Essilor launches Crizal Sapphire UV lens

Essilor has launched its Crizal Sapphire UV lens, which it says provides patients with better visual performance and a more aesthetically pleasing lens.

Commercial director at Essilor, Randeep Gill, told OT: “Crizal Sapphire UV is the new innovation from Essilor, which supersedes Crizal Forte.”

He added that with the launch of Crizal Sapphire UV, the lens company has simplified its Crizal range in order to provide a clear “family tree” of products to independent eye care professionals.

“This makes it easier for them to have discussions with their patients, understand their true needs and make a recommendation based on what those needs are,” Mr Gill explained.

The new lens provides ESPF 35 protection and in wearer trials 70% of participants found it to be more efficient on reflection than Essilor’s Crizal Forte UV.

Professional relations manager at Essilor, Andy Hepworth, explained to OT that research and development teams had looked at perpendicular angles during the design phases, but with Crizal Sapphire UV, a multi-angular approach was adopted.

“In doing so, we reduce reflection off the lens, which delivers two things for the wearer – better visual performance and a nicer looking lens cosmetically,” he shared.

Mr Hepworth said that in recent times there has been a shift away from traditional lighting into LED, which, with additional factors such as smartphones, creates an overwhelming amount of light for patients.

“Generally speaking, spectacle wearers are exposed to more light, so we realised that we needed to take this multi-angular approach to get more of this light transmitted into the lens rather than to reflect off of it,” he said.

“By driving visible light in, you indirectly push the UV light away. That works brilliantly for the front surface of the lens because you don’t want UV light anywhere near the eye,” Mr Hepworth explained. “However, this creates a problem with the rear surface because more UV light is being pushed back into the eye. The research and development team worked to create a way of protecting the wearer’s eyes on the rear surface so that the coating was acceptable from a health point of view,” he added.

For further information, visit the Essilor website.