WHAT'S NEW - Buyer's Guide
By Kim Aubrey-Larcinese

Accessories

HEADS UP

SAMA EYEWEAR

Loree Rodkin, designer of jewelry and eyewear, has brought her modern-gothic twist to a new line of chains available through Sama Eyewear. Handcrafted in sterling silver, gold, or white gold with diamond or cubic zirconia accents, the chains feature gothic emblems such as skulls and celtic crosses. Wholesale prices for chains made with sterling silver and cubic zirconium range from $180 to $700; gold and diamond chains are available by special order. To learn more, visit the Website at www.samaeyewear.net.

SPEXSHADE

MULTI-TASKING

Having an eyewear accessory that serves more than one function seems like just the thing to keep up with an active lifestyle. SpexShade is a three-in-one product that is a case, visor, and lanyard for eyewear. The product is also designed to float, making nearly any eyewear attached to it float as well. It also has a pocket that can hold small items, such as cash, a key, or a credit card. The suggested retail price for SpexShade is $15.95. For more information, visit www.spexshade.com.

giving back

SERENGETI DESIGNS

Serengeti Designs' line of beaded eyeglass cords serve a dual purpose. Not only are they an attractive means of keeping eyewear close at hand, but each cord purchased also helps support charity. One dollar from each cord sold is donated to Beautiful Gate, an AIDS orphanage in Cape Town, South Africa. Cords can be custom ordered in colors to coordinate with local schools or teams, and can also be converted to conference tag holders and necklaces. Orders of less than 100 cords are $8 per item; for over 100 pieces, the price is $7 each. To order, call 828-687-9467 or E-mail kathy@serengetidesigns.com.

SPECTACLE LENSES

SOLA SUNLENS

VOODOO MAGIC

Sola Sunlens introduces VooDoo, a sunlens that conforms to the contour of the face and head. The lens was developed using "V" patent technology, an exclusive platform that enables Sola Sunlens to design innovative lenses with superior optical performance. VooDoo can be used as a single piece or as two separate lenses. VooDoo also features curvature shape properties to conform to the face and head for the ultimate eye protection, while maintaining a consistent thickness across the entire lens surface. The VooDoo is available in polycarbonate, Poly Flex, and Flex Eyes with Sola Sunlens mirror coatings. For more information, visit www.solasunlens.com.

SEIKO OPTICAL PRODUCTS OF AMERICA

AR SURPASSED

Pentax Vision, a division of Seiko Optical Products of America has introduced Surpass ECP AR featuring new EasyClean Plus Super Hydro topcoating. Now available on all Pentax Custom Coating and Rx orders, Surpass ECP Super Hydro topcoating combines hydro-phobic and oleophobic chemistry to provide ultra-high coating surface tension. This results in a lens that is extraordinarily cleanable, as well as water-, oil-, and grime-repellent, to prevent deterioration of the coating due to UV, temperature fluctuations, and humidity, according to company representatives. For more information, visit www.seikoeye-wear.com or call 800-401-9101.

OPTIMA

TRANSITIONS RESOLUTION

Thanks to a recent manufacturing partnership, Optima's Resolution semi-finished single-vision and Response progressive addition lens designs are now available in Transitions V Lenses with ESP. The lenses take advantage of Optima's ECM-9 manufacturing process, which eliminates birefringence for enhanced optical performance. This combines with advanced Transitions' photochromic properties and exclusive surface technologies, including faster activation and deactivation, clearer lenses indoors and darker lenses outdoors, and the Trans-Bonding process. For more information, call Optima at 800-621-1216 or visit www.optima-inc.us and www.Resolutionlenses.com.

ESSILOR OF AMERICA

MORE LIBERTY

Essilor has added to its Liberty PAL lens offerings by introducing the Varilux Liberty Airwear Transitions V Gray. This exciting new offering combines Essilor's Instant Reading Power^TM with the latest Transitions photochromic technology in a bifocal replacement lens. Varilux Liberty Airwear Transitions Gray comes in powers of +6.00D to -10.00D up to a -4.00D cylinder. Currently, nine Varilux products are available with Transitions V technology. For more information, visit the company Website at www.essilor.com.

Contact Lenses

SPORT SIGHT

Bausch & Lomb and Nike have created MaxSight, a sport-tinted soft contact lens for myopes and hyperopes designed to aid visual performance. The lens filters specific light wavelengths to enhance visual elements, such as a ball or background, and reduces outdoor glare. It is available in gray-green tint for bright sunlight and amber tint for variable light. Nike markets the lens to consumers; B&L manufactures the lens and markets to ECPs. For more information, call 800-348-2743 or E-mail maxsight@bausch.com.

UNDERGOING RENOVATION

Art Optical's latest innovation in presbyopic CL design is the Renovation, created for presbyopes requiring +2.25D and greater add powers. The design eliminates spherical aberration to ensure proper focus at near, intermediate, and distance power ranges through all parameter combinations. An adjustable distance/intermediate zone diameter accommodates small pupils for enhanced near vision and large pupils for reduced flare and glare. To learn more, call 800-253-9364 or visit www.artoptical.com.

VISTAKON

full parameters

Vistakon's Acuvue Advance Brand Contact Lenses for Astigmatism are now available in 2,190 parameters, including plano to -6.00D in 0.25D steps in cylinder powers of -0.75, -1.25, and -1.75, with axes of 10° to 180° in 10° steps. Additional powers are -6.50D to -9.00D in 0.50 steps, with cylinders of -1.25 and -1.75 and axes of 90° and 180°, ±20, no obliques. Further powers include +0.25D to +6.00D in 0.25D steps with cylinders of -0.75, -1.25, and -1.75, and axes of 90° and 180°, ±20, no obliques. The lenses are made with silicone hydrogel material; feature Hydraclear, a moisture-rich, oxygen-rich wetting agent; and utilize a stabilization technology using the natural pressures of a blinking eye to balance the lens in place and provide quick realignment. The lenses block 90 percent of UVA and 99 percent of UVB rays. For more information, call 800-843-2020 or visit www.ecp.acuvue.com.

Tools

WESTERN OPTICAL SUPPLY

WESTERN AXIS

Western Optical Supply has introduced the new Concorde Lens Axis Aligning Plier. The plier features 20mm round rubber pads that are molded to a four base curve to avoid cracking the lenses. The metal pad support is fully encapsulated in the rubber to prevent scratching the lenses, and the jaws open wide enough to accommodate up to 100mm diameter lenses. For more information, call 800-423-3294 or visit www.westernoptical.com.

INTERSTATE OPTICAL

Y NOT?

Interstate Optical's German-made Y-Stick is now available in the U.S. Used to assist in marking fitting crosses, the Y-Stick is designed to eliminate subjectivity in determining the body posture or head position, according to company reps. It records the horizontal line of sight using a swinging plumb line and a brake arm that is operated from the side. All parts are aluminum, and all contact points are silicone-coated. An acrylic stand and instructional CD are included. For more information visit www.interstateoptical.com.