Editor: Nicky Collinson BA (Hons) nicola.collinson@nationaleyecare.co.uk
Business Editor: Philip Mullins FBDO p.mullins@nationaleyecare.co.uk
Art Editor: Stacey Potter BA (Hons) info@spottcreative.co.uk
4 Hoya launches new photochromic lens
7 Next-generation multifocal from CooperVision
9 Essilor proposes Best in One Lens solution
11 TFOS DEWS III videos released
Still time to book your iDay places
OWith Wes Streeting’s dramatic departure from the Department of Health last month, it might feel like the sector is continually taking one step forwards and two steps back when it comes to engaging the upper echelons of government in matters of eye health. But there has been some good news too in the form of NHS England’s new Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Best Practice Guidance for Glaucoma Services.
ptical sector organisations have heralded the GIRFT report as an important step forward in the delivery of safe, integrated and collaborative glaucoma care across England, with a clear emphasis on the role of primary care optometry in identifying and managing patients closer to home.
With cases of glaucoma predicted to rise to 1.06 million people by 2030, the impact of stronger messaging around the importance of regular eye examinations in first-line detection of raised pressures and glaucoma has been welcomed across the board. You can find out more about GIRFT on the College of Optometrists’ website – and what it might mean for your practice and integrated care board area – including details of proposed funding and resourcing.
Along related lines, this month we hear from Dr Wen Hwa Lee and Joanna Zapisek of Foresight Research and Action Against AMD about the value of community optometry data sharing to improve early disease detection and outcomes for patients. As they state: “The NHS has increasingly articulated three major ambitions for the future: moving healthcare from hospital to community, from analogue to digital systems, and from sickness to prevention. Few professions are better positioned to contribute to all three than optometry.”
Of course, Vision Now is packed as usual with all the latest news and updates from NEG’s preferred suppliers – who look forward to sharing preferential terms with members on orders placed through the group.
Nicky Collinson Editor
Hoya Vision Care Sensity 3 photochromic lenses were officially launched in the UK and Ireland last month. Available in either brown or grey, the lenses feature improved fade-back speed and enhanced durability as measured by the company’s proprietary Resilience Index. This consolidates results from both scratch resistance and photochromic ageing tests – and provides a clear, single score that reflects the overall durability and longevity of photochromic lenses.
“We recognise that consumers shouldn’t have to compromise between convenience and durability,” said Andy Sanders, professional services director at Hoya Lens UK. “With Sensity 3, we’re delivering on both fronts – providing faster light adaptation and superior resilience that maintains consistent performance. These photochromic lenses are designed to meet the needs of active individuals who demand performance from their eyewear, everyday wearers who move between light and dark
Essilor Instruments has introduce Eye-light by Espansione Group into its product offering. The Eye-light device combines Optimal Power Energy Intense Pulsed Light (OPE IPL) with Light Modulation Low-level Light Therapy (LM LLLT), to deliver targeted, condition-specific management for ocular surface diseases (OSD). Combining these light therapies has been recognised in the TFOS DEWS III Management & Therapy Report as a key solution to manage OSD. Treatment is painless and delivered through a course of up to four sessions, each lasting approximately 15 minutes, on average.
Paul Cumber, instruments director at EssilorLuxottica, said: “This all-in-one approach to light therapy enables eyecare practitioners to target the root cause of many ocular surface diseases, including dry eye. Offering this management pathway for dry eye and OSD helps expand the scope of the practice and will lead to meaningful improvements in the quality of life for patients with dry eye disease. It also helps strengthen patient trust and loyalty throughout their dry eye management journey, while elevating and differentiating the in-practice experience.”
environments, and older wearers with increased light sensitivity.”
Based on rigorous testing using the Resilience Index, Sensity 3 is said to deliver exceptional performance across multiple elements. The lens is up to three times more durable, two times more scratch resistant and maintains the intended reaction speed and colour depth up to three times longer, compared to the other lenses on the market, added the company.
In association with
Building for Success Conference 2026
18 & 19 October 2026 at St George’s Park Hotel, Burton-on-Trent. Click the QR code for more information thth
Title sponsors
Headline sponsors
New Clariti 1 day Multifocal 3 Add contact lenses with CooperVision Binocular Progressive System feature several next-generation enhancements designed to provide optimised vision and high levels of comfort for presbyopic patients, along with an easy and successful fitting experience for eyecare professionals (ECPs).
The Binocular Progressive System uses different lens designs to optimise vision for all levels of presbyopia, while the lens’s Optimised Comfort Edge design helps to provide good comfort. In addition, CooperVision’s WetLoc Technology helps to maintain lens hydration throughout the day.
Chithra Dhanabalan, CooperVision professional affairs manager for the UK and
Continental, part of the Millmead Optical Group, has released six new styles in its popular X-eyes Lite collection. Combining lightweight titanium with high-quality acetate, the latest designs deliver a considered mix of comfort, durability and timeless style. Each new model has been thoughtfully designed to offer modern detailing alongside wearable, everyday shapes.
Pictured is X-eyes Lite 43 – a refined, soft rectangular frame in a tort pattern, complemented by a subtle brow line accent and available in blue tort and purple tort. Other new styles include rectangular-
Eyespace’s Rock Star collection has expanded with four new ophthalmic styles – Brooke, Edie, Hallie and Jack. Designed with modern lifestyles and developing faces in mind, selected styles incorporate features including Smart Fit technology, 180˚ flex hinges, lower bridge fittings and bio-based materials, alongside biodegradable demo lenses across the collection.
Hallie (pictured) is one of the standout additions to the collection. Featuring a rounded eye shape with a lower bridge fitting, the frame is designed to deliver improved comfort and stability for younger wearers. Incorporating Rock Star’s Smart
Ireland, said: “Presbyopic patients often present with complex visual needs, and the new Clariti 1 day Multifocal 3 Add gives practitioners confidence that they can deliver optimised vision and comfort
with an easy fitting experience. That means more time building patient relationships, and better outcomes for wearers who rely on their lenses every day.”
shaped X-eyes Lite 39 featuring subtle two-pin hinge detailing and grooved temples, rounded X-eyes Lite 40, a bold cat-eye in X-eyes Lite 41, X-eyes Lite 42
with a contrasting brow line and tort temple tips, and X-eyes Lite 44 with a structured rectangular shape, featuring a strong brow line and speckled temples.
