See well - The Eye Shoppe

See well
Vol. 1. No 1. January 2015
THE ESSILOR
VISION
FOUNDATION
NOW IN CANADA
A CONVERSATION
WITH THE
INVENTOR
OF THE
PROGRESSIVE
LENS
PROTECT
YOUR EYES LIKE
YOU PROTECT
YOUR SKIN
T H E R E ARE O N LY R E WA R DS .
A S K YOUR E Y ECARE PROFESSIONAL
ABOUT YOU RS.
APERFECTPAIR.CA
Vol. 1. No 1. January 2015
See well
Vol. 1. No 1. January 2015
THE ESSILOR
VISION
FOUNDATION
NOW IN CANADA
A CONVERSATION
WITH THE
INVENTOR
OF THE
PROGRESSIVE
LENS
content
PROTECT
YOUR EYES LIKE
YOU PROTECT
YOUR SKIN
YOUR SKIN
YOU PROTECT
YOUR EYES LIKE
PROTECT
NOW IN CANADA
FOUNDATION
VISION
THE ESSILOR
LENS
PROGRESSIVE
OF THE
INVENTOR
WITH THE
A CONVERSATION
Editorial
Vol. 1. No 1. January 2015
See well
PUBLISHED BY:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marie-Claude Deschamps
mdeschamps@essilor.ca
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Clotilde Aras
Kristel Bordeleau-Tassile
Tom Weissberger
TRANSLATION
Linguiscience (Sonia Gouin)
info@linguiscience.com
REALISATION
Breton Communications Inc.
www.bretoncom.com
Launching of Essilor Vision
Foundation Canada
Published twice a year
Legal Deposit
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales
du Québec, 2014
National Library of Canada
ISSN to follow
Any reproduction, in whole or in
part, of the herein publication,
is strictly forbidden, without
the written authorization
of the publisher.
6
The Eye Exam
10
A Conversation with Bernard Maitenaz
12
Innovation: Varilux S series Progressive Lenses
14
What Are Ametropias?
16
GRAPHIC DESIGN
MarcoGagnon.com
PRINTING
Impart Litho
5
UV rays: Protect Your Eyes Like You
Protect Your Skin
Photochromic Lenses:
Visual Comfort in All Lighting Conditions
Comfort and Safety Under the Sun:
Polarized Lenses
18
21
22
Printed in Canada
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
3
Laurence Leboeuf
Iconic Green
TM
Iconic Look. Iconic Vision.
Experience the new graphite
green iconic tint from
Transitions® SignatureTM lenses.
iconicgreen.ca
Transitions and the swirl are registered trademarks and Transitions Signature is a trademark of Transitions
Optical, Inc. Photochromic performance is influenced by temperature, UV exposure and lens material.
edito
Marie-Claude Deschamps
Editor-in-Chief
A
re you familiar with Essilor? Established in more than 100
countries worldwide and operating in Canada since 1972, we
develop and manufacture eyeglass lenses and coatings. Always at
the leading edge of innovation, thanks to our 500 researchers
working in three Innovation and Technology Centers, the
company is guided at every level by our mission: improving lives
by improving sight.
Indeed, good vision is invaluable. Among other things, it allows
us to learn, work and participate in any activity we choose. This precious resource
is well worth protecting. Don’t you think?
In this magazine, you will learn how a complete eye exam can help to maintain
good visual health and prevent many other medical problems; you will
discover Essilor Vision Foundation, an organization that creates and supports
activities that advance good vision and its benefits. And you will meet a man who is
passionate about vision — Bernard Maitenaz, the inventor of the progressive
lens — and learn about a number of Essilor lenses and visual solutions.
We hope the information in See well, live well inspires you to take the best
possible care of your vision and broadens your knowledge of Essilor.
