By Andrew Karp
Group Editor, Lenses and Technology

PALM DESERT, Calif.—Essilor of America announced several key initiatives at its national sales meeting here, including plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its flagship Varilux brand. At the meeting, held Jan. 5 to 9, nearly 700 sales representatives, laboratory personnel and executives from independent distributor labs also learned about new anti-reflective, polarized and progressive lenses that Essilor is introducing this year.

 
At the company’s national sales meeting, Essilor’s Howard Purcell, OD leads the management team in a toast celebrating the 50th anniversary of Varilux.
Essilor will kick off the Varilux anniversary celebration at International Vision Expo East in March with the release of a short, 3D movie, “The Varilux Experience.” Meeting attendees previewed the movie, which will also be screened at the American Optometric Association’s annual meeting in June and at International Vision Expo West in October. In April, Essilor will launch a Varilux roadshow consisting of special exhibits that will tour 10 to 12 major U.S. markets. A special Varilux anniversary logo will also be used throughout 2009 for events surrounding the Varilux anniversary.

“Essilor is thrilled to celebrate the golden anniversary of this ground-breaking invention, which was the starting point of our longstanding history of innovation,” said Carl Bracy, vice president of marketing for Essilor of America. “Varilux has greatly advanced lens science during the last 50 years, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to make sure people have the best vision possible.”

Varilux, the first progressive addition lens, was invented in 1959 by Bernard Maitenaz, an optical and mechanical engineer who later became chairman of Essilor.

Essilor also unveiled a new, improved version of Crizal Avancé lenses with Scotchgard Protector. The anti-reflective lenses, which will be released Feb. 10, feature a Scratch Resistant Booster Layer that is twice as scratch resistant as Crizal Alizé and ensures durability and visual acuity over time, according to Essilor.

A new polarized lens brand, Xperio, is also being launched by Essilor at International Vision Expo East. The brand will be comprised of select lenses made by Essilor and its KBco and Specialty Lens subsidiaries. Both KBco and Specialty Lens will continue to market their own brands, including KBco’s EOS line and iRx Polaroid from Specialty Lens. The Xperio launch will include branded sales tools, demonstration units and training for eyecare professionals.

In the progressive lens arena, Essilor is launching Definity and Definity Short lenses with Dual Add 2.0. The new version of the Definity and Definity Short progressives allows for multiple Rx calculations on the back side of the lens to enable a multi-design, customized lens.

“With the Dual Add 2.0 enhancement, the Definity product line provides even more options for active presbyopes,” said Bracy. The lenses, which will be released Feb. 3, will replace existing Definity and Definity Short lenses.

In third quarter, 2009, Essilor plans to release two other updated progressives, Varilux Physio Short and Varilux Physio Short 360. ■