric Foundation honored
19 third-year optometric students as future
leaders in private-practice optometry.
Students were nominated by optometry colleges and schools in the U.S. and
Canada; each honoree received a $5,000
tuition grant and a paid trip to attend
this year’s and next year’s AAO meetings. Honorees were selected by a panel
administered by the Foundation.
“This is a way to identify the future
leaders of the optometric profession and
nurture their careers,” said Mike Morris,
OD, senior director, professional relations and clinical affairs, The Americas,
for Carl Zeiss Vision, which suggested
the program and provided funding for it.
Foundation president Mark Bullimore
noted, “The successful candidates truly
exemplify the highest level of commitment to clinical excellence and the independent practice of optometry.”
American Academy of Optometry-Carl Zeiss
Vision fellows (l to r) Jennifer Duan of the State
University of New York, Elizabeth Garland of New
England College of Optometry and Noumia
Cloutier-Gill of the University of Montreal chat
with Mike Morris, OD, of Carl Zeiss Vision at last
month’s reception.
Fred Howard (r), president and general manager
for the Americas of Carl Zeiss Vision, presents
an award plaque to Nana Owusu, a student at
the Illinois College of Optometry.
About 50 Foundation members and
all 19 student honorees attended a
reception during the Academy meeting
to recognize the students.
This year’s honorees were Amanda
Behr of the University of Missouri;
Noumia Cloutier-Gill, University of Montreal; Jennifer Qian Duan, State University of New York; Leanna Dudley, Pacific
University; Andrew Emch, Ohio State
University; Elizabeth Garland, New England College of Optometry; Tawny
Kaeochinda, Southern California College
of Optometry; Helen Kim, University of
California, Berkeley; Kimberly Oncavage,
Southern College of Optometry; Nana
Owusu, Illinois College of Optometry;
Ashley Zak Kimble, Nova Southeastern
University; Enhui Ko, Indiana University;
Sean Pitale, Inter-American University of
Puerto Rico; Jody Simmons, University of
Alabama at Birmingham; Juan Menjivar,
University of Houston; Carmela Miranda,
University of Waterloo, Ontario; Michael
Tommolino, Ferris State University;
Christopher Wolfe, Northeastern State
University; and Richard Zimbalist, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. II
12:18 PM
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imagination. With the changing landscape of the
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KEN LEE/BLACK BOX STUDIO.
Laps courtesy of Optical Works Corp.
Pads courtesy of DAC Vision.
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Einstein once said that the sign of intelligence is
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VM SPECIAL REPORT
Top Labs Position for Profits
Wholesalers Make Winning Moves in 2007
By Andrew Karp
Group Editor, Lenses and Technology
NEW YORK—When the first wave of consolidation rocked the optical lab sector a decade ago, many independent wholesalers drew battle lines between
themselves and the newly emerged supplier-owned lab networks. These
proud independents resented the vertical integration by some of their key lens
suppliers as a direct competitive threat.
Although tensions have since cooled, supplier-owned labs and independently-owned labs remain competitors. They distinguish themselves by their mix
of branded products, the range of services they offer, and how they position
themselves to their customers as well as in relationship to each other.
Yet these two groups of optical wholesalers also share many commonalities,
and they are growing more similar every year. The largest U.S. labs are aggressively pursuing new technologies that will enable them to offer the highest
value products as well as adopting new strategies for aligning themselves with
key suppliers who can deliver those products.
VM’s new 2007 Top Lab survey, an annual report that ranks the Top 25 Independent U.S. Wholesale Labs and the Top 5 U.S. Supplier-Owned U.S. Wholesale Lab Networks, offers fresh statistical evidence that the industry’s biggest labs
have much in common. One of the report’s key findings, for example, is that each
of the Top 5 Supplier-Owned Lab Networks and each of five leading Independents increased its Rx sales in 2007. Additionally, each of the Top 5 SupplierOwned Lab Networks labs increased the number of Rx jobs per day it produced
versus last year; three of the Top 5 independent labs also produced more Rx jobs
per day than in 2006. Although some of the Top 5 Supplier-Owned Lab Networks
grew as a result of mergers and acquisitions—most notably Essilor Laboratories of
America—financial results from these companies indicate that strong sales of
high-value products such as progressive lenses, photochromic lenses and antireflective lenses were the primary growth factors in 2007. Similarly, all of the Top
25 independent labs grew as a result of sales increases for these types of lenses.
This trend is expected to intensify in 2008, as more labs, both supplier-owned
and independent, acquire direct surfacing technology. The technology allows
labs to produce sophisticated progressives and other lens designs as well as
improve efficiencies in production and inventory management. However, the
high cost of the technology will limit its use to labs that are well-capitalized.
Despite competition between supplier-owned labs and independents, there
remains a great deal of mutual interdependence. Independent labs still represent
an essential link in the wholesale distribution chain for the major lens suppliers, all
of which operate their own lab networks. Similarly, independents count on these
same suppliers for a significant proportion of the products they sell, although allegiances to suppliers are always subject to shifts in the competitive climate.
TOP 5 SUPPLIER-OWNED NETWORKS
2007 was a strong year for the Top 5 Supplier-Owned Wholesale Lab Net-
VM’s Top Labs Performance Analysis
VM’s Top 5 Supplier-Owned U.S. Wholesale Lab Networks
2007
($ millions)
Total Net Sales
$1,289.8
Total Rx Sales
$1,133.6
Avg. Rx Sales as Percentage
93.3%*
of Total Net Sales
Total Rx Jobs Per Day
83,279
Avg. Percent of Uncuts
35.4%
Total Number of Lab Locations
156
Total Number of Employees
7,554
2006
($ millions)
$1,125.7
$1,021.4
93.6%*
% Change
74,400
34.4%
148
7,434
+10.7
+ 2.8
+ 5.1
+ 1.6
+12.7
+ 9.9
- 0.3
VM’s Top 25 Independent U.S. Wholesale Labs
2007
($ millions)
Total Net Sales
$588.6
Total Rx Sales
$440.8
Avg. Rx Sales as Percentage 91.7%**
of Total Net Sales
Total Rx Jobs Per Day
33,242.
Avg. Percent of Uncuts
29.9%
Total Number of Lab Locations
76.
Total Number of Employees
3,304
2006
($ millions)
$575.0
$427.8
89.8%**
33,339.
30.9%
75.
3,382
% Change
+2.3
+2.9
+2.1
+0.3
–3.3
–1.3
–2.4
*Does not include Nassau Vision Group, which has Rx sales of 36 percent; remaining 64 percent of Nassau’s Total Net
Sales are from stock lens business.
**Does not include Walman Optical, which has Rx sales of 44 percent; remaining sales are from various other products
and services.
Source: Vision Monday
works. These labs are expected to generate total net sales of $1,289.8 million,
up 12.7 percent over 2006. Total Rx sales, which is based on the labs’ core business of surfacing and finishing prescription lenses and is the basis of the primary ranking of the Top Labs, amounted to $1,133.6 million, or 93.6 percent
of total net sales on average. This represents a 9.9 percent increase over 2006.
Both Hoya Vision Care and Carl Zeiss Vision had significant growth in Rx sales in
2007, with 19.1 percent and 21.5 percent increases, respectively. Zeiss also increased
its productivity significantly, with a 30 percent rise in Rx jobs per day over 2006.
The number of Rx jobs for the Top 5, in aggregate, totaled 83,279, up 10.7 percent
over 2006. On an annualized basis, this amounts to a total of about 20.8 million Rx
jobs, up from 18.6 million last year. The average proportion of uncut lens jobs among
the Top 5 was 35.4 percent compared with 34.4 percent last year, a 2.8 percent rise.
As a result of acquisitions, the Top 5 added 25 individual lab locations in the
Continued on page 38
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100
87
90
95
90
90
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99
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Collectively, the Top 25 operate 76 individual lab locations, one more than in 2006.
The Top 25 labor force consists of 3,304 employees, down 2.4 percent from 2006.
Technology transfers from suppliers to independent labs continue to boost
revenues for a growing number of independents. This year, for example,
Robertson Optical of Columbia, S.C. became the latest independent wholesaler to install a Zeiss anti-reflective coating facility, enabling the lab to produce Teflon and other premium Zeiss coatings on-site.
Other Top 25 independents are acquiring direct surfacing technology. In 2006,
Rite-Style became the first independent lab to make the leap into direct surfacing.
This year, Pech Optical followed suit, and Expert Optics is expected to be next.
The spread between the largest and smallest of the Top 25 continued to
grow. This year, the Top 25 independents ranged from $92.4 million in Rx
sales for Walman Optical, the number one-ranked independent lab down to
$4.1 million for Hawkins Optical, the 25th ranked lab.
Two independent labs entered the Top 25 for the first time this year: Katz
& Klein, a 70-year-old wholesaler in Sacramento, Calif., and NEA Optical, a
21-year-old lab in Jonesboro, Ark.
TOP 10 U.S. WHOLESALE LABS
The Top 10 U.S. Wholesale Laboratories generated $1,584.9 million in total
net sales in 2007, up from $1,435.3 million in 2006. Rx sales for this group,
which consists of the largest independent and supplier-owned labs, totaled
$1,338.2 million, up from $1,213.4 million in 2006.
The Top 10 collectively produced 97,300 88,238 Rx jobs per day, which
amounts to about 24.3 million Rx jobs per year, compared with 88,238 Rx jobs
per day in 2006. II
Rx Sales
($ Millions)
Rxs Per Day
% of Uncuts
92.4
31.7
30.6
25.0
24.9
22.5
18.9
18.0
15.9
15.7
15.4
14.8
13.6
12.8
12.4
12.1
11.3
10.0
9.0
7.9
6.5
5.8
5.2
4.3
4.1
6,350
2,121
1,900
1,600
1,600
1,500
1,575
1,950
1,650
910
1,500
975
1,075
870
830
1,650
850
1,050
700
500
465
405
596
270
225
20
36
56
10
7
20
55
50
40
20
35
31
28
35
54
20
39
75
24
10
31
24
7
8
12
# of Employees
841
263
200
185
195
160
75
125
90
90
119
100
112
96
93
70
61
80
85
55
50
41
57
21
40
COVER STORY
Years in
Business
93
18
34
34
30
39
38
39
19
28
50
59
30
2
73
37
30
15
105
60
23
70
53
21
59
Sales estimates reflect combined sources of business for calendar year 2007 and are calculated based on information from a number of sources, which may include interviews with company management, financial disclosure documents and
information from knowledgeable secondary sources. Companies with the same estimated sales are ranked alphabetically.
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16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
210.0
33.0
31.5
25.0
28.6
25.0
19.9
20.0
17.7
16.9
16.2
16.4
18.4
12.9
13.0
12.2
12.5
12.5
10.4
8.4
6.8
6.1
6.1
4.3
4.8
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Walman Optical
Pech Optical
Luzerne Optical
Empire Optical of California
Interstate Optical
CSC Laboratories
Three Rivers Optical
ICare Industries
MJ Optical
Expert Optics
Robertson Optical
Rite-Style Optical
Diversified Ophthalmics
Legends 4.0
Balester Optical
Classic Optical
Hirsch Optical
Precision Optical Group
Winchester Optical
Toldeo Optical
Southwest Lens
Katz & Klein
Eye Kraft Optical
NEA Optical
Hawkins Optical
Rx Sales
(% of Net)
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Net Sales
($ Millions)
ION
The Top 25 Independent Labs
In 2007 at a Glance
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Collectively, the leading independent wholesalers experienced modest growth in
2007. The total aggregate net sales for the Top 25 Independents was $588.6, a 2.3
percent from 2006. Total Rx sales for the Top 25 reached $440.8 million, or 91.7 percent of total net sales on average. This represents a 2.9 percent increase over 2006.
The growth is almost entirely organic, and not the result of mergers or acquisitions.
In general, the larger independent labs experienced the highest growth rates
among the Top 25. For example, the Top 5 independents grew their Rx sales
by an average of 12.8 percent over last year.
Unit sales among the Top 25 were flat in 2007. The independent labs produced
a total of 33,242 Rx jobs per day, which amounts to approximately 8.3 million Rx
jobs per year, a 0.3 percent decrease from 2006. On average, uncut lenses accounted for 29.9 percent of Rx jobs produced by the Top 25, down 3.3 percent from 2006.
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past 12 months, bringing the total number to
156, compared with 148 in 2005. The Top 5
2007
work force consists of 7,554 employees in
2007 compared with 7,434 employees in
2006, a 1.6 percent increase.
As in recent years, a sizable portion of the Top 5’s growth was a result of
acquisitions made by the three largest Supplier-Owned labs networks. Two
labs that ranked among VM’s Top 25 Independent Wholesale Labs in 2006—
Sutherlin Optical, based in Kansas City, Mo., and Beitler McKee Optical,
based in Pittsburgh, Pa.—were acquired by supplier-owned lab networks in
the past 12 months (see related story on page 40).
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Vision Monday’s TOP LABS – 2007 (in alphabetical order)
Balester Optical
Founded: 1934
HQ./Main Lab Location: Wilkes-
Barre, Pa.
No. of Locations: 1
No. of Employees: 93
Key Executives: Heather Balester,
Dale Parmenteri, Fred P. Balester
Owners: Fred J. Balester, Dale Parmenteri, Patrick Balester, Susan
Balester Dennis, James Balester,
Valerie Balester, Dorothy Hodle,
Jonathan Balester, Marc Balester,
William Balester, Heather Balester,
Fred P. Balester, Jacqueline Pekar
Trade Names: Balester Optical
Key Markets: Eastern U.S.
2007 Est. Net Sales: $13 million
Rx Sales: $12.4 million
No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 830
Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 54%
Comments: Lenses offered include
Varilux, in-house Crizal, Crizal Alizé,
Crizal Alizé w/Clear Guard, Zeiss, RF
Endura EZ, Definity, Transitions,
Hoya, Shamir, Sunsensors, Gradal
Top 1 & 2, Sola One, AO Easy,
Sophia Loren, Christie Brinkley,
Bulova, BUM, Instashades, Wrangler,
Tegra, Stetson, Just-Match-It, EOS,
Bratz, Smart Mirror, Seiko, AO Compact, SolaMax, Ovation, Kodak Concise/Precise, Phoenix, Trilogy,
Melanin, NuPolar, Channel 14,
Cadillac, Nickelodeon, Stride-Rite,
Sperry, John Deere & Life Rx. Services and programs include Balester
Dispenser Awards (Transitions),
Value & Drilled Rimless Packages,
2nd Pair Program Balester Direct Rx
Program, Balester Back to School
Program, Superstar Frame Board
Management Program, $2,000
Minute ABO-Certified Education
Series, CPR ABO Training, On-line
ordering-VisionWeb, Eyefinity,
E-Dr.com, Remote Tracing, 24 hour
On-line order status VSP, VBA, Vision
Source, Essilor Edge, Practice Plus
Program, Shamir and Zeiss Rewards.
Web site: www.balester.com
CSC Laboratories
Founded: 1967
HQ./Main Lab Location: Watsonville,
Calif.
No. of Locations: 2
Key Executives: Dong K. Kim, group
president/CEO; William Inman, senior VP/COO; Bu Kim, senior VP, manufacturing; Paul Yoon, VP, operations;
Greg Kohmescher, CFO; Robert C.
