New Essilor products protect against harmful effects of digital devices

NEW YORK – Essilor introduced Smart Blue Filter, designed to reduce exposure to harmful blue light, and Eyezen+ lenses, which are embedded with the Smart Blue Filter and are also designed to provide accommodative relief to digital device users, here at a company-sponsored press conference held during Vision Expo East.

“The average consumer still doesn’t understand blue light,” Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, Dipl, Essilor’s senior vice president of consumer development, said at the press conference. “Where we are today with blue light is where we were with UV a few years ago.

“We don’t have every piece of data we need, but it’s a ‘why not’ story,” he continued. “There’s no downside here. We believe there’s a lot of potential upside. We’re committed to protecting the eyes of as many consumers as possible.”

The fact that people are living longer combined with the level of digital device use increases the impact, Purcell said.

“We want to reach people who are not vision corrected as well, the people who aren’t getting annual eye exams,” he said.

The Smart Blue Filter is clear and embedded in the lens, absorbing harmful blue light instead of reflecting it.

“Researchers are working hard to understand the importance of the spectrum of visible and nonvisible light and understanding the implications,” Purcell said. “We’ve isolated retinal cells, exposed them to specific wavelengths of light, simulate a lifetime of exposure and understand where those harmful effects are. We’ll be able to bring you things in the future that go beyond UV and blue light.

“We know what exact wavelengths are associated with diseases like age-related macular degeneration,” he continued. “The sun is 500 times more intense than indoor exposure. Cumulative effect is significant. We should be protecting our patients, the evidence shows. There have been changes in illumination, LED lamps and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Purcell noted that the Smart Blue Filter blocks 20% of harmful blue light, while Essilor’s Crizal Prevencia, which has a yellow tint, blocks 35% and is targeted to those at higher risk.

He explained that the vision of Eric Leonard, president of Essilor of America, is, “If we’re going to be able to get everyone to protect their eyes, let’s do it for free.”

The Smart Blue Filter is available at no extra charge in all Transitions lenses, Varilux digital products and Eyezen+, Purcell said.

Sixty percent of Americans use digital devices more than 5 hours a day, Carl Bracy, chief marketing officer, Essilor of America, said at the press conference. Seventy percent use two at a time, 90% don’t talk to eye care practitioners about device usage, and 73% of adults younger than 30 years experience digital eye strain symptoms.

“The opportunity is much broader than who we’re already talking to,” he said, “the Millennial emmetropes. If we reach them, we’ll probably reach everyone else.”

He said Essilor hopes to use the Eyezen brand to reach millions of Americans to get them involved in annual eye exams.

Bracy said Essilor will target this audience with three products. Eyezen+ is the company’s best technology and contains the clear Smart Blue Filter, he said. It will be exclusive to independent optometry. Eyezen Glasses, which use reflective technology, will be available in prescription or plano, from independents, retailers and online. – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO

Disclosures: Purcell and Bracy are employed by Essilor.