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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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Over the past ten years, a variety of new optical approaches have been developed to slow down myopia progression. However, despite the widespread clinical use of myopia control lenses, very limited attention has been paid to how these designs are used by children during everyday visual tasks.

Why does one myopia management solution works brilliantly for most children – but not equally well for everyone? In this interview, Arnaud Ribadeau Dumas sheds light on unanswered questions, the role of biomarkers, and how smart glasses could unlock real‑world insights into light exposure and near‑vision behavior.

When the term “health management” comes up in companies, it usually conjures up a very specific image: a dusty fruit basket at the reception desk, a discounted gym membership that no one uses, and perhaps an annual “health day” featuring back exercises. That is nice. It is well-intentioned. But considering the challenges of the modern workplace, it is about as effective as a Band-Aid on a broken bone.