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
5
THE
ESSILOR
VISION
FOUNDATION
HELPING
CANADIANS
Live Better
Through
BETTER SIGHT
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| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
“
Good sight is crucial for education;
80% of what children learn is acquired
through the visual processing
of information
“
Helping School Children
See Better
T
he Essilor Vision Foundation
was founded in 2007 by
Essilor of America with
the mission of eliminating
poor vision and its lifelong
consequences. Essilor Vision
Foundation Canada shares
this mission as this
situation needs to be addressed in Canada
just as much as in the rest of the world.
In Canada, it is estimated that:
u 25% of school-age children have vision
problems, and
u only 14% of children younger than 6
receive professional eye care
Essilor Vision Foundation Canada is
continuing the work initiated by Essilor
Canada, which beyond its capability to
produce many thousands of prescription
lenses everyday to help people see better,
has always been involved in the community
and supported vision-related causes. In
2014, over 1,000 vision screening tests
were conducted and awareness campaigns
reached families from coast to coast.
“Good sight is crucial for education; 80%
of what children learn is acquired through
the visual processing of information,” says
Bruce Miles, Senior Vice President Sales
and Business Development for Essilor
Canada. “Children’s eyesight problems
could impact negatively on their health,
their progress in school and their integration
into society. This is why we partner with
organizations dedicated to raising
awareness for this cause and providing
children with the good vision that they
deserve.”
Involved in the Join and See visual
screening program of the Eye Diseases
Foundation since 2006, Essilor Canada
supplies free lenses to children in need.
As of August 31, 2014, more than 1,250
children from six underprivileged
elementary schools across Quebec had
participated in the program and seven
additional schools were scheduled to
participate by year end. In general,
approximately half of the children screened
need to see an optometrist and about half of
those who do eventually need glasses. This
latter group includes children from families
who cannot afford eyeglasses and this is
when Essilor steps in, supplying lenses,
including premium coatings and the
Transitions option, according to the
prescription and recommendation of the
optometrists.
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
7
“
Since 2002, Essilor International has
been the exclusive worldwide supplier
of corrective lenses for the Opening
Eyes program
“
E
ssilor Vision Foundation
creates and supports
activities that advance
good vision and its
benefits and offers special
assistance to those who need it
most. Its objectives are to:
•provide screenings, eye exams
and other vision resources to
children who cannot otherwise
afford them;
•educate students, parents and
teachers about good vision
and the critical role it plays in
literacy, education, society,
community safety and the
economy;
•create partnerships to increase
access to good vision;
•raise funds to support and
expand Essilor Vision
Foundation’s charitable works.
8
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
Essilor Canada first partnered with
the British Columbia Association of
Optometrists in the creation of the
a-b-See™ program in 2003. The yearly
campaign helps with the early identification
of children who may have vision problems,
and raises awareness among parents,
teachers and children themselves. Not
knowing any differently, many of these
children accept poor vision and other eye
problems as normal. If left unchecked,
serious long-term effects can result. In
2014, 1,400 complimentary a-b-See™ Kits
were distributed to kindergartens locations
in the province. The kits contain important
information about common eye diseases
and disorders as well as warning signs for
both teachers and parents, and includes
activity sheets and materials for the kids as
well. This year, the agreement was expanded
to include vision screening in kindergartens
and six B.C. locations were visited.
Essilor is also involved in Alberta with the
Alberta Association Optometrists Eye See
Eye learn program, which educates parents
and teachers about the importance of good
vision.
Providing Lenses to Special
Olympics Athletes
Since 2002, Essilor International has
been the exclusive worldwide supplier of
corrective lenses for the Opening Eyes
program, created by the Special Olympics
and the Lions Club. In the summer of 2014,
for the 11th consecutive year, Essilor Canada
provided free lenses to Canadian athletes
who participated in the Special Olympics,
within the framework of the Opening
Eyes program. Many Essilor employees
volunteered for the national event in
Vancouver, which ran from July 9-12.
There, 383 athletes received eye exams and
290 pairs of eyeglasses were distributed,
77 of which were made on-site. In Toronto
on July 6, Lions Club International (the
main financial sponsor for the Opening Eyes
Program) held its international convention
with thousands of participants from all
over the world in attendance. During the
convention, an Opening Eyes special clinic
for 50 athletes showed the Lions how this
event helps Special Olympians see better.
