LPT Division Update

    
Dear Member,

I hope you are managing to stay safe and sane during these challenging times. I wanted to provide an update on the Lens Processing & Technology (LPT) Division activities at The Vision Council.

It is my pleasure to introduce our new LPT Liaison, Michael Vitale, The Vision Council’s Senior Technical Director and Lens, Lab and LPT Division Liaison. Michael has been in the optical industry for over 40 years and has an extensive background in lab operations as well as ophthalmic lenses. Additionally, Michael is a Master Optician, holds a North Carolina opticianry license and heads up The Vision Council’s standards work as secretariat to ANSI ASC Z80 and US TAG Leader for ISO TC172/SC7 Ophthalmic Optics.

Last week, The Vision Council launched Reopeneyecare.com, a new digital platform designed to help eyecare providers navigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses. This member benefit was specially curated by a taskforce of vision community leaders, including The Vision Council board members Jim McGrann, Chairman and CEO at Healthy Eyes Advantage, and James Rosin, Co-President at Rosin Eyecare. Please join us in supporting eyecare providers by sharing this video and encouraging your key contacts to visit the site. For access to a toolkit of shareable emails, web banners, social media posts and other materials announcing the launch of reopeneyecare.com, click here.

Additionally, The Vision Council has created a dedicated COVID-19 Implications webpage to assist members as they navigate through the rapidly evolving pandemic and complexities of the reopening process. The webpage contains detailed research and information on all phases of the U.S. legislative response, best sanitization methods and guidance from the White House Coronavirus Task Force as well as the American Optometric Association (AOA).

As part of The Vision Council’s recent governmental affairs efforts, this letter was sent to Speaker Pelosi and Leaders McConnell, Schumer and McCarthy on behalf of members to request various levels of support for the optical industry in the fourth stimulus package. The letter includes specific calls for support surrounding personal protective equipment (PPE), the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program, COVID-19 testing and liability protection.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Michael at mvitale@thevisioncouncil.org or (703) 548-2684.

Sincerely,

Steve Schneider, Satisloh
Chair, LPT Division