PhotoFusion X: The Next Generation of Self-Tinting Lenses

ZEISS PhotoFusion X is a complete photochromic lens portfolio uniquely designed to satisfy your patients’ need for speed-to-clear with blue light and UV protection. ZEISS has re-engineered its photochromic system to deliver ground-breaking transition speeds, improved darkness, excellent UV and blue light protection and attractive colors – all with premium ZEISS quality. ZEISS launched this new photochromic lens at Vision Expo East in New York.

What makes it unique?

The cutting-edge photochromic technology that uses ZEISS BlueGuard as a base material and includes the sunglass-level UV protection of ZEISS UVProtect, give your patients protection both indoors and out. New ZEISS PhotoFusion X provides excellent blue light and UV protection in any environment.

A Completely New Photochromic System

The photochromic system in ZEISS PhotoFusion X lenses is much more efficient than with previous self-tinting lenses. It includes a new generation of specially developed and patented dyes in a robust and more open carrier matrix for faster transition, allowing them to be clearer indoors, darker outdoors, and quicker to react than previous generations.

Speed Matters

Patients frequently buy a range of prescription lenses: clear, sunglasses, and more recently, blue light protection glasses. However, having many prescription eyeglasses is pricey and can be an inconvenience to some.

When people are indoors, they typically want their lenses to be clear. When stepping outdoors, their eyes perceive light and glare, and they want sunglasses that provide comfortable protection.

Early generations of photochromic glasses were not dark enough or were too slow to clear when coming indoors. Slow fade-back speed is a visual inconvenience, as it’s difficult to see indoors with dark lenses, and in social situations it can be embarrassing.

Fast transition is important to patients:

  • For many patients, quick clearing indoors is the most important feature in photochromic lenses.[2]
  • Slow change from dark to light is the most common pain point for photochromic lens wearers.
  • “too slow to go clear” was the most cited technical performance reason for not purchasing photochromic lenses.[3]
  • In the same study, 100% of experienced photochromic lens wearers noted “clearing up fast inside” is an important characteristic, even more so than darkness or indoor clarity.

ZEISS collaborated with Colts Laboratories, an independent ophthalmic lens testing company in the USA, to measure the photochromic properties of PhotoFusion® X lenses and compare them to the latest lenses from other brands.

The Colt’s independent tests lead to the following conclusions:

PhotoFusion® X Grey is up to 1.5 times faster to clear than the most common photochromic brand’s latest generation grey(14) .

PhotoFusion® X Pro Grey is up to 4.5 times faster to clear than the most common photochromic brand´s latest generation grey., comparing average fade-back speed to an interpolated time to 80%T. [4]

PhotoFusion® X Brown was twice as fast as the same brand’s latest brown. [5]

Artificial Blue Light: A 21st-Century Problem

Modern artificial light sources such as LED lights and the usage of digital devices like computer screens, tablets, TVs and cell phones are increasing the eyes’ exposure to artificial blue light. While longer wavelength blue light, that that from the sun, can help us stay alert and awake, shorter wavelengths, like those from digital devices, can generate visual irritation and may even harm the eyes. In addition, blue light is thought to contribute to digital eye strain, causing symptoms like blurry vision and visual discomfort.[7]

Online concern is propelling blue light lens sales. People are looking for “blue light glasses” online at a greater rate than before. Google searches for blue light glasses have increased five-fold in two years (figure 1).[8] In 2020, the term (blue light glasses) outpaced photochromic lenses searches.

UV Radiation- A Hidden Danger for Our Eyes

UV radiation is not visible to the human eye but poses potential risks to eye health. Without protection, UV radiation may damage anterior ocular structures and the skin around the eyes.

Eyelids and periorbital skin:

UV induced eyelid damage is common. Experts usually recommend sunscreen on the eyelids to prevent damage, but people often do not take this safety measure because sunscreen can cause eye irritation.

UV radiation may cause several chronic skin conditions:

• Eyelid photo-aging, which makes the skin thicker and generates prominent wrinkles;

• Sebaceous gland damage;

• Skin cancer on the eyelid

Lens: As the eye ages, protective pigments in the lens are converted into pigments that react to UVR, further damaging lens proteins and the lens’s outer layer. When damage accumulates, the lens can develop a cataract, severely compromising vision.

Iris: Melanoma tumors are the most common cancer of the eye, and evidence suggests that UVR is one of its leading causes.[9]

Retina: In young people, some longer UVR wavelengths may reach the retina and cause photochemical damage.

Because of this ZEISS provides sunglass-level UV protection in all clear ZEISS lenses. ZEISS PhotoFusion X lenses provide sunglass-level UV protection up to 400 nm in both the clear and activated states. This protection is built into ZEISS BlueGuard materials. This means PhotoFusion® X lenses provide the same UV blocking as premium sunglasses.

Premium sunglasses typically offer full UV protection to 400 nm; however, people may not own a pair and often do not wear them on cloudy days. A Vision Council of America survey found only 21.2% always wear sunglasses when outdoors.[10]

PhotoFusion® X are everyday lenses, for use indoors and outdoors, so wearers have them on all the time, providing more reliable and consistent UV protection. As a result, PhotoFusion® X lenses may provide the average wearer better protection over time from UV radiation than sunglasses.

Fashionable Protection

Through its Sunlens Division, ZEISS supplies non-prescription sunglass lenses to many of the leading sunglass brands, giving ZEISS unique insights into popular sunglasses fashions and color choices.

