By Staff
Monday, January 27, 2025 12:24 AM
SURPRISE, Ariz.—Longtime optical industry veteran Jim Grootegoed died here on January 8, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 85 years-old. According to colleagues, Grootegoed was well-known and well-respected during his four decades in the optical industry. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Los Angeles where he earned a bachelor of arts degree from California State University Los Angeles. Grootegoed’s early career began in pharmaceutical hospital sales and sales management for Geigy Pharmaceuticals.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, January 26, 2025 1:30 AM
Optical labs are always striving for the highest level of efficiency. In the past, traditional alloy systems, while still providing exceptional lens manufacturing capabilities, did not offer some of the environmental benefits and yields that lab operators demand today. Alloy Replacement Technology, also known as ART or the ART System, was developed by Satisloh, a global leader in ophthalmic and precision optics manufacturing technology, based in Germantown, Wis.
By Sarah McGoldrick / Contributing Editor
Sunday, January 26, 2025 1:29 AM
Having a pulse on the latest technological advancements in the optical industry has been key to the success of ABB Optical Group, a national provider of products, services and business solutions for the eyecare sector. This year marks the Coral Springs, Fla. company’s 35th anniversary, an event that showcases a history of innovation and service.
By Staff
Friday, January 24, 2025 12:18 AM
RIVER FALLS, Wis.—Dan Torgersen, an optical industry veteran, passed away at his home here on January 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 76 years old.
By Staff
Monday, December 23, 2024 12:18 AM
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn.—
Coburn Technologies announced its final shipment of the SGX Pro Surface Lens Generator in December, ending over 33 years of production.
By Staff
Friday, December 13, 2024 12:18 AM
BANDERA, Texas—James Hugo “Jimmy” McLean, MBA, FANO, owner of Dietz-McLean Optical, a multigenerational, family-owned and operated optical shop, passed away here on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
By Julie Bos, Contributing Editor
Friday, August 23, 2024 8:30 AM
When Michael Walach retired from his 30-year optical career at age 57, the last thing he expected was to start another business. Yet he followed an opportunity and his intuition—and today, countless full-service labs around the world are certainly glad he did. In 2004, Walach started Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab, a unique and highly specialized “lab’s lab” that has earned its claim to fame for making prescriptions that are either too tough or simply out of range for other labs. Today, as Quest Vision Care Specialty Lab celebrates its 20th anniversary, the lab deserves every ounce of pride for what they’ve accomplished as they continue serving full-service wholesale labs from more than 17 countries around the world. Here’s a look at some of the lab’s major accomplishments over the last 20 years.
By Staff
Friday, August 16, 2024 12:24 AM
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—
VSP Optics today announced it will expand access to the network of distributor labs for its Unity Lenses, a move that the company said will offer
VSP network doctors greater freedom of choice in fulfilling Unity Lenses portfolio orders for their patients. The company noted that it will continue its investment in growing the Unity Lenses portfolio, which currently includes single-vision, task-oriented and progressives lens products, but shared that it will be reducing its own
VSPOne lab operations as Unity distributor labs assume order fulfillment.
By Mary Kane
Friday, August 2, 2024 8:30 AM
NEWARK, N.J.—The 22nd edition of
Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical feature brings a class of leaders, changemakers and trailblazers who are as impressive and exciting as it gets. This past week,
Vision Monday announced its
2024 roster of 40 women of accomplishment who were selected by
VM’s editors from several hundred submissions. For this year’s Annual Report,
VM considered women who are making a difference in the following five categories: Executive Suite, Rising Stars, Mentors, Innovators and Above & Beyond.
By Staff
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 12:24 AM
NEWARK, N.J.—The 22nd edition of
Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical feature brings a class of leaders, changemakers and trailblazers who are as impressive and exciting as it gets. Today,
Vision Monday is announcing its 2024 roster of 40 women of accomplishment who were selected by
VM’s editors from several hundred submissions. For this year’s Annual Report,
VM considered women who are making a difference in the following five categories: Executive Suite, Rising Stars, Mentors, Innovators and Above & Beyond.
By Julie Bos, Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 21, 2024 2:00 AM
When Michael Walach retired from his 30-year optical career at age 57, the last thing he expected was to start another business. Yet he followed an opportunity and his intuition—and today, countless full-service labs around the world are certainly glad he did.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 21, 2024 1:59 AM
Alaska has beckoned innovative and strong-minded individuals to set up businesses for centuries. Renowned for its outdoorsy ruggedness and beauty, in recent years it has also become a hub for technological advancement and an entrepreneurial-friendly place to start a business. With a keen understanding of an underserved Alaskan eyeglasses market, Robert Wiktorowicz, chief operations officer at Anchorage-based Custom Eye Lab Inc., and his business partner, optometrist Charles Vojta, set up the only full-service, independent prescription lab in the state.
By Sarah McGoldrick, Contributing Editor
Sunday, July 21, 2024 1:58 AM
CLEARWATER, Fla.—More than 55 customers and industry partners gathered here in April for three days of education and networking at the annual Ocuco www.ocuco.com Innovations User Group Meeting (UGM). The meeting featured nearly 30 workshops and presentations including Innovations and Lablink Development Road Maps, Strategies to Enhance Online Presence, and Specialized Personnel Recruitment.
By Andrew Karp, Group Editor, Lenses & Technology
Sunday, July 21, 2024 1:57 AM
GREEN BAY, Wis.—Cherry Optical Lab (COL), based here, announced that it is the first and only independent lab producing the Varilux XR Series (Varilux XR and Varilux XR Track) lenses on-site in the US. This strategic move demonstrates its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to its customers and their patients, the company said in a statement.
By Staff
Friday, May 31, 2024 12:21 AM
HENDERSON, Nev.—
Doctors Optical Labs, an optical laboratory owned and directed by independent eyecare doctors, has announced that their acquisition of
See Better Optical Labs, a full-service digital lab, has been finalized.