What's New in Eyeglass Lenses

BYRON CENTER, Mich., December 2007 — Global Vision has introduced Outfitter 24 Safety Glasses, with anti-fog lenses that change tint from yellow to smoke while automatically adjusting to daylight or dark conditions.

Company officials say new photochromic technology provides darker shading than what is ordinarily available in polycarbonate, shatterproof lenses.

When the lens automatically lightens to yellow in darker conditions, the color provides improved depth perception, particularly on overcast days.

Outfitter 24 Safety Glasses can be worn over most regular prescription eyeglasses.

Click here for a closeup photo.

CLEVELAND, November 2007 — John Carroll University scientists in Cleveland have developed eyeglass lenses that block blue light as an aid for people who have difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night.

Researchers say sleep patterns are improved when people wear special glasses for a few hours before bedtime to block blue light rays, which delay melatonin production.

Melatonin is a hormone that helps induce sleep as part of the body's circadian rhythm or natural "biological clock."

Researchers also say blue-blocking glasses that help induce good sleep patterns have been shown to reduce symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Click here for a larger photo.

RAMSEY, Minn., October 2007 — Look for a February 2008 release of polarized sunglasses with the famous Coppertone brand name now associated with sun protection products for the skin.

The Coppertone brand will be teamed with the Vision-Ease Lens company's patented polarized sun lens technology that helps protect against high energy visible (HEV) light rays or "blue light." The polycarbonate lenses also will provide 100 percent protection against ultraviolet (UV) light and 97 percent protection from reflected glare.

Company officials say HEV light exposure may be associated with development of macular degeneration, a potentially blinding eye disease that affects many older Americans.

The Coppertone sunglass lenses, which also can be ordered as bifocals, will be available in brown or gray colors. Click here for a photo.

SEATTLE, March 2007 — University of Washington researchers say they have developed adjustable "smart" lenses that can change shading or coloring in varying conditions.

"These lenses are more active, more intelligent, than today's sunglasses," said mechanical engineering research assistant professor Chunye Xu. "But because of the materials we're using, we don't think the price is going to be very different."

Researchers use electrochromic materials that enable changes in shading and color based on variations in electrical currents. While photochromic lenses change shading automatically in light or dark conditions, wearers of electrochromic lenses can make their own adjustments. Changes within the electrochromic lenses take place within just a few seconds.

Experimental laboratory versions of new "smart lenses" some day may be converted to fashionable sunglasses that wearers can adjust to change both color and shading. (Photo courtesy of Chunye Xu, University of Washington)

Xu said commercial applications are being explored for the new "smart lenses," which could be available for retail sale in several years.

BOSTON, March 2007 — A study has shown slower myopia progression in certain children who wear progressive-addition lenses (PALs), which establish zones for correcting vision at near, intermediate, and far ranges.

Traditionally, myopic children have worn single-vision eyeglass lenses that correct only blurry distance vision caused by nearsightedness.

The study conducted at various sites, including the New England College of Optometry, followed 232 myopic children ranging in ages from 11 to 16. With use of PALs, myopia progression was slower in the 87 children (37.5 percent) who each had two myopic parents.

Study results were published in the February 2007 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

LAS VEGAS, November 2006 — Progressive eyeglass lenses fabricated with wavefront technology significantly improved patient satisfaction, according to study results reported at the 2006 American Academy of Ophthalmology conference.

Progressive lenses provide near, intermediate, and distance correction in different lens zones for older people who develop presbyopia, usually noticed when near vision begins to blur. But with progressive lenses, adjustment problems can occur because the eye and brain automatically must "choose" the right zone for seeing at any given time. Also, some distortions may occur with conventional progressive lenses.

Most of the 609 people included in a study reported better vision when wavefront optics were used in progressive eyeglass lenses, said Marguerite McDonald, MD, of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island in New York. In the study, 72 percent of patients reported better near vision with wavefront-optimized lenses, 67 percent reported better intermediate vision, and 65 percent reported better distance vision.

[Read more about wavefront lenses.]
 

TORRANCE, Calif., October 2006 — Younger Optics (Torrance, Calif.), in cooperation with Transitions photochromic lenses, has introduced a new lens known as Drivewear, which can darken in bright conditions even when a driver is behind the shield of an automobile window.

These new photochromic lenses, which darken or lighten in response to lighting conditions, also contain polarizing features that protect eyes against bright, reflective surfaces and glare.

Younger Optics officials say that Drivewear lenses are the first with the capability of darkening when the wearer is behind the windshield of a car. Click here for closeup photos of how Drivewear works in various lighting conditions.

Eyeglass Lenses continued...