ZEISS PhotoFusion X lenses are currently available in six colors including a classic sunglass grey, a fast Pro Grey, a warm sunglass brown, a fast Pro Brown, the pioneer grey-green and a vibrant blue. Utilize ZEISS PhotoFusion X lenses in the latest eyewear trends for fashionable and functional styles.

The Best Overall Photochromic Lens Technology

There are many photochromic lens choices available to eye care professionals. Amongst this field of products, ZEISS PhotoFusion X provides the best total package of performance and protection when viewed across the variables that eyeglass wearers most value. Faster fade-back to clear, providing sunglass level darkness outdoors, higher indoor and outdoor blue light protection, sunglass-level UV protection and excellent clarity indoors.

Key Benefits

Outdoors, ZEISS PhotoFusion X lenses are performance optimized self-tinting lenses that provide glare, blue light and UV protection.

• Sunglass-level (Cat 3) darkness outside

• UV Protection to 400 nm

• Excellent blue light blocking

• New and improved color hues

Indoors, PhotoFusion® X provides blue light protection and clarity.

• Excellent blue light protection indoors (blocks up to 50% of potentially harmful blue light).

Photofusion® X provides ground-breaking transition speeds.

• Speed-to-clear – up to 4.5 times (450%) faster than the most common photochromic brand´s latest generation, and up to 47% faster than previous PhotoFusion® lenses.[4], [12]

• Speed-to-dark – up to 75% faster than previous PhotoFusion® lenses(15), achieving over 70% absorption in as little as 15 seconds and full sunglass-level (cat 3) darkness in as little as 27 seconds.[13]

At ZEISS we believe that since photochromic lenses are used all day and, in all environments, they should offer high level protection in both environments. Wearers want to protect their eyes and vision no matter if they are exposed to artificial blue light indoors or solar radiation while spending time outdoors. ZEISS PhotoFusion X does just this.

To learn more about ZEISS PhotoFusion X click here or ask your ZEISS Business Development Representative for more information.

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a ZEISS customer, please visit https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/us/eye-care-professionals/contact.html

References:

[1] External Eyeglass Wearer Studies, (n=151 clear lens wearers) DE, 2021.

[2] Photochromic Lens Wearer Study in the UK (n=232) in 2021 external institute).

[3]  External Eyeglass Wearer Studies (n=105), DE, 2012

[4] Testing by independent testing laboratory in USA in 2021-22 according to requirement in ISO 8980-3.  Based on the average speed (%T/min) of fadeback from fully activated state to the interpolated time to 80%T at 23C in 1.50 index  HC only form (CR607 version of comparison brand).

[5] Analyses by Technology and Innovation, Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH, Aus 2021. Based on the average speed (%T/min) of fadback from fully activated state to 80%T at 23C in 1.50 index HC only form, comparison brand CR607 version.

[6] Testing by independent testing laboratory in USA according to requirement in ISO 8980-3. Based on the average speed (%T/min) of fade-back from fully activated state to 80%T at 23°C in 1.5 index (CR607) HC only form.

[7] Rosenfield M. (2011). Computer vision syndrome: a review of ocular causes and potential treatments. Ophtalmic Physiol Opt., (5):502-15.

[8] Google trends weekly result for country selection Worldwide from 1/1/2018 to 12/31/2020 for the terms “blue light glasses”, “photochromic glasses”, “transitions”, “Transitions glasses” and “uv glasses”, Data analysis as of July 2021.

[9] Jovanovic P, Mihajlovic M, Djordjevic-Jocic J, Vlajkovic S, Cekic S, Stefanovic V. Ocular melanoma: an overview of the current status. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2013;6(7):1230-1244. Published 2013 Jun 15.

[10] Vision Council of America, UV Eye Protection Study, 2018. 1.5

[11] Testing according to requirement in ISO 8980-3. Based on the average speed (%T/min) of fadeback from fully activated state to 80%T at 23°C in 1.5 index (CR607) HC only form.

[12] Analyses by Technology and Innovation, Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH, Aus 2021 in accordance to ISO 8980-3.  Based on the average speed (%T/min) of activation from  from clear state to 30%T at 23C in grey polycarbonate HC only form.

[13] Analyses by Technology and Innovation, Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH, Aus 2021 in accordance to  ISO 8980-3.  PhotoFusion X Grey  at 23°C, 1.6 index with HC

(14) Testing by independent testing laboratory in USA in 2021-22 according to requirement in ISO 8980-3.  Based on the average speed (%T/min) of fadeback from fully activated state to the interpolated time to 80%T at 23C in 1.50 index  HC only form (CR607 version of comparison brand).

(15) Testing by independent laboratory in USA in 2021-22 according to requirement in ISO 8980-3.  Based on the average speed (%T/min) of activation from  clear state to an interpolated time to 30%T at 23C in grey polycarbonate HC only form.


5 Eyewear Trends for 2022: Matching the Right Frames and Lenses to your Patients’ Needs

The eyewear industry has seen a lot of changes over the past few years, and it seems like 2022 will be no different. So let’s take a look at what eyeglass frames and eyeglass lenses are popular in 2022! The eyewear trends that you should keep an eye out for are: rimless eyeglasses, cat-eye frames, wrap-around sunglasses, marbled eyewear, and geometric frames.

