Eye Focus February 2018 | Page 8

“THE INTEREST IN LENSES THAT PROTECT AGAINST HARMFUL BLUE LIGHT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EYECARE PROFESSIONALS TO EDUCATE THEIR PATIENTS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR HARMFUL BLUE LIGHT FILTERING BENEFITS OF TRANSITIONS LENSES.” Indoors, Transitions lenses filter harmful blue light emitted by artificial sources such as digital devices and LED lights. Outdoors, they darken to help provide even more protection from harmful blue light, intense glare and UV rays from the sun. “The interest in lenses that protect against harmful blue light creates an opportunity for eyecare professionals to educate their patients about the comprehensive indoor and outdoor harmful blue light filtering benefits of Transitions lenses,” says Patience Cook, director, North America marketing, Transitions Optical. “Recharge reduces blue light by about 30 per cent in the HEV light range,” says Maria Petruccelli, director of brand marketing, HOYA Vision Care. “It increases contrast and visual sharpness, reduces glare and provides a measure of protection from blue light risks. It also provides HOYA AR quality on physical attributes, including adhe- sion, scratch resistance, longevity and cleanability.” Smartphones, tablets, computers and televisions have become a vital part of modern lives, whether it's at work, studying or relaxing with them. How- ever the downside to being constantly connected is that research is showing that device-emitted blue light waves can also cause eyestrain, headaches and fatigue. HOYA’s Recharge lens coating helps to combat these effects. It provides effective blue light protection, ensuring extra comfort in a digital world. 8 EYE FOCUS February Digital 2018 The eye has many natural defenses against UV rays and blue light but they deteriorate as we age. “The eye loses its ability to absorb rays harmlessly and releases them as free radicals,” Petruccelli says. “Recharge adds a new health dimension to the benefits ascribed to lens coatings.” Because Recharge helps to protect against the accumulated potential harmful effects of blue light, it may be prescribed for HEV light reduction to lower the long-term risk of blue light associated with retinal damage and cataracts, she says. Over at Transitions, the company has made lenses that seamlessly adapt to the perfect tint, in any light. Their lenses block 100 per cent of UV rays and help reduce exposure to blue light emitted by both the sun and electronic devices and screens, reducing eye strain and eye fatigue. “By offering three product and colour choices within the Transitions family of brands, we are able to uniquely appeal to the different lifestyles and style preferences of a wide range of patients and provide all with reduced exposure to UV and harmful blue light at the same time.” All Transitions lenses have always offered some degree of harmful blue light protection, with slight differences in the amount of harmful blue light each of the lenses filter. Transitions Signature VII lenses block at least 20 per cent of the harmful blue light indoors, while Transitions XTRActive lenses help block at least 34 per cent of the harmful blue light indoors and 88 to 95 per cent of harmful blue light outdoors. There are also Transitions Vantage lenses, which re- duce exposure to harmful blue light, blocking at least 34 per cent indoors and over 85 per cent outdoors.