Haïti – These children received an eye exam and glasses at the Vision Plus Clinic in Haiti, which was
officially opened on May 5th, 2013. Funds provided by Optometry Giving Sight purchased equipment for
2 exam lanes for the Dr. Bobby and Mrs Jayne Christensen Training and Refraction Room at the clinic.
Now more than 600 people a week have access to affordable eye care! Project Partners – Vision For
the Poor and International Eye Foundation.
Participating in the Effort to Eliminate Blindness and Impaired Vision
In 2013, Essilor Canada became the Silver National Sponsor of Optometry Giving Sight;
this year, the company raised its participation to the Platinum Sponsor level. Optometry
Giving Sight is the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention
of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error (i.e., the person
affected needs an eye exam and a pair of glasses). At least 600 million people worldwide
are blind or vision-impaired simply because they don’t have access to an eye examination
and a pair of glasses. Optometry Giving Sight helps by funding the development of
sustainable eye care in communities where it does not currently exist and those that are
seriously underserved. The projects they fund include service delivery, the development of
human resources, and/or the creation of infrastructure.
A Culture of Sharing
Essilor Canada encourages and supports its employees’ involvement in many causes and
Essilor employees play a very active part in the company’s philanthropic endeavours. Many
volunteer for events such as the Special Olympics, create their own fundraising campaigns
for World Sight Day and other vision-related cause such as the MIRA foundation, or get
involved in causes that affect them personally, creating an environment where helping
others is a part of everyday life. i
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
9
WHAT
IS
AN
EYE EXAM?
WHEN
AND
HOW
OFTEN
SHOULD
WE
HAVE ONE?
Source: http://doctorsofoptometry.ca/
An eye exam performed by a Doctor of Optometry looks at
the entire eye and visual system, as well as your prescription,
and is an important part of preventative health care. It can
detect eye diseases and disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts,
retinal detachments and macular degeneration, and other
health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure
and even brain tumours.
10
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
“
A
n eye exam includes the
following:
q A case history, including
past and present vision and
medical issues, as well as a
detailed family history.
q An analysis of the patient’s
visual needs at home, work,
school and play. In some instances,
this may involve questions about the
patient’s school/work environment and
recreational activities, in order to
accurately determine the patient’s visual
needs.
q Measurement of the visual acuity of each
eye, individually and together, both with
and without corrective lenses.
q Binocular vision assessment (the ability
to see using both eyes together), as it
relates to eye coordination, depth
perception and eye movements, or in
some cases, eye-hand coordination.
q Colour vision evaluation, as required.
q Assessment of the health of the eyes
themselves both inside and outside, using
a biomicroscope, an ophthalmoscope
and a dilated eye examination when
indicated. This can uncover anything
from a minor deficiency of the tears to a
major retinal problem, or even a serious
health condition elsewhere in the body.
The Canadian Association
of Optometrists
recommends that infants
have their first eye exam
between six and nine
months of age.
“
q Diagnosis of the refractive status or
prescription (focusing power of the eye),
based on a combination of objective and
subjective techniques.
All of the test results are used in the final
analysis to determine the appropriate
prescription lenses to treat refractive and
visual problems, to develop a program of
eye training exercises, or to recommend
medical or surgical treatment.
Timing and Frequency of Eye Exams
When should children have their first eye
exam? How often should adults have one?
Visual abilities play a major role in
the early development of children. The
Canadian Association of Optometrists
recommends that infants have their first
eye exam between six and nine months of
age. Children should also have at least one
eye exam just before starting daycare, and
annually after starting school.
Adults aged 19 to 64 should have an eye
exam at least once every two years, and
people with diabetes should have an exam
annually. Other health conditions assessed
by your Doctor of Optometry may also
warrant more frequent eye examinations.
q A neurological assessment of the visual
system, including a review of the pupil
reactions, ocular muscle reflexes and
functions, and an assessment of the
peripheral vision.
