Crizal Launch
Crizal® launches first preventive lenses for selective protection against blue light and UV rays
Essilor, the world leader in corrective lenses, is launching the first lens to offer selective protection against harmful blue light and UV rays. The Crizal Prevencia lens lets in essential light, which your body needs to function properly, while filtering out harmful light. It thus helps to protect your eyes against the risk of retina damage, which can be caused by Blue-Violet light, while also reducing your risk of cataracts, which can result from overexposure to UV.
Prevention is essential, especially for children & over-45s
Prevention with Crizal Prevencia is currently the first line of defence against the worldwide problems of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. These conditions affect more than 350 million people around the world, a figure that may double in the next 30 years as the worldwide population ages.
Dr Emelita Roleda, General Manager of Essilor Philippines, sums up the importance of this new lens: "It is a landmark discovery in the field of optical science and we are very proud to have contributed, to this major step forward in the battle against one of the most devastating eye conditions. With Crizal Prevencia, we are pioneers in addressing the challenge of preventative innovation today. This perfectly fits in with Essilor's strategy of playing a predominant role in the implementation of solutions for better visual health for everyone, all over the world."
The battle against irreversible eye conditions affects everyone, especially, children and adults over 45 as they are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of light. Children’s developing eyes are very transparent and let all visible light and some UV pass through the retina. This is a pressing matter, as they tend to spend their days outdoors and over time, they can accumulate high exposure of UV. While for adults over 45, their eyes’ natural defence system is weakened and more susceptible to the effects of Blue-Violet light and UV.
Prevention is critical in current digital times
LED-based equipment such as the environmentally safer LED lights and LED screens of smartphones, tablets and laptops, have been shown to emit larger proportion of blue light as compared to the old incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubes. Out of the blue light emitted by these devices, it is the Blue-Violet light that is raising concerns.
With more people embracing digital lifestyles, our exposure to Blue-Violet light may increase. Over long hours, it can lead to eyestrain and fatigue and coupled with other lifestyle factors such as smoking, hypertension, history of cardiovascular disease and obesity, overexposure to Blue-Violet light may increase the likelihood of AMD.
Good and bad blue light
Emitted by the sun, as well as by artificial light sources, such as LEDs, blue light is part of visible light and is close to UV on the light spectrum.
Blue light has a number of positives effects, including helping us to perceive colours and forms. Furthermore, a certain part of blue light, known as Blue-Turquoise light, is a natural form of light therapy. It acts as a “natural regulator” for our bodies, helping balance our sleep cycle and keep us energised and alert.
However, recent research by Essilor and the Paris Vision Institute, one of Europe’s largest eye health research centres, confirms that a specific band of blue light is more harmful for our eyes. Under the leadership of Professor Sahel and after two years of research, the joint team developed a completely new protocol in this scientific domain: an in vitro test on retinal cells to determine the harmfulness of different light rays. This enabled them to identify Blue-Violet light as the portion of the visible light spectrum that presents the biggest risk of causing gradual degeneration of retinal cells, potentially leading to serious eye conditions.
A lens that selectively filters light to reduce the risks of AMD and cataracts
In response to this finding, Essilor has developed the Crizal Prevencia lens, which protects your eyes from the Blue-Violet light that contributes to retinal cell degeneration while allowing beneficial Blue-Turquoise light to pass through.
This is a new category of preventive lenses developed thanks to Light Scan™, an exclusive technology that filters light selectively:
- by letting beneficial Blue-Turquoise light pass through;
- by filtering out harmful Blue-Violet rays that can contribute to AMD;
- by filtering out UV rays that are a major cause of cataracts, from the front- and back- side of lens, at an Eye- Sun Protection Factor (E-SPF) of 25;
- while maintaining the transparency of the lens, ensuring an optimal visual experience for prescription glasses wearers.
About Essilor
The world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate mission is to enable everyone around the world to access lenses that meet his or her unique visual requirements. To support this vision, the Company allocates over €160 million to research and development every year, in a commitment to continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Essilor’s flagship brands are Varilux®, Crizal®, Xperio® and OptifogTM.
It also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare professionals.
Essilor reported consolidated revenue of €4.9 billion in 2012 and employs around 50,700 people in some 100 countries. It operates 19 plants, a total of 390 prescription laboratories and edging facilities, as well as several research and development centers around the world.Essilor was classified by Forbes magazine as being among the world’s 30 most innovative companies.
For more information, please visit www.essilor.com.ph.