Think About Your Eyes Announces #seebeyond2020 Contest Winners

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Think About Your Eyes, a national public awareness campaign about the importance of scheduling an annual eye exam with an optometrist, has announced the winners of the #seebeyond2020 contest. In October 2019, Think About Your Eyes launched the contest to capture and feature the stories of individuals whose lives were enhanced by visiting the eye doctor. Winners were selected by a panel of six judges who reviewed all 1,900 entries. Criteria in winner selection included how well the eye health story communicated a life-changing impact of an eye exam and how well it conveyed how eye health contributes to the quality of life.

National Vision Expands Walmart Agreement

DULUTH, Ga.—National Vision, Inc. (Nasdaq: EYE) (NVI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Vision Holdings, Inc., has entered into a third amendment to the management and services agreement with Walmart, Inc., which will be effective as of Jan. 23, 2020, per a filing with the SEC yesterday. The amendment updates the terms of the management and services agreement (the MSA) between Walmart and NVI, dated as of May 1, 2012, to add five additional vision centers located in Georgia to the MSA at a mutually agreeable “go-live date” for each new center. It will also extend the current term of the MSA by six months, to Feb. 23, 2021, and provide that the MSA will automatically renew for an additional three-year term unless, no later than July 23, 2020, one party gives the other party written notice of non-renewal. All other terms and conditions of the MSA remain in effect. 

Third Annual OPTImum Retail Award Program Is Open for Submissions

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Vision Expo East 2020 has announced the third annual OPTImum Retail Award, and is accepting submissions from independent boutique retailers. The OPTImum Retail Award aims to celebrate independent boutique retailers by allowing them to showcase their products, stores, visions and stories to the optical industry. Businesses in the independent retail market are encouraged to submit their stories for consideration by Feb. 7. Applicants are asked to share their in-store innovations, individuality, culture, brand loyalty and technology usage. Details about the process are posted here.

Innovative Vision Tech Abounds at CES 2020

LAS VEGAS—Innovative vision technology is becoming more and more visible every year at CES, the annual mega meeting and trade show which drew more than 180,000 attendees here last week. From the latest mixed reality glasses for gamers to a tiny clip-on device that enables blind people to navigate their surrounds more easily, the full scope of vision tech was on display.

VM’s Trends to Watch in 2020

NEW YORK—Let the vision symbolism begin! The year 2020 holds promise and opportunity for those in the eyecare and optical world to share information and ideas to raise the profile of vision care. There is much of the upside to inform patients, caretakers, other health care providers and consumers about the role of comprehensive eye exams and the eye as the window to a range of concerning health care conditions.