The independent and international brand, GIGI Studios, based in Spain will be going direct to Canadian ECPs starting May 5.
The company has an extensive global presence, operating in over 50 countries with a team of over 150 employees.
In a press release, GIGI Studios cites the importance of the Canadian market. “It is an important and mature step for the company in the midst of its international expansion, Canada joins the group of 18 markets that the brand operates directly, including the USA through its subsidiary in Miami.”
The company’s objective is to offer the best service to all its optical clients, including best-in-class collection availability, faster service times, extending the warranty coverage, and ensuring an excellent after sales service.
GIGI Studios also wishes to support its customers by ensuring that all branding tools are at their disposal, providing access to its powerful B2B platform developed for opticians.
The brand is pursuing its goal to position as a leading global brand and wants Canada to be included in the development plans, investing in strengthening the positioning and brand awareness in this market.
Current and prospective clients are asked to contact the company by email at canada@gigistudios.com
Bausch + Lomb released its annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, highlighting the Company’s ongoing commitment to implement sustainable business practices and initiatives that support its stakeholders’ well-being.
“Integrating environmental sustainability, social impact and corporate governance into our daily operations and business strategy has been a fundamental priority at Bausch + Lomb for many years,” said Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO, Bausch + Lomb. “The dynamic and evolving nature of ESG presents several opportunities for improvement and growth, and we are proud to continue each year to build upon our ESG commitments.”
The Bausch + Lomb 2022 ESG report highlights the Company’s continued efforts to drive sustainable growth, foster innovation and create value for all stakeholders.
Key accomplishments highlighted in the 2022 ESG report include:
Collecting more than 58 million units, or 356,000 pounds, of used contact lens, eye care and lens care materials through our ONE by ONE and Biotrue® Eye Care recycling programs since 2016;
Reducing 800 tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide emissions) per year at our Rochester facility since installing a solar panel array;
Completing more than 8,500 hours of cybersecurity training by our employees;
Exceeding the Company’s Board diversity goal of 30 percent with 40 percent board diversity.
Luxury is a word that is rapidly losing its significance as marketing geniuses around the world throw the descriptor at every product they want to convince us is quality.
When you hear the word ‘luxury’ in reference to the eyewear industry, what does it suggest to you? If you haven’t had the opportunity to handle truly luxurious independent eyewear, recognizable fashion brands may be what comes to mind. Unfortunately, the associated prestige of design and quality these names evoke does not necessarily translate to their eyewear portfolio. With the Italian empire Luxottica boasting the production of 80% of all eyewear manufacturing worldwide, it’s not a far stretch to imagine that it is unlikely a machine of that magnitude is producing the most impressive product. Likewise, not all frames stamped “Made in Italy” are what they seem. The line between ‘made’ and ‘assembled’ is blurry.
Understanding the anatomy of the eyewear you are recommending is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of Opticianry. We’ve all heard the phrase “for what I paid for these” from an unhappy client with broken or misshapen frames. Let’s take a deeper dive into their anatomy to understand what defines craftsmanship.
It all comes down to the materials that are being used. There are a wide variety of plastics and metals commonly used in eyewear production which can range from the economical nickel-based metals to high quality stainless steel and titanium; from petroleum-based nylon to bespoke acetate. Although each frame component plays its own role in the overall quality, we will concentrate on plastics here.
A Scientific Breakthrough
In 1865, French chemist Paul Schützenberger discovered that cellulose reacts with acetic anhydride to form cellulose acetate. This breakthrough led to another scientific discovery of soluble acetate by the German chemists Arthur Eichengrün and Theodore Becker. Although acetate is now produced in many countries around the world, the most commonly recognized producer with a strong reputation for quality is Mazzucchelli 1849 from Castiglione Olona, Italy. For six generations, this family has produced the highest quality acetate, focused on the tradition and craftsmanship of its founders. Mazzucchelli began in 1849, crafting combs and buttons from natural materials such as buffalo horn and bone before becoming a world-wide leader in the production of the gorgeous cellulose acetate materials that are widely used in the optical industry to this day. Mazzucchelli is a true example of “Made in Italy” products.
