In a first for eyewear manufacturers around the world, Maui Jim has launched polarised, single gradient prescription sunglass lenses for single vision or progressive.
Soon to be available in Australia, the new prescription MauiGradient lenses use the company’s proprietary MauiPassport technologies to produce digitally-compensated free-form lenses that result in wide, clear
and vivid vision.
MauiGradient lenses have a darker tinting at the top that gradually gets lighter moving down the lens. That means the appropriate amount of light is allowed to filter through certain areas, while less light comes through where protection is paramount.
Paul Ponder, manager of Maui Jim’s 7,500 square metre digital lens lab in the US, said the technology has taken time to perfect.
The new prescription MauiGradient lenses use the company’s proprietary MauiPassport technologies to produce digitally-compensated free-form lenses
Each lens has nine layers of patented PolarisedPlus2 technology to cut 99.9 per cent of glare from above, below and behind each lens and block 100 per cent of harmful UV rays. These layers also include waterproof and oleophobic coatings and a Clearshell scratch-resistant treatment.
Three rare earth elements are used to significantly enhance colours seen through the lenses.
Prescription MauiGradient lenses go through 22 separate manufacturing steps and are inspected six times throughout the process to ensure quality. The engineering process is customised to compensate for each individual prescription.
“We are the only company that not only accounts for the unique aspects of a patient’s prescription, but also adjusts the digital manufacturing to the precise measurements of our frames,” said Mr. Ponder. “This is how we are able to produce the clearest, edge-to-edge optics; and our accuracy is six times better than a conventional lab. Less than one per cent of jobs are returned for manufacturing errors. This is the lowest return rate in the industry.”
All prescription MauiGradient lenses use Maui Evolution 1.60 lens material that combines SuperThin glass with the impact-resistant properties of polycarbonate lenses.
Maui Jim’s single gradient lenses are available in most of the company’s Rxable styles that use the Maui Evolution lens, including one of the eyewear industry’s largest collections of aviator frames. New aviator styles include Hideaways, Mavericks, Baby Beach, Wiki Wiki and Cliff House. Many of the company’s acetate frames can also be made in prescription, including Ginger, Lilikoi, Pau Hana, Lani, and Lava Flow.
There are four lens colour options: neutral grey for bright, sunny days; HCL bronze for variable light conditions; Maui HT, a high performance lens; and Maui rose for fast moving sports.