Kim, legal counsel; Mike Kim, GM,
Microcoating Laboratory; Jim Serruys,
GM, Ocular Laboratories
Owner: Dong Kook Kim
Trade Names: CSC Laboratories,
VM’s Top 25
Independent Wholesale Labs
By 2007 Rx Jobs Per Day
VM’s Top 25
Independent Wholesale Labs
By 2007 Rx Sales
($ millions)
1
Walman Optical
92.4
1
Walman Optical
6,350
2
Pech Optical
31.7
2
Pech Optical
2,121
3
Luzerne Optical
30.6
3
ICare Industries
1,950
4
25.0
4
Luzerne Optical
1,900
5
Interstate Optical
24.9
5
1,700
6
CSC Laboratories
22.5
6
Classic Optical Laboratories
1,650
7
18.9
7
MJ Optical
1,650
8
ICare Industries
18.0
8
1,600
9
MJ Optical
15.9
9
Interstate Optical
1,600
10
Expert Optics
15.7
10
CSC Laboratories
1,500
11
Robertson Optical
15.4
11
Robertson Optical
1,500
12
Rite-Style Optical
14.8
12
1,075
13
13.6
13
1,050
14
Legends 4.0
12.8
14
Rite-Style Optical
975
15
Balester Optical
12.4
15
Expert Optics
910
16
Classic Optical Laboratories
12.1
16
Legends 4.0 Optical
870
17
Hirsch Optical
11.3
17
Hirsch Optical
850
18
10.0
18
Balester Optical
830
19
Winchester Optical
9.0
19
Winchester Optical
700
20
Toledo Optical
7.9
20
Eye Kraft Optical
596
21
Southwest Lens
6.5
21
Toledo Optical
500
22
Katz & Klein
5.8
22
Southwest Lens
465
23
Eye Kraft Optical
5.2
23
Katz & Klein
405
24
NEA Optical
4.3
24
NEA Optical
270
25
Hawkins Optical
4.1
25
Hawkins Optical
225
Rx sales estimates for calendar year 2007 are based on information
from a number of sources, which may include interviews with company management, financial disclosure documents and information
from knowledgeable secondary sources. Companies with the same
estimated Rx sales are ranked by Rx jobs per day.
Rx jobs per day estimates were calculated based on a number of
sources, which may include interviews with company management, financial disclosure documents and information from knowledgeable secondary sources. Companies with the same number
of jobs per day are ranked alphabetically.
Methodology
To rank the Top Labs, Vision Monday
chose only wholesale labs whose primary
business is processing spectacle lenses. Labs
operated by optical retail chains were not
included in the group.
Rankings were determined primarily
on the basis of 2007 estimated Rx sales
volume, with the number of Rx jobs
processed per day serving as a secondary
criterion. Rx sales are determined by calculating the percentage of total net sales
derived from surfaced and/or finished
prescription lenses. Estimates of Rx jobs
produced per day include safety lenses,
but not contact lenses.
For labs with one or more branches,
Rx sales and Rx jobs are estimated on a
company-wide basis. Branches are
defined as lab locations that operate separately and in addition to the main headquarters lab.
Companies with the same amount of
Rx sales were ranked according to the
number of Rx jobs per day; companies
with the same amount of Rx jobs per day
were ranked alphabetically. II
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No. of Rx Jobs/Day: 1,650
Comments: Full-service lab; Zeiss
distributor. Expert at federal and state
volume purchase contracts. Specializing in HMO, managed care and complete safety eyewear onsite and network programs. Frame and lens packages from $25, including new Retro Z
and Kidz school collection. Large
frame inventory for custom programs.
Overnight service on most uncut
orders; easy to use, secure online Rx,
stock lens and accessory ordering.
Web site: www.classicoptical.com
Laboratory Group
Youngstown, Ohio
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Monte Friedkin,
president; Dawn Friedkin, GM; Bob
Sherman, director of sales and contracting; Rodney Remsey, director of
lab operations
Owner: Friedkin family
Trade Names: None
Key Markets: National
2007 Est. Net Sales: $12.2 million
Founded: 1977
HQ./Main Lab Location: Cincinnati,
Ohio
No. of Locations: 13
Key Executives: Ronald Cooke,
president/CEO; Ronald Cooke, Jr.,
COO
Owner: Closely held corporation
Trade names: OptiSource, PureSite,
Salt Lake Optical, TriOptics, Summit Optical
In October, VSP Vision Care purchased Legends 4.0 Optical in
Lewisville, Texas. Founded in 2005 by
the Benedict family, Legends 4.0 is
the 14th largest of the Top 25 independent U.S. optical laboratories in
2007. (VM is classifying Legends 4.0
as an independent lab this year since
the 2007 Top Labs survey was complied prior to Legends’ acquisition by
VSP.) The acquisition represents the
latest move by VSP to create a network of companyowned labs that will
VM’s Top 5
operate in addition to
Supplier-Owned
U.S. Lab Networks Rx Jobs Per Day its existing network of
289 contract labs.
In February, Carl
1 Essilor Laboratories of America 56,000
Zeiss Vision appointed
Frederick Howard presi2 Hoya Vision Care
11,500
dent and general mana g e r, A m e r i c a s . H e
3 Carl Zeiss Vision Laboratories 10,000
replaced Dr. Barr y
Pa c k h a m , w h o h a s
4 VSP Optical Laboratories*
3,200
moved into the newly
5 Nassau Vision Group
2,579
created role of executive vice president,
Source: Vision Monday *Does not include contract labs.
global operations.
—Andrew Karp
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Founded: 1970
HQ./Main Lab Location:
named president of Essilor of America.
Goulet had previously served as senior
vice president for national labs and the
Northeast region.
In April, Hoya Vision Care acquired
Volunteer Optical, a Knoxville, Tenn.
lab owned by the Morgan family. Volunteer had estimated gross sales of
approximately $2.7 million in 2006.
The lab has 26 employees and
derives sales from customers primarily in Tennessee and Kentucky.
MON
Top 5 Labs That Made News in 2007
Essilor of America continued to pur- safety division of Dispensers Optical
sue its acqusition strategy in 2007. In Service in Louisville, Ky. The safety
the first quarter, Essilor purchased two business generates $5 million in annuwholesale labs. Beitler McKee Optical, al revenue, according to Essilor.
based in Pittsburgh, Pa., ranked 19th
In addition to buying labs, Essilor
among VM’s Top Independent Whole- acquired of a majority stake in contact
sale Labs in 2006, with Rx sales of lens distributor OOGP and its buying
$9.8 million. The second lab, Personal group. The move represents Essilor’s first
Eyes of Minneapolis, Minn was former- venture into the buying group business.
ly owned by Pat Shea; the lab has
Also in 2007, Real Goulet replaced
annual revenue of $2 million and 14 John Carrier as president of Essilor
employees.
Laboratories of America. Carrier was
In July, Essilor bought a
majority stake in Sutherlin
VM’s Top 5
Optical, which is headSupplier-Owned
quartered in Kansas City, U.S. Lab Networks 2007 Rx Sales
Mo. and operates a
($ millions)
branch in Joplin, Mo. The
1 Essilor Laboratories of America
738.0
management team consisting of brothers Steve
2 Hoya Vision Care
200.0
Sutherlin, Mike Sutherlin
and
John
Sutherlin
3 Carl Zeiss Vision Laboratories 117.0
remains in place. Sutherlin Optical ranked 12th
4 VSP Optical Laboratories*
50.0
among Vision Monday’s
5 Nassau Vision Group
28.6
Top 25 Independent
Wholesale Labs in 2006.
Also in July, Essilor also Source: Vision Monday *Does not include contract labs.
acquired the assets of the
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Donne, David Jochims
Owner: Carl Zeiss Vision
Trade Names: B&W Optical, Carl
Zeiss Vision—Kentucky, Carl Zeiss
Vision—Northwest, Cumberland
Optical, Great Lakes Coating Labo-
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Founded: 2000
HQ.: San Diego, Calif.
Key Executives: Fred Howard,
Classic Optical
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Carl Zeiss Vision
Laboratories
ratory, Kansas City Ophthalmic,
Laser Optics, North Central Ophthalmics, Northeast Lens, Siouxland
Ophthalmic Labs, Southeastern
Optical, Specto, Vision Systems Inc.
Key Markets: Nationwide
Comments: Network of full-service
laboratories. Proprietary products
include Teflon Clear Coat lenses,
Zeiss, SOLA, AO. VSP contract lab.
Web site: www.vision.zeiss.com
DA
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(Watsonville, Calif.); Microcoating
Laboratory (Watsonville, Calif.);
Ocular Laboratories (San Jose, Calif.)
Key Markets: U.S., Central and
South America, Caribbean, South
Pacific
Comments: Offers complete range of
stock lenses, including polycarbonate,
under the trademarks Conti-Lite,
Conti-Guard, Millenia AR and
TotalView. Frame product line consists
of 250 upper-middle and high-fashion
styles under CSC’s own trade names,
plus a complete line of safety frames
that meet ANSI Z87-1 standards. 40%
of frame line manufactured in Europe
under special arrangement; 60% manufactured in Asia. New designer frame
lines for 2007: Martini Design, Gattinoni Collection and Garrison Perspectives Collection. Service programs
include Space Invaders frame/lens program; operates three Satisloh high vacuum AR coating units to produce
Crizal, Crizal Alizé, Crizal Alizé with
Clear Guard, Endura, Magnum
Endura, Magnum Strada and Millenia
AR coatings. Total daily coating capacity 700 pair. Full-service Web-based
on-line ordering and job tracking system. Authorized VSP contract lab;
Essilor-authorized Crizal and Crizal
Alizé manufacturing in-house.
Web site: www.csclabs.com
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Key Markets: Ga., Idaho, Ind., Ky.,
Mich., Mont., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C.,
Tenn., Texas, Utah, Wash., Wis., W.Va.
Comments: Full service labs with ophthalmic lens and RGP manufacturing
capabilities. 2005 Transitions “Lab of
the Year.” Transitions Platinum Elite
Laboratory. Authorized Varilux distributor. VSP contract lab. Signet Armorlite partner lab. Operates on-site AR
coating facility. AR branded products
includes PureSite Preference. Specializes in premium lenses. Offers eyeglass and contact lens packages, Perfect View frame-and-lens value packages, certified continuing education
seminars and staff training. Markets
PureSite brand of stock lenses. Online and electronic ordering. Remote
frame tracing. Services and programs
include Frames Travel Program, Transitions Day at the Races, educational
seminars, RIP, Perfect View. Member
of the OLA and AR Council. 2006
OLA top 10 Web Site of the Year.
Web site: www.divopt.com
Empire Optical
of California
Founded: 1973
HQ./Main Lab Location: N. Hollywood,
Calif.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Noel Diaz, presi-
dent; Keith Grossman, vice president
Owners: Noel Diaz, Keith Grossman,
Neil Grossman, Joanne Grossman
Trade Names: Empire
Key Markets: Western U.S.
Rx Sales: $25 million
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Comments: Major West Coast wholesaler; VSP contract lab; produces
Zeiss AR coating, Teflon and Kodak
CleAR coatings in-house. Varilux distributor. Signet Armorlite partner lab.
Web site: www.empireoptical.org
Essilor Laboratories
of America (ELOA)
Founded: 1996
HQ./Main Lab Location: Dallas, Texas
No. of Employees: 5,000
Key Executives: Real Goulet-presi-
dent, Mike Nathe-senior VP east division, Rick Long-VP partner labs, Jim
Carne senior VP west division, Brad
Staley-VP operations and technologies,
Bruce Scott VP national labs, Keith
Norris-VP sales and strategic accounts
Owner: Essilor International
Trade Names: 21st Century Optical,
AccuRX Inc., ACO, Aspen Optical,
Avisia, Bartley Optical, Beitler-Mckee
Optical, Bell Optical, Bristow Optical,
Crown Optical, Custom Eyes, Dash
Lab, DBL Labs, Duffens Optical,
Dunlaw Optical, East Coast Ophthalmic, Elite Optical, ELOA New
Jersey, Eyecare Express, Focus Optical, Future Optical, Heard Optical,
Homer Optical, Jorgenson Optical,
Kosh Ophthalmic, Meridian Optical,
MGM Optical, Midland Optical, Milroy Optical, New City Optical, Omega
Optical, Omni Optical Lab, OpalLite, Optical One, Optical Suppliers
Inc., Optical Supply, Opti-Craft, Optogenics of Syracuse, Ozarks Optical,
Perferx Optical, Peninsula Optical,
Personal Eyes Optical. Precision Optical Company, Precision Optics, S&G
Optical, Select Optical, Southern
Optical, Select Optical, Southern
Optical, Spectrum Optical, Sunstar
Optical, Sutherlin Optical, Top Network, Tri-Supreme, Twin City Optical, Vision Craft Inc., WOS Optical
Key Markets: Local and National
Comments: Nationwide network of
full-service labs. Proprietary lens
products include TD2,
LiteStyle/Ultra LiteStyle lenses,
Sharpview. Services and programs
include Stimuleye Education Series;
Trace and Transmit, Varilux DRx.
Web site: www.eloa.com
Expert Optics
Founded: 1979
HQ./ Main Lab Location: Shorewood, Ill.
No. of Locations: 2
Key Executives: Greg Ruden; presi-
dent; Don Ruden, CEO; Bob Pommier, director of lab operations; Sid
Moore, director of sales; Bob Hughbanks, director of education
Owner: Don Ruden, Greg Ruden
Trade names: none
Key Markets: Ill., Ind., Mich., Wis.
2007 Est. Net sales: $16.9 million
Comments: Recently built new production facility to manufacture freeform progressives including Shamir
Autograph and other designs from
leading lens companies. Distributes
Kodak, Shamir, Varilux and Zeiss progressives. Signet Armorlite partner
lab, Carl Zeiss Vision Premier lab,
Global Optics member. Produces
Teflon Clear Coat and Kodak CleAR
coatings in-house; also produces Zeiss
Foundation XT, Carat and Carat
Advantage lens treatments. Hosts
annual Optical Preview Day. Experienced ABO-certified sales force offers
in-office education seminars. Offers
Jumpstart training program and Your
Eyes lifestyle dispensing tools. Distributor sales department inventories
over 50 frame lines with many frame
and lens package programs.
Eye Kraft Optical
Founded: 1954
HQ./Main Lab Location: Saint Cloud,
Minn.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Lawrence L. Lahr,
VP, Michael Moeller, treasurer
Owner: Patricia Negaard
Trade Names: Eyelight, Eyelight
Poly, Sun-Lite
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Percentage of Uncut Jobs: 7
Comments: Full-service lab, offers
broad selection of lenses and frame
packages; same-day/next day service
at no extra charge. VSP-approved lab.
Web site: www.eyekraft.com
Hawkins Optical
Founded: 1948
HQ./Main Lab Location: Topeka, Kan.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Kevin Bargman,
president, O.R. “Bud” Bargman,
chairman
Owner: Kevin Bargman, Bud
Bargman
Trade Names: none
Key Markets: Kansas, western Mo.
northern Okla.
Comments: Distributes Varilux lenses
and most current lens designs and
materials. Expert in rimless eyewear.
Offers Trace and Transmit. Offers
ophthalmic dispensing and marketing
six-hour seminars for eyecare professionals and staff. Ultimate warranties,
children’s programs, industrial programs, frame and lens packages.
Hirsch Optical
Founded: 1978
HQ./Main Lab Location: Farming-
dale, N.Y.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Harold Rothstein,
president/CEO; Kenneth Mittel,
senior VP; Michael Rothstein, VP;
Richard Salberg, director of sales;
Vicki Masliah, director of professional education
Owners: Privately held by some key
executives
Trade Names: CHAD AR coating
Key Markets: N.Y., N.J., Conn.
