Humans have been wearing ophthalmic lenses to improve their vision for hundreds of years. In this article, James Gibbins takes us through a brief history of spectacle lenses, to understand the premium multifocals of today and how you can prescribe them to optimise your patients’ vision. We continue with tips and tricks to prescribe premium multifocal contact lenses.

WRITER James Gibbins

The history of ophthalmic lenses is long and involved. Bi-convex plus lenses came first, and ever since then there has been a process of researching design options, experimental developments, and wearer trials. A significant lens development saw the bi-convex lens form shift to our current day meniscus form, incorporating a convex front surface with a concave back surface, and then later, the single vision aspheric design came along, which further improved visual performance and significantly reduced aberrations.

Another important lens development was the inclusion of more than one power. Benjamin Franklin launched the first bifocal in 1784, then trifocals followed, until finally we had the advent of progressive lenses in the late 1950s. Essilor is credited with developing the first progressive lens design in 1959, and ever since, we have seen a plethora of lens companies in a race to develop ever improved designs, enabling vision for various distances and tasks.

THE INTRODUCTION OF FREE FORM LENSES

About 20 years ago, our industry experienced a quantum leap in progressive lens design and production.

The older general design, now often referred to as conventional and still widely available at very reasonable prices, involves a moulded front surface, in which the asymmetric curves of the front surface produce the infinite focal lengths that we love about progressives. Meanwhile, the back surface continues to be a spherical design and is surfaced just like any single vision lens (spherical or toric).

The free form lens design was launched just after the turn of the millennium and there are two main differences.

First, the lens does not have a moulded front surface, rather both the front and back surfaces have asymmetric curves cut or surfaced onto them. The mathematics and physics required for this design are far advanced compared to the older conventional design and to produce these lenses, the machines needed to be radically re-designed.

Second, now a ‘compensated’ power can be calculated and produced for the lens, which accounts for the ‘as worn’ frame adjustment measurements that have an impact on the effective powers of the lenses as the wearer uses them.

MEASURING PREMIUM LENSES

Conventional lenses always required the dispenser to provide the lab with monocular pupil distances and monocular heights.

The three ‘as worn’ frame adjustment measurements are pantoscopic angle, frame wrap, and vertex distance. These measurements impact the effective powers of the lenses and for the conventional lens design, the labs always indicated the recommended parameters for each.

Generally, these were approximately:

• Pantoscopic angle: Between 8–12°,

• Frame wrap: Between 5 – 8°, and

• Vertex distance: Between 12–14 mm.

With free form design lenses, dispensers can now measure and provide the three exact ‘as worn’ measurements, and the lab can take these into account in the individual design of the lenses, as well as producing a compensated power accounting for them.

The principle behind compensated powers is based on the fact that the patient will experience a slight difference in visual acuity between the refractor head – which has zero pantoscopic angle, zero frame wrap, and a sometimes variable vertex distance – and the adjusted frame on their face. The aim of the compensated power is to account, as best as possible, for these additional variables. We want the visual experience, when the patient is wearing their finished lenses, to be as close as possible to what they experienced in the chair with the prescriber.

And this is what makes premium lenses premium.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE

In addition to this, lens suppliers are now offering even more considerations and inclusions, to further optimise the compensated powers and enhance the wearer’s visual comfort.

These inclusions and considerations also create points of difference between lens providers.

Sometimes an additional piece of equipment is required to capture the necessary additional data to facilitate these improvements. Lens laboratories are investing in new technologies – for example, EssilorLuxottica’s Varilux Physio Extensee and Rodenstock’s Biometric Intelligent Glasses (B.I.G.) lenses specify leveraging artificial intelligence, while CR Labs’ offering includes using a virtual reality headset to capture measurements. Another example is HOYA’s Consultation Centre 360 iPad App, to assist in personalising lens design selection.

Once again, it is the responsibility of the professional who is dispensing the lens advice to be across all these pertinent details.

WHEN FITTING

Follow Instructions

Resist any temptation to deviate from the instructions provided by the lens laboratory, despite any personal feelings or anecdotal experiences. Lens labs are (justifiably) frustrated (perhaps even a little offended) when they come across optometrists and dispensers who make a deliberate deviation from the instructions. These instructions are carefully designed to produce the most favourable results and are the product of a huge investment in research and wearer trials.

