Eyecare Business delivers the latest updates across the eyecare industry, from appointments to achievements and other notable news. This week includes updates from The Vision Council (TVC), Valley Contax, VSP Vision, and Europa Eyewear.

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The Vision Council announced that its contact lens division will merge under the organization’s health care division, reflecting the shared focus of both sectors on delivering quality eye care. Health Care Division Chair Jerry Warner of CooperVision will continue to lead the combined group. Additionally, Jonathan Christie, OD, MBA, FAAO, was named health care division vice chair. Dr. Christie serves as senior managing optometrist at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, where he oversees operations across 3 locations with 25 optometrists and more than 70,000 annual visits. He founded Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s first optometry residency program and established the region’s first traumatic brain injury vision rehabilitation service. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, vice chair of its ocular telehealth special interest group, and a clinical assistant professor at the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University.

Valley Contax announced the appointment of Carl Kramer, OD, FAAO, FSLS, as its new professional relations director. Dr. Kramer, a specialist in corneal care and specialty contact lenses, has experience in private practice and 5 years on faculty at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where he mentored future optometrists. A fellow of both the American Academy of Optometry and the Scleral Lens Education Society, he is a nationally recognized lecturer. In his new role, Dr. Kramer will focus on education, clinical collaboration, and strengthening partnerships within the optometric community.

VSP Vision announced that Michele Andrews, OD, has been named chief medical officer. In her new role, Dr. Andrews will oversee clinical strategy, align optometric care initiatives, and develop programs to ensure high-quality, accessible eye care across VSP’s patient network. Dr. Andrews joins VSP from CooperVision, where she served as vice president of marketing and professional affairs, and previously held senior roles at ForEyes Optical, EyeMed Vision Care, and LensCrafters.

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Europa Eyewear announced it has secured an exclusive licensing agreement for Coco and Breezy Eyewear, effective April 2026. The brand, founded in 2009 by twin sisters Coco and Breezy Dotson, is known for bold, design-forward eyewear that blends fashion and cultural expression. Under the transition, previous licensee ESE International will continue processing and shipping orders through the end of March, with Europa assuming responsibility for orders, warranties, and customer service beginning in April. The collection will be distributed through Europa’s national sales force, with plans to expand into additional independent eyecare professional accounts later in 2026.

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Judith Lew, LDO, ABOC, professional development director of opticianry at EssilorLuxottica, was recognized with 2 industry awards at SECO 2026. She received the SECO Optician of the South Award for her commitment to technological advancement, lifelong learning, and professional mentorship within opticianry. She was also named Optician of the Year by the National Academy of Opticianry for her dedication to higher education in dispensing and ophthalmic optics.