Polarized Priorities
Today's polarized lens market is one that combines tried-and-true technology and techniques, yet also incorporates high-tech products and procedures that have recently put a new face on polarization.
By Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC
Polarized lenses aren't just for sports. Images courtesy of Essilor of America and Kaenon Polarized (below)Priorities with polarized lenses can vary between different optical demographics. While research and development (R&D) is the priority for most lens manufacturers, putting out an accurately fabricated pair of polarized eyewear is a lab's priority. ECPs stay up on the polarized technology learning curve so that they can recommend the best polarized product to each patient, and patients/customers expect polarized lenses put an end to their outdoor glare-related visual complaints.
Embracing tried-and-true with new, here are polarized priorities to benefit you and your patients.
These examples show how polarized technology is rapidly moving forward, and what the industry will be focused on now and in the continued development of the category.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS
The top operating words for polarized lenses now are color, digital, large, and proven. Essilor of America's Jean Marc Leroy, vice president of product marketing, explains:
For fishing and driving, polarization can help improve visual acuity and performance. Image above courtesy of Revo; images below (top to bottom) courtesy of Transitions Optical, Vision-Ease Lens, and Carl Zeiss Vision
■ COLOR: Gray and brown still dominate. “More than 70 percent of the U.S. market is still driven by gray and brown grade C lenses,” Leroy says. “The rest of the market is distributed among specific colors to enhance performance in specific activities. [For example] inside this market of specialty lenses, KBCo- SLC is offering 16 different colors to match activities.”
■ DIGITAL: “Digital surfacing technology unlocks some of the limitations inherent to standard surfacing,” Leroy notes. “For example, sunwear frames are often more complex with higher wrap angle for which the optical compensation for each prescription is made easy using digital surfacing.”
The result, he adds, is that this market will get the full benefit of inventory reduction, following the current trend for clear lenses. “The latest generation of products are digitally surfaced either full backside or dual-side using complex surfaces particularly adapted to the complex shapes and prescriptions in sunwear.”
■ TRENDS: The market is seeing the growth of both larger diameter and high-index lenses. “Ultra-high index is growing in double digits in the polarized market segment,” Leroy observes. “Larger semifinished diameter and processes allowing expanded prescription range without loss of peripheral optical function [are key].”
■ BENEFITS: It's important that consumers are taught to see polarized lens features as true benefits. “Using third-party collaboration,” explains Leroy, “we will develop new tests demonstrating the benefits of polarization and the superiority of [polarized] lenses. Through tests we demonstrated that wearers are able to improve reaction time when wearing these lenses versus tinted lenses thanks to improved contrast sensitivity.
“With more flexibility in the process and design, we'll see more customized offerings to meet any individual need,” Leroy concludes.
| TESTING 1…2…3… |
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| Industry-wide, the top quick test to check and see if a lens is polarized or not is the “twist test.” Hold the lens to be checked near another, confirmed polarized lens and rotate one lens until the view through the lenses is dark, indicating a polarized lens. If the view doesn't darken, the lens isn't polarized. With new polarized photochromic technology and brand new variable polarization (clear-to-polarized) lenses, the twist test works as long as the polarization properties are activated first. Testing a non-activated lens won't work. “Activate the lens first, either with outside sunlight or with an appropriate UV light activation demonstrator,” advises John Ligas, director, research and development at Transitions Optical, Inc. “You can then overlay another polarized lens or polarized sheet over the top and rotate 90 degrees. You should see the lens go much darker.” “Since the level of polarization is variable,” he cautions, “this test may not result in total darkness but rather a lens that is darker than without the film.” |
VARIABLE POLARIZATION
Polarization has been an important area of research and development for some time. Polarized lenses, considered strictly sunlenses for so long, recently became an indoor-to-outdoor option with the introduction of polarized photochromic lenses and new light-activated clear-to-polarized (variable polarized) lens technology.
Polarization is frequently improved for performance. Image courtesy of Maui Jim
Traditional polarized manufacturing methods use a polarized film applied using different methods. This creates fixed polarization.
Transitions® Vantage™ lenses, available in May, change the polarized paradigm be cause variable polarized lenses are everyday lenses rather than sunlenses. These lenses change from clear/non-polarized indoors to dark-polarized outdoors.
“Shifting the thinking about polarized lenses from only sunlenses to everyday lenses will change the future of polarized products,” predicts John Ligas, director, research and development, Transitions Optical, Inc. “It will make polarization a solution not only for enhanced sports performance but also for everyday vision, opening up an everyday solution. Patients can have added glare protection in an everyday lens, which can be a game changer for many people.”
Variable polarization is an example of manufacturers shifting gears with an overall fresh approach to vision correction.
“In general we see the optical industry, polarization technology included, to continue to move toward being more consumer-centric,” Ligas observes. “That's where our business is headed. We realize that consumers have different needs and there's not a one-size-fits-all approach to polarization or photochromics. Providing patients with choices and the best technology to meet their visual needs is our priority.” EB
| MAKER'S MARK |
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| Processing polarized lenses today may be easier than in the past, but can create confusion at dispensing, especially considering the new “digital age.” Chris Brown, manager of the optical help desk, at Walman Optical, a large, independent wholesale lab based in Minneapolis, Minn., makes this recommendation: “Single vision polarized lenses have manufacturer markings indicating the 180 axis for proper layout when processing them,” says Brown. “These lenses are also used for backside digital progressive lens options. The laser markings on PALs will add another set of markings to a polarized lens. ECPs should make sure to use the PAL markings when checking PDs (pupillary distance) on these lenses.” |
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