Eyeglass frame and lens combinations to keep an eye on this year.

Rimless eyeglasses with titanium frames

Perfect for patients who want a sophisticated and modern look, without the distraction of frames on their face. Rimless eyeglasses also tend to be very lightweight, which is great if they wear glasses all day long. Titanium is incredibly durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear, making them perfect for people who are hard on their eyewear.

For the finest style and vision combination, combine it with ZEISS SmartLife progressive or single vision lenses.

Cat-eye frames with blue light blocking lenses

Cat-eye frames are making a comeback in 2022, and it didn’t hurt that they looked fabulous on Cruella. They’re perfect for people who want a retro look. Cat-eye eyeglasses are also very flattering on most face shapes.

If your patients are like the rest of the world, they’re probably staring at a computer or phone for most of their day. For a fashionable and healthy pair of glasses, add blue-light blocking lenses to their cat-eye sunglasses. ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses block blue light with less unsightly blue glare.

Wrap-around Sunglasses

If your patients are looking for eyewear that can protect their eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays, wrap-around sunglasses are the way to go. Besides being stylish, as seen here in the Matrix, they provide more UV protection for the sides of their face and also shield their eyes from wind and debris.

Luxury, style, and vision come together in this exquisite pair of prescription sunglasses when paired with a high-quality pair of sun lenses that provide 100% UV protection, scratch resistance, and anti-glare coating.

Marbled eyewear with self-tinting lenses

If your patients are looking for eyeglass frames that are uniquely theirs, check out marbled eyeglasses like these. They come in a variety of colors and can be customized to any preference. If you want to add some color or dimension to the eyeglasses, these unique glasses should definitely be on your radar!

These glasses can be used in a wide range of light conditions, thanks to the addition of self-tinting lenses like these, without sacrificing style.

Geometric frames with digital lenses

The 70s-inspired frame shapes, like these, with a hipster twist are back in style. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as rounds, rectangles, ovals, and squares, so you can find the perfect pair for any face shape and style.

Digital lenses are designed for patients in the 25-45 age range who frequently use their mobile phones and tablets. Designed for all-day wear, digital lenses are ideal for patients who are constantly on their phones or computers. They help to reduce eye strain and fatigue by providing a wide, clear distance zone with a comfortable near zone for stress-free viewing of digital screens.

Find the pair that works best for you

So, which eyeglass frame and lens combination will you reach for in 2022? Whichever you decide, make sure that it provides the best protection and style for your patients’ individual needs. Additionally, all of the lenses should include sunglass-level UV protection, which all clear ZEISS lenses have.

Are you an eye doctor and want to learn more about ZEISS partnership? Click here.

Are you a patient and would like to find an eye doctor near you with these types of lenses and frames click here.

10 Resolutions for Healthy (and Happy) Eyesight

Here’s to healthy vision in 2022.

It’s the time of year again when we start to make about our resolutions for healthy living. Wouldn’t it be great if this resolution could help protect your eyesight? Well, in fact, healthy vision is one of the most important things you can do to be healthy and happy! That’s why today we’re going to share with you 10 eye-healthy resolutions that will not only improve your health but also make you feel better all around.

Why healthy vision is so important

There are many reasons why healthy vision is so important. Healthy eyesight allows us to see the world around us, enables us to work and earn a living, and helps us to connect with our loved ones. In addition, healthy vision is necessary for many everyday activities, such as reading, cooking, and driving and is critical for overall well-being. When we can’t see clearly, it can be difficult to participate and enjoy life in its entirety.

Get an eye exam and make sure you’re wearing the right glasses

Comprehensive annual eye exams are of the utmost important in preventing and diagnosing vision problems. During your exam, your optometrist will check for common eye diseases and conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. They will also test how well you see both close-up and far away.

It’s often easier to prevent than to treat an eye disease, so be sure to get your annual check-up.

If you already wear glasses or contacts, be sure to bring them with you to your appointment. Even if you don’t need glasses now, chances are that this will change as you age. Make sure that the glasses or contacts that you do wear fit comfortably and allow for clear vision without any issues such as blurring, double vision, or headaches.

If you don’t have an eye doctor, we can help you find one in your area. The ZEISS Online Vision Screening examines vision in five different tests and thus provides an initial indication of how sharp vision, color, and contrast perception are.

Give your eyes a break from digital screens

Most of us view digital devices throughout the day

We all know that staring at a computer screen, phone, or TV for too long isn’t good for our eyes. But what many of us don’t realize is just how bad it can be. When we stare at a digital screen, we’re constantly blinking which dries out our eyes and causes eye fatigue. This can lead to headaches, blurry vision, and even dry or irritated eyes.

To avoid this kind of eye strain, try taking a break from digital screens every 30 minutes by looking at an object that’s about 20 feet away for around 30 seconds. This will allow your eyes to rest while still being functional in case you need them quickly! In addition, make sure that the light from your digital devices isn’t too bright. The brightness of a screen should never be above its surroundings, such as streetlights or lamp posts!

Protect your eyes from blue light

Most of us know that UV light is bad for our eyes, but we might not realize just how potentially damaging blue light can be. Blue light has been linked to a number of serious eye conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts. In fact, it’s estimated that 80% of people with healthy vision will develop some form of cataracts by the time they’re 80-years old.

