Good news, Jake.  That’s what they keep telling me.  Give them some good news.

I try to do so as much as possible, by providing how-to’s on reversing your myopia.  But myopia itself is difficult for me to present in a positive light.  You know why?  Because I’m an amateur.  Go ahead, shake your head at me.  

Let’s hand it over to Forbes Magazine to teach us how to put a positive spin on the most destructive eyesight illness in all of human history:

The Cooper Companies (COO – Analyst Report) delivered a 12.4% earnings surprise in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 (ended July 31) and raised guidance for the year. This leading contact lens provider has now surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters with an average surprise of 8.8%.

Pleasanton, Calif.-based Cooper has two business units: CooperVision (83.1% of company-wide sales) and the smaller CooperSurgical (16.9% of company-wide sales). CooperVision competes with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ – Analyst Report) and Novartis (NVS – Snapshot Report) in the competitive contact lens market. Cooper Cos. holds an almost 30% market share in specialty lens, multifocal and torics. The company continues to outpace the overall market growth rate in key niches.

On September 6, Cooper reported a 51.2% year over year surge in its third quarter net income to $66.9 million. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.45 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.4% and the year-ago earnings by 26.1%.

Revenues moved up 8% (up 9% in constant currency and excluding acquisitions) to $378.2 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.7%. Revenues from the contact lens division – CooperVision – were up 5% (up 10% in constant currency) at $314.2 million. The smaller women’s health unit – CooperSurgical – performed well with sales soaring 20% (up 6% barring acquisitions) to $64 million.

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50% surge in net income!  63% gross profits!  Yay, Cooper.  There is a whole lot more directly here.  Bear in mind too that this was in 2012, and things have only been getting even better since then.  Better if you have great eyesight and own a bunch of Cooper company stock, that is.  Not so great if you went to the optometrist, hoping to get help with your myopia.

Why 2012 articles, Jake, you ask?  I was putting together a quick article on the history of corporate exploitation of our eyesight.  Had to quickly grab something punchy and mainstream to make a point about why nobody talks about prevention and cure.  Something something, golden goose.

My recommendation to you?  Buy Cooper stock, and stay away from their products!  ;-)

Cheers,

– Jake