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October 4, 2023October 4, 2023

Varilux® XR series™ Now Available Across Canada

Essilor,part of EssilorLuxottica,announces that Varilux® XR series™ progressive lensis now available across Canada. Varilux® XR series™ progressive lenses harness the power of artificial intelligence, combined with its scientists’ unmatched understanding of consumer lifestyles.

Varilux® XR series™ progressive lens wearers benefit from instant sharpness, even in motion, with +49% volume of broadband vision compared to Varilux® X ™ series. In independent third-party tests, 87% of consumers preferred Varilux® XR series™ compared to their current high-end progressive lenses. And 95% of wearers adapted to their new lenses on the first day.

In addition, a new consumer advertising campaign has launched globally, in support of the breakthrough progressive lens. Produced by EssilorLuxottica’s Creative Hub in conjunction with external agency The Mill, the campaign seeks to create awareness among consumer presbyopes of the first eye-responsive progressive lens powered by behavioral artificial intelligence. The theme “see the future” showcases the technology in Varilux® XR series™ lenses by demonstrating how a predictive model is used to understand how the consumer’s eyes move.

“Varilux has always been at the forefront of technology, but this campaign goes further to position Varilux® XR series™ as the lens of the future. It illustrates how the innovation leverages cutting-edge behavioral artificial intelligence to meet presbyopes’ changing visual needs,” says Agnes Dewidehem, Global Head of Marketing Lens Brands & Categories at EssilorLuxottica.

“In this pivotal moment for the brand, we needed a campaign that would bring consumers into this new Varilux world – one that is pushing the boundaries of science and technology further than ever before,” says Matteo Pelo, Executive Creative Director at EssilorLuxottica. “A lens engineered with artificial intelligence needed an art direction and a visual treatment fit for the storytelling that we have in the new Varilux® XR series™ campaign – one that reflects the lens of the future.”

View the video for the campaign:

Click HERE for the full press release.

For more related articles on Optik NOW, click HERE.

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

Transitions and the OAC Now Accepting Applications for the 2023 Students of Vision Scholarship Program

As part of a partnership to support the next generation of eye care professionals, Transitions Optical and the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) are now accepting submissions for the 2023 Students of Vision Scholarship Program. Currently enrolled (for the 2023-2024 school year) opticianry, optometry and optometric assistant students from across Canada are eligible to apply for the chance to win one of three prizes: a $2,000, $1,500 or $1,000 scholarship.

All winners will also receive a complimentary trial pair of Transitions^® lenses, and the first-place winner will receive an invitation to Transitions Academy 2024 in Orlando, FL.

To enter the scholarship program, students must develop a project in the form of an essay, video or presentation about how they will advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in order to help educate patients and protect their vision.

A webpage with more information can be found at Transitions.com/canada-students-of-vision/en-ca/. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges against the following criteria: creativity, strategic thinking and ethics.

This year’s scholarship was inspired by recent research from Transitions Optical, conducted by Wakefield Research, demonstrating the need for further education surrounding eye health for diverse patients. Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) in Canada are quickly becoming the majority—

and, as a result, more eyecare professionals are experiencing a culturally diverse patient base with unique vision care and communication needs.

“Continuing education and conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion inspires positive changes for populations who historically have not been treated equally,” said Arnaud Rajchenbach, marketing and sales manager, Transitions Optical in Canada. “We’re proud to support the future of eyecare professionals in creating a more inclusive atmosphere within the optical industry.”

“We’re honored to continue our partnership with Transitions Optical to inspire a new generation of optical professionals in their own efforts to provide the best level of care for diverse patients,” said Robert Dalton, Executive Director, OAC. “We look forward to setting a sector standard of understanding and acceptance.”

All submissions should be sent to StudentsofVision@Transitions.com by November 10, 2023. The winners will be announced on December 8, 2023.

Click HERE for the full press release.

For more related content on Optik NOW, click HERE.

