Smartphones, tablets and laptops are an indispensable part of patients’ lives and this new usage has an impact on their visual needs. We look at things at increasingly nearer distances and have to encounter small fonts, different light intensities and changes in reading distances. Ultimately, our way of life has changed.
Essilor Eyezen is one of an existing generation of enhanced single vision lenses specifically designed for people who use digital devices frequently. As digital usage continues to grow and evolve, so has this range of lenses.
Why should we consider enhanced single vision lenses?
The time spent using digital devices has increased significantly and continues to grow. Indeed, nine out of 10 people state they spend more time using them today than they did five years ago. Moreover, most users do not seem particularly attached to a single device, but move easily from one device to another (using a tablet at home, a smartphone while commuting, a computer at work and so on).1
Furthermore, there is a change in habits towards a more frequent use of small screens such as smartphones and tablets.
Did you know?
- Over 90% of 18-45 year olds own a smartphone2
- 91% use it everyday2
- 16-19 year olds check their phone 90 times per day2
- 40-50 year olds check their phone 33 times per day2
- 64% of people spend four hours or more a day on a computer3
- On average we use four different digital devices a day3
All of this usage not only generates new optical needs but can have an adverse effect on our amplitude of accommodation.
What effect does all this usage have?
While there are numerous causes and symptoms of visual fatigue, there is still yet no standard method to assess visual fatigue. Generally subjective assessment by means of a questionnaire is used.
From various studies4 it can be deduced that the symptoms such as eye strain or blurred vision when looking far after a prolonged near work or during the near work could be due to a drop in the accommodation amplitude or inaccurate / reduced accommodation response.
These studies helped to the development of Eyezen.
Power profiles for Eyezen 0.4, Eyezen 0.60, Eyezen 0.85 and Eyezen 1.10
The Essilor Eyezen range
Wearers can experience visual discomfort created by digital device use but at different levels depending on their age. Younger wearers are more sensitive to the brightness from screen whereas mature wearers experience more difficulties with reading small characters. To ensure the visual needs of all wearers are addressed, the range includes three designs optimised for each of the profiles identified in Essilor’s original research. That is:
- Eyezen 0.40– for young adults
- Eyezen 0.60 – for pre-presbyopes
- Eyezen 0.85- for emerging presbyopes
However, research undertaken involving independent ECPs found that there was a need for a further product to bridge the gap between SV and Varifocal usage for some early presbyopes.
New distances of digital use
Essilor Eyezen 1.10
With this in mind, Essilor introduced:
- Eyezen 1.10. A new Eyezen lens with an additional power of 1.10D at the bottom.
Technical features
Like all Eyezen before, Eyezen 1.10 is a combination of innovations to both help reduce visual fatigue and protect the eyes.
1 Eye Protect System
Eye Protect System is an advanced harmful blue light filter to protect the eye. This can also be combined to Crizal Prevencia to give even more protection.
2 Eyezen Focus
An exclusive power distribution which is perfectly aligned with the wearer’s gaze direction whilst in near vision situations.
The power profiles above for all four Eyezen options show how the extra power in the lower part of the lenses support the repeated and intensive eye focusing required for digital usage at a level appropriate to the physiological needs of each age group.
Benefits to patients
- Reduced visual fatigue
- Improved readability of smaller characters
- Maintenance of a more natural posture
To validate these benefits Essilor carried out some subjective questionnaire-based wearer tests5 with the following results:
- 90% of wearers declared their eyes to be ‘less tired’ when wearing Eyezen
- 89% of wearers agreed that Eyezen ‘reduces glare’
- 91% of wearers reported that Eyezen ‘improves the readability of small characters’
- 91% of wearers were ‘satisfied’ with their Eyezen lenses, with 78% being ‘very satisfied’
Dispensing notes
Essilor Eyezen lenses need to be ordered having measured the following:
- Full distance prescription
- Mono distance PDs
- Mono fitting heights
Product availability
Eyezen is available across a wide range of materials, from Orma 1.5 to Lineis 1.74.
As previously mentioned, all Essilor Eyezen lenses have Eye Protect System embedded and Crizal Prevencia is an added option too.
Seven different Transitions colours are available by way of Transitions Signature VII and Transitions Style Colours.
For a personalised option, Eyecode can be ordered.
All Essilor Eyezen lenses are covered by a ‘satisfied or exchanged’ guarantee.
References
1 StatCounter, “Mobile and tablet internet usage exceeds desktop for first time worldwide”, 1st november 2016,
2 Deloitte, State of the smart, Consumer and business usage patterns, Global Mobile consumer survey, UK cut, 2017
3 Consumer quantitative study conducted in 2014 among 4000 individuals in France, Brazil,China and the US by Ipsos for Essilor
4 Conlon EG, Lovegrove W, Chekaluk E, Pattison P. (1999). "Measuring visual discomfort." Visual Cogn, 6: 637-666
Chi C & Lin F (1998). "A comparison of seven visual fatigue assessment techniques in three data-acquisition VDT tasks." Human Factors, 40(4): 577-590.
5 In life wearer test – Essilor EyezenTM – France – N=76 - Study conducted by a third independent party – 2015 - Essilor International