New Spectacle Lenses for the Digital Age

With dramatic increase in the usage of digital devices such as computers and smartphones, human eyes today are exposed to harmful blue light and are experiencing much higher stress and visual strain as compared to the last decade. Taking into account this shift, Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, has introduced a new range of highly impactful technology driven lenses offering prevention and protection for your eyes against harmful
blue light, strain and fatigue.

Essilor has conducted extensive research to evaluate the impact of increased digital exposure on the eyes. Eyezen and Crizal Prevencia, the new products offered by the leading lens maker, are an outcome of this research and analysis. The new spectacle lenses have been customized to meet the needs of the consumer in the digital age, offer protection from blue light that is harmful to retinal cells and reduce visual strain arising out of multiple device usage.

According to different researches, average time spent in front of the computers has increased by 65 per cent over the past five years. Add to it the hours spent in front of television sets, the rapid growth of tablet PCs and Smartphones usage, and there is reason to believe that our exposure to harmful blue light is only increasing by the day. At the same time increasing usage of devices such as I Pads and smart phones also creates visual stress.

Apart from increased duration of exposure, usage of multiple digital screens simultaneously is another added lifestyle factor. Sometimes, four different devices may be used by an individual simultaneously. According to a consumer quantitative study conducted in 2014 among 4000 individuals in France, Brazil, China for Essilor, a whopping 82% people stated that they watch TV at the same time as they use their computer; similarly 72% use a tablet or smartphone whilst watching TV.

Doctors say increasing exposure to digital screens is leading to rising number of people reporting tired and weary eyes, headaches, blurred vision, itching and burning. The concern is particularly high in youngsters because they are the ones who are more active users of electronic devices. Computer Vision Syndrome, which was considered an appropriate condition to describe the increasing stress on eyes and posture till recently, looks an obsolete term today given the rapid transition in technology that have added several new facets to visual eyestrain.

The effects of harmful blue violet light have also been highlighted in recent years. Emitted by the sun and also by artificial light sources such as LEDs and computers or smartphones, blue light - the range of the visible light spectrum with wavelengths between 380-500 nm - plays a beneficial role on health, in particular by regulating the internal biological clock. However, a specific band of this light, known as the blue violet light causes damage to retinal cells. Digital devices and lighting devices such as LED lights and CFLs also emit significant amount of blue light. With progressively increasing usage of LED lighting, this exposure is only expected to increase in the coming years.

“Rapid adoption of newer technology in this digital world presents newer challenges with respect to protection requirements. It is also essential for ophthalmic lens technology to evolve to meet the needs. Eyezen represents Essilor’s innovation, offering users the maximum protection and comfort. Eyezen is a lens specifically designed for the digital age,” says Mr Shiv Kumar J, CEO, Essilor India.

“With increasing presence of convergent devices, we are today dealing with a scenario where multiple devices are co-existing. This doesn’t just increase digital exposure of the eye, but adds extra pressure on the eyes as they continuously switch between devices and adapt their focus while sitting, standing and lying down. I might be working on my laptop, and at the same time checking my smartphone while also snatching glimpses of a news bulletin on television. The cumulative stress on the eye today is therefore much more than it was five years back when smartphones and tablets were yet to become a norm, this has led us to introduce lenses such as Eyezen and Crizal Prevencia for use in spectacles,” says Mr. P Ramachandran, Group COO, Essilor India.

New Lenses for the Digital Age

EyeZenDesigned specifically to meet the changing needs of the eyes in a highly connected world, Eyezen lenses represent the latest in Essilor technological innovation. They come with twin functions of relaxing the eyes from digital eyestrain and protecting visual health over the long-term.

Eyezen has been specially designed to offer protection from digital screens and provide more comfort to the eyes as they switch between multiple devices. Eyezen is built with state of the art W.A.V.E. technology which helps provide sharper and clearer vision. Eyezen focus lens technology better supports the eye’s effort in focusing at ultra-near distances that are typical of handheld devices.

Secondly. Light Scan, a unique light filtering technology which protects eyes from the harmful blue-violet light emitted by digital screens and modern light sources is another vital feature of this lens. Inspired by the Japanese notion of Zen, Eyezen provides comfort and relaxation to the eyes even when they are excessively exposed to digital creens.

Crizal PrevenciaPrevention, such as protecting the eye from harmful light, is currently the first line of defence against the problems of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. These conditions currently affect more than 350 million people around the world. Blue light is one of the risk factors in retinal cell degeneration which contributes to the development of cataracts.

Crizal Prevencia is a result of an ambitious four-year research programme conducted in partnership with Paris Vision Institute, one of Europe’s largest eye health integrated research centers, which led to the identification of the portion of the visible light spectrum that is noxious to target retinal cells. Crizal Prevencia is the first preventive spectacle lens that selectively filters out harmful blue violet light that is harmful to retinal cells while letting in other frequencies of the light spectrum, which your body needs to function properly.

Essilor, which is a global leader in research & development, has worked aggressively to determine the emerging challenges to the health of eyes from our changing lifestyles. The new range of lenses from Essilor are aimed at providing the maximum protection and comfort as people live with new age devices and technology.