Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, has introduced a new range of lenses, Eyezen and Crizal Prevencia, offering prevention and protection for eyes against harmful blue light, strain and fatigue.

The company has conducted extensive research to evaluate the impact of increased digital exposure on the eyes. The new spectacle lenses have been customized to meet the needs of the consumer in the digital age, offer protection from blue light that is harmful to retinal cells and reduce visual strain arising out of multiple device usage.

Eyezen lenses have twin functions of relaxing the eyes from digital eyestrain and protecting visual health over the long-term. Crizal Prevencia is the first preventive spectacle lens that selectively filters out harmful blue violet light that is harmful to retinal cells while letting in other frequencies of the light spectrum, which your body needs to function properly.

The average time spent in front of the computers has increased by 65 per cent over the past five years. Added to it is the hours spent in front of television, tablet PCs and smartphones usage creates visual stress. Medical experts report that increasing exposure to digital screens leads to tired and weary eyes, headaches, blurred vision, itching and burning. Computer Vision Syndrome, is now an obsolete given the rapid transition in technology that has added several new facets to visual eyestrain.

The effects of harmful blue violet light have also been highlighted in recent years. Emitted by the sun and also by artificial light sources such as LEDs and computers or smartphones, blue light - the range of the visible light spectrum with wavelengths between 380-500 nm - plays a beneficial role on health, in particular by regulating the internal biological clock. However, a specific band of this light, known as the blue violet light causes damage to retinal cells. Digital devices and lighting devices such as LED lights and CFLs also emit significant amount of blue light. With progressively increasing usage of LED lighting, this exposure is only expected to increase in the coming years.

“Rapid adoption of newer technology in this digital world presents newer challenges with respect to protection requirements. It is also essential for ophthalmic lens technology to evolve to meet the needs. Eyezen represents Essilor’s innovation, offering users the maximum protection and comfort,” said Shiv Kumar J, CEO, Essilor India.

“With increasing presence of convergent devices, we are today dealing with a scenario where multiple devices are co-existing. This doesn’t just increase digital exposure of the eye, but adds extra pressure on the eyes as they continuously switch between devices. This has led us to introduce lenses such as Eyezen and Crizal Prevencia for use in spectacles,” stated P Ramachandran, Group COO, Essilor India.