Contact Lenses
Specialty Line
ABB Concise received FDA clearance to produce an entire line of specialty contact lenses in silicone hydrogel 60Dk, 74% H2O Definitive material. This includes indications for use in toric, multifocal, multifocal toric and irregular cornea lenses as well as the KeraSoft IC Lens manufactured under the Bausch + Lomb license and offered exclusively in the Definitive material. ABB plans to launch the new product line in the first quarter of 2012.
Website Enhancement
VirtualTryOn
Polarized sunglass maker Maui Jim has added VirtualTryOn to its website. The new system provides enhanced information about each sunglass style and allows customers to see themselves in a pair of glasses and then post the images to Facebook. It has two options—VirtualFitLive and VirtualFitPhoto.
VirtualFitLive is the live webcam option that projects a live image of the user’s face; then the system superimposes sunglasses onto the image. If the user turns their face, the glasses move with them. VirtualFitPhoto lets users upload photos of their face, either by snapping photos through their computer’s webcam or by uploading a photo from their files. The chosen sunglasses will appear on the photo, and can be saved or shared with friends on Facebook. To try it out, visit
www.mauijim.com/tryonlive.html.
Frames
Aspex Grilamid TR90
The Aspex Grilamid TR90 was developed with thermoplastic polyamide, a new, advanced polymer developed exclusively for Aspex that is 20% lighter than other plastics. Frames using TR90 are now available in all Aspex brand lines, including EasyClip, Manhattan Design Studio and Takumi Magnetic Eyewear. In addition to being flexible, durable and lightweight, frames made from TR90 are temperature resistant, the company says. TR90 frames are also non-allergenic and block damaging UV exposure. For more information, visit
www.aspexeyewear.com.
Carrera Champion Sunglasses
Worn by Gym Class Heroes lead singer Travie McCoy, Carrerra’s Champion sunglasses appeared in the band’s latest music video “Ass Back Home.” Sleeping on buses and in hotel rooms in different cities every night, the documentary-style video showcases the hard, taxing lifestyle of an artist while on tour.
The Carerra “Champion” sunglass model is inspired by the original design first introduced in the early 1980s and produced in Safilo Group’s Optyl, a lightweight, hypoallergenic material. Visit
carreraworld.com.
Costa Double Haul
Serious anglers will appreciate Costa’s signature vent system in Double Haul’s frame front to alleviate lens fog in extreme weather conditions, as well as full-eye coverage to allow full range of vision while on the water. Double Haul features a large fitting frame with Hydrolite no-slip nose pads, sturdy integral hinges and durable co-injected mold
ed temples for a comfortable fit. The new style is available in tortoise, black and the new translucent crystal frame colors.
Anglers can customize Double Haul in Costa’s patented 580 lenses in either glass or polycarbonate (580P). The new style will retail from $179 to $249 depending on lens customization, and will be available at
www.costadelmar.com and at authorized Costa retail outlets.
Karl Lagerfeld Eyewear Collection
Marchon debuted the Karl Lagerfeld Fall/Winter collection for men and women this season. Shapes from the women’s sunwear collection are vintage-inspired and amplified by use of colors—dark hues that graduate to light and then are infused with a contrasting color burst or rich tortoise shells and horns. The men’s collection showcases retro shapes with modern color gradients and the K temple exemplifies skilled craftsmanship.
The collection features ophthalmic and sunwear styles, including:
• K747S. A thin, polished metal bar is inlayed at the temples, beginning at the end pieces and continuing to the mid temples, punctuated by the “KL” logo. Lagerfeld enhances the depth of design by setting the inlayed metal against color gradients, specifically a purple/violet gradient and grey/orange gradient to enhance the cat eye shape.
• KL748S. This sister style to the KL747S is a modified butterfly, evident on the slightly waved brows crafted from rich zyl. Thin, polished metal beginning at end pieces and continuing down the temples toward the “KL” logo is prevalent set against black, Havana, light tortoise and sand colorations.