Progressive lens for small frames unveiled

AO Compact lenses have a corridor length of 13mm, which the company says is 4mm shorter than the industry average. As a result, the lenses require a minimum frame depth below the fitting cross of just 17mm, compared with an average 22mm, according to American Optical. 'With AO Compact there is no need to accommodate a small frame by increasing the add power above that normally prescribed - a strategy that forces the patient to read within the corridor,' says the company's chief lens designer, Dr John Winthrop. American Optical claims that the overall level of unwanted surface astigmatism is substantially lower than that of other progressives, while the power and astigmatism distributions of the lenses are evenly balanced between the nasal and temporal sides, providing nearly perfectly balanced optics. The company has carried out wearer trials ahead of its launch and says the results encouraged it to make the lenses available worldwide. 'Wearers reported improved far and intermediate utility, freedom from distortion, overall comfort and time of adaptation,' says Dr Winthrop. 'The need for a progressive lens that could be fitted into small frames was identified by our European businesses, but we knew from the inception of the AO Compact design that this lens would be important in all markets,' he adds. For further details, contact: 0181 201 4204.