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Lifestyle Eyecare Centers Hosts Treasure Hunt at Vision Expo West More than 13 Participating Vendors, including Reed Exhibition, and over $10,000 in Prizes San Clemente, CA – July 6, 2011 – LifeStyle Eyecare Centers, a marketing company aimed at assisting Independent Eyecare Professionals in growing and marketing their practices, will be hosting the Vision Expo West 2011 Treasure Hunt.  This is an exhilarating new concept for the international trade show and its goal is to drive show traffic and generate excitement about Vision Expo West 2011.  The attendees will collect a Treasure Map from one of 20 locations throughout the trade show, including the customer service counters which are provided by Reed Exhibitions, the Vision Expo Registration counter and the booths of the participating vendors. After acquiring the map the attendees will follow the path and visit each of the participating vendor’s booths (Ports O’ Call) and there they will be able to collect the treasure coins of Captain One Eye’d Jack.  After collecting their coins they will complete the path and go to the LifeStyle Eyecare Centers Booth (#24107) to play the slot machine and have a chance of winning...

San Clemente, CA. June 2, 2011 C&E Vision Services, Inc., a leading national buying group dedicated to Inspiring Profitable Eye Care Practices™, will host a webinar entitled Learn to “Grow your Practice Using Social Media” on Wednesday June 8 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time at5:00 PM Pacific Time.  The webinar will be moderated by Philippe Cesson, President of Cesson 3.0, a leading social media and marketing firm and will include guest appearances by Dr. Justin Bazan, Park Slope Eye in Brooklyn, NY and representatives of Marcolin Eyewear.  The webinar is the first in a series of three webinars focusing on Social Media that are planned over the next few months.  The webinar is complimentary to all C&E members and to anyone who Likes C&E Vision on Facebook. The webinar will be recordered and made available for on demand streaming to all C&E Vision members through their Web Enhanced Member Portal. Background: C&E Vision located in San Clemente California, is the only Web Enhanced buying group of choice.   C&E exclusively provides its members the power of the Web Enhanced online services and the choice of multiple billing methods and incentive...

San Clemente, CA. June 1, 2011 C&E Vision Services, Inc., a leading national buying group dedicated to Inspiring Profitable Eye Care Practices™, has announced the introduction of its Social Media Center on the member’s only section of its web site.  The Social Media Center will initially include step by step guides for ECP’s to easily create, grow and be successful using their own Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blog sites for their practices and to take advantage of Social Check-In sites such as Foursquare, as well as a selection of videos that will enable ECP’s to become more familiar with social media generally.  C&E plans to gradually add content to and update the Social Media Center over time and expects that it will become a “go to” social media resources for ECP’s.  Additionally, the Forum section will provide members the opportunity to ask questions about using social media in their practice and to learn from the sharing of other members’ experiences.  The Forum will be moderated by CESSON 3.0, a leading social media and marketing firm to ensure members have access to professional expertise.  Brad Shapiro, C&E Principal stated that “it is imperative...

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Bausch + Lomb Storz® Ophthalmic Instruments has improved upon its existing line of vitreoretinal instrumentation with the U.S. release of StableGrip™ Vitreoretinal Instruments for comfort and control. The new StableGrip Vitreoretinal Handle features a contoured, titanium handle for lightweight balance and tactile control. The squeeze handle mechanism has been designed to activate compatible vitreoretinal tips smoothly and consistently with fingertip rotation control designed for accurate tip alignment. In addition to the new handle, Storz Ophthalmics is introducing new vitreoretinal tips with an enhanced hub design. The new hub design incorporates a compact configuration that is designed to provide enhanced comfort and control to the surgeon. In addition, the hubs feature a color-coding system to indicate the instrument’s gauge size and tip design. The StableGrip collection includes five vitreoretinal forceps and two vitreoretinal scissors, each available in 23- and 25-gauge options. The available tip configurations include: Micro Pic Forceps, Asymmetrical Peeling Forceps, ILM Forceps, Endgripping Forceps, Micro Forceps, Vertical Scissors and Curved...

San Clemente, CA. March 29, 2011: GP Specialists, a manufacturer of specialty rigid gas permeable contact lenses with an emphasis on lenses for Ortho-K, cornea reshaping or vision rehabilitation, has consolidated its laboratory operations into the former American Biocurve, Inc., facility in San Diego, CA.  The move was planned after GP Specilaists acquired the business of American Biocurve in January.   “The combination of our existing GP business with Biocurve’s state of the art facility will enable us to pursue our aggressive growth plans” stated Mark Cosgrove, Director of Operations.  “The equipment, the experienced personnel and the facility are among the best in the industry” he continued.  “The consolidated lab is fully operational and no disruption of business with existing customers is anticipated as a result of the consolidation” said Cosgrove. Background: GP Specialists has been manufacturing gas permeable lenses for more than 35 years.  Originally based in Phoenix, Arizona, the lab was relocated to San Clemente, California in 2003 where it began to increase its ortho-k business.  Today GP Specialists is one of the world leaders in the ortho-k field,...

