Quick Take: Hoya has developed and launched Recharge, an anti-reflective lens treatment that reflects the harmful blue light emitted from back-lit handheld devices.
Wearer: “Our eyes were designed for us to use as hunters and gatherers. Now we hunt and gather on Google,” observed Barney Dougher, president of Hoya Vision Care, NA. “We are not fully equipped to handle all of the demands placed on our eyes by today’s technological devices. Independent eyecare professionals know the questions to ask and have access to solutions like Recharge to help their patients cope with fatigue and other symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome.”
Specifics: Recharge reflects the harmful blue light away from the eyes, while ensuring that the portion of blue light needed for optimal contrast and other health benefits is allowed to pass through the lens.
Selling Points: Hoya cites several studies as well as OSHA and ISO data that indicate the hazards associated with High Energy Visible (HEV) blue light, such as that emitted from smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices. Symptoms as diverse as sleep disorders in children and adolescents, headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue can be due to exposure to blue light radiating from hand-held digital equipment. Recharge is only available through independent eyecare providers.
Price Guide: $$$
www.hoyavision.com

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Quick Take: L’Amy America has introduced Bally of Switzerland’s first luxury eyewear collection to North America offering sun and ophthalmic frames for men and women.
Wearer: “Our goal is to bring to the luxury eyewear market not only beautiful product and packaging, but also an entire collection that addresses the needs of the discerning Asian consumer,” said Stephen Rappoport, president of L’Amy America.
Specifics: The new collection offers a comfortable universal fit and captures the aesthetic of Bally’s accessory and ready-to-wear collections while reinterpreting the Swiss brand’s iconic elements into the collection’s signature details.
Selling Points: The centerpiece of the men’s collection is a classic aviator model with a bridge nosepiece and temples lined in leather. For women, a key oval acetate frame features temples enhanced by intertwined leather and metal rings that mirror a Bally handbag chain. Other models feature oversized shapes in square, rounded, butterfly or cat eye shapes. Each frame comes with a cleaning cloth/micro pouch in a clamshell case. P.O.P. is available with a purchase of 12 or more frames, including logo plaques, counter cards, posters, shopping bags and a 3-piece window display.
Price Guide: $$$$-$$$$$
www.lamyamerica.com

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Quick Take: Luxottica has introduced the Persol Reflex Edition, paying tribute to the world of photography with a unique collection.
Specifics: Consisting of an optical model (PO 3044V) and two sunglasses models (PO 3046S and PO 3047S) featuring Polar and Photo-Polar lenses, Persol Reflex Edition is inspired by vintage-design analogue cameras reinterpreted using modern technology.
Selling Points: The signature Supreme Arrow becomes slimmer on the hinges (the 3.5 mm thick Mini Supreme Arrow), for the first time doubled underneath the engraved metal bridge. The exclusive Meflecto system is interpreted as a decorative motif on the temples. The PO 3046S and PO 3047S sunglasses models are also available with Polar and Photo-Polar lenses. Made of glass, these lenses are super thin (1.8 millimeters), lightweight and comfortable. The communication campaign consists of six images shot by Swedish photographer, Julia Hetta, and creates unique similarities between the camera and Persol eyewear. Reference to the world of analogue cameras is also evident in the case, similar to those of vintage cameras, and in the packaging, which reproduces the stylized design of a lens.
Price Guide: $$$$
www.luxottica.com

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Quick Take: Carrera, from the Safilo Group, has returned to its origins to rediscover the “racing attitude” that is deeply rooted in its DNA with a new collection of sunglasses and optical frames that reflect the brand’s stylistic heritage.
Specifics: Four different design philosophies mark the 2013 eyewear models: Carrera/Icons, the brand’s heritage inspirations; Carrera/Muses, which reflects the true brand spirit; Carrera/Craze, highlighting new contemporary trends; and Carrera/Active, a group of high-performance sunglasses.
Selling Points: Carrera/Icons embody the brand’s stylistic heritage and are a re-edition of the “best of Carrera sunglasses;” the Carrera 80 metal sunglasses epitomize the brand’s racing spirit with a teardrop shape combined with interchangeable polarized lenses. The sophisticated Carrera/Muses group reflects the brand’s DNA by representing a dialogue between past and present; the Carrera 6002 model is done in hand-finished acetate in a square shape with rounded edges and a metal bridge on the front. Also featured is the CA6603 acetate optical model with a large, square shape. In Carrera/Craze, the Carrera 5001 sunglasses have a large shape and a vintage yet modern personality highlighted by bright colors. Lastly, the Carrera/Active Carrera 59 metal sunglasses are ultra-lightweight and comfortable thanks to the rubber details on the temples, flex hinges and polarized lenses. For 2013 Carrera also introduces a new advertising campaign shot by German photographer Markus Jans. All the new images feature Carrera’s speedometer-like “You race or you don’t” tag line highlighting the brand’s authentic racing heritage. The four-poster global ad campaign, featuring the brand’s new sunglasses (Carrera 5001, Champion, Carrera 6000 and Carrera 6002) and optical frames (CA6603), will kick off in April, May and June.
Price Guide: $$$-$$$$
www.safilo.com