As most people age, their vision needs
change. Complications often arise, and
getting expert care is critical. Starting at age
65, adults should have an eye exam at least
once a year.
q Screening for glaucoma, including testing
pressure inside the eye, looking inside
the eye at the retina and optic nerve, and
performing peripheral vision tests.
Your vision is priceless. Routine eye
exams by a Doctor of Optometry not only
help to ensure good vision and eye health,
but also peace of mind.
i
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
11
A
CONVERSATION
WITH
Bernard
MAITENAZ
INVENTOR OF
THE PROGRESSIVE
LENS
At the end of the 18th century, the first visual correction for presbyopia made
an appearance: a single pair of glasses that allowed the wearer to see both
near and far. As early as 1784, Benjamin Franklin popularized the use of
bifocal lenses. And in 1950, presbyopes were still wearing bifocal lenses that
divided their field of vision into two parts.
12
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
{ CONVERSATION }
S
hortly thereafter, a
young French engineer
revolutionized the world
for presbyopes by creating
a lens that allows them
to see at any distance
without interruption.
Bernard Maitenaz, inventor of the
progressive lens, answers our questions.
How did you get the idea for progressive
lenses?
I was fortunate to study at the École
Supérieure d’Optique where I was taught
that the eye was a magnificent organ. As a
matter of fact, we can see at all distances
in a continuous manner, and we have the
capacity to see in 3D. As the eyes age and
loose their ability to accommodate, the only
solution we found was to put a bifocal lens
with a line that broke the image in front of
them. That made no sense to me.
You have achieved your goal and now
the majority of the world’s presbyopes
wear progressive lenses. Tell us a little
about the development of your invention,
which, I believe, continues to evolve.
Were you aware from the beginning that
you were revolutionizing the world of
ophthalmic optics?
It took eight years to develop the first
Varilux lens, which was launched in 1959.
We continued our work and in 1972, we
introduced the Varilux 2, a fully aspheric
lens which provided significantly greater
visual comfort and which was adopted by
presbyopes worldwide. From that moment
on, the means for measuring and
calculations no longer allowed to choose
the best between two formulas. Only
the wearers could decide which designs
worked best, and it was with wearers’ tests
that progress could happen. The dioptric
loop method (now called Live Optics) was
formalized, and this allowed us to collect
feedback from wearers, which was used to
develop new calculations and products,
which were then tested in an endless loop,
to make continuous progress.
Yes and no, but that was really not my goal.
The objective was to achieve what I had
imagined: a lens with power that varies
progressively and allows compensating
for this adjustment that disappears; this
in a more physiological manner than with
bifocal lenses, which seemed rather brutal
to me… I imagined a lens that would
correct the distance vision and the near
vision in a continuous way, without
breaking the image.
Seven generations of Varilux lenses
have followed, featuring continuous
improvements, which have lead to more and
more natural vision. Today, the Varilux S
series boasts the latest technological and
scientific advancements. We can even
imagine that in the near future we will
produce an active, smart lens with a design
that is capable of changing in real time,
adapting to all of the situations that arise in
everyday life. i
I was in my 20s, full of enthusiasm, and I
thought there had to be a better solution. As
an optics and mechanical engineer, I knew
I could calculate progressive surfaces and
draw machines that would produce them.
So that became my project.
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
13
FEEL BETTER
Standard progressive lens
ON
THE
LEADING
EDGE
OF
INNOVATION:
Varilux S series
Stability of vision in motion
Varilux
S
Series
PROGRESSIVE LENSES
®
S
ince the invention of
the progressive lens by
Bernard Maitenaz in 1959,
Essilor has continued
innovating and elevating
performance standards
with regard to vision
correction for presbyopes.
However, there were still some aspects that
needed improvement. Sometimes, wearers
would still say:
14
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
“ I feel wary when going down
the stairs.”
“When moving my head,
I feel everything moves although nothing
should move.”
“I don’t enjoy reading anymore because
I constantly need to move my head to
target what I’m looking at.”