Comments: Extensive offerings of
lens and frame package programs.
Offers proprietary CHAD and RF
Endura EZ AR coatings applied inhouse. Same-day turnaround on most
orders. EZ Rx on-line ordering and
remote tracing. Accredited educational seminars. Award-winning Varilux
distributor, Zeiss Partner Lab, Shamir
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Texas
Locations: 19
Employees: 1,300
Key Executives: Barney Dougher,
president/CEO; Steve Koufos, VP
marketing and strategic planning;
Yoshiyuki Ono, VP lens technology;
Rich Montag, VP sales; Bill Harris,
VP operations; Tom Loveless, VP
finance; Kraig Black, VP information
services; Ray Knoll, Northwest
regional VP; Mike Dougher, Midwest
regional VP; Terry Farrell, Southwest
regional VP; Dave Eichelberger,
Northeast regional VP; Iggy Fernandez, central regional VP; Lester
Thornburg, Southwest regional VP
Owner: Hoya Corporation
Trade Names: Hoya Atlanta, Hoya
Bethel, Hoya Chicago, Hoya Cleveland, Hoya Dallas, Hoya Dayton,
Hoya Eugene, Hoya Hartford, Hoya
Knoxville (Volunteer Optical), Hoya
Largo, Hoya Lewiston, Hoya Los
Angeles, Hoya Modesto, Hoya New
Orleans, Hoya Portland, Hoya St.
Louis, Hoya San Antonio, Hoya San
Diego, Hoya Seattle
Icare Industries
Calif.
Founded: 1968
HQ./Main Lab Location: St. Peters-
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Mike Francesconi,
burg, Fla.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Scott Payne, chair-
man; Skip Payne, president; James
Payne, Bradley Husted, Greg Gehrig
Owners: The Payne family
Trade Names: Icare Labs, Sea Vision
Key Markets: East Coast, Southwest
Comments: Full-service, family
owned and operated. Offers all major
lens brands such as Varilux, Kodak,
Zeiss/SOLA and Younger. Offers customized services and pricing on lenses and frames. Recently completed
multiple phases of a multi-million
dollar facility and machinery renovation expanding into 2008 rollout of
in-house AR processing. Manufactures specialized sport prescription
lens products including dive masks,
ski goggles and recreational eyewear.
Web site: www.icarelabs.com
Interstate Optical
Founded: 1977
HQ./Main Lab Location: Mansfield,
Ohio
No. of Locations: 2
Key Executives: John Art, president;
Rob Art, VP; Debbie Art,
secretary/treasurer
Owner: The Art family
Trade Names: AR coating; Diamondback anti-scratch coating
Key Markets: Ind., Ky., N.C., Ohio,
S.C., Tenn., W.Va.
Corrine Hood
Owners: Mike Francesconi, Corrine
Hood
Trade Names: SPIE, Katz Prudent
Key Markets: Northern California
Comments: Produces in-house AR,
including Kodak CleAR. Proprietary
programs include Jumpstart, Lenstock, SPIE. Global Optics member.
Offers frame packages.
Web site: katzandklein.com
Legends 4.0 Optical
Founded: 2005
HQ./Main Lab Location: Lewisville,
Texas
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Bill Benedict,
Donna Benedict, Dennis Benedict
Owner: Vision Service Plan
Trade Names: Legends 4.0; The
Benedict Laboratory
Key Markets: Southwest, Penn.,
Calif.
Comments: Proprietary products and
services include Fast Rx, ClearView
AR, ClearView Ultra AR. Offers
frame and lens packages FashionPlus, FashionPlus Rimless, Fashion
Kids, Safe Plus, myBank.
Web site: www.legends4.com
Luzerne Optical
Founded: 1973
HQ./Main Lab Location: Wilkes-
Barre, Penn.
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No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Jack Dougherty,
president; Lorraine Dougherty, VP;
Neil Dougherty, GM; John Dougherty, VP purchasing
Owner: Dougherty family
Trade Names: Crizal, Crizal Alizé,
Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard, TD2,
Teflon, Advantage, Carat and Foundation XT, Kodak CleAR
Comments: Family owned and operated; offers wide range of exclusive
promotions, customer incentive and
educational programs. Field consultant force offers practice development, business reviews and private
consultations. Specializes in processing all major brands of free-form
progressive lenses. Manufactures
Varilux, Zeiss, Definity, Shamir,
Indo, Kodak, Hoya, Kaenon, Seiko
and DriveWear premium lenses and
difficult Rx’s. Offers frames, sunglasses, safety eyewear, soft contacts,
low vision, and pharmaceuticals.
Operates in-house AR facilities producing Crizal, Crizal Alizé, Crizal
Alizé with Clear Guard, TD2,
Teflon, Zeiss Super and Gold ET,
Advantage, Carat and Foundation
XT and mirror coatings and Kodak
CleAR. In-house gas perm contact
lens facility produces custom
DuraCurve aspheric GPs. Provides
advanced remote ordering with
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Founded: 2000
HQ./Main Lab Location: Lewisville,
Founded: 1937
HQ./Main Lab Location: Sacramento,
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Hoya Vision Care
Katz & Klein
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ReCreating Perfect Vision Partner
Lab, Transitions Platinum Elite Lab,
Signet-Armorlite Lab Partner, distributor of Hoya and Indo lenses. Authorized VSP and VBA contract lab.
Offers all Crizal, Zeiss, glass and mirror coatings. Ophthalmic frame lines
include Donald J. Trump, New Balance, Jill Stuart, Elizabeth Arden,
Elizabeth Arden Petites, Perry Ellis,
Pierre Cardin, Bill Blass, Riders by
Lee, Wrangler, Van Heusen, Geoffrey
Beene, Levi’s, Marco Polarized Sunwear, Cadillac Eyewear, Liberty Rexspecs. New Balance Kids, ScoobyDoo!, and the full line of Nickelodeon children’s frames. Distributes
Podreaders, Duet Glamour Glasses,
Pocket Peepers, Tuscany and Titmus
safety frames, custom clip-ons.
Web site: www.hirschoptical.com
service labs. Proprietary lens designs:
Hoyalux iD, Hoyalux iD LifeStyle,
Hoyalux Summit ECP, Hoyalux Summit CD, Hoyalux GP Wide, Hoyalux
GP, Hoyalux TACT, Amplitude and
Amplitude Mini. Proprietary lens materials: 1.70, Eyry, 1.67 Eynoa, 1.60 Eyas,
1.53 Phoenix,1.50 Hilux and Nulux.
Proprietary lens coatings: Super HiVision AR, HiVision AR, ViewProtect top
coating, SunTech photochromics and
Clarity Shield 2 scratch coating.
Web site: www.hoyavision.com
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Comments: Produces proprietary ARx
coating on-site. Offers Vision remote
electronic ordering and frame tracing.
Authorized distributor for Varilux,
Zeiss, Rodenstock, Shamir, and SOLA
lenses; REM, Rodenstock, R.O.I. and
Zyloware frames; Smart Mirror. Offers
ABO-accredited staff education and
classes; frame displays and dispensary
design services; Preferred Customer
Program. Received COLTS Lab gold
level quality certification.
Web site: www.interstateoptical.com
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RxWizard software via the Web.
VSP- & VBA-approved lab.
Web site: www.luzerneoptical.com
MJ Optical
Founded: 1988
HQ./Main Lab Location: Omaha, Neb.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Martin Hagge, Mor-
rie Hagge, Michael Hagge
Owner: Mary Hagge
Trade Names: None
Comments: Distributes wide range of
premium lens and frame brands. Proprietary products include Nyteyez premium AR and Miraje standard AR, both
produced in-house. Offers MJ frame
and lens program and MJFP frame
package. Distributes contact lenses.
Offers on-line ordering and on-line job
tracking, and various promotions.
Web site: www.mjoptical.com
Nassau Vision Group/
Nova Optical Lab
Founded: 1996
HQ./Main Lab Location: Northvale,
N.J.
No. of Employees: 440 (204 lab division)
Key Executives: François Bès de
Berc, president; Irwin Kaufman,
VP/CFO
Owner: Essilor of America
Trade Names: Nova Optical, Nassau
Lens Florida, Nassau Lens Southwest, Eagle Optical, Nassau Lens
West, Nassau Lens Southeast, Nassau Lens Midwest, Nassau Lens
Mid-Atlantic, Nassau Lens Memphis, Champion Optical.
Comments: Leading stock lens distributor, operates full-service lab.
Proprietary products include Synergy
and Triumph AR coating, Nalco progressive lenses. Has in-house Crizal
coating facility producing Crizal,
Crizal Alizé, Triumph and TD2 coatings. Proprietary programs include
Nassau Rewards Club.
Web site: www.novaopticallab.com
NEA Optical
Founded: 1986
HQ./Main Lab Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Jim Evans, presi-
dent, Dudley Owens, secretary
Owners: Jim Evans, Dudley Owens
Trade Names: NEAR Clear
Key Markets: Ark., southern Mo.,
west Tenn.
Comments: Produces in-house
NEAR Clear AR. Offers Specialize
remote tracing systems. VSP and
VCP lab. Member of Optical Services International, Vision Council of
America, Optical Laboratories Association. Programs include $2,000
minute, Check Yearly. See Clearly.
Web site: www.neaoptical.com
Pech Optical
Founded: 1989
HQ./ Main Lab of Operations: Sioux
City, Iowa
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Robert Pech, Doug
Pech, Paul Massey, Gerald Koolstra,
LuAnn Mosier, Mike Estes, Gary
Pech, Karen Lindberg
Owner: Pech family
Trade Names: Cool Silver, Cool
Gold, Cool Blue, MEI edger, EZ-C,
Zeiss Carat Advantage, Teflon,
Crizal Alizé Clear Guard, TD2, XT,
Autograph, Rx Wizard, Lusso
43
Comments: Full-service lab; accepts
Trade Names: Xzilion; RSO Nation-
orders through Rx Wizard. Offers
Shamir Autograph and Seiko Succeed
free-form progressives, and Varilux and
Zeiss progressives. In-house AR facilities produce Crizal, Crizal Alizé, Crizal
Alizé Clear Guard, TD2, Teflon, Zeiss
Foundation, Carat and Advantage
coatings, plus house brands Tiger
Back, EZ-C and Tuff AR. Offers kids
frame program and frame package programs, Direct-Rx frame inventory control program, safety program. Specialized edger for 8-base wraps; Cool Silver, Cool Blue, Cool Gold and Pech
Optical Safari mirror coatings. Offers
ABO-accredited seminars, webinars,
staff training and office design. Inhouse marketing department.
Approved lab for VSP, VCP and VBA.
Web site: www.pechoptical.com
Iowa
tral, Rocky Mountain states, Southeast
Comments: Specializes in free-form
technology. Produces Shamir Autograph lenses in-house; plans to
expand to other digitally surfaced
lenses this year. Applies Zeiss, Kodak
CleAR and Teflon coatings on-site.
Offers rapid turnaround times, online ordering, lens tracing and job status tracking. Affiliations include Eyefinity/VSP, Vision Source, VWI and
Red Tray Optical. Safety Rx division
covers corporate accounts nationally
as well as safety eyewear programs
for independent ECPs. RSO’s Jumpstart training CDs offer ABO-certified modules for in-office education.
Proprietary products include LenStock.com; Xzilion; RSO Advantage,
RSO SolAR; RSO Protect; lab trays.
Web site: www.ritestyle.com
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Mike Tamerius,
Robertson Optical
Laboratories
Founded: 1992
HQ./Main Lab Location: Creston,
Matt Somers
Owner: Mike Tamerius, Matt Somers
Trade Names: None
Key Markets: National, Canada
Comments: Full service lab, offering
low pricing and same day service.
Markets low cost, house brand progressives. Distributes semi-finished
blanks and lab supplies to other
wholesalers throughout the U.S. and
Canada. Offers Crizal, Crizal Alize,
Teflon and in house Zeiss AR coatings. VSP, VBA and VCP authorized.
Extensive frame and lens package
programs. Custom safety programs
offered through ECPs. Online
orders accepted via Vision Web, Eyefinity and Precision Direct, plus
phone/fax service.
Web site: www.precisionopticalgroup.com
Rite-Style Optical
Founded: 1948
HQ./Main Lab Location: Omaha,
Neb.
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: George Lee, CEO;
Larry Lee, president
Owner: George Lee and family
wide Distributor; RSO
Key Markets: Midwest, North Cen-
Founded: 1957
HQ./ Main Lab of Operations:
Loganville, Ga.
No. of Locations: 4
Key Executives: Owners and Glenn
Hollingsworth, director of lab operations
Owners: Calvin W. Robertson, Jr.,
Richard L. Robertson, Grady T.
Bentley, Somphavahn Vinavong,
Gordon Q. Scott, Sr., Gordon Q.
Scott, Jr., Jackie Howard, Calvin
“Chip” W. Robertson, III
Trade Names: Robertson Optical
Laboratories, Robertson Optical
Laboratories of Albany, Robertson
Optical Laboratories of Columbia,
Robertson Optical Laboratories of
Greenville.
Key Markets: Southeastern U.S.
Comments: Full Service labs promoting new lens products with new
technologies. Produces AR1,
Duralux, Teflon, Zeiss, and Kodak
CleAR AR coating in-house. Offers
Carl Zeiss Vision, Signet Armorlite,
Shamir, Definity, Vision Ease,
Younger and other major lens brands.
Approved VSP, VBA, VCP contract
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Southwest Lens
Founded: 1984
HQ./Main Lab Location: Dallas
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Danna Dahl,
Stephanie Bryan, Valerie Smith,
Gary Floyd and Kristi Roberson
Owner: Robert Dahl, Tom Mitchell
Trade Names: none
Key Markets: Texas, La., Okla.
Comments: Offers broad selection of
lenses including Varilux, SignetArmorlite, Zeiss, AO/SOLA, Rodenstock. Offers Zeiss AR, Foundation,
Kodak CleAR. Distributes frames
and Hilco products. VSP lab. VisionWeb lab.
Web site: www.southwestlens.com
Founded: 1969
HQ./ Main Lab
Location: Pittsburgh
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Mary
Ann Zappas, Joe Seibert, Steve Seibert
Owner: Seibert Family
Trade names: none
Key Markets: MidAtlantic, Southeast,
Midwest, Northeast
Toledo Optical
Founded: 1947
HQ./Main Lab Location: Toledo, Ohio
No. of Locations: 1
Key Executives: Irland Tashima, Jef-
frey Szymanski, Robert Lommerse,
Brian Green
Owners: Kadowaki, Tashima and
Green families
Trade Names: Toledo Optical,
Toledo Optical Lab
Key Markets: Ohio, Mich.
Comments: Dedicated sales force;
offers extensive training and education programs, exclusive practicebuilding initiatives such as STRATA. Offers exclusive in-house
ACCLARO AR lens process,
Kodak CleAR AR lens process.
Distributes Varilux, Shamir, SignetArmorlite and Zeiss lenses.
Williams Group certified sales consultant, Transitions Lab of the Year
2003 and 2006, Top Three finalist
for Transitions Lab of the Year
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and VSP’s
VSP Optical Laboratories
Founded: 1972
Hq./Main Lab Location: Sacramento,
Calif.
No. of Locations: 2
Key Executives: William Conner,
president; Jack Banville, managing
director, Sacramento (Calif.) Swen
Carlson, managing director, Columbus (Ohio); Edward Morris, director
of national sales and marketing
Owner: Vision Service Plan
Trade Names: VSP Lab—Sacramento, VSP Lab—Columbus
Comments: Special programs
include Service Guarantee. Offers
on-site AR. Produces proprietary
Acuity Plus AR coating. Distributes
Varilux, Hoya, Carl Zeiss Vision,
Shamir, Seiko-Pentax, Signet Armorlite, Transitions and Vision- Ease
lenses.
