DDV: Digital Display Vision

The new category that looks beyond computer eyewear

By Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

Digital Display Vision (DDV) is a growing category. Images courtesy of Vision Ease Len (above) and Gunnar Optiks (below)

While computer and office lenses are increasing in popularity each year as consumers go with ECPs’ recommendations in this category, a brand new category—digital display vision or DDV—is emerging and beginning to play a key vision-corrective role.

With a nod to still-relevant and evolving computer lens technology, the difference between viewing traditional computer screens and using digital devices is that the latter are held closer, causing eyes to accommodate for near work throughout the day. Blink rate reduces. Eyes constantly refocus at intermediate and near distances—about one inch in front of and behind a lit, pixelated surface. Eye muscles become fatigued, followed by an overall feeling of tiredness. Enter DDV: digital device vision, with lenses that are developed for the use of today’s digital technology.

The following look at some of what’s new provides a tool to plan your presentation strategies and offers solutions for your patients’ DDV dilemmas by eliminating all-day digital device usage visual discomfort.

Lenses created to solve the vision-related challenges of digital device usage currently include options in single-vision, progressive addition, and self-adjusting designs.

SINGLE-VISION/DIGRESSIVE DESIGN

■ Essilor Anti-Fatigue. A next generation single-vision lens design intended as an all-day primary pair for people who spend more than three hours a day working at close range, Essilor Anti-Fatigue lenses offer greater comfort than standard vision correction by providing accommodative relief (+0.60D) in the near vision area. These lenses are recommended for 18- to 45-year-old myopes experiencing symptoms of tired eyes and 35- to 45-year-old emerging presbyopes starting to experience reading difficulty, but not ready for the transition to a full PAL.

INFO: essilor.com

■Gunnar Optiks Advanced Computer Eyewear. Designed to reduce the symptoms of Digital Eye Fatigue (DEF) by minimizing eyestrain and stress caused by computer, PDA, and video game use, Gunnar’s design goes beyond traditional computer or near-variable-focus lenses by addressing more symptoms. For example, a steep wrap reduces air circulation and keeps eyes moist; a proprietary tint improves contrast perception; and a slight power boost in every lens helps sharpen screen detail. The lenses incorporate Carl Zeiss Vision’s customized lens technology and are optimized for the patient’s unique Rx and performance criteria.

INFO: gunnars.com

Sitting in front of a computer all day can result in eye fatigue and discomfort. Image courtesy of PFO Global

■The Hoya Free-Form Company Sync. The lens is designed to offer more focused vision in all directions and at variable distances. This is achieved by combined radial and vertical single-vision design that supports focusing and refocusing in all directions, and at all distances, with extra support for near and intermediate vision. The progression feels like a single-vision design, shifting gradually from distance correction to values up to +0.53D (Sync 5, for younger adults) or +0.88D (Sync 8, for early presbyopes).

INFO: hoyavision.com

Electronic eyewear is a new option for multi-focus Rx’s. Image provided by PixelOptics

■ PFO Global identity Office +. This digressive lens is for people who perform computer/office work for extended periods. It features a soft transition channel width from intermediate to near and can help reduce eyestrain and fatigue. Wearers should be advised that these lenses are not suitable for driving.

INFO: pfoglobal.com

■ Shamir Insight Relax. Designed for those who spend the majority of their workday reading or on a computer, Relax lenses ease the strain associated with prolonged visual accommodation which causes fatigue. An extra add power (+0.65D) in the lower part of the lens eases eye muscles so they don’t have to work as hard at accommodation. Reducing lens accommodation by up to 30 percent, they are ideal for single-vision, pre-presbyopic, and plano patients who want a reduced workload on their eyes.

INFO: shamirlens.com

PROGRESSIVE ADDITION LENSES

■ Augen Optics HD Trinity Spacia. Designed specifically for today’s presbyopes who are more physically and visually active than previous generations, this soft PAL design provides spacious mid-range and distance viewing with ample, balanced near vision. Patented double aspheric technology (front and backside) created from proprietary free-form molds helps ensure exact high-definition design.

INFO: augenoptics.com

Office workers aren’t the only ones who can benefit from DDV gear. Kids and adults are potential users. Images courtesy of Essilor of America and The Hoya Free-Form Company

■ Carl Zeiss Vision Gradal RD. An indoor-use PAL, these lenses are designed with a wide progressive channel with up to four times the intermediate area and twice the reading area of traditional PALs, with clear distance viewing out to around 10 feet. The lenses feature horizontal symmetry for optimum binocular vision and identical impressions, a variable inset based on power and add for maximum corresponding fields of view, and a fully aspheric surface for reducing astigmatism and to thin and flatten the lens.

INFO: zeiss.com/lenses

■ Seiko Optical Products of America PCWide. Developed to offer more comfortable vision for people who spend most of their time in a desktop environment, these 100 percent back-surface, free-form designed lenses offer an intermediate viewing area that extends the full height of the lens for comfortable computer use with a wide full-power area for near viewing. Lens power is controlled by Reverse Power Accommodation, for sharp, clear vision when using computers or reading.

INFO: seikoeyewear.com

■ Signet Armorlite KODAK MonitorView. With a set monitor-viewing distance of 24 inches, MonitorView lenses are fit as a standard PAL. Ideal for computer-based projects and other detail work such as model building or quilting, the digitally created backside, near variable focus lenses apply Vision First Technology (VFT) which provides a smooth power progression and binocular balance to ease adaptation and visual performance.

INFO: signetarmorlite.com

The latest developments in Digital Display Vision include lenses that can be adjusted manually and lenses that have a plus bump to ease visual fatigue for plano wearers or emerging presbyopes. Images courtesy of Superfocus (above) and Shamir Insight (r)

SELF-ADJUSTING LENSES

■ PixelOptics emPower! This electronic focusing eyewear allows for the lens’ optical power to change dynamically through an electronic reading zone. Operating in three modes—manual on, manual off, and automatic mode, with an additional power boost of 0.75D— emPower! enables wearers to be in control of their vision at near, far, and in-between.

INFO: pixeloptics.com

■ Superfocus. The lenses are totally adjustable, ideal for viewing digital devices. A small movement of the slider on the Superfocus bridge adjusts the focus of the lenses across the full field of view, so eyeglass-swapping and head-tilting aren’t necessary. Patients can easily adjust Superfocus lenses for their own needs, including digital devices and computer use.

INFO: superfocus.com EB