buyer’s guide

LOW VISION In View

Alicia Hoglund and Susan Tarrant

SPECTACLE LENSES

Younger Material

Younger Optics now has ultra-thin High-Index 1.74 clear lenses, offering patients another premium choice for thinner lenses. Made from MR-174 material by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., these newest lenses from Younger are ideal for high-Rx patients, those who choose drill-mounted eyewear, or anyone seeking a thinner and cosmetically appealing lens, company representatives note.

The High-Index 1.74 clear, single vision lenses are available to labs in 11 base curves ranging from 0.50 to 10.0.

INFO: youngeroptics.com

Photo(chromic) Ready

Qspex Technologies, Inc., has announced the launch of its new family of photochromic lenses: AQuity LTD with QuasAR. The lenses are designed to be made in an in-office lab utilizing the QSpex Premium Lens Fabrication System, giving ECPs the ability to serve their photochromic patients with greater speed and a premium product, company representatives note.

AQuity LTD with QuasAR lenses are made of the same material as the other lenses made with the QSpex system (1.55 index, 1.15 specific gravity), block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, and have a power range of -4.25 to +2.00 with cylinder to -2.00 and adds of +1.00 to +3.00.

INFO: qspex.com

QSPEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AQuity LTD with QuasAR lenses

a Closer look

Finding Solutions Together Working under the Luneau Technology Group corporate banner, Briot USA and its partner company, Visionix, have focused on providing solutions for ECPs looking to make their business more efficient and profitable. With Briot making lens finishing equipment since 1934, and the more recent Visionix (based in Israel) focusing on lens measuring devices and diagnostic images, they can cover all bases of a practice’s technology needs. The latest release is from Visionix, the Wavelens Pro, an automatic lens analyzer based on Harmann Shack wavefront technology. It is both user friendly and accurate. With no need to select lens design, the system automatically detects all lens styles and materials, and can send the Rx directly to the exam room via bluetooth or cable connection. The 1,500-point measurement provides for the highest precision in measurements allowing ECPs to verify new free-from designs coming back from the lab. Lens analysis can also be saved and compared for ease of troubleshooting or prescribing a customized solution for your patient by lens preference. Briot has enjoyed a wave of launches this year, including the Alta Zd edger and the Alta Pulse edging system, and it debuted an addition to the popular eMOTION finishing line. VISIONIX Wavelens Pro Matt Cevasco, president and general manager, says the two companies fit together well under the Luneau principle of bringing high-end technology to all levels of the optical and ophthalmic marketplace at varying pricepoints. INFO: briot.com; youtube.com/user/briotusa

Eschenbach’s The Mobilux LED 24 Diopter Magnifier features a lens with a patented cera-tec coating, which makes the lens nearly glass hard and resists scratching by up to 50 percent, note company representatives. The magnifier uses a bright SMD LED for illumination. A yellow or orange filter can be snapped on over the light to change colors, thereby reducing glare and increasing viewing comfort.

The magnifier also uses a special step-up converter to ensure that there is consistent illumination provided over time. It comes with a protective lens cover and two AA batteries, as well as a lifetime warranty against any manufacturer’s defect.

INFO: 800-487-5389, eschenbach.com

ESCHENBACH Mobilux LED 24D Magnifier

DISPENSING TOOLS

Get Measured

Signet Armorlite has launched an iPad-based lens dispensing tool, the Kodak Lens Intelligent Dispensing Software (IDS). Compatible with the latest version of the iPad with retina display, it’s an app that contains three sections: frames, lenses, and measuring.

The frame section compares and shares photos of patient frame options. The lens section is designed to aid the ECP in educating the patient about the benefits of Kodak lens designs as well as lens material, polarization, AR, and photochromic options.

The measuring section turns the iPad into a measuring device with the help of a back plate with a light and a frame measuring clip. The patient’s frame information and postion-of-wear measurements, along with prescription information, can be easily collected and integrated for a fully customized progressive lens.

An informational video about the software is available at youtube.com/SignetArmorliteUS.

INFO: signetarmorlite.com/KODAKLensIDS

SIGNET ARMORLITE KODAK Lens IDS

Digital Dispenser

Luzerne Optical Laboratories, Ltd, has released the iFit Dispensing System (iFDS), an iPad-based fitting and dispensing system. More than just a tool for taking position-of-wear measurements, iFDS can help patients with frame selection using either still or video photography and help ECPs present lens material and treatment options to patients using a fully augmented reality platform.

The system, which is compatible with any lens product and design, allows both simulated and real-time demonstrations of lens options including photochromics, polarization, AR, and anti-fog treatments. ECPs can also compare lens material properties, including center and edge thicknesses and spherical, aspheric, and double aspheric lens designs.

The iFit Dispensing System includes the app, a cover and camera designed specifically for the iPad IV and iPad Mini, as well as a frame reference device to provide the lab with accurate fitting information. According to Luzerne, the app provides precise PD and seg height measurements with one system, helping to reduce the number of remakes.

INFO: 800-233-9637, luzerneoptical.com

LUZERNE OPTICAL LABORATORIES iFit Dispensing System