CONTINUING EDUCATION
TRANSITIONS OPTICAL FAMILY OF PRODUCTS: A Lens for Every Patient
BY JENEAN CARLTON, ABOC, NCLC
Since the company began in 1990, Transitions Optical consistently has brought innovative photochromic products to the optical industry. Transitions Optical continues to push the boundaries of photochromics by developing lenses with improved performance attributes that are better than prior lens offerings. One has to wonder, though: why go to all the trouble of developing new photochromic products when you already manufacture the best-selling light-adaptive lenses in the world? The simple answer is that Transitions Optical has never been the type of company to rest on its successes. Transitions Optical understands that consumers always want better photochromic products—lenses that get very dark outdoors, are able to activate to a dark level of color regardless of temperature, and fade quickly to clear indoors. The bottom line is that patients seek out cutting-edge lenses. Transitions Optical is dedicated to meeting these technological demands with each new product that becomes available.
Transitions® Signature™ VII is the company’s newest release and the seventh generation of Transitions photochromic lenses. Transitions Signature VII lenses have been designed to improve the visual experience of clear lens wearers and photochromic lens wearers.
Transitions Signature VII lenses were introduced in early 2014 and are available in an extensive range of lens materials and designs. The lenses are available in a new truer gray, a graphite-green, and a contrast-enhancing brown light-adaptive color. The company reports that the lenses are clear indoors and achieve a darker depth of color outdoors when compared with Transitions® VI lenses.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to:
1. Describe the primary features of Transitions® Signature™ VII photochromic lenses.
2. Explain how new Life 360™ testing methodology enabled Transitions Optical to produce Transitions Signature VII lenses with improved performance levels.
3. Detail New Chromea7™ technology and how this patented dye formula is a true molecular breakthrough in photochromic lenses.
4. Explain the features and benefits of Transitions® XTRActive® lenses.
5. Discuss Transitions® Vantage™ lenses and how they achieve variable polarization.
6. Describe how Transitions® Drivewear® sun lenses improve the vision experience for drivers.
CREDIT:
This CE is approved for one (1) hour of credit as a General Knowledge course by the American Board of Opticianry (ABO). ABO Course SECB218 is valid for a period of two years.
TEST PROCEDURES
Following the article is a test consisting of 20 questions, the answers to which must be completed in the crossword puzzle in order to receive ABO CE credit. Respondents must correctly answer 16 of the 20 questions in order to receive credit. This is a different format for CE, so please remember to write your answers in the correct blank crossword puzzle boxes to complete the course. You may photocopy the form for multiple respondents.
Eyecare Business must receive the completed crosswords (via U.S. mail, fax, or emailed scan) by March 15, 2015. We will notify you of results within one month of receipt of your completed crossword test.
SPONSORSHIP
This course has been sponsored by an educational grant from Transitions Optical, Inc.
Transitions Signature VII
Read on to learn how Transitions Signature VII lenses were developed and how the company employed the new Life360™ testing methodology, along with its new Chromea7™ patented dye technology to develop Transitions Signature VII lenses.
New Life360 Testing Methodology
People all over the world enjoy wearing photochromic lenses all day, every day. Transitions Optical is keenly aware of its customers, their geographic location, the climates in which they live, the orientation of their lenses in the as-worn position, how the position of the sun affects lens performance, and many more circumstances that affect photochromic functioning.
When developing Transitions Signature VII lenses, the company used a new proprietary methodology for designing, developing, and analyzing photochromic performance. Named Life360, it includes three primary means of measuring the performance level of photochromic lenses: laboratory measurements, live wearer testing, and real-world measurements.
Transitions Optical developed its proprietary new Life360 testing methodology to determine the performance of the new Transitions Signature VII lenses with Chromea7 technology. The lenses were tested in more than 200 conditions, creating over 1,000 real-life patient scenarios. This extensive testing revealed that wearers preferred Transitions Signature VII lenses two-to-one over Transitions VI lenses. Transitions Life360 testing methodology was so effective, the company has committed to using it for the next iteration of photochromic developments.
New Chromea7 Technology
What the majority of consumers want most in photochromic lenses is for the lenses to get very dark outside and clear indoors. Transitions Optical develops dye “families” to achieve the desired level of photochromic performance.
