What's New
Buyer's GUIDE
By Lindsey Aspinall

From Western Optical comes the Concorde End Cutter for Hard Metals. This new end cutter combines tensile-strength stainless steel, extra leverage handles, oblique head cutting blades, and a blade gapping screw, which prevents the blades from touching and becoming dull. The new product is $49. For more information, call 800-423-3294.

Contact Lenses 

CooperVision has introduced an 8.4 base curve in its Proclear Toric CL. In late 2006, Cooper-Vision plans to introduce two toric CL additions: Proclear Toric -2.25 cylinder in an 8.4 base curve and Proclear Toric XR with an extended parameter range with cylinder powers up to -5.75D. Visit www.coopervision.com, for more information.

Personalized Touch

Optical Connection, Inc., a member of the Shine Optical Group, has introduced Definition Wavetouch Contact Lenses. These Wavefront-guided soft CLs are manufactured for each patient based on individual aberrometry readings, offering individualized vision correction for lower and higher order aberrations. For more information, call 888-556-6567.

Low Vision

Eschenbach has released a new LED bright field magnifier to minimize eyestrain and fatigue. "Makrolux" has a 2.2x magnification lens that is distortion-free from edge to edge and uniformly illuminated by a bright SMD-LED. The viewing area is 90x30 mm, ideal for reading magazines, newspapers, or books, even for long periods of time. Call 800-487-5389, or visit www.eschenbach.com, for information.

SPECTACLE LENSES

PAL Progress

Essilor of America's Varilux Ipseo PAL is now available with Wavefront Advanced Vision Enhancement (W.A.V.E.). W.A.V.E. technology, combined with Ipseo's individualized design, creates a personalized PAL with sharp, clear vision by eliminating distortions caused by higher-order aberrations. Varilux Ipseo 1.50 in clear and Transitions is available through Varilux distributors, including Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA). Varilux Physio and Varilux Physio 360Þ are now available in 1.5 index in clear and Transitions grey and brown. For more information, call 800-377-4567, or visit the company Website www.essilorusa.com.

So Smart

Brown is the latest SmartShades in Optical Dynamics Corporation's premium photochromic monomer. SmartShades Brown now compliments other lens monomers offered with their casting system. SmartShades Brown lens monomer features a 1.56 index, 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, and double-sided NanoXT super hardcoat scratch protection. The lenses can also be made with built-in NanoClear AR anti-reflection. For more information, call 800-797-2743, or visit online at www.opticaldynamics.com.

Polarized, Photochromic Phenomenon

Younger Optics has unveiled DriveWear, a new lens category designed to meet the visual demands of driving. Powered by Transitions photochromic and NuPolar polarization technologies, DriveWear is the first polarized lens to darken behind a vehicle's windshield. Advanced dyes respond to visible light, rather than UV, and allow the DriveWear lenses to change color based on driving conditions. For more information, call 800-877-5367.

KBco has released the 1.67¹⁰ in MR-10 resin. According to the company, due to MR-10 resin stability for use in rimless frames, KBco's 1.67 lens manufactured with MR-7 will be replaced. The 1.67¹⁰ offers a superior aspheric design for distortion-free vision throughout the lens and is available in KBco True Grey and KBco Brown-C. For more information, call 800-722-8776.

Color-ific

OptiSource International has introduced Colorations Fashion Photochromic Lenses. The lenses change from clear indoors to one of six fashion colors outdoors. Colorations are available in CR 39, polycarbonate, high-index 1.60, and aspheric high-index 1.67 materials. For more information, call 800-OPTISOURCE.