Digital devices have taken off. An extraordinary 81 per cent of all Australians now own at least one. Within the more mature age group, 69 per cent of 35 to 44-year-olds and 51 per cent of 45 to 64-year-olds are classified as ‘mobile consumers’.1 Typically, these age groups are pre-presbyopic or presbyopic, which means using their digital devices without vision correction can be a frustrating experience.
Recognising the increasing use of digital devices in everyday life is now essential when it comes to addressing the majority of your patients’ visual needs.
In late 2014, Zeiss launched the Digital Lens for people aged 25 to 45 who use digital devices on a regular basis. The lens was demonstrated to reduce the stress placed on the ciliary muscles and the associated musculoskeletal symptoms of digital eye strain by a factor of four.2
At ODMA 2015 the company launched a range of progressive lenses complete with technology aimed at helping presbyopes more comfortably view both print media and digital devices. Zeiss says it has taken learnings from the development of its Digital Lens to introduce this “world first” for presbyopic patients. The new range is called the Zeiss Precision Progressive Range.
Standard features of the Precision Progressive Lens include advanced lens-eye modelling, point-by-point calculation, simulation of binocular balance, smoother power transitions from distance, intermediate and near, along with horizontal symmetry…
Precision Technology
Zeiss says its Precision Progressive technology is designed to offer patients “clear optics, dynamic optics and thin and light lenses” from a lens as that can be fitted into fashion forward frames. The company has referred to its extensive database of customised position of wear parameters, taking changing frame and fashion trends into consideration, to update the default position of wear parameters.
Standard features of the Precision Progressive Lens range include advanced lens-eye modelling, point-by-point calculation, simulation of binocular balance, smoother power transitions from distance, intermediate and near, along with horizontal symmetry. Additionally, the lenses are manufactured with patented advanced Freeform technology, and for the first time, Zeiss has introduced the option for variable base curves to be requested along with true Freeform surfacing on both the front and back surface for
higher prescriptions.
Digital Inside Technology
Zeiss claims its ‘Digital Inside Technology’ compensates for the way in which a person’s eyes change their ‘behaviour’ when switching between viewing print media and digital devices. This has been achieved by expanding the near zone both horizontally and vertically, and introducing advanced variable inset calculations so that the near zone and inset is accurately calculated to the wearer’s prescription.
The three technology pillars of the new ZEISS Precision Progressive Range
Each progressive lens wearer gets an individual location of the near reference point based on his or her prescription, resulting in wide near-vision zones for comfortable reading. An internal wearer trial found that 79 per cent of the wearers rated the near vision as being good to very good.3
According to Zeiss, Digital Inside Technology helps to reduce eye strain, particularly at the end of the day when patients are more likely to struggle with concentration due to eye fatigue.
ACT to Manage Patient Adaptation The technology behind progressive lenses is increasingly complex and as a result, dispensing is more complicated and patients who are new to the technology often have difficulty understanding how they will adapt. Zeiss has introduced Adaptation Control Technology (ACT) software (for Windows OS, iOS, Android) to assist both the patient and the optical dispenser.
ACT assists the optical dispenser to determine the best design and progressive parameters for both experienced and first-time progressive wearers. This is achieved by entering the patient’s previously worn progressive design and addition power, which helps determine the patient’ visual profile and learned eye behaviours.
The software is intuitive to use and allows multiple frame choices to be factored into the one dispense then saved for future reference. Most importantly, it provides dispensing data such as FrameFit+ (corridor length) and the most appropriate IndividualFit Profile for the wearer, based on the patient’s three main daily activities.
When it comes to patients, ACT can be a useful education tool to help explain the advanced technology of a progressive lens, and how it can enhance vision acuity and comfort.
Andrew Lin is a Product Manager with Zeiss Vision Care Australia and has a keen interest in digital eye strain, myopia control and using new technology to improve eyecare and refraction in optometry.
References
1. The Mobile Consumer – a Global Snapshot 2013, Neilsen
2. Zeiss Consumer Study Results for DigitalLens Germany
3. Zeiss 2014 Internal Wearer Trial with 48 Participants