June is Cataract Awareness Month

What is a cataract?  A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It is the main cause of blindness in the world and is also the most common cause of vision loss in people over 40 years of age. If you have a cataract, you would experience clouded vision, which can make it more difficult to drive a car, read a book or carry out most daily activities.  It’s a bit like looking through a frosted or fogged up window.  

If you notice any sudden vision changes, such as double vision or flashes of light, sudden eye pain, or sudden headache, make an appointment with your optometrist or eye doctor for an eye examination as soon as possible.

Besides ageing, here are some of the risk factors:

  • Ultraviolet radiation
  • Family History
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

5 tips that can help to prevent cataracts

  1. Have regular eye examinations. Eye examinations can help detect cataracts and other eye problems at their earliest stages. Ask your doctor how often you should have an eye examination.
  2. Quit smoking. Ask your doctor for suggestions about how to stop smoking. Medications, counseling and other strategies are available to help you.
  3. Manage other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions that can increase your risk of cataracts.
  4. Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet ensures that you’re getting many vitamins and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables have many antioxidants, which help maintain the health of your eyes.
  5. Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you’re outdoors.

Source: https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm

Invest in a good pair of sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection, such as NuPolar® or Transitions® Drivewear®

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The best lens colour for your activity

Today, we have many different options to choose from, making it much easier to find the right lens to suit our needs perfectly. It is important to determine which one is the right one for you!

Grey/Smoke/Black

Grey lenses are in demand because they are dark enough to make those annoyingly bright sunny days more contrasted. These lenses are described by scientists to be “colour – neutral” meaning that they are able to cut down the brightness significantly but do not distort the colours you see. This is especially good for drivers as you will still be able to recognise traffic signals and warning signs whilst on the road, providing the same level of safety, if not more. You can also partake in sporting activities when wearing these lenses, for example, you can do the following: baseball, running, cycling, fishing, water sports and motorcycling.

Amber/Yellow/Orange

If you live in the sunnier parts of the world and you sometimes experience cloudy weather, then these would be the right lenses for you. If you want to increase the contrast and enhance clarity then you should try these, but be aware that in some instances colour imbalances could occur. They are still suitable for daily activities like golfing, driving , using the computer, shooting, skiing, tennis and mountain biking.

Brown/Green

Like the grey lenses, brown and green coloured lenses are colour neutral.  They are known as the ultimate driving companions, this is mainly attributed to the contrast and added visual depth that they bring to the table. Even though this colour is known to alter the colour balance, it will not affect your ability to read signs or warnings whilst on the road. If you spend a lot of time on the computer and suffer from strain caused by the glare, then these brown lenses will be able to help you. For those who spend a large amount of time on the road and enjoy playing outdoor sports and using the computer, these lenses are perfect for you.

Blue/Purple

The blue and purple lenses are mainly used for fashion purposes, however many athletes have been known to prefer them as they offer good contrast in mid to bright conditions. With good colour perception they are also perfect for cloudy and overcast weather conditions. They are good for fishing, outdoor leisure activities, skiing and snowboarding and any other snow activities.

Rose/Red

The rose and red lenses are known for their abilities to increase depth of field and vision. They reduce eye strain and provide good visibility whilst on the road. They comfort the eyes and help adjust contrast. They are good in most weather conditions which include: cloudy, sunny, partly cloudy and snowy.

If you like sporting activities like, cycling, driving/racing and skiing then these are the lenses you will want.

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World Sight Day – 10 October 2019

World Sight Day—the most important advocacy and communications day in the eye health calendar—is on 10 October 2019.

When was the last time you got an eye exam? Your family, friends and colleagues? This World Sight Day, let’s pledge to take an eye exam—and encourage others to do the same! We have the data and evidence. We also have projections into the future–an ageing world population, myopia and diabetic retinopathy are set to increase vision impairment in the coming decades.

Cataract, refractive errors, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, AMD, ROP—eye care issues impact every age group and their well-being. What’s the first thing you can do? Plan for an eye examination. Look around in your family, especially for those who are vulnerable: young, school-going children, the elderly, those with diabetes.

Download the WSD18 Activities Report to see how the world marked World Sight Day in 2018!

World Sight Day 2019 will be on 10 October 2019. This year’s call to action:

Vision First!

More than a billion people cannot see well, because they don’t have access to glasses. Over 3 out of 4 of the world’s vision impaired are avoidably so. What can be done to arrest this unconscionable fact? First, arm yourself with your country’s prevalence data and Eye Health system information–the number of trained eye health personnel, your country’s plans to tackle blindness.

This World Sight Day, let’s find the solutions to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to sight. Let’s pledge to make Vision First!

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Transitions® Drivewear® – A 15-year-old product still WAY ahead of its time

Even after 15 years, Transitions Drivewear lenses still offer the best combination of polarization and photochromics on the market. The three unique colour stages are still the key to its unparalleled success.

