buyer's guide

SPECTACLE LENSES

Alicia Isenberg Hoglund

next generation

Essilor of America has launched a new generation of Crizal No-Glare lenses that are designed to protect the long-term health of patients' eyes by blocking UV transmission not only through the lens, but also through backside glare. The lenses feature Broad Spectrum Technology that eliminates UV reflection into the eyes while maintaining maximum visible light transmission. It is available on all Crizal lens products. To help ECPs explain the importance of eye protection to consumers, Essilor has introduced a new index, the Eye-Sun Protection Factor (E-SPF), which rates UV protection from UV light coming at both sides of the lens.

INFO: 800-ESSILOR, crizalusa.com

EQUIPMENT MULTITASKING MADE SIMPLE

Santinelli's new Me 900 is a streamlined, simplified, more economical version of the Me 1200 Multifunction Edger, featuring 3D drilling and grooving, high-precision safety beveling, Advanced Shape Editor functions, and Radius Measurement Unit to ensure proper cut-out and orientation for faster processing. The Me 900 is available with the Click Mode software for processing Chemistrie Magnetic Layered Lens System, an additional profit-generator. INFO: 800-644-3343, santinelli.com

SO STEALTHY

Oakley, Inc., has introduced a new anti-reflective (AR) lens treatment to the market. Optimized for performance and durability, Oakley Stealth features a scratch-resistant hard coat, anti-static properties, and AR technology, and is added to the back surface of sunlenses to eliminate bright, magnified reflections and provide a wide, crisp visual field. Perfect for athletes, Stealth offers clear vision without the performance-compromising distraction of reflections. Oakley Stealth now comes standard with Oakley True Digital prescription lenses.

INFO: 949-951-0991, oakley.com

OAKLEY Oakley Stealth

OVERx IT

Live Eyewear has debuted new photochromic lenses to its popular OveRx Cocoons eyewear line. The UV-activated polarized Polare lenses are available in gray or amber tints and deliver a consistent level of light transmission as UV intensity fluctuates through the day, offering users clarity, durability, polarization efficiency, and 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. The new photochromic lenses are available in all six Cocoons frame styles.

INFO: 800-834-2563, liveeyewear.com

LIVE EYEWEAR

Plano Power

LBI Eyewear has released a new polycarbonate spherical polarized plano lens, seen here paired with Geek Eyewear style RAD-09 in tortoise. Available in brown or gray, the lens is impact resistant, making it ideal for sunwear.

INFO: 818-407-1890, lbieyewear.com

LBI EYEWEAR

Polycarbonate spherical polarized plano lenses

CONTACT LENSES ASTIGMATISM ALIGNED

Twenty-five years after introducing the first disposable soft contact lens, Vistakon has launched a daily disposable soft toric contact lens for astigmatism. The 1-Day Acuvue Moist For Astigmatism brand features a Blink Stabilized design that uses blinking to help keep the lens clean and in place, and realign it if it rotates out of position. With more than 1,500 SKUs (12 axes, 4 cylinders) at distance parameters of +4.00D to -9.00D, the lenses have the widest power range of any daily disposable toric contact lens, company representatives say. The lenses also block approximately 82 percent of UVA and 97 percent of UVB radiation.

INFO: 800-843-2020, jnjvisioncare.com

VISTAKON

1-Day Acuvue Moist

POWER added

Bausch + Lomb is expanding the range of powers for its PureVision2 HD For Astigmatism line of contact lenses. Released in October 2011, the line now offers sphere powers from plano to -9.00D (.50D steps above -6.00D) and cylinder powers of -0.75D, -1.25D, -1.75D, to -2.25D in 10-degree increments around the clock.

Another wave of expansion is scheduled for May 1, which will add plus powers up to +6.00D (.25D steps). The lenses incorporate Auto Align Design for stability and comfort, and use ComfortMoist technology to create a cushion of moisture around the lenses.

INFO: purevision2.com

BAUSCH + LOMB

PureVision2

DISPLAYS New Elements

Fashion Optical Displays' New Elements Collection II series is a new line of contemporary wall displays. The series features panels that hold 60, 75, or 90 frames as well as changeable signage inserts to easily update your marketing efforts. Every panel uses Fashion Optical's premier Concorde Frame Support and accommodates a wide range of merchandising accessories, such as mirrors and shelving.

INFO: 800-824-4106, fashionoptical.com

FASHION OPTICAL DISPLAYS New Elements Collection II

TOOLS CRYSTAL CLEAR
ESCHENBACH Crystal XL	Eschenbach and Ash Technologies introduce the Crystal XL, a new, portable video magnifier. The lightweight magnifier features a new active matrix organic (AMO) LED 4.3-inch screen, freeze-frame functionality, three levels of magnification—3x, 4.5x, and 7x—and a variety of color modes (color, positive, negative, and semi-colors), providing a clear and bright picture. The Crystal XL is optimized for high-speed reading and includes a simple, efficient button arrangement for single-handed use. A flip-out leg can be used for easy focusing while reading or writing. INFO: 800-487-5389, eschenbach.com
DOUBLE DUTY Western Optical's Universal Screw and Nut Grabber features an expandable jaw that automatically grips any size or shape lock nut, hex nut, star nut, cap nut, or round nut. The two-in-one tool also doubles as a screw starter, with self-closing jaws that allow users to quickly and easily thread even the smallest screws into hard-to-reach places. The #5075 driver retails for $19. INFO: 800-423-3294, westernoptical.com	WESTERN OPTICAL Universal Screw and Nut Grabber

MISCELLANEOUS WHAT A GEM!

Sell more and count less with Arch Crown's Gem-Where, a state-of-the-art Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solution for marketing and inventory control. Reusable RFID Smart Tags, made of durable plastic, can be applied to Op-Tag Carriers or attached directly to frames. The RG900 USB Reader links the Smart Tag to frames and de-links as they are sold. The Radiant Wand easily captures your inventory by passing it over your wall and display showcases.

Gem-Where can be a stand-alone software solution for basic inventory reporting or can be integrated into your P.O.S. software for more detailed reports, including inventory reconciliation and sales tracking.

INFO: 800-526-8353, archcrown.com

ARCH CROWN

Gem-Where

TECH OPTICS

Focusable Task-Vision Loupe

LOW VISION IN FOCUS

Tech Optics International's new Focusable Task-Vision Loupe features a wide, three-inch field of view and a focusable working distance between 10 and 17 inches. The loupe is worn like spectacles and is easy to adjust.

Other features include fine focusing on both telescopes, adjustable pupillary distance, and adjustable nose pads for height and comfort, as well as aspheric (distortion free) and achromatic (color correct) hard-coated optics with 2.5x magnification.

INFO: 800-678-4277, techopticsinternational.com