PIXELOPTICS GARNERS ACCOLADES, CONSUMER PRESS COVERAGE AT CES
PixelOptics received accolades for its soon to be released emPower! electronic focusing eyeglasses from consumer news media covering the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held Jan. 5-9 in Las Vegas. CES is the top annual international consumer electronics show in the world with approximately 2,700 exhibitors and over 140,000 attendees. Exhibitors included Sony, Motorola, Panasonic, LG Electronics and Hewlett Packard among other large and small global companies.

Among the international recognition emPower! received at the 2011 CES:
  • “PC Magazine” selected emPower! for its “Best of CES 2011.”
  • CNN spotlighted emPower! during a live broadcast from the CES.
  • ABC’s “Good Morning America” selected emPower! as one of the top six electronic products of 2011 to be highlighted.
  • CNBC, during a live nationwide broadcast from the CES, selected emPower! as one of the top five “Must Have” 2011 electronic products.
“We are extremely pleased to receive this level of recognition,” says Clay Musslewhite, director of marketing for PixelOptics, who is pictured here at CES. “The level of coverage received from top-tier news organizations was beyond my wildest expectations. I think this is a great indicator for the level of consumer and eyecare professional interest we will see for emPower! once it is officially launched in 2011.” PixelOptics plans to launch emPower! in March at International Vision Expo East in New York.


HOYA VISION CARE FORMS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH SANTINELLI INTERNATIONAL

Hoya Vision Care, North America has entered into a strategic alliance with Santinelli International to deliver in-office finishing solutions to the independent eyecare practitioner.

“As we further advance our sales offering, we recognize the value of expanding services. The alliance with Santinelli will expand our capabilities while offering our customers reliable options for in-office finishing,” says Barney Dougher, president of Hoya Vision Care.

According to Gerard Santinelli, president and CEO of Santinelli International, “We are excited to add Hoya, a leader in lens technology, as a key strategic alliance partner in order to provide added-value to our customer base. With the many exciting opportunities and benefits that in-office finishing (IOF) provides, partnering with a company like Hoya will enhance the ECP’s competitive advantages improving their quality, control, customer service and profitability.”

Hoya Vision Care is a leading spectacle lens supplier. Santinelli International is a leading supplier of in-office lens processing equipment. Details of the agreement, including each company’s role, will be forthcoming.


ABB CONCISE RELEASES UPDATED OPHTHALMIC LENS PORTFOLIO
ABB Concise is releasing an updated edition of its Ophthalmic Lens Portfolio, which is a reference guide to the sizes, parameters and features available for a wide variety of ophthalmic lenses distributed by the company. The portfolio includes lenses from well-known manufacturers, including best-in-class products from Essilor, KBco, Somo and PPG.

“The independent eye care practitioner wants to offer patients a convenient service, low prices and quality products,” says Michael J. Abbruzzese, ABB Concise’s senior vice president, marketing. “ABB Concise wants to help by providing our accounts with the intuitively designed Ophthalmic Lens Portfolio.”

The Ophthalmic Lens Portfolio is available to accounts through an ABB Concise sales representative or on www.abbconcise.com.


EYEROCK HEADS TO HARD ROCK CAFÉ IN NYC
Thirty of the optical industry’s best rock musicians and singers will collaborate for the fourth annual EyeRock at The Hard Rock Cafe in New York City’s Times Square on Saturday, March 19 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The concert will benefit OneSight, a non-profit organization affiliated with Luxottica, that delivers free vision care and eyewear to underprivileged individuals around the world.

Converse and John Varvatos by Rem Eyewear are returning as EyeRock’s presenting sponsor.

“This is the coolest, most fun event our industry puts together each year,” says Mike Hundert, CEO of Rem Eyewear, who calls the concert “a one of a kind” event. “We’re thrilled to support it and the wonderful good that comes from its success.”

Other corporate sponsors to date are Combined Insurance, Luxottica, Satisloh and Seiko. Jobson Optical Group is the official media sponsor.

EyeRock sponsorship is a perfect way for companies to showcase their support for OneSight while providing great add-on entertainment in mid-town Manhattan for clients attending Vision Expo East. Sponsors receive many benefits, including complimentary tickets.

“The Hard Rock Café in Times Square is a vibrant new location for EyeRock and we are expecting our biggest crowd ever,” says Greg Hare, Executive Director of OneSight. “You won’t want to miss the chance to see your industry colleagues perform at such a prestigious venue.”

Tickets for the event are available for a $75 donation to OneSight. For more information about EyeRock New York and to become a sponsor, visit www.onesight.org.    

—Andrew Karp