Time to look sharp

TECHNOLOGY: See better, look smarter with a new lens.

Eye-glasses are in. Even those with perfect vision are getting hooked on to thin-rimmed wonders to get that intellectual "with it" look.

And those who actually require serious vision correction are looking for options that can save them from those grand-dad type thick bi-focal lenses.

Progressive lenses for eyeglasses have been in the Indian market for a while "" sold as Verilux comfort lenses (manufactured by Essilor India) "" but these have not quite taken off commercially since the prices, at Rs 3,500-50,000, are multiples of the Rs 800 that a usual bi-focal lens would cost.

The comfort for the user is far higher though. As compared to the traditional bi-focal eyeglass lens that has two focal points (far and near), the progressive lens has multiple focal points for distance to near vision from top to bottom of the lens, easing strain on the eyes, as there is clarity at all distances.

The efficacy of the progressive lenses were revealed in a study by Shanker Nethralaya, an opthalmologic hospital based in Chennai, on 100 people suffering from presbyobia (a vision defect caused by rigidity of the eye lens due to aging).

It made them alter between using a progressive lens and a flat-top bi-focal lens for eight weeks. Ninety two per cent of the respondents chose the Verilux progressive lens for all activities against the bi-focal lens.

"One can see all objects at all distance points without consciously focusing on just one lens," says Viswanathan, manager, optical series at Shanker Nethralaya, as he explains the superiority of the lens.

"The idea of progressive lenses in India is still sinking in. We are training opticians so that they are able to dispense the Varilux lens to users," says Radhika Francis, deputy marketing manager, Essilor India.

A multiple focal eyeglass lens makes working long hours on the computer more comfortable, and with the cosmetic appeal thrown in, get ready to meet a sharper set of eyes in office cubicles and at kitty parties too.