choices

VISION FOR A BETTER LIFE

Vision problems can occur at any age, which is why regular eye exams are so important. It's also why we at Essilor created Choices magazine. Vision care isn't just about seeing well. It's also about quality of life. Good vision care leads to better overall health.

■ KIDS: For kids, regular eye exams are important because 80% of what a child learns by age 12 is obtained visually. Yet seven out of 10 school-age children who have problems reading have some kind of visual impairment.

■ TEENS: There is a significant relationship between undetected vision problems and reading and learning difficulties. Problems in school affect not just learning, but also a young person's self image, and that can translate to problems throughout life.

■ 18-39: At this stage, there is a trend toward heavy contact lens use. Remember, in most cases, contact lens wearers should still allow four to six hours of rest for their eyes to get the oxygen they require. Always have a good pair of glasses for times you're not wearing your contacts.

■ 40+: Once you hit 40, your vision begins to change. Even if you never needed glasses before, you'll soon need some sort of vision correction to help you read.

■ SENIORS: One in every three seniors has a vision-impairing eye disease, but most aren't aware of any symptoms until the disease has progressed to the point that treatment options are limited. However, regular eye exams can detect them much earlier.

No matter what a person's age, eye exams do more than determine eye health. In fact, diseases like diabetes and hypertension can be detected during an exam. The bottom line? Good vision can last a lifetime. But, in order to protect your eyes, prevention and care should start at a young age.

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IF YOU…

■ HAVE TROUBLE READING ROAD SIGNS, then you might be nearsighted. Also called myopia, it's the inability to see well at a distance.

■ SQUINT TO READ, then you might be farsighted. Known as a hyperope, you need vision correction to see up close.

■ SEE SOME BLURRING ALL THE TIME, then you probably have astigmatism. That means you have an irregularly shaped cornea–a normal cornea is shaped like a basketball, while an astigmat's looks more like a football.

■ NOTICE THE LETTERS IN THE PHONE BOOK HAVE SHRUNK or your arms aren't long enough to read the menu, then you might have presbyopia. This inability to see up close happens to everyone, even if you never needed glasses before, and results from the gradual hardening of the eye's lens.

All of these vision impairments are correctable. Talk to your eyecare professional about any symptoms you may be experiencing.

DID YOU KNOW…

Over 70% of Americans have vision insurance, yet less than half fully utilize their benefits.

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UV AND YOU

■ 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to UV occurs by age 18.
■ Even on a cloudy day, more than 70% of UV radiation can pass through the clouds.
■ Exposure to UV can lead to chronic vision problems like premature cataracts and macular degeneration.

DID YOU KNOW…

More than 11 million Americans have an undetected visual impairment. Polarized and polycarbonate lenses help prevent them by blocking 100% of UV radiation.

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EYE ON KIDS

One in four children has an undetected vision problem. Here are trouble signs to watch for:
■ Burning eyes, dizziness, or headache
■ Blinking, squinting
■ Closing/covering one eye
■ Tilting head when reading
■ Avoiding close-up work
■ Following lines of text with a finger

DID YOU KNOW…

Half the children in the U.S. have not had a complete eye exam, and many don't know they need glasses.

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Before You Buy

Picking new eyewear can be daunting. Before you begin, here are some questions you should answer and then address with your eyecare professional. HOW MANY PAIRS DO YOU WANT? ■ One for work (indoor) and one for play (outdoor) ■ Different frames and lenses for different looks ■ One pair is all I need ■ As a backup for contacts WHY ARE YOU GETTING A NEW PAIR OF GLASSES? ■ I want new frames, a new look ■ I'm interested in the latest technology in lenses ■ My lenses are damaged ■ My prescription needs updating DO YOU WEAR YOUR GLASSES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES (YARDWORK, HOUSEWORK, AT THE GYM)? ■ Yes ■ Sometimes ■ Not really WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR IDEAL PAIR OF GLASSES? ■ Durable ■ Fashionable ■ Lightweight, latest technology DO YOU WEAR YOUR GLASSES ALL DAY? ■ Yes ■ Only sometimes ■ Yes, and at the computer, too ■ I wear a different pair for evening