Retailers are smart to focus their time and energy to encourage impulse buying, it is very lucrative business. Savvy retailers use a number of strategies to encourage impulse buying through attractive displays in strategic locations, pleasant sights, smells and sounds in the store and online through web pages that allow shoppers to browse categories of products,  just to name a few.  Entire marketing research studies detail strategies to encourage impulse buying. Impulse buying is defined as unplanned purchases and can range from the pack of gum you throw in your cart at the grocery store checkout to looking at a new car and driving it off the lot and many purchases in between. Best estimates are that about 40% of consumer spending is impulse buying.  The list of the reasons consumers purchase on impulse are feeling good in the moment, social interaction, finding that truly irresistible bargain and many more. The most significant motivation for impulse buying, which accounts for 88% of the impulse purchases, is that the item is on sale. Whether it is a real or perceived sale, consumers like to get a deal.  The impulse purchase of a sale item may or may not have long term benefits....

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -  Bausch + Lomb Storz® Ophthalmic Instruments introduced the E7002 Osher Sterile Field Magnifier today in the United States. This innovative design offers an autoclavable, compact magnification tool that can be used in the operating room environment. The instrument, with its 50.0 mm lens, is ideal for loading IOL’s into the injector and for aligning the irrigation sleeve on the phaco or I/A tip prior to use. The lens provides magnification that is excellent for inspecting fine surgical instrument tips and ensuring the phaco tip is properly placed in the irrigation sleeve. It can also be used to assist the OR staff in differentiating microsurgical instrument tips. Manufactured from stainless steel and fine quality optical glass, the magnifier can be cleaned and sterilized by conventional means. The lens folds easily down into the base of the instrument to allow it to fit into most surgical instrument trays for ease of processing. For more information, to request a quote, or to place an order online, visit the Bausch + Lomb Storz Ophthalmic Instruments Web site at www.storzeye.com. You may also contact Bausch + Lomb’s customer service...

With the rise of social media, many “experts” have predicted the demise of traditional media, whether for information dissemination, advertising, marketing or PR. One of our readers recently commented, “I am not so sure I need access to a traditional reporter anymore!” Though I encourage my clients and students to include social media in their PR strategy, I would not advise anybody to drop traditional media. It may seem that the traditional media are losing their usefulness. Many newspapers and magazines have folded. More and more people are turning to social networks first to get the news. And popular bloggers are reaching incredible numbers of people. All this is true. However, we still need traditional media for PR. Here are five reasons why: 1. Traditional media are instantly recognizable. Chances are, the average person recognizes your city’s newspaper faster and more easily than the most popular blog in your area. Traditional media have been around longer than social media, and many have built recognizable and credible brands. 2. Traditional media give you instant status. Because traditional media are recognizable and often seen as credible, getting exposure...

Since insurance business is an ever-increasing part of ECPs’ patient base today, many are finding creative ways to boost profits while navigating the third-party world. In fact, some view managed care as a true opportunity center. “Utilization rates were unusually high for the first part of 2009,” says Jerry Hayes, optical consultant, “because people were afraid of losing their jobs and rushing in to use their benefits. So, managed care kept patients coming into ECPs’ offices in a down economy.” This phenomenon kept retail sales humming in the first half of 2009. “Our ECPs told us that the fl ow of VSP patients was doing a lot to keep their offices going,” says Gary Brooks, president of VSP Vision Care, which serves 65 million people nationwide through 25,000 ECPs. Interestingly, revenue from private plans accounted for 43.3 percent of ODs’ total revenue in 2007 and 24.5 percent from public plans, according to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2008 Third-Party/Managed Care Survey. With the right tools, eyecare professionals can make a profit with insurance patients. Read on for a roundup of six effective...

Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, the Latest Non Invasive Corneal Correction Therapy Orthokeratology, also referred to as Ortho-K or Corneal Refractive Therapy, is the use of a gas permeable contact lens worn for only portions of the day or at night to improve vision through the reshaping of the patient’s cornea. As a non surgical treatment, orthokeratology uses precisely shaped, reverse geometry, rigid gas permeable contact lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea and ease or eliminate myopia (nearsightedness) so that patients can see better at distance without wearing eye glasses or contact lenses for long periods of the day. Some of the advantages to orthokeratology are that it is a non invasive, non surgical correction method. It is available to a high number of patients. It quickly gives a patient freedom from constant wearing of corrective lenses – either eye glasses or contacts – without surgery such as LASIK, which is laser assisted refractive surgery for correcting myopia and astigmatism. Orthokeratology, as a non invasive treatment, can be re-adjusted as the patient’s eyes and vision change over time; whereas LASIK may have to be repeated a few times over a patient’s...

