It’s time to convince your patients to spend money on luxury eyewear. Yes, we’re coming out of holiday season, and we’ve probably spent a lot on gifts; and, well, look at the economy. But these are precisely the reasons that it’s time to invest more in eyewear, not less, and take the leap to some luxury brands. The thinking may seem counterintuitive, but, in an age of aggressive branding, the omnipotence of influencer culture, and enough conspicuous consumption to make Alex P. Keaton feel uncomfortable, there’s an element to luxury eyewear that many wearers forget: quality. While many individuals may feel that they’re spending money on a name, it’s important to remind them that those names bring with them hallmarks of engineering, design, and longevity.

As frame and lens experts, we know that plastics are the most commonly used eyewear materials. How can our industry address its impact on our environment and the expectations of the modern eyewear consumer? An Industry Report from Villa Eyewear, “Is your eyecare practice ready to meet the moment? An ECP’s guide to climate change & consumer expectations,” has some answers.

Word of Leonardo Del Vecchio’s passing on June 27, 2022, sent ripples through our trade. Leonardo left his indelible mark on the optical industry, and his influence will continue long into the future. We know him as the visionary who built the optical empire Luxottica from scratch. Leonardo’s extraordinary and legendary business acumen stewarded the growth of Luxottica into the largest frame manufacturer and retailer and Rx lens retailer in the world. The merging of Luxottica with Essilor combined the strength of the largest frame manufacturer and retailer and Rx eyeglass provider worldwide with the world leader in corrective lenses. This was a dream come true for Del Vecchio. During the merger announcement, he is quoted as saying, “…my dream to create a major global player in the eyewear industry, fully integrated and excellent in all its parts, comes finally true,” https://www.luxuo.com.

Previously, I discussed some of the advantages of buying eyeglasses from an optical versus online. In NJ, our standards are strict, and we don’t hesitate to remake glasses if they were made incorrectly. Opticians are trained to thoroughly inspect eyewear including the quality, prescription, and appearance of any given order. We guarantee that the patient is getting the quality they paid for.