Aren’t They All Zyl?
While optical frames are made from both plastic and acetate, they are in fact very different compositions. Materials such as TR90, SPX, and O-Matter are made from cast moulded petroleum-based nylon pellets. This product is limited in choice for coloration and nearly impossible to adjust. While there are benefits such as their lightweight fit, the material is brittle compared to the renewable product acetate. Searching “Mazzucchelli 1849” on YouTube will produce a rabbit hole worthy visual dive into the full production process of cellulose acetate. Based on a recipe of natural cotton, tree materials and plasticizers, acetate artisans create unique colours and patterns, many of which are crafted specifically for independent eyewear collections around the world.
The process begins with the craftsman blending a selection of powdered disperse dyes and acetone by hand onto sheets of semi-transparent acetate sheets. They are then run through metal presses repeatedly until a uniform colour has been achieved and pressed into large box shaped moulds to be cured. Curing acetate is the process of drying and hardening the material into a solid state. It can then be cut into small chips or sheets for creating patterned or layered slabs and once again pressed into the moulds to continue curing.
Once complete, these blocks are cut into sheets of varying thicknesses, ready to be made into beautiful eyewear. A superior product comes down to the quality of the base materials used and length of the curing time. As with all things in life, excellence takes time and money. If an acetate producer does not allow the material to cure properly, the end result of the eyewear is a product which loses its shape easily. While Italian acetate tends to be a softer material made by a technique called block acetate casting, Japanese acetate is a more rigid and dense material made by extruding it through dies under high pressure.
Having a deeper understanding of the nuances of eyeglass manufacturing will elevate you in your practice of Opticianry and build the confidence of your clientele!
Check out Sarah’s January-February Optik article HERE!
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has received the Public Education Award from the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO), which honors members for outstanding contributions in public education and awareness campaigns and activities.
CORE was specifically recognized for promoting eye health and safety, including providing scientifically-sound information to consumers during the pandemic and efforts to slow the progression of myopia through myopia control methods.
“The real heroes behind this honor are the people of CORE, practitioners with whom we partner, and sponsors who have contributed to our professional and public education platforms over the past several decades. It’s wonderful to see their work and the impact acknowledged,” said Lyndon Jones, CORE’s director.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, CORE led the world’s first global response to misinformation about contact lens wear, setting the entire industry on a path to recovery. In only 30 days, CORE replaced falsehoods with facts for both consumers and eye care professionals, with its guidance appearing in more than 6,000 media outlets across 55 countries.
Months later, CORE was instrumental in raising practitioner and public awareness of mask-associated dry eye. Through a series of papers and columns, easy-to-grasp infographics, and media interviews in more than 2,500 news outlets on six continents, the initiative drove global understanding of the cause and simple actions to mitigate onset. In tandem, CORE collaborated with The Conversation Canada to publish a story about not neglecting eye care as the pandemic continued—reaching millions of consumers in Canada, the U.S., and English- and French-speaking overseas countries.
More recently, CORE pivoted from pandemic-related public education to two of the most discussed topics in eye health—childhood myopia and dry eye. CORE’s work helped inform parents and encouraged them to seek comprehensive eye exams for their children. Additionally, the CORE team helped bring attention to the challenge through employers, who in many cases are positioned to influence action through benefits plans. On the dry eye front, CORE collaborated again with The Conversation to share information and discuss the crucial role of optometrists in helping deliver sustained relief.
In any given year, CORE delivers countless in-person and virtual lectures, papers and posters, and produces a bi-monthly, 60,000-subscriber Contact Lens Update magazine—all of which contribute to furthering the practice of optometry worldwide.
The Ontario Association of Optometrists represents over 1,700 optometrists across the province. It is dedicated to helping members provide the highest standard of eye health and vision care for Ontarians while driving the profession of optometry forward.