SEE WIDER
Standard progressive lens
SEE FASTER
Varilux S series
Varilux S 4D
Wide angle vision
Reflex vision
With Varilux S series, Essilor has developed
three new technologies, exclusive and
patented, that address these difficulties.
The first, called Nanoptix™, reduces
swim effect up to 90% compared to other
premium lenses. This means that straight
lines remain straight and you can move
your head or go down the stairs without
feeling dizzy. You will feel better as you go
about daily activities.
The benefits brought by the second
innovation, SynchronEyes™, are just as
interesting. It makes your field of vision up
to 50% wider, and with SynchronEyes, your
eyes work better together.
The third is 4D Technology™. Just as we
are right or left-handed, our vision is also
dominated by one eye. The exclusive 4D
Technology takes the leading dominant eye
into account to offer faster visual reaction
time. You can look anywhere without
adjusting your posture and you
can read easily and comfortably.
This degree of personalization requires
special measurements that we take with the
Visioffice®, Essilor’s universal measuring
system.
How can Essilor get such good results?
We employ 500 researchers in our three
Innovation and Technology Centers and
participate in many research chairs, such
as The NESRC-Essilor Industrial Research
Chair in Visual Perception and Presbyopia
at the School of Optometry - University
of Montreal. Also, before being brought to
market, Varilux lenses are tested in many
ways. First is the Live Optics program
developed by Essilor. Its four stages are:
human vision research, computing,
prototyping and testing in real-life
conditions. These are repeated until the
lens works perfectly.
To ensure that wearers agreed, the lenses
were also tested in accordance with an
endorsed protocol by the Research Center
968 INSERM University Pierre et Marie
Curie in Paris. The Varilux S series
lenses were ranked number one by all
wearers when the wearer moved and when
the surroundings moved. They were also
ranked number one for vision quality and
the width of field of vision.
i
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
15
WHAT
ARE
AMETROPIAS
OR
VISUAL
DEFECTS?
“
The most common visual defects
“
Myopia
Myopia is a visual defect mainly caused by the eye being
“too long”, meaning the distance between the cornea and
the retina is too great. In such cases, the image forms just
in front of the retina, which is why a myopic person has
trouble seeing things that are far away but not close up.
The more a person is nearsighted, or myopic, the closer
he/she must be to an object to see it clearly.
Myopia can be corrected by means of a divergent lens,
i.e. a lens that is thinner in the centre and thicker at the
edges. This lens, also called a negative or concave lens, is
designed to refocus the image on the retina and restore
clear distance vision.
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
I
f you are lucky enough to have no problems with your eyesight,
you belong to the group of emmetropes. The images of
objects form on your retina, resulting in clear vision that does
not require any correction.
Ametropia is blurred vision, which requires
optical correction. There are three kinds of
visual defects: myopia, hyperopia,
astigmatism.
16
A little more than 60% of Canadians
wear corrective lenses. Are you one of them?
If so, you are familiar with at least one
of the visual defects described below, and
you are ametropic.
The term ametropia refers to a condition where the image does
not form correctly on the retina. Ametropia is blurred vision,
which requires optical correction. There are three kinds of visual
defects: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
To provide perfect eyesight, correction aims to form a clear image
on the retina. Corrective lenses are the most common means of
correcting ametropias. These consist of a lens material with optical
surfaces and coatings applied to the surfaces.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is mainly caused by the eye being “too
short”, meaning the distance between the cornea and the retina is
not long enough. In such cases, the image forms just behind the
retina, which explains why hyperopes see things that are far away
better than they see objects that are close. Clear vision can only
be achieved using forced accommodation, which can be tiring for
the eyes in the long-term. This problem is therefore generally
accompanied by a feeling of eye fatigue.
Hyperopia is corrected by using a convergent lens (thin at the edge
and thicker at the centre). This lens, also known as a positive or
convex lens, is designed to refocus the image on the retina and
restore near vision.
P
Presbyopia
resbyopia is not a visual
defect but a natural change in
vision that affects everyone.
Over time, the crystalline
lens loses some of its suppleness
and therefore its ability to change
shape and focus. The effects of this
change are generally felt around age
40. Like a badly adjusted camera,
the eye no longer focuses the image
correctly and near vision is altered.