Chemists look for the following properties when selecting dyes: color, temperature sensitivity, color stability, and the speed of darkening and fading. Transitions Optical’s chemists go to great efforts to create photochromic dye packages that will perform well for wearers in real-life conditions all over the world. Chromea7 technology is the latest result of these efforts and is incorporated in all Transitions Signature VII lenses.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
The new Chromea7 technology is made up of dye molecules that constantly and smoothly recalibrate as the degree of visible light and UV energy changes when moving from indoors to outdoors. The lenses darken and lighten to just the right level in every environment so the optimal, and most comfortable, amount of light reaches the wearer’s eyes. With Transitions Signature VII lenses, patients will experience less glare, better comfort, and improved vision without having to change their eyewear each time they move from indoors to outdoors.
Chromea7 is a combination of photochromic dyes in the indeno-fused naphthopyran family, which are integrated into the lenses. Chromea7 technology absorbs UV light to activate rapidly to provide an optimum level of darkness under different outdoor conditions. According to the company, the Chromea7 patented dye package reacts to high levels of UV energy in direct sunlight as well as low levels of UV energy in indirect sunlight. The Chromea7 dye package was optimized to be more sensitive to low energy UV light (i.e., longer wavelength UV light.) This feature means the lenses are more reactive to indirect sunlight, capture and use more reflected sunlight, and are significantly darker in color, even on the hottest days. Transitions Life360 testing confirms that the lenses will stay dark outdoors, even in a shaded environment such as when standing beneath a tree, under an outdoor pavilion, or when wearing a hat.
The bottom line is that Chromea7 technology allows for an improved, more UV-responsive lens in all real-life conditions. Chromea7 dyes allow Transitions Signature VII wearers to experience truer colors and the lenses are a more aesthetically pleasing color when compared to Transitions VI lenses. Transitions Signature VII lenses in gray are 15% darker and in brown 21% darker than Transitions VI lenses.
What about the lens color indoors? The company reports that Transitions Signature VII lenses are clear indoors.
8 out of 10 clear lens wearers prefer Transitions Signature VII lenses to their clear lenses.
To understand wearer preferences, Transitions Optical asked clear lens wearers to evaluate the new Transitions Signature VII lens. Test results proved that 8 out of 10 clear lens wearers preferred Transitions Signature VII to their clear lenses. Likewise, current Transitions VI wearers were asked to evaluate the performance of the new lens and the Transitions Signature VII lenses were preferred two-to-one over Transitions VI lenses. With this type of real-life feedback, eyecare professionals are likely to easily convert clear lens wearers, and prior Transitions lens wearers, to the new Transitions Signature VII lenses.
Both groups of wearers preferred Transitions Signature VII lenses because of an optimal combination of benefits: better darkness outdoors, improved responsiveness to UV in more real-life situations, speed of activation and fade back, and clarity indoors as well as at night.
MOLECULES IN ACTION
Photochromic lenses carry out a reversible chemical reaction that enables the lenses to darken and then lighten again. This reversible effect is called a “photochromic reaction” and takes place each time the wearer changes from indoor to outdoor environments.
When indoors, photochromic dyes are in the “closed” or inactivated state and are colorless. The structures of the colorless forms feature parts of the molecule that is somewhat twisted and three-dimensional. The UV energy in sunlight causes a carbon-oxygen chemical bond, present at the twist point, to break, allowing the molecule to adopt a more elongated, planar structure. This “open” activated structure absorbs visible light so the lens becomes colored and darkens upon going outdoors. Upon coming indoors, the UV radiation source is removed and the Chromea7 dye molecules return back to their “closed” state. The oxygen and carbon bonds reconnect, restoring the twisted 3D structures, and Transitions Signature VII lenses fade back to their clear indoor color.
LESS HEAT SENSITIVE
Temperature has historically been an issue with photochromic lenses because the lenses don’t get as dark in hot climates as they do in colder temperatures. The problem occurs because the primary reason for fade back is heat, so hot temperatures can cause activated dye molecules to reverse to their “closed” state. The molecules in Chromea7 technology were developed to be more independent of temperature, which means they aren’t as sensitive to hotter climates when compared to Transitions VI lenses.
