===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   -----------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



       DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2002


                              EMERGING VISION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          New York                      1-14128                   11-3096941
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)


                         100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard
                          Garden City, New York 11530
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (516) 390-2100
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






      ====================================================================

<PAGE>



Item 5. Other Events
--------------------


     Emerging Vision,  Inc. issued a press release on October 23, 2002 regarding
the announcement of its rights offering,  a copy of which is attached as Exhibit
99.1 hereto. The press release is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) and (b)       Not applicable.

(c)               The following exhibit is filed with this report:


Exhibit No.       Document.
-----------       ---------

     99.1  Press  Release,   dated  October  23,  2002,   with  respect  to  the
Registrant's  rights  offering  of shares of its common  stock and  warrants  to
purchase additional shares of common stock.








                          [Signature on following page]


                                       2
<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        EMERGING VISION, INC.


                              By:      /s/ Christopher G. Payan
                                       -------------------------------
                                     Name: Christopher G. Payan
                                    Title: Senior Vice President,
                                           Co-Chief Operating Officer,
                                           Chief Financial Officer,
                                           Treasurer and Secretary


Date:    October 23, 2002





                                       3

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.       Document.
----------        ---------

     99.1  Press  Release,   dated  October  23,  2002,   with  respect  to  the
Registrant's  rights  offering  of shares of its common  stock and  warrants  to
purchase additional shares of common stock.






                                       4
<PAGE>




                                EXHIBIT NO. 99.1
                             ----------------------


                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                              EMERGING VISION, INC.
                            ANNOUNCES RIGHTS OFFERING

     Garden City, New York (Business Wire) - October 23, 2002 - Emerging Vision,
Inc. (OTCBB: ISEE.OB) today announced that it has filed a registration statement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with a rights offering
to its shareholders,  as of a record date to be determined.  The rights offering
will consist of 50,000,000  units, with each unit consisting of one share of the
Company's common stock, and a warrant,  having a term of twelve (12) months,  to
purchase one additional  share of common stock at an exercise price equal to the
average of the last reported  sales price,  of the common stock,  during the ten
(10) trading days immediately preceding the closing date of the offering.

     The terms of the rights offering will provide that each shareholder will be
granted  approximately  1.67  non-transferable  rights for every share of common
stock owned as of the record date.  Each right will be exercisable  for one unit
at a price of $0.04,  the  proceeds  of which will be used to repay the  amounts
outstanding under the Company's  existing credit facility and term loan, to fund
its plan to continue to close  non-profitable  stores and for general  corporate
and working capital purposes.

     In addition,  an  oversubscription  privilege has been  included,  allowing
shareholders  to subscribe  for  additional  units not  subscribed  for by other
shareholders  pro rata  based on the number of units  purchased  under the basic
subscription  privilege.  No fractional  rights will be issued,  but the Company
will round the number of rights its  shareholders  receive  down to the  nearest
whole number.

     A registration  statement  relating to these securities has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission but has not yet become effective.  These
securities  may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time
the registration statement becomes effective,  and will be made only by means of
a prospectus.  This press release shall not  constitute an offer to sell, or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any state in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.


About Emerging Vision

     Emerging Vision,  Inc. operates one of the largest chains of retail optical
stores and one of the largest  franchised  optical  chains in the United States,
with approximately 185 franchised and Company-owned stores located in 23 states,
the  District  of  Columbia,  Ontario,  Canada  and  the  U.S.  Virgin  Islands,
principally  operating  under the names  "Sterling  Optical"  and "Site for Sore
Eyes".


<PAGE>

     All statements  contained  herein (other than  historical  facts) are based
upon current  expectations.  These  statements are forward looking in nature and
involve  a  number  of  risks  and  uncertainties.  Actual  results  may  differ
materially from the anticipated  results or other expectations  expressed in the
Company's  forward  looking  statements.   Generally,  the  words  "anticipate",
"believe", "possible", "estimate" and "expects" and similar expressions, as they
relate to the Company and/or its  management,  are intended to identify  forward
looking statements.



