(at a glance)

Our name is Essilor, the world's leading manufacturer of optical lenses. And, if you're looking at this Insider magazine, you are probably waiting to see your eye care professional or are there to select some new eyewear.

If you already own glasses, you may, in fact, be wearing Essilor lenses. Right now, they could be our Crizal® lenses that cut reflections and glare or, if you're over 40, chances are you or someone you know has already purchased one of the 300 million pairs of Essilor's Varilux® progressive lenses that have been sold worldwide.

While you're visiting your eye care professional, we hope you'll look around at the amazing array of eyewear options. As you'll see, today's eyewear is fashionable, functional, and fun. That is, in fact, why we produced this magazine--to bring you up to date on what's new in eyewear.

If you'd like more information about vision care and eyewear, or our products in particular, visit us online at www.essilor.com.

If this image looks familiar, then you're like millions of Americans who have seen our Talking Eyes commercial on TV. Created to promote Crizal® anti-reflective lenses that reduce glare and eyestrain for increased visual performance and comfort, the 30-second spot shows an actor's eyeballs talking and getting dunked in a restroom sink.

Though it runs for half a minute, the crew spent a full day filming in the restroom of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles--a location that's better known for hosting such events as the Academy Awards.

While our company does have 450 research scientists working on nothing but advances in vision, we haven't managed to get eyeballs to speak. Instead, it took 100 hours and three computer animators to create that talking eye effect.

if you...

...squint to read, then you might be farsighted, also known as a hyperope.

...see some blurring all the time, then you have an astigmatism. Translated, that means you have an irregularly shaped cornea.

...are over 40 and find your arms aren't long enough to read a menu, then you might be a presbyope. This inability to see up close happens to everyone.

...wear glasses and are bothered by reflections,

glare, and smudges on your lenses, then you need to ask your eye care professional about Crizal and the new Crizal® Alizé™ lenses.

In our recent Crizal Clear Sight Survey, Essilor of America asked men and women how they perceive eyeglasses.

>> STAR-STRUCK Men picked Britney Spears as the sexiest spectacle-sporting celeb, while women said Richard Gere tops their list.

>> ROMANCE Six out of ten men surveyed completely disagree with that old expression, "Boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses."

>> LOOKIN' SMART People who wear glasses are perceived as smart (40%) and sophisticated (39%).

What's sexy? Here's what 3,000 consumers--wearers and non-wearers--who participated in our Clear Sight Survey said.

49%...said today's hottest look is rimless eyewear

46%...reported they'd consider wearing glasses simply as a fashion accessory--even if they didn't need them

So, what's not so hot? When

we asked eyeglass wearers about their perceptions, here's what they said are their main pet peeves:

70%...said scratches, and so they would opt for lenses with scratch resistance

64%...cited dirty lenses, adding that they have commented on someone else's dirty glasses

You change your other accessories, so why not the most visible one--your glasses? Wearing only one pair doesn't meet your fashion or visual needs--which is why we at Essilor manufacture a variety of lenses.

VARILUX® Designed for eyes over 40, Varilux is the world's best
selling progressive lens, allowing you to see near, far, and everything in between--without any annoying jumps or lines.

CRIZAL® This anti-reflective lens reduces glare, eyestrain, and reflections caused by artificial light, computers, and night driving, so your eyes feel more comfortable, sharpening your vision by more than 10%. And, because there are no distracting reflections, Crizal lenses show off your eyes.

CRIZAL® ALIZÉ™ The newest formulation of Crizal is called Crizal Alizé. Not only do these lenses allow you to see and look better, but they are specially formulated to resist smudges and dirt better than ever.

THIN&LITE® 1.67 Thin&Lite 1.67 lenses are nearly 50% thinner than ordinary plastic, produce sharper vision, and enhance appearance.

AIRWEAR® An unmatched combination of comfort, cosmetics, and safety, Airwear lenses are up to 43% lighter, 35% thinner, and 45% flatter than ordinary plastic, while providing 100% UV protection.

TRANSITIONS® These versatile lenses are as clear as regular glasses indoors, as dark as sunglasses outdoors.

POLARIZED SUNLENS Perfect for bright sun conditions, these sun lenses offer superior glare reduction, color contrast, and depth perception.