Essilor reveals Varilux Physio extensee

Essilor has revealed its latest varifocal lens, the Varilux Physio extensee, designed to provide the optimum correction for each wearer’s pupil dynamics to reduce high-order aberrations and support sharp vision and contrast.

The company suggested that most varifocal lenses are designed based on the wearer’s pupil size remaining constant in all lighting situations.

Using a dynamic pupil model, integrating studies and datasets, vision scientists described and detailed pupil size variations. Varilux artificial intelligence twinning technology then simulated different wearer profiles performing multiple tasks at all distances and in different light conditions. This data was then analysed to predict wearers’ pupil size variation.

Using this data, Essilor built its Pupilizer lens technology into the Varilux Physio extensee lens to reduce high-order aberrations and minimise distortion.

By associating a prescription to a predicted pupil dynamism profile, the Varilux Physio extensee lens can be produced to closely match the wearer’s daily pupil variations.

The Varilux Physio extensee is a dual-surface lens, engineered to provide a magnification effect in the near vision zone, to aid with tasks such as reading fine print, without impacting the aesthetic of the lens or overall progressive power.

Synchroneyes lens technology supports the management of binocular vision in the new lens, balancing the left and right lens designs to match power distributions and patterns of unwanted astigmatism, and allowing for a wider field of vision.

A consumer study of 79 varifocal lens wearers equipped with Varilux Physio extensee lenses found that 94% experienced high vision intensity in any light, 92% felt confident in low light conditions, and 96% experienced a high quality of vision at near distance.

Sébastien Fricker, vision and perception modelling team manager at EssilorLuxottica, said: “When the size of the pupil increases, the light beam entering the eye crosses a bigger portion of the lens. It can incur more high-order aberrations and induce a loss in image quality.”

“Therefore, accounting for pupil-size variation in lens design is key for maximising contrast perception and visual performance for wearers,” Fricker said.

The Varilux Physio extensee lenses can include a Near Vision Behaviour measurement, personalising the near vision zone by adjusting its position and size.

Essilor highlighted that 39% of varifocal lens wearers said they are very interested in corrective lenses designed to improve their vision comfort regardless of light intensity.

Fricker said: “Thanks to AI twinning technology, pupil size variations can be predicted for each wearer and during the design of this Pupilizer lens technology we took care to not only consider low light conditions but a whole range of environments to find the best surface to provide optimal vision at all times.”

Meena Puar, global medical advisor – presbyopia at EssilorLuxottica, said: “In modern day scenarios, today’s presbyopes are seeking high quality vision across all lighting environments throughout the day.”

“To prescribe the latest lens technologies is an opportunity to address the evolving needs of presbyopic patients. The Varilux Physio exensee lens is designed to cater to a wide range of presbyopes. It incorporates an innovative dynamic pupil model, which takes the pupil size into account in different lighting conditions and across various distances,” Puar continued.

The new lens is set to launch in the UK on 7 May 2025.