------------------------------------
Contact:

Emerging Vision, Inc.
Christopher G. Payan
(516) 390-2134
chris.payan@sterlingoptical.com




                                       2
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "EMERGING VISION INC", "cik": "0001002554", "assigned-sic": "5990", "irs-number": "113096941", "state-of-incorporation": "NY", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-14128", "film-number": "02796476"}, "business-address": {"street1": "100 QUENTIN ROOSEVELT BLVD", "street2": "SUITE 508", "city": "GARDEN CITY", "state": "NY", "zip": "11530", "phone": "6462233600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "100 QUENTIN ROOSEVELT BLVD", "street2": "SUITE 508", "city": "GARDEN CITY", "state": "NY", "zip": "10018"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "STERLING VISION INC", "date-changed": "19951020"}}
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   -----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2002

                              EMERGING VISION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          New York                      1-14128                   11-3096941
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                         100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard
                          Garden City, New York 11530
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (516) 390-2100
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

      ====================================================================
Item 5. Other Events
--------------------

     Emerging Vision,  Inc. issued a press release on October 23, 2002 regarding
the announcement of its rights offering,  a copy of which is attached as Exhibit
99.1 hereto. The press release is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) and (b)       Not applicable.

(c)               The following exhibit is filed with this report:

Exhibit No.       Document.
-----------       ---------

     99.1  Press  Release,   dated  October  23,  2002,   with  respect  to  the
Registrant's  rights  offering  of shares of its common  stock and  warrants  to
purchase additional shares of common stock.

                          [Signature on following page]

                                       2
SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        EMERGING VISION, INC.

                              By:      /s/ Christopher G. Payan
                                       -------------------------------
                                     Name: Christopher G. Payan
                                    Title: Senior Vice President,
                                           Co-Chief Operating Officer,
                                           Chief Financial Officer,
                                           Treasurer and Secretary

Date:    October 23, 2002

                                       3
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.       Document.
----------        ---------

     99.1  Press  Release,   dated  October  23,  2002,   with  respect  to  the
Registrant's  rights  offering  of shares of its common  stock and  warrants  to
purchase additional shares of common stock.

                                       4
EXHIBIT NO. 99.1
                             ----------------------

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                              EMERGING VISION, INC.
                            ANNOUNCES RIGHTS OFFERING

     Garden City, New York (Business Wire) - October 23, 2002 - Emerging Vision,
Inc. (OTCBB: ISEE.OB) today announced that it has filed a registration statement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with a rights offering
to its shareholders,  as of a record date to be determined.  The rights offering
will consist of 50,000,000  units, with each unit consisting of one share of the
Company's common stock, and a warrant,  having a term of twelve (12) months,  to
purchase one additional  share of common stock at an exercise price equal to the
average of the last reported  sales price,  of the common stock,  during the ten
(10) trading days immediately preceding the closing date of the offering.

     The terms of the rights offering will provide that each shareholder will be
granted  approximately  1.67  non-transferable  rights for every share of common
stock owned as of the record date.  Each right will be exercisable  for one unit
at a price of $0.04,  the  proceeds  of which will be used to repay the  amounts
outstanding under the Company's  existing credit facility and term loan, to fund
its plan to continue to close  non-profitable  stores and for general  corporate
and working capital purposes.

     In addition,  an  oversubscription  privilege has been  included,  allowing
shareholders  to subscribe  for  additional  units not  subscribed  for by other
shareholders  pro rata  based on the number of units  purchased  under the basic
subscription  privilege.  No fractional  rights will be issued,  but the Company
will round the number of rights its  shareholders  receive  down to the  nearest
whole number.

     A registration  statement  relating to these securities has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission but has not yet become effective.  These
securities  may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time
the registration statement becomes effective,  and will be made only by means of
a prospectus.  This press release shall not  constitute an offer to sell, or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any state in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

About Emerging Vision

     Emerging Vision,  Inc. operates one of the largest chains of retail optical
stores and one of the largest  franchised  optical  chains in the United States,
with approximately 185 franchised and Company-owned stores located in 23 states,
the  District  of  Columbia,  Ontario,  Canada  and  the  U.S.  Virgin  Islands,
principally  operating  under the names  "Sterling  Optical"  and "Site for Sore
Eyes".
All statements  contained  herein (other than  historical  facts) are based
upon current  expectations.  These  statements are forward looking in nature and
involve  a  number  of  risks  and  uncertainties.  Actual  results  may  differ
materially from the anticipated  results or other expectations  expressed in the
Company's  forward  looking  statements.   Generally,  the  words  "anticipate",
"believe", "possible", "estimate" and "expects" and similar expressions, as they
relate to the Company and/or its  management,  are intended to identify  forward
looking statements.

------------------------------------
Contact:

Emerging Vision, Inc.
Christopher G. Payan
(516) 390-2134
chris.payan@sterlingoptical.com

                                       2