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

Karen Walsh Appointed to Lead CooperVision Global Professional Affairs

CooperVision announced the creation of a unified, full scope Global Professional Affairs organization. The group will be led by Karen Walsh, MCOptom, PGDip, FAAO, FIACLE, FBCLA, who has been promoted to Senior Director in conjunction with the development.

“ECPs are central to patient prescribing choices and influential advocates whose views and decisions shape the contact lens category. Establishing a singular, ECP-led Global Professional Affairs team will better inform our product development, commercialization strategies, scientific publishing, product support and education outreach,” said Simon Seshadri, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Life Cycle Management, CooperVision. “Working hand-in-hand with their regional Professional Affairs colleagues, Karen’s group will help CooperVision colleagues and our customers thrive as the eye care and ocular health sectors evolve.”

Dr. Walsh is a widely recognized ophthalmic opinion leader. Prior to joining CooperVision in 2021, she built international acclaim as an educator, researcher, and author at the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo. Following a decade working in clinical contact lens-focused practice, she also served with Johnson & Johnson Vision as Professional Affairs Manager for the U.K. & Ireland.

Dr. Walsh is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the International Association of Contact Lens Educators, and the British Contact Lens Association. She also is a member of the U.K. College of Optometrists and holds a post-graduate diploma in clinical optometry from City University, London.

Click HERE for the full press release.

For more related content on Optik NOW, click HERE.

October 3, 2023September 22, 2023

Lightec, Where the Lightness is Paramount

While the comfort and the lightness are at the heart of Lightec’s philosophy, the design is never compromised. This model, part of the Omicron 69 concept, embodies the perfect alliance between the ease of wearing and the distinguished look, not only thanks to its refined lines and its fine acetate, but by its hinge without screw or welding.

Distributed by Morel Canada: morel-france.com

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023

Using Gene Therapy to Treat Genetic Eye Disease Aniridia

In 2020, Fighting Blindness Canada awarded Dr. Elizabeth Simpson at the University of British Columbia a research grant of $297,000 to support the development of a potential gene therapy for the inherited eye disease, aniridia.

What is Aniridia

Aniridia is an inherited eye disease where the iris is partially or completely absent. Individuals with aniridia usually have low vision from birth and develop glaucoma and cataracts, which can lead to blindness. Most cases are caused by a mutation in the PAX6 gene. While current treatments may slow the progression, there are no cures or treatments.

With Fighting Blindness Canada funding, Dr. Simpson’s team has been developing a minimally invasive gene therapy for aniridia which they are testing in an animal model.

Gene Therapies for Eye Diseases

Most current gene therapies for inherited eye diseases deliver the new gene directly into the eye, often using a subretinal injection, a delicate process. Injecting the gene therapy into the eye, ensures that target cells in the eye receive a sufficient dose while also reducing the amount of gene therapy that reaches other parts of the body, hopefully reducing the potential for side effects.

Dr. Simpson is testing if gene therapy for an eye disease can be delivered without injections into the eye.

Dr. Simpson’s team tested an intravenous injection directly into the bloodstream to deliver the gene therapy. Not only is this less invasive than a subretinal injection, but because PAX6 mutations can impact other organs, a treatment may be able to improve symptoms in multiple parts of the body, including the eye.

Over the course of the research grant, Dr. Simpson’s team produced and tested multiple PAX6 gene therapies in an animal model to identify the optimized approach.

After testing different doses in animal studies, Dr. Simpson was excited to show that an intravenous injection delivering PAX6 gene therapy reached retinal cells and was still present after five months. Importantly, there was no “toxicity” from the treatment.

The team did not see any strong impact on vision after the gene therapy and they think that a greater number of cells will need to receive the gene therapy for improvement to occur. This research will continue and hopefully bring a new gene therapy to a human clinical trial in the future.

Varilux® XR series™ Now Available Across Canada

Transitions and the OAC Now Accepting Applications for the 2023 Students of Vision Scholarship Program

Karen Walsh Appointed to Lead CooperVision Global Professional Affairs

Lightec, Where the Lightness is Paramount

Using Gene Therapy to Treat Genetic Eye Disease Aniridia

What is Aniridia

Gene Therapies for Eye Diseases

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