Frame Adjustments

As has always been the case, the frame must have all adjustments made first and before any ‘as worn’ measurements are taken. And it is most critical that the customer understands and complies with the frame being fitted with the minimum vertex possible. This distance is dependent on various factors including the physiology of the customer, the eyelash length of the customer (a vertex too short can result in eye lashes brushing the back surface of the lens, which is very disconcerting), and the frame design itself. The shortest vertex possible is critical because it will maximise the field of view, especially noticeable in the near zone. This is crucial because one of the most challenging aspects of all progressive lens designs is the relatively narrow corridor and near zones, and the dispenser must do everything possible to minimise the loss of field here.

Attention to Detail

The dispenser must pay close attention to every measurement, the frame adjustment, the advice provided to the customer, and of course the data entry.

When taking the measurements, if possible, use the equipment and techniques as recommended by the particular lens supplier. Today this always includes the use of a digital measurement system, rather than the manual measurements of previous years. Dispensers need to keep in mind, though, that successful dispensing outcomes (despite the use of the latest digital systems) are still 100% dependent on operator skill, the frame adjustment, the lens selection, and the advice provided to the customer.

SELLING THE VALUE

Determining which lens is most suitable for the patient can be tricky. Certainly, price may be a consideration.

It is important then, for the dispenser to convey to the patient the additional benefits these lenses offer in return for the additional cost. We must advocate for the improved visual experience and comfort that comes as a result of the extensive design improvements, research and wearer trials, additional data inclusions, and upgraded manufacturing methods.

Your patient’s vision will feel more comfortable and natural than ever, any adaption period will be reduced, and the vision will most closely match what the prescriber was working towards when the original test was taken.

Take a look through the listings below, to see the latest in the premium multifocal lens offerings.

James Gibbins is a Director and Senior Trainer at the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing, which delivers quality training and continual professional development to meet the growing needs of the optical dispensing industry.

Varilux Physio Extensee

EssilorLuxottica uses the power of artificial intelligence combined with the visual needs of the consumer to create the Varilux XR Series, the most premium progressive lens in the Varilux range.

Varilux Physio Extensee is the newest lens in the Varilux progressive lens family. Varilux Physio Extensee includes Pupiliser technology, which is derived from Essilor’s artificial intelligence (AI) twinning technology and dynamic pupil modelling. The result is that wearers report +18% improvement of contrast and sharpness compared to Varilux Physio 3.0 in all light conditions, even low light.1

A Eurosyn wearer study confirmed that overall, participants experienced visual sharpness and contrast in any light,2 including:

• 91% experiencing sharp contrast at all distances in any light condition,

• 89% experiencing a natural posture, and

• 89% experiencing sharpness in near vision.2

Varilux Physio Extensee is available with Near Vision Behaviour (NVB), and as the product variant: Varilux Physio Extensee Track, for personalised measurements.

Contact: EssilorLuxottica Account Manager

References

1. Simulations vs Varilux Physio 3.0 – done with AI twinning technology during activities in near vision in various luminance. Comparison between means value based on several prescriptions and materials weighted by worldwide sales; Internal R&D simulations – 2024.
2. Varilux Physio Extensee – in-real life consumer study -Eurosyn – 2024 – France (n=79 progressive lens wearers).

Hoyalux iD MySelf

Hoyalux iD MySelf lenses are individually tailored progressive lenses that can vastly improve the quality and comfort of your patient’s vision. As a result of the latest integrated technologies including AdaptEase, 3D Binocular Vision, and Binocular Harmonization, internal research shows that Hoyalux iD MySelf brings significant improvements in areas that matter to your patients:

• Improved near and intermediate visual fields with no compromise on far vision,

• Optimised intermediate fields for the pleasant use of digital devices,

• An easy and fast adaptation curve, and

• Relaxed eyes, even during near tasks.

Hoyalux iD MySelf Profile provides wearers with an elevated visual performance, combined with a fuss-free consultation process. This lens makes customisation easy with five pre-defined design variants to meet the different vision needs of your customers.

HOYA offers the unique HOYA Consultation Centre 360 iPad App, which enables you to personalise the iD MySelf and iD MySelf Profile lens design selection based on the patient’s lifestyle and previous lens wearing history.

Hoyalux iD LifeStyle 4 is easy for wearers to adapt to as well as being easy for eye care professionals to prescribe. This new lens, with three design variants, takes into account today’s digital lifestyle need by introducing a new key technology: HOYA 3D Binocular Vision. It also comes with two additional corridor lengths.

Contact: HOYA Account Manager

Autograph Intelligence

Provide a lifelong vision solution with Shamir Autograph Intelligence – an innovative progressive lens designed with your patients’ evolving needs in mind.

