HOYA Vision Care announced a multi-million-dollar investment in its manufacturing lab network to expand its capabilities and support eye care professionals throughout Canada. The investment is nearly $10 million and will focus on growing the national lab network.

HOYA Canada is the first optical lab in North America to have installed the SCHNEIDER Modulo Center ONE, a highly sophisticated, intelligently interlinked surfacing system to improve production efficiency.

Additionally, HOYA utilizes the HSC Modulo XTS surfacing generator, LCU Modulo ONE, automated taper and blocker, and anti-reflective coating machines. In addition to improvements in the Mississauga lab, regional centres will receive new equipment to enhance HOYA’s production efficiency across the country.

“We are committed to supporting our customers’ success by offering outstanding lens designs, coatings, exceptional service, and competitive rates,” said Steven Haifawi, President of HOYA Vision Canada. “This includes investing in new technologies and our people, as well as expanding our production hours to 24/7. “

Click HERE for the full press release.

The successful completion of the five-year joint venture between two family-owned specialty eye care companies, Laboratoires Théa (“Théa”) based in France, and Canada’s Labtician Ophthalmics, has given rise to the newly minted Théa Pharma Inc (Théa Pharma Canada),with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario.

Both organizations benefited from their collaboration over the last 5 years and are now well positioned to pursue their distinct specialties. With the goal of becoming Canada’s leading provider of preservative-free eye care solutions, Théa Pharma Canada will devote 100% of its attention to eye care, and to the professionals who manage the eye health of Canadians across the country.

Théa Pharma Canada has plans to accelerate its growth and presence in Canada by leveraging the culture and values of its family-owned and run parent company, Théa, Europe’s leading and pioneering eye health brand founded in 1994 by Henri Chibret.

As an affiliate of a highly successful global entity, Théa Pharma Canada will leverage global reinvestment in R&D to introduce new and novel preservative-free treatments to the Canadian market, as well as provide access for Canadian eye care professionals to value-added education, training and other programs led by world experts in eye care.

The transaction, which became effective on January 1, 2023, is significant for the Company on many levels. “Although our name is new, what will not change is our long-term commitment to Canadian ophthalmologists, optometrists, and their patients,” said Fiona McCloskey, General Manager, Théa Pharma Canada. “Canadian eye care professionals have come to rely on us for our cutting-edge

preservative-free treatments, but also see us as a valued partner in finding solutions to a wide range of ocular conditions including Dry Eye, Lid Margin Disease, Glaucoma, Allergy, and more.”

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To further amplify the impact of its partnership with Plastic Bank^®, CooperVision announces the expansion of the trailblazing net plastic neutrality initiative to include its Biofinity^® family and MiSight^® 1 day contact lenses in Canada, making its most popular contact lens brands net plastic neutral. The company has also reached a significant milestone for the initiative: globally, the effort has prevented the equivalent of more than 100 million plastic bottles from entering the oceans.

In 2021, CooperVision pioneered the world’s first net plastic neutral contact lens with clariti^® 1 day in the U.S., and has continued to expand the scope of the global initiative. It funds Plastic Bank’s collection, processing and reuse of general ocean-bound plastic waste that is equal to the weight of the plastic contained in designated products in 27 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. In Canada, this includes the clariti^® 1 day, MyDay^®, MiSight^® 1 day, and Biofinity^® brands.

“Over the past two years, thousands of eye care professionals and their patients have already contributed to this cause, simply by prescribing and wearing CooperVision 1-day contact lenses. Now, with the inclusion of Biofinity^® and MiSight^® 1 day, we are poised to make an even bigger difference,” said Michele Andrews, OD, Vice President, Professional & Government Affairs, Americas, CooperVision.

“We couldn’t be more thankful to everyone who has helped this program become an absolute success— the eye care professionals and wearers across the planet who share CooperVision’s sustainability commitment. Each plastic neutral contact lens that is prescribed and worn makes a difference,” said Aldo Zucaro, Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility, CooperCompanies.

Beyond the positive impact on the environment, CooperVision’s plastic neutrality initiative benefits collection community members in more than 350 coastal communities who receive payments through Plastic Bank for necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.

As a leading manufacturer of contact lenses, CooperVision is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint, and its efforts extend beyond net plastic neutrality. The company has a strong track record of sustainable manufacturing and operations focused on areas in which it can make the greatest impact. CooperVision has developed best-in-class manufacturing processes resulting in award-winning conservation efforts in Puerto Rico and prestigious sustainability certifications in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S.

Click HERE for the full press release.