Fit technology, Hallie supports optimal lens positioning while ensuring a secure and balanced fit throughout the day. A
180˚ flex hinge enhances flexibility and durability, making the style ideal for active everyday wear.
Essilor has brought three of its leading lens technologies together in a new initiative called The Best of Essilor in One Lens. The idea is to provide eyecare practitioners with a patient-centric solution to support in-practice dispensing conversations. For varifocal wearers, the dispensing solution combines Varilux with Crizal and Transitions. For single vision wearers, the dispensing solution combines Eyezen with Crizal and Transitions.
Richard Davies, sales director UKI at EssilorLuxottica, said: “The Best of Essilor in One Lens approach is about giving independent practices something incredibly powerful: simplicity that drives both confidence and commercial performance. By removing unnecessary complexity from the very start of the conversation, practices can focus on what matters most: understanding their patient and making the right recommendation first time.”
Starter packs, including a playbook, posters, leaflets, dispensing mat and lanyard, are available to implement the initiative in practice, alongside bite-sized training sessions on Essilor’s Leonardo platform. Support is also available to promote the initiative to patients including point-of-sale, window takeovers, door drops and direct mail campaigns.
New clinical data presented by SightGlass Vision at ARVO 2026 in Denver last month showed that its DOT spectacle lenses for myopia control saved more than 1.00D of progression on average after two years in Chinese children aged six to 10 years. Across the full study population of patients in China aged six to 13, the lenses slowed average myopia progression by 0.78D (a 67 per cent reduction) and average axial length progression by 0.40mm (a 62 per cent reduction) after two years of wear versus the control group.
The full study population findings, which build on the previously reported 12-month Cathay study data, were presented by
Jennifer Hill, SightGlass Vision associate clinical affairs director, in ‘Control of myopia using contrast modulation spectacle lenses
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which starts on 11 June, Nike Vision has unveiled its first dedicated brand campaign tailored to the world of football. The campaign highlights “the connection between visionary play and technological precision”, and is headlined by a squad of world-class footballers such as Virgil van Dijk, Sam Kerr and Hwang Hee-chan. Eyewear styles showcased in the campaign include Nike Zeus Rise featuring Nike Max Optics, which has been integrated into World Cup athletes’ kits, and Nike Radeon.
Nike Vision is leveraging a phased social media rollout centered around an elite gifting chain. Ambassadors will kick off the activation by unboxing premium, personalised Zeus Rise kits then publicly nominate three other elite footballers to join the chain. “For our inaugural football brand moment…we are saturating every touchpoint to own the conversation during the biggest football moment of the decade,” said the company.
Virgil van Dijk wears Radeon in a campaign visual
in a Chinese population: 24-month results’. Additional findings showed that 59 per cent of DOT lens wearers had 0.50D or less myopia progression after two years, compared with 19 per cent of children in the control group.
“Our Cathay two-year results add to the robust data that establishes DOT lenses as a high-efficacy, non-defocus spectacle solution crucial for practices engaged in myopia management to complete their portfolio,” said SightGlass Vision CEO, Andrew Sedgwick. “The strength of the outcomes, particularly in younger children, reinforces the importance of early intervention.” Find out more about the results on the SightGlass Vision website.
SK-Med LS-5C LED Digital Slit Lamp with DA-1 Dry Eye Analyser
AI-powered Image & Video Analysis
OSDI and Speed Dry Eye Reports
Auto Grading Scales
High Resolution 20MP Camera
30 Frames Per Second
Back Ground Illumination
High Quality Optics
Eyespace has introduced 14 new additions to its Cocoa Mint Colour Edits collection, each offered in two distinct colourways. Five of the styles have been developed in petite proportions, with eye sizes measuring between 51-52mm. Each design explores expressive, layered colour combinations from rich marbles to striking laminations.
Hero style CM9222 C2 marks the return of a much-loved archive eye shape, reimagined in a striking purple marble finish, blending heritage inspiration with contemporary colour and refined detailing.
Across the collection, Italian branded flex hinges ensure comfort and durability for everyday wear, while biodegradable
demo lenses reflect Eyespace’s ongoing commitment to more responsible design practices.
The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and Alcon have released a three video-series to help eyecare professionals (ECPs) understand and apply recommendations from the recently published Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society, Dry Eye Workshop III (TFOS DEWS III) report. The videos, which can be found on the WCO website, summarise the overall report, review the diagnostic methodology section, and highlight elements of the management and therapy report. They feature Professors Jennifer Craig, Lyndon Jones and James Wolffsohn, part of the TFOS DEWS III Steering Committee and key contributors to the WCO-Alcon initiative.
“At Alcon, we are committed to advancing the understanding of dry eye disease by supporting the eyecare professionals who are often the first to recognise its signs and impact,” said Dr Carla Mack, global head of professional education and development at Alcon. “Through this TFOS DEWS III summary video series, we aim to translate the latest science and expert perspectives into accessible education material, helping empower ECPs to better understand, identify, measure and manage this condition in their practices.”
The release follows the launch of the Dry Eye Management Map, an online interactive tool to support dry eye disease management. It features the latest TFOS DEWS III guidance, generating applicable management approaches based on evidence-based options. ECPs can also access the WCO Alcon Dry Eye Wheel, which uses a three-step approach to support patients with dry eye: mitigation, measurement and management.
CooperVision has announced the complete enrolment of its global MiSight 1 day post-approval clinical studies (PAS) in the United States and China. Together with the seven-year clinical trial of ActivControl Technology, this represents the longest running soft contact lens study amongst children, including both randomised controlled efficacy trials and large-scale safety registries, said the company
The combined PAS programmes span more than 100 clinical sites and include over 3,000 children. Data will supplement already extensive MiSight 1 day clinical studies, which have been widely published and cited in the ophthalmology and optometry communities. Participants in the multi-year studies represent populations
across the US and China, providing insights applicable to children worldwide. Final data are expected on a rolling basis between 2027 and 2030.