The latest CLI See Tomorrow series report draws from recently conducted custom research with more than 2,000 prescription vision-corrected U.S. adults, combined with insights from more than a dozen of the country’s leading eye care professionals. It also includes previously unpublished data from The Vision Council, with whom CLI is partnering to extend the study’s reach.
“Having an industry association with our specific focus advance glasses prescribing—in conjunction with increased contact lens wear, of course—may be unexpected. But we firmly believe that the greatest potential for consumer satisfaction and professional success has a foundation in holistic eye care,” write CLI Executive Director Stan Rogaski and CLI Board Chair Michele Andrews, OD, in the report’s opening letter. “While some of findings affirm what we have long suspected, and others are surprising, all contribute toward a more informed and effective community of eye care professionals.
Expanding on data first previewed on the 2023 Vision Expo East Innovation Stage, CLI quantifies latent demand for dual wear among current glasses and contact lens users—more than one in three patients (36%)—and explores why consumers define choice as a strongly compelling proposition. This includes deep dives with accompanying infographic illustrations into situational wear by activity, time of day, and day of the week.
For the first time, CLI isolates the demographics of dual wearers, including employment status, household income, education, gender, and vision insurance coverage. The findings also offer understanding of what prompts a dual wearer to choose contact lenses or glasses, with convenience scoring high for both types of vision correction (31% and 37%, respectively). Details surrounding self-confidence, quality of vision, physical activities, fashion, and comfort elements are also conveyed.
The largely overlooked importance of trial stands out within the research. Among glasses-only wearers, contact lens trials are largely underutilized. 32% of that patient population said that a free trial would increase their consideration. Yet among the subset who reported that contact lenses were discussed at their most recent exam, only 10% were subsequently offered trials of any type. Among contact lens-only wearers, when glasses were discussed during an exam, only one in three were offered the chance to look at glasses in the office.
Columns authored by 2023 Contact Lens Institute Visionaries are placed throughout the publication, each offering examples of how to transform the report data into high potential practice management behaviors. Many center on engaging in more productive exam lane conversations, extending those to all staff who interact with patients prior to, during, and after their visit.
“Our profession has inadvertently made glasses and contacts an ‘either-or’ selection, when the real choice lies in having the ability to pick between the two on any given day and time to suit ever-changing environments. CLI hopes the eye care community will embrace this new research, share the insights among one another, and consider how dual wear can provide a better experience for practice and patient alike,” said Dr. Andrews.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
Vision Expo East, organized by co-owners RX and The Vision Council, announces that submissions are now open for the highly anticipated NOW Trend Showcase and Awards at Vision Expo East 2025, taking place in Orlando, FL.
The Association des optométristes du Québec (AOQ) will take the relevant legal measures to challenge the validity of the government’s ministerial order preventing optometrists in the province from exercising a right to which they are entitled: to opt out of the public health plan.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
Vision Expo East, organized by co-owners RX and The Vision Council, announces that submissions are now open for the highly anticipated NOW Trend Showcase and Awards at Vision Expo East 2025, taking place in Orlando, FL.
The Association des optométristes du Québec (AOQ) will take the relevant legal measures to challenge the validity of the government’s ministerial order preventing optometrists in the province from exercising a right to which they are entitled: to opt out of the public health plan.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
Vision Expo East, organized by co-owners RX and The Vision Council, announces that submissions are now open for the highly anticipated NOW Trend Showcase and Awards at Vision Expo East 2025, taking place in Orlando, FL.
The Association des optométristes du Québec (AOQ) will take the relevant legal measures to challenge the validity of the government’s ministerial order preventing optometrists in the province from exercising a right to which they are entitled: to opt out of the public health plan.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
Vision Expo East, organized by co-owners RX and The Vision Council, announces that submissions are now open for the highly anticipated NOW Trend Showcase and Awards at Vision Expo East 2025, taking place in Orlando, FL.
The Association des optométristes du Québec (AOQ) will take the relevant legal measures to challenge the validity of the government’s ministerial order preventing optometrists in the province from exercising a right to which they are entitled: to opt out of the public health plan.
