BUYER’S GUIDE

Product Watch

A look at the latest launches

{SPECTACLE LENSES}

A CLOSER LOOK
SPORTY ZEISS

New to the line of Zeiss Progressive Choice lenses is a lens specifically designed for sportier wrap frames. The Zeiss Progressive Choice Plus Sport design combines advanced customization for the patient’s full prescription with proprietary Zeiss prism compensation, which widens the area of clear vision by as much as 50% over standard lens designs in wrap frames and reduces unwanted prism.

“Using a standard lens design in a highly wrapped frame introduces power and prism errors that restrict the field of clear vision and can cause headaches and eyestrain,” says Claude Labeeuw, vice president of marketing for Carl Zeiss Vision. “Zeiss Progressive Choice Plus Sport is designed specifically for this type of frame, improving optical performance and increasing wearer comfort.”

The lenses are available in two corridor lengths, with minimum fitting heights of 13mm and 17mm, and are compatible with Zeiss’ i.Scription, which addresses the effects of higher-order wavefront aberrations. They are available in 1.50 hard resin, 1.53 Trivex, and 1.59 polycarbonate, with polarized options in all materials. They are also available with PhotoFusion by Zeiss and various NXT treatments, including fixed tints, mirror treatments, and a polarized/photochromic combination.

INFO: vision.zeiss.com

CARL ZEISS VISION
Progressive Choice Plus Sport

{TOOLS}
RAISE IT UP

Complementing its new collection of optical tools, supplies, and working aids, Santinelli International now offers a simple and effective way to add nose pads to plastic frames with its Titanium Pad Arm Kit. The addition of nose pad arms is a great solution for patients with low nose profiles who prefer wearing plastic frames. The pad arms raise the frame, allow for greater adjustment of pantoscopic tilt, and prevent the frame from continuously sliding.

After removing the existing nose pads, the arms can be mounted by drilling tiny holes into the frame’s bridge with the pin vice and drill bit. The arms are inserted into the frame and held in place by the “barbed end” posts of the arms.

SANTINELLI INTERNATIONAL
Titanium Arm Pad Kit

INFO: 800-644-3343, santinelli.com/sios

{SPECTACLE LENSES}
LAB SOFTWARE

PFO Global has released the next generation of its free-form design software called SmartCalc, and a promotion that enables labs to use the software at no charge. SmartCalc offers full Rx optimization with customization options. It can be used with any single-vision lens blank in any material, offers changeable base curve selection, and a fast calculation engine installed locally with web-based backup.

The software offers three designs—Acuity progressive design, Identity customized progressive design, and Upgrade single vision design—each with various lifestyle options. The labs may sell the lenses under the PFO brand names or their own private label.

PFO GLOBAL
SmartCalc lab software

INFO: pfoglobal.com

{SPECTACLE LENSES}
SWEET 16

Seiko Optical Products of America has introduced Super 16 DA, an advanced dual aspheric finished single-vision 1.60 lens that represents an ideal blend of high-index aesthetics and value. Super 16 DA lenses are as thin as a comparable 1.67 lens because of the aspheric design being incorporated on both sides.

According to the company, the dual aspheric low base curve compensates for distortion, peripheral power error, and astigmatic aberration in a balance manner at all viewing angles. The Super 16 DA design includes a patented Seiko-exclusive 10mm spherical fitting button in the lens center for instant patient accommodation. Super 16 DA is available with Seiko premium SuperClean AR coating from plano to -10.00 sphere out to a -2.00 cylinder.

SEIKO OPTICAL PRODUCTS
Super 16 DA lenses

INFO: 800-235-5367, seikoeyewear.com

{LOW VISION}
NEW AND IMPROVED

Eschenbach and Ash Technologies have updated their Crystal XL (version 2) video magnifier, including new features as well as a lower pricepoint. The new 4.3” TFT LCD screen now features an anti-glare coating and a wider range of magnification—from 1.5x to 14x. Other updates include an automatic shut-off feature to help extend the battery life by up to four hours and the ability to save and recall 100 images that can be downloaded to a PC via a micro USB connector.

The Crystal XL offers four viewing modes and is illuminated by two LEDs with three brightness settings. A flip-out stand allows for comfortable reading or writing.

ESCHENBACH
Crystal XL (version 2)

INFO: 800-487-5389, info@eschenbach.com, eschenbach.com

{EQUIPMENT}
ALL FINISHED!

The latest generation of high-performance finishing solutions from Essilor Instruments USA is the Neksia, a full-featured system designed for large and small practices. Together, high-performance edging and tracing systems offer computer-assisted tracing, centering, blocking, edging, grooving, safety beveling, and polishing of a wide spectrum of premium lenses and frames with accuracy and speed.

Neksia represents a significant step forward technologically from the company’s older Gamma and Kappa models that it is replacing. The edging system optimizes speed based on material, shape, and thickness, while its Edging Assisted System help prevents slipping and axis deviation. The tracer features automatic frame-type detection of a variety of frame styles and intelligent centering and blocking.

ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS USA
Neksia finishing system

INFO: 855-393-4647, essilorinstrumentsusa.com