“Completing enrolment is a crucial step, allowing us to start analysing data that will further illustrate how MiSight 1 day performs in real-world settings over
in real-world evidence generation
multiple years,” said Kathryn Richdale, CooperVision director of post-market clinical affairs. “The findings will further strengthen the existing evidence supporting MiSight 1 day, helping eyecare professionals continue to make informed myopia management decisions and reinforcing long-term confidence for families.”
Lacoste’s latest Kids & Tweens eyewear collection for boys and girls infuses each frame with distinctive character. From bold, modified rectangular styles to softer rounded profiles, shapes inspired by iconic adult models blend sporty attitude with fashionable flair for the next generation of Lacoste fans. Pictured are L3665 and L3666, part of the Lacoste Tweens Mini Lines family, crafted from lightweight, durable bio-injected material.
Dynamic temple stripes and colourful piping accents highlight the temples, which also feature the iconic Lacoste croc colour-coordinated with the rubberised tips for added comfort and durability. Select variants glow in the dark to create a luminous nighttime effect. Rectangular L3665 is available in black, transparent khaki, transparent blue lumi and transparent dark orange lumi, while rounded L3666 comes in transparent grey, transparent blue, transparent khaki lumi, and transparent orange lumi.
There’s still time to book your place for this year’s two-day Independents Day (iDay) programme, which begins with the Specialist Club annual CPD conference on Sunday 5 July. The main Sunday programme focuses on dry eye and myopia management – with speakers including Professors James Wolffsohn, Philip Morgan and Nicola Logan – ahead of the iDay business programme on Monday 6 July, which focuses on how independents can stand out from the crowd.
New for 2026, Sunday will introduce a separate parallel CPD workshop programme, including content for dispensing opticians (DOs). Dr Alicia Thompson, director of research at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), will present
a CPD skills workshop on, ‘Making facial measurement a reality’. With guidance
Hoya Vision Care UK has announced Alder Hey Children’s Charity as its new local charity partner for the next three years. The cause has a deeply personal connection for Vicki Evans, the company’s wholesale channel and sales excellence manager, who sadly lost her daughter Daisy to leukaemia in 2023. During Daisy’s treatment, Alder Hey provided dedicated and compassionate care and support to Daisy and her family.
Vicki helped launch the new fundraising partnership on 17 May, by taking part in a parachute jump alongside colleagues Claire Evans and Sue Tizzard. Vicki said: “Alder Hey will always mean so much to our family. The care, compassion and support they gave to Daisy, and to us, during the most difficult time of our lives was truly remarkable I am incredibly proud that my colleagues at Hoya have chosen Alder Hey as our local charity partner, and I hope we can raise as much as possible to help the hospital continue supporting children and families when they need it most.”
based on Dr Thompson’s ABDO-funded research of children’s face shapes, delegates will make a cardboard frame to fit a paediatric model head.
Erin McNee, a qualified DO, professional colour consultant and co-owner of Occhiali Bespoke Eyewear Boutique in Cupar, will deliver ‘Colour analysis in optical practice: enhancing eyewear selection through personalised colour’, teaching the principles of colour theory and colour psychology. Event sponsors Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, Topcon and Zeiss will also provide workshops. Alcon is running a peer review session titled, ‘Screen Wars – torics strike back’ while Zeiss has confirmed a discussion workshop, ‘The pearls of communication in dispensing’. Visit www.independentsday.co.uk
Give your patients the look they love, with the prescription lenses they need. The most-wanted Essilor® Sun Rx lens colours are available in their prescription.** Contact your Business Development Manager for further details.
Eyespace supported a recent optical outreach initiative in Guatemala, working in collaboration with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Rawlings Opticians and Hya, to help deliver essential vision care to children in disadvantaged communities. Led by Nadeem Ali, the mission saw the team carry out eye examinations for more than 300 children, identifying those in need of corrective lenses and helping to provide access to glasses that can significantly improve both educational outcomes and day-to-day quality of life.
As part of its contribution, Eyespace supplied a selection of Rock Star frames,
chosen to ensure durability, comfort and suitability across a wide range of sizes and fits. The approach focused on practicality and longevity, supporting the needs of children in environments where access to optical care and replacement eyewear can be limited.
Julie Abel, co-founder of Eyespace, commented: “Access to clear vision is something many of us take for granted, yet it has a profound impact on a child’s ability to learn, develop and engage with
The AIO was privileged to receive an invitation to attend a reception at Windsor Castle from SeeAbility, the wonderful charity that supports people with learning disabilities or autism and who also have sight loss.
The event was hosted by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester and supported by the Rt Hon Sir John Major, who set out SeeAbility’s ambition to expand its services to reach 25,000 more children and young people in special schools over the next five years.
The AIO and its members have supported the activities of SeeAbility for many years, and independents are often the first to sign up to their programmes in local communities. And what a difference such programmes make. We
were privileged to witness the extraordinary Lucy Illingworth play the piano, which had been specially shipped in to the castle to enable her to play. Lucy, who is blind and has a rare condition affecting mental health with autism traits, has become world famous and was invited to perform at HRH King’s Coronation Concert.
In a world where there appears to be ever greater focus on business and profits, it is reassuring that many independent opticians participate in community programmes, which are not in and of themselves remunerative. We will continue to encourage our members to participate in SeeAbility’s programmes and experience first-hand how they can make a real difference in the lives of children with learning difficulties and sight loss.
Delivering outreach in Guatemala
the world around them. We are incredibly pleased to be involved in supporting such a meaningful initiative alongside our partners, contributing to something that will have a lasting impact for the children involved.”
The initiative builds on previous collaboration between the partners, reflecting a shared commitment to widening access to vision care and supporting meaningful, on-the-ground impact through long-term partnerships.
There is an old saying, ‘What goes around comes around’, and there are plenty of stories of community engagement that result in new patients coming through the front door. But even if this is not an outcome, the feeling of wellbeing in helping others less fortunate is a real reward in itself. Perhaps independents deserve greater recognition for the work they do in the community every day.