Web site: www.vsplab.com
Walman Optical Company
Founded: 1915
HQ./Main Lab Location: Minneapolis/
St. Paul, Minn.
Key Executives: Marty Bassett presi-
dent/CEO; Charles Pillsbury, executive VP; Doug Schlauderaff, execu-
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tive VP, Craig Giles executive VP,
John Anderson VP.
Owner: Employee-owned
Trade Names: Walman Optical, Soderberg Optical, Walman Soderberg
Instruments, X-Cel Contacts,
ImageWear, Ultra Optics, ADO Buying
Group, Preferred Select Buying Group.
(44% RX)
Comments: Two on-site A-R coating
facilities provide both Essilor Crizal
and Zeiss Carat AR; offers Remo,
Eyefinity and VisionWeb on-line
ordering; Walman University educational seminars; industry’s largest
independent sales force. Proprietary
products include Stepper Eyewear,
Wildflower frames, Trusted Partners,
360º Complete Packaging, Way Cool
Frame Cool, Valueline, MyTee-Lite
lenses, Revolution lenses, Soderberg
MaximEyes, Passport to Earnings,
Ultimate Rewards and Be Young Be
U programs.
Web site: www.walman.com
M
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Mondays
JUST GOT EASIER
Winchester
Optical
Founded: 1902
HQ./Main Lab Location: Elmira, N.Y.
No. of Locations: 3
Key Executives: Ben Lynch, presi-
dent; Brian Lynch, VP, general manager; Mike Lynch, VP, manager
Owner: Lynch family
Trade Names: LUXAR
Key Markets: N.Y., Pa., N.J.
2007 Est. Net Sales:
VM’s Top 10
U.S. Wholesale Laboratories
By 2007 Rx Sales
VM’s Top 10
U.S. Wholesale Laboratories
By Rx Jobs Per Day
($ millions)
Essilor Laboratories of America
738.0
1
Essilor Laboratories of America
56,000
2
Hoya Vision Care
200.0
2
Hoya Vision Care
11,500
3
Carl Zeiss Vision Laboratories
117.0
3
Carl Zeiss Vision Laboratories
10,000
4
Walman Optical Company
92.4
4
Walman Optical
6,350
2007 Est. Net Sales:
5
VSP Optical Laboratories*
50.0
5
VSP Optical Laboratories*
3,200
$19.9 million
6
Pech Optical
31.7
6
Nassau Vision Group Laboratories 2,579
No. of Rx Jobs/Day:
7
Luzerne Optical
30.6
7
Pech Optical
2,121
1,700
8
Nassau Vision Group Laboratories
28.6
8
ICare Industries
1,950
9
25.0
9
Luzerne Optical
1,900
Interstate Optical
24.9
10
1,700
in-house AR coating
facility; offers major
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Percentage of Uncut
Jobs: 55%
Comments: Operates
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labs. Offers frame and lens packages,
specializing in three-piece mounts.
Vera Bradley and Sydney Love
frame distributors. Member VCA
and OLA. Offers online ordering and
job tracking.
Web site: www.robertsonoptical.com
People First Lab Award Winner
2005.
Web site: www.toldeoooptical.com
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lens brands including Varilux, Zeiss,
Crizal, Kodak, Transitions. Manufactures Shamir Freeform progressive lenses. Produces proprietary
TR O Seg bifocal polycarbonate in
Transitions and TR O Blended Seg.
Offers private label Discovery brand
progressive lens. Primary frame
brands include Zyloware and
McGee Group.
Web site: www.3riversoptical.com
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$10.4 million
No. of Rx Jobs/Day:
700
Percentage of Uncut
Jobs: 24%
Comments: Proprietary
products include GlareControl and GlareCutter lenses. Diversified
lab with field salesforce; strong in instrument distribution; manufacturer of RGP contact lenses; distributor
of soft contact lenses;
frame distributor; offers
practice management
and office design consultation; sponsors biannual educational seminar for customers. II
.com
Su
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SPECIAL REPORT
as deep and far reaching as any that have occurred in the optical industry. If you could fast forward from a pre-1987 lab to the present-day lab, you’d see how the art and science of making prescription lenses has been totally transformed by major advances in manufacturing processes,
machinery design and information technology. No longer labor-intensive job shops, modern labs
have evolved into complete manufacturing environments where all functions from administration to customer service to production to shipping are connected by a constant stream of data.
Managing the data stream, which also connects customers to labs and labs to vendors, is as critical
to a lab’s success as the actual products it produces.
As part of Vision Monday’s year-long celebration of its 20th anniversary, we asked 10 knowledgeable and experienced observers to offer their insights about the changes that have reshaped
the optical laboratory in the past 20 years. These commentators, including vendors, consultants,
lab executives and an industry association staff member, offer a nuanced and up-to-date analysis of
the technological progress today’s labs have made as well as the potential of labs to deliver even
better products and higher levels of service to customers in the coming years.
—Andrew Karp, Group Editor, Lenses and Technology
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NEW YORK—Over the past two decades, the optical laboratory has undergone changes that are
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Tracking labs’ evolution from
job shop to information hub
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Transformation
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SOFTWARE IS THE HEART
OF THE LAB
Bill Ball
Vice President
Digital Vision, Inc.
Optical laboratories
receive, manipulate
and direct a vast flow of
information and product through channels
that connect with every
player in the industry.
Bill Ball vice president of Digital Vision,
Inc. (DVI) views lab management software as the “Mission Critical” product
that enables labs to link all of the pieces
and players together seamlessly.
“Software is the heart of the laboratory
with arteries going to every piece of
equipment and every process. Whether
it’s accounting, inventory, equipment,
remote order entry, practice management systems, etc., without the computerized lab management systems, the lab
would be overwhelmed with labor,” he
said.
“Lab software is at the hub of
today’s advanced technologies because
this software is the universal translator
for dissimilar systems,” said Ball.
“Without these software systems we
would not have this technology happening, where ECPs can send data
through their practice management
systems involving multiple products,
and have the lab understand what they
are sending.”
Today’s software systems must handle
data involving thousands of lens types,
lens materials, frame styles and eyewear
accessories, and communicate internally
with complex manufacturing processes
and equipment.
“The challenge is for labs to receive
the work in a way that can go through
seamlessly, without their having to alter it
because it has to be processed differently
than the way it came in, and to make
price adjustments or other changes. It’s
putting all these features together,
because every pair of eyeglasses is massproduced in a custom way.”
While electronic communication
reduces routine daily contact, it also facilitates an on-going dialogue between the lab
and accounts about service features and
enhancements. “I see electronic information as an opportunity to bring people
together in closer partnerships. It offers the
lab a greater way of communicating information to ECPs—whether it’s job status or
new products or promotional programs—
that will help them provide better services
to their customers. It definitely opens
doors,” Ball said.
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ened, he noted, by providing services
such as testing new products and presenting unbiased product information
to accounts to help them make
informed choices.
INTEGRATING BEST
PRACTICES WITH NEW
TECHNOLOGY
Bob Niemiec
President
Optinova Solutions
In Bob Niemiec’s view, keeping up
with the rapid technological advances
being made in the lab
manufacturing arena
requires more than
investing in the latest
equipment—it’s all
about integrating knowledge of best
practices with the new technology.
“It comes down to your people, how
skilled they are in best practices, how
well they understand process controls
needed to eliminate waste, increase
value added content and do the things
leading manufacturers in other industries
are doing on the process side,” according
to Niemiec, president of Optinova Solutions. “The level of investment wasn’t as
great 20 years ago to be in the top tier,”
while today, leadership requires an
investment not only in machinery, but
also in people, process and systems.
“People leading the technology curve
have a better understanding of technology and process, not just equipment
but things like six sigma, and they are
incorporating these into their facilities.
The ones that haven’t done that are
basing their operation on the skills and
techniques they have used for years,
which limits you. They are relying on
the skill of the individual rather than
the construction of the process.”
It’s not always a difference between
big and small size, Niemiec said. You
can be a smaller lab and be leading
edge if your management is forward
thinking and knows how to use today’s
process techniques. Conversely, there
are people running larger labs who have
made sizeable investments in technology but haven’t optimized it because
they haven’t pulled it all together. Operating in all three areas—people, process
and technology—is the key.”
EDUCATING THE CUSTOMER
Ralph Woythaler
President and CEO
21st Century Optics
The sales and customer service people
at 21st Century Optics spend a great
deal more time communicating with
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COMPUTERS CHANGE
THE FACE OF CUSTOMER
SERVICE
Ben Lynch
President/Owner
Winchester Optical Company
“Computer technology has expanded so
much in recent years
that we can now do
things that we never
dreamed we’d be
able to do,” said Ben
Lynch, president of Winchester Optical.. He pointed to dramatic improvements in accuracy and efficiency in all
areas of the front office, from electronic
order taking, to online order tracking, to
computerized billing and inventory
management. “With computerized
data, you can focus your inventory
where it’s most efficiently deployed, so
you have more picks when orders
come in,” noted Lynch, and this benefits both the ECPs and the labs.
“On the one side of the business,
computers have changed customer
service and order processing. On the
other side, computers have had a
tremendous impact on the products
we can make available,” said Lynch.
“One example is computerized surfacing with computer controlled cutting
machines. Whether you are making
the new inside progressives that are
digitally surfaced and the older computer controlled lenses, you are getting more accurate cuts.”
The introduction of robotics is
another factor that will have a positive
impact on cost efficiency benefiting
customers. “It’s going to allow us to
control costs, and that means less
inflation in the prices we charge to
practitioners,” noted Lynch.
With all of the innovations in lab technology including digital surfacing and AR coating, one of the trends that Lynch foresees is
an increase in labs doing only specialty
work. “A lot of labs won’t do tough jobs
anymore. Already, there are labs that are set
up just to process difficult orders. So I think
you are going to see more specialization,
with some labs running only the 2 percent
of jobs that other labs won’t handle.”
The relationships that labs maintain
with their customers and their suppliers have had to evolve along with the
explosion in new technologies. Lynch
recalled a time when a lab could provide its customers with all of the
frames and lenses they needed to do
business, and they often had an exclusive relationship.
Today, customer bonds are strength-
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customers than ever
before, explaining the
benefits of premium
lens products and
educating them on
ways to bring greater
perceived value to
their practices. “Forty years ago, our
service people were simply order takers,” said the firm’s president Ralph
Woythaler. “Today, we spend much
time, energy and money training our
customer care people because we are
partnering, teaching and trying to add
value for our customers. It’s a whole different ball game.”
Woythaler explained that the lab’s
mission is to try to teach practitioners
how to move upstream. “It’s not an
easy sell. The percentage of customers who ‘get it’ is still not extremely high. It’s a great feeling when a long
term customer ‘gets it’ because then,
they are wide open, they want to
know everything, they are like a
sponge knowing they are going to be
able to compete better in their own
market.” The lab presents seminars
called “Brand Works” to teach its customers how to market their practices
more effectively beyond just hanging
out a shingle and offering eye exams.
“The guys who don’t get it are concerned about paying 50 cents less for
something. Their AR penetration is zero
to 10 percent and they are not dealing
with specialty lenses. The teaching we
do is difficult because they look at us
with a jaundiced eye. We do have a
vested interest obviously, but our interests are mutual. If we sell higher end
products to the practitioner, he should
be much more profitable at his end if
he’s using proper margin work-ups.”
Advancements in lens materials like
progressives and AR coating have
driven the lab business upstream, stated Woythaler. “Without these innovations, our margins could never have
improved.
NEW WAYS OF DISPENSING
INFORMATION
John Anderson
Vice President/General Manager
Walman Ophthalmic Division
John Anderson, vp
and general manager
of Walman Ophthalmic agrees that
the role of the lab as
an information hub is
expanding. “We’ve
got equipment manufacturers coming
to us, asking what they can do and
Time to put
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Page 52
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how they can support their products.
And we have doctors coming to us
saying, what can you tell us, what’s
new, how do we do this.”
The way the company’s front office
operates has changed dramatically with
the installation of electronic ordering
software designed to streamline interfaces. “Twenty years ago, you made
most of your money back in the lab, and
now the front office is critical in terms of
data entry, making sure orders are
entered properly, getting them into
process, streamlining your work flow,
and getting more organized.” As a result,
the level of expertise among front office
employees has grown considerably.
With all these advancements, the
ECPs are slow to change in Anderson’s experience. “Only about 35 percent of our customers are ordering
electronically. Our account managers
are constantly talking with customers
to promote online ordering as a way to
avoid order errors and redos.”
In the lab, change is evident too in the
widening gap between the skill levels of
employees working on the production
line. “You’ve got the people who run the
jobs and then you’ve got a few highly
skilled experts who are computer literate
and really understand the technology.
“With today’s high automation, you
don’t have all these guys around who
understand the optics and the
mechanics. You look at a generator
and ask, ‘Is the green light on, or is the
red light on,’ and hope it’s a matter of
pushing the right buttons. If it’s not,
you need strong technical people who
know how to program the machines
and keep them running.”
ADVANCEMENTS
IN TECHNOLOGY
Rich Palmer
Owner/Consultant
Practical Engineering
In the last 20 years,
technological advancements in the
optical laboratory have
probably exceeded
anything that happened over the preceding 40 years, said Rich Palmer owner
of Practical Engineering. In his view,
two things are really propelling this:
advancements in machine tool technologies and advancements in manufacturing techniques and methodologies.
“Now in large laboratories, with
robotics and conveyors, we have
moved from a job shop environment
producing prescriptions, to a manufac-
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turing environment where the emphasis is not only on quality and good service, but also on embracing the techniques of industrial engineering, lean
manufacturing, six sigma, line balancing and all these sorts of technologies
and techniques that engineers in
industries have worked with for years.
“We still produce one prescription at
a time, but we are looking at manufacturing environments, not just a lab.”
These advancements do require
significant capital investment in most
cases, conceded Palmer, “but the
manufacturing and engineering techniques that go along with this do not
require much capital. The resources
are there for all of us to take advantage
of, and you do not have to be a large
lab with deep pockets to take advantage of some of these things.”
With the increasing complexity of
equipment and manufacturing
processes, the relationships between
laboratories and equipment vendors
are now much closer and much more
technical than ever before. “The older
equipment was not difficult to repair.
We used to say if you could repair a
car, you could repair an old generator.
That’s not the case any more. We are
into some very sophisticated electromechanical devices, so your relationship with vendors, for generators,
edgers, etc., must be much closer.
“Labs today have their maintenance
people trained in vendors’ facilities
where they make the machines, and
their follow-up visits to continue the
interface between the two companies
are more important now than ever been
before.”
As for free form lenses, Palmer sees
this technology as an opportunity that
will require an all-out cooperative
effort to bring to fruition. “The real
benefits of this process are the operating efficiencies of going from generating to polishing in one step, along with
superior optics for the consumer.”
hub of this huge technological and
informational explosion, in terms of
fabricating the lenses and in terms of
customer service. But sadly, many do
very little with that information.
“We have given them tools on
many levels, to improve remote entry
screens, to improve the ability to digitize the trace, to electronically have
their customers check their jobs online
to improve customer service. They
ostensibly have this incredible capability, yet sadly, they do not buy into
it. They seem reactionary.”
Utilizing today’s sophisticated information technologies requires a dedication to training not only lab employees
but also retail accounts, Cohen pointed
out. “They must learn how to install
the software, and to train their accounts.
