1-800 Contacts Enters Frame Market
1-800 Contacts announced it has entered the frames market with The Framery, an online destination for both frames and lenses, according to a press release.

Specifically, The Framery provides access to virtual try-ons, and an in-home try-on program (up to 4 frames to try at home).

Additionally, the online platform offers hundreds of frames and polycarbonate lenses, with options for progressive, blue light, and sun lenses, says 1-800 Contacts. Further, prescription eyewear will start at $79.

For additional information about The Framery, visit www.theframery.com or go to Instagram at @theframeryeyewear.

For past coverage on competing with online optical retailers, see:

• Stand Out in a Sea of Opticals
• Demonstrate Value in the Optical
• Achieving the Optimal Optical
• Competing with Online Opticals
• Overcome Online Retailers

Bausch + Lomb Launches Orthokeratology Lens System
Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced the U.S. launch of Arise, a lens-fitting system that uses intelligent, cloud-based technology to streamline the orthokeratology lens design process, according to a press release. Arise syncs directly with topographers to create lens designs to treat myopia. These lens designs include a lens that has toric peripheral curves. Visit https://www.bauschsvp.com/lenses/arise-ortho-k-system/

CooperVision Garners Zero Waste Certification at Manufacturing and Distribution Facilities
CooperVision earned Zero Waste Facility Program Certification for 6 of its global contact lens manufacturing and distribution sites. The certification demonstrates the degree to which operations prevent or divert waste from landfills, according to a press release. These sites: Scottsville and West Henrietta, New York, Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, Alajuela, Costa Rica, and Delta Park and Mountpark in the United Kingdom. Visit coopervision.com/sustainability.

Glaucoma Research Foundation Launches National Awareness Campaign
The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) is spearheading the national awareness campaign “Your Eyes Say Thanks.” The campaign is designed to encourage at-risk individuals—particularly those over age 50, people of color over age 40, and those with a family history of glaucoma—to practice eye self-care and schedule routine, comprehensive eye exams, says a press release. Visit https://glaucoma.org/your-eyes-say-thanks.

Inventory Management Solution and Ecommerce Platform Integrate
WaveRFID, a 10-minute optical inventory management solution, and Optify Online, an omni-channel ecommerce platform for eyecare providers, have integrated to streamline the optical shopping experience for both patients and practices, says a press release. This integration allows Optify and WaveRFID users to offer a pre-shopping experience and online eyewear purchasing, while keeping in-store and online frame inventories accurate with up-to-date inventory tracking.

Lighthouse Guild Names President/CEO
Lighthouse Guild appointed Thomas Panek as its new president and CEO, effective April 2025. He succeeds Dr. Calvin W. Roberts. Panek has served as president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit organization that provides trained guide and service dogs, and collaborated with Google to develop Project Guideline, an AI-driven technology enabling individuals who are blind to run independently. Additionally, Panek was vice president of National Industries for the Blind, among holding other roles.

New England College of Optometry Mourns Loss of Faculty Member
The New England College of Optometry is mourning the passing of Maureen Hanley, OD, Class of 1981. Dr. Hanley had been a member of the faculty since 1984 and played a pivotal role in training countless optometrists across New England, according to a press release. She earned both the Dupuis Pellerin Award for Faculty Excellence and the Foster Namias Award for superior classroom instruction. Dr. Hanley passed away on March 8, 2025, at the age of 69 surrounded by her family.

Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit Open for Registration
Prevent Blindness will host its 14th Annual Focus on Eye Health Summit on May 14, 2025, 11 am EDT, as a free, interactive virtual event, according to a press release. This year’s event will address recent innovations in vision care and technology, public health strategies to reduce preventable blindness, policy frameworks to integrate eye health into broader healthcare systems, and local to global approaches to ensuring access to quality eye care. Visit www.PreventBlindness.org/eyesummit. In other news, Prevent Blindness named Matt MacDonald, president and Global Head of Managed Care at EyeMed Vision Care, as Chair-elect of its Board of Directors.

Sydnexis Gets U.S. Food and Drug Administration New Drug Application Acceptance for Pediatric Myopia Treatment
Sydnexis, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted its New Drug Application for its pediatric myopia treatment, SYD-101. Additionally, the company has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of October 23, 2025, according to a press release. SYD-101 is a low-dose atropine formulation to slow the progression of pediatric myopia. OM