Luckily, you can protect your eyes from blue light in just a few simple steps! When indoors, make sure that you’re not looking at a computer, phone, or TV screen without wearing eyeglasses with blue light protection, such as ZEISS BlueGuard. At night (when our bodies produce melatonin to help us sleep), avoid using your evening electronics as much as possible and don’t forget to turn off those bright overhead lights! When outdoors make sure to protect your eyes by either wearing sunglasses with full UV protection or ZEISS clear lenses, which all have sunglass-level UV protection.

Eat healthy foods for better eye health

One of the most important things you can do for healthy vision is to eat healthy foods. Foods that are high in vitamins and minerals, such as leafy green vegetables and fruits, are essential for keeping your eyes healthy.

Some nutrients that are especially important for healthy vision include Vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc. These nutrients play multiple roles in the functioning of your eyes such as helping to protect cells from damage (including retinal nerve cells), preventing inflammation, and supporting healthy night-vision.

Here’s a tip! Eat more blueberries! Blueberries get their deep color from a pigment called anthocyanin. Studies show pigment has been shown to help protect the eyes from damage caused by UV and blue light, as well as improve night vision.

Drink plenty of water to keep your eyes hydrated

Hydrate all day for optimal health

Did you know our eyes are approximately 80% water? Well, they are! Water is important for our whole bodies to function properly, and it’s especially vital when you’re trying to protect your vision.

Water helps lubricate the cornea (the clear membrane in front of your eye), keeps tear film healthy, and washes away debris. When our bodies are dehydrated, it can cause a number of problems including dry eyes and eye fatigue. In fact, it’s recommended that we drink around eight glasses of water per day!

If you’re having trouble remembering to drink enough water, try using a reusable water bottle with a built-in reminder. These bottles will alert you when it’s time to drink more water and can help ensure that your eyes stay healthy!

Exercise regularly, which can help prevent or delay age-related vision loss 

Exercise is good for your body, including your eyes

Did you know that exercise can help prevent or delay age-related vision loss? It’s true!

One study showed that people who exercised regularly had a reduced risk by 70% in developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) than those who didn’t. And, if they did develop ARMD, the progression of the disease was slower than in inactive people.

Some of the best exercises for healthy eyes are aerobic, which include walking, jogging, swimming and biking. These types of activities help to improve blood flow throughout your body including your eyes! So pick up that water bottle or gym bag and start exercising today!

You can exercise your eyes too.

Just like the rest of our body, our eyes need exercise to stay healthy. This can be done by doing some simple eye exercises a few times a day. Here are a few of our favorites:

– Look up and down, then left to right

– Focus on an object far away for a few seconds, then focus on an object close by

– Roll your eyes in a circle (clockwise and counter clockwise)

– Close your eyes as tightly as you can for five seconds, then release

– Blink quickly 20 times

Sit up straight when you work at a computer – this will reduce eyestrain and fatigue

Improve posture so it becomes a habit

Maintaining healthy eyesight is even more important when you’re staring at a computer screen for hours on end. As we all know too well, poor posture can lead to lots of problems including neck pain or backaches. It’s also terrible for healthy vision because it places a lot of stress on the eyes.

One easy way to reduce eyestrain and fatigue when you’re working at a computer is to sit up straight with your shoulders back. You may also want to consider using a glare-reducing screen protector or anti-glare glasses. And, lastly, make sure to take breaks every 20 minutes to give your eyes a rest.

When we spend long periods of time focusing on small fonts and images, our vision can become strained and fatigued as the muscles in our eyes tire out from constantly working to focus on these objects. This type of eyestrain is called Computer Vision Syndrome, and it is a serious problem.

In fact, computer vision syndrome has become so common that it affects up to 90% of the people who spend three hours or more per day at a computer! To help reduce symptoms of this condition, make sure you take regular breaks from your screen as well as focusing on larger objects

If you suffer from dry eye, treatment can help with overall vision.

Dry eye affects nearly 30 million Americans each year, and can cause various symptoms including pain or irritation in the eyes. It occurs when your tears are not healthy enough to lubricate your eye properly, which leaves them feeling dry and irritated.

The symptoms of dry eye don’t always feel like dryness. Sometimes they are more like blurriness, stinging, burning, or tearing. And, unfortunately, this condition does not always go away on its own.

If you suffer from chronic dry eyes, there is good news! There are a number of treatment options available for people with dry eyes. They include: warm compresses, eye drops or ointments that add moisture to the eye, and healthy lifestyle changes such as blinking more often and avoiding high temperatures. Additionally there are in-office treatments and prescription medications that can help. So talk to your eye doctor about the best treatment plan for you.

Protect your eyes from UV damage

Your eyes are as susceptible to UV damage as your skin.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause serious damage to your eyes, and increase the risk of developing macular degeneration, cataracts and other eye problems over time. UV exposure also increases a person’s chance for skin cancer on their eyelids as well as wrinkles around the eyes, which is why it is so important to protect your eyes from UV rays.

The best way to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays is to either wear sunglasses that have both UVA and UVB protection or eyeglasses that have sunglass-level UV protection as part of the lens material, such as ZEISS UVProtect Lenses.

Make sure you have adequate lighting when you’re reading

If you often find yourself straining to see the words on a page, it may be because you’re not getting enough light. When we read, our eyes should be focused on an object about 18 inches away from us. If there is not enough light in the room, our eyes have to work harder to focus and this can lead to eyestrain and make it harder for us to read.

