Essilor® presents its first Varilux® lens developed using a dynamic replica of the human pupil to offer high vision intensity in any light for extra visual sharpness and contrast(1).
Powered by Varilux® lens AI twinning technology and pupil-variation predicting, the Varilux® Physio® extenseeTM lens is designed to provide optimized correction for each wearer’s pupil dynamics to reduce high-order aberrations and offer extra visual sharpness and contrast(1).
The pupil is dynamic, constantly adapts to new lighting conditions, its ability to change size and adapt to light is unique to each individual. Most progressive lenses are designed based on the wearer’s pupil size remaining constant in all lighting situations, but this can be problematic and negatively impact vision. Indeed, even the most satisfied progressive lens wearers complain about a drop in visual performance in various lighting environments: 39% are very interested in corrective lenses designed to improve their vision comfort regardless of light intensity(2).
Sébastien Fricker, Vision and Perception Modelling Team Manager at EssilorLuxottica said: “When the size of the pupil increases, the light beam entering the eye crosses a bigger portion of the lens. As a result, it can contain more high-order aberrations and induce a loss in image quality.
“Therefore, accounting for pupil-size variation in lens design is key for maximizing contrast perception and visual performance for wearers.”
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
PupilizerTM
Only recently have vision scientists been able to derive a model which considers the main parameters that influence pupil size(3). The result is a state-of-the-art dynamic pupil model that integrates multiple studies and datasets to describe and detail pupil size variations. Enriched for the first time by this comprehensive dynamic pupil model, Varilux® AI twinning technology replicates thousands of wearer profiles, performing multiple tasks at all distances, in different light conditions. It then analyses this powerful data to predict wearers’ pupil size variation, resulting in PupilizerTM lens technology. Thanks to pupil-variation prediction, PupilizerTM lens technology is built into the Varilux® Physio® extenseeTM lens to reduce high-order aberrations and minimise distortion when light passes the lens. By associating a prescription to a predicted pupil dynamism profile, the lens can be produced to closely match the wearer’s daily, real-life pupil variations.
Dual BoosterTM
Close-up vision is one of the major pain points for progressive lens wearers, with 41% reporting have difficulty reading fine print(2). Dual BoosterTM lens surfacing technology is designed to optimize near vision. Varilux® Physio® extensee™ is a dual-sided lens, carefully engineered between the back and front surfaces to provide a magnification effect in the near vision zone ; without impacting the aesthetic of the lens or the overall progressive power.
This dual surface provides a high quality of vision at near to aid with tasks such as reading fine print.
Synchroneyes®
The management of binocular vision in Varilux® Physio® extenseeTM lens is enhanced thanks to integrating the Synchroneyes® lens technology. This balances the left and right lenses’ designs to match power distributions and patterns of unwanted astigmatism, and allows for a wider field of vision.
For more information about Varilux® including: wearers feedback, near vision behavior, expert Q&A click here.
References
- Varilux® Physio® extensee™ – in-real life consumer study – Eurosyn – 2024 – France (n=79 progressive lens wearers)
- Essilor International – Vision Care Usage and Attitudes – CN/FR/US – June Marketing – 2023 (n=10 611 respondents). • 39%: Analysis based on 481 (45-65 yo PAL wearers) 41% : Analysis based on 1 350 (45-65 yo PAL wearers)
- Zapata-Díaz, Juan F., Hema Radhakrishnan, W. Neil Charman, and Norberto López-Gil. (2019). Accommodation and Age-Dependent Eye Model Based on in Vivo Measurements. Journal of Optometry, 12(no. 1), 3–13