AVAILABILITY AND MATERIALS
Transitions Signature VII lenses are available in a new truer gray tint and also a contrast-enhancing brown tint. Material availability includes 1.50, 1.60, 1.67, 1.74, polycarbonate, and Trivex®. The lenses are available in single-vision and progressive designs in all materials listed. Likewise, the lenses are also available in a flat-top segmented multifocal in 1.50 index.
Transitions Signature VII lenses replace Transitions VI lenses as the optimal choice for indoor lens clarity and light-adaptive lenses outdoors. To learn more about the product please visit www.TransitionsSignature.com. Here you can find product information, frequently asked questions and answers, educational presentations, tech notes, testimonials, and information about ordering a launch kit for your practice.
Transitions® Vantage™ lenses
Transitions Vantage lenses are a smart choice for people who spend time outdoors and want the convenience of every day lenses that offer revolutionary variable polarization.
Transitions Vantage lenses are a technological breakthrough because they are the only photochromic lenses that polarize as they darken. Outdoors, the polarization adjusts to match the level of outdoor glare, which can vary as the day progresses and conditions change.
The result is noticeably crisper, sharper vision as well as control of glare and light scatter. For example, sunlight reflecting off the sidewalk or the windshield of an oncoming vehicle can cause disabling, blinding glare for a pedestrian. Until now, polarization only existed as static film embedded in or laminated on a lens. It was tinted and fixed, and thus unable to adapt to changing light and become clear. Transitions Vantage lenses are designed to help control glare and light scatter by both darkening and increasing their polarization in UV light.
Transitions Vantage is the only variable polarized lens in the industry. Here’s how these lenses offer a winning combination of features appreciated by people all over the world.
Variable polarization selectively blocks horizontally reflected glare to provide patients with clearer and more comfortable vision when outdoors. Glare distorts colors, blurs images, and makes vision less crisp.
Fishermen and people who enjoy water sports have long been fans of polarized lenses; with polarized lenses they are able to see through the water to clearly view the fish and plant life below.
Until Transitions Vantage was released in 2012, all polarized lenses consisted of a polarizing filter sandwiched between two lens layers or embedded in the lens material. These methods of fabrication can result in lenses that are thicker than non-polarized lenses. Transitions Vantage lenses are entirely different from these lenses because they do not use a polarized film. Instead, special photochromic dyes are applied to the front surface of the lens and, when activated, align in such a way as to act as a polarizer. Transitions Vantage lenses offer the same thickness level as non-polarized lenses because they aren’t fabricated in the same manner as traditional polarized lenses.
Transitions Vantage is a photochromic lens that darkens outdoors and, according to the company, lightens indoors to a virtually clear state. Due to the alignment of the dye molecules embedded in the front surface of the lens, the lens offers a varying degree of polarization based on the amount of UV energy in the environment. The more intense the level of UV is in the environment, the darker the lenses and the greater the degree of polarization. Because Transitions Vantage lenses require UV radiation exposure to activate, they neither darken nor polarize much in a car. Outdoors, the lenses will darken significantly and utilize variable polarization to block reflected glare. Transitions Vantage offers patients glare reduction, reduced eyestrain, a variable tint, 100% UV blockage, and variable polarization.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Want to experience these lenses for yourself? Try them on virtually through Transitions Viewer® and experience 360° views by visiting www.transitions.com/viewer. Transitions Viewer offers users the ability to see how Transitions lenses perform in real-world scenarios.
A “Help me decide” feature allows users to prioritize key photochromic lens benefits that are most important to them, such as “reduce eyestrain indoors” or “darken while in a car” to find out which adaptive lens is the best fit for their lifestyle.
Transitions Vantage lenses are available in gray in a wide selection of materials and designs. Outdoors, Transitions Vantage lenses are preferred over Transitions VI lenses on all the key benefits of polarization—visual contrast, crispness, and sharpness of vision. Learn more about Transitions Vantage lenses by visiting www.TransitionsVantage.com.
Transitions® XTRActive® lenses
Transitions XTRActive lenses are the darkest everyday photochromic lenses outdoors. They have a slight fixed tint indoors to offer more comfortable vision by protecting against harsh indoor light. Outdoors, the lenses activate to a very dark gray for premium sunwear comfort and UV protection.
