Optical Prism April 2020 | Page 31

The answer is both, according to the Canadian Associa- tion of Optometrists. Blue light emitted from the sun is essential to your body’s ability to maintain circadian rhythm. However, the artificial blue light that beams into our eyes on a daily basis courtesy of computers, smartphones and “ REGULAR POLARIZED LENSES AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET WILL FILTER OUT THE GLARE BUT WON’T ALLOW US other digital devices may be keeping us awake at night TO CLEARLY SEE OUR and causing undue strain. PHONES, HEADS-UP And while our understanding of the long-term effects of DISPLAYS IN CARS OR artificial blue light continue to grow, our exposure is not THE GAS PUMP BUT diminishing anytime soon, so lens manufacturers are always working to create new technology to protect our BLUTECH LENSES WILL! eyes and enhance comfort. Essilor is proud to offer an entire line of protection. “We brought together our products providing protection against blue light under the umbrella of The Essilor Blue Collection,” says Nathalie Boisvert, Brand Manager Coat- ing/Blue Protection for Essilor Canada. “All Essilor lenses with a Crizal Prevencia coating or “ IS BLUE LIGHT GOOD OR BAD? Consumers can add a Transitions XTRActive style mirror on a Transitions XTRActive lens to have all the Transitions XTRActive benefits mentioned above in addition to a trendy and fashionable look. While many lenses simply reflect artificial blue light, there is another effective defence method. Transitions are part of the Essilor Blue Collection as Plastic Plus founder Paul Fabish is touting his compa- well as all Varilux and Eyezen+ lenses with embedded ny’s UV420 lenses, which he says absorb most of the blue light protection called Blue UV Capture.” harmful rays. However, lenses that filter high-energy visible light “One of the biggest problems with the coatings are the are not intended only for gamers and those who work residual colours. The UV420 lenses offer much better on computers. protection than a coating and there’s virtually no resid- “Interest in this category of lenses has largely been ual colour,” says Fabish. driven by consumers wanting to protect their vision Blocking UV and HEV light is critical for protecting eyes from the long-term effects of UV and HEV exposure,” against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. says Centennial’s marketing and communications Hoya Canada is thrilled to offer Blutech Lenses, which director Rick Leroux. are specialized blue light filters and are also available in Centennial’s CHOICE BluSelect family of lens products polarized. Their technology provides excellent colour are virtually clear lenses for everyday wear that provide enhancing, superior screen readability, 100 UV protec- complete UV blocking in addition to filtering the highest tion and the best blue light protection. energy portion of the visible light spectrum. “Regular polarized lenses available on the market will “We also offer Kodak Total Blue Lens finished single- filter out the glare but won’t allow us to clearly see our vision lenses, which combine in-lens blue light filtering phones, heads-up displays in cars or the gas pump but with a reflective coating and Color Guard Lens Technolo- Blutech lenses will!” says Hoya Canada Marketing Man- gy. We plan to expand Kodak Total Blue Lens availability ager Christine Le Brasseur. “They are a new generation in 2020,” says Leroux. of polarized lenses more adapted to our digital lifestyle.” From Transitions, XTRActive lenses help provide more There is also an indoor version which, when worn at protection against blue light everywhere you need it by night, will reduce glare and increase contrast. It helps a blocking at least 34 per cent of the harmful blue light in- lot for people who are photophobic and have problems doors and 88 to 95 per cent of harmful blue light outdoors. with halos. OP Optical Prism | April 2020 29