Keval Sejpar BSc (Hons) MCOptom Chairman
Try eyeFIT custom made contact lenses
The product you know, the commercials you have been waiting for
eyeFIT contact lenses offer trusted mark’ennovy lenses but with exclusive NEG branding and prices. For more information call 0800 3280610
telephone number and address are clearly visible, as people just don’t have the patience to wade through your site to find this basic, but crucial, information. Always provide an email address too, as many people prefer this method of communication in the first
Your website should clearly set out what you have to offer, along with your values, basic pricing and information about the brands you work with. As an independent, it’s important to have the personal touch, so featuring your team – along with headshots
A quick tip is to use local search engine optimisation for your website, so that you show up in local search engine results. Use location-specific keywords and phrases like ‘independent optician in Coventry’ to attract local people actively searching for opticians
Next comes social media. If you’re a little mystified by social media, then it’s important to find someone in your team who can take this on. Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to showcase what you have to offer and post
If you’re unsure where to start, consider
supplements, the importance of regular eye exams, lens coatings, tints, eye
suppliers can help you share your latest ranges and what’s show your team at work, or what they are doing in the community; share the human side of your practice share patient success stories, particularly unusual or
these can be very effective but don’t undervalue your service.
Work out what your brand stands for
Include payment options or loyalty programmes if appropriate
■ Add some fun: run a colouring competition for children, a prize draw, an ‘ask me anything’ session, or a fun day for a local charity
■ Education: share short videos explaining how to look after your spectacles, apply and remove contact lenses, dry eye and menopause and so on
Remember to keep your social media posts informative and engaging; you want to be seen as both an expert and a friendly member of the community. Traditional marketing still has its place, so shore up your regular social media activities with flyers, posters, local newspaper content or, if you have the budget, radio advertising. This will all help raise awareness of your brand. Finally, remember to track your progress and measure your success. Before you start any activity, analyse where you are currently so you can gauge its success. And if you’re not seeing results, adapt and change. But do give it time. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. ■
At Rodenstock, we understand how constantly changing light can tire and strain your eyes. The new generation of ColorMatic® photochromic lenses seamlessly react to changing light, providing clear, relaxed vision all day long.
Light should be enjoyed in all its facets. However, too much of it can cause discomfort: glare, squinting, blurry vision, even headaches and, of course, the annoyance of constantly switching glasses.
Thanks to ColorMatic® photochromic lenses, those times are over. ColorMatic® lenses darken when exposed to UV light and fade back to clear when you move indoors again.
ColorMatic® X is the fastest lens in the ColorMatic® range to fade back to crystal clear, achieving up to 93% clarity indoors. Outdoors, it darkens to provide strong glare protection.
This lens is optimised for all-day, everyday wear in a moderate climate.
ColorMatic® Dark, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for highly light-sensitive people and warmer climates up to 35°C. Outdoors, it darkens intensely and maintains its performance in the heat. It is also the only ColorMatic® lens that activates behind the windscreen, adding comfort and convenience on the road.
Both ColorMatic® X and ColorMatic® Dark block 100% of UVA/UVB and help filter blueviolet light.
Less squinting, reduced light-related discomfort and no constant switching between glasses. You pick the lens that fits your life in the colour that fits your style and simply enjoy the convenience of comfort in every light.
Want to find out more?
Contact us via: T +44 1474 325555
customer.service@rodenstock.co.uk
Secure your spot
become a highly sought after destination, rather than simply a place of retail transaction.
A cup of coffee, excellent service and great products are becoming less of a differentiator for independents. What is a differentiator is the overall experience; independent practices need to become a highly sought after destination, rather than simply a place of retail transaction.
Our top speaker line-up will explore what independents can do to make an impact on their high street and truly stand out from the crowd.
Our top speaker line-up will explore what independents can do to make an impact on their high street and truly stand out from the crowd.
A new DIMS technology-based spectacle lens has been shown to halt myopia progression in children, reports Hoya Vision Care
Clinical trial results from Hoya Vision Care and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have demonstrated that a new myopia control spectacle lens design is able to halt clinically relevant myopia progression for nine out of 10 children over the first year of wear.
The results, recently presented at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting in Denver, represent the highest myopia control efficacy results reported to date in children wearing Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) technology-based spectacle lenses, said the company.
The randomised controlled clinical trial (RCT) demonstrated that, of 196 schoolchildren in Hong Kong aged four to 12 with myopia who completed the RCT, those who wore MiYOSMART iQ spectacle lenses showed no myopia progression on average at 12 months. In addition, axial elongation was below or comparable to emmetropes in children wearing the lenses.
In children aged four to 12 years, the mean change in spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) over a period of 12 months was +0.046D in the MiYOSMART iQ group, compared to -0.534D for the single vision (SV) spectacle lens control group, corresponding to a myopia control efficacy of over 100 per cent. Mean change in axial length (AL) over a 12-month period was 0.075mm for the MiYOSMART iQ group, as compared to 0.346mm for the SV group. As such, MiYOSMART iQ reduced excessive axial elongation to levels below or comparable to emmetropic eye growth.
In myopic children aged four to six years, MiYOSMART iQ demonstrated a myopia control efficacy of 65 per cent in SER and 44 per cent in AL over a 12-month period (mean changes in SER -0.220D and -0.635D, mean changes in AL 0.266mm and 0.475mm, in MiYOSMART iQ and SV groups respectively).
Commenting on the results, Dr Natalia Vlasak, Hoya Vision Care’s global head of medical and scientific affairs, said: “Beyond stopping myopia progression on average
over a period of 12 months and across childhood stages, these findings demonstrate – for the first time with myopia control spectacle lenses – efficacy in children from four years of age with early-onset myopia, enabling us to control it at a critical time when it is progressing rapidly and the risk of longterm impact is highest.”
For older children aged seven to 12 years old, as typically included in most of the RCTs on myopia control solutions, MiYOSMART iQ demonstrated myopia control efficacy of over 100 per cent in SER and of 94 per cent in AL over a 12-month period (mean changes in SER +0.155D and -0.511D; mean changes in AL 0.019mm and 0.310mm, in MiYOSMART iQ and SV groups, respectively).
