Essilor introduces a new family of lenses

The lenses offer total UVB and UVA protection and are branded as thinner than CR39, lighter than standard plastic lenses (with a density of 1.20 and an index of 1.59). They also feature Supra and Crizal coatings, for impact and scratch resistance. The Airwear family includes Varilux Comfort Airwear Crizal with, what the company calls, the Instant Focus System. Other options are Essilor Airwear Supra and Crizal, a spherical single-vision lens and 'As Airwear' Crizal, a single-vision lens with an advanced aspheric design. Essilor offers a range of 60/65 (-10 to +6D) diameter and 70 (-10 to +4D) diameter in its spherical single-lens version. The company states that the lens is 20 per cent lighter and 20 per cent thinner than CR39, and is coated with Supra (Crizal is optional). The 'As Airwear' aspherical single-vision range offers diameter 60/65 (-10 to +8D) and diameter 70 (-10 to +4D), is 30 per cent lighter and 25 per cent thinner than CR39. The design of minus lenses concentrates on minimising power error, says the company, and the design of the plus lenses concentrates on minimising oblique astigmatism. Crizal coating is standard. The Varilux Comfort progressive lens range offers 65/70 (-10 to +6D), diameter, 70/75 (-9 to +6D) diameter and 75/80 (-6 to +6D)diameter (with additions 0.75 to 3.00D by 0.25D). Essilor states that this range is 25 per cent lighter and 20 per cent thinner than CR39. Crizal coating is standard.