buyer's guide

SPECTACLE LENSES

Alicia Hoglund and Susan P. Tarrant

GET TINTED

Optima, Inc., announces the release of another addition to its 1.74 high-index product line—one that dispels the myth that 1.74 material does not absorb a sunglass tint. The company's Tintable 1.74 Spherical for Free-Form can achieve a sunglass density of 90 percent gray in 30 minutes, and can meet all single vision and progressive needs, company representatives say. Base curves range from 1.50 to 10.25.

INFO: optima-inc.us

OPTIMA, INC.
Tintable 1.74 Spherical lenses

A TOUGHER AR

Ophthonix, maker of iZon lenses, has upgraded its portfolio of products with the introduction of ViZera AR coating. The anti-reflective treatment provides the same high level of clarity and glare reduction as the company's previous AR, but with a much higher Bayer value and superior abrasion resistance, Ophthonix representatives report. The increased protection from glare and scratches will help the lenses remain as clear as possible, increasing their longevity and reducing the impact on clarity. ViZera comes standard on all iZon lenses, which range from single-vision lenses to fully customizable lens designs.

INFO: izonlens.com

OPHTHONIX
ViZera AR

CRYSTAL PAL

ICE-TECH Advanced Lens Technologies' new design, Crystal Ice, is a digitally surfaced progressive lens that is tailored to each wearer's individual visual needs. The lens is combined with ICE-TECH's patented thinning technology, which creates even greater possibilities in frame choices for all prescriptions. Its features and benefits include no swim or sway, full side-to-side far vision, the ability to fit even the largest of frames, horizontal and vertical decentration, and clear vision in all areas. Crystal Ice joins the other proprietary lenses in ICE-TECH's portfolio: Glacier-Ice single vision, Digital Bifocal, Workplace Lens, and the Diamond Dual Zone.

INFO: ice-tech.com

ICE-TECH Crystal Ice progressive lenses

LOW VISION

TECH OPTICS INTERNATIONAL LED Reading Glasses Take it EZ Tech Optics International's LED Reading Glasses now feature the newly designed EZ slide cover. The screwless, easy-to-open cover allows wearers to change it in seconds—great for those with arthritic fingers. In addition, the glasses feature a contemporary black frame, aspheric lenses, and two bright LED lights, and are available in magnification up to +6.00. INFO: 800-678-4277, techopticsinternational.com

WATER LENSES

Maui Jim has launched a new Rx-able sunglass collection featuring lens designs and color combinations that are perfect for wearers who work or play on the water. The On the Water collection will add styles throughout the year, ending at a total of 27. All will feature larger lenses made from materials that offer the best optics for water sports. Its varying shapes are designed to cup around the eye, protecting it from glare and UV. Materials include SuperThin Glass offering crisp optics; Maui Evolution, which fuses the best properties of SuperThin Glass and polycarbonate lenses; and polycarbonate. Four lens color options provide improved vision in differing light and water conditions. Each lens is wrapped with up to nine layers of the company's PolarizedPlus2 lens technology. Most of the styles in On the Water can be made with MauiPassport prescription lenses in powers from +3.00 to -3.50.

INFO: mauijim.com

MAUI JIM
On the Water

AR LOVE

iCoat Company, a full-service optical lab, has introduced its new, proprietary AR coating with UV reflection protection. The new Stainless AR features LUV (Low UV) technology which helps eliminate significant amounts of UVA and UVB rays reflected off the back surface of AR lenses and into the eye. According to iCoat, its AR treatment provides maximum UV reflection protection while maintaining maximum visible light transmission for clear and crisp vision.

INFO: icoatcompany.com

ICOAT COMPANY
Stainless AR with LUV

EQUIPMENT ON THE EDGE

AIT Industries has released the WECO 680 Edging System, a new production patternless edger. The system offers integrated drilling, lensometry, autoblocking, grooving, safety bevel, wrap edging, and a simple-to-use interface for processing Chemistrie magnetic lenses. Among its enhanced features are a larger and tiltable touch screen, more intuitive user interface, integrated barcode scanner, and control over the motor parameters in the edger by material. The latter feature will provide the flexibility needed to work with the materials and coatings of today and minimize scrap. INFO: aitindustries.com AIT INDUSTRIES WECO 680