buyer’s guide

SPECTACLE LENSES

Alicia Hoglund and Susan Tarrant

SLIMMING DOWN

Reptile Polarized Sunglasses has added SlimPlus Rx to its DHD 160 technology. SlimPlus lens design incorporates a digital technique with Reptile’s DHD 160 technology, which minimizes the Rx thickness and distortion by producing the Rx on a precise surface area of the blank. The technique expands the ability to produce prescriptions up to +6.00 in 65 eye size with as little as 60 PD without compromising vision, comfort, or esthetics. The resulting lenses are up to 55 percent thinner than traditional digital lenses and provide better visual field of vision, according to the company.

INFO: 800-625-1880; reptilesun.com

REPTILE SUN SlimPlus Rx

WIDER RX

Wiley X, Inc.’s new Rx Rim System allows an expanded prescription range for two of its Climate Control sunglass models (+5.00 to -7.00). A specially designed “rim” securely holds prescription lenses into the company’s lightweight, yet nearly indestructible WX Gravity and WX Echo wrap style frames. Both of the models feature a removable soft foam Facial Cavity Seal that blocks wind, dust, and debris. The frames, fitted with the rim system, still meet ANSI Z87.1 safety standards.

INFO: 800-776-7842, wileyx.com

A Closer Look

Costa’s Rx Program on the Move Costa style Ocean Costa Sunglasses has expanded its Rx program and launched a new progressive sun lens design aimed at giving active presbyopes better vision outside. The polarized sun lenses are engineered to accommodate the distance vision needs of outdoor and water sports enthusiasts, widen the field of view from left to right, and enhance peripheral vision. In addition to increasing distance vision, the C-SCAPE progressive lens design maintains excellent image recognition across the entire lens, and there is no “swimming,” note company representatives. Costa utilizes Waypoint digital processing technology specifically designed to eliminate the blurry edges that can bother active wearers of wrap sunglasses. The process incorporates the behavior patterns of the active wearer, the base curve effect of the wrap lenses, and specific frame data. Costa recently expanded its Rx lab facility in Daytona Beach, FL, to accommodate Waypoint digital processing in-house and a complete fulfillment center. The Rx program now offers a full range of Trivex, CR-39, and glass polarized Rx sunglasses in patented Costa 580 color-enhancing lens technology, as well as the original Costa 400 lens technology. “We’re investing heavily in all areas of our Rx division, including significant breakthroughs in our lens technology,” says Chas MacDonald, president of Costa. “Our new C-SCAPE technology is one of the biggest achievements in progressive design.” INFO: 800-447-3700, costadelmar.com C-SCAPE PAL, (r) has a wider distance zone than conventional PALs (l)

EQUIPMENT

BRIOT USA Alta Pulse Check Your Pulse Briot USA has introduced the new Alta Pulse, a multifunctional edger that’s the result of six years of continuous development and improvement, according to company representatives. Focusing on flexibility, reliability, and stability, the Alta Pulse allows for finishing, grooving, and safety beveling, including a special bevel just for curved lenses to fit wrap frames, variable tilt from 0 to 30 degrees, including grooving, safety beveling, and a mini-bevel. The edger also boasts pinpoint accuracy and the capability to edge all types of materials with a simple-to-use human interface. INFO: 800-292-7468, briotusa.com

BLUE BLOCK

PFO Global’s new AR treatment, iBlu coat, is designed to protect eyes from harmful UV and blue light to a high degree of efficiency from both the front and back reflected light, improve contrast, and reduce eye fatigue.

iBlu coat is available on PFO Global’s Resolution poly lenses in an aspheric/atoric finished single vision design. It will soon be available on the company’s free-form Identity progressive and Upgrade single vision lenses in 1.6, 1.67, and 1.74 materials.

INFO: pfoglobal.com

PFO GLOBAL iBlu coat

PHOTO THIN

Essilor of America has launched Thin&Lite 1.74 lens material in Transitions VI lenses. The launch now makes Thin&Lite 1.74 available in both clear and Transitions VI lenses with premium Essilor brands, Varilux Physio DRx, Essilor Digital Single Vision lenses, and Crizal No-Glare technology. Thin&Lite 1.74 lenses are ideal for patients with higher prescriptions who want to minimize the lens thickness and weight.

INFO: essilorusa.com; transitions.com

ESSILOR OF AMERICA Thin&Lite 1.74 in Transitions VI

NOVEL LAUNCH

Vision-Ease Lens has launched a new progressive lens family called the Anthology Series. Its first releases are the Novel and Novella, conventional frontside progressives utilizing advanced technology that, according to the company, makes them as good or better than many backside digital progressives across 80 percent of the Rx range.

The lenses were designed using wearer feedback regarding maximum performance and real-life wearer comfort in a variety of visual tasks.

Novel is a general-purpose lens with a 13mm corridor and 16.5mm minimum fitting height, and is available in poly clear, LifeRx photochromic, and Coppertone polarized treatments. Novella is designed for smaller frame styles, with an 11mm corridor and 14mm minimum fitting height. It’s available in poly clear and LifeRx photochromic. Both lens designs will be available in plastic clear and photochromic later this year.

INFO: 800-328-3449, vision-ease.com

VISION-EASE Lens Anthology Series progressive lenses