InDispensable Briefs: IZOD debuts personalized frames, Volk offers portable ocular measurements

IZOD offers personalized frames in new collection

Hauppauge, NY-ClearVision Optical introduces its new collection of IZOD frames that can be personalized through color.

Designed for young men who like to express their style through eyewear, the youthful collection includes four clear acetate front shapes and nine vibrant temple colors, providing the opportunity to create individual frame styles.

The new IZOD collection provides eyecare professionals with an opportunity to offer customizable eyewear right in the dispensary. The collection can also be personalized using a standard tinting machine to dye the clear fronts to any color preferred by the consumer. With numerous front shape/temple combinations, as well as the option to change the front color, consumers can create a unique look all their own.

A full suite of in-store merchandising materials accompany the IZOD personalized collection, including a brand ID; an interactive counter card that allows consumers to see each available temple color; and a custom display showcasing the four clear front shapes and all nine temple colors.

Next: Volk Optical offers portable ocular measurements

Volk Optical offers portable ocular measurements

Mentor, OH-Volk Optical’s Eye Check, an electronic handheld ocular measurement device, aids in the diagnosis of ophthalmic abnormalities.

Capable of a number of key measurements including pupil diameter, horizontal visible iris diameter, interpupillary distance, margin reflex distance, pupil eccentricity, and strabismus angle, Eye Check helps practitioners screen and document ocular characteristics for contact lens fitting and general diagnostic purposes.

Volk Optical says the Eye Check’s real-time, accurate, and objective results enable quick decision-making and can be output to electronic records management systems with wifi connectivity. Eye Check can help to identify patients that are candidates for specialty lenses and reduce practice drop out rates.

Eye Check measurement parameters that facilitate lens fitting are:

• Horizontal visible iris diameter to assess correct contact lens diameter

• Pupil diameter and eccentricity for gas permeable lens fitting and multifocal contact lens choice

• Lid margin to pupil margin for bifocal lens fitting

For general diagnosis and documentation, Eye Check also measures:

• Interpupillary distance for eyeglass fitting

• Margin reflex distance for detection and documentation of ptosis in endocrine disorders, as well as pre- and post-surgical comparison

• Strabismus angle for amblyopia and strabismus screening with objective documentation of strabismus amplitude

Next: Rudy Project and Shamir collaborate on Rx eyewear collection

Rudy Project and Shamir collaborate on Rx eyewear collection

San Clemente, CA-Rudy Project and Shamir recently announced they would collaborate on prescription sports solutions. The companies say the union between the two brands will bring a suite of features and benefits to Rx sport and fashion sunwear.

By combining Rudy Project’s Italian frames, which incorporate lightweight materials such as Kynetium and fully-adjustable temple arms and nose pieces, with Shamir’s recently launched Attitude III progressive and single-vision sun lenses, the companies will create a new sport and fashion sunwear line unlike anything seen in the industry before. This Rx solution will be edged at Shamir’s new edging facility located in Los Angeles.

“Capitalizing on the knowledge of our lens designs and edging expertise, we have taken optics, precision, and aesthetics of finished eyewear to a new level,” says Nir Shmuel, vice president of operations of Shamir. “Each job processed at Shamir’s edging facility is analyzed based on the Shamir design, the patient’s Rx and the intricacies of the frame to ensure that the final product provides superior optics and unmatched cosmetics.”

Next: Eschenbach introduces MaxTV clip

Eschenbach introduces MaxTV clip

Danbury, CT-Eschenbach recently introduced the MaxTV Clip, a clip-on version of its MaxTV telescopic system. Like the MaxTV, the MaxTV Clip provides two times magnification of distant objects (such as a television), but because it clips on to eyewear, the MaxTV Clip now allows astigmatic patients or those with a high sphere in their Rx to be able to benefit from using a simple telescopic magnification solution.


The prongs of the clip have protective rubber covers over them to avoid scratching the lenses of the user's eyewear. The rubber covers also prevent the MaxTV Clip from slipping off the eyewear or moving out of alignment. The back sides of the ocular lenses have a thin foam strip on them to avoid scratching the lenses of the eyewear. When magnification is not needed, or the user wants to focus on close-up objects, the MaxTV Clip can be flipped up and out of the way-there is no need to constantly remove and reattach it.

The height of the clip itself can be adjusted on the MaxTV lenses. There are five different settings to choose from ensuring that the patient has an optimal line of sight through the center of the lenses, thereby maximizing their vertical field of view. The horizontal field of view on the MaxTV Clip is 18 degrees and it is designed for patients with PDs 60-68mm.

Next: AOA says many patients don’t look for UV protection in sunglasses

AOA says many patients don’t look for UV protection in sunglasses

St. Louis, MO-The American Optometric Association's (AOA) 2014 American Eye-Q survey found that 41 percent of consumers do not check the UV protection level before purchasing sunglasses. 

The survey also found that only 30 percent of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor when purchasing sunglasses. Consumers ranked their other preferences as:

• Glare reduction/comfortable vision: 27 percent

• Style: 15 percent

• Price: 14 percent

• Fit: nine percent

“The harmful effects of long-term exposure to UV are a real concern because it can cause damage to the eye, possibly resulting in cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or pterygium," says Beth Kneib, OD, director of the AOA's Clinical Resources Group.

Tell your patients

For optimal eye sun-safety, the AOA recommends wearing sunglasses or contact lenses that offer appropriate UV protection, applying UV-blocking sunscreen, and wearing a hat to keep direct sunlight off of the face and eyes.

When your patients are looking for sunglasses, the AOA also recommends:

• Lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays

• Lenses that have a uniform tint-gradient lenses should lighten gradually with the bottom being lightest

• Lenses that are free of distortion and imperfection

• A frame that fits close to the eyes and contours to the shape of the face to prevent exposure to UV radiation from all sides, even behind

Next: Christian Lacroix launches new optical collection

Christian Lacroix launches new optical collection

Hong Kong-The Christian Lacroix optical collection, designed by Mondottica, features acetates created only for the brand in collaboration with Italian material powerhouse Mazzuchelli. The feminine front shapes are thin and fine in profile with high-quality parts.

CL1043237CL1043 features a bold and feminine cat eye shape with graduated acetates and baroque temple trims featuring an embossed two-tone signature Paseo print. 

CL 3033246

Bespoke acetates, exclusively developed with Italian manufacturer Mazzucchelli can be found in CL1044, CL1045, CL3033, and CL3035, for a collection that delivers distinctive and directional eye shapes.

CL 1045001

Next: Zyloware releases new frames for Project Runway collection

Zyloware releases new frames for Project Runway collection

Project Runway 123Port Chester, NY-Zyloware has released three new frames in July for its Project Runway collection.

Offered in two colors, Project Runway 123M is a semi-rimless metal frame in an oval shape. The colorful metal temples have a cut-out crisscrossed design pattern and an open metal endpiece. Available size is 51-17-135, with colors black purple and violet pink. Special features include semi-rimless metal frame, cut-out design on metal temple, Zyl temple tips, and snap-in nosepads. List price is $29.95.

Project Runway 124Project Runway 124M is a full rim metal frame in a square shape. The frame has a bold open metal endpiece and a textural geometric pattern on the metal temples. The black/white frame has an exciting buckle-like trim with bold coloring black over white. It is available in size 51-16-135, with special features include a full-rim metal frame with metal endpiece, cut-out dot designs on metal temple, Zyl temple tips, and snap-in nosepads. This style accommodates progressives and is also available in navy pink. The list price is $29.95

The oval-shaped Project Runway 125M is a full rim metal frame. The metal temples feature shiny raised polka dots. On the black-blue frame, the open metal endpiece connects the bold black front to the splashy blue temple. This style is available in in size 52-16-135, and comes in black blue and brown pink. Special features include a full-rim metal frame with metal endpiece, dot design on metal temples, Zyl temple tips, and snap-in nosepads. This style accommodates progressives. The list price is $29.95.

Next: Costa adds new styles to its women’s collection

Costa adds new styles to its women’s collection

Daytona Beach, FL-Costa recently added three more styles to its women’s collection in Starfish, Pluma, and Sea Fan. The new styles join Isla, Goby, and Blenny, also new in 2014.

Starfish in Topaz Fade

Starfish is a large cat-eye frame available in pomegranate fade; retro tortoise; white and black; shiny black and amber; and the new topaz fade. Performance features include no-slip nose pads and five-barrel optical hinges for extra frame sturdiness and durability. Starfish retails for $159.

Pluma in Morena

The vintage-inspired Pluma style is named for the iridescent silvery-purple fish found in the Atlantic reefs from the Bahamas to Brazil. Frame colors include shiny black and coral; retro tortoise; morena; and topaz and white, and include no-slip nose pads and five-barrel optical hinges. Pluma retails for $159.

Sea Fan in Pomegranate Fade

Sea Fan offers a butterfly shape in a medium fit, in a variety of frame colors, including black and white; pomegranate fade; white and topaz; wood fade; and retro tortoise with black temples. Sea Fan features a spring hinge for a durable yet supremely comfortable fit, and retails for $169.

Starfish, Pluma, and Sea Fan are available in Costa’s patented 580P 100 percent polarized lens technology. Costa’s 580 lenses block yellow light from entering the eye, creating sharp color enhancement and eliminating reflective glare. The lenses are lightweight and impact resistant. Lens color options include gray, copper, and amber. Each of the styles can be customized with Costa Rx sun lenses through an authorized Costa Rx partner.