Eyewear to See Light Better…

Optical lens technology has rapidly evolved in recent years, particularly for sunglasses. For many wearers in need of vision correction, one pair of prescription sunglasses can now meet all their needs for outdoor living. However, there will always be others who will benefit from sunglasses dedicated to specific activities, such as driving, fishing, cycling, or skiing/boarding. The difference may be the choice of frame or the lens itself – in terms of colour, tint, coating, polarisation, or photochromic technology.

To meet demands, you have myriad options – from fashion sun lenses to those that fit-over prescription glasses, or purpose designed frames fitted with prescription tinted, polarised or highly technical photochromic lenses.

You can choose to go with a supplier of proprietary frame and lens packages or mix and match by sending your patient’s chosen frame to your favoured lens lab.

PHOTOCHROMICS
Photochromic lenses are hugely popular, accounting for more than 11% of global sales in a segment that is growing twice as fast as the overall global market for spectacle lenses. 1

Next generation photochromic lenses offer faster, better fades than ever before, enabling wearers to go from indoors to outdoors with barely a compromise to their vision. Not only that, but Rx-able photochromic technology is now being coupled with blue light filtering, enhanced UV protection, polarisation, tints and mirror coatings, which expand the options for your patients in terms of form and function.

Photochromic lenses traditionally work with exposure to UV light, which causes trillions of photochromic molecules in the lens to change structure, in turn causing the lens to darken.

Zeiss has just introduced its new generation PhotoFusion X lens, which is based on an entirely new photochromic system that significantly improves transition speeds for both lightening indoors and darkening outdoors. It also has comprehensive blue light protection within the base material.

As Elmarie Pretorius, a Zeiss Products & Training Manager explains, “Many spectacle wearers appreciate the convenience of self-tinting spectacle lenses, but fear that the clearing process is too slow and that they are literally ‘in the dark’ indoors for a long time. With the new generation of photochromic lenses, we have succeeded in accelerating the clearing of the lenses up to 80% faster than the previous generation.”2

Transitions has also introduced new technologies in recent months. This brand is synonymous with photochromic lenses, and many lens suppliers and manufacturers offer its base materials and technology.

All of Transitions Optical technologies block 100% UVA and UVB and filter blue light. Wearers can, however, choose the level of performance and style that suits their lifestyle. This includes Transitions Signature GEN 8, which boasts their clearest and fastest option. Transitions XTRActive are extra dark and activate in the car, as this particular photochromic technology activates with exposure to clear or white light as well as UV. Stylish mirror finishes with specific Drivewear polarised options are also available.

Transitions XTRActive Polarized has some clever tricks and technology up its sleeve. It’s the only dynamic polarised photochromic lens on the market; when indoors, the lens is clear and unpolarised, with a hint of protective tint to reduce glare from digital devices and harsh artificial lighting. It darkens in the car up to category 2 lens darkness,3and impressively, is not polarised in the car due to modern windscreens that block UV light. When outdoors, this lens is extra dark, achieving a category 3 lens darkness. 4It also achieves up to 90% polarisation efficiency 5while providing high-level blue light filtering from digital devices and screens, indoors. 6Filtering increases outdoors in the sun.

POLARISED LENSES

Polarised lenses cut disturbing glare caused by reflections off flat surfaces like water, glass, snow and asphalt. They were invented in 1936 by Edwin H. Land, also the inventor of the Land camera and self-developing film by Polaroid.

Simplistically, polarised lenses consist of long chain molecules, applied as a coating or embedded in the lens material in such a way that they create a microscopic polarising filter. Polarised light or polarised filters can be at any axis, but glare is typically the result of a large concentration of reflected light waves aligned parallel to the reflective surface. To block such horizontally planepolarised light, a filter with a vertically aligned polarisation axis is used.

Transitions Drivewear is the only polarised sun lens that adapts to light behind the wheel and outdoors, helping remove glare off the road and car bonnet while the lens darkening adapts to changing light conditions. This lens changes to three different colours to suit conditions. In overcast conditions it is a high-contrast olive green, while for daylight conditions a copper colour provides best vision behind the windscreen, and it is dark brown for comfortable vision in bright, sunny outdoor conditions. Clever stuff.

Oakley’s Prizms lens technology and laser etched Authentic Prescription range also include a number of innovative options. As Jimmy Hendriks, National Sales Manager, Oakley Optical, explained, “Prizm is a proven technology launched in 2014, with environment-specific lenses. Firstly, in the snow, the harshest visual environment on earth, and then moving into lenses specifically tuned for the road, trails, field, deep water, and shallow water. By strategically manipulating the transmitted light, Prizm lenses fine tune individual light rays, based on what the eye needs for each environment, leading to greater contrast, clarity, and detail.”