Children of all ages studied demonstrated a high level of compliance to daily, all-day wear of MiYOSMART iQ, resulting in proper myopia control.
MiYOSMART iQ is the most advanced evolution of MiYOSMART, a technology backed by more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications. The new spectacle lens design builds on DIMS technology with Triple Enhanced Design (TED), featuring three key enhancements to drive greater myopia control effectiveness in children: ■ Defocus segments positioned closer to the geometric centre of the spectacle lens, intended to continuously activate the nearperipheral retina – also called the retinal ‘sweet spot’ – identified by several studies
as highly responsive to the myopic defocus signal that regulates myopia progression
■ Higher defocus power, delivering a stronger myopic defocus signal
■ An extended treatment zone, providing more extensive coverage of the child's peripheral visual field even with larger frames
"At Hoya Vision Care, we imagine a world without myopia,” said John Goltermann Lassen, CEO of Hoya Vision Care. “This milestone is truly a generational leap in myopia control and represents an important step toward the vision we are committed to shaping for children around the world. Until today, no trial conducted on a myopia control spectacle lens has shown this level of effectiveness in controlling the condition.”
"MiYOSMART iQ is the result of years of dedicated research and collaboration between scientists, clinicians and optical engineers,” remarked Professor Chi-ho To, visiting chair professor of experimental optometry at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
“The Triple Enhanced Design was built on a deep understanding of how the eye responds to a myopic defocus signal, and a determination to push the boundaries of what spectacle lenses could achieve. To see those years of work translate into results like these is profoundly rewarding,” he added.
Find out more about the study, and view the evidence, at www.hoyavision.com ■
Motivation is a critical factor for success with soft multifocal contact lenses.1-3
67% of presbyopic soft contact lens wearers report reluctance to attend multiple or lengthy appointments.9
Eye care professionals should prioritise comfort, visual performance, convenience, and minimal disruption to ocular physiology.2
LOW ADD
Aspheric centre-near design.
MEDIUM ADD
Aspheric centre-near design.
HIGH ADD
Spherical centre-near design, with dual intermediate zones.
At this year’s Academy Awards, eyewear was styled as jewellery, writes Lexy Edy, fully integrated into the finished outfit – a key shift that’s great news for UK independents…
Best Actor winner Michael B. Jordan modelled a striking pair of rimless frames featuring light, amber-tinted lenses at this year’s Vanity Fair party. We’re seeing a lot of yellow, light green and amber/warm brown tints this season, so these are key colourways to offer.
Perfect to emulate this look is Hero model HRO-4349. Engineered for the modern minimalist, this rimless metal frame blends sleek sophistication with mechanical ingenuity. The integrated hinge, artfully inspired by the interlocking design of cogs, delivers seamless movement and enduring durability. Lightweight yet robust, this frame offers an understated edge that speaks to precision, purpose and timeless craftsmanship. Pair this with a tinted lens and your customers will be channelling Hollywood after-party cool.
Two-times Oscar winner Brad Pitt often embraces tinted spectacle lenses – and has been famously snapped rocking a heavy tortoiseshell frame with warm yellow lenses. Offer this look in your practice with some great options from Superdry.
The SDO-3065 is constructed with layered tortoiseshell and crystal acetates, front metal pin detailing and a bespoke core wire. This is a design classic with a hint of the key colour themes for 2026, and is available in combinations of brown/amber, tort/grey, tort/green and tort/purple.
Soft round shaping and gradient rose tones are a gorgeous example of coordinating lens
and frame colouration, executed to perfection recently by award-winning actor Dakota Johnson. Flattering lines in a coloured acetate make for a bold, lux statement for 2026.
Get the look with model Clea by Radley. Softly rounded and effortlessly feminine, the frame brings elevated simplicity to everyday style. Crafted in lightweight high definition acetate for clarity and comfort, it features abstract metal hardware at the temples.
Timeless, refined and distinctly Radley.
Book an appointment to view our high fashion frame options that are ideal for tinted glazing. Email hello@inspecs.com or call 01225 717 000.
Lexy Edy is trade marketing manager for Inspecs. ■
Dr Wen Hwa Lee and Joanna Zapisek of Foresight Research and Action Against AMD explain why optometry could help shape the future of healthcare…
Each year, 10,000 scientists, ophthalmologists, researcher optometrists, industry leaders and vision researchers gather at ARVO – the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference – widely regarded as the world’s largest meeting dedicated to eye and vision research.
For many clinicians working in everyday practice, ARVO may feel somewhat distant from the realities of busy clinics, NHS pressures and day-to-day patient care. Yet increasingly, the discussions taking place there are becoming directly relevant to the future of community optometry.
As the Foresight team returned home from this year’s ARVO conference in Denver, Colorado, one thing became increasingly difficult to ignore: the role of optometry is likely to change profoundly over the coming decade.
Across presentations, posters and discussions at ARVO 2026, the same themes surfaced repeatedly: artificial intelligence (AI), earlier disease detection, retinal biomarkers, preventative healthcare and communitybased diagnostics. Increasingly, the eye is being viewed not only as a window into ocular disease, but as a gateway into broader systemic health. And importantly for UK optometrists, this future may be built not in hospitals alone, but in community practice.
For decades, optometrists have quietly developed one of the most sophisticated imaging infrastructures in healthcare. Every day, practices across the UK perform tens of thousands of OCT scans and fundus photographs, generating extraordinarily detailed views of the retina at micron-level resolution. Historically, however, these scans have largely been viewed through an ophthalmic perspective – useful for diagnosing glaucoma, macular disease or diabetic retinopathy, but rarely considered part of mainstream preventative medicine. That perception is now changing rapidly.
One of the most exciting developments emerging globally and made clear at ARVO was the accelerating field of oculomics – the use of retinal imaging to identify
biomarkers associated not only with eye disease, but with systemic health more broadly. The scientific rationale is compelling. The retina is the only place in the human body where clinicians can directly visualise the microvasculature and central nervous system non-invasively and in real time. Combined with increasingly sophisticated AI systems, retinal imaging is becoming one of the richest biological datasets in medicine.