In order to reduce strain when you’re reading, make sure there is a good light source keeping the area bright enough so that your eyes don’t have to work too hard. Try using natural lighting from a window or lamp with an incandescent bulb, as they provide more light than a fluorescent bulb.

If you’re reading in the dark, try using a book light or clip-on light to help direct more light towards the page.

Start with an eye exam

Even if you don’t have any symptoms of an eye problem, it is important to get your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. This is because many eye problems, such as cataracts and glaucoma, do not have any symptoms until they are quite advanced. So schedule your yearly eye exam today and start the new year off with healthy eyes! Find an eye doctor near you here.

How to Use Mobile Technology for Success in your Eye Care Practice

Mobile technology is not just a trend. It’s transforming the way we work, live, and play. And this revolution has come to eye care practices as well. Eye doctors are now using mobile technology in their practice to save time, increase efficiency, reduce costs and provide better service for patients.

In this blog post, you will learn about mobile technologies that can help your business.

The many ways you can use technology

Mobile technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the twenty-first century. Mobile eye care software allows eye care experts to have mobile access to all their patients’ records, appointment scheduling, and consultations with clients. There are many mobile apps that allow eye care specialists to communicate with their patients and set up appointments automatically. These mobile apps also store a history of the patient’s progress which can be used for medical evaluation as well. This mobile eye care software is perfect for eye doctors who want to increase efficiency and minimize costs while meeting their professional needs.

For patients, there are now apps that will assess their eyeglass needs, detect and report symptoms of eye disease, store prescription details, and help them virtually try on eyeglass frames.

The benefits of using mobile technology in your eye care practice

Immediate access to all the past records and medical history of patients is a huge benefit to mobile technology for eye care professionals. Eye care software also helps eye doctors save time by making it so that they don’t have to spend as much time on the phone doing appointment scheduling and communication. Using mobile eye care software also minimizes the cost for services because mobile apps tend to be cheaper than working off a computer system or over the phone. Lastly, mobile eye care software saves energy and saves your practice money on utilities because mobile apps require less maintenance than a computer or the eye doctors’ mobile phone.

How you can integrate mobile technology into your business, including an app that helps improve patient satisfaction and retention

Mobile payments are convenient for both patients and doctors by eliminating the need for cash transactions and allowing for quick access to payments without the need for cards, pens, and paper. Integrating mobile apps, such as Stripe, can make business much more efficient.

Communication tools, such as Microsoft Teams, are useful to allow eye care doctors to communicate and work remotely with their patients and coworkers and share information, pictures, and audio files via video, email, and much more. Microsoft Teams is a platform that enables HIPAA-compliant communication, collaboration, and work efficiency.

Scheduling mobile appointments is also easier for both parties with scheduling software, like mobile apps from Skedulo or AdvancedMD. Eye care practices can use mobile technology to set and confirm appointments between the eye doctor, staff, and the patient as well.  

Lastly, mobile eye care software allows eye doctors to report their practice data to regulatory bodies and insurance companies easier too! This helps ensure that an eye doctor’s business is operating in a more professional manner.

A mobile-friendly website is one of the tools you need in order to be successful with mobile technology. This site can have a “Find Us” mobile option that includes directions from the mobile phone as well as mobile text messaging to either you or the staff. You can also make a mobile online appointment form for your website that not only saves time but helps reduce the number of no-shows because patients can fill it out on their mobile devices in their downtime.

Start integrating mobile technology into your business today without breaking the bank

It’s best to start slow when integrating mobile technology. This will help you get a feel for mobile devices and their uses while sticking to your mobile technology budget. Let us recommend at least 3 mobile technology tools that won’t break the bank:

First – go mobile with your social media. You can do this easily by downloading apps on your mobile device that integrate with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or other social apps. Facebook, for example, has mobile apps that make it very easy to do the following:

Mobile check-ins – Ask your patients to check in when they arrive at your practice using a mobile device. This can be very useful later for marketing (e.g., mobile ads) or just to give your patients some cool points when they check in.

Mobile reviews – Reviews are very powerful, so it’s important that mobile technology helps you collect them whenever possible. By using an app or text to request reviews as soon as patients leave, you’re more likely to have a higher percentage of completion.

Asking mobile patients to review you while they’re still mobile (i.e., in your parking lot) is also a great way to get feedback on anything that might have been forgotten while the patient was there, and/or encourage mobile patients that didn’t leave a review as soon as they left.

ZEISS apps that will help to improve your vision practice mobile.

VISUCONSULT 500

The ZEISS VISUCONSULT 500 mobile app is a platform with an interface to ZEISS devices and instruments. It improves the eye examination through mobile consultations and the simplification of workflows. The ZEISS VISUCONSULT 500 works with a ZEISS server. If you don’t work with a ZEISS server you can download the ZEISS VISUCONSULT 100 app instead.

ZEISS Vision Screening

Online Vision Screening

Visual Acuity

In this free online screening, we simulate the testing of visual performance on the screen. This is not intended as a replacement for the tests conducted by an eye doctor. However, users do receive an initial impression of the quality of their vision.

Contrast Vision

Checking contrast vision is important to identify any changes that have occurred to vision. Changes in contrast sensitivity may, for example, be an indication of glaucoma.

Part of the online screening check simulates contrast vision. The test may provide users with an initial indication that their contrast vision is not as good as it could be.