Maui Jim is renowned for its patented PolarizedPlus2 lenses. The company has two state-of-the-art labs (one in the United States, the other in Germany) where all of its lenses are digitally processed, fully compensated (taking into consideration the frame wrap), and precisely calibrated for the brand’s own frame shapes. According to Richard Hoare, Maui Jim’s Vice President Asia Pacific, this process means lenses are 10 times more accurate than those produced in conventional labs.

MauiPassport 2.0 sun progressive lenses were specifically designed to provide a larger usable area in the distance portion, while decreasing unwanted peripheral blur for a better overall viewing experience. Coupled with MauiPassport technology, Mr Hoare says, “MauiBrilliant lens material is an industry best. It is the lightest, highest-clarity prescription-ready lens available anywhere. With an ABBE value of 56, it offers optics nearly as clear as glass, and almost double the clarity of traditional polycarbonate lenses, yet it is one third the weight of glass.”

The Maui Jim logo on the right lens guarantees the lenses fitted into the patient’s frame are fully optioned, with all the benefits of PolarizedPlus2 technology.

Maui Jim’s PolarizedPlus2 prescription sunglass lenses are available in all Maui Jim optical frames. Mr Hoare says the ability to offer higher prescription parameters in Maui Jim’s optical frames, when compared to existing sunglasses parameters, has been welcomed by the trade. “This opens the brand up to new consumers who in the past have been unable to access Maui Jim’s unrivalled technology,” he said.

Experienced Sydney optometrist, Barbara Light, has been a fan of Maui Jim for a long time and shared her thoughts. “About 25 years ago I ‘discovered’ Maui Jim when a friend of mine came back from the USA with a pair and said, ‘check these out’. I’ve been a convert ever since. I love them. First, I wore plano sunglasses, then progressed to the mini-bifocal ‘ready-readers’ and now wear their Rx multifocals, which are nice and thin, in a great progressive design. Over the years I have prescribed hundreds of pairs, if not thousands, in both prescription and plano versions. I cannot recall anyone every regretting their decision to get a pair of Maui’s and many come back for repeats, updates, or multiple pairs. Great lenses, in beautiful lightweight and robust frames with superb, polarised lenses and more.”

There are many other options available in regular tinted sunglass lenses. Tint density/absorption can be customised to suit individual needs. Some super sensitive wearers might request an 85% tint for use on the beach, while less sensitive people might be happy with a 60% tint. Gradient tints might be chosen by fashion conscious people or those who like to maintain eye contact.

OVER SPECS

Rather than buying a pair of prescription sunglasses, some patients prefer a simple clip-on to sit over their prescription glasses. Lightweight and resilient, there are plenty of choices, including a variety of colours, tints, and polarised options. Attachment is by clip or magnet, and some even flip-up for added user flexibility.

CONTACT LENS OPTIONS

We must never forget our contact lens wearers. They are sometimes more light sensitive, especially while adapting to lens wear. Only some contact lenses offer UV protection and Acuvue are the only company to offer Class 1 UV protection. We must, however, remember that such UV protection is only available to the area of the eye that the lens covers. Sunglasses are still an essential part of a contact lens wearer’s kit. They should have sunglasses to wear over their contact lenses to protect the eye and lids, as well as backup prescription options when they are at the pool or beach, in harsh conditions and for emergencies.

In some cases, people choose contact lens wear so they can have any fashion sunglasses they like, especially those with high prescriptions.

Acuvue Oasys with Transitions is the only photochromic soft contact lens, and many wearers report improved eye comfort and reduced glare. However, sunglasses for use over such contact lenses remain an important consideration.

TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY

Sunglass sales are on the rise with wearers realising the benefits of improved visual comfort, reduced glare and squinting, and in many cases, a better view – whether they’re enjoying the scenery, out for a drive, or participating in sport. This makes it worth developing your sunglass offerings.

The main thing is to inform and educate your patients. If you don’t discuss and offer such options you are wasting great opportunities to increase patient satisfaction, safety, comfort, and eye health, while also adding significantly to the bottom line.
Check out some of the options in the product sections below, talk to your suppliers, and arrange staff training sessions to enhance and augment your sunglass business.

References
1. Strategy with vision: Consultants to eyewear and eyecare. World lens and frame demand study 2020. Germany: SWV, September 2020.
2. Analyses by Technology and Innovation, Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH, DE 2021 in accordance with ISO 8980-3. Based on the average speed (%T/min) of activation from clear state to 30%T at 23°C in grey 1.60 index and polycarbonate in HC only form.
3. Clear to extra dark photochromic category. Tests across polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses using Transitions Optical’s standard testing method. Outdoors at 35°C achieves <18%T. Behind the windscreen at 23°C achieves between 18%T and 43%T.
4. Based on tests on polycarbonate grey lenses; up to 10% darker than Transitions Vantage @ 23°C and up to 5% darker @ 35°C.
5. Based on tests across materials on grey lenses @ 23°C, using ISO 12312-1 standard.
6. Filters up to 34% of blue light (380nm-460nm) indoors at 23°C. Tests carried out on polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses in the clear to extra dark photochromic category.