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Quick Take: Tura, Inc. has re-mastered the Lulu Guinness Eyewear collection for 2013. The re-vamped collection includes the addition of chic retro styles, exclusive materials and a limited edition frame.
Specifics: The new collection of women’s ophthalmic and sun frames are done in acetate and metal. Many feature colorful interpretations of the cat eye and Lulu’s signature lips as a pattern, plaque or cut out on the temple. “This year, we’ve re-mastered the brand to have more attitude, to attract a bold and sassy customer,” said Eileen Estrada, Tura’s brand manager for Lulu Guinness. “Think red lips and a pencil skirt; a woman with flair.” According to Scott Sennett, Tura’s president and CEO, “Lulu encourages her customers to experiment with fashion, a philosophy that’s apparent in this revamped eyewear collection. Like all of Lulu’s designs, the eyewear is sophisticated yet daring, commercial but collectible, luxurious and still affordable.”
Selling Points: A few standout styles include the Limited Edition L753, a 60’s inspired exaggerated cat eye sunglass style, as well as the L864, a studded, cat eye frame inspired by Lulu’s sexy librarian designs that can be made into sunglasses or kept as an optical style. Also new is the L740, a sophisticated lightweight, semi-rimless ophthalmic frame with a subtle laser inscribed lip pattern and signature lip icon cut out on the temple, and the L739, a contemporary oval cat eye ophthalmic style that combined a classic rim wire with zyl temples, while the L866, L867 and L871 are ophthalmic styles with several colors featuring exclusive, custom Italian laminations inside the temples. In sun, the L100 is a handmade sunglass with a slightly upswept oval and a fishnet print inside the temples, the L102 is a rock-inspired sunglass with handset studs, Swarovski stones and a slightly gradient lens, mixed with handmade Japanese zyl, and the L103, a bold sunglass style featuring handmade custom laminates including animal print, polka.
dots or lips on the outside temples.
Price Guide: $$$
www.tura.com

New York Eye’s Valerie Spencer and Marc Hunter collections have similar visions—to deliver highly wearable, sophisticated frames at affordable prices for today’s modern career men and women. According to the company, what defines the two collections make them a perfect marriage in the dispensary. “The Valerie Spencer collection has real style laced with an edge,” said Arthur Jankolovits, president of New York Eye, “while Marc Hunter offers a sleek look for the man that wants a clean, classic frame. These two collections are the perfect complement to one another and they are an excellent fit for ECPs looking to target busy professionals.” The Valerie Spencer line offers beautiful frame shapes, luxurious crystal work, intricate tooling, and eye-catching temples, while Marc Hunter features sleek and modern metals, including a wide variety of styles in ultra-lightweight titanium, as well as nylon rimless frames, lightweight plastics and semi-rimless styles. www.newyorkeye.net

Marcolin has introduced a new version of the Swarovski Amazing sunglasses for summer. The new Amazing still features a stylish interpretation of Swarovski’s iconic facets but it’s entirely faceted front and temples have now been updated in trendy and glamorous versions. Available in three elegant and mirrored shades, the Amazing is now offered in gold 28F, bronze 34F and anthracite 08B. These colorations are achieved using a special process and the frames are completed with gradient lenses for added glamor. These brand new additions are available as a set and come with their own display fixture for a striking window display. www.marcolin.com

The Bocca collection from Face à Face stems from the desire to create a frame that would be inspired by a work of art. Pascal Jaulent, art director of Face à Face, fell in love with the mythical Dalí “Mae West” sofa which is all about women. The frame front is inspired by the works sensual lips while the temples are sculpted into very sexy legs topped with glamorous high heels. There are eight Bocca styles now available; from one model to another, an ultra-feminine shoe, a very high heeled stiletto, underline the bold, sometimes extreme eyewear styles. Others feature the black varnish “Richelieu” shoe, which pays tribute to the famous Yves Saint Laurent smoking suit. www.faceaface-paris.com