Spring forward with bold designs

Frames: Maximum personality

Kaleos has introduced its new eyewear range for spring/summer 2021, with 27 new silhouettes across the collection. The collection includes styles offering a maximalist and retro-feel, with a focus on oversized shapes and utilising a range of acetate and colour options. The collection is split into three categories: statement frames, titanium frames and standard shapes.

The brand’s limited edition silhouette for the season is the statement frame ‘Bickle.’ A unisex design, the frame is oversized with a rimless-effect.

A brand favourite, the square oversized frame, ‘Creasy,’ features unusual details, such as tubular rods for a “unique personality.” In contrast, the titanium ‘Jewell’ frame presents a bold shape with a variety of colourful lenses.

Frames: The Woow Factor

Design Eyewear Group’s Woow Is You has launched a new collection of frames, focusing on the themes of joy and freedom. The frames are large and draw inspiration from the 70s, and feature a colour palette of electric blues, granitas and rainbow gradients.

The ‘Brightside’ metal frames are available in a lemon or round cat’s eye shape, and combine galvanic and matte effects in colourways of Klein blue with galvanic silver, or pink and emerald green with galvanic gold. The ‘Feel Free’ oversized frame is crafted from acetate and available in large hexagonal, square or Pantos styles in a range of bright colours, while the ‘Roof Top’ frame combines acetate with a small metal detail and is available in pantos or round shapes and a range of 70s inspired colours. 

Frames: Steel statement

Eschenbach Optik has introduced 10 new frames into the Titanflex collection, with a range of hybrid frames that combine lightweight properties with flexibility.

For the frames ‘820869’ and ‘820870,’ Titanflex stainless steel and high-density acetate are combined to create statement features, such as a top bar and double bridge. Meanwhile, the ‘823012’ frame utilises Titanflex liquid metal for a rimless effect and a sporty aesthetic.

The brand’s existing style, ‘820515,’ has been reinvented in the new frames, ‘820850’ and ‘820851,’ which use classic shapes and a revamped colour scheme. 

Equipment: Treating dry eye

Positive Impact has introduced a new electronic eyelid hygiene device, NuLids, for the treatment of dry eye disease, meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis. Aimed at independent practices, the device can be used on-site or by the patient at home.

An eye cleaning foam is applied over the closed eyelid, before the NuLids is used to massage the eyelid, exfoliating the lid as well as stimulating meibomian gland expression. The device’s rotating disposable silicone soft tip is typically used for 15 seconds per eyelid, twice, and is timed by the device, taking one minute per day in total. The company suggests the device produces little to no aerosol spray.

Positive Impact’s director of marketing and professional services, Nick Atkins, explained: “Results from a multi-centre clinical study in the US showed the device was safely used by patients whilst delivering a statistically significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.”

Frames: Mythological marvels

Milanese eyewear brand, Movitra, has introduced eight new models, including four sunglass styles and four optical frames – its first optical styles.

The frames are produced from acetate blocks made by Mazzucchelli, and feature Movitra’s patented locking system. The names of the models in the collection are inspired by Greek mythology and instead of branding the frames with logos, each features a distinctive trait of the label, such as front and side metal rivets, signature side shape and folding mechanism.

The optical models, ‘Argo’ and ‘Horus,’ both offer a lightweight combination of acetate and stainless steel. The former features a round frame in acetate with metal nose bridge, while the latter features a square shape, flat brow line and metal bridge.

Drawing inspiration from the 90s ‘Esaco’ features an elongated front with metal arms, while ‘Isi’ re-interprets a retro style with keyhole bridge.

Contact lenses: Addressing evolving needs

CooperVision announced the launch of its new Biofinity toric multifocal contact lenses in the UK and Ireland from April. The product extends the designs of the Biofinity toric lenses to presbyopic patients, aiming to keep wearers who are astigmatic “in contact lenses as they become presbyopic.”

The contact lens features Optimised Lens Geometry to provide stability and predictable orientation, along with Balanced Progressive Technology which provides multiple zones of vision correction. The lens also features CooperVision’s Aquaform Technology which provides natural wettability and high breathability for comfort.

The lenses have received CE marking in Europe and approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Krupa Patel, CooperVision’s head of professional services in the UK, said: “Biofinity toric multifocal will soon be a valuable tool for addressing patient’s evolving vision needs.” 

Frames: Sustainable materials

De Rigo has launched Chopard’s new sustainable collection with plant-based and biodegradable materials. The new collection uses bio-based acetate and lenses, with 70% of the acetate drawn from natural sources including cellulose acetate derived from wood and cotton, and a plasticiser derived from vegetable sources. The acetate is phthalate-free and biodegradable under the right conditions. Meanwhile, 40% of the nylon lens is from natural sources – a resin produced from castor plants.

The collection includes both sunglasses and optical frames in eight different styles. The four styles in the women’s collection take inspiration from the Ice Cube jewellery collection, with square faceting on the titanium sides. The men’s collection takes inspiration from the Alpine Eagle watch collection, with the signature compass rose featuring inside the hinge and on the side tips.