OUR PROMISE {About Essilor}

Choices magazine is sponsored by Essilor. As the world's leading provider of eyeglass lenses, our #1 priority has always been you, our customer. In fact, we've been busy improving the way people see the world for over 150 years. And, we love what we do. Whatever your age, need or prescription, Essilor has the right lens specifically for you. Our focus on improving the way people see and our dedication to customer satisfaction have made us the #1 manufacturer of eyeglass lenses in the world. Intensely dedicated to research and innovation, we strive to create the most aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and durable corrective lens designs around the globe. With a tradition of excellence and technological advancement in the optical field–coupled with our passionate management staff of experienced professionals–we guarantee quality for each and every Essilor customer. That is our promise. No other company is better able to provide you the choices and advanced technology you desire. To learn more about vision care and about our products, please visit us at www.essilorusa.com.

REGULAR LENSES

ARE LENS COATINGS REALLY NECESSARY?

BUYING NEW GLASSES CAN BE AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF LENSES AND FRAMES, AND EVEN MORE LENS ADD-ONS.

There are even different kinds of lens coatings, such as scratch-resistant and anti-reflective (AR) treatments. These are often an afterthought and are overlooked or even dismissed during the purchase, even though they work with the lens to provide clearer vision.

■ LOOK BETTER/SEE BETTER

AR coatings improve visual a cuity as well as the aesthetics of the lenses and glasses. AR coatings allow more light to pass through the lens, giving the wearer better vision. With fewer reflections, you'll see better, and people will be able to see your eyes more clearly.

■ DECREASE GLARE

A good AR treatment eliminates glare from things like overhead lights, computer screens, TVs, and headlights. This glare would normally cause eye strain and fatigue, eroding vision quality.

LENSES WITH CRIZAL ALIZÉ WITH CLEAR GUARD^TM

■ HELP NIGHT DRIVING

Consider this: At the end of the day, you leave your office in the dark. Your eyes are tired from computer glare and the overhead lights in your office. Driving home is difficult because you are experiencing disorienting halos, glare, and reflections from oncoming headlights. Anti-reflective coatings can also reduce these halos and glare to help you see more clearly behind the wheel and drive safely.

■ REPEL DIRT

If your eyecare professional knew about a product with all the benefits of an anti-reflective, anti-glare, scratch-resistant coating with guaranteed ease of cleanability, wouldn't you want to know about it? If you could find a lens that actually repels dust, dirt, oil, fingerprints, water, and smudges, wouldn't you want it for yourself? What if your sunglasses could have the same great benefits? Ask your doctor today about the Crizal^® family of lenses. With Crizal lenses, you'll have the clearest vision possible–day or night, indoors or out. You'll not only see more clearly, but you'll be seen more clearly as well.

Essilor Solutions

Crizal Alizé with Clear GuardTM anti-reflective lenses set the industry standard in aesthetics and performance. Crizal lenses out-perform regular lenses by helping you to see better, feel better, and actually look better when wearing your glasses. These virtually invisible lenses are specially designed using revolutionary methods that combine anti-glare properties with double-sided scratch resistance and an easy-to-clean finish. www.crizal.com

Presbywhatia?

IF YOU ARE OVER 40 AND HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR VISION, CHANCES ARE YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PRESBYOPIA, THE COMMON GRADUAL LOSS OF NEAR VISION. BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS: YOU HAVE MORE CHOICES TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CARRY A SEPARATE PAIR OF GLASSES FOR READING OR WEAR LINED BIFOCAL LENSES LIKE YOUR PARENTS DID.

Eye Comfort Beyond the cosmetic appeal of a lens with no line, progressive lenses, sometimes called no-line bifocals, also offer better eye comfort. Traditional bifocals only provide one defined area of the lens for near vision correction and one defined area for distant vision correction. These divisions in the lens create "image jump" when your eyes move from one distance zone to another. Also, many individuals are reluctant to wear bifocals because they see them as an outward sign of aging.

Smooth Transition Progressive lenses, on the other hand, offer a smooth transition from distance vision through intermediate vision to near vision, and they supply all the in-between corrections as well. This means that instead of having just two different viewing zones (near and distant), as in bifocals, progressive lenses have progressive powers of correction (from bottom to top), easing eye strain and providing better vision.

Poor Alternative As a result of presbyopia, many people choose to carry a pair of glasses just for reading. These can be purchased at any store and without a prescription. Unfortunately, people rarely need the same vision correction in each eye. Reading glasses also do not take into account other vision correction needs like astigmatism. Readers are just a general magnifying lens, and they do not provide the best vision correction possible. While they may create a temporary solution, they can often lead to headaches and even further eyestrain.

