An Open Letter to Younger Optics and Vision-Ease World Wide,
Thank you for your commitment to quality and innovation over the years in Optical. Many of your products are brand leaders in our industry: Nu-Polar, Coppertone, Life-RX, Drivewear, Trilogy and Thindex just to name a few. Your reputation for quality, independence and your support of private practice is unsurpassed. Younger, we appreciate your support of Optiboard, the best place in the world to share optical information and meet industry professionals.
I don’t know if you have noticed, but a company out of France called Essilor has been buying up optical companies both large and small, and has set itself up to dominate every channel of our industry. I am sure you have been approached by Essilor and maybe others to be purchased yourselves, but you have steadfastly refused offers of large cash payments and fantastic residuals. I applaud you for believing your companies have a larger value to our community than can be translated into a lighter shade of green. You get the fact that selling out will have a larger impact on the lives of yourselves, your customers and our industry than could ever be predicted. Great products you have worked hard to develop could just evaporate over time lost in the throes of a mindless conglomerate.
Despite your past innovations into both products and materials, you both lack a product in the fast growing sector of Digital and Free-form progressive lens design. Now that there are fewer independent Free-form companies than a year ago due to Essilor, this hole in your otherwise stellar line-up is now glaring. We as an industry need you to expand your stellar skills in innovation and product development into the range of Free-form Digital lens design.
I am formally requesting that you both design, sell and license a digital Free-form lens product.
If your past innovation is any indicator, your efforts will be excellent. If Optiboard is any indicator, your products will be met with enthusiasm. Younger Optics and Vision-Ease, we need you.
Sincerely,
Van Y Rue
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