Progressive lenses are the optimum
solution for presbyopia. They
are designed to restore clear and
accurate vision at all distances,
without needing to constantly
change glasses.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is caused by “incorrect curvature of the cornea”, i.e.
the cornea is slightly oval in shape instead of being spherical. People
who have astigmatism have imprecise near and far vision; their
peripheral vision is unclear and they cannot clearly distinguish
certain shapes and details or clearly see the contrast between
horizontal, vertical or oblique lines. Astigmatism may be combined
with other eyesight problems, such as myopia, hyperopia or presbyopia.
Astigmatism is corrected by means of a toric lens (curved and of
varying thickness at the edge). This lens is designed to compensate
for the defect of the cornea and correct the axis of the astigmatism.
The stronger the astigmatism, the greater the difference in
thickness at the edge of the lens. i
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
17
PROTECT
YOUR
EYES
LIKE
YOU
PROTECT
YOUR
SKIN
You know about the harmful effects
of UV rays on your skin, and you
protect it carefully. But what about
your eyes?
18
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
“
Essilor has developed a technology that
allows the lens to absorb the UV rays
that reach the backside of the lens,
stopping them from bouncing back
into your eyes.
UV exposure by
reflection
“
UV exposure by
transmission
UV rays can harm your eyes and
the skin around your eyes
T
he danger related to sun
exposure for your eyes
is real. Not only can UV
rays cause short-term
discomfort (glare, blurred
images, inflammation,
ophthalmia), but they
can also cause long-term
irreversible damage.
Just as UV rays are a major factor in
premature skin aging, they also contribute
to eye diseases, such as cataracts, and even
promote the development of cancer (90%
of skin cancer cases occur on the face and
neck, and 5% to 10% of those cases occur
on the eyelids).
UV rays are everywhere,
365 days per year
If you spend time outside on a nice, sunny
day, you probably think of protecting
your eyes. But did you know that even on
overcast days, UV rays can reach you? In
fact, 40% of exposure to UV rays occurs
when you are not in full sunlight, and more
than 90% of UV rays pass through clouds.
Children’s eyes are even more sensitive
to UV rays than those of adults. The
crystalline lens, which filters part of UV
rays, only reaches its full development
around the age of 10. It is therefore very
important to protect children’s eyes.
Corrective lenses and UV
protection
While most eyeglass lenses shield up to
100%1 of UV rays that hit the front of the
lens, up to 50% of UV rays are actually
reflected into the eye from the back of the
lens. That is why Essilor has developed a
technology that allows the lens to absorb
the UV rays that reach the backside of the
lens, stopping them from bouncing back
into your eyes. Crizal lenses by Essilor are
the only no-glare lenses that protect against
UV rays reflected into the eye from the back
of the lens, for complete UV protection.
Look for the Eye-Sun Protection Factor
(E-SPF™)2, developed for you by Essilor.
It certifies the global UV protection of your
lenses, front and back. As with the index
used to rate skincare and sunscreen product
efficiency, the higher the E-SPF value, the
better the level of UV protection. Crizal
clear lenses provide a level of protection of
E-SPF 25 for clear lenses and E-SPF 50+ for
sun lenses. i
1 The protection might slightly vary depending on the lens material.
2 E-SPF measured by an independent third party, United States, 2011. E-SPF 25 for all Crizal UV lenses except Orma Clear (E-SPF 10)
and polarized Crizal Sun UV (E-SPF 50+). E-SPF excludes direct eye exposure that depends on external factors (wearer’s morphology,
frame shape, position of wear, etc.).
Essilor®, Crizal® and E-SPF™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Essilor International SA.
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
19
THE CHOICE IS CLEAR
Ordinary lens
Crizal lens
A vision free of glare, scratches,
water, dust and smudges,
with the best UV protection.
