NEW YORK--Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW) and Japan-based Tokuyama Corp., maker of specialty chemicals and materials, have entered into a partnership to produce a new plastic photochromic lens material for Corning’s SunSensors line. The new material, SunSensors+, is made from an ultra lightweight material that combines the reliability and affordability of the current mid-index SunSensors line with improved tensile strength and 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, according to Vivian Gernand, vice president and general manager of Corning’s ophthalmic division, who introduced the new product at Vision Expo.

M. Katsuyuki Masuno, general manager, Tokuyama with Vivian Gernand, president, Corning SAS.

SunSensors+ is optimized for rimless styles and is offered in true grey and warm brown colors that have exceptional color stability over the life of the prescription, according to Corning.

The new product is a response to growing market demand for enhanced photochromic lenses that fade quicker, Gernand said. She noted that by working with Tokuyama, “our collaboration will help speed the product to market”--meeting another industry demand.

“We are very pleased to be working with Tokuyama and leveraging each of our key competencies to bring forward the next generation of innovation for plastic photochromic technology,” Gernand continued. “Through the combination of Corning’s expertise with photochromic technology and Tokuyama’s strong research and development capabilities in ophthalmic monomers and photochromic dyes, we believe that we will be well positioned to serve this growing market.”

Tokuyama has been manufacturing mid-index plastic lenses and hard coating lacquer since the 1980s, and has been involved with photochromic lens materials since the 1990s.

“We have complementary positions in the market,” Gernand said, which was the basis for the joint effort on SunSensors+. “Tokuyama played a very large role in developing this lens,” she added.

Corning will continue to offer the current SunSensors plastic photochromic lens material for patients that are new to photochromic lenses and primarily looking for a quality lens at a moderate price.

SunSensors+ will be released to the market in May through various lens casters and distributors. The lenses will be available in the same power ranges currently available for SunSensors, and will feature improved fatigue resistance and temperature dependency, along with consistency of color.