Researchers showcased AI models capable of estimating blood pressure, smoking status and cardiovascular risk directly from retinal images. Other groups presented work examining retinal signatures associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease and biological ageing. Increasingly, the discussion is no longer about whether retinal imaging can contribute to broader healthcare – but how quickly these technologies can be implemented safely and at scale. This is where community optometry becomes critically important.
One of the recurring themes throughout ARVO was that future AI systems require large, representative, real-world datasets. Historically, most healthcare AI models have been trained primarily using hospitalderived data — populations already biased towards advanced diseases. Yet prevention depends on identifying disease far earlier, often before symptoms develop.
Researchers therefore need access not only to patients with established disease, but also
to ‘healthy’ individuals, borderline cases and diverse community populations followed over long periods of time. Community optometry holds a critical key to solving this problem.
Every day, optometrists see patients who are generally healthy, symptom-free and living independently in the community. Retinal images captured during routine eye examinations may therefore contain some of the earliest detectable signs of disease – signals that often only become visible when analysed across very large populations over time.
This kind of real-world longitudinal data could become essential for developing the next generation of preventative healthcare technologies. This is the vision behind the Foresight initiative.
Led by the charity Action Against AMD and its collaborating charities (Macular Society, Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans and Blind Veterans UK), Foresight aims to build one of the world’s most advanced retinal imaging databases sourced directly from community optometry.
Its ambition is to enable the ethical and secure collection of retinal OCT scans and fundus photographs from up to 500,000 consenting participants across the UK, creating a major national resource for research, AI development and earlier disease detection. Crucially, this initiative depends on optometrists themselves.
Foresight will work directly with participating practices, allowing patients to provide
electronic consent before their appointment and enabling optometrists to collect retinal images during routine eye examinations and securely upload anonymised data to Foresight’s research platform.
The process has been designed to fit easily into normal clinical workflows using secure digital consent systems and standardised imaging protocols compatible with commonly used OCT systems, including Topcon, Heidelberg, Nidek and Optopol. Participating practices are therefore not simply ‘contributing data’, they become active partners in helping to build the future infrastructure of healthcare in the UK. This matters because healthcare itself is changing rapidly.
The NHS has increasingly articulated three major ambitions for the future: moving healthcare from hospital to community, from analogue to digital systems, and from sickness to prevention. Few professions are better positioned to contribute to all three than optometry.
For decades, healthcare systems have largely operated reactively, intervening only once patients develop symptoms or significant disease. Yet many chronic conditions –including cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders – begin developing silently years before conventional diagnosis. If healthcare systems are to become genuinely preventative, clinicians need new ways to identify risk and detect disease earlier, ideally before irreversible damage occurs. This is precisely where retinal imaging and oculomics may become transformative.
By combining retinal imaging with longitudinal healthcare and genomic datasets such as NHS records, UK Biobank and Our Future Health, researchers hope to uncover entirely new insights into disease prediction, progression and prevention. Future pathways could include AI-assisted triage, retinal biomarker monitoring, earlier systemic disease detection and personalised risk prediction integrated directly into routine eye examinations.
In this future, community optometrists equipped with a new generation of AI diagnostics tools, may become the frontline practitioners for preventative medicine – not simply providers of ocular care.
Importantly, Foresight is not simply another AI project or imaging repository. The initiative is designed as longterm national research infrastructure, establishing governance frameworks, trusted consent pathways, standardised
imaging protocols and secure data systems capable of supporting future healthcare innovation responsibly and ethically.
The programme has already received favourable ethical opinion from the UK Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committee, and all imaging data are securely de-identified and encrypted before transfer. Foresight is being developed through collaborations involving Action Against AMD, the College of Optometrists, the National Eyecare Group, Topcon Healthcare and multiple academic and technology partners.
One message that surfaced repeatedly during conversations at ARVO was that optometry cannot afford to remain a passive observer while these technologies are developed elsewhere.
If community optometrists are going to play a central role in future AI-enabled healthcare systems, the profession needs to help shape the datasets, governance frameworks and clinical pathways that underpin them. Otherwise, there is a risk that technologies affecting community eyecare could be developed in isolation from the realities of clinical practice. This is why engagement matters now.
Encouragingly, many of the barriers that once made large-scale participation difficult are now becoming easier to manage. Foresight has been designed to fit into normal practice workflows with minimal disruption. Secure online consent systems help reduce administrative workload, while standardised imaging protocols ensure consistent quality across participating practices. Practices taking part will also receive compensation for imaging and securely uploading retinal data from consenting participants.
However, the greatest opportunity extends beyond reimbursement alone. Practices involved in initiatives like Foresight position
themselves at the forefront of one of the most important emerging areas in healthcare innovation. They gain early exposure to technologies and clinical models that may ultimately reshape healthcare delivery over the coming decade.
Just as importantly, they help ensure that future AI systems are built using representative, ethically governed community data rather than narrow hospital-based datasets alone.
After ARVO 2026, one conclusion felt increasingly difficult to avoid: the eye is becoming increasingly important within the future of systemic healthcare. And UK optometry is uniquely positioned at a global level to help lead that transformation.
Over the next decade, community optometrists may increasingly move beyond being providers of vision correction and ocular monitoring alone. They may become central participants in AI-enabled prevention, personalised healthcare and population-level disease detection.
If that future is realised responsibly, community optometry may not simply adapt to the future of healthcare – it may help shape it.
To learn more about joining the Foresight initiative, visit www.foresightresearch.org or contact Dr Wen Hwa Lee at wenhwa.lee@foresightresearch.org ■
Step into summer with statement sun styles from NEG’s preferred suppliers...
The new T-Charge Eyewear sun collection is created for men “who live in constant motion”.
Dolce & Gabbana recently unveiled its spring/summer 2026 eyewear collection, titled Devotion.
A celebration of the most powerful and enduring emotion of all – love – the heart takes centre stage in the designs. The iconic Sacred Heart, a signature emblem of the Dolce & Gabbana aesthetic, enriches each frame with distinctive decorative details.