They must shift their customer focus
from the old checking orders on the
phone and running around the lab looking for an Rx, to selling the new technology to their ECPs”
There are labs that are doing this very
successfully, said Cohen. “We have one
customer whose goal is to have 80 percent to 90 percent of his orders received
electronically. He personally—he’s the
owner of the lab—goes out to every
new customer and every old customer,
making an effort to do this. And each
morning, when he walks into this lab, 60
percent to 70 percent of his orders are
sitting there, electronically keyed in. So
he is laughing all the way to the bank,
because he understands that he had to
make this large investment, and continues to make this investment, and the
payoff is enormous.”
Paralleling the advances in information software are the technological
leaps being made on the process side.
“It’s all changing so fast. Free form is
one of those quantum leaps that will
change the face of the industry. Lapless technology offers a whole new
methodology that can de-skill a great
part of the manufacturing process.”
OPTIMIZING THE
TECHNOLOGY
Stephen Cohen
President
CC Systems
Today’s advanced
technological tools
allow labs to function
as the information
center for the optical
world, but the optimization of this role
is slow in coming according to
Stephen Cohen, president of CC Systems. “The lab is, or could be, the
LABS AND ECPS REACHING
OUT TO ONE ANOTHER
Charlie Pendrell
Consultant
Formerly with
Sierra Optical, Omega Optical,
Benedict Optical
The role of the lab as
the frontline of communication with
ECPs about optical
products and dispensing information
has gotten much
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Page 54
STANDARDIZATION OF
DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Ken Wood
Technical Director
Vision Council of America
Given the growing
complexity of today’s
optical environment,
data communication
standards play an
increasingly important
role in enabling labs
to manage their manufacturing processes more efficiently. Ken Wood, head of
VCA’s standards division, keeps a pulse
on the challenges that develop daily as
labs strive to integrate multiple new
products and machines within highly
automated production lines.
“The attempt is to provide a standard
way, an open public way, for all the stuff
in the laboratory to talk to each other
and to talk to the labs’ computers. He
notes that the process of developing universal standards has really exploded over
the last 10 years, because “labs had been
buying all this computer controlled
machinery, and every one of them had a
custom interface. So we had to go back
and forth with the machine engineers to
develop public standards that today, any
body can download.
“Standards serve the labs first and
foremost but they also serve the suppliers of software, machines and lenses, because using them results in
fewer rejects, less field service problems, fewer complaints from customers. So all parties are happy.
“For example, coating machines
have become very automated. It used
to be that you put a lens in by hand and
pushed a button. Now, there are robots
feeding the machines, multiple lens
materials, and different possibilities that
are all computer controlled. There wasn’t
a standard way to tell the coating
machine what coating to apply, what
type of lens substrate it was applying it
to, etc.” So standards are being developed to help control all these facets of
the operation, according to Wood.
The quest to develop universal
standards often butts heads with the
competitive nature of business, but
U.S. businesses do a better job of
dealing with this than some of their
European counterparts. “In the U.S.,
we recognize that there are areas of
business, such as standards, where
companies can cooperate legally and
effectively without losing their competitive advantage. We have convinced even our overseas suppliers
that they are way better off using a
standard communications scheme and
a standard language, so labs have less
trouble running all these different
machines.”
OPENING UP THE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION
Jeff Zeidner
Optical Lab Manager
Permanente Vision Services,
a Division of Kaiser Permanente
A major challenge facing labs today is
managing the layers upon layers of infor-
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more demanding over the last decade.
“As the product palette becomes more
complicated and integrated, it requires
somebody at the lab level to sort this all
out for the ECPs whose office staff don’t
comprehend it,” said Charlie Pendrell,
consultant. He sees this two-way communication leading to a much deeper
relationship between labs and their customers, and believes that both have a
responsibility to maximize its value.
“The lab’s customer service people
are getting more knowledgeable and
know what’s going on back in the lab,
and the sales reps are staying up with
the changes. I also think the ECPs have
enough on the line that they need to
reach out to the labs. The reputation of
the ECPs is based on the performance
of their labs, so they need to have an
internal confidence and understanding
of what the labs has to offer.”
Today’s electronic software is helping
to accelerate the ease and accuracy of the
communications, and “the younger sales
reps and customer service people are on
top of things. But some of the traditional
management and traditional ECPs are
still using two fingers on their computers.
There’s an evolution going on out there,
and when the dinosaurs decide to wake
up and get involved with this communications technology, they will join the guys
who have the more premium-appearing
companies,” Pendrell predicted.
New lens technologies looming on
the horizon have the potential to dramatically alter the relationships
between labs and lens manufacturers,
impacting who has ultimate responsibility for lens design and fabrication.
“With things like free form, what happens is that the margin is now merged
into the technology. There are legal
ramifications and the industry hasn’t
quite figured that all out yet. It’s going
to be very expensive for the laboratories to convert. But once one lab provides that service, it’s just a matter of
time before the others have to get
their heads out of the sand and join
the herd,” Pendrell said.
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mation that must be
communicated both
internally and externally. Jeff Zeidner,
optical lab manager at
Permanente Vision
Services believes that
“managing our databases correctly is the
most important thing we do.”
“There are many databases to manage such as your customers, what they
are buying, what their hot buttons are.
You have to manage your frame database and your lens information. In the
lab, computers run everything our
machinery does, so if the database is
set up incorrectly you can run thousands of mistakes and not even know
what caused them. It’s very complex.
“We’re fortunate to have an IT
staff whose entire job is to keep our
computer systems running. And
that’s a luxury many labs don’t have,”
he said. Another area where Permanente’s organizational structure provides a huge advantage is with electronic ordering. “One hundred
percent of our 38 retail stores use
electronic ordering systems. It’s
unbelievably efficient. And 80 percent of the time we supply the
frames from the lab, so we don’t have
to worry about getting the frames.
The trace information and specifications are already in the database and
it’s just repetitive after that.”
The company also has two employees whose full-time job is to educate
and train the dispensers in the company’s retail network of stores, providing
new product information and selling
tips. “We do continuing education for
all our dispensers. By the time the
trainers finish presenting to the last
store, something new is introduced and
they start the process all over again.
Permanente has invested heavily in
automation and is currently installing
free form technology. Vendor relationships in this high tech world have also
become more complex. “You are
reliant on vendors to a fault because if
they don’t come through it hurts us
terribly,” said Zeidner.
Zeidner knows it’s essential for labs
to adapt to major shifts in technology
in order to survive. “Forty years ago,
when lens technology shifted from
glass to plastic, the key players did not
respond fast enough because they
were invested in glass, and they lost
the market. Labs today must continually invest in new communications
and equipment technology, or they
will fade away.”
—Arlene Krupinski
K?<G<I=<:KI<8;<IGIF>I8D=FIK?<<P<:8I<GIF=<JJ@FE8C%
=fidfi\è]fidXk`feZXcc<i`Z9\ccXk+'($.(0$)('.%
© Quantum Optics, Inc. Private Eyes and Quantum Optics are registered trademarks of Quantum Optics, Inc., a division of FGX International
Quantum Optics, Inc. A division of FGX International Smithfield, RI 02917 www.fgxi.com
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LAUNCHES
Polycore Offers Success Building Tools for ECPs
By Andrew Karp
Group Editor, Lenses & Technology
RENO, Nev.—According to new
research conducted by Polycore Optical USA, eyecare
professionals face many challenges including boosting
profitability, training staff,
fostering customer loyalty
and educating patients. To
confront these challenges,
the Reno-based lens supplier has created the Polycore
Basics System.
“The Basics System is a unique, easy to
use set of best practice tools that will help
the ECP to streamline their business
model, improve customer care, and grow
their bottom line with increased multiple
pair and premium product
sales,” said Greg Rook, vice
president of sales and marketing for Polycore Optical USA.
Components of the system
include the Basics Eye Guide,
a consistent resource for
patient education and reference by staff throughout the
complete customer journey
from entry through checkout.
The patent pending Polycore Glare
Demonstrator shows
how polarized and antireflective coated lenses
reduce glare and allow
for recommendation
right in the exam room.
A truly basic resource
for educating new opticians and those who
need a refresher course,
the Basics System Staff
Training Guide is a
quick and easy guide for learning about
optics, eye conditions, correction, lens styles,
materials, and treatment options.
Polycore Basics System Kits and com-
“The Basics System
is a unique, easy to
use set of best
practice tools that help
the ECP to streamline
their business model.”
—Greg Rook,
Polycore Optical USA
ponents are available for a small upfront
fee that can be recouped through discount coupons provided. For more
information, call (800) 396-1580. II
SECOND LOOK
Armani Releases New Styles, Highlights Sun for Holidays
PADOVA, Italy—Sàfilo releases new styles in the Giorgio Armani collection, featuring a
special edition sunglass, the GA 558/S, for Christmas 2007.
In a collection that includes 24 new styles, the GA 558/S is an exclusive red-carpet
inspired special edition, designed to appeal to women of sophistication and charisma.
The frames feature a polished acetate front with a handmade look and an upscaled
oval shape which pays homage to the ‘60s.
The temples are set with 19-carat rock crystal or 20-carat fumé quartz in a trapezium
diamond cut.
The GA 558/S sunglasses are available in two colorways, shell brown with nuanced
brown lenses and temples featuring a polished gold setting with rock crystal and shell
grey with nuanced grey lenses
and temples featuring a polished
palladium setting with fumé
quartz. The Giorgio Armani logo is
photoetched under lacquer on the
endpiece, with the GA monogram serigraphed on the right lens.
The GA 558/S model is priced to the dispenser at
$330, while the rest of the collection is priced between $110
and $347.50. II
The GA 558/S from
Giorgio Armani by Sàfilo
for Christmas 2007.
SECOND LOOK
SECOND LOOK
Cynthia Rowley Eyewear
Unveils New Styles
Luxottica Re-Launches
Adrienne Vittadini Eyewear
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Couteur Designs, a division of the Kenmark Group, has introduced
five new frames into its Cynthia Rowley Eyewear and Sunwear collection.
Each design is created through inspiration from Cynthia Rowley’s runway designs
and these new styles continue to portray the designer’s creativity, wit and originality.
Her unique patterns and beautiful color palette have been translated into two new ophthalmic and three new sun styles. The frames are adorned with beads, crystals and
cutout ovals on the temples for
a whimsical look in women’s
eyewear. The oversized sunwear are fashion-forward with
decorative temples and crystal
accents. The color palate for
the new styles includes eggplant, orchid, olive and navy,
with black, brown and tortoise
also available.
Each Cynthia Rowley optical
frame comes with a signature
mini handbag eyewear or sunwear case. Frames feature a
three-year warranty. The ophthalmic styles are priced to the The CR0241 (top) and the CR0244
dispenser at $56 each, while the (bottom) from Cynthia Rowley Eyewear
for Couteur Designs.
sunwear is priced at $59. II
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—Luxottica has re-launched
their Adrienne Vittadini eyewear collection to coincide
with the re-launch of the brand’s apparel and accessory lines begun with the Fall 2008 collections.
The revamped collections will reflect the heritage of
the brand—sophisticated designs blending European
elegance with timeless American sensibility. The relaunch of the Adrienne Vittadini eyewear collections bring
Styles from the revamped Adrienne
to the optical industry a fresh and feminine approach to Vittadini collection from Luxottica
classic styling with a decidedly modern interpretation. A along with the limited edition
wide range of ophthalmic and sunglass styles encom- Adrienne Vittadini handbag available as a gift-with-purchase.
pass a feeling of luxury, glamour, and refinement.
Optical standouts include the AV 6068 B, a sleek semi-rimless oval/cat eye fusion with
streamlined temples highlighted by two sets of tiny nailheads and the AV 7034B, a dramatic zyl cat eye featuring tiny nail heads offset by one sparkling jewel set at the corners.
For sunwear, the AV 5054S is an architecturally rendered zyl featuring rectangular
lenses set in a richly colored frame, while the wide temples are accented with vertical metal links and the Adrienne Vittadini logo plaque. The AV 5055S is a bold
and modern Rx-able style featuring rich tones with color accents around the top
and bottom, while the mid-sized temples feature metal basket weave detailing.
As part of the reintroduction of the Adrienne Vittadini brand, a limited edition Adrienne Vittadini handbag is available exclusively to Luxottica customers with the purchase of 20 Adrienne Vittadini frames. The Adrienne Vittadini eyewear collection is
priced to the dispenser between $36 and $51.95. II
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HIGH VISIBILITY
SILHOUETTE OPTICAL’S advertising campaign “Simplicity
lished by Silhouette Optical Ltd., has won the 2007 American Graphic Design Award
Through Perfect Design” has received a CEBA Award
sponsored by Graphic Design USA and Adobe Systems Incorporated. The award is
(Creative Excellence in Business Advertising) for excel-
the second for the publication which won the international design competition, the
lence in advertising from American Business Media
Gold Marcom Creative Award, from the Association of Marketing and Communica-
(ABM). As one of business media’s most prestigious cre-
tion Professionals last year…LUXOTTICA awarded the “Persol Style Award,” in its
ative awards, the CEBA Awards celebrate outstanding
second edition at the 64th Annual Venice International Film Festival, to the Italian-
achievements in business media advertising. Silhouette was selected as one of
Turkish director, Ferzan Ozpetek. The award
33 finalists competing in 12 categories. The
is given to a director who best represents
“Simplicity Through Perfect Design” print cam-
the qualities that have marked the unmis-
paign has been running in the January, April, June
takable style of the brand since 1917 and
and Sept. 15 issues of 20/20 magazine…In
Ozpetek, considered one of the best direc-
other SILHOUETTE news Silhouette Stories: An
tors on the Italian scene, is skilled at cap-
Intimate Look at Life, in Silhouette, a book pub-
turing the best that the Italian and foreign panorama offers within the ensemble
drama genre. Antonio Miyakawa, executive vice president of Luxottica Group and
Protect your investment
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cycling and a marathon on foot. II
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SECOND LOOK
SECOND LOOK
Modo and Derek Lam Introduce
Spring/Summer ’08 Collection
Silhouette Unveils SPX Full Rim Collection
DE
NEW YORK—Modo has extended the
Derek Lam eyewear collection with
eight optical and nine sunglass styles,
all available in four colors each.
Hand-crafted by the finest Japanese artisans under the most strict
quality standards, the collection
remains true to Derek Lam’s unique
inspiration for his ready-to-wear collection. The Derek Lam Eyewear collection expresses a sensual, yet wearable and unfussy style with
understated glamour conveyed by the
design, subtle detailing and unique The Derek Lam 206 optical frame in raspberry
color combinations.
and the Derek Lam Sofia sunglass from Modo.
Materials, like textured, double-colored and transparent zyls from a wide range of color palettes make the collection
a strong statement in opposition to disposable fashion. Details, like the rounded
temples and the metal logo plaque on the inside of the temple, confer a rich yet
subtle feel.
The Derek Lam Eyewear Spring/Summer ‘08 collection will be distributed
through a tight league of selected eyewear, specialty and department stores
across the world and is priced to the dispenser at $125. II
GREEN ISLAND, N.Y.—Silhouette has introduced its newest collection of full rim plastics.
Consisting of three models, in a choice of three colors, Silhouette’s latest SPX Full
Rim collection is designed for consumers seeking the smart look of casual chic. SPX
stands for Silhouette Polyamid X, which like the high tech titanium used in Silhouette’s
rimless collection, Titan Minimal Art, is a comfortable and pliable material with shape
memory that allows for long-lasting wear. SPX also allows for a full palette of hues.
