NEWS

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  Oliver Fischbach elected president of EUROM Optical Industries

  The European optical industry has a new president: Oliver Fischbach, Senior Vice President of Western Europe & North America at Hoya Vision Care and a representative of Spectaris, was elected president of the European umbrella organization at the General Assembly of EUROM 1 Optical Industries in Naples.

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  The Vision Council guides optical industry through new U.S. tariff changes

  The Vision Council is helping members navigate yet another shift in U.S. trade policy. The existing Section 122 tariffs that had assessed a 10% duty on imports expired Friday, July 24, resulting in the Trump Administration imposing new tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 for 60 economies over alleged forced-labor violations.

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  The Italian eyewear market and future

  ANFAO – the Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers’ Association – held on July 14 its General Meeting at Palazzo Flangini, to discuss shared objectives and future initiatives. Market figures were also presented and showed a decline of 6.1% compared with the first quarter of 2025. By far the sharpest decline was seen for U.S. exports.

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  TVC releases new research on sunglasses non-wearers

  The Vision Council released Focused inSights: Beyond UV Awareness, a new research report examining why 37% of U.S. adults, approximately 82 million people, do not wear sunglasses despite routine outdoor exposure and widespread familiarity with UV-related eye health risks.

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  Coburn Technologies announce strategic partnership with VeroCore Business Solutions for the UK and Western Europe

  Coburn Technologies announced a new strategic partnership with VeroCore Business Solutions Ltd. for the sale and distribution of its products in the United Kingdom and Western European markets.

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FEATURED ARTICLES

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  Transitions: Breaking out of the niche

  Over the past years, Transitions Optical has undergone a significant product and brand evolution. Over the course of five years, the company produced approximately 450 prototypes and conducted more than 100,000 tests to lay a solid foundation for the next generation of Transitions lenses. Today, they come in many vibrant colors and even with dynamic polarization. This required not just a manufacturing facility, but an innovation center – which MAFO visited in Ireland.

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  Empowering labs

  Until recently, block-less free-form lens production was widely perceived as a technology reserved for innovators – an advanced but not yet universally trusted alternative to traditional alloy-based processes. However, as recently pointed out by several market players, 2026 marks a decisive turning point. Will the future of lens production be block-free?

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  Oculomics: “Eye health is general health”

  The eye as a gateway to overall health, and AI as an assistive technology: in this interview with MAFO, Dr. Norbert Gorny, Chief Scientific Officer at EssilorLuxottica, shares his perspective on where optometry and eye care are headed and about the opportunities and limitations of Oculomics.

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  The customer is not a data point

  A sales manager recently said, “Our people are much faster these days. But I am not sure if they are also better listeners.” There is a lot of talk in sales right now about AI – about conversation summaries, chatbots, quote templates, automated follow-up emails, and systems that assess how promising a lead is. Much of this saves time, and some processes do actually improve as a result. But a customer should not be reduced to just a case number in the process.

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  DigiCON 2026

  In June, machine manufacturer Schneider Optical Machines hosted its well-known in-house trade show, DigiCON. In addition to showcasing innovations, the machine manufacturer also provided answers to important questions – such as whether Schneider is embracing the blockless trend or how realistic fully autonomous “lights-off” production is for the future.

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  GoodVision: “The world would be a good deal fairer and better”

  To this day, people – especially in the Global South – still lack access to even the most basic vision aids, eye exams, and more. One organization working to address this problem is GoodVision. MAFO has spoken with founder Martin Aufmuth about why basic care is still lacking and how this affects education and social participation.

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  How IXI glasses merge adaptive optics, eye tracking, and optician-led distribution

  Progressive lenses completely reimagined: Finnish start-up IXI is working on electronically controlled glasses that dynamically switch between near, intermediate and far ranges – without any visible external mechanics or cameras. Together with a large French optician group, preparations are now underway for market entry.

NEWS

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  President for Silmo d’Or announced

  For this new edition of the Silmo d’Or, Silmo Paris has entrusted the presidency of its jury to Joachim Froment, an industrial designer and creative director based in Brussels.

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  NAO members approve initial steps toward UOA merger

  The National Academy of Opticianry (NAO) and the United Opticians Association (UOA)
  announced that the NAO Fellow Members, and the UOA Board of Directors, each voted to
  authorize the beginning of the formal merger or asset-transfer process between the two organizations.

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  Obituary: Dr. Mo Jalie

  It is with deep sadness that we must announce the passing of our long-time author, Dr. Mo Jalie. For decades, Mo shaped the optical industry and education– as an professor, author, consultant, and speaker.

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  The Vision Council opens registration for the 2026 Lab Leadership Forum

  The Vision Council announced that registration is now open for the 2026 Lab Leadership Forum, the organization’s signature event for optical lab members.

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  Scott Jens appointed to the Board of Ocuco

  Ocuco announced the appointment of Scott Jens, OD, FAAO to its Board of Directors. The announcement comes as the company accelerates its strategic focus on expanding within the United States eyecare market

• EyeCare4Kids and Xenon Ophthalmics partner to broaden vision care access for kids

  EyeCare4Kids announced a strategic partnership with Xenon Ophthalmics, a New Jersey–based medical technology company, to expand access to comprehensive vision care in underserved communities.

• The Vision Council appoints Kris Stevens as Vice President of Research 

  The Vision Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Kris Stevens as the organization’s new Vice President of Research

• Silmo Paris: International convergence and future perspectives

  Paris will once again become the meeting point for the international optics and eyewear industry in 2026, as Silmo Paris prepares for its next edition.

• Horizons Optical expands its educational footprint with first-time presence at SECO 2026

  Horizons Optical marked its first participation at the Southeastern Congress of Optometry (SECO) this year, reinforcing its commitment to professional education and meaningful engagement with Eye Care Professionals (ECPs) across the United States.

• Coburn Technologies announces key leadership changes

  Coburn Technologies, a leading global provider of ophthalmic lens processing systems and ophthalmic instruments, has announced several personnel changes within key leadership positions spanning sales, engineering, product strategy, and human resources.

• Silmo Paris unveils new brand identity for 2026 edition

  From 25 to 28 September 2026, the international optical trade fair Silmo Paris will return to Paris Nord Villepinte, presenting a renewed expression of its brand identity.