The dye molecules in Transitions XTRActive lenses are always active, as they constantly respond to changing light conditions. The lenses activate to UV energy as well as visible light wavelengths between 400-415 nanometers. This allows the lenses to activate moderately by darkening to about 50% in bright daylight behind a car windshield.
The lenses get darker behind a windshield because they activate to the UV energy entering the vehicle through the side windows, as well as visible light entering the car through the windows. The front windshield on vehicles includes a UV filter to protect passengers as well as the interior of the vehicle from UV radiation exposure.
Transitions XTRActive lenses are perfect for patients who are light sensitive and want lenses that reduce harsh indoor light, become very dark outdoors, and activate moderately when driving.
What makes patients light sensitive? Photophobia is a sensitivity to light, especially bright light, and can be caused by fluorescent bulbs, sunlight, computer screens, and incandescent bulbs. Certain medications can also cause an abnormal sensitivity to light. Patients with conditions such as allergies, migraines, corneal abrasions, uveitis, keratitis, iritis, and other conditions, including eye surgeries, commonly experience photophobia.
Transitions XTRActive is a good choice for patients who change from indoors to outdoors frequently and want an extra dark lens outside. Since the lens has a slightly fixed tint indoors, patients with photophobia will find this lens comfortable in all areas of their lives.
Transitions XTRActive lenses protect wearer’s eyes from 100% UVA and UVB. With this level of protection, patients are assured their eyes are protected from damaging UV wavelengths. Wearing a darkly tinted lens that doesn’t provide 100% UV protection can be dangerous, as the pupil dilates behind a dark lens allowing even more harmful UV rays to reach the delicate interior structures of the eye, such as the crystalline lens and retina.
Patients who want a lens that takes them from indoors to outdoors, and gets very dark outside, will enjoy the benefits of Transitions XTRActive lenses.
Transitions® Drivewear® Sun Lenses
Transitions Drivewear sun lenses have a fixed polarized layer specifically designed for optimum driving performance in variable daylight conditions. Depending on the lighting conditions, Transitions Drivewear lenses change from olive green to copper in a car to provide better vision for drivers; outdoors, the lenses are dark brown.
These lenses have a significant tint at all times even though they are photochromic lenses. For this reason they are not recommended for indoor or night-time wear.
Transitions Drivewear
Transitions Drivewear lenses combine two of the most advanced lens technologies available to the optical industry today: photochromic technology from Transitions Optical and NuPolar® polarization from Younger Optics.
Transitions XTRActive
Transitions Drivewear lenses were the first photochromic lenses designed to activate both behind the windshield of a car and outdoors. Transitions Drivewear lenses change color based on the current driving conditions in order to automatically enhance the driver’s vision.
The lenses have a high-efficiency constant polarizer to block blinding glare in all driving conditions.
When discussing lens options with patients, it’s important to note that Transitions Drivewear lenses are darkly tinted lenses, even when indoors, and not appropriate for nighttime driving or indoor use.
These lenses are designed for driving and have been engineered to meet the unique visual challenges faced when driving a vehicle. To learn more about Transitions Drivewear lenses visit: www.Drivewearlens.com.
Patient Loyalty
Creating loyal, repeat customers is a high priority for every practice. With a 94% customer repurchase rate, Transitions lenses are an excellent choice to build your practice and gain repeat business. Grow your practice and increase your patient satisfaction rate by offering patients the full family of Transitions lens products.
Transitions Optical offers lens designs to meet the visual needs of every patient:
Transitions Signature VII is the newest release from Transitions Optical and offers improved performance with the new Life360 testing methodology and Chromea7 technology.
Transitions Vantage lenses are the only lenses with variable polarization; they automatically adjust to match the level of glare outdoors.
Transitions XTRActive are the darkest everyday lens outdoors, have a slight fixed tint indoors, and activate in a car because the dyes respond to UV energy as well as visible light wavelengths.
Transitions Drivewear sun lenses are designed for driving conditions; they have a constant polarizer filter and contrast-improving photochromic technology, allowing them to adapt to changing light conditions while driving.
QUESTIONS FOR CROSSWORD PUZZLE CROSSWORD
To receive one CE credit, please complete this crossword puzzle and submit it along with your full name and contact information to Eyecare Business no later than March 15, 2015. You may photocopy and mail it, scan and email it, or fax the finished puzzle and information. To fax, send it to 402-327-9299; to scan, email it to eyecarebusinesseditor@broadcastmed.com; and to mail a hard copy, send it in a stamped envelope to: De Long/Transitions CE, 3630 S. 76th St., Lincoln, NE 68506. If you have questions, email us at eyecarebusinesseditor@broadcastmed.com.
