Self-tinting (photochromic) lenses benefit every eyeglass wearer who spends time in the sun. But in the U.S. and around the world, only about 20% of wearers purchase self-tinting lenses. Can this number be increased? There are good reasons to believe that it can be significantly.
In 2010, Carl Zeiss Vision International conducted a survey of over 5,000 eyeglass wearers around the world.* What they found revealed that 40% of eyeglass wearers, double the current number, would choose self-tinting lenses if the lenses met their needs for darkening and clearing speed, tint density and durability. ZEISS scientists and engineers took on the challenge of meeting these consumer expectations, and what was their final result? PhotoFusion® by ZEISS: a new, advanced self-tinting lens.
PhotoFusion® delivers performance that better meets patient needs, potentially growing the self-tinting lens category. These are just some of the metrics seen by these high index, polycarbonate self-tinting lenses:
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React up to 2 times faster than previous photochromic lenses offered**
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Darken up to 20% faster than previous photochromic lenses offered**
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Offer full protection against solar UV rays
The secret to this performance is the proprietary photoactive molecules in PhotoFusion. These molecules were selected for their high quantum yield – that is, their efficiency in reacting to UV light. Because they need less energy to change from their clear to dark state, PhotoFusion® molecules react fast. The combination of molecules used in the lenses also provides excellent consistency in tint color and in performance across a broad range of temperatures.**
The bottom line: PhotoFusion® performance has the potential to grow the self-tinting lens category. The progressive lenses and AR coating categories have grown, because the categories evolved to deliver the obvious benefits without the user problems found in the earliest products. Plastic self-tinting lenses have been improving steadily for nearly 30 years. PhotoFusion® represents a major step forward in the process of meeting consumer expectations.
What does this mean to you? PhotoFusion® helps you to provide the benefits of self-tinting lenses to more of your patients. Consider the properties that self-tinting lenses offer to any eyeglass wearer:
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100% solar UV protection. As awareness of the threat of solar UV increases, more and more people understand the dangers of long-term UV exposure to eye health. It’s reasonable to say that noone should spend a significant time outside on a bright day without some form of eye protection. PhotoFusion® by ZEISS provides this protection in a very convenient way.
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Brightness protection. Direct sunlight can be 10,000 times brighter than a dimly lit room. Sudden exposure to such a change in lighting can cause ocular discomfort, squinting and eyestrain, and in some cases impair visual function completely. When exposed to the sun’s rays, the photoactive molecules in PhotoFusion quickly react, helping the eyes adjust to the extreme change in lighting.
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Convenience. Many of us keep our sunglasses in the glove compartment, so they’re always available to meet the challenge of driving into bright sunlight and they’re harder to lose. But what if you’re outside and not in the car? Additionally, many people don’t like the inconvenience of changing glasses every time they go outside, and others (particularly men) find it inconvenient to have to carry around an extra pair of sunglasses. PhotoFusion® by ZEISS conquers these inconveniences.
PhotoFusion® by ZEISS offers the basic, universal benefits of self-tinting lenses with performance that addresses the needs expressed by eyeglass wearers. The availability of PhotoFusion® lenses in all customized lens designs from Carl Zeiss Vision International makes now a good time to talk about self-tinting lenses with your patients who don’t yet have them. This can be as simple as demonstrating the self-tinting process under natural light - the performance will speak for itself.
*Source: IMW-Köln global consumer study for Carl Zeiss Vision International July 2010, based on national representative samples in US, Brazil, Germany, Italy, UK, Australia and China.
**Average performance for 1.67 and polycarbonate lenses. Performance will vary according to material, temperature, and light conditions.
Sponsored by Carl Zeiss®
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