Product Spotlight
SEIKO Superior SV, Single Vision Tuned for Lifestyle

By Mark Mattison-Shupnick, ABOM

“Yes, your prescription is for moderate near-sightedness and for single vision lenses. That's simple, I have your lenses in stock and you can even have them today if you want...” Seems like a really good statement of capabilities and solutions for your patient. What are you missing? What are the advantages of out-of-the-envelope eyewear and what are the disadvantages?

If you edge your own lenses, you know that the convenience of providing a patient's glasses quickly can set you apart from other offices. That out of the envelope single vision lens is the result of many years of proof that they work. In fact, so many of the Rx's provided to consumers, using finished single vision stock lenses form the basis of many practices, lab's and even the Internet's single vision business. They work.

However, like all lenses that are one size-fits-all, they work best for the person whose prescription and frame chosen, also meets the base curve requirements andfits the way that an average frame fits. The vertex, tilt and wrap of the lens in the frame are equal to the average of those values used (the default values) by the lens manufacturer when they choose front and back curves of the lens. But, do glasses fit the way that the lens designer thinks, every time? Of course not and it's likely that for many, this pair of glasses worksbetter centrally but losesits clarity as the wearer's eyes move off center. No problem in small frames since there's less periphery. However, in large frames, there's more of the blur to see.

Turns out that your experience with free-form progressives can be used here to explain what happens and that the opportunity with free-form single vision is a better one. Isn't it true that patients, in general, tell you that they see better in their free-form progressives than their previous fixed front surface lenses? And, haven't you found that, when customizing i.e., ordering progressives using position of wear (vertex, tilt and wrap) measurements, they typically see better yet?That's the result of a clearer lens overall. It is clearer not just centrally but more importantly in the periphery. I've said it many times, “a wider clear field of vision have patients say, “...I just see better”. BUT, the opportunity for free-form in single vision is a better one!

FREE-FORM SINGLE VISION IS BETTER THAN FREE-FORM PROGRESSIVES

Yes, Virginia, it's true; fully customized single vision lenses using vertex, tilt and wrap, when creating the lens, can actually make the entire lens clear, from edge to edge. Of course there's some small blur in high prescriptions but for the majority of prescriptions, even wrap 8 base eyewear, patients will say they're amazingly clear.

Now I know, like you, I've been caught in overpromising sometimes with free-form lenses, especially in progressives. However, the final result of single vision free-form is better than progressives. That's because the power of a progressive is still being increased from top to bottom. That means that, depending on the add power, the length of the corridor and the size of the near, there will be some unwanted blur on each side of the intermediate and reading area. Some patients just don't like it; they put up with it but would prefer it not be there.

Single vision free-form is different since in most cases, the errors that occur in the periphery are completely corrected using free-form and position of wear measurements. Yahooo... lenses that really make a difference from other ordinary single vision. And, a product that you can use to separate you and your office from the competition, including the Internet.

ONE OTHER IMPORTANT DESIGN CHOICE

Wait, there's another design consideration. Lens manufacturers also make a design choice for the intended distance for which the lens design will be used most. For stock lenses, the decision is typically for far away, distance vision. But, what if the lens will not be used primarily for far away but a mixture of far and near or for near vision only? That makes a difference. Making that decisionimproves the way that a lens delivers its optics.

Now, let's think about the way that we started this course, discussing out-of-the-envelope stock single vision lenses. They're designed for the average wearer for average fitting characteristics and for distance vision. What if you could improve your own technical expertise and separate yourself and practice by choosing lenses customized for position of wear and then personalized for the way that the patient intends to use them?

NEW SEIKO SUPERIOR SV LENSES – PERSONALIZED FOR INTENDED USE

Introducing new SEIKO Superior Single Vision (SV) lenses. These lenses can be ordered customized using position of wear values and also, for the intended focal length of use.While an advantage of stock lenses is fast, low cost and convenient, it doesn't separate you from the competition when others around you do the same thing. SEIKO Superior SV lenses can be ordered with POW fitting measurements in an “F”, Far Priority; “B”, Balanced or “N”, Near Priority lens design. As a result, these lenses are created for the intended focal length of use.

SHOULD YOU USE LENSES PERSONALIZED BY FOCAL LENGTH?

Seems to me that lenses that celebrate an optician's craftare good. If one understands that lenses have specific design attributes for the way in which they are worn (POW), and also that an intended focal length can make the way that they work better, just seems to me.

