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PHOTOCHROMIC TECHNOLOGY: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

DR. KRIS KERESTANKRISGARBIG@FUSE.NET

PHOTOCHROMIC USAGE

§ How long have YOU been in the field?§ Less than 5 years? 5-10 years? 10-20 years? More than 20?

• How many prescribe Photochromic Lenses?• Why or why not?• Advantages? • Limitations?

• Photochromics in Children…72% of all rx sun in US children• How many of YOU currently personally wear photochromics?• % usage in US…

• Photo gray glass was a staple in the Optical industry at the time CR-39 was developed.

• Optical Industry wanted to combine plastic lens technology with photochromic technology to create a new lens with the comfort and safety benefits of plastic along with the amazing properties of photochromic glass.

• Take a step backwards to the development of CR-39

HISTORY OF PHOTOCHROMICS 1940’S: THE DEVELOPMENT OF CR-39

• Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. developed 180 clear plastic resins. • The 39th formulation was trademarked Clear Resin #39 = CR-39.

• The first commercial uses for CR-39 was in the military for production ofstrong, lightweight fuel tanks and fuel lines for the Army Air Force B-17 bomber

OBSTACLES FOR CR-39 USE IN THE OPTICAL INDUSTRY

1947 Armorlite began producing CR-39 lenses, but had many shortcomings

• 14% shr inkage factor which led to Rx distortion

• Diff icult to process

• Scratch resistance needed to be improved.

• Lenses turned yellow

TIMELINE: CLEAR TO PHOTOCHROMIC PLASTIC

• 1947 Armorlite Corporation begins experimenting with CR-39 resin

• 1959 CR-39 lenses introduced worldwide

• 1973 PPG begins CR-39 photochromic experiments

• 1982 American Optical introduces Photolite photochromic lenses

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• 1990 Transitions Optical Inc. was formed by PPG & Essilor• 1997 Transitions III Brown and Gray/XTRActive Gray

• 2003 Received AOA indorsement of 100% UV protection• 2005 Transitions Next Generation• 2006 Transitions Drivewear• 2010 Transitions® XTRActive®

• 2012 Transitions® Vantage• 2014 Transitions® Signature - more reactive to indirect and reflected

sunlight.• 2017 New Signature Colors and Mirrors

•When exposed to UV light, a chemical bond is broken and the molecule rearranges to a species that absorbs energy at longer wavelengths in the visible.• Reversing process is a thermal reaction

UV LIGHT

HEATCLEAR DARK

PHOTOCHROMISM PHOTOCHROMISM

• UVA energy is the lowest energy zone that causes photochromic reaction• UVB and UVC are the highest energy, but are f iltered out by atmosphere • Blue Light/High Energy Visible/Digital Eye Strain

PHOTOCHROMIC MOLECULE

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UV (LIGHT ENERGY)HEAT

COLORLESS STATETWO SMALL CHROMOPHORESFade Back-Thermal Rx (Slower)

COLORED STATEONE LARGE CHROMOPHORE

Activation- Chemical Rx (Faster)

THREE COMPONENTS OF PHOTOCHROMIC LENSES

• Lens Material Matrix

• Photochromic Dyes

• Manufacturing Process

Ø SurfaceØ In Mass

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PHOTOCHROMIC LENS

LENS MATERIAL MATRIX

PHOTOCHROMIC DYES

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LENS MATERIAL MATRIX

Foundation must be Stable, Flexible and have High Performance:

• Reaction Speed• Coating compatibility• UV absorption• Availability for any frame, design and rx• Transitions has 10,000 different combinations