Color Vision

The ZEISS Vision screening also checks color vision with color charts.

Pre Visit Prep App

Pre Visit Prep App

The ZEISS Pre Visit Prep App , available for mobile devices and on the web, is an essential tool that helps patients prepare for their eye exam.

If you would like more information about these apps and other ZEISS technologies, please contact your ZEISS Business Development Representative.

ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses: Where Innovation Meets Comfort

ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses: Where Innovation Meets Comfort

The Next Generation of Blue Light Blocking Lenses

ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses are the latest innovation in blue light eye protection, providing comfortable vision and excellent clarity and aesthetics, while blocking up to 40% of blue light.

Research has shown that we spend nearly 8 hours a day in front of digital screens which creates new challenges for our eyes. ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses are manufactured using the latest organic-chemical technology and can provide protection against digital eyestrain and potential UV damage to one’s eyes.

The Dualism of Blue Light

The human eye evolved under sunlight, the most natural source of blue light. But LEDs and digital devices are a significant contributor to eyestrain and even more so when exposed to artificial or digital sources of blue light.

Not all blue light is visible

Artificial, blue light-generating devices are everywhere. Blue light can have both positive and negative effects on our eyes – increased exposure to blue light may have an impact on eye health. It is scientifically accepted that blue light has both positive and negative effects on our vision, mood and sleep.

The visible light range for the human eye is between 380 and 780 nm. The blue light band, between 380 and 500 nm, is an essential part of the spectrum that is relevant for proper vision performance and some physiological processes.

Recent reports* suggest minimizing the generation of blue light up to 455 nm and maximizing longer wavelengths to avoid interfering with the circadian rhythm and other functions. Consequently, ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses were designed to partially block blue light between 400 and 455 nm but allow transmission of longer wavelengths.

Google searches show people are actively looking for solutions to digital eyestrain. Now more than ever, consumers are seeking products that offer blue light protection because they are worried about the impact on their health and sleep.

It’s a Lens Design not a Lens Coating

As more people spend extended hours in virtual meetings, the demand for blue blocking lenses have increased. The prominent blue-purple reflections from blue light coatings are increasingly apparent and can affect a person’s appearance.

Fewer blue-violet reflections

Due to the integrated design of ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses, they produce up to 50% less visible blue light reflections of digital blue light compared to blue light coatings when used with ZEISS DuraVision Platinum UV antireflective coating. The result is blue light protection, full UV blocking, comfortable vision, excellent lens clarity and superb aesthetics.

Blue Light and Digital Eye Strain

Many people today experience digital eye strain as they spend hours at screens. DES symptoms include: glare/dazzle, discomfort, blurred vision, accommodation stress and dysfunction, fixation disparity, pain in or around the eyes, dryness and eye fatigue.[1], [2]

Blue light is thought to potentially contribute to digital eye strain, causing symptoms like blurred vision and tired eyes.[3] When blue light reaches the eye, it enters through the ocular media and travels to the retina where it may induce opto-physical effects.

The ZEISS BlueGuard Solution

ZEISS lenses protect against blue light and UV radiation. These two properties are combined into the all-new ZEISS BlueGuard Lens.

ZEISS BlueGuard is a single solution that combats the potential negative effects of blue light while providing eye protection from UV. It blocks up to 40% of the blueviolet spectrum[4], 400 to 455 nm, while transmitting beneficial wavelengths, 455 to 500 nm. By blocking blue light in the material, ZEISS BlueGuard reduces digital blue light reflections up to 50% compared to typical blue light coatings.[5]

ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses not only block out potentially harmful blue light, they also provide full UV protection, shielding your eyes against harmful UV radiation up to 400 nm.

ZEISS BlueGuard is available in all common plastic lenses with indexes 1.50 to 1.74.

You’ve surely had experience with blue light blocking glasses. ZEISS BlueGuard lenses are the next step in blue light blocking technology. These glasses are designed specifically to block blue light and UV while preserving the aesthetics of normal glasses, especially while online.

If you want to learn more about how these lenses will fit into your practice we will have your ZEISS Business Development Representative reach out to you.

Let us know what you think-we can’t wait to hear from you!

References

[1] Rosenfield M. (2011). Computer vision syndrome: a review of ocular causes and potential treatments. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt., (5):502-15.

[2] Sheppard A.L., Wolffsohn J.S. (2018). Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration BMJ Open Ophthalmology, BMJ Journals

[3] Coles-Brennan C., Sulley A., Young G. (2019). Management of Digital Eyestrain. Clin Exp Optom, 102(1):18-29.

[4] Inhouse measurements and calculations based on the BVB (Blue-Violet-Block) metric. Analyses by Technology and Innovation, ZEISS Vision Care, DE 2020. *while blocking up to 40% of blue light.

[5] Inhouse measurements and calculations based on the DBRLED (Digital Blue
Light Reflection) metric. Analyses by Technology and Innovation, ZEISS
Vision Care, DE 2020. *Due to the integrated design of ZEISS BlueGuard Lenses, they produce up to 50%**less visible blue light.

ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect UV Plano

Why you should offer ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect UV lenses to your patients.

With home office work becoming the norm, your patients have probably heard of or used blue light blocking glasses, even if they don’t require a prescription.

