Transitions Honored by Hispanic Public Relations Group
The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), the country’s largest organization of ethnic public relations practitioners, has recognized Transitions Optical, Inc. and its trade public relations agency, Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, with the 2009 Hispanic Healthcare Campaign of the Year award. The national award was presented during the 25th annual HPRA PRemio Awards & Scholarship Gala, held on October 8 in Hollywood, Calif. It recognizes Transitions Optical’s multicultural initiative to aid eyecare professionals in better meeting the needs of diverse patients.

“Even though Hispanics represent the largest and fastest-growing demographic group, just a few short years ago, ‘Hispanic’ was a relatively quiet topic in the optical industry. We are proud of the industry for recognizing the need to educate this group on the importance of eye health and UV protection and for embracing the resources we’ve made available through our multicultural initiative,” says Manuel Solis, multicultural marketing manager, North America, Transitions. “We are honored to receive this national award, which is a true testament to how far the industry has come in meeting the needs of multicultural patients.”

VSP, Zeiss Roll Out Reveal PAL Nationwide
VSP expanded availability of its first co-branded products, VSP Reveal and Reveal Freeform progressive lenses with Optics by Carl Zeiss, to all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico last month.

VSP Reveal progressive lenses are available exclusively to VSP’s network of 26,000 private practice doctors and can be dispensed to both VSP and non-VSP patients. VSP Reveal and Reveal Freeform lenses were originally launched in July 2008 in California, and in March 2009, VSP Reveal was made available in 16 additional southern and western states.

“We received a phenomenal response to Reveal from VSP doctors and patients during our initial trial phase. Thanks to their positive feedback and demand for the product, we are proud to now offer Reveal to all VSP providers throughout the country,” says Don Oakley, VSP’s president of ophthalmic operations. “Working with Carl Zeiss Vision and leveraging their lens design expertise has allowed us to offer premium progressive lenses that deliver exceptional performance, as well as provide a savings program designed to benefit VSP’s network doctors.”

VSP practices will receive practice-building funds for each pair of VSP Reveal lenses dispensed, when ordered through eClaim or eLab on Eyefinity.

VSP Reveal is available through select VSP and Carl Zeiss Vision labs. A list and map of participating labs is available at www.vsplab.com or VSPOnline at www.eyefinity.com.

IcareLabs Brings Essilor’s Crizal Processing In-House
Essilor of America recently completed the technology transfer of its patented Crizal process at St. Petersburg, Florida-based IcareLabs. With access to Essilor’s Crizal EXT technology, IcareLabs can now fully manufacture Crizal lenses at its St. Petersburg laboratory, including Crizal, Crizal Alizé and the all-new Crizal Avancé lenses with Scotchgard Protector.

“The Essilor technical team was involved during every step of the installation at IcareLabs, ensuring total process integration, from lab management systems to lab process re-engineering,” says Bob Colucci, president of Essilor’s Independent Distribution Division.
IcareLab’s new Crizal facility operates Essilor’s proprietary and patented equipment and process. A remote daily quality certification of the process has been set up with Essilor to ensure quality compliance and guarantee consistency and the highest possible quality standard.