Natural Vision With progressive lenses, no one has to know you even need readers. Progressive lenses are not only the most attractive to wear, they offer the most natural vision correction.

Essilor Solutions The world's first progressive lens, invented in 1959, was a Varilux® lens. Since that time, Essilor has continued to innovate and set new standards of performance in vision care for presbyopic patients. Not only was it the first progressive lens ever designed, Varilux lenses continue to be the #1 prescribed progressive lenses by eyecare professionals around the world. In fact, every minute there are 20 new Varilux lens wearers worldwide! www.varilux.com

ADJUSTING TO PALS

All progressive lenses require a short adaptation period. This could take from a few minutes to a few days, with most people adjusting to their progressive lenses within 30 days. Surveys show that over 90% of people making the switch from traditional bifocals to Varilux progressive lenses successfully adapted to them. This is the highest rate ever achieved! The following guidelines will help you adjust quickly and comfortably: Stop wearing your old glasses immediately Wear your new glasses high on the bridge of your nose and as close to your face as possible To look at an object, turn your head (and not just your eyes) toward it Move your head vertically until the object glides into focus Wear your new glasses continuously

EYE ON MATERIALS

Just as there are many frame materials–metal, plastic, and more–there is also a vast variety of materials from which lenses are made. It's all about matching your personal wants and visual needs to today's high-tech lens materials. To help you understand what's what, here's a rundown on several lifestyle looks and materials that will match them. And remember, your eyecare professional can help you find the material best suited for your prescription.

FASHION AND FUNCTION

1 Thin&Lite^® Eyecare professionals report that 80% of their patients want more cosmetically appealing eyeglass lenses. Thin&Lite lenses answer that need. They are made from high-index plastic, and the result is a thinner, flatter, more comfortable lens.

Thin&Lite lenses produce the same vision correction as a regular plastic lens, but in a thinner and flatter lens–for improved appearance and better vision. And they provide 100% UV protection.

If you have a higher prescription or you like today's popular rimless look, then Thin&Lite lenses are definitely for you. Thanks to the latest lens technology, they offer both improved performance and cosmetic appeal. To find out more, please visit www.ThinandLite.com.

SAFE AND SOUND

2 Airwear^® Made of impact-resistant polycarbonate, Airwear lenses are the most recommended lenses for children. Also great for adults who lead active lifestyles, Airwear lenses offer a unique combination of benefits that provide superior comfort and performance. They are, in fact, 43% lighter, 25% thinner, and 10 times more impact resistant than standard plastic, and they provide 100% UV protection. Airwear lenses have both the lightness and strength you need and the comfort and cosmetic appearance you want. If you want the technology–and styling–of tomorrow, then lightweight Airwear lenses are for you. For more information, visit www.Airwear.com.

TOPPING IT OFF

3 Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard^TM While most lenses let only 88% of light pass through, Crizal lenses transmission of more than 99% of light, with less than 1% of light being reflected. This allows you to see more clearly while others see your eyes without seeing your lenses. Crizal lenses also dramatically reduce glare and halos from lights at night, improving vision while driving. They combine these anti-glare properties with double-sided scratch resistance and an easy-to-clean finish that resists dirt and smudges. And now, with Crizal Sun^TM lenses, you can have the first integrated anti-reflective coating created specifically for sunwear. To find out more, please visit www.Crizal.com.

INDOORS AND OUT

4 Transitions^® Transitions lenses change from clear indoors to dark outdoors. By blocking 100% of harmful UV rays, they also help you maintain healthy vision. Transitions lenses give you all the benefits of clear lenses indoors, while providing the most convenient way to help protect against UV rays and glare in all light conditions. To find out more, please visit www.Transitions.com.

