More than 400 eye care professionals from over 250 practices around the UK descended on Hilton Wembley London Hotel last week for the UK launch of EssilorLuxottica’s latest iteration of its Varliux lens, the XR Series.
Hosted by The Chase TV quizzer and former GP, Paul Sinha, attendees learned how artificial intelligence (AI) had been harnessed to provide data on a person’s visual behaviours, which included more than 100,000 eye movements each day.
The data was used to produce digital twin technology, and the R&D team replicated a patient performing multiple realistic visual tasks in a 3D environment, allowing scientists to visual behaviour profiles using virtual modelling to copy real life tasks for every single prescription and provide the first eye-responsive lens that respects the natural behaviour of the eye.
EssilorLuxottica told guests that independent third-party testing had found that 87% of mostly premium varifocal lens wearing consumers preferred Varilux XR series to their previous lenses, after trying them, with no change in their prescription. Wearers also adapted to their new lenses from the first day.
‘We’ll be supporting the new launch with our biggest ever marketing campaign for Varilux to date,’ said Essilor commercial director for wholesale lenses Alan Pitcher.
This campaign included a TV advertising campaign, practice support on a local level to drive awareness and footfall, and an influencer network that included Melanie Sykes, Gareth Malone and a high-profile former England international footballer.
ECPs can order the lens from June 7.