What does personalized by focal length mean? For lenses to be used primarily for near, the origin of the reflected waves from an object is at a reading or intermediate distance, there is one solution. For far vision, those waves originate at infinity or greater than 20 feet, that makes the method of calculating the off lens center correction different. For a lens to be used for both, there's a solution that is about the mean. Regardless, more information about the patient's uses for their glasses can make better glasses.

The calculated off center error can be plotted on a graph (Fig x) and it shows that if one plots the far, near and a balanced design, a lens can be chosen that works better for its intended use.

EFFECTS OF FRAME FIT AND FREE-FROM

What do we know about frame fit? It changes the effective power of the lens and changes to the prescription in the periphery alter the clear field of view (reduce). By knowing the position of wear measurements of vertex, tilt and wrap (front horizontal angle), while the lens surfaces are being cut, the periphery can be designed to reduce the errors usual to finished lenses and therefore, improve vision. This compensates central power and redesigns the lens periphery while the lens is manufactured in the lab.

As stated, lens designing requires an assumed object focal length when managing the calculations to reduce off-axis errors. Distance vision is the most used. However, the effects of a distance correction on near vision require accommodation. Young people do that well since there is a typically a large reserve of accommodation. However, this constant demand on accommodation and convergence can result in eyestrain. If using a digital device then digital eyestrain is the result. Again, we suggest that you personalize lenses for the most used working distance. The lenses are designed specifically or prescribed for the patient's working distance.

Free-form manufacturing is very versatile and is prepared on demand by the lab. The special SV lens blank has better front surface curve consistency since the final resulting powers rely on having the front be a known surface. In the SEIKO Superior SV lens, Advanced Aspheric Compensation further adjusts the free form back surface power of the lens for optimum performance in the as-worn position, and virtually eliminates marginal astigmatism and power error caused by variations in eye rotation, pantoscopic tilt and vertex distance. With Superior SV it is possible to create an almost infinite number of optimized designs incorporating the patient's unique data.

MODELING DESIGNS

Lens design tools today allow the modeling of off axis error estimates for a variety of lens positioning and surfaces chosen. In Fig x, a +4.00D and -4.00D sphere lens is modeled for far, balanced and near vision uses. The maps show the off axis errors induced when used for other than the intended use. For example, a near design lens, last column, used for near vision, bottom row, has significantly less off center error than if it were used in a Far vision application.

Each successive color ring is an increase in the amount of error. The size of the central ring is equivalent to the lens' clear field of view. Next, adjust the periphery for the way in which the lens is being worn, the position of wear and the central field of clear view is yet again increased.

THE SV OPPORTUNITY

Even though Boomers are a significant part of the population, there are more single vision lens wearers as part of the spectacle wearing population. The current population over the age of 18 is about 250M people, of which 64% wear glasses, 11% wear contacts. This population gets a new frame every 2.2 years, plus just about 10% buy lenses only. The latest VisionWatch report for 2015 (a Vision Council survey) reports 52% of prescription purchases were single vision. That means that we have a 41.6M pair SV lens market. What does it mean for each office?

If sold equally over the 35K locations in the US (which it is not), each office would sell 1,189 pair/year. In an office open 250 days a year, that's about 5 pair a day. Wow, that sounds right. What is the SV lens opportunity in your office?

We can segment this further by gender and income. Certainly, lens technology appeals somewhat more to men while income affects both genders equally on the choice of the latest products. Understanding your patient helps sell better products that answer defined patient needs and wants.

What about prescription? Should all lenses be adjusted for POW and viewing distance? Probably not, because low lens powers, when altered like any powered lens are changed little. As a result, the changes might not be visible to the wearer. That means that for prescriptions over ±1.00 and cylinders more than -1.00, these lenses are ideal for these improvements.

How big an actual opportunity is there? If ±1.00 to a -1.00 cylinder make up just above 20% of all Rx's, then there's the other 80% opportunity. So, next time there isa choice to order a single vision finished lens from the lab or from a stock house or a surfaced single vision lens of only toric surfaces, consider customized and personalized single vision lenses, adjusted for POW and focal length of use.

Lastly, when a patient requests their PD because they are purchasing eyewear online and you know their prescription, educate them on the lens differences and the opportunity for a more personalized lens that can provide better vision.

INITIATING THE CONVERSATION

Starting the patient conversation is critical to the way in which sales are made. In this case, what are the right questions to ask that allow explanation of the differences and lens options?