“The beauty of SPX lies in the way in which it can capture and reflect light,” said
Silhouette’s color designer Bettina Löffler. “Colors can be translucent or matte,
intense or subdued. The material offers the possibility for a full range of expression.”
The models are monochromatic with elements rendered both in translucent and
matte color treatments. The collection includes one women’s model, the 1530,
which is available in deep red with ruthenium-plated accents, and in brown/gold and
eggplant, both with gold-plated accents. The other two models are men’s; the 2865
and the 2866, a slightly deeper frame. Both men’s models are available in chocolate
brown with ruthenium-plated accents or in
brown/gold or taupe/gold with gold-plated accents. All models feature a
small logo element on the
temple.
The Silhouette SPX Full Rim
collection is priced to the dispenser at $84.95 per frame and
each one comes with a hard case and
The SPX full rim plastic, #2865,
cleaning cloth. II
from Silhouette.
SECOND LOOK
SECOND LOOK
Marcolin Revamps the Montblanc
Eyewear Collection
Ray-Ban Ultra Offers Two
Limited Edition Sunglasses
LONGARONE, Italy—Marcolin
introduces the new Montblanc
eyewear collection, which reinterprets the classical Doublé-Ringdesign and the elegant Montblanc
signet in the style of the Montblanc
jewelry collection, to realign it to the
other Montblanc collections.
Montblanc products combine the values of traditional craftsmanship with timeless aesthetics and
a refined lifestyle. The new 2008 The Crystella sunglass with rotaing crystal from
Spring/Summer Montblanc eyewear col- Montblanc eyewear by Marcolin.
lection highlights sophisticated flair combined with modern motifs in unique materials.
The collection offers a wide variety of female styles strongly aligned to the Montblanc jewelry collections. They are distinctive for their highly sophisticated, precious
details that enhance the wide, curving frames that feature rounded, square and mask
styled fronts. The Montblanc signet is reinterpreted throughout the collection. It comes
as a double-porthole on the temples of some frames inspired by the links of the Silver Jewelry Star Collection’s chain necklace. On the Crystella model the Montblanc
signet is done in gold with a small Swarovski crystal rotating around its profile.
The men’s styles are predominantly metal with urban classic character. The aviator sunglasses, in drop and square shapes, feature flat fronts and temples in
enamel-effect acetate reminiscent of the famous Montblanc pens. The latter also
provided the inspiration for the “nib” motif on the temples of some models, while
others feature details from the Leather Collections. Additional new features
include the circular guilloché motifs on the temples, in reference to the StarWalker Doué writing instruments, as well as the Doublé Ring design.
The newly reinterpreted Montblanc collection from Marcolin is priced to the dispenser between $110 and $210. II
MILAN, Italy—Luxottica celebrates Ray-Ban’s 70th birthday
with the introduction of Ray-Ban Ultra Gold, two new limited edition versions of the most legendary sun styles that
made the brand famous, the Ray-Ban Aviator and the RayBan Outdoorsman.
The Ray-Ban Ultra Limited Edition
The Ray-Ban
features top quality and
Ultra Gold Aviator
technological exceland genuine
lence with design that
leather case from
Luxottica.
has improved these classic shapes with new
details and updated cutting-edge technology. RayBan Ultra uses precious materials, including titanium, beta-titanium and pure gold, to combine
contemporary taste with tradition, technology, beauty, and legend. The frame is made
of titanium on the front and beta-titanium on the temples and then the entire frame
is plated with 22K gold.
Only 12,500 numbered single eyeglass pieces each will be produced, for a total
of 25,000 pairs, each engraved with their own serial number on the inner side. These
are unique and authentic pieces that truly represent Ray-Ban’s continuous success.
The new P3 (P-Cubed) lenses further reflect the quality and technological core of
Ray-Ban Ultra’s design. A new polarizing filter, sandwiched between two glass layers,
improves vision and guarantees higher protection against polarized light. Anti-glare
coating reduces the percentage of light that reaches the eye, ensuring sharper vision.
Finally, the new waterproof quality of P3 lenses adds protection to the surface.
Ray-Ban Ultra eyewear is exclusively packaged in a boxed leather case and comes
with an informative leaflet. Dedicated point-of-sale materials, including a glorifier
which holds two sunglasses at 10 cm high and/or a pedestal, are available to participating stores. The Ray-Ban Ultra collection is priced to the dispenser at $194. II
Introducing the short corridor progressive that’s
SIMPLY HUGE.
Huge News: KODAK Precise Short™ Lens
brings award-winning design to small frames.
The technology revolution termed Vision First Design™ gives KODAK Precise Short Progressive
unmatched optical excellence for small frames.
Direct Digital Surfacing ensures that pinpoint accuracy is delivered directly from the designer’s
specs right into the mold.
• Horizontal symmetry in the distance and peripheral areas provides superb binocular vision.
• Smooth power progression produces visual quality similar to a single vision lens.
• “Swim” effect is reduced, speeding up adaptation.
• Fitting heights as low as 13mm; ideal for fashion frames.
Signet Armorlite, Inc. 1001 Armorlite Dr., San Marcos, CA 92069 • 800-950-5367 • www.signetarmorlite.com
Kodak and the Kodak trade dress are trademarks of Kodak, used under license by Signet Armorlite, Inc.
Precise Short is a trademark of Signet Armorlite, Inc. ©2007 Signet Armorlite, Inc.
Page 62
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What excites you most about
design?
The materials. People think designing
is a visual thing but there are also
tactile and kinetic components.
2
Describe the ultimate Dana Buchman woman.
3
She’s smart, funny, engaged in many
things. She loves to look great.
What’s been the greatest challenge
in interpreting your design perspective into an eyewear line?
The same challenge I find in designing the clothes—narrowing down the
styles I adore to a manageable
size—that is, the ones I can’t live
without.
4
What are some of your favorite
pieces or characteristics of your
eyewear collection?
I know how important it is that a
woman’s eyewear fits—fits her face
5
and fits her style. I wear glasses, so I know. I’ve designed a
wardrobe of eyewear for my
customers [and for myself] for
every aspect of our lives; from
power frames for the executive
suite to sporty, casual weekend
styles to an often-forgotten
aspect—dressy eyewear for
evenings out. I’ve used colors
and surfaces that are important in fashion and lots of jewelry details also.
What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Do what you love. II
6
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through Diagnostic Instrument Group takes all the fuss out of eye exams. This small,
handheld device uses a light probe to make contact with the cornea momentarily.
The measurement is barely noticed by patients and rarely causes corneal reflex which
makes it easy to measure intraocular pressure on dementia patients and children.
Fully equipped in a stylish steel case, the ICare-Tonometer is ADA compliant and has
been proven to be more accurate than a Tonopen – and as accurate as a Goldman.
Contact Diagnostic Instrument Group TODAY
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S LEA
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What are the most important
influences on your design work?
I am inspired by the women I dress—
how they live, what makes them feel
beautiful. I don’t dream of models on a
runway—rather of women across
America who run companies, families,
and a million different projects.
NEW
DA
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Designer Dana Buchman has been at the helm of her
eponymous brand for two decades, creating clothes for the
real women who run this country’s businesses, families and
communities. She travels extensively around the U.S. meetBy Deirdre Carroll ing her customers and is truly a designer who delivers the
goods—making her customers feel and look beautiful. As a
woman whose life has many roles, she knows what type of
lives women lead and always keeps this in mind when designing. Her clothes are worn by philanthropists, politicians, businesswomen and celebrities. And now, thanks to her partnership with Couteur Designs, a division of the Kenmark
Group, those women can also wear her eyewear and sunwear through her Dana Buchman Vision collection.
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(813) 926-3447 or
(877) 344-8733
www.edigonline.com
Diagnostic Instrument is the exclusive distributor for U.S., Latin America, and Canada
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Plastic
Photochromic Lenses
by Corning
SUN ADVISOR
Panoptx Re-brands Under New Logo
By Deirdre Carroll
Associate Editor
Excellent value for money
Warm, comfortable colours
The ideal lens to introduce your patients
to photochromic technology, at an affordable price.
PLEASANTON, Calif.—Panoptx has
announced that, effective January 2008, it
will launch a new logo, a stylized numeral
7 tied to a new brand “7EYE,” with
renewed emphasis on Dysfunctional Tear Syndrome
(DTS) treatment.
“We wanted a name with instant recognition, a logo that would stand out, and a
domain name that people could spell, a
name with youthful energy and attitude,”
said Bob Hall, Panoptx president and
CEO. “We found that in the combination
of the 7 logo and brand. We want to be
recognized as an eye health brand that
helps consumers see all seven colors in
the spectrum of visible light. By helping
people see the world in all its colors, we
help them do whatever they want better
and in greater comfort. We loved the
7EYE logo the moment we saw it.”
The first Panoptx frames bearing the
7EYE logo are already being introduced as
Seven Eye by Panoptx Limited Edition
III series to the motorcycle market, where
Panoptx first was first introduced among
Harley-Davidson riders. A complete line of
7EYE by Panoptx products for all categories will be ready by mid-January, 2008.
Most models will bear familiar names and
fits to help retailers through the transition,
including the Bora, Churada and Whirlwind in the Seal Protection Factor (SPF)
100 collection, and the Taku, Zephyr, Vortex and Gale in the SPF75 series.
“The introduction of 7EYE is also the
beginning of a new platform for product
development,” continued Hall. “We have
new eyecup technology and new frame
designs due to roll out in 2008. We are creating a solid foundation for brand expansion and sales growth, and with new styles
and new technology in the pipeline,
7EYE will fuel that growth.” II
Oakley and Motorola Release New O ROKR Pro
Excellent stress resistance
Strengthened UV cut-off
A new, high-performance photochromic lens
which meets the requirements for rimless frames.
It’s always better
to have a choice
SunSensors is a registered trademark of Corning Inc., Corning, NY
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif.—Oakley,
Inc. and Motorola, Inc. have released the O
ROKR Pro Bluetooth Stereo series of eyewear. O ROKR Pro combines hands-free
wireless communication and wireless music
streaming with the clarity of Oakley’s High
Definition Optics (HDO).
The semi-rimless
frame design and Oakley’s XYZ Optics maximizes clarity at all angles.
The interchangeable lenses of O ROKR
Pro allow the wearer to adapt to virtually
any environment and performance is
optimized with the Oakley Hydrophobic lens coating that repels water, skin
oils and dust. Pure Plutonite lens material filters out 100 percent of all UV light
and harmful blue light up to 400nm, and
the lens/frame combination meets all
ANSI Z87.1 protection standards for
impact resistance. Oakley Rx technology can match the frame with prescription lenses. The product will initially be
offered in two color combinations; polished black with grey lenses and polished white with blue iridium lenses.
The O ROKR Pro’s Motorola Bluetooth
2.0 technology is compatible to the
user’s mobile phone and/or
music storage device
up to 33 feet away.
Multiple phone and
music player functions
can be accessed with buttons built into the
frame. The Motorola Bluetooth 2.0 technologies of O ROKR Pro include Bluetooth
Handsfree and Headset profiles, as well as the
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
and Audio Visual Remote Control Profile
(AVRCP). An integrated rechargeable battery
offers up to 100 hours of standby time. II
Don’t forget to check out Vision Monday’s Sun Advisor
E-Newsletter each month. In the November edition, see
why geek chic isn’t just for glasses anymore in Trend
Flash, how you can get your own “Rx in a Box” from
Smith Optics in What’s New Under the Sun and what hot
shades the celebrities are wearing in Star Sightings. To
view the November issue
A
Newsletter
and all previous issues go to www.visionmonday.com and click on the Sun Advisor icon.
SUN
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CONTACT LENSES
Daily Disposables’ Growth Is Contributing to Practice Revenues
By Marge Axelrad
Editorial Director
NEW YORK—It would seem as if daily
disposable contact lenses have been
eclipsed, in recent years, by other contact lens modalities.
The upsurge in silicone hydrogels, for
example, have been part of contact lenses’ steady sales gains, as these new premium lenses and materials comprise a
larger and larger part of the day-to-day
market.
But, the sun is now shining more
brightly on the daily disposable category,
as more eye care professionals re-visit
the idea of recommending and fitting
them for contact lens patients.
Spurred on in part by recent contact
lens solutions recalls, but also by such
factors as new types of daily disposable
products, contact lens company incentives and increased patient interest and
receptivity to the idea, the growth of
daily disposables this year, compared to
even one year ago, is noteworthy.
With penetration in the U.S. estimated
to be about 10 percent to 11 percent percent of all contact lens fits in the market,
according to contact lens company estimates, dailies still represent a small proportion of the overall contact lens market.
This is a big contrast to penetration in
Europe and Asia, where daily disposables comprise 40 percent or more of
sales. But daily disposables’ growth rates
have been substantial in the past 24
months, and especially the past 12
months, with experts projecting that
sales are on a track to virtually double
within the next year or two.
Given doctors’ concerns about contact
lens care compliance, more ECPs are
coming to realize dailies’ role as the
highest-compliance modality—with
rates of 94 percent, according to most
measurements – which is also furthering
their appeal as a fitting choice.
Part-time or occasional contact lens
wear, particularly among younger
ECP Gross Profit Comparison
Daily Disposable vs. 2 Week Hema Spheres
4 Boxes
2 wk Hema
Disposable
8 Boxes (annual supply)
Daily Disposable
(90 pack)
2 wk Hema
Disposable
Daily Disposable
(90 pack)
$180.88
$90.00
$90.44
$41.40
Source: ABB/CON–CISE Soft Lens Retail Price Monitor. Reflects cost-of-goods and retail pricing of independents ECPs.
patients and former contact lens wearers,
is another factor supporting the choice of
daily disposables; they are viewed by
ECPs and patients as one of the simpler
“entry points” into contact lens wear.
One of the barriers to the category’s
growth has been perceptions of high
price—on the part of patients and, even
more so, on the part of doctors.
In fact, according to a recent study by
R.W. Baird & Company and All About
Vision, one major reason daily disposables have not been presented , cited by
the ODs surveyed, was that they are
thought to represent the “highest cost
to the patient.” The number one reason, among those ODs who don’t recommend daily disposables was the doctor’s feeling of being “more like a
salesman”—in other words, that the
need to explain pricing and cost is an
uncomfortable area for the doctor.
However, in this same survey, doctors’
anticipated that daily disposables could
represent as much as 26 percent of their
total contact lens business in two years.
Notes Angel Alvarez, CEO of
ABB/Con-Cise, one of the industry’s
leading distributors, “More independent
eye care professionals are getting on the
Daily Disposable Contact Lenses—Upside and Opportunity:
“The New Economics of Today’s Daily Disposables” is the second of a two-part
editorial initiative from Vision Monday, which explores how daily disposables can
be a good investment for patients and how proper dispensing of this modality can
help improve the bottom line for a practice.
Part 1: “ECPs Taking Another Look at Daily Disposables” ran in the Oct 22 issue.
Both parts are available online at www.visionmonday.com. It explores how eyecare professionals are re-thinking their involvement and embracing this fast-growing category of contact lenses. II
bandwagon. And independent ODs are
still responsible for nearly 70 percent of
new fits out there. This year, we estimate that 40 percent of the entire dollar
growth in the soft lens market this year
is derived from daily disposables.”
In addition, Alvarez points out,
recent, more aggressive pricing moves
on daily disposables by some of the
major contact lens companies, combined with the solutions recalls and new
types of daily disposable products, have
improved the overall climate.
