-
Man in a skirt
-
There has been a bit of debate in the office this afternoon about trying out a new contact lens from No7 Contact Lenses - the supplier of the Synergeyes hybrid contact lens Duette. This is a lens incorporating an RGP centre and a silicone hydrogel skirt, that is specifically designed for patients with normal corneas. The six-month lens has a surface tratment, HealthyEyes, and the debate about who will try it has nothing to do with being comfortable in a skirt - it's whether or not any of the mildly astigmatic contact lens wearers in the office will gain from the astigmatic correction provided by the RGP centre. Further details on www.no7contactlenses.com and one of the Optician team will certainly be taking up the offer of a fitting in the future.
-
Inspector gadget
-
Research just in from Bausch+Lomb reveals that UK consumers are far more interested in the picture quality of their high definition (HD) television sets and digital cameras than the quality of vision of their contact lenses. The survey of 2,000 adults revealed that some nine out of 10 lens wearers spent large amounts of time deliberating over which HD products to buy (56 per cent taking two days, 35 per cent as long as a week), yet 69 per cent spend less than an hour researching their contact lenses. It just so happens that B+L has its own contact lenses with High Definition Optics - PureVision 2, which are said to offer rich contrast, vivid colour and crisp, clear vision even in low light. In fairness to the consumers, you can't really share the excellence of your contact lenses with friends and family in the manner of a TV or great photographs. It does suggest, though, that there is an opportunity for B+L to raise awareness of its HD developments.
-
One in the Necker
-
I see that Kate Winslet, never one to milk a situation, is being accused of picking up an elderly lady unnecessarily in her daring rescue of Richard Branson's mother on the luxury private island Necker http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8777815/Eve-Branson-the-day-Kate-Winslet-saved-my-life.html. The 'forthright' Eve Branson is quoted in today's Telegraph as saying 'I would have got down those stairs on my own... but it was dark and slippery and I didn't have my contact lenses in.' So, one can only assume that, had she been wearing overnight silicone hydrogels, she would have escaped the clutches of the award-winning actress. Given Ms Winslet's recent speech, and various other gushing acceptances, surely the fire could have been put out by her over-active lachrimal glands?
-
EFCLIN marvellous
-
I've just had information through on this European conference in Amsterdam on distribution channels for contact lenses http://www.efclin.com/ (in the press release section under 'Important seminar on the future of distribution'). You may think 'What's to get excited about that' but a swift trawl of the programme reveals a number of sessions that catch the eye. In particular, the 'results of analysis of "fun" lenses sold through alternative distribution' by a Euromcontact representative makes me want to hop on the shuttle from Schipol Airport. There could also be some lively debate about the non-optical distribution channels and whether or not the products are safe. As well as the views of eye care professionals, there will be a presentation on 'How an e-commerce operator supplies contact lenses'. I would imagine that the difference between a major website selling branded contact lenses and tanning shop/tattooists/hairdressers selling 'fun' lenses will discussed at some point.