Here are some ideas:

• “There are new lenses designed specifically for your prescription. Let me tell you about how they work.”
• “We've begun to use and have been very successful i.e., patients have loved the result for a new series of lenses that fit your prescription. Would you like to hear about them?”
• “I'm going to use a new lens that other patients have loved, perfect for your prescription. I know that you were pleased with your last pair of glasses and I'm confident that this will be the same. In fact, I'll need some new measurements as well as the ones that we'd taken previously. You'll be impressed.”
• “Tell me about your current vision with your lenses – you suggested that you haven't been happy with them...”
• “Strong prescriptions like yours are our specialty and new free-form digital lenses improve vision all across the lens. Let me explain.”

Review how the lens is created using new digital cutting technologies, using custom wearing measurements. And, unlike other lenses we've used before, these are tuned to the way that you'll use them most. They are more personalized for you than the glasses that we've (others) made for you. Go over the pricing and again describe why they cost more.

Next step is to take position of wear measurements. You can do that either manually or most conveniently using an electronic measuring device (Fig 7). Most offices prefer the convenience of tablet based systems and patients also are tickled by their use. This means that the frame must be final adjusted for measuring, even before the lenses have been glazed (inserted). That means adjusting the fit and asking the patient if comfortable, feels straight, doesn't slide down the nose, snug behind the ear... Of course, you'll let the patient put the glasses on themselves so that you know where they intend to wear them. Once you do all this, it's not uncommon that a patient will tell you that, “...no one has ever done this before.”

Ordering and Availability

Placing an order requires the prescription and position of wear measurements (if not supplied, the lab will use the default or average values to calculate lens surfaces).

With that it is a matter of confirming prescription availability, design choice, material and treatment. Lucky for you, there are virtually no obstacles.

By Prescription – With a prescription range from +10.00D to -12.50D Sphere and an extended Cylinder range to -5.00D (Total power equals -12.50D, means a -7.50-5.00 Rx is possible), virtually every patient is covered.

By Design - Next, choose the vision priority distance, Superior B (Balanced), Superior N (Near Priority) or Superior F (Far Priority).

By Material – All the most used materials are available in indices of 1.50, 1.53, 1.59, 1.60, 1.67 and 1.74 (see Fig 8).

By Treatment – Last, while available with premium AR, adding polarized or any of the three-photochromic varieties, Transitions, Transitions XTRActive and Transitions Vantage (see Fig 8) makes for a perfect fit.

What else do you need to know? SEIKO Superior SV can include Prescribed Prism, from 0.25∆ to 3.00∆ prism diopters.

The position of wear values are: Pantoscopic Tilt, from 0° to 20° in 1° steps (10° default), Frame Front Angle (w/o wrap), from 0° to 15° (w/ wrap 0° to 30°) in 1° steps (default 0) and Vertex Distance, from 7mm to 20mm (12mm default).

If the default or average fitting attributes are preferred, lifestyle distance or balanced design lenses will be created using a Pantoscopic Tilt of 10°, Frame Angle (Wrap) of 0° and a Vertex Distance of 12mm. The frame data needed by the lab is PD, Fitting Height and frame size (A, B, DBL, frame shape or ED). In all cases, the lenses will start off using Seiko/Hoya lens blanks.

Delivery and Demonstration

Once received back from your lab, lenses will have the compensated power listed on the invoice along with the prescribed power. Remember that the effective power of the lens, in the way in which the frame positions the lens, is equal to the prescription. Verify lenses using the compensated power.

If the lab has done the complete job, ensure that the frame hasn't been reshaped or temple angles changed from the way that it was measured. If changed, the lenses will not have the same effective power and the frame will need to be readjusted. Perhaps you will need to re-measure POW values so that you understand the changes needed to the frame. If your own in-office lab is edging the lenses, review the fact that lenses were ordered with POW values so there should be no changes to the way that the frame had been adjusted during measurements. Most opticians will understand.

Conclusion

Intrigued ordering lenses as customized and personalized for the intended focal length of use? In the competitive market today, when patients can be just another out-of-the-envelope solution or believe that all lenses (eyewear) is the same so why not order them online, separate yourself and office with better personalized products.

The percent of free-form single vision lenses vs. standard single vision should minimally be the same percentage as progressives. Free-from progressives are estimated at just over half. Free-from single vision is the better opportunity because of the customization and personalization results, much better than progressives. Just look around in your office and ask how many single vision opportunities are possible?

If maximum visual acuity, from center to lens edge, in all directions is possible, shouldn't that be a possible choice for almost all patients? They'll thank you for it.