From the editor
Change . It ' s the one constant in the eyewear and eyecare industry . Companies are always working to create better , more innovative products , while eyecare professionals are constantly on the lookout for new technologies , products and tools to improve their services . Changes and advancements in the eyewear / eyecare industry will be on full display at this month ' s Vision Expo East in New York City where a massive selection of new frames , lenses , sunglasses , diagnostic tools , computer software and other items will be showcased . Optical Prism will be there and report back on all of the exciting products for ECPs and consumers . But , until then , we have put together this month ' s magazine with a focus on presenting to you the latest and greatest in both eyewear , including contact lenses and frames , and equipment , including those for manufacturing products and for use in eyecare practices . Inside these pages , you will find an article on how companies are going to great lengths to develop contact lenses that are more comfortable than ever before . And since about 3.7 million Canadians currently wear contact lenses , making it the second-most popular form of vision correction after prescription eyeglasses , this is a vital component of the nation ' s eyewear industry . A recent Euromonitor International report found that the contact lens industry in Canada saw about five per cent growth in 2016 to reach $ 324 million in annual sales . Also in the theme of change , eyecare diagnostic equipment companies are launching new tools to help ECPs detect conditions such as glaucoma , age-related macular degeneration and dry eye . In this issue , we chat with companies like Zeiss , Topcon and Innova about what ' s in store for 2017 . You will also find a feature article on the latest in lens technologies from such companies as Transitions , Hoya , Plastic Plus , Nikon and Kodak . Also included in this issue is a piece on how the Ontario-based company eSight has helped a Canadian boy to see his mother ' s face for the first time . The story illustrates the importance of advancements in eyewear technology . Speaking of cutting edge machines , you will also learn about how Safilo is using new state-of-the-art technology to create prototype frames for top fashion brands in record time . Things are constantly changing in the eyewear and eyecare industries and we are very excited to provide you with a glimpse of what companies have been working on . Don ’ t forget to check us out on social media and subscribe to us online to get the latest eyecare and eyewear information .
Denis Langlois , Editor .
06 Optical Prism | March 2017