Set against the evocative backdrop of Rome, the campaign for the new Devotion collection reflects “a city defined by contrasts – where heritage meets modern romance. Cinematic imagery and spontaneous energy capture a refined yet vibrant mood, echoing the house’s DNA and its ability to balance opulence with authenticity”. NEG preferred supplier: EssilorLuxottica
Inspired by urban architecture, dynamic lifestyles and contemporary masculinity, the collection combines bold silhouettes, technical precision and premium craftsmanship with lightweight comfort and versatility. From oversized navigators to geometric rimless designs, every frame is designed to reflect confidence, movement and modern sophistication.
Pictured is the T9205 – an oversized navigator silhouette, with a bold double bridge and textured temples.
NEG preferred supplier: Go Eyewear
Mara MM 0186
Two big names in the world of architecture, art and culture of the early 1900s – Irish designer and architect Eileen Gray and fearless war photographer Lee Miller – inspired the spring/ summer 2026 Max Mara eyewear collection.
Model MM 0186 is inspired by Eileen Gray who, in Paris in the 1920s, combined her work in architecture with her work on the series production of tubular steel furniture pieces; her adjustable table E-1027 is part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York.
The acetate front creates an elegant contrast with the metal bridge and tubular temples – creating a 70s Malibu mood which runs through the entire collection of both sun and ophthalmic frames.
NEG preferred supplier: Marcolin.
The new Carrera Signature Collection conveys a cool and modern expression of Italian design, characterised by an artisanal care for details, the use of lightweight materials and maximum comfort.
Acetate styles are enhanced with a new interpretation of the Grand Prix temple through multi-layer acetate on selected colourways. The styles, suitable for prescription lenses, are branded with the Carrera flag metal detail and offered in a contemporary colour palette.
Pictured is model Carrera 375/S featuring a drop-shaped design in acetate, available in black/red with dark grey lenses, black/blue with dark blue lenses, light brown with green shaded lenses, black with green lenses, and black with dark grey lenses.
NEG preferred supplier: Safilo
As Ray-Ban’s most enduring silhouette approaches its 90th anniversary, the aviator has been reimagined by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in new interpretations of the Shooter and Outdoorsman II.
Drawing on archival elements, Shooter features a mother-of-pearl brow bar – with teardrop lenses available in orange, pink, green, blue and yellow, with transparent and mirrored options featuring Ray-Ban and D&G logos.
The spring/summer 2026 Carolina Herrera eyewear collection, designed by US fashion designer Wes Gordon, echoes the iconic butterfly motif of La Bomba, the new Carolina Herrera fragrance.
Pictured is model HER 0399/S, special edition sunglasses limited to 1,000 pieces, featuring a bold feminine butterflyshaped injected front complete with wavy temples in metal. Butterfly-shaped embellishments on the front open corners are crafted from ultra-fine layered metal with a central sparkling crystal.
The Outdoorsman II is a lightweight metal construction featuring a prominent brow bar, giving the frame a graphic edge. Its teardrop lenses are available in mirrored and transparent options of blue, powder pink, beige, brown and green, each featuring the logo of both brands.
Each pair comes with an exclusive leather case with a leather strap and gold-tone metal carabiner and finished with signature D&G detailing.
NEG preferred supplier: EssilorLuxottica
Completed with an elegant removable chain with the CH monogram detail, this style is available only in black with gold details and dark grey shaded lenses.
NEG preferred supplier: Safilo
Two new Super Thin frames, part of the spring/summer 2026 Paul Smith eyewear collection, reinterpret classic silhouettes through a contemporary lens.
Expertly crafted in Italy from premium acetate, the new sunglass and optical frames showcase technical precision and refined aesthetics.
Signature design details – including the iconic Artist Stripe motif, enamelled on the slim, cylindrical temple tips – serve as a subtle expression of the British designer’s distinctive style and refined vision of luxury.
Model PS26603S Priestley is shown here – a pilot shape, defined by a distinctive double bridge. A men’s classic, crafted from lightweight, highquality acetate, the frame balances elegance with comfort and versatility. Double-dot detailing on the front and temples adds a decorative touch, while the enamelled, cylindrical metal tips subtly reference the iconic Artist Stripes. Priestley is available in black, havana, havana brown, dark havana and khaki havana.