Ask your Eyecare Professional for Crizal lenses.
crizal.ca
E-SPF developed by Essilor, endorsed by Karl Citek, OD, PhD, FAAO, Professor of Optometry, first researcher to have published on the hazard linked to UV back side reflection. E-SPF is measured by an independent third
party to certify the global UV protection of a lens. E-SPF 25 for all Crizal UV lenses except clear Orma (E-SPF 10). Excludes direct eye exposure that depends on external factors (wearer’s morphology, frame shape, position
of wear, etc.). Essilor®, Crizal®, E-SPFTM are registered trademarks of Essilor International SA.
Photochromic Lenses:
VISUAL
COMFORT
IN
ALL
LIGHTING
CONDITIONS
E
yeglass wearers have long
dreamed of lenses that would
adjust to changing lighting
conditions. In 1968, Corning
Inc. successfully brought
Photogray® glass lenses to
the market. However, for
lighter and more comfortable
plastic lenses, we had to wait until 1991
for Transitions Inc. to launch a product
that would revolutionize the world of
photochromic lenses.
Photochromic lenses are clear lenses that
darken automatically when exposed to UV
light. The level of the tint continually and
gradually adjusts to improve visual comfort
as the light changes, and they become clear
again in situations where there is no UV
light, such as indoors or at night.
All lenses that adapt to light use
photochromic molecules but the superiority
of Transitions brand technology lies in its
exclusive, patented formulas. Each formula
is integrated into the surface of the lens.
These molecules constantly and smoothly
recalibrate so the optimal amount of light
reaches your eyes whether you are in bright
sunlight, under cloud cover or indoors.
Transitions lenses are ideal for everyday
wear, in almost any situation. They protect
your eyes from UV rays and reduce
squinting and eye fatigue. However, at times
you may need a second pair of glasses better
adapted to a specific activity, such as
working many hours a day on a computer
or engaging in nautical sports.
i
Transitions and the swirl are registered trademarks of Transitions Optical, Inc. ©2014 Transitions Optical, Inc. Photochromic performance is influenced by temperature, UV exposure and lens material.
See well, live well | Winter 2015 |
21
COMFORT
AND
SAFETY
UNDER
THE SUN:
Polarized
Lenses
Have you ever been so dazzled by the sun while
driving that you nearly closed your eyes and
barely saw what was in front of you?
This effect, which causes you such visual discomfort,
sometimes to the point of compromising your safety,
is the result of polarized light.
W
hen the sun’s rays
hit a flat surface (a
road, water, snow,
sand, etc.) they
reflect as polarized
waves and then
vibrate horizontally,
creating dazzling
light. The higher the degree of polarization
the light possesses, the more it interferes
with vision and causes discomfort.
In addition, objects reflecting polarized
light lose some of their clarity and
contrast for the observer. Colours also
appear washed out.
Polarized lenses have been designed
to eliminate these problems, unlike
regular tinted lenses, which only reduce the
amount of visible light transmitted into
the eyes. Polarized lenses have a distinctive
polarized filter made of horizontal
molecular chains that act like a venetian
blind, absorbing the horizontal polarized
light while letting through the useful
vertical light. Glare is virtually eliminated,
while colour perception and contrast are
improved.
Wearing polarized lenses can significantly
improve your visual comfort and safety
if you drive a car, participate in outdoor
sports or spend a lot of time outdoors. i
22
| Winter 2015 | See well, live well |
More than 90% of decisions and
reactions depend on good vision,
especially when driving.
Fully eliminate
blinding reflected
glare for greater
visual comfort
Provide unmatched
clarity of vision
and truer color
perception
Offer enhanced
UV protection with
Crizal Sun UV
Also available
in your
prescription
Offered in 5 colors
xperio.ca
E-SPF™ is a new index developed by Essilor, endorsed by an independent 3rd party, certifying the global UV protection of a lens.
E-SPF 50+ when Xperio polarized sun lenses are associated with Crizal® Sun UV, except Orma (E-SPF 25).
On average it takes you
25 minutes to choose
a frame...
but
how long
for your
lenses?
For vision without compromise,
choose Varilux progressive lenses.
Ask your Varilux Exclusive
expert for advice.