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Hot List: August 2012

Alicia Hoglund

1 Infrequent Visits

The Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s recently released Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2010, revealed the following statistics about the number of visits adults aged 18 years and over paid to a healthcare professional over a 12-month period.

2 In The Dark

According to the American Optometric Association, 18 million children will not have had an eye exam by an eye doctor by the time they enter school.

3 Reliable Referrals

According to The 2012 Americans' Attitudes and Perceptions About Vision Care Survey, conducted on behalf of VISTAKON Division Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., nearly 80 percent of respondents sought a referral when selecting their current ECP from the following:

40 percent
family member, friend, or co-worker

21 percent
healthcare provider

4 NO EXCUSES

Prevent Blindness America and Transitions Optical, Inc.'s new report, “Focus on Eye Health and Culturally Diverse Populations,” revealed the top reasons why African Americans are not scheduling eye exams for themselves.

44%
“They cost too much.”

28%
“I don't have any vision problems.”

17%
“I forgot.”

AOA Elects Leadership

The American Optometric Association conducted its annual Optometry's Meeting in Chicago in late June. The meeting led off with an opening general session on 3D, sponsored by Essilor, and ended with a Saturday night Presidential Celebration at The Field Museum, sponsored by Hoya. In between were three days of House of Delegates meetings, special exhibit hall hours and events, well-attended CE courses and symposia, as well as state and special-interest group meetings and celebrations.

The new slate of officers inducted at the meeting is led by Ronald L. Hopping, OD, MPH, who is the first second-generation president in the history of the AOA. His father, Richard Hopping, OD, served as the AOA's president in the early 1970s. Other officers inducted include president-elect Mitchell Munson, OD (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); vice president David Cockrell, OD (Stillwater, Okla.); and secretary-treasurer Steven Loomis, OD (Roxborough Park, Colo.).

Next year's meeting will be held in San Diego, June 26 to 30.

1. The 2012-13 Board of Trustees are sworn in; 2. University of Indiana's Karen Lee takes home the prize as this year's winner of the Varilux Optometry Student Bowl; 3. Outgoing president Dori Carlson, OD, cuts the ribbon at the Exhibit Hall's Grand Opening; 4. New president Ronald L. Hopping, OD, MPH, speaks to attendees

SCHNEIDER HOSTS DIGICON EUROPE
	1. Dr. Stephan Huttenhuis demos Schneider's polishing technology;
	2. Schneider president and founder Gunter Schneider addresses DigiCON Europe attendees;
	3. Gunter Schneider (c) poses for a photo with Schneider team members and attendees
Schneider GmbH, parent company of Schneider Optical Machines, hosted its first digital conference to show off its new facility and its newest developments in optical machinery. Dubbed DigiCON Europe 2012, the event was held May 30 through June 2 at the company's new headquarters in Fronhausen, Germany, and attracted lab professionals from around the world. The conference showed off the company's new Modulo line, a series of intelligently linked industrial processing units with an integrated production flow management and automated quality managements. Also on display was Schneider's new DSC Prolab, a compact surfacing unit capable of everything from lens design calculation to engraving, and its HSE Freestyle five-axis industrial edger. Guests also enjoyed the tastes, sights, and history along the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

Folline passes at 81

A memorial service was held recently for Jack Smyser Folline, who passed away at the age of 81. Over the course of his career, he founded Folline Vision Centers and eventually expanded his business to include more than 20 optical shops and Palmetto Optical Laboratory, a wholesale laboratory and provider of safety eyewear in the southeast. He co-founded Palmetto Optical Supply, one of the country's first optical buying groups.

Folline helped form the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Opticianry, and served as the first and continuing chairman for 22 years. He was the first president and a founder of the South Carolina Association of Dispensing Opticians and a trustee of the Southeastern Society of Dispensing Opticians. He also served on the board and management committee of the Opticians Association of America. In 1999, Folline received the Order of Palmetto, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the governor of South Carolina. In 2002, he was selected to the Hall of Fame of the National Academy of Opticianry.

License LINEUP

Safilo and Hugo Boss Group have renewed their license agreement through the end of 2020 for the BOSS Black, BOSS Orange, and HUGO prescription and sunwear collections.

B. Robinson Optical has entered into a license agreement to produce Ivanka Trump sunglasses. Slated for a spring 2013 launch, the collection is expected to retail for $68-$175. A luxury capsule collection is also in the works.

Allison S.p.A. and Vivienne Westwood have renewed their license agreement for the production and worldwide distribution of Vivienne Westwood optical frames and sunglasses, extending the duo's eight-year partnership.