NEG preferred supplier: Marchon
ALCON UK
tel: 0371 376 0017 | fax: 0871 351 1005 | web: www.uk.alcon.com
ASSOCIATED OPTICAL
tel: 01628 600410 | fax: 01628 666495 | email: sales@assopt.co.uk | web: www.associatedoptical.com
ATLANTIC OPTICAL UK LTD
tel: 02920 362 136 | fax: 02920 362 137 | email: info@atlanticoptical.co.uk | web: www.atlanticoptical.co.uk
AVIZOR
tel: 0800 085 6559 | email: uk.sales@avizor.com | web: avizor.co.uk
BAUSCH + LOMB
tel: 020 8781 2900 | web: www.bausch.co.uk
BIB OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS
tel: 01438 740823 | email: sales@bibonline.co.uk | web: www.bibonline.co.uk
BIRD EYEWEAR
tel: 01392 703004 | email: ryan@birdeyewear.co.uk | web: birdeyewear.co.uk
BONDEYE OPTICAL
tel: 0121 7723888 | fax: 0808 2801865 | email: sales@bondeyeoptical.co.uk | web: www.bondeyeoptical.co.uk
CALEDONIAN OPTICAL LTD
tel: 01224 596 006 | email: info@caledonianoptical.com | web: www.caledonianoptical.com
CARDNET
tel: 0345 604 2491 Option 2
CENTROSTYLE OPTICAL CENTRE SUPPLIES LTD
tel: 01923 239267 | fax: 01923 253951 | email: sales@centrostyle.com | web: www.centrostyleproducts.com
CFH DOCMAIL
tel: 07834 173 288 | email: chris.burridge@cfh.com | web: www.cfhdocmail.com
CHARMANT
tel: 07899 235 053 | email: uksupport@charmant.eu | web: charmant.com
CITATION
tel: 0161 464 6731 I email: enquiries@citation.co.uk | web: www.citation.co.uk
CONTINENTAL EYEWEAR
tel: 0151 426 3907 | fax: 0151 426 9340 | email: sales@continental-eyewear.co.uk | web: www.continental-eyewear.com
COOPERVISION
tel: 0870 9000 055 | email: enquiries@coopervision.co.uk | web: www.coopervision.co.uk
DESIGN EYEWEAR GROUP
tel: 0203 630 1341 | email: info.uk@designeyeweargroup.com | web: designeyeweargroup.com
DE RIGO UK LTD
tel: 01923 249491 | email: info.uk@derigo.com | web: www.derigo.com/en
DUNELM OPTICAL
tel: 01388 420420 | fax: 01388 810101 | email: dunelm@dunelmoptical.co.uk | web: www.dunelmoptical.com
ESSILOR
tel: 01454 281281 | fax: 01454 28128 | email: orders@essilor.co.uk | web: www.essilor.co.uk
EYESPACE
tel: 01527 870550 | fax: 01527 837012 | email: info@eyespace-eyewear.co.uk | web: www.eyespace-eyewear.co.uk
GO EYEWEAR UK LTD
tel: 0800 9178270 | web: www.goeyeweargroup.com
HILCO EUROPE
tel: 0800 591150 | email: info@hilco.co.uk | web: www.hilcovision.co.uk
HOYA LENS UK
tel: 0845 330 0984 | fax: 0845 330 0977 | email: enquiries@hoya.co.uk | email: orders@hoya.co.uk web: www.hoyavision.com/uk
INSPECS
tel: 01225717000 | web: https://shop.inspecs.com/ | email: customerservice@inspecs.com
LAB3SIXTY
tel: 0113 5211071 | email: Info@Lab3Sixty.co.uk | web: www.lab3sixty.co.uk
LENSTEC EYEWEAR
tel: 02920 857122 | fax: 02920 920480 | email: eyewear@lenstec.co.uk | web: www.lensteceyewear.co.uk
LENSTEC OPTICAL
tel: 02920 883009 | fax: 02920 889798 | email: LenstecCC@lenstec.co.uk | web: www.lenstecopticalgroup.co.uk
www.optinetuk.com
Think independently
Scan the QR code or call 0844 873 1110 to open an account.
Preferred Suppliers are suppliers who, by prior arrangement, offer members of the PK National Eyecare Group preferential terms. For full details and terms offered to the membership, please call 01580 713698.
LUXOTTICA (UK) LTD
tel: 0808 1658 8555 | web: www.luxottica.com/en
MARCOLIN UK LTD
tel: 020 3927 4400 | email: infouk@marcolin.com | web: www.marcolin.com/en
MARCHON
tel: 0800 72 2020 | email: csuk@marchon.com | web: www.marchon.com
MARK’ENNOVY
tel: 0800 3280610 | fax: 0800 3280649 | email: mkservices@markennovy.com | web: www.markennovy.com
MENICON UK LTD (FORMERLY DAVID THOMAS)
tel: 01604 646216 | fax: 01604 790366 | email: enquiries@menicon.co.uk | web: www.menicon.co.uk
MID-OPTIC
tel: 01332 295001 | fax: 01332 295158 | email: orders@midoptic.com | web: www.midoptic.com
No7 CONTACT LENSES
tel: 01424 850620 | fax: 01424 850650 | email: info@no7contactlenses.com | web: www.no7contactlenses.com
OPTELEC
tel: 0800 145 6115 | email: ordersuk@optelec.co.uk | web: lowvisionshop.co.uk
OPTINET LTD
tel: 0845 313 0233 | email: sales@optinetuk.com | web: www.optinetuk.com
OTE OPTICS
tel: 020 8428 9028 | email: customerservices@adaro.net | web: https://oteoptics.nl/en
PERFORMANCE FINANCE
tel: 01536 529696 | fax: 01536 310033 | email: info@performancefinance.co.uk | web: www.performancefinance.co.uk
PKP OPTICS
tel: 01892 837979 | email: info@pkpoptics.co.uk | web: www.pkpoptics.co.uk
POSITIVE IMPACT
tel: 08446 696907 | email: sales@positiveimpact.co.uk | web: www.positiveimpact.co.uk
PRACTICE BUILDING
tel: 0800 840 3988 | email: andy@practicebuilding.co.uk | web: www.practicebuilding.co.uk
RODENSTOCK
tel: 01474 325555 | email: sales@rodenstock.co.uk | web: www.rodenstock.co.uk
SAFILO UK LTD
tel: 00800 72345600 | email: customerserviceuk@safilo.com | web: www.youandsafilo.com
SEIKO OPTICAL UK
tel: 01452 610033 | fax: 01452 638250 | email: orders@seiko-optical.co.uk | email: info@seiko-optical.co.uk web: www.seikovision.com/uk
SILHOUETTE UK LTD
tel: 020 8987 8899 | fax: 020 8987 2430 | email: office@silhouette-uk.co.uk | web: www.silhouette.com
SPEC-CARE LTD
tel: 01392 460806 | email: info@speccareservices.co.uk | web: www.speccareservices.co.uk
STEPPER UK
tel: 01732 375975 | email: sales@stepper.co.uk | web: www.steppereyewear.com
TANT LABORATORIES
When you prescribe contact lenses, you prescribe freedom. We’re stepping up to do more, supporting you to Prescribe Freedom for more people than ever
coopervision.co.uk
01732 375975 www.stepper.co.uk
tel: 01279 653785 | fax: 01279 658308 | email: TantCC@tantlabs.com | web: www.lenstecopticalgroup.co.uk
THEA PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED
tel: 01782 381698 | email: orders.uk@theapharma.com | web: www.thea-pharmaceuticals.co.uk
ULTRAVISION
tel: 01525 381112 | fax: 01525 370091 | email: info@ultravision.co.uk | web: www.ultravision.co.uk
WSAUDIOLOGY (WSA)
tel: 07841 203651 | email: piers.marchington@wsa.com | web: www.wsa.com