“Today,” he notes, “if you’re among
the top 20 percent of doctors who fit
daily disposables, dailies can account for
as much as 20 percent of your fits. The
average practice has been treating it as a
niche product, but there are many
upsides and we can show doctors the
financial benefits as well.” Alvarez
points to ABB/Con-Cise’s analysis presentations that provide guidance to
ECPs in this area. “We conduct business reviews for ECPs where they can
get a complete financial profile and also
show them how moving into some busi-
nesses, including more daily disposables, will increase their revenues per
patient and impact their bottom line. By
benchmarking through the industry, we
can tell them, ‘Doctor, you are at 5 percent in daily disposables, although the
industry is averaging 11 percent; this is
what would happen if you increased
your involvement in the category.”
Alvarez also makes the point: back
when the first daily disposable was
introduced, doctors felt that they were
priced very high and the category “kind
of never got over that ‘stigma.’”
Today, however, with the growth of
si-hy’s, and the overall average contact
lens dollar sale higher than it was 10
years ago, the gap has, in effect, narrowed between daily disposables and
other contact lenses.”
Further, managing lens replenishment has also become more commonplace today than 5 or 10 years ago. The
Ciba-Essilor MBA program shows other
statistics. Notes Dwight Akerman, OD,
VP, professional affairs for CIBA Vision,
32 percent of MBA participants offer online contact lens re-ordering through
their internet sites.
ABB/Con-Cise also helps ODs create
such “invisible” order systems. Overall,
some 28 percent of ABB’s shipments are
going to patients’ homes or offices,
through various on-line ordering mechanisms, either through ODs calling the
ABB or Con-Cise, ordering via VisionWeb or Eyefinity.
James Gardner, director of marketing,
daily disposables, CooperVision, said,
“We suggest to the ECP, compare
dailies to other contact lens modalities
and consider what a patient is not
spending with you on solutions annually
—which can average $80 per year—and
recognize what daily disposables and
replenishment, competitively priced,
can mean for your practice.” II
CooperVision Adds New Course
Track to Online Learning Center
FAIRPORT, N.Y.—CooperVision has added a selection of courses to its Online
Learning Center (learning.coopervision.com) designed to help employees new to
eyecare gain a basic understanding of the vision system while improving overall
practice efficiency and productivity. The free courses are part of the New to Eyecare track, one of the many Online Learning Center tracks available for practitioners and staff to receive high-quality contact lens training and support.
The New to Eyecare track includes seven courses. Basic Ocular Anatomy will
bring new employees greater comfort with eyecare and a basic understanding of
the vision system. Basic Optics provides an overview of general optical principals
in order to achieve a greater understanding of core correction concepts. II
Sometimes The Best Solution
Is No Solution.
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO FIT
COOPERVISION’S 1 DAY DISPOSABLE CONTACT LENSES.
While the issues surrounding lens solutions, lens care, and their
effect on eye health are complex, for many patients, the solution
couldn’t be simpler: CooperVision’s 1 Day disposable contact lenses.
s No lens solutions or care regimen
100%
94%
% Of Patients
Compliant With
Lens Replacement
Schedule
75%
67%
66%
50%
48%
25%
s Patients wear fresh, clean lenses every day
s The highest compliance rate of any replacement modality 1
0%
DAILY
1 WEEK
DISPOSABLES
2 WEEK
1 MONTH
TO ORDER A SPECIAL COOPERVISION 1 DAY NO SOLUTION SOLUTION KIT, VISIT COOPERVISION.COM/SOLUTIONKIT
1
Source: “Compliance and Contact Lenses,” Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses, March 2006.
©2007 CooperVision, Inc. CooperVision and Eye Design, “See Beyond the Ordinary,” and Proclear are registered trademarks of The Cooper Companies, Inc., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
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WEB_PDF
DE
NEWS VIEWS
Santinelli Debuts Lex Lens Edger Series
NEW YORK—Santinelli International
unveiled its new Lex Lens Edger Series
before an audience of eyecare professionals and trade press editors who gathered at a swank East side showroom
here last month.
Santinelli’s new Lex Lens Edger Series is offered
in a variety of configurations.
The centerpiece of the new system is
the Lex 1000 edger, which enables eyecare professionals to handle challenging
edging jobs in-house, including highbase curve, super-hydrophobic coated
and small “b” dimension lenses, according to Santinelli. The ergonomically
designed, user-friendly unit is equipped
with “Navigation Operation” technology with sensor status troubleshooting
ability. Other features include Santinelli’s Crystal Cut polish and an on-board
tracer that uses 3-D technology for optimal precision. The unit achieves superior groove quality for “pin-point” accuracy, Santinelli reported.
The Lex Series offers five different
system configurations, providing ECPs
with the ability to customize a system
that best meets their needs based on
Gerard Santinelli, president of Santinelli International, explains the features of the Lex Series
to a group of eyecare professionals and trade
press editors at a special demonstration event
held last month in New York.
Joey Goldman of Designs for Vision listens while
Santinelli salesman Pat O’Brien explains a technical point.
Gerard Santinelli (l) greets Philip Olivetti, president of Alain Mikli, at the Lex Edger Series
unveiling in New York.
Ophthonix Relocates,
Expands Production Facility
Danny Maldonado and Jessica Flores of Brooklyn Eyeworks inspect the Lex Series at the New
York event.
practice size, volume and budget. The
Lex 1000 Series can be paired with a
range of blocker units as well as a “side
car” drilling unit, the Lex Drill.
The blockers available include the
Davis Celebrates Opening of
Las Vegas Lab
LAS VEGAS—Davis Vision celebrated the
opening of its new, state-of-the-art lab here
with a gala reception in September just
prior to International Vision Expo West.
Members of the Davis lab team, pictured
here, were on hand to greet attendees,
including many leading vendors.
Among those who joined in the fun
(top, right) were, left to right, David Rips,
Younger Optics, Shirley Wanamaker,
Davis Vision, and Sid Sidhu, Younger
new CE-9 Manual Blocker, which offers
precise, quick, and easy blocking of all
lens types, and the ICE-Mini, a semiautomatic CAD blocker with more
advanced functionality. The premium
blocker of this line-up is the Ice 1000
Super Intelligent Blocker. Among its
many features are an easy-to-use Integrated Coordinate Scanner (ICS) for
rimless drill mounts, a lens clamp design
which secures even the most slippery
coated lenses, and a rotational block
adapter to speed up the blocking
process.
“With a myriad of combinations, the
series offers great flexibility so that
clients can choose the system that’s best
for them,” said company president and
chief executive officer Gerard Santinelli.
He added, “The Lex Series joins our
ME flagship series and LE series for a
total edging solution. We have a vast
array of offerings for any lab, retailer or
any need.” II
Optics. Also in attendance (above)
were, left to right, Michael O’Connor of
Davis Vision and Matt Lytle and Lance
Bergeron of Shamir Insight. II
VISTA, Calif.—Ophthonix, the San
“Our new manufacturing facility is a
Diego County-based vision correction symbol of our commitment and potencompany, recently moved its headquar- tial of this new technology,” he
ters here to accommodate growth in busi- remarked. “We think the industry will
ness and operations. The new 45,000 embrace it as it understands it better, so
square foot facility is more than double we want to be prepared for growth.” II
the previous space at Pacific
Center Court, and will house
both corporate offices and a
much larger manufacturing
operation.
“The demand for our iZon
High Resolution Lenses has
increased to the point that we
have outgrown our current
location,” said Stephen
Osbaldeston, chief executive
officer of Ophthonix. “The The new Ophthonix headquarters in northern San Diego County
new facility will provide opti- is more than twice the size of its original facility.
mum space for an advanced,
fully automated optical lab and
will enable us to meet increasing customer demand for
many years to come.”
Osbaldeston told VM that the
new facility can be expanded to
an additional 25,000 square feet.
if necessary. Among its features
are a new clean room that is
used to mix the proprietary iZon
lens material, and a bigger area A view of the surfacing room in the new Ophthonix lens manufor assembling the lens.
facturing facility in Vista, Calif.
WEB_PDF
11/12/07
12:19 PM
Page 70
Discounted Prices. Free Shipping.
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JOIN FELLOW INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES
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important as finding time at
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harder each year.”
– Paul Lantinga, See Worthy, Inc.,
2007 First Time Attendee
REGISTER TODAY at www.visionsite.org/executivesummit
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Offer good for a limited time only. Act now!
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Page 72
CLASSIFIED
VM MARKETPLACE
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73
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WEB_PDF
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74
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Page 74
CLASSIFIED
VM MARKETPLACE
Merchandise Offered
Help Wanted
Now Hiring!
New Positions Available!
Avalon Eyewear is an established eyewear and accessories importer
based in Northvale, NJ. With over 70 years of experience in the
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market. We are looking for highly motivated, experienced and
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Account Executive
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to service or call on major
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Fax resume to
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Please fax resume or call.
Contact information: Attn. Sales Manager
Tel: 201-784-3377 x1239 ~ Fax: 201-767-5613
Professional Space
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Call Broker at 708-246-3737
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K Well-established Retail Optical Stores
K Investment from $100K - $1,000,000
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A most advanced freeform progressive technology lab, seeking sales
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phone: 866-756-4262 • fax: 570-719-0436
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Picture
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'HFDGHVRI2DNOH\LQQRYDWLRQHOHYDWHSK\VLFVWRWKH
OHYHORIDUW2XUWUHPHQGRXVVXFFHVVDQGJURZWKKDV
FUHDWHGWKHQHHGIRUWKHIROORZLQJFDQGLGDWH
5[/HQV6DOHV5HSUHVHQWDWLYH
LAB OPTICIAN SUPERVISOR
The Lab Optician Supervisor is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Marshfield Clinic's
Optical Lab. Will supervise Lab staff, perform all aspects of the lens manufacturing process,
plan and oversee workflow, and operate Lab equipment and perform routine maintenance.
Requires a high school education or equivalent, knowledge of optics, anatomy and
physiology and opthalmic products and equipment along with basic computer skills.
10 years of optical lab experience preferred.
:HDUHVHHNLQJDPRWLYDWHGFDQGLGDWHWRFDOORQFXUUHQWDFFRXQWEDVHLQVDLGWHUULWRU\WRSURPRWH
WKH2DNOH\5[/DEOHQVHVDQGDYDLODEOHVHUYLFHV5HVSRQVLELOLWLHV ([SDQGLQJGLVWULEXWLRQEDVHG
RQFXUUHQWVDOHVGLUHFWLYHVDQGH[SHFWDWLRQVRI2DNOH\2SWLFDO6DOHV5HSV&RQGXFWFOLQLFVDQG
WUDLQLQJVRQ2DNOH\OHQVHVWRRSWLFDODFFRXQWVWDII5HSRUWZHHNO\WR5[6DOHV0DQDJHURQDFFRXQW
YLVLWVWUDLQLQJVFKDOOHQJHVVXFFHVVHVHWF0HHWRUH[FHHGHVWDEOLVKHGVDOHVJRDOV
4XDOLÀFDWLRQV \HDUVVDOHVH[SHULHQFHVHOOLQJOHQVHVWRZKROHVDOHODEVRUH\HFDUHSURIHVVLRQDOV
DQGZHOOYHUVHGLQVHOOLQJPXOWLSOHOHQVW\SHVDQGSURGXFWV([SHULHQFHZRUNLQJIRUDUHFRJQL]HGOHQV
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SRVVHVVH[FHOOHQWFRPPXQLFDWLRQVNLOOVKDYHWKHDELOLW\WRPXOWLWDVNZLWKH[FHSWLRQDORUJDQL]DWLRQDO
VNLOOV3UHIHUFDQGLGDWHWREHFRPSXWHUOLWHUDWHDQGSUR¿FLHQWLQ06:RUGDQG([FHO
For additional details or to apply online, please visit
www.marshfieldclinic.org and reference Job #MC070683.
3RVLWLRQLVORFDWHGLQ6RXWKHUQ&DOLIRUQLD DWRXU
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Marshfield Clinic - Human Resources
1000 N. Oak Ave. • Marshfield, WI 54449
Phone: 715-389-3288
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Call Phil at
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Marshfield Clinic is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity. Minorities,
females, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.
VM WHERE TO FIND IT
ACCESSORIES
Stylish Eyewear at Affordable Pricing
75
The following is a list of suppliers’ toll-free numbers for quick access to all of your optical needs. This is a paid service of Vision Monday.
Business Opportunity
For Sale
VM MARKETPLACE
Help Wanted
Well-established importer
of optical frames seeking
CLASSIFIED
Vacancy?
Products?
Call Phil
or Bonnie
at
800-983-7737
FAX:
610-854-3780
www.
VisionMonday.
com
Leading manufacture of custom
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For custom made cases:
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212-725-3171 • FAX: 212-725-3236
Astucci Hong-Kong
Fax: 852-2367-6123
sales@astucci.com.hk
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WEB_PDF
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12:19 PM
Page 76
BUSINESS ESSENTIALS77
Addressing Family and Medical
Leave Act (FMLA) Abuse
Since December of Use the clock in your favor. Enforce a
2006, the Family and 30-day notice period for foreseeable
Medical Leave Act leave. Require medical certification for
(FMLA) has been leave to be returned within 15 days.
under review, with And demand recertification of the reaemployers and labor son for the leave every 30 days. (This
leaders differing on latter step is at the employee’s expense
just what changes and is itself a deterrent against overexHedley Lawson, Jr. should be made. Both
tending necessary leave.)
groups have generally
agreed on one point, however:
Prohibit workers from holding second
There has been some abuse of the jobs while on leave. Employees can
law by “hard case” employees who take legally moonlight under the FMLA,
advantage of FMLA provi“There has been some abuse of
sions, in particular, its intermittent leave allowance, to the law by ‘hard case’ employees
cover absences or tardiness
who take advantage of FMLA
without good reason.
Recently, experts have
provisions, in particular, its
weighed in on how to strucintermittent leave allowance.”
ture a company’s FMLA policy position to make such abuse more providing them the income to stay off
difficult. W. Melvin Haas III, a manag- your job, but you are entitled to formuing member of the national employ- late a policy against this practice and to
ment law firm of Constangy, Brooks & terminate them if they violate it.
Smith, LLC has formulated a list of
measures to counter FMLA abuse. His Structure FMLA leave around your
recommendations include the following: needs, as well as the worker’s. You
have the right to demand that medical
Require second and third opinions treatments be done after hours, if they
before granting FMLA leave. They are are available at those times. And you are
at your expense, but this could deter free to transfer an employee who takes
workers who have a “friendly” doctor intermittent leave to another position
willing to certify leave eligibility when it within the company that’s less disruptis not really needed.
ed by frequent absences, as long as the
pay and benefits are equivalent.
Calculate FMLA Leave on a “rolling”
12-month basis. Workers are entitled
to up to 12-weeks of FMLA leave a
year, but the law does not say it needs to
be a calendar year. You can calculate
from any date, avoiding an automatic
resetting of the clock to another 12weeks just because the calendar has
changed.
Require use of all paid leave before
FMLA is granted. “Employees are less
likely to take leave if they have to burn
up their vacation,” Haas said.
Require a “Fitness-for-Duty” certificate from the employee’s healthcare
provider before allowing them to return
to work, which discourages leave that’s
not really medically necessary. However, you cannot require this for intermittent leave, according to Haas.
Hedley Lawson is the managing partner
of Aligned Growth Partners, LLC, a
strategic, operational and organizational
consulting, and executive search firm
(www.alignedgrowth.com).
Don’t miss out on Vision Monday’s e-edition of Business
Essentials providing monthly updates on day-to-day
management issues for optical ECPs and retailers.