In low light conditions, Drivewear is a high-contrast olive green color, allowing the maximum useful light information to reach the eye. Behind the windshield in bright light conditions, Drivewear changes to a copper color, which many feel is the ideal driving color, enhancing the reds and greens.

In bright outside conditions, Drivewear is a dark brown which is designed for maximum filtration of excess light.

In my lensmaking career, I have heard many comments about all types of lenses, but I have never heard more positive feedback or known a more loyal base of wearers than with Drivewear lenses. It is remarkable that after all these years, Drivewear is still setting sales records!

David Rips
CEO
Younger Optics

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Camber Lens Technology – the success is in the DNA

Since the release of Camber Lens Technology, it has seen unprecedented success. I believe the reason for much of this success is hidden deep within the design “DNA” of Camber.

While many digital progressive designs on the market are based on traditional front-surface progressives whose designs have been “converted” for use on the backside of the lens, Camber was NOT designed this way.

Camber was designed by IOT, a modern digital design firm whose engineers developed Camber’s back-side designs in conjunction with Camber’s unique variable base curve front surface. IOT’s Camber design takes into account both surfaces and the specific Rx to look at the lens as a complete 3-dimensional optical system. The result was excellent vision that wearers can’t stop raving about!

Architects, designers, inventors, and visionaries all agree… sometimes it is better to start with a “blank slate” than to be constrained by legacies of the past.

 

David Rips
CEO
Younger Optics

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The best of both worlds – NuPolar Infinite Grey

Lens adaptability and performance is becoming more important for sunglass wearers, as there are more and more options becoming available on the market today.  Lenses that change from completely clear indoors to sunglass dark outdoors, fixed tint sunglass lenses, gradient tints and polarised lenses that reduce glare.  Younger Optics recently launched NuPolar Infinite Grey, which offers sunglass wearers the best of both worlds, a lens that is polarized and photochromic at the same time. The polarization filter reduces unwanted glare from reflective surfaces, such as wet roads or water surfaces and the photochromic properties allow the lens to lighten and darken to suit the light conditions, while also providing 100% UV protection.

Here are some of the benefits:

  • Effectively block blinding glare in any weather
  • Intelligently and quickly adapt (darken or fade) depending on the available light
  • Improve clarity of vision and depth perception
  • Eliminate necessity of changing glasses every time the light conditions change
  • Aesthetically attractive range of grey colours in the same lens

In the table below, you can see the comparison between the products offered by Younger Optics and how NuPolar Infinite Grey covers most areas, with the exception of being completely clear indoors.

Click here to find an optometrist that supplies NuPolar Infinite Grey lenses.

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Ophthalmic lenses – the manufacturing process

Do you ever watch those TV shows about “How It’s Made?” It’s often fascinating to see the ingenious manufacturing processes that go into creating what seems like a simple object. It’s no different with ophthalmic lenses! Here are three basic ways that semi-finished lenses are made:

Casting:

Typically used for hard resin & high-index lenses. Liquid monomer is injected into glass mold assemblies and put through a heat cycle, usually in either air ovens or water baths. This tends to require intensive hand labor and automation is typically low.

Injection Molding:

Typically used for polycarbonate. Large, specialized injection molding machines run long cycles. Molds are either expensive steel dies or glass molds. Pellets are molded into lenses under great pressure. This tends to require expensive equipment and can be highly automated.

Specialized Rim Injection Molding:

Typically used for Trilogy/Trivex lenses. Components are mixed by a very complex machine under high speed and quickly begin reacting and hardening inside a mold assembly very similar to that used in casting. This tends to require expensive equipment AND intensive hand labor.

In all types of lens manufacture, special attention must be paid to lens cosmetics, hardness, curve control, color, and many other specifications. One thing is for sure, any way you make them, lens manufacture is tough, and perhaps one of the most rigorous forms of plastics manufacturing. I feel lucky to be part of this fascinating industry!

David Rips
CEO
Younger Optics

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The Science of Colour

Need to add some colour to your life? When it comes to polarized lenses, true and deep colour should always be the aim! The human eye is a superb “colour matching instrument” and NuPolar lenses satisfy these demanding colour requirements. The result? Excellent, true colour uniformity.

How does NuPolar create ‘True Colours’?

When a lens is subjected to heat, it may change colour due to thermal degradation. Measuring the color of the lens before and after a key test tells us how much the colour has shifted. Polarized lenses are often subjected to high levels of heat (120 – 140°C) in laboratory processing, particularly during hard coating and AR coating. Using NuPolar’s proprietary “HT Film Technology”, NuPolar products are the most colour stable polarized lenses available.
Feel confident your greys will be deep and satisfying greys, as will your browns, and any other NuPolar colour. And they will stay that way!

Lens Colours and their functions:

Dark Grey: Excellent for bright, sunny conditions while colour integrity is maintained. Colours become richer and deeper and maximum blinding glare protection is provided.

Light grey: A lighter grey lens with 65% tint for less bright conditions. In low light, good colour perception is maintained. Can effectively be tinted to another desired colour without affecting polarization efficiency.

Copper: High contrast lens that provides colour definition and improves depth perception. It is particularly effective in cutting through blue light, which is often seen as ‘haze’. Highlights reds and greens. Can be an excellent lens for driving in varying light conditions.

Green: Perfect for those who enjoy a traditional green colour. Maintains good colour perception and improved contrast compared with a grey lens. Can be used to enhance vision on both bright days and in overcast conditions.

Brown: A true, deep, rich brown that provides superior contrast and depth perception with green and red colours especially highlighted. Performs well in bright sunny conditions but also perfect for overcast days, low light and foggy conditions.

To see how NuPolar Colours look in different frames, or for more information visit: https://www.youngeroptics.co.za/nupolar/colours/

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Shining the Light on Glare

We’ve all been there! Behind the wheel and facing beams of light reflecting off the dashboard, or at the beach squinting across illuminated water. Glare, an intense bright light vibrating horizontally, isn’t just annoying – it can be dangerous. When the angle of reflection is just right, it becomes blinding and impedes vision.Here’s what you need to know about glare and how you can eliminate it:

How is Glare Created?

Light travels from the sun in the forms of waves to our earth. Upon reaching reflective surfaces, these waves change their energy and become scattered, travelling in all different directions. If the light hits a reflective surface such as water, cars or buildings at just the right angle, some of the light becomes “polarized”. This means that vertical light waves are absorbed while horizontal light waves bounce off the surface, causing glare.

What Does Glare Do?

Glare causes a reduction of contrast and brightness of the visual scene. This is caused by the constriction of the pupils and the scattering of light within the eye. Furthermore, the scattering of light in particles in the air, impedes vision at a larger distance, such as when the headlights of a car illuminate the fog close to a vehicle.

How Can You Eliminate it?

Only polarized lenses can fully block out dangerous, blinding glare. Polarized lenses contain millions of parallel rows of tiny iodine crystals or dichroic dyes that act in a manner similar to venetian blinds. Like venetian blinds, the horizontal rows of iodine crystals contained within the polarized lens block out horizontal polarized light waves, letting only non-polarized, vertical light waves reach the eye. This results in comfortable vision with no glare, and is the reason why only a polarized lens can block glare.

Want to block glare? NuPolar is the market leader in Polarized Lenses. Find out more here: https://www.youngeroptics.co.za/nupolar/

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Camber Technology Uncovered!

In an age of rapid technological advancements, Camber Technology has arisen as a response to the next generation of digitally progressive lenses. Complex curves provide excellent vision correction, superior optics as well as cosmetic personalization.

What is Camber Technology?

Camber Technology combines complex curves on both surfaces of the lens. The unique, continuously changing surface curvature of the specially designed lens blank allows expanded reading zones with improved peripheral vision. When combined with a sophisticated back surface digital design, both surfaces work together to accommodate an expanded Rx range, offer better cosmetics (flatter) for many prescriptions, and yield user-preferred near vision performance.

What are Some of the Benefits?

Ideal Base Curve
When the power of a lens is paired with its ideal base curve, the wearer enjoys clearer vision, with minimal oblique astigmatism. For a progressive lens, the distance zone power calls for a flatter base curve, while the near zone power calls for a steeper base curve. However, most digitally surfaced progressive lenses are processed from a single vision lens blank. This means the various powers must share a single base curve, one that may not be ideal for the near zone.

Front Surfaces Innovation
The Camber lens offers an elegant solution that represents the next step in digital progressive lens technology. The Camber lens blank features a variable base curve — a new front surface innovation that provides the optically ideal base curve in all viewing zones.

Each Camber lens blank comes from a section of the “Elephant’s Trunk” curve, creating a unique variable base curve front surface that continually increases in diopter from top to bottom. This improved front surface profile gives each viewing zone a base curve that is optically optimised.

Merging Complex Curves
When the unique front surface is combined with a sophisticated backside digital design, both surfaces work together to become the patented Camber finished lens. The design may be further enhanced by a set of individualisation parameters, such as unique attributes of the frame and wearer preferences, to comprehensively customise the Camber lens for each individual wearer.

Compensation vs. Personalisation
Digital lens design gives optical designers a lot of power to create lenses that are customised to each patient. But when a progressive lens is made from a single vision lens blank, the uniform front curve creates optical problems that lens designers must digitally correct. Rather than focusing every design decision on achieving a fully personalized lens, some of the design power must go toward “compensation correction.”Camber’s new variable base curve technology reduces the need for compensation correction, allowing more digital design power to be used to refine and customize the design for each individual eye.

When considering a premium digital lens with high optical performance and expanded Rx range, choose Camber Technology. To find a lens, visit: www.youngeroptics.co.za

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Drivewear, NuPolar and Trilogy are trademarks of Younger Mfg. Co. Transitions, the swirl, Transitions Signature, Vantage and XTRActive are registered trademarks of Transitions Optical, Inc., used under license by Transitions Optical Ltd. Trivex is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. ABN 11 091 681 913 © 2017 Younger Optics.