Transitions Optical Breaks Guinness World Records&#0174 Title for "World's Largest Photo Mosaic" in Honor of World Sight Day

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Transitions Optical, the leading global provider of adaptive eyeglass lenses, is pleased to announce it has set the new Guinness World Records achievement for the 'World's Largest Photo Mosaic.'

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121011/NE91136)

The record-breaking photo mosaic consisting of 176,750 individual photographs and measuring 21,479 square feet in size makes up one singular, recognizable image created to raise awareness about the importance of proper eye care and eyewear and underscores the value of healthy, quality vision and its role in helping to truly experience the world around us.

Assembled in Tampa, Fla. by Transitions Optical employees and volunteers from the Tampa Bay area, the photo mosaic was unveiled on October 11th to commemorate World Sight Day, an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired that is recognized by the World Health Organization and other health and wellness groups. An Official Guinness World Records Adjudicator attended the mosaic construction and unveiling, to verify that Transitions Optical has set the new record.

As part of its 2012 Official Sponsor of Sightseeing initiative, Transitions Optical asked consumers from across the U.S. and Canada to submit photos of their favorite 'sights' that they would miss if they were not able to see clearly to the Sight of the Day Photo Contest, to make up the photo mosaic. The unveiling of the photo mosaic marks the final event of Transitions Optical's year-long 'Sightseeing City Tour,' which consisted of five previous city stops in Miami, Dallas, Seattle, Chicago, and New Orleans, where Transitions Optical reached tens of thousands of people about the importance of visiting your eye doctor for regular, comprehensive exams and the role that healthy, enhanced vision plays in enjoying all of the 'sights' in life.

"We are proud to have set the new Guinness World Records title for the 'World's Largest Photo Mosaic,'" said Dan McLean, marketing manager, communications, Transitions Optical. "Throughout our Sightseeing City Tour, we've raised awareness among tens of thousands about the importance of healthy, enhanced vision and the role it plays in 'sightseeing,' whether you are traveling or in your own backyard and this new world record, honoring World Sight Day, is the perfect culmination of this year's efforts."

Attending Thursday's unveil event was Tampa City Council Chair Pro-Tem Harry Cohen, who placed the final photo into the mosaic, and issued a Proclamation declaring October 11, 2012 as "Tampa Bay Sight Day," reminding residents in the Tampa Bay area community how important it is to take care of their eyes.

"What an honor to be part of Transitions Optical's record-breaking efforts," said Councilman Cohen. "This accomplishment certainly shines a global spotlight on the Tampa Bay area and Transitions Optical's efforts to raise awareness about the important issue of maintaining healthy, quality vision. I hope the community will rally around this cause and visit their local eye doctor for a comprehensive exam."

In addition, Transitions Optical presented a check donation of $50,000 from its Healthy Sight for Life Fund to non-profit organization Optometry Giving Sight, in support of its World Sight Day Challenge designed to raise funds for projects that provide vision care, training and infrastructure support for people who do not have access to eye exams and eyeglasses.

"We are grateful for this generous donation from Transitions Optical, and their efforts to raise awareness about the importance of eye care and eyewear through the 'World's Largest Photo Mosaic,'" said Clive Miller, chief executive officer, Optometry Giving Sight. "If each photo in the mosaic represents just one person whose life can be transformed by gaining access to an eye examination and glasses, that is tens of thousands around the world who will benefit thanks to the funds provided by Transitions Optical in support of this great project. This is an incredible contribution to global efforts to eliminate the backlog of refractive error blindness and impaired vision by the year 2020."

For more about Transitions Optical's Record for the 'World's Largest Photo Mosaic,' including photos and videos, and this year's 'Sightseeing City Tour,' visit www.seemoresights.com.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International. The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.

Transitions® lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight. They are clear indoors and at night. Outdoors, they automatically darken as light conditions change. Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see better today. Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes so you can see better tomorrow as well.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

About Optometry Giving Sight

Optometry Giving Sight is the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error (URE). We fund the development of sustainable eye and vision care projects in communities where these do not currently exist. These projects focus on local training and capacity building, infrastructure development and the delivery of accessible and affordable eye and vision care services. For more, visit www.givingsight.org.

SOURCE Transitions Optical, Inc.

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