Designed by ophthalmologists and optometrists to enhance the eye’s anatomical characteristics and visual functions, Transitions Drivewear is a feature packed sun lens that delivers multiple unique wearer benefits.
Transitions Drivewear is the world’s only polarised photochromic lens that automatically changes to three different colours; olive/yellow, copper and dark brown. Each of the colours is optimised for different outdoor light conditions and activities, from early morning cycling, to a BBQ at dusk with friends, golf in the midday sun, fishing in haze or a day at the beach. Transitions Drivewear is also designed to optimise vision when driving, providing wearers with greater comfort and increased safety.
Responding to Rod and Cones
This lens technology was designed by ophthalmologists and optometrists in the US to optimise the eye’s millions of visual sensors which are made up two basic kinds: rods and cones. Rods enable vision at low light levels and do not mediate colour vision. They can become easily bleached out by excessive exposure to sunlight over time thereby compromising vision at night. Cones are active at higher light levels and are involved in colour vision. Without cones we would only see in black and white. There are three types of cones: red, blue and green. These three types of cones respond to their namesake colours.
Rather than simply combining NuPolar polarised and Transitions photochromic technologies, Transitions Drivewear colours and light transmission densities were specifically designed to augment the characteristics and anatomical functions of rods and cones in varying light conditions. The result? Wearers enjoy the best possible outdoor vision experience.
This lens technology was designed by ophthalmologists and optometrists in the US to optimise the eye’s millions of visual sensors
Which Colours, When?
Olive/Yellow Tint
Yellow lenses selectively reduce short wavelength light to remove the blue end of the spectrum. The result is enhanced contrast for wearers, along with sharper vision. Combined with high light transmission, yellow tints maximise the information delivered to the eye’s visual receptors, enabling wearers to perceive their environment as brighter in low light conditions.
Olive/yellow lenses are particularly useful at dawn and dusk, and in overcast, foggy and hazy situations. In these conditions the rods do some of the work to deliver monochromatic information while the cones supply the reception for colour vision. The olive/yellow lens colour chosen for Transitions Drivewear optimises both rod and cone functions so wearers see better in low light conditions. The tint density lowers to 63 per cent (or 37 per cent light transmission) to maximise the useful light entering the eye.
Olive/yellow is often a preferred lens colour for aviation pilots, shooters, skiers, tennis players and those with low vision.
Copper Tint
Like olive/yellow tinted lenses, copper tinted lenses block blue light to enhance contrast, depth perception and sharpness of vision. Copper was chosen as one of the three Transitions Drivewear colours because it enhances the recognition of primary colours, particularly red and green. On the road, this results in excellent recognition of traffic signals and car brake lights, while also removing excess light.
A copper tint is ideal for medium bright days, light overcast conditions or in the shade on a bright day. This is when the rods play less of a part in vision. Most activation comes from the cones which deliver rich colour information.
The density of the tint determines the amount of light transmission through the lens, and therefore, how much light reaches the eye. A fixed copper tint may be too dark for some conditions and too light in others. The advanced photochromic dyes used in Transitions Drivewear respond to both UV and visible light to adjust tint density in response to current light conditions, darkening and fading to suit the light. Transitions Drivewear promotes preferential activation of the red cones (and to a lesser extent green cones) to result in the best possible vision.
With patented photochromic dyes reacting to visible light, Transitions Drivewear activates behind car windscreens that block UV light. When driving in bright light, the lenses change to a copper colour, which is the optimum colour for a driving lens. Depending how much light is available, the lens will darken up to 75 per cent tint (or 25 per cent light transmission).
Driving, cycling, fishing, golf and running are just some of the activities in which a copper lens excels.
Brown Tint
A brown tint has the same short wavelength absorbing properties as a yellow or copper tint, which means light is removed from the blue spectrum. This results in excellent depth perception, enhanced contrast and a sharpness of vision.
Dark brown tinted lenses are a good all-round colour for bright sunlight conditions when the eye’s rods play no part in vision because the light is so bright. The cones are at the peak of stimulation, delivering maximum visual information.
Transitions Drivewear selected a dark brown colour lens to filter out excess light in bright light conditions so that rods and cones do not get oversaturated. In bright sunlight, Transitions Drivewear darkens to a 90 per cent tint (or 10 per cent light transmission) for optimal visual comfort and acuity. If the sunlight becomes less intense, Transitions Drivewear automatically adjusts its tint density to best suit the amount of light available.
Brown is suited to activities like water sports, cycling, hiking and golf.
Photochromic – Including In-car Activation
Many photochromic lenses do not activate (or barely activate) in cars with windscreens that block UV. This is because the photochromics require UV light for activation. Transitions Drivewear responds to both UV and visible light, enabling exceptional in-car activation.
With leading Transitions photochromic technology, the tint density automatically darkens and lightens, allowing only the amount of light into the eye that is needed for optimal vision in the current conditions. Transitions Drivewear tint ranges from 63 per cent tint (or 37 per cent light transmission) in low light conditions to 90 per cent tint (or 10 per cent light transmission) in bright light.
Polarisation
Blinding glare reflected off smooth shiny surfaces, cars, snow, wet roads and bodies of water can obscure vision. Because it can hit unexpectedly and cannot be blocked by regular sunglasses, it can be debilitating and dangerous. Polarisation protects against blinding glare, making polarised lenses essential for activities like driving, cycling and water sports. Polarisation can also reduce the amount of brightness entering the eye, thereby enhancing visual acuity.
Transitions Drivewear is always polarised, regardless of the amount of photochromic activation or the colour. When Transitions Drivewear is dark brown in bright sunlight, the polarisation provides additional protection against the intense light. Conversely, in low light situations when Transitions Drivewear is olive/yellow, the polarised filter removes background light scatter from the visual signal to perceptively brighten vision.
Transitions Drivewear continually blocks 100 per cent of UV light to protect against the sun’s harmful rays.
Feature Rich for Spring/Summer
Transitions Drivewear is a premium lens that’s packed with features, making this lens a compelling option to present to a broad range of patients this spring and summer.