To subscribe to Business Essentials, go to www.visionmonday.com, click on the Business Essentials button
and go to the Subscribe to Business Essentials option in
the newsletter. Current and past issues of Business
Essentials are available by visiting the VM Web site at
www.visionmonday.com.
Get fast cash to
grow your optical business.
Opti-Capital is a new service created exclusively for
optical retailers that turns future credit card receipts into
cash you can use today. For inventory, for growth, for any
reason at all. And it’s virtually risk free.
For more information, contact Opti-Capital at
1-800-466-0404 or visit www.opti-capital.com.
Page 78
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EDITORIAL
Taking the Grand (Lab) Tour
The first time I
walked into an optical laboratory, I was
on assignment for
Vision Monday to
write a feature about
the state of the optical laboratory business. As I was taken
Andrew Karp
Group Editor, on a tour of the lab, I
Lenses & Technology found myself in an
unfamiliar world.
Everything was in motion.
Under the glare of bare fluorescent
lights, I saw men in stained plaid work
shirts surfacing lenses on old Coburn
108 generators. Other lenses were spinning around on a cylinder machine that
had chalky white slurry sloshing around
inside it. Another man was putting
metal laps on a big, revolving cylindrical
wooden rack. Young women sat in black
enclosures inspecting lenses. Classic
rock music was playing on a boom box.
Despite the noise and the mess, the in the U.S. and in various parts of the
lab seemed friendly and inviting. Per- world. I never get tired of seeing them.
haps it stirred up old memories of being Even if some of the machinery and
five-years old and visiting my grandfa- products are the same from lab to lab,
ther’s factory, which produced decora- the layout of each one is different, as are
tive gold leaf and glass medicine vials. some of the manufacturing procedures.
(Coincidentally, his company, Hodes- That’s because labs are always in a state
Lange Corp., was later
“Looking back, I suspect I liked
acquired by Corning.)
Looking back, I suspect
the lab because most of the
I liked the lab because
people I observed seemed happy
most of the people I
to be there. There was an easy
observed seemed happy to
be there. There was an
camaraderie among them.”
easy camaraderie among
them. Also, they were absorbed in of flux, reinventing themselves as they
their work, making sure the finished adapt to new technology and processes.
If you haven’t toured an optical lab
product was something they could all
be proud of. I later learned that the before, or haven’t done so in a while,
people working in the bench room you owe it to yourself to arrange a visit.
actually signed their names to the job I guarantee you’ll come away with a
order, both out of pride and as a means better understanding and a deeper
appreciation for what labs bring to our
of quality control.
Since then, I’ve visited dozens of labs industry. II
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Racing Forward, Looking Back
I’ve been racing historic/vintage sport
cars for nearly as long
as I’ve been in the
contact lens business
[48 years]. Since my
recent retirement, I
have more time to
Carl Moore race, but I’d like to
cast one more glance
through the rear view mirror at the business I’m leaving behind.
Nearly 50 years ago, Horace
Tiret, a CPA and one of the
founders of Con-Cise, told me,
“Even when the customer is
wrong, he’s right.” Those words
guided me throughout my career,
which spanned PMMA lenses,
the introduction of soft contact
lenses, major consolidation in the
industry and other technological
improvements and market shifts
Over the decades Con-Cise and other
distributors were able to maximize their
advantages. Notably, in the early days of
hard contact lenses, distributor manufacturing labs developed close relationships with the doctors. Soft lens manufacturers began to look to distributors to
leverage those relationships in soft lens
purchasing in a more cost effective manner than manufacturers could provide.
Clearly, soft lens manufacturers must
invest in marketing, R&D and production. In the past, manufacturers who
were the first to market with a new technology— and therefore could command
a premium price—typically took their
product directly to the doctors. But as
the distributor channel matured and
became more sophisticated, the manufacturers better appreciated the added
value distributors bring to the table. The
traditional new product cycle—first go
direct, then expand to distributors—has
diminished over the years and now manufacturers often speed the release of
new products through the distributors.
Telephone customer service reps and
field sales reps are an enormous expense
for manufacturers. Distributors help manufacturers save shipping, distribution and
sales costs while helping eyecare practitioners gain volume discounts and office efficiencies through purchase consolidation—
even if they’re smaller accounts. That’s one
area where distributors have been able to
add value to the industry, and as a group
they now account for nearly two thirds of all
soft lens purchases by independents.
As manufacturers have consolidated,
distributors have done the same. A
decade ago, there were nearly 50 distributors. Now there are about a dozen, with
a half dozen big ones. Con-Cise, which
recently merged with ABB, had always
focused on customer relationships. The
ABB-Con-Cise merger makes the
company the dominant distributor
nationally, able to make large
investments in automation, sales
support and ECP education that
will enable it to deliver unsurpassed service. It will raise the bar
for distributor service and competitors will be forced to respond,
which will benefit every doctor
relying on distributors.
I can’t say that there’s one thing I did
right or that I was visionary. The company was built on the most fundamental
premises: take care of your customer
and be honest. I am confident the new
company will continue the tradition.
Carl Moore was formerly president of ConCise, which recently merged with ABB to
form ABB-Con-Cise.
Y
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Monday
Senior VP, Editorial Director Marge Axelrad
Executive Editor Mary Kane
E-News Managing Editor Amy Grech
Senior Editor Cathy Ciccolella
Group Editor, Lenses & Technology Andrew Karp
Associate Editor Deirdre Carroll
Design Director Phyllis Busell
Art Director Iris Johnson
Contributing Editors
Jackie Micucci, Gloria Nicola, James J. Spina,
Melissa Arkin, Christie Walker
Circulation Manager Renee Oechsner
Production Manager David Herman
VP Advertising Sales Dennis Murphy
Regional Sales Managers
Amanda Churchill, James DeMatteis,
Vincent Priore
International Sales Offices
Young-Seoh Chinn, Korea, jesmedia@unitel.co.kr;
Sho Harihara, Japan, sho.ymi@fine.ocn.ne.jp;
Mary Ng, Asia, mnjobson@netvigator.com;
Jochen Reinke, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland,
Benelux, Scandinavia, Liechtenstein, jreinke@reinke-pr.de;
Asa Talbar, Israel, talbar@talbar.co.il;
Cecilia Zanasi, Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom,
Cecilia@studiozanasi.it.
Director of Education and Training
Mark Mattision-Shupnick
Director of Marketing, Education and Training
Nancy Ness
Creative Director Monica Tettamanzi
Creative Services Designers Barbara Winters,
Debbie Silva
Marketing Manager Christine Yeh
Marketing Coordinator Jeff Haber
Jobson Optical Research Int’l Managing Director
Gerry Fultz
VP/Optical Retail Group Publisher
William D. Scott
VP/Marketing/Publisher 20/20
Jim Vitkus
Senior VP/President Professional Publications Group
Richard Bay
VP/Publisher/FRAMESdata
Tom Lamond
VP/Operations/FRAMESdata
Judith Michael
Chief Executive Officer
Marc Ferrara
VP/Human Resources
Lorraine Orlando
Corporate Production Director
John Anthony Caggiano
VP/Circulation Director
Emelda Barea
Senior VP/Operations
Jeff Levitz
To order reprints of any articles or ads
that appeared in this issue contact
PARS International 212-221-9595 or jobson@parsintl.com
MAIN EDITORIAL & SALES OFFICES:
100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-1678
(212) 274-7000; fax: (212) 431-0500
e-mail: visionmonday@jobson.com
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT:
Account Representative Heather Brennan
2570 Boulevard of the Generals, Suite 220
Norristown, PA 19403, (800) 983-7737;
Fax: (610) 854-3780, E-mail: info@valleyforgepress.com
VISION MONDAY (ISSN 1054-7665) is published monthly except for March
and August, which have two issues, by Jobson Medical Information LLC, 100
Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10013. Periodicals postage
paid at NY, NY, and additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to VISION MONDAY,
PO Box 2024, Skokie, IL 60076-7924. Subscriptions: One-year rates (US): 1 year, $79. Foreign (Air
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international: (847) 763-9630. Allow 4–6 weeks
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publication permit #0427705.
© 2007 Jobson Medical Information LLC, 100 Ave. of the Americas, NY,
NY 10013-1678. Reproduction without express written consent of
the Publisher is prohibited. Jobson Medical Information
LLC publishes VISION MONDAY and Vision Monday Show Daily.
Notice: Jobson Medical Information LLC does not accept responsibility for
the advertising content of the magazine nor for any claims, actions or losses arising therefrom. Products and services advertised in this publication
are not endorsed by, or in any way connected with, Jobson Medical Information LLC. We make every effort to report manufacturers’ news accurately, but we do not assume responsibility for the validity of news claims.
EyesWay content is developed, sourced and reported by the editors of
EyesWay, the international news portal. Vision Monday provides that content to its subscribers as part of an exclusive news exchange agreement.
Page 80
BALANCE SHEET
ond technology in its U.S. LasikPlus vision centers. Said Straus,
“Including 18 units that were
installed over the past month, we
currently offer IntraLase at 26 of
our LasikPlus vision centers. We
expect to add approximately eight
locations per month, and to complete the installation within the
first half of 2008.”
Straus added that while
“there remains a significant
amount of appeal to laser vision
correction and LasikPlus…a
more cautious consumer resulted in slower growth in procedure volume” in Q3. II
FGX International’s IPO Raises
$192 Million in First Day of Trading
TORTOLA, British West
Indies—The initial public
offering of shares in FGX
International Holdings—parent
company of the FosterGrant,
Quantum Optics and Magnivision eyewear lines—generated
$192 million in its first day of
trading on Oct. 25. The offering involved 12 million shares
of the company’s stock; they
opened at $16 per share.
The shares are trading on the
Nasdaq Exchange under the
symbol FGXI.
FGX sold about 6.7 million
shares; another 5.3 million shares
were sold by a group of its current stockholders, including primary shareholder Berggruen
Holdings North America.
FGX said its own portion of
the IPO raised about $97.2 million in net proceeds after commissions and expenses. The
company plans to use the proceeds to repay outstanding
debt. FGX will not share in the
proceeds of the other stockholders’ sales. II
Nova Med Posts Double-Digit Gains
CHICAGO—NovaMed (Nasdaq: NOVA) saw its total net revenues climb by 20 percent in this
year’s third quarter, to $33.4 million. The company’s total surgical procedures rose to 33,602, up
27 percent. NovaMed had net
income of $1.9 million in Q3, up
33 percent.
In the first nine months of
this year, the company’s total
net revenues rose 23 percent to
$97.3 million, while total surgical procedures performed in the
period increased by 32 percent.
Net income in 2007’s first nine
months was $4.9 million, vs. $4.5
million in last year’s first three
quarters. NovaMed currently has
ownership interests in 38 surgery
centers in 18 states. II
AL
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In the first nine months of 2007,
LCA-Vision’s revenues reached
$222.9 million, up 22 percent;
adjusted revenues rose 12 percent
to $221.8 million. Procedure volumes year-to-date were 152,316,
up 6 percent. Net income in the
first nine months was $28.4 million, up from $22.8 million in
2006’s first three quarters.
The company remains on
track to open a total of 12 to 15
new laser centers during 2007,
according to Steve Straus, LCAVision’s chief executive officer.
LCA-Vision announced plans
to rollout the IntraLase femtosec-
NEW
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CINCINNATI—Refractive surgery firm LCA-Vision (Nasdaq:
LCAV) posted increases in both
revenues and net income in the
third quarter, but company executives said earlier this month they
expect fourth-quarter earnings to
be below those of 2006’s Q4.
In Q3, LCA-Vision’s revenues
climbed 34 percent to $74.6 million; adjusted revenues for the
period were $66.9 million, up 13
percent. Procedure volumes rose
5 percent to 44,547 in the quarter. Net income was $10 million
in Q3, vs. $5.3 million in the
same period last year.
MON
OP
LCA-Vision Sees Revenues, Income
Climb in Q3, But Expect Q4 Profit Loss
IO N
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DATA POINT
autumnchiller
Photochromic Lens Sales:
Prediction to Buy Versus Actual Purchases
I Predicted they would buy I Actually bought
37%
35%
16%
15%
12 ME Sept. 06
12 ME Sept. 07
In the 12 months ending September 2007, 37% of respondents predicted they would buy photochromic lenses. In actuality, 16% bought
photochromic lenses during that time period. Both percentages, however, are increases over 12 months ending September 2006 when
35% predicted they would buy photochromic lenses and 15% actually
did buy photochromic lenses.
Source: VisionWatch – a study run by Jobson/VCA
Total Annual VisionWatch Sample Size: 100,000 consumer respondents per year
Data is for the 12ME September 2006 and 12ME September 2007
BY THE NUMBERS The latest figures
37%
31%
Weight/lightness was named the
most important quality in a lens for
37% of those who bought lenses.
Scratch resistance came in as the
second most important quality
with 27%.
Percent of those who use some sort
of vision correction that said their
vision problems were age-related
farsightedness/Presbyopia/difficulty
reading, etc.
8%
$20.06
The percentage of contact lens
wearers who wear their contacts for
specific activities only.
with cool weather comes cool prizes!
Nassau Vision Group is excited to kickoff a new promotion for the fall season —
the Autumn Chiller Promotion. This program begins on October 15, 2007 and
covers our entire inventory of stock lenses, soft contact lenses and accessories.
Does not include lab Rx jobs. Promotion ends on December 31, 2007.
Average sales price for a pair of
plano sunglasses.
Source: VisionWatch – a study run by Jobson/VCA
Total Annual VisionWatch Sample Size: 100,000 consumer respondents per year
Data is for the 12ME September 2007. Contact Lens data is for 3ME September 2007
For every $75 you spend, you’ll receive an Autumn Chiller Scratch-Off Game Card
with a chance to win cool prizes — a $10 gas card, a $20 Best Buy gift card, or both!
Return all of your game cards (whether they’re winners or not) and you’ll be entered
into a month-end drawing. At the end of each month — October, November and
December — we will award the following prizes:
1st prize: $400 GPS navigation system, 1 winner per month
2nd prize: $200 digital camera, 3 winners per month
3rd prize: $100 Amex Gift Cheque, 5 winners per month
At the end of the program, all game cards will be entered into a Grand Prize
Drawing for a 50 inch plasma HDTV!
Winning is easy. Contact your local Nassau Vision Group
branch or visit www.nassau247.com and start ordering today.
1-866-393-3374
email: info@colorsinopticsusa.com
Nassau Lens Company, NJ
800.526.0313
Nassau Lens Mid-Atlantic, NC
800.253.4271
Nassau Lens Southwest, TX
800.441.2546
Nassau Lens Florida, FL
800.432.2202
Nassau Lens Mid-West, IL
800.323.8026
Nassau Lens West, CA
800.433.2974
Nassau Lens Memphis, TN
800.399.3231
Nassau Lens Southeast, GA
800.241.9048
Champion Optical, OH
800.223.3485
WEB_PDF
11/12/07
12:19 PM
Page 82
We’ve
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HOYA Free-Form™ Design Technology
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• HOYALUX iD™ technology that separates the performance of the front and back surfaces
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HOYALUX iD LifeStyle Progressive lenses are available in two designs:
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© 2007 HOYA Corporation. All Rights Reserved. HOYALUX is a registered trademark and iD LifeStyle, iD, HOYA Free-Form, iD LifeStyle cd, HOYA Honors Program, SUPER HiVision, Hilux, Phoenix and EYNOA are trademarks of HOYA Corporation. Trivex is a trademark of PPG Industries, Inc.

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