Over the last few years, blue light protection has become one of the hottest trends in optical. Showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, we're being asked more questions from ECP's about all of the various options available for their patients.
There's a lot of things online and even commercials available that patients can find (even some misinformation out there too). So what blue light options will best serve your practice and your patients?
As patients learn about the possible dangers of harmful blue light exposure, they're starting to explore what they can do to help minimize its effects. Even our digital devices that we use everyday like iPhones, Android smartphones, Windows computers, and Apple Macbooks/desktops are now coming equipped with settings that can help reduce blue light emitted directly from these devices.
You and your staff need to be armed with the facts as well as all of the options that are already on the market so you can not only dispense the lenses that will best fit your patients' needs, but also help increase your optical sales too.
Let's start off with some facts. Natural blue light is emitted all around us from various sources. The sun, office lighting, birght indoor light, and (of course) our digital devices which emit HEV blue light that we can't seem to live without.
Blue light from our devices can affect our sleep cycles and prolonged usage of devices also causes digital eye strain.
Now with that out of the way we can address some of the other claims being made in regards to blue light. Essilor and the Paris Vision Institute made waves in the industry when they published their research showing that some blue light emitted by digital devices may increase the risk for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Their research also showed that a very specific wavelength of blue light could be negatively impacting our eyes putting us at risk for higher rates of AMD. Of course, this new line of research is in it's early phases of learning what is and isn't harmful to our us. Unfortunately, only time will tell how much of an impact this will have on our eyes later in life.
Many of the blue blocking lenses currently available use a similar technique as our phones and computers by having a slight hue that helps filter out the blue light. Depending on the brand and product being used, these will affect various nanometers of broad-spectrum blue light.
So what are the best options currently available on the market and available here at IcareLabs?
Essential Blue and Crizal Prevencia by Essilor
For patients that can not have color distortion such as graphic artists or anyone considered about filtering out the harmful HEV listed above, you can fit them with Essilor Essential Blue lenses. This is available for all Essilor/Varilux digital lenses. Even patients that do not need glasses for vision correction can still see