The focus on improving, enhancing, correcting, and protecting vision has become a consumer priority as visual needs are escalating in clients of all ages at an accelerated rate. The undeniable need stems from the environmental changes to the ways in which we work, socialize, and prioritize health due to our need to conform to a pandemic lifestyle.

Lens manufacturers are in the fast lane of product innovations to keep up, providing ECPs—and, in turn, the public—with a modernization of the optical lens. Some are even remodeling features of lenses that are still in the early stages of mainstream consumer buying behavior, such as blue light protection.

Providing patients with visual solutions by way of enhanced lens features boosts the prescription results, increases profitability, and provides an opportunity for ECPs to create meaningful and lasting relationships with patients by elucidation of superior vision through lenses.

Here, we present a few of the key high-tech innovations in lenses introduced in 2021—and one whose debut is within sight for 2022. In this tech-forward roundup, we break down the bestselling features of each innovation—and look at how it offers ECPs the opportunity to improve the user’s optical experience.

Innovation in Blue Light Protection: Zeiss BlueGuard Lenses

Zeiss BlueGuard lenses are an in-material blue light solution that balances the positive and negative side of blue light by addressing the challenges of offering patients blue light protection without affecting the aesthetic appearance of the lenses. These lenses are engineered to balance protection plus maintain clarity and aesthetics to mitigate the potential challenges of digital light sources, according to Zeiss.

Selling Feature/Benefit to the Wearer:

Blue light protection often comes with the undesirable visual appearance of a blue-violet color reflection on the surface of the wearer’s lenses. Zeiss BlueGuard lenses offer a lens coating upgrade opportunity for the ECP while also addressing the patients’ dislike for the physical characteristics of a traditional blue light protective coating. The coating is available through the Zeiss product lens range and available in indexes 1.5 through 1.74.

Innovation in Sunwear: Transitions XTRActive Polarized

Transitions XTRActive polarized lenses are photochromic lenses that offer variable levels of polarization—achieving a 90% polarized activation outdoors in bright sunlight, even in hot temperatures, according to the company. These lenses are a technological feat that combine an exclusive multilayer dye matrix with new Transitions XTRActive broad-spectrum dyes for a more responsive activation, increased darkness, and variable polarization for glare reduction plus UV and harmful blue light protection.

Selling Feature/Benefit to the Wearer:

For many Rx lens wearers, a pair of polarized sunglasses is a luxury, but an inconvenience when stepping indoors. Transitions XTRActive polarized lenses address the need to activate behind the windshield, and quickly adapt to a virtually clear lens state indoors. The features of Transitions XTRActive polarized lenses give ECPs a versatile second-pair offering with the selling feature of a pair of glasses that work both as a clear pair indoors and dark polarized pair outdoors.

Innovation in Myopia Control: Hoya MiyoSmart

Hoya MiyoSmart lenses are the first spectacle lens proven to curb myopia progression in children by an average by 60%, shares the company. MiyoSmart with D.I.M.S. (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology features a central optical zone for correcting refractive error and multiple defocus segments evenly surrounding the Rx central zone. This provides clear vision and myopic defocus simultaneously at all viewing distances. The lenses aid in restraining myopia progression on average by 59% and slow axial eye growth on average by 60%, shares Hoya.

Selling Feature/Benefit to the Wearer:

ECPs can offer prescription correction and a myopia control treatment in an optical lens. MiyoSmart lenses offer easy adaptation, and the comfort of this lens design makes even young wearers compliant to wear. Parents appreciate an easy option for myopia progression reduction. The prescription change guarantee allows for replacement lenses within a 12-month period (and an Rx change of +/-0.50).

Innovation in Lens Coatings: Shamir Glacier Expression

Releasing Feb. 1, Glacier Expression is an anti-reflective coating that offers clarity by using “Visual Noise-Reducing Technology.” While anti-reflective coating performance can be susceptible to reflections from digital devices and screens, the mechanics of Glacier Expression enable the coating to filter out unwanted light and reduce reflections by up to 70%, according to Shamir. This provides a clear path to see and connect with others with an unobstructed lens presence.

Selling Feature/Benefit to the Wearer:

All ECPs should recommend an anti-reflective coating. Shamir Glacier Expression’s transparency delivers visual clarity that allows for the wearer and those looking at them to see one another without the distraction of lens surface reflections. ECPs can offer clear lenses with an anti-reflective coating to help improve a patient’s satisfaction with their glasses because their lenses are less of a barrier to their eyes, thus improving physical appearance.

Innovation in Lens Coatings: Essilor Crizal Rock

In 2021, Essilor introduced its most scratch-resistant Crizal No-Glare lens ever made: Crizal Rock. According to the company, Crizal Rock is three times more scratch-resistant than entry-level lenses. This innovative coating also features High-Resistance Technology (four oxides distributed in layers on the lens to resist scratches and dust) and an HSD superhydrophobic topcoat for easy cleaning and smudge resistance.

Selling Feature/Benefit to the Wearer:

According to Ipsos, eyeglass wearers clean their lenses more than 14 times per week—and 77% of wearers wipe their lenses with T-shirts, tissues, and/or towels at least once a week. A highly scratch-resistant and easy-to-clean lens coating option is a solid, time-saving solution for ECPs to offer their patients today.

 

 

Innovation in Lens Coatings: VSP Optics TechShield

The new TechShield AR coatings feature increased scratch resistance, smudge resistance, and cleanability, according to the company. The streamlined portfolio—TechShield, TechShield Plus, TechShield Elite, and TechShield Blue—provide two-times better scratch resistance and cleanability as well as excellent visual clarity and an attractive appearance, shares VSP.

Selling Feature/Benefit to the Wearer:

The TechShield AR portfolio from VSP Optics offers a suite of high-performing, easy-to-dispense products to eyecare professionals For patients, it serves as an attractive, easy-to-understand offering that can help them see and look their best.