The Optical Journal

12/15/2025

Silhouette unveils a luminous new chapter in its acclaimed Infinity Collection, inspired by the sun-drenched romance of Corsica’s coastal towns. Each model reflects the brilliance of Mediterranean sunshine — radiant, playful, and full of energy. “The new Infinity shapes are a tribute to summer romances and bold individuality,” says Roland Keplinger, Design Director of Silhouette. “Ultralight, sculptural, and fashion-savvy, they capture the art of modern sunwear with technical excellence and effortless freedom.” Each shape brings a unique attitude:

Montamer: Femme Fatale.

A glamorous oversized silhouette with deep-set temples and a softly contoured form that flatters gentle face lines. Its expansive lens surface becomes a canvas for expressive gradients such as warm brown-gold.

Nonza: Class Act.

This refined, narrow rectangular frame embodies sleek sophistication with edge.

Silhouette unveils a luminous new chapter in its acclaimed Infinity Collection, inspired by the sun-drenched romance of Corsica’s coastal towns. Each model re

12/12/2025

Daniel speaks with Cathleen Kabashi, the Exhibition Director of opti.

Daniel speaks with Cathleen Kabashi, the Exhibition Director of opti.    

12/12/2025

Christmas arrives with a touch of sparkle and design from Woodys, which presents its new limited-edition XMAS IV. Two exclusive sunglasses, Oriana and Celina, created to capture the magic of festive nights and the charm of the starry sky.

Inspired by the light and reflections of the season, both frames combine high-quality materials with a sophisticated aesthetic and carefully crafted details.

Oriana dazzles with its iridescent golden acetate structure, which plays with light reflections and reveals subtle reddish nuances. Its angular design incorporates a metal core engraved with geometric motifs that evoke the shape of a star, adding a unique touch of elegance.

Celina, for its part, stands out for its hexagonal front in a snow-white shade inspired by winter. Its temples, sculpted with delicate milling, form a star in relief, turning them into a true jewel for this season.

Christmas arrives with a touch of sparkle and design from Woodys, which presents its new limited-edition XMAS IV. Two exclusive sunglasses, Oriana and Celina, c

12/11/2025

Every business that has been around longer than a day has dealt with theft in one form or another. Shoplifting, return fraud, and simple dishonesty are part of doing business. The only companies that have not encountered it yet are the ones that opened yesterday, and tomorrow will catch up with them soon enough.

When something goes wrong, our instinct as owners is to respond with new rules, new locks, and new policies. The popular joke says, “Be the reason HR has to change the policy.” It is amusing right up until you are the one rewriting the policy, often preparing for the last crime instead of the next one. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau once said, “Generals always prepare to fight the last war.” Many retailers do exactly that today.

Security vs. Accessibility: The Retail Balancing Act

Recent discussions in optical forums show how divided owners are about how much merchandise to lock down. Shrinkage is real, and losses hurt.

Every business that has been around longer than a day has dealt with theft in one form or another. Shoplifting, return fraud, and simple dishonesty are part of

12/11/2025

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) is pleased to announce the results of the November 2025 Geographic Representative Elections and several key leadership appointments that will guide the organization into its next chapter of global advocacy and collaboration.

Geographic Representative Election Results

WCO congratulates the following individuals elected or re-elected to represent their regions on the Board of Directors:

- Asia Pacific – Dr. Man Pan (Bruce) Chin, Hong Kong
Dr. Chin serves as President of the Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists and the Eye Foundation. He is an educator and clinician at both the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Shantou University Medical College. Prior to his election, Dr. Chin was a member of the WCO Legislation, Registration, & Standards (LRS) Committee.
- Eastern Mediterranean – Mr. Ameer Abou Adela, Lebanon
Re-elected for a second term, Mr.

12/11/2025

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) is proud to announce the 2025 Leadership Scholarship awardees. Recipients are recognized as OWA members who have served the organization with their dedicated committee work, service, and commitment to growing leadership roles for women in the optical industry. The grants, valued at up to $2,000 each, will be used to provide professional mentoring opportunities to each recipient, while continuing to promote OWA's founding principles of connecting, inspiring, and leading women in the optical industry. The OWA especially thanks its Individual Contributors who make it possible to offer these scholarships; because of their generous donations, four women, selected from the nominations put forth in October 2025, will receive special leadership training.

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) is proud to announce the 2025 Leadership Scholarship awardees. Recipients are recognized as OWA members who have served

12/10/2025

The constantly updated exhibitors list of MIDO 2026, the 54th edition of the largest international eyewear event, scheduled from 31 January to 2 February 2026 at Fieramilano Rho, is now online. The show is preparing for an edition with great expectations, with a forecast of around 1,200 exhibitors from 50 countries, in line with last year’s edition, including great returns and 140 new entries, confirming the dynamism of the industry.