Technology & Manufacturing

PHOTOCHROMIC DYES

Critical Design Criteria

• Color• Reaction speed• Temperature dependence• Fatigue• Compatibility

• Transitions Optical & PPG have 1,000 dyes

Technology & Manufacturing

MANUFACTURING PROCESSTechnology & Manufacturing

Lens Materials + Dyes = Manufacturing

Ø Surface TechnologiesØ Internally Cast / In Mass

SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES

Photochromic layer permanently embedded evenly onto the front surface of lens

Cross Section

Technology & Manufacturing

IN MASS

Lens Substrate/PhotochromicsHard Coat• Photochromic molecules embedded

throughout lens substrate

• Earliest glass technology

Cross Section

Technology & ManufacturingIN-MASS VS. SURFACE

TECHNOLOGIES

• Raccooning effect

In Mass Surface

• Bulls-eye effect

In Mass Surface

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SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES VS. IN MASS

Surface Technologies Advantages

• PERFORMANCE: Uniform activated darkness - independent of correction • AVAILABILITY: Suitable for all lens configurations, including High-

Index materials

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PHOTOCHROMIC LENS

LENS MATERIAL MATRIX

PHOTOCHROMIC DYES

Impacts performance

Greatest impact on performance

Impacts performance and availability

•

FACTORS AFFECTING LENS PERFORMANCE

• UV Radiation• Latitude• Time of Year• Time of day• Temperature

AVAILABLE UV AND VISIBLE LIGHT WEATHER, TIME OF DAY, TIME OF YEAR, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

Summer Winter

§ Direction of lightReflected light, ambient light, light scatter

§ Lens orientationWearer position, location, clothing

§ Orientation of the Lenses on the wearer§ Activation Rate§ Fade Rate§ Color – throughout activ. & fade!!

FACTORS AFFECTING LENS PERFORMANCE Laboratory

Measurements

Live Wearer Testing

Real World Measurements

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REAL WORLD MEASUREMENT

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Represent the way that photochromic lenses are actually worn.

PERFORMANCE: CLEAR, DARK, FAST.

30 seconds

PERFORMANCE: CLEAR, DARK, FAST.

• Up to 5 mins.

DARKNESS VS. TEMPERATURE CHALLENGE

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DARKNESS VS. TEMPERATURE CHALLENGE

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CHROMEA7® TECHNOLOGY

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THE CHALLENGE

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OUTDOORS

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Uniquely designed for extra light protection, even in the brightest sun and hottest conditions.

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IN THE CAR

Achieves up to 82% darkness behind the windshield to protect eyes from sunlight while driving.

Source: Transi tions Optical , Inc. Real World Measurements, (2011) In car acti vation i s dependent on temperature, dri ver posi tion, windshield shape, and windshield and lateral window transmi ssion

properties.

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INDOORS

A hint of tint helps protect eyes from indoor lighting and helps to reduce eyestrain and fatigue.

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Darkens & polarizesVirtually clear indoors

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Transitions Vantage lens molecules darken + align tocreate VARIABLE polarization

VARIABLE POLARIZATION

NUPOLAR POLARIZATION§ Green-Yellow shade in Low light and overcast conditions to provide high

contrast§ Copper shade BEHIND the WINDSHIELD for comfort and improved depth

perception

§ Dark Reddish Brown in br ight light and outdoor conditions to provide increased protection from br ight light as well as excellent color recognition.

• Screen Shot 2019-01-09 at 12.00.21 AM

TRANSITIONS ADAPTIVE SUNGLASSES

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ACUVUE OASYS TRANSITIONS CONTACT LENSES

• TIME 's Best Inventions of 2018.

EMBED THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

•Embed the Youtube video• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKhrRuv2BJY

PHOTOCHROMIC LENS BRANDS

• Transitions Signature (Transitions Optical)• Transitions XTRActive (Transitions Optical)• Transitions Vantage (Transitions Optical)• LifeRx (Vision-Ease Lens)• PhotoFusion (Carl Zeiss Vision)• ColorMatic (Rodenstock)• PhotoViews (Signet Armorlite)• SunSensors (Corning)• PhotoGray; PhotoBrown (Corning)

THANK YOU!!

IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE BEING HERE!ANY ???

Dr. Kris Kerestan Garbig krisgarbig@fuse.net