Reading Your Rx

Do you know what those numbers and letters on your prescription mean? if not, this guide will help. OS, OD, OU: OS means left eye, OD is right, and OU means both eyes (that is, your prescription is the same in both eyes). PWR: Written in diopters, your prescription shows what's called the refractive power needed in a lens to correct your vision. +/-: A minus sign means you'ar a myope, or nearsighted (i.e., -2.50). A plus sign means you'ar a hyperope, or farsighted (i.e., +4.25). 2.00, ETC.: The higher the number in your prescription, the stronger your correction. For example, +1.00 means you only have a little trouble seeing up close, whereas -6.00 means you need a strong prescription to see far away. CYL AND AXIS: These indicate your prescription is correcting for astigmatism. ADD: If this is filled in, you're probably over 40, and your prescription is designed to help you read.

case studies

GLARE AND EYE FATIGUE

NAME: James R.
AGE: 37
OCCUPATION: Sales
ACTIVITIES: Night driving and daytime computer work

Problems: James works at his laptop and makes sales presentation from it. He usually returns from sales calls after dark. He went to his doctor complaining of burning, tired eye, and the fact that halos from oncoming headlights at night bothering him.

Solution: His doctor recommended Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard lenses to cut the glare and reflections both from his laptop and his late night driving. James reports his eyes seem less stressed at the end of the day. He's also pleased that new lenses are great at repelling smudges and water, and that, because the lenses seem invisible, customers often ask what he's wearing.

CAN'T SEE UP CLOSE

NAME: Maggie M.
AGE: 46
OCCUPATION: Teacher
ACTIVITIES: Grading papers, reading historical novels

Problems:
Maggie is a history buff, which may explain why she teaches 8th grade history. She scheduled an appointment with an optometrist because, through she has never worn glasses, she recently began having trouble reading.

Solution: The doctor explained that she is experiencing presbyopia, a natural part of aging, and he recommended Varilux progressive lenses. Maggie reports that she can see clearly again and can move seamlessly from near to intermediate and distance viewing.

STRONG PRESCRIPTION

NAME: Darlene C.
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Grad student
ACTIVITIES: Studying and golf

Problems: Darlene is studying to become an architect and is also a weekend golfer. She has a very strong correction (+5.00) and says her glasses are too heavy and uncomfortable.
Solution: At the suggestion of her optometrist, Darlene's optician recommended Airwear lenses, a light-weight, safe, and comfortable alternative to traditional plastic lenses. Darlene is proud that her friends all comment on how thin her new eyewear is and that she no longer feels weighed down by her glasses.

Questions to consider

IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR EYECARE PROFESSIONAL BOTH THE VISUAL NEEDS AND LIFESTYLE WANTS OF ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY WHO REQUIRE VISION CORRECTION. IF SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS APPLY TO YOU, BE SURE TO BRING THEM UP DURING YOUR VISIT.

Q Can my son's everyday eyewear double for school and play?
A While it's important to make sure your child's frame is well constructed, the lens material you select is most important. Our Airwear^® polycarbonate lenses can cross from school to play and sports because they are 10 times more impact-resistant than standard plastic lenses.

Q What can I do to make driving night easier?
A Crizal^® Alizé^® anti-reflective lenses are designed to cut glare and the bothersome and sometimes blinding halo effect given off by oncoming headlights.

Q I'm 43 and never need glasses until recently, so I bought a pair at the drugstore to help me read. Are they why I am getting headaches?
AHeadaches are a common problem with readers. Our Varilux® progressive lenses, however, are available in your unique prescription, and our Crizal® products reduce glare that often causes headaches.

Q I have a strong prescription, so my lenses are thick and heavy. Is there anything I can do?
A Our Thin&Light high-index lenses are thinner and flatter than regular plastic lenses. You'll denitely notice how much more comfortable your glasses are with these new lenses.

Q Is it true that anti-reflective lenses get dirty easily?
A This used to be a problem, but our Crizal Alizé with clear guard^TM lenses actually repel dirt and smudges and are the easiest lenses to clean.

Q My mother was unsuccessful trying progressives a few years ago, but bifocals don't seem to work either. What should she do?
A Like any technology, newer designs are far more advanced than older ones. That's absolutely true with our latest generation of Varilux® lenses that provide a seamless transition between near, far, and intermediate vision and are created to make adapting easier.

EYECARE PROFESSIONAL ONLY: For additional copies, see your Essilor sales consultant. Produced for Essilor by Eyecare Business, a Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins VisionCare Group publication. ©2007 Essilor of America, Inc. Essilor, Crizal, Alizé, and Airwear are registered trademarks of Essilor International, S.A. Thin&Lite is a registered trademark and Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard is a trademark of Essilor of America, Inc. Transitions is a registered trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc.