ClearVision Optical’s David Friedfeld and SUNY College of Optometry awarded the latest Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship and inaugurated a new scholarship, the Optical Community Scholarship, this past November at the college’s annual Scholarship Presentation program, held in partnership with its foundation, the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY).
Optical Community Scholarship
The Optical Community Scholarship
David Friedfeld, co-owner and president of ClearVision, joined with the college, as well as the OCNY, to create an endowed fund to be annually awarded to optometry students who demonstrate personal experience with or an interest in working with underrepresented patients and communities.
Disparities in access to eyecare remain, and this scholarship effort aims to close that gap by identifying students who will work with underserved communities to offer more inclusive care and ensure improved vision health. With the Optical Community Scholarship, David Friedfeld and ClearVision Optical hope to work with SUNY College of Optometry and OCNY to build a future with better eyecare access for everyone.
As an endowed fund, the Optical Community Scholarship will be funded annually through Friedfeld’s initial donation.
The winners of the inaugural Optical Community Scholarship were Christine Chou, class of 2025, and Nia Ebrahim, class of 2024.
“ClearVision was founded 75 years ago on a set of values including service, compassion, respect, and integrity. Those values were instilled in the company, and in our family, through my father. This scholarship is an effort to live up to those values by helping future optometrists close the gap in eyecare access and ensure better industry and vision health for patients everywhere.”
David Friedfeld, co-owner and president of ClearVision
Friedfeld Award
The Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship
The Friedfeld family and ClearVision Optical also partner with the SUNY College of Optometry to grant the Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was founded in 2014 by David, his brother and ClearVision Co-Owner and Vice President Peter, and Friedfeld family in honor of Friedfeld’s father and founder of ClearVision, Fred Friedfeld. Since then, over $110,000 has been raised for the Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship and 10 scholarships have been awarded. Recipients receive $3,500 each year.
The recipient of the 2023 Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship was Gurleen Klair, class of 2024.
“We place great emphasis on our relationships with universities, working closely with several, including Stony Brook University, Lehigh University, and Drexel University,” Jen Trakhtenberg, chief people officer and co-COO of ClearVision, said. We also consider our engagement with students, particularly through our dynamic internship program, as a key way to meaningfully contribute to the community and to the ongoing career development, education, and skill-building of future professionals through training and support.”
As part of its commitment to improve the way people see every day, CooperVision raised more than $300,000 in 2023 through global initiatives in support of Optometry Giving Sight (OGS). Since 2008, CooperVision has helped OGS raise more than $4.9 million dollars to support their critical mission.
Global Impact Through Innovation
Again this year, CooperVision offered its customers in the U.S. and Canada an opportunity to redirect their product rebates to OGS’ annual fundraising campaign. With facilitation by CooperVision, rebate donations accounted for $188,265 of the initiative’s total, while CooperVision’s World Sight Day Challenge raised an additional $118,192 from employees globally.
“Almost everyone in the world has or will need vision correction in their lifetime, yet more than a billion people worldwide do not have access to basic eye care1 2. Whether it’s through donating time, scientific and clinical expertise, supporting ECPs grow their practices, or financial contributions, it is our duty as an ongoing Global Partner to OGS to do our part to help people in need reach their full potential through the gift of sight.” Simon Seshadri, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Life Cycle Management
A Tradition of Giving
In 2023, CooperVision participated in OGS’ annual fundraising campaign through a series of regional and global initiatives. These events included a photo contest, guest speaker events, luncheons, a pop-up ice cream stand, homemade waffle sale, and others, such as:
Strikes for Sight. Keeping with a long-standing tradition to raise money and awareness for the cause, CooperVision’s Research & Development team based in Pleasanton, Calif., hosted a “Strikes for Sight” bowling event, during which employees pledged to make donations per strike. Ultimately, 102 strikes were bowled in the two-hour period, with each employee donating between $25.50 and $102.
Cake Sale and Fun Run. Fundraising in Liege, Belgium, included a local “fun run” and cake sale for employees. Both efforts were successful, building camaraderie in tandem with needed funding for OGS.
Charity Miles. Encouraging employee wellness while raising funds for OGS, CooperVision leveraged the Charity Miles fitness app, resulting in $10,589 from participants who walked, ran, or biked by participants during the campaign. Steps were financially sponsored by donors as well as CooperVision.
Vision Screenings. CooperVision organized free vision screenings around the world that not only built awareness around the importance of healthy eye care habits, but also served as an opportunity to raise funds to help support OGS efforts in other parts of the world.
“At the heart of our organization is a steadfast commitment to improving vision worldwide,” said Daniel McBride, Esq., Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at CooperCompanies and Board Member of Optometry Giving Sight. “We remain strong supporters of Optometry Giving Sight and their mission to build sustainable optometry infrastructure in underserved communities around the world to enable vision care for all.”
To learn more about the World Sight Day Challenge and how you can participate, visit www.givingsight.org/wsdc/.
Transitions Optical has entered a new chapter and embarked on a journey of innovation for better vision with the launch of a technological revolution – Transitions® GEN S™.
Transitions® GEN S™ sets a new standard in the future of the optical world that pushes the boundaries of traditional prescription lenses. Wearers want more from their eyeglasses than just correction and the research and development team behind the new lens has been working hand in hand with wearers to create a dynamic lens that will go beyond expectations.
GEN SPEED™: Ultra-responsive to Light
Transitions GEN S is the fastest dark lens1* in the clear to dark photochromic category. It is fully clear indoors and darkens in seconds2 outdoors. It is ultra-responsive to light, reaching category three levels of darkness in 25 seconds3* and fading back in less than two minutes4*. In fact, when asked 88% of wearers agreed that Transitions GEN S lenses adapted so fast to light that they didn’t or barely noticed the change5*.
GEN STYLE™: Spectacular Colour Palette
Transitions GEN S is available in eight exclusive colours, including a brand-new addition: Transitions GEN S Ruby. All colours have been optimised to be true to tone at all stages, offering vibrant tints in any light. While being fully clear indoors, and beautifully coloured outdoors, Transitions GEN S provides endless possibilities of pairing to complement any look.
GEN SMART™: HD Vision at the Speed of Your Life
Transitions GEN S offers better vision quality, faster6* to ensure a continuous visual experience in harmony with varied and changing light environments. Thanks to its responsiveness to light, it provides 39% faster vision recovery from intense bright lights7(A)* versus clear lenses. During fade back, tests have shown a 39.5% improvement in contrast sensitivity7(B)* and 40% faster vision recovery 7(B)* versus the previous generation.
Moreover, Transitions GEN S provides ultimate light protection, darkening outdoors, blocking 100% UVA & UVB rays and filtering up to 32% of blue violet light in the clear state and up to 85% when activated8.
To achieve its mission Transitions Optical proposes a solution for comprehensive vision that goes beyond traditional correction. With Transitions GEN S, science and technology are combined in a revolutionary product that is intuitive and smart, reacting so fast to light that it adapts to your every move. On top of that Transitions offers an elevated experience of complete pairing through a large colour palette that enables wearers to personalize their looks with vibrant colours to match any frame.
Transitions GEN S will be available from April 2024.
Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e-newsletters!
*Tests carried out on gray lenses.
Photochromic performance may vary across colors and lens materials and is influenced by temperature and UV exposure.
REFERENCES
*Tests carried out on gray lenses. Photochromic performance may vary across colors and lens materials and is influenced by temperature and UV exposure.
For gray lenses in the clear to dark (category 3) photochromic category. Transitions® GEN S™ lenses fade back faster to 70% transmission while achieving less than 14% transmission when activated at @ 23°C.
For polycarbonate & CR39 lenses across colors achieving 18% transmission at 23°C
For gray polycarbonate & CR39 lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating fading back to 70% transmission @ 23°C.
Source: Wearers Test conducted by an external market research agency in the US in Q1, 2023 with 133 prescription lens wearers wearing 1.67 index lenses with a premium AR coating in clear and gray Transitions® GEN S™
Vision quality improved in challenging light conditions, notably when moving from a bright to a darker environment (source B, Transitions®
GEN S™ compared to Transitions Signature GEN 8), in bright to very bright light situations (source A, Transitions® GEN S™ compared to clear lenses) and in low light with peaky stray light (source A, Transitions® GEN S™ compared to clear lenses).
Source A: Subject-masked cross-over randomized controlled investigation performed in 2023 on 30 healthy participants (19.2 ± 1.3 years). Testing light stress (discomfort and disability glare, photostress recovery) with the clear and darkest states of gray Transitions® GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating compared to clear 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating. Principal Investigator Prof Billy R. Hammond.
Source B: Subject-masked cross-over randomized controlled investigation performed in 2023 on 10 healthy pre-trained participants (29.5 ± 4.0 years). Testing contrast sensitivity during fade-back with gray Transitions® GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti reflective coating compared to gray Transitions Signature GEN 8 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti reflective coating. Principal Investigator Prof Pablo Artal.
Accepted abstract at ARVO 2024. Duarte-Toledo R, Mompeán J et al., A new photochromic lens improves contrast sensitivity during fade back.
A: Subject-masked cross-over randomized controlled investigation performed in 2023 on 30 healthy participants (19.2 ± 1.3 years). Testing light stress (discomfort and disability glare, photostress recovery) with the clear and darkest states of gray Transitions® GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating compared to clear 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating. Principal Investigator Prof Billy R. Hammond.
B: Subject-masked cross-over randomized controlled investigation performed in 2023 on 10 healthy pre-trained participants (29.5 ± 4.0 years). Testing contrast sensitivity during fade back with gray Transitions® GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti reflective coating compared to gray Transitions Signature GEN 8 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti reflective coating. Principal Investigator Prof Pablo Artal. Accepted
abstract at ARVO 2024. Duarte-Toledo R, Mompeán J et al., A new photochromic lens improves contrast sensitivity during fade back.
For polycarbonate and CR39 lenses across colors. Blue-violet light is measured between 400nm and 455nm (ISO TR 20772:2018)
brand one of the most recognized consumer brands in optics. For more information about Transitions® Light Intelligent Lenses™, visit Transitions.com or TransitionsPRO.com.
Both comfortable and trendy, this frame, from the Lisa concept, combines Morel’s cosmopolitan style with its know-how. Indeed, this frame is made from a bold collage of three acetates, perfectly worked in multiple bevels to enhance the personality of the wearer. In addition, it has the legendary screwless hinge for increased comfort.
Family-owned, independent and responsible, the company strives to transmit the authenticity of its expertise while developing a strong international distribution network. Today, we are present in over 90 countries!
Today, more than ever, MOREL is proud of our past and resolutely turned towards our future. Our sincere desire for improvement lies close to our hearts and has led us to embrace an environmentally and socially responsible initiative. MOREL strives to become a company that is committed to addressing the major global issues of our time.
Want to see more like this article? Click here to subscribe to our FREE print magazines and e- newsletters!
MIDO, the international eyewear trade show, hosted more than 1,200 exhibitors in the 7 pavilions of exhibit area and welcomed more than 40,000 attendees during the 3-day show, an 11% gain over last year. The upswing was equally distributed among Italian and international participants. The latter, specifically, came from 160 countries, from Asia to the United States and all of Europe.
“Prior to the show opening, we had hoped for an increase in visitors compared to last year. Thanks to everyone’s efforts and the industry’s trust in us each year, we achieved the ambitious goal we had set for ourselves. Throughout the exhibit area, we witnessed active sales and keen interest by buyers who were here thanks, in part, to our partnership with ITA (Italian Trade Agency), where Made in Italy is synonymous with quality, excellence and transparency. The presence of the entire supply chain ensured vitality and diversity of supply and demand, validating MIDO as the only industry show with this characteristic.”
Giovanni Vitaloni, MIDO President
Media Visibility
Visibility in traditional media (newspapers, radio, TV), social networks and digital platforms, in Italy and around the world, is also a measure of success for the eyewear show. This year, approximately 400 accredited journalists attended the show and published more than 150 articles, just during the 3 days of MIDO, in Italian, French, German, Argentine, British, American, Indian and Dutch media outlets, to name only a few.
Equally important was online activity by the many users interacting in real time with the show. The social channels reached 50% more people than last year, and the event’s content generated more than 2 million impressions. Interactions exceeded 250,000 and 25% more users downloaded the App, a considerable increase in rate of use, thanks also to the new tool for exhibitors that allowed them to log visitors to their stands.
MIDO Digital Edition
The MIDO 2024 | Digital Edition, with nearly 12,000 subscribers, saw an increase in showcase pages, up from 650 in 2023 to 845 this year, highlighting the extent to which exhibitors consider it increasingly advantageous to combine in-person participation with virtual activity.
Amid the MIDO aisles and stands, sealing deals and networking are the essential added value, the motor that each year drives many companies from all around the world to participate in the Milano trade show.
Certified Sustainable Eyewear Program
Sustainability was also in the spotlight with the presentation of the CSE: Certified Sustainable Eyewear program – voluntary international certification of product sustainability – registered and promoted by ANFAO. Time was also allotted to the current hot topic of inclusion with the conference on inclusive language in the Empowering Optical Women Leadership Program, during presentation of the results achieved at one year since the inception of the program that supports women in leadership positions in the eyewear industry, organized by ANFAO, sponsored by Fondazione Marisa Bellisario and supported by the Ente Bilaterale Occhialeria.
MIDO Awards
And, lastly, the MIDO AWARDS, an overriding point of interest on day two that honoured the optician’s centers, exhibitors and industry professionals who are committed every day, in various areas, to improving themselves and their profession, to the benefit of the entire supply chain. All of the award winners can be found :
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