Blue light is just about everywhere and it’s both good and bad. In nature the blue light from the sun helps us to stay alert and awake. In much of the world today, we almost continually use some sort of digital device well into the night, surrounding ourselves by sources of blue light. These sources include LED lights and electronic screens from our phones, tablets, televisions…you name it.

According to a recent Harvard Health study¹, blue light exposure at night alters our body’s circadian rhythm causing sleep disturbances and may contribute to the causation of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Melatonin, a hormone that influences circadian rhythms, is suppressed when humans are exposed to light. Light exposure at night is one reason so many people don’t get enough sleep.

Any kind of light can suppress melatonin, but blue light does so more powerfully. To support this theory, Harvard researchers compared the effects of 6.5 hours of blue light exposure to green light exposure. Melatonin was suppressed about twice as long with the blue light compared to the green light. This resulted in twice as much circadian rhythm shifting (3 hours vs. 1.5 hours). ²

This same study revealed that when circadian rhythms are shifted, even gradually, several negative health effects can arise. In the study, blood sugar levels increased, and leptin levels decreased. Leptin is the hormone that makes people feel full after a meal.

These are just a few reasons why it is important to discuss blue light with your patients.

Better Sleep Quality

Sleep is one of the pillars of optimal health, but people are sleeping much less than they did in the past. Poor sleep is linked to heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity.³  The use of artificial light and electronics at night may contribute to these problems and many studies suggest blue light disrupts the brain’s natural sleep-wake cycles, which are crucial for optimal health.¹²

Digital Eye Strain Syndrome

With so many people working in front of computers, including students, it’s important to understand the relationship between blue light and eye strain.

While there is no evidence that using digital devices will cause permanent eye damage, staring at them can cause discomfort.

Digital Eye Strain Syndrome describes the itchiness, dryness and blurriness that some of us experience after staring at blue-light emitting screens for too long. It can also cause headaches and neck strain.

UV Protection

Working indoors doesn’t usually cause concern about UV-related eye damage, but there is some risk. UV light can penetrate windows. The good news is that ALL ZEISS lenses have sunglass-level UV protection.

How ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect Plano lenses can help.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution.

ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect UV lenses, both Rx and Plano can help filter out potentially dangerous blue light. Blue light lenses have become increasingly popular among everyone, including kids and adults that do not require a prescription. Whether they’re concerned with eye health or sleep, you now have a solution.

Trust ZEISS to provide solutions for all of your patients’ needs.

Would you like to learn more about ZEISS DuraVision BlueProtect UV technology? Click Here

To find an eye doctor near you, visit www.zeiss.com/FindAnEyeDr

If you’d like more information on becoming a ZEISS partner or if you’d like to be contacted by a ZEISS representative, please visit Become a ZEISS Partner

¹health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/
²pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21300732/
³pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19910503/
¹²pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23814343/
*ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2398753/
*ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2717723/

Pre-Visit App for Eye Care Professionals

ZEISS Pre Visit Prep App

Improve capture rate and speed up the dispensing process.

What is the Pre Visit Prep App?

A short 2-minute quiz that can help recommend eyeglass lens solutions to fit your patients’ lifestyles.  These recommendations can then be discussed with the eye care professional during the next visit.  These recommendations includes lenses, AR coatings and second pair sunglass options customized for their personal needs.

The Pre Visit Prep quiz will show you what challenges your eyes face everyday and which lens solutions from ZEISS can help overcome them.

How do I use it?

It’s easy!  Simply embed the quiz on your website to effortlessly enrich the online experience.  It will then be viewable on your website to help you  educate patients, speed up the lens selection process and drive more traffic to your business.

To add the embed code in your website, follow these
simple steps:

1. Locate the section of your web page where you want
the app to appear.

a. We recommend displaying it your Home page, which is usually named “default” or “index.”

b. We recommend placing the app within the widest body section of your website, rather than a narrow side rail on the right side of the screen.

c. The code must be placed after the <body> tag and before the </body> of your website. The code cannot be placed in the <head> section.

Instructions

1. Copy and paste the following iframe into your HTML code: <iframe width=”600” height=”300” src=”MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from
“eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com” claiming to be MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com” claiming to be
https://previsitprep.com/”></iframe>

2. You can modify the Width and Height dimensions, to ensure the app aligns with your site layout. However, we recommend that you use the 600×300 dimensions.

3. Save the file that you made the changes to.

Now it’s time to let your patient know.

Share it via social media, email, text, or newsletter to drive people to your site and to help them understand which lenses are right for their lifestyle BEFORE they visit you.

Learn more or take the quiz now at ZEISS.com/patientprep or contact your
ZEISS representative.

On the Road Again

At some point in life, most people experience deteriorating eyesight that makes driving at night or in rainy conditions a little less comfortable than it was when they were younger.  Alana Whitaker, a sales rep for Woow eyeglass frames, has experienced this for herself.

In a recent blog post, she shares her perspective..

“As a sales rep, I spend a lot of time driving. … As I’ve gotten older (and my vision has slowly started deteriorating), I’ve found myself not loving driving at night. As I’m driving, I’m constantly switching from looking ahead, to my mirrors, to my dash and sometimes shifting my focus so often causes my eyes to get tired quicker, particularly at night.”