Powered by big data, it breaks free from any assumptions, delivering personalised precision at every life stage. Whether it’s crisp distance clarity, seamless digital and mid-range support, or smooth transitions through changing prescriptions, this lens adapts intelligently.

Shamir touts the product as the first progressive lens of its kind optimally tailored to the individual wearer’s needs and visual age (the physiological age of one’s eyes).

Contact: Shamir info@shamirlens.com.au

Unity Via Progressive

The Unity Via Progressive lens portfolio features three easy-to-fit and dispense lens designs that are enhanced for today’s demanding visual needs, providing clear vision at all distances.

Your patients will enjoy seamless transitions from near to far, and a wide, distortionfree viewing area that ensures sharp and clear vision. From entry level to the most sophisticated product, Unity Via Progressive lenses are sure to meet the unique visual and lifestyle needs of any progressive patient.

Contact: VSP Optics (AUS) 1800 251 025 or (NZ) +61 2 9697 8080

SmartLife Progressive Individual 3

ZEISS SmartLife Progressive Individual 3 lenses are meticulously crafted to meet the unique visual behaviours and needs of each wearer.

By taking into account age-related differences and analysing oculomotor behaviour alongside individual parameters such as anatomy, physiology, and habituation, these lenses provide exceptional refinement. Leveraging ZEISS Intelligence Augmented Design technology, the lenses align individual wearer data with over 12.5 million data points of visual behaviour across various age groups.

This advanced approach facilitates the development of optimally tailored lens designs, ensuring enhanced visual performance and comfort for everyday activities.

Contact: ZEISS (AUS) 1800 882 041 or (NZ) 0508 765 271

Biometric Intelligent Glasses (B.I.G.)

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Rodenstock can accurately predict the characteristics of the individual eye based on standard prescription.

Using this information, Rodenstock’s algorithms can accurately make decisions on the ideal lens design required to give optimum vision quality across the entire lens surface, producing visual comfort individually tailored to the patient.

The latest release from Rodenstock is B.I.G. EXACT Sensitive, a lens that incorporates both the biometry of the eye (the anatomic measurements of the eye, such as axial length) and the wearer’s individual visual sensitivity. To capture this information, Rodenstock’s DNEye Scanner acquires thousands of data points and parameters, while also determining the individual visual sensitivity across the patient’s field of view. Regardless of where a patient falls on the visual sensitivity spectrum, this lens design can be uniquely tailored to deliver the optimal visual experience.

Contact: Rodenstock Account Manager

Australis VR

Australis VR is CR Labs’ most advanced multifocal lens, designed to deliver exceptional visual clarity across all distances. Utilising innovative Gaze Dynamics technology, Australis VR adapts to natural head and eye movements, offering a smooth and intuitive visual experience.

The addition of CR’s patented technologies, MightyView and HyperThin, significantly reduces peripheral distortion while enhancing lens aesthetics, resulting in clearer, more comfortable vision and a sleeker appearance.

Proudly made in Australia, Australis VR is crafted with precision and care in CR Lab’s Melbourne facility, offering optical professionals a premium solution that supports comfort, clarity, and performance for the most discerning multifocal wearers.

Contact: CR Labs (AUS) 03 8795 9111

NeuroSelect

Tokai offers the NeuroSelect series, which is distinguished by its foundation in neuroscience, harmonising optics and neuroscience.

The core aim of NeuroSelect is to provide exceptional comfort and effective vision by considering how the brain processes visual information. This lens aims to eliminate the peripheral sway and distortion often associated with progressive lenses, and account for the wearer’s neural processing. An ergonomics-based optical lens design with a neuroscientific technology, it quantifies subconscious sensitivity.

Contact: Tokai Account Manager

Optilux

Opticare’s premium multifocal lens portfolio is designed to support eye care professionals in delivering clear, comfortable vision across all distances, tailored to each patient’s lifestyle and vision requirements.

The new designs include extremely low unwanted cylinder, wide and clear power channels, as well as easy adaptability, all ground locally in Opticare’s Sydney lab.

• Optilux Ultraclear – designed for early presbyopes/first-time wearers, provides easy adaptation into multifocal wear (adds up to +1.25),

• Optilux Panorama – a great multipurpose option for indoor and outdoor needs with a wide field of view, and

• Optilux Excellence – optimised for experienced wearers with a focus on tasks such as reading, screen use, and detailed indoor work.

Visit: opticare.com.au