The areas of the fair: confirmations, expansions, and innovation

The Fashion Square, the beating heart of Hall 1, will be completely renovated. In Hall 4, the square will be animated by an installation dedicated to DaTE (Naples, 12-14 September), while the square in Hall 6 will host the new edition of the exhibition The Lens of Time.

The constantly updated exhibitors list of MIDO 2026, the 54th edition of the largest international eyewear event, scheduled from 31 January to 2 February 2026 a

12/10/2025

Last month, eleven runners representing Orbis UK and Orbis UK Ambassador and bespoke eyewear creator Tom Davies, joined forces for the Great Ethiopian Run, pounding the pavements of the country’s bustling capital, Addis Ababa, to help fund life-changing eye care for those with or at risk of vision loss.

Established in 2001, the Great Ethiopian Run is an annual 10-kilometre road race set 2,300m above sea level. This year, the race attracted a whopping 50,000 participants, making it the largest of its kind in Africa.

Together, the team raised over £80,000 for Orbis’s sight-saving programmes across Southern Ethiopia. Since 2005, Tom Davies, both as a long-standing corporate partner and through his role as Orbis UK Ambassador, has shown unwavering support for Orbis’s fight against avoidable blindness, driving key fundraising campaigns and championing Orbis’s mission worldwide.

Alongside the race, Team Orbis spent time learning about the charity’s sight-saving work in Ethiopia.

Last month, eleven runners representing Orbis UK and Orbis UK Ambassador and bespoke eyewear creator Tom Davies, joined forces for the Great Ethiopian Run, poun

12/08/2025

It’s been quite a year of travel to optical conferences, trade shows, and fairs, and I wrapped up November with one of my favorites: SILMO Istanbul. When I was first invited several years ago, I never could have imagined that it would become a show I look forward to as much as SILMO Paris. Apparently, I’m not the only one—SILMO Istanbul has now secured its place among the leading optical trade shows in the world.
This year’s edition welcomed more than 700 brands spread across 25,000 square meters (269,000 square feet) of exhibition space at the Istanbul Exhibition Center on the western side of the city. Attendance climbed as well, with nearly 12,000 visitors, an increase of more than 12% over last year. These numbers underscore not only the dynamism of the Turkish optical market but also the rising international interest in the event.

SILMO Istanbul isn’t just a showcase for global names brought in by Turkish distributors.

It’s been quite a year of travel to optical conferences, trade shows, and fairs, and I wrapped up November with one of my favorites: SILMO Istanbul. When I wa

12/05/2025

Miga Studio is not just an eyewear brand. It represents a meeting of two worlds, two sensibilities, two ways of perceiving time and beauty: Italian emotion and creativity blend with the discipline and purity of Japanese design, creating glasses that do more than complete a look—they express an identity.
Each Miga Studio frame is an act of balance between past and future: essential, contemporary lines sculpted in ultra-light Japanese titanium and fine Italian acetate, handcrafted with artistry-level precision. The result is an object that transcends trends—a silent icon of elegance and authenticity.
For Miga Studio, creating eyewear is not simply producing an accessory but giving shape to a vision: every frame is born from a desire to convey the strength of tradition and the freedom of the future to its wearer.
Behind every frame lies a meticulous process combining craftsmanship and technology, tradition and innovation.

Miga Studio is not just an eyewear brand. It represents a meeting of two worlds, two sensibilities, two ways of perceiving time and beauty: Italian emotion and

12/04/2025

Ana Hickmann Eyewear's new Fall/Winter 2025 collection brings back models that have already established themselves as best-sellers for the brand, combining arch

12/02/2025

MOREL has introduced new men's and ladies frames for Fall/Winter 2025. Women’s eyewear fashion often embraces bold shapes and vibrant colors, but some wearers will prefer subtlety from their frames. Minimalism plays a key part in MOREL’s latest women’s release, LISE, designed in stainless steel.

LISE’s thin, semi-rimless fronts are enhanced with warm pastel shades along the brows and bridges. Some styles are crafted with a matte finish, while others are refined with a shiny stainless-steel finish. High-definition acetate endtips are either translucent with matching coloration to temples and brows or in a muted tortoise pattern, depending on the model. To achieve optimal flexibility and adjustability, MOREL implements its patented screwless, springless hinge system. With its airy nature and smart use of materials, LISE is easy to wear and ideal for women who prioritize comfort and functionality in their frames.

MOREL has introduced new men's and ladies frames for Fall/Winter 2025. Women’s eyewear fashion often embraces bold shapes and vibrant colors, but some wearer