Unless you’re in the optical business, most people are unaware of multitude of lens options available. Customizing lenses to lifestyles can positively impact both patients and businesses.
“If you have a patient who spends long periods of time on the road commuting or otherwise, DriveSafe lenses from ZEISS could be a great recommendation to fit their driving vision needs. When you customize your patient’s prescriptions to their lifestyle as opposed to just offering the basics, you drive more value to your optical.”

ZEISS DriveSafe lenses have been designed to promote clarity…even in the toughest driving conditions.

“…DriveSafe utilizes an enhanced lens design that takes into account our enlarged pupils in poor or low light environments and a special coating that reduces glare at night. Besides all of this, they also make it easier to shift your viewing focus quickly, making them extremely comfortable for your eyes, especially for progressive lens wearers.”

Patients want an all-day lens that will suit their lifestyle.  This is where ZEISS DriveSafe really stands out.

“…they can be worn all day and make great everyday lenses too. There are single vision and progressive options, as well as you can add darkening photochromic options to them. Plus, ALL lenses from ZEISS come standard with UV Protect, so you and your patients are 100% covered against UV rays during the day.” 

Want to know more about lenses designed for the challenges of driving? Read here about ZEISS DriveSafe lens technology.”

(more…)

The science and fashion behind National Sunglasses Day

June 27 is National Sunglasses Day, and it’s a great opportunity to remind patients how  important it is to protect your eyes as vigilantly as you protect your skin. And with the variety of ZEISS lenses that offer UV protection, you can really express your personal style.

Eyewear stylist and influencer Alana Whitaker, known as @californiaglassesgirl on Instagram, recently put ZEISS mirror lenses in two of her WOOW frames, and we think they look great.

But there’s more to sunglasses than how great they look. What’s the science behind UV protection? And how can you be sure that your sunglasses are protecting you? Here’s an overview.

UV rays from the sun can cause short-term and long-term damage to both the eye and its surrounding tissue (known to doctors as the external ocular adnexa). Short-term damage comes from UV-B rays primarily, and includes corneal burns (photokeratitis), conjunctivitis, and sunburned eyelids. UV-A rays (320-400 nanometers) can be attributed to long-term problems such as cataracts, photoaging, and even skin cancer. These rays penetrate the deepest into the skin and eyes. To protect your eyes as well as you can, it is important to select eyewear with UV protection which covers the entire UV spectrum up to 400 nm.

Fortunately, ZEISS has the broadest offering of UV400 protection for the eyes on the market. For patients who want full UV protection and reduced glare, ZEISS has a wide range of prescription sunglass tints, gradients, polarized lenses, and mirror options. There is even a quick quiz to help guide your patients into the best outdoor lens option to suit their lifestyle, the Sunlens Type Test.

ZEISS also has a wide range of self-tinting lenses for patients who want the convenience of having one pair of glasses which have clear lenses indoors and a sunglass tint outdoors. ZEISS PhotoFusion lenses adapt very quickly to changing light conditions, come in 5 color options, and offer full UV protection up to 400nm.

But that’s not all. Since April 2018, ZEISS has had the most astounding offer yet for patients wanting full UV protection.  All ZEISS clear lenses now come with sunglass level UV protection in all materials. That means full UV protection is now available to all eyeglass wearers – as long as their lenses are from ZEISS.

ZEISS truly has you covered – and protected from UV.

Find out more:

Keep It Sunny: Raising UV Awareness with a Chatbot

2018 has been the breakout year for chatbots. Just two short years ago, most of the world hadn’t heard of them. Now there are well over 100,000 just on Facebook Messenger alone. They’re catching on quick, and already more than 20% of consumers prefer chatbots as the easiest way to contact a business, beating phone calls, emails, and websites.

“By 2020, 80% of business will have some sort of chatbot automation in place.”—Business Insider, 2016

That’s less than two years away!

Creating a unique, user-driven, interactive customer service experience is something most companies strive for, right? Well, that’s really difficult to do 24/7, unless you employ chatbots. And ZEISS is known for being a trend-setting technology and precision company, so it was time to place our trust in technology yet again and give chatbots a try.

Sunny the UV Chatbot avatar

Sunny the UV Chatbot was launched within Facebook Messenger in April 2018 to support the launch of the popular ZEISS UVProtect lens technology, and bring awareness of the need to protect eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. Sunny is the first chatbot to be released in the eyeglass lens market. Its purpose is to provide information about UVProtect lenses while educating consumers about UV and its potential to harm our eyes. People can chat with Sunny the UV Chatbot anytime of the day, whenever it’s convenient for them.

It was important to make sure Sunny met the needs of our customers, so it was designed to be both informative and funny with a witty personality. The first question Sunny will ask you is if you’d like your UV Index for the day. Reminding people to consider their daily UV environment and how to best protect themselves is an essential first step to increasing awareness.

Sunny also offers a UV risk assessment so that people understand their risk, not just to their skin, but to their eyes as well.

Think you already know a lot about UV? Well, take Sunny’s fun quiz and find out if you’re right!

Sold on the need for ZEISS UVProtect lenses? Just ask Sunny to find a ZEISS eye care practice near you and you’ll be on your way to having the best protection around.

Want to see for yourself? Open Facebook Messenger and search for Sunny the UV Chatbot by name, or click this link: bit.ly/SunnyUV.

Engaging consumers where they prefer to be served is a crucial step in reaching the ZEISS goal of building awareness about the risk of UV damage to our eyes. Sunny the UV Chatbot is a step in the right direction in effectively engaging with our customers and their patients.