PLAY OF LIGHT

A light-adapting contact lens is on the horizon

Is it possible to make a contact lens that darkens when the wearer is exposed to light?

Yes, and after more than a decade of product development and numerous clinical trials involving more than 1,000 patients, this groundbreaking new product could be on your patients’ eyes as early as next year—thanks to a strategic partnership between Johnson & Johnson Vision and Transitions Optical.

The lens—ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology—has recently been granted clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It incorporates photochromic technology, allowing the lens to provide vision correction and change from clear to dark in response to changing light conditions.

The FDA clearance is for attenuation of bright light, but Johnson & Johnson Vision notes that in addition to providing more comfortable vision in bright light, the lens filters blue light and blocks UV.

“ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions creates and defines an entirely new category of contact lenses that will address unmet needs for patients,” says Dr. Xiao-Yu Song, global head of R&D for Johnson & Johnson Vision.

The spherical contact lens is intended for 14-day replacement cycle, and will be available in the first half of 2019.

—Susan Tarrant

Vision Expo East 2018
6 BIG Trends

vision Expo East 2018, held March 15-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, served up a wealth of style, education, and inspiration for attendees.

The show boasted an impressive lineup of 715 total exhibitors (including more than 190 new exhibitors), an attendance increase in multiple key audience categories (including a 22% increase in opticians and contact lens technicians), and enticing new events and compelling education formats.

Here, check out our EB editors’ curated view of the six key trends that emerged in frames, lenses, and more—straight from the show floor.

And view our event photo gallery at facebook.com/pg/eyecarebusiness/photos/ .

TREND 1:
Raising the Bar

Eyewear styles with “floating” brow bars, or frames sans a bridge bar, rose right to the top—trending all over the show floor as both sunglasses and ophthalmic models from brands such as Jhane Barnes from Kenmark Eyewear, John Varvatos from De Rigo REM, and Glamour Editor’s Pick from L’Amy America.

TREND 2:
Floral Notes

Floral prints and botanically inspired hues continue as a key trend in fashion, and eyewear is following suit, with floral-printed frames from brands such as Dolce & Gabbana from Luxottica, specs from lines such as Polaroid from Safilo showing up in pastel hues, and even floral-printed lenses.

TREND 3:
Making a Statement

Fun and fresh accessories showcased Instagram-worthy quotes + prints, such as the “Life is Short, Buy the Glasses” printed cleaning cloths at Ron’s Optical, which is also rolling the prints out in eyeglass cases.

TREND 4:
Communal Craze

Optical interior design companies debuted communal tables—complete with integrated iPad stations, frame riser options to highlight frames, and ample storage space—to help encourage patients to spend time exploring eyewear merchandise.

TREND 5:
Lenses, With Style

One of the biggest trends to come out of the Lens Pavilion was style—helping patients look as good as they see. Examples include Signet Armorlite’s new Kodak sun lens colors, Younger Optics’ changing gray polar, and HOYA’s new Coppertone material plus the groundbreaking addition of rich, new clear-to-dark photochromic tint colors (and mirror coatings) from HOYA, ZEISS, and VSP Optics.

TREND 6:
Lens Choices

Answering a demand from patients and ECPs, expanded lens portfolios boasted more designs and lens treatments. At the forefront: choices for UV and blue light protection. Essilor’s new Essential Blue Series puts blue light protection across its lens family, and ZEISS broke new lens ground with UVProtect, which puts sunglass-level UV protection in a clear lens.

—Erinn Morgan, Susan Tarrant + Kerri Ann Raimo

Millennial Snapshot

EB’s exclusive, third annual Millennials + ECPs Focus Group Study reveals how ECPs are approaching Gen Y today

in this, our “Un-Millennial” issue, we still dig into just how important the millennial market is to eyecare professionals. Our 2018 Millennials + ECPs Study results reveal this—and much more.

—Erinn Morgan