Dr. Alan Reichow, Professor Emeritus from Pacific University, where he received his Doctor of Optometry Degree in 1981, began investigating the role of vision in human performance while a student-athlete at Montana State University. As a graduate student Dr. Reichow Co-founded the Pacific University Sports Vision Program, the oldest such program in the world, which provides educational, clinical, research and consultant services. He received a Masters in Education degree from Pacific University in 1995, as he and wife Debra Reichow MAE, teacher & coach, both shared the passion of helping youth reach their potential in both the classroom and in sports. Besides consulting with many Collegiate, Professional and Olympic Sports Programs over his career, Dr. Reichow was a vision consultant to Nike, Inc. from 1994 – 2006 and then served as Nike’s Global Research Director for Vision Sciences through 2012, where he worked closely with Nike Executive Peter Ruppe. While at Nike he applied sound vision science principles to product innovation and human performance services across numerous Nike categories.
In 1998, Dr. Reichow, along with Paragon Vision Science’s President Joe Sicari, began investigating development of the ultimate in performance-tinted eyewear, with the optical science and research pointing to a contact lens fully immersing wearer in the tint. With the scientific expertise of Dr. Karl Citek the SportSight Contact Lens, by Paragon Vision Sciences, was developed through 4 years of research and development, which then became the Nike MaxSight Lens. With the majority of Nike MaxSight users not having a vision correction or wearing a contact lens, it was quickly realized that a single-use soft contact lens, designed for ease of handling, exceptional comfort and superior spectral and optical performance, was the next evolution. Joe Sicari and Dr. Reichow, recognizing the demand for such a product existed, once again partnered together to create ALTIUS, the first ever Single-Use Performance Tinted Soft Contact Lens. Dr. Reichow is listed as one of the Inventors on the pending ALTIUS patent.
As President/COO of Performance Vision Technology, Rich brings successful global experience specifically in building and leading specialty contact lens companies and teams. 'It's exciting to partner with current and future optometry professionals to address the unmet medical and visual needs of their patients. Also, through this collaboration and commitment, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.
Mr. Sicari is a graduate of The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, with a BBA in Marketing and he also studied at Oxford University, Oxford, England. Mr. Sicari has 38 years of business experience in the vision products industry in the U.S. and International marketplace. Mr. Sicari’s general management acumen has been demonstrated with start-ups, turnarounds, high growth businesses, and companies with stagnant growth and poor profit performance prior to his involvement. His product line experience includes contact lenses, contact lens care products, sun eyewear, intraocular lenses, surgical pharmaceuticals, and diagnostic and surgical capital equipment. Mr. Sicari assumed the position of President, Paragon Vision Sciences, Inc. in 1992 when it was owned by Pilkington Barnes Hind, Inc. In 1994, Mr. Sicari, in partnership with a private equity investment firm, Summit Partners (Boston), acquired Paragon from Pilkington. In 2001, Mr. Sicari and 2 investors acquired Summit Partners’ interest in Paragon. Mr. Sicari continued serving as the Company’s president & CEO and launched the first FDA approved orthokeratology contact lens, Paragon CRT®, into the US and world market in 2002. In December 2017, Mr. Sicari sold Paragon Vision Sciences, Inc to CooperVision, Inc. Shortly thereafter, he and Dr. Reichow, recognizing the demand for a single-use version of Nike MaxSight still existed, partnered up once again, to bring ALTIUS to the market. As Mr. Sicari said, “Virtually anyone who tried MaxSight, wanted it”.
Dr. Citek is a Professor of Optometry at Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon. He has taught courses in Ophthalmic Optics, Physiological Optics, Low Vision, Visual Perception, and Environmental Vision. Dr. Citek received his degrees of Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Philosophy in Vision Science from the State University of New York College of Optometry in 1993 and 1995, respectively. Dr. Citek has been involved in researching visual function with tinted spectacle and contact lenses. Along with Dr. Alan Reichow and other colleagues, Dr. Citek is a co-inventor on over two dozen US and international patents ranging from non-prescription eyewear to sporting equipment and safety eyewear. Among the many Nike products he was involved in development of, Dr. Alan Reichow and Dr. Citek invented the SportSight Contact Lens under Paragon Vision Sciences, which was later marketed as Nike MaxSight. In 2017 Dr. Citek and Dr. Reichow once again partnered together to research, develop and bring ALTIUS to market. Dr. Citek is listed as one of the Inventors on the pending ALTIUS patent.
Mr. Lehman is a graduate of The Ohio State University with an Associate Degree in Business. Mr. Lehman has been NCLE certified since 1991. Mr. Lehman began his optical career with Bausch & Lomb in 1977. Mr. Lehman continued his career with Platt Contact Lens Service as Lab Manager and later became an independent representative for Unilens, Eagle Vision and Coast Vision. Coast Vision was later acquired by CooperVision. Dick was a CooperVision Strategic Sales Manager and Senior Sales Executive through 2020. Mr. Lehman is very thankful for his 38 year career at CooperVision. Mr. Lehman achieved CooperVision President’s Club Award over 12 times. Mr. Lehman joined VSP and assisted in the launch of Biosync. He has been an Independent Representative for Integra Life Science in the BioDOptix Division (amniotic membrane). Mr. Lehman represents ALTIUS in Strategic Sales.
Fernando Bolio is a graduate of UNAM: Autonomous University of Mexico City with an B.S. in International Trade & Customs and a master’s in digital marketing by Universidad Politecnica de Cartagena, Spain. Fernando has over 5 years of experience in specialty contact lenses, marketing for the eye care practitioners and social media strategies in wellness and eyecare. He started his clinical career in orthokeratology - gas permeable specialty contact lenses in Paragon Vision Sciences, he is Paragon CRT ® & Paragon CRT DA ® certified, Brien Holden myopia management certified, and MiSight ® one day for myopia control certified. He has evolved to a deep understanding of a broad spectrum of specialty lenses such as scleral lenses, soft contact lenses, Daily disposable for myopia management, & Cosmetic contact lenses. Fernando Bolio is well recognized across Europe and Latin America among ophthalmologists and optometrists for providing strong support in the practice management arena. Fernando Bolio has been a keynote speaker and lecturer in the last and most recognized optometry meetings around Europe and Latin America spreading his knowledge in Marketing and myopia management such of them are Vision by Design, SOBLEC, Class Symposium, Fedopto, Franja, ALDOO, etc.
Fernando is an athlete himself, running his own indoor cycling brand in Mexico, he has taken professional certifications in recognized cycling studios in regions of the world such as Amsterdam, Scottsdale, Madrid, Mexico City, Cancun, NYC, and London. He is passionate about mountain cycling, speed cycling and indoor cycling all the way from collaborating to competing in events around the globe.
He is extremely enthusiastic about the science and results behind the light architecture technology in ALTIUS Contact Lenses and he is proudly announcing himself as part of the P.V.T.I. Team members combining his two careers in the same space, a master cycling coach instructor and a specialty contact lenses and clinical marketer.