Transitions Optical offers lenses to meet the unique visual needs of every patient. The company’s new release, Transitions® Signature™ VII, outperforms all previous generations of Transitions products.
Complete the puzzle about Transitions lenses for 1 CE hour of ABO credit.
PUZZLE: A FUN FORMAT
For continuing education, insert the correct answer to each question in the appropriate boxes in the crossword puzzle below. The first section is answers that run across in the puzzle, the second is for answers that go downward. You can mail, fax, or scan and email the completed crossword puzzle to us at Eyecare Business, by downloading the the form and puzzle from this PDF link. Do NOT place the answers in the questions, as we will only accept tests for credit that have answers in the crossword puzzle itself. We hope you have fun with this format for CE.
Across
5. Dye __________ are developed to achieve the desired level of photochromic performance.
6. Upon going outdoors, the dye package absorbs visible light; the lens then becomes colored and ____________.
7. Test results proved that 8 out of 10 ________ lens wearers preferred Transitions® Signature™VII to their clear lenses.
9. Sunlight ____________ off the sidewalk or the windshield of an oncoming vehicle can cause disabling glare.
12. ______ is sensitivity to bright light.
14. Life360™ testing methodology was so _______ the company has committed to using it for the next iteration of photochromic developments.
16. The molecules in Chromea7™ technology were developed to be more __________ of temperature.
17. _________ lenses help control blinding glare.
18. Transitions® Vantage™ lenses are a technological breakthrough because they are the only photochromic lenses that provide ___________ polarization.
19. Transitions® XTRActive™ lenses are the ___________ everyday photochromic lenses outdoors.
20. The Chromea7™ dye package was _______ to be more sensitive to low energy UV light.
-
a. Charts
b. Models
c. Powders
d. Families
a. Darkens
b. Lightens
c. Open
d. Closed
a. Clear
b. Dark
c. Polarized
d. New
a. Bouncing
b. Reflecting
c. Blinding
d. Refracting
a. Uveitis
b. Keratitis
c. Iritis
d. Photophobia
a. Expensive
b. New
c. Effective
d. Complex
a. Dependent
b. Sensitive
c. Independent
d. Unique
a. Photochromic
b. Coated
c. Polarized
d. Tinted
a. Variable
b. Non
c. Fixed
d. Some
a. Preferred
b. Thinnest
c. First
d. Darkest
a. Packaged
b. Mixed
c. Optimized
d. Heated
Down
1. Transitions® Drivewear® lenses are photochromic lenses which are designed to __________ behind the windshield of a car and outdoors.
2. When indoors, photochromic dyes are in the ________ or inactivated state.
3. Life360™ is a new proprietary methodology for designing, developing and ____________ photochromic performance.
4. Transitions Optical continues to push the boundaries of photochromic technology by developing lenses with ______________ performance attributes.
8. Transitions Optical offers lens designs to meet the visual needs of _________ _________, regardless of their age or lifestyle. (2 words)
10. Transitions Optical understands that _________ always want better photochromic products.
11. Transitions® Signature™ VII is the company’s newest release and _________ generation of Transitions photochromic lenses.
13. Photochromic lenses carry out a ___________ chemical reaction that enables the lenses to darken and then lighten again.
15. __________ is a combination of photochromic dyes in the indeno-fused naphthopyran family, which are integrated into the lenses.
-
a. Activate
b. Lighten
c. Shift
d. Change
a. Open
b. Activated
c. Darkened
d. Closed
a. Adequate
b. Analyzing
c. Discussing
d. Detailing
a. Adequate
b. Less
c. Improved
d. General
a. Every patient
b. Some patients
c. Adult patients
d. Sunwear patients
a. Consumers
b. Doctors
c. Laboratories
d. Staff members
a. Second
b. Fourth
c. Sixth
d. Seventh
a. Reversible
b. Complex
c. Proprietary
d. Molecular
a. New Life360™
b. Chromea7™
c. Signature
d. Vantage
![]({"src":"/media/waafmzfd/92014.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})