Protecting the eyes is about more than just having the right lens. It’s also about providing the right coatings to ensure the eyes are protected from the sun and day-to-day activities. The industry is utilizing a variety of colour options to provide wearers with the best visual experience.

IT’S EASY BEING GREEN
Transitions Signature VII graphite green lenses allow wearers to see the world in a shade of green that helps things look natural, and the iconic color also brings a sense of style to eyeglass lenses.
“New Transitions Signature VII graphite green lenses are a smart choice for any ECP who wishes to dispense more pairs of Transitions that will provide better visual protection to all the wearers out there also looking for an esthetic solution,” said Kristel Bordeleau- Tassile, Brand Manager for Transitions, SV & Materials.
“We will also speak directly to the consumers about this trendy new product, over the internet and in social media, in addition to having Laurence Leboeuf, a socially conscious and glamorous Canadian comedian and actress, featured.”
Bordeleau-Tassile said Leboeuf perfectly represents the target market for these new corrective lenses: young, trendy adults, always on the move
and enjoying the glamorous side of life.This new color is part of the Transitions Signature VII lenses offering recently introduced in brown and gray with patented Chromea7 technology, a breakthrough molecular formulation which enables the new lenses to be more reactive to indirect light and more responsive to get darker than ever before in higher temperatures. Eyecare professionals and their customers might recognize the iconic green color of the lens, as it dates back to the 1950s when the color was applied to sunglasses worn by U.S. Navy pilots.
“Essilor is proud to partner with Transitions Optical to launch the latest in photochromic lens technology and bring back a popular and ideal lens color that looks great and offers better vision in variable and bright light conditions, reduction of glare and enhanced contrast to reduce eye fatigue and strain—common issues as eyes try to overcompensate for poor perception of colour,” she said.
The gray-green color was originally developed based on research that showed how human eyes respond differently to various colors in the visual spectrum. The gray-green lenses were then formulated to emphasize certain colors to help pilots locate and track objects against a variety of outdoor backgrounds such as earth, sky and water.

BLUE HORIZON
Centennial Optical has introduced BluTech Lenses to Canada, a new lens technology developed by Eye Solutions, Inc. which filters harmful blue and UV light. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common degenerative eye condition that has no known cure and is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. BluTech Lenses technology was developed due to the growing evidence that constant exposure to harmful blue and UV wavelength light increases the risk of AMD. Studies have also shown that exposure to blue light can disrupt sleep patterns by suppressing melatonin.
“We are exposed to more high- energy blue light both indoors and out than ever before,” says David Israel, Chief Operating Officer of Eye Solutions, Inc. “BluTech Lenses provide the protection needed to guard the macula from oxidative stress and a lifetime of exposure to damaging blue light.” BluTech Lenses filter high-energy blue and ultra-violet light using ocular lens pigment derived from the auto- oxidation of 3-Hydroxykynurenine (3-OHKyn). The ocular lens pigment is then combined with melanin and isolated in a durable material. This infusion of pigment in an optical lens provides the same protection, contrast enhancement, and colour perception to the eye as the natural yellow-brown colouration of the human crystalline lens.
A unique characteristic of BluTech Lenses is that they maintain natural colour vision and improve contrast sensitivity, making them ideal for everyday wear. The lenses are available in both indoor and outdoor versions. BluTech indoor lenses have a slight tint and protect the eyes from dangerous blue light given off by fluorescent and CFC light bulbs, computer screens, flat panel TVs, and hand-held devices such as tablets and smart phones. The outdoor lenses are polarized with 80 per cent light absorption to eliminate glare, and they protect against blue light and UV radiation emitted by the sun. Unlike other blue light interference coatings, since the filter is infused in the monomer, BluTech Lenses are fully compatible with AR coatings.

BLUE VIOLET
Today people spend hours in front of computer screens, cell phones and other digital devices. These devices emit a significant amount of harmful blue light which can damage the eyes and lead to eyestrain.
This year Plastic Plus introduced the Blue Violet Filter AR Coating which offers protection against these harmful rays.
“In today’s age where your patients eyes are continuously exposed to the harmful “Blue Lights” given off by LED Screens on their Televisions, Smart Phones, tablets, computers and car headlights, it is very important to offer them the best possible protection for their eyes,” said Paul Faibish, President of Plastic Plus.
He said the new “BV-Filter” AR Coating will provide your patient’s eyes with an additional 20 per cent protection from harmful Blue Violet light which are known to cause reduced melatonin production which is harmful to a patient’s sleep-wake rhythm. The light can also lead to an increased risk for the onset of such eye diseases at cataracts and AMD.
The “BV Filter” is the next generation of product to ensure your patients eye health and overall health,” he said noting the technology can improve visual acuity, reduce physical discomfort and reduce glare.