Allison also renewed its license agreement with Gilmar spa for the production and worldwide distribution of Iceberg eyewear.

STAT BOX
Mainstream green Thinking “green” isn't just for treehuggers and college kids any more. “We have seen over the last six months sustainable product go from niche to a must have,” says Pierre Fay, CEO North America for Modo Eyewear. The company's Eco collection, made from 95 percent recycled product, has found success to the point that they are rolling out the expanded Eco 2.0 at VEW. Data supporting the expansion is strong throughout the retail world, Fay notes, citing a survey of 7,000 shoppers in the GMA/Deloitte Green Shopper Study.
95%	Would buy green
75%	Know what a green product is
63%	Look for green when shopping
47%	Saw green products
22%	Bought green

GUESS? APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT

GUESS?, Inc., has named former Viva International Group president Frank Rescigna its president of licensing worldwide. He will report directly to Paul Marciano, CEO, and will be responsible for all domestic and international licensing. Viva is the GUESS eyewear licensee.

Paul Marciano, CEO and co-founder of GUESS?, Inc., notes, “We are very excited to welcome Frank to the GUESS team. He brings a wealth of experience from strong global brands. Over the past several years, we have built a strong management team around the world and we are continuing to enhance that with top talent from prominent companies.”

Sherry Lay will serve as Viva's interim president while continuing in her recent transition to Visionworks' chief merchandising officer. Both companies are part of HVHC, Highmark's vision holding company.

STAR Gazers
1. Actress Joy Bryant in GUESS style GU6661 shades by Viva International Group. Catch Bryant on NBC's “Parenthood,” which returns for its fourth season this September.
2. “Dancing with the Stars” dancer William Levy in Salvatore Ferragamo sunglass style SF105SL by Marchon.
3. Actress Dakota Fanning was out and about wearing Persol Capri Edition sunwear in style PO3025 by Luxottica. Fanning reprises her role as villainous vampire Jane in the upcoming “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2,” which debuts in theaters this November.
4. Curtis Stone, celebrity chef and co-host of Bravo's “Around the World in 80 Plates,” was spotted at the airport in Tumi sunglass style Malone by REM Eyewear. Stone recently became engaged to actress Lindsay Price.

2012 PECAA Annual Meeting Boasts Record Attendance

This year's Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) 5th Annual Meeting saw record attendance, with 250 PECAA members, vendor partners, guests, and PECAA staff.

With a theme of “Empowering Your Business,” the event, which was held June 8 to 10 in Sunriver, Ore., featured many speakers and open discussions, as well as a golf tournament, pool party, and other events.

Next year's meeting is scheduled for May 17 to 19, 2013, at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Wash. PECAA will also host its first Business Symposium Nov. 2 to 4, 2012, in Seattle. For more information, visit pecaa.com.

Ennco Display Systems Acquires Magic Design/Visual Dynamics

Ennco Display has announced its acquisition of San Francisco-based Magic Design/Visual Dynamics. Specializing in interior design and merchandising, Magic Design creates affordable total-office solutions for optical practices while Visual Dynamics focuses on the display merchandising accessories for presentation of eyewear and sunglasses. In line with Ennco's goal of providing “total package design,” the acquisition will allow the company to provide additional design and manufacturing solutions to customers. Ennco will be incorporating Magic Design's furnishings into its existing design systems, and, upon close, Magic Design/Visual Dyanmics will be integrated as Magic Design/Visual Dynamics, Division of Ennco Display Systems, Inc.

Cy Furman (l), founder of Magic Designs/Visual Dynamics, which is now a division of Ennco Display, with Jan Ennis (r), Ennco president

Above, PECAA members Steve Dobson (l), OD, from Dimond Vision Clinic in Anchorage, Alaska, and Dan Mannen (r), OD, FAAO, of Family Vision of Oregon, St. Helen's, Ore. during a golf tournament; Below, PECAA founder Lance Anderson (c), OD, from Accent Eyewear in Hillsboro, Ore., with PECAA members Jeff Tack (l), OD, and Terry Tack (r), OD, of Longview Eye & Vision in Longview, Wash.

Groups raise awareness of Sports-Related Eye Injuries

Prevent Blindness America, The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries, and Liberty Sport will support September 2012 as Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month. To help educate the public on the importance of wearing proper eye protection while playing sports, Liberty Sport is offering a free kit including in-store support materials and consumer outreach materials available upon request. Liberty Sport is also hosting its Third Annual Sports Center Contest from August through October.

INFO: 866-823-7633, libertysport.com