If you have chosen Gas Permeable (GP) contact lenses, you know benefits of GP over other contact lenses. Eye health is a big advantage because GP lenses allow your eye to breath, which prevents corneal problems over time. Also, protein is less likely to build up which causes cloudy vision and can lead to bacteria residue. GP lenses are also more rigid and less likely to tear which means they don’t need to be replaced as often as soft contact lenses. They do, however, require an adaptation period. Since GP lenses are more rigid they are not as instantly comfortable as soft contact lenses. Many people who wear contact lenses are not willing to endure the temporary discomfort and there are times when GP lenses fail to “wet” and adhere securely to the eye, which can also lead to blurry or fluctuating vision. Most often GP lenses fail to “wet” because of residue from the manufacturing process or oils & soaps from handling them. Recently two contact lens manufacturers, Paragon Vision Sciences and Bausch & Lomb received FDA clearance to plasma treat their lens materials. Plasma treatment has been used for some time to remove organic and inorganic contamination from metal,...

Are you looking for a profitable opportunity to keep your practice ahead of the competition? Are you looking for a way to have your patients coming back faithfully and sending their friends? Join a revolutionary advance in eye care that can be offered to patients ages 8 to 100. This innovative treatment is not available at Wal-Mart, Costco, 1 800-contacts or any other discounters.  It is a treatment for myopia, an ever-increasing condition in our electronics addicted society. Check into Orthokeratology or Ortho-K, it can be a win-win for your patients and your practice. Profit potential for your practice is substantial. Gross profit estimates are available from a leading provider of Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lenses used for Ortho-K, GP Specialists. Based on one patient per week, GP Specialists estimates a gross profit range of $15K to $41 annually¹. Actual numbers depend on your pricing and which product you use. Increase your ortho-k patients to three per week and the gross profit estimate jumps from $46K to $126K¹, again depending on your pricing and product used. Ortho-k can be purchased starting at $44.99 per eye and fitting sets are sold to help you best fit your patients....

Becoming stewards for your customers requires that you create an atmosphere that will accommodate their every need. And, what better way to do that than to utilize visual representations of what you have to offer them in your practice. By using posters and other props, you can reach your clientele even when you are not discussing their eye wear needs. The frame area in an optometry office has become much more than just a frame room – so much so that it’s difficult to relate to the earlier days when you asked your customers to choose between either a black or brown frame. Customers are expecting more than just a wall full of frames; they are expecting information. You can accommodate them without cluttering your practice. Create Themes By creating themes for your eye wear, your customers will know exactly where they need to go when it is time to select the frames. Separate the practice and walking areas into different areas for sunglasses, sportswear, reading glasses, and the casual wear. This will direct your customers to the correct area without having to spend the money for a walker to direct them. It also says a lot about your practice, in that you have taken the time to arrange...

STUTTGART, Germany—German eyewear manufacturer, IVKO, has signed a licensing agreement with Daimler AG, owner of Mercedes-Benz and one of the world’s biggest producers of premium cars and commercial vehicles, for the design, manufacture and distribution of an exclusive luxury eyewear collection bearing the Maybach brand name. The Maybach Eyewear collection will feature exquisite materials, painstaking craftsmanship and outstanding design inspired by the eponymous high-end car brand, according to IVKO. The collection will be launched worldwide at the end of October 2010 with an extensive “Ready-to-Wear” collection, including eight sunglasses models and 10 spectacle frames. The hand-crafted collection will feature design elements like wood, leather and natural horn, as well as titanium, carbon fiber and 18-carat white, yellow and rose gold; while the sun lenses will be manufactured by Zeiss. In addition, there will also be an “Individual” collection, which will cater to customers’ special requests and customization. Further information about the Maybach brand is available at www.media.daimler.com, while more information about the eyewear collection,...

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J.—Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced it has acquired all of the shares of Sperian Protection held by Essilor International (Reuters: ESSI.PA), Mrs. Ginette Dalloz and Société Civile Familiale Dalloz, at a price of €117 per share in accordance with the share purchase agreement announced in May, 2010. As a result of this acquisition, Honeywell now holds 28.28 percent of the share capital and 27.53 percent of the voting rights of Sperian Protection. The selling shareholders received the same price as is to be paid to Sperian shareholders tendering their shares in the pending all cash tender offer filed by Honeywell Holding France, which opened on July 12, 2010 and will close on Sept.r 2, 2010 with settlement for tendered shares to be made on Sept. 15, 2010. The completion of this offer has been cleared by the U.S. and European antitrust authorities and remains subject only to the successful tender by Sperian’s shareholders of shares representing no less than 57 percent of the fully diluted number of shares, including the stakes acquired from Essilor, Société Civile Familiale Dalloz and Mrs. Ginette Dalloz. Sperian Protection is a leader in personal protection...