Blog

May 25, 2021May 27, 2021

2-Year Update on Myopia Control: Usage and Attitudes of Canadian ECPs

VuePoint IDS Inc. and Jobson Medical Information LLC. will undertake a 2-year update of Canadian ECPs usage of myopia control therapies and attitudes towards myopia control in practice. The 2021 study will update the 2019 baseline study, in which nearly 300 Canadian ECPs participated.

The study was the first to quantify the extent to which Canadian ECPs offer myopia control in their practice and the usage of and attitudes toward the various therapeutic options that are now available. Several new options have been made available since the 2019 benchmark study was undertaken.

The study will be conducted online in Quarter 2 and the results will be available in September.

Results will help organizations with competitive positioning, identifying required adjustments in priorities and determining opportunities to better serve the needs of clients in this important new category.

The final report of the 2021 study will reveal the changes in the market during the past 2 years and thus point to emerging trends in the market.

Organizations wishing to purchase the study may reserve their intention to do so in advance and receive an early-bird discount or include one additional complimentary question in the study questionnaire. The Early-Bird discount is available until June 18th.

For more information on the study methodology, report format and pricing, please contact:
David Pietrobon (dpietrobon@vuepoint.ca) Phone: 226.780.6871 x 5111
Bill Scott (Bscott@jobson.com) Phone: 646.831.8873

About VuePoint IDS Inc.

VuePoint IDS is a private 100% Canadian-owned media and marketing services company focused on serving the information needs of the eyewear and eye care industry’s professional service providers including optometrists, opticians and ophthalmologists and affiliated personnel. VuePoint publishes print and digital titles for eye care professionals under the media brands Optik, Eye Care Business Canada, NewOptometrist.ca and CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry) Journal (www.crojournal.com).

Jobson Medical Information LLC
Jobson Optical Research is the leading source of business intelligence in the optical industry.

Jobson Optical Research provides valuable data to the industry. Our research products and services range over a variety of topics to fit every need and every budget. We provide the data in meaningful, easy to interpret, actionable formats with trended data from previous years.

Our team has several decades of experience with a deep understanding of the optical marketplace and expertise in surveying techniques and research methodologies.

May 24, 2021May 24, 2021

Specsavers Establishes a Beachhead in Canada – Acquires IMAGE Optometry

Australian eyewear giant Specsavers has acquired Image Optometry, which operates 18 corporate and franchise stores in and around the Vancouver area. Image Optometry is the largest optometry owned chain in British Columbia.

For its part, Specsavers is the biggest private optometry owned chain in the world. Its arrival in Canada had been in the rumour mill for a while and dreaded by a lot of players in the market. Very few details have been disclosed about this transaction. When Optik inquired, Image Optometry has declined to comment further for now, stating that “t’s very much business as usual for us, so there isn’t anything else to share .”

By way of a press release, long time owner of Image Optometry, Dr. Alan R. Boyco, had this to say : “I’m extremely pleased that the amazing healthcare business that the team and myself have built over the years will now be in the very safe hands of Specsavers, and the fantastic value for money and great eye care that Image Optometry provides customers each day will continue into the future.”

On the Specsavers front, comments came from Nigel Parker, Specsavers Chief Strategy Officer; “Our relationship with the team at Image goes back many years. When we became aware that Dr. Boyco wanted to now focus on his other business interests, it was a logical step for us to welcome Image Optometry and its franchisees, team members and customers into the Specsavers family. We are currently assessing how we can help Image continue to serve consumers in British Columbia, but in the meantime it’s very much business as usual”

Established in 1984 by Optometrists Doug & Mary Perkins, Specsavers has over 3,500 Optometrists, Retail and Audiologist Partners, owns and operates 2,350 stores in 10 countries, and is supported by 40,000 stores and support office colleagues. The company claims annual revenues of approximately CAD 5 Billion.

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May 21, 2021May 21, 2021

MIDO 2021 | Digital Edition Kicks Off

MIDO 2021 | Digital Edition will take place from Saturday, June 5 to Monday, June 7. The international eyewear event goes on stage with an exceptional edition: a June appointment instead of the usual February dates and a virtual first, with a new 360° format that will guarantee an innovative experience.

What is the goal of MIDO 2021 | Digital Edition? To reconfirm the presence of exhibitors and visitors and, thanks to the online formula, expand the pool of participants beyond the 160 countries from around the world, which were present at the previous edition of MIDO.

“We wanted to amaze you with a new record-breaking edition in terms of attendance – explains MIDO President, Giovanni Vitaloni- instead, we will surprise you with an extraordinary new format, an immersive “widespread experience”. If the whole world cannot be in Milan, then MIDO is going all over the world.”

Starting May 28, the B2B platform will make it possible to put buyers and exhibitors in contact.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021

Essilor Receives FDA “Breakthrough Device” Designation for Essilor Stellest

Essilor announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted “Breakthrough Device” designation to its Essilor Stellest™ spectacle lens, the Company’s new lens developed to correct myopia and slow down the progression of myopia in children.

What does “Breakthrough Device” Designation Mean?
The designation of the Essilor’s Stellest spectacle lens as a “Breakthrough Device” by the FDA, that will lead to further U.S. research and FDA review, builds on the publication of two-year results of an ongoing three-year clinical trial, in China.

Breakthrough Device designation allows companies to benefit from additional FDA input as they work to validate the safety and efficacy of their devices during pre-market development and during the submission process. The status is voluntarily applied for by the company.

Once filed, the review may be expedited. The designation does not allow the device to be marketing (in the US). Marketing activities still require approval or conditional approval before doing so.

“The “Breakthrough Device” designation for our Essilor Stellest lens is a great achievement and an illustration of its potential in slowing down the progression of myopia in children. This designation represents an important milestone in our fight against the myopia pandemic. We look forward to working closely with the FDA for further clinical study and review, so we can provide the benefit of Essilor Stellest to U.S. children who continue to be at risk of vision-threatening complications due to high myopia.” commented Norbert Gorny, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Research & Development Officer of Essilor International.

Clinical Study Update & Global Rollout
After the first year, the trial results reported by the company demonstrated that the eye growth of 9 out of 10 children wearing the Essilor Stellest lens was similar or slower than non-myopic children.

According to the company, the lens has been successfully launched in China followed by other countries since 2020. Essilor intends to further roll out Stellest in other countries.

Launch date for Canada was unavailable at publication date.

Click HERE for the full press release.

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021

The WCO and GMAC Support the Brien Holden Vision Institute Myopia Awareness Week

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) announce their support of the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) Myopia Awareness Week, May 24-28, 2021. This global initiative is aimed to bring attention to the growing epidemic of myopia in children across the world.

“Myopia is arguably the most widespread epidemic faced by the global optometry community and we must increase our efforts to combat this public health issue,” said WCO President, Paul Folkesson.

Myopia is projected to affect the vision of approximately five billion people globally by 2050, more than doubling today’s numbers. Myopic progression has been linked to sight-threatening conditions later in life such as cataracts, retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy.

“We are calling on eye care professionals to take action!” said GMAC Board of Directors Chair, Dr. Juan Carlos Aragón. “We encourage ECPs to learn about the most up-to-date management methods and communicate these methods to colleagues, other healthcare professionals, myopic children and their parents, and the wider consumer community.”

Click HERE for the full press release.