Essilor Tests the 'EYE-Q' of America

DALLAS, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Presbyopia, the gradual loss of the eye's ability to focus up close, will affect nearly every single American in their lifetime, and yet most people have never even heard of it. Essilor of America, Inc. (EOA), the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States, is determined to change that. In light of Healthy Vision Month this May, Essilor reminds Americans of the importance of maintaining good vision health as they age and offers the best solutions for presbyopia, the inevitable eye condition.

Presbyopia typically occurs after age 40 and will affect nearly everyone -- even people who have never experienced vision problems in their lifetimes, or who have had LASIK surgery. Presbyopia often is first identified through common warning signs including difficulty reading fine print, difficulty seeing a computer screen and holding printed materials further and further away from the body to read them. While it is discouraging that presbyopia is entirely unpreventable, the good news is that certain progressive lenses, such as Varilux(R) eyeglass lenses, offer advanced, high-tech treatment solutions which allow you to naturally see near, far and everywhere in between with one pair of eyeglasses.

"Many have attempted to duplicate our technology, but Varilux lenses are protected by eight different patents, so only they can guarantee the best match of technology and style," said Carl Bracy, VP Marketing, EOA. "The cosmetic advantage is important for people who are unwilling to compromise on either appearance or quality."

While many people in the United States still treat their presbyopic vision with the bifocals and trifocals of their parent's generation, Essilor has been able to eliminate the unsightly lines of multi-focal lenses to provide a continuous, clear field of vision. The Varilux Physio(TM) lens, Essilor's newest progressive lens, virtually eliminates distortions and provides unmatched clarity, depth and dimension wherever you look by using a patented design and process called W.A.V.E. Technology: Wavefront Advanced Vision Enhancement(TM). W.A.V.E. Technology, which was originally developed by NASA for work related to the Hubble Telescope, uses a 360 Degree Digital Surfacing(TM) process that is virtually like corrective surgery for eyeglass lenses.

"Just about 50 percent of all Americans with presbyopia are still wearing bifocals, a 220-year old technology invented by Benjamin Franklin," said Dr. Marguerite McDonald, a world-renowned refractive surgeon credited as being the first in the world to perform an excimer laser surgery. "If Mr. Franklin were alive today, he would no doubt be wearing wavefront-optimized progressive lenses."

Because Varilux offers the most advanced solutions, it is the most prescribe progressive eyeglass lens in the world by eye care professionals. Worldwide, more than 300 million eyeglass wearers have chosen Varilux lenses. For high-definition sight that allows vision beyond 20/20, consumers should talk to their eye care professional about Varilux lenses. For more information about Varilux lenses and the best way to treat presbyopia, visit http://www.varilux.com/.

Essilor of America, Inc.

Essilor is the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States and is the market leader in progressive, high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. A pioneer in the development and production of ophthalmic lenses, Essilor employs more than 8,500 people throughout North America. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux(R), Crizal(R), Thin&Lite(R), DEFINITY(TM) and other Essilor brand names. Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA) is the largest, and most trusted, optical lab network in the U.S. and offers a wide choice of services and lens brands, including Essilor premium lenses, to eye care professionals across the nation. Essilor of America, Inc. (Essilor) is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International, S.A., the worldwide leader in ophthalmic lenses and a publicly held company traded on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Reuters: ESSI.PA).

Varilux and Crizal are registered trademarks and Physio and DEFINITY are trademarks of Essilor International, S.A. Thin&Lite is a registered trademark and W.A.V.E. Technology: Wavefront Advanced Vision Enhancement, W.A.V.E. Technology and 360 Degree Digital Surfacing are trademarks of Essilor of America, Inc.