For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Susan English or Courtney Haines
                     Euro RSCG Magnet
                     (412) 456-4300
                                   or
                     Mary O’Hara
                     Transitions Optical, Inc.
                     (727) 545-0400 ext. 7431

TRANSITIONS SPONSORS NAVCP ROUNDTABLE ADDRESSING NEED FOR
CONSUMER EDUCATION ON THE VALUE OF VISION CARE PLANS

Participants Explore Need to Increase Association Between Eye and Overall Health

DEL MAR, Calif., April 27, 2007 – Recognizing the growing trend in consumer-driven health care and the need to ensure that eyecare is recognized as an important aspect of overall health and wellness, Transitions Optical, Inc. has sponsored a Medical Advisor Roundtable among members of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP).  The event, held immediately preceding the NAVCP’s annual conference on April 18, addressed the need for consumer education on the value vision care plans, and included representatives from NAVCP primary members Davis Vision, EyeMed Vision, National Vision, Spectera, Wal-Mart and WellPoint. 

Drawing from insights on how the dental industry has helped establish the importance of proper oral care, presented by Jerry Berggren, director of research & information, National Association of Dental Plans, participants discussed how to elevate vision care and vision wear in the minds of consumers, emphasizing the importance of eye care in achieving overall-health. 

“This event is significant for the NAVCP because it has provided a forum for our members to collectively discuss the consumer-driven health care trend, an issue that affects us collectively as an industry, and that can only be effectively addressed by working together,” said Steve Ingram, executive director, NAVCP. 

Initial conclusions from the roundtable were shared by roundtable moderator Tim Fortner, trade development manager, Transitions, during the opening day of the NAVCP conference. 

“We basically came to consensus that eye care is the Rodney Dangerfield of health care – it just can’t get no respect,” said Fortner.  “To change this, we need a PR makeover, and our first step is to agree on a simple message for consumers that reinforces the value of proper vision care and vision wear for overall health.”

A consensus paper based on the roundtable discussion will be posted to the NAVCP (NAVCP.org) and Transitions (Transitions.com) Web sites for future reference.
“We are pleased to support the NAVCP roundtable forum because, as a company, we place a heavy emphasis on consumer education, and we are especially concerned that there is still such low awareness on how to enhance and preserve vision,” said Pat Huot, national account manager of managed care, Transitions.  “This low awareness also creates a danger for the future of this industry, as we struggle to compete with other aspects of health care and convince consumers that their already stretched dollars are well-spent investing in their vision.”

Roundtable participants plan to present the consensus paper to the NAVCP board along with recommendations on next steps for a potential follow-up meeting to further refine a strategy for consumer education.  Announcements will be posted to NAVCP.org.

About NAVCP
The National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) is a trade association for the Managed Vision Care industry.  The primary purpose of the NAVCP is to achieve a united voice for the Managed Vision Care industry.  The association consists of 13 primary members, companies who manage a network of vision providers, are involved in contracting, market and administer vision care plans, and may be involved in credentialing and processing claims.  The association also has 15 allied members, companies who do not fit the profile of primary members, but have interest in the vision care industry.

The NAVCP is working toward the goal of creating unity among vision care companies so they can speak with a collective voice in legislative and regulatory arenas, provide a forum for exchange of information, provide input in the development of standards and credentialing, work together to improve quality in the vision care industry and provide a centralized source of information for the public.  For more information, contact Steve Ingram, executive director, NAVCP, at 317-328-4633 or singram@navcp.org.

About Transitions

Transitions Optical, headquartered in Pinellas Park, was the first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990.  As the leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers, Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs and materials.

Transitions Optical’s core product line, Transitions® lenses, are the #1-recommended photochromic lenses worldwide.  As higher-performing everyday lenses, Transitions lenses change from clear indoors to sunglass dark outdoors in proportion to the intensity of UV light.  Transitions Optical also offers several special-purpose lenses that change from a tinted state indoors to a darker state outdoors when activated by UV light.  These lenses are marketed as Activated by Transitions™.

Transitions Optical has manufacturing operations in Pinellas Park; Tuam, Ireland; Laguna, Philippines; Sumare, Brazil; Adelaide, Australia and Chonburi, Thailand.  Sales offices are located in Cambridge, Canada and nine other countries.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, the first to earn the American Optometric Association’s Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

# # #
Transitions Optical, Inc. sponsored a Medical Advisor Roundtable among members of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) on April 18 to address the need for consumer education on the value vision care plans.

Participants included (top row from left to right) John Lahr, vice president provider relations/medical director, EyeMed Vision; John Thorp, product management director, WellPoint Dental and Vision; William Hately, O.D., M.A., director, network management, national optometric director, WellPoint Vision; Bernard Rubin, O.D., M.P.H., Davis Vision; (bottom row from left to right) Susan Cox, senior vice president of marketing, Spectera; Todd Kimball, O.D., National Coalition of Eye Care IPA’s; Robert Stein, senior vice president, professional and managed care development, National Vision, Inc.; Matt Cockrell, national account manager, pharmacy/optical, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

NOTE: For a high-resolution version of this image, please contact Melissa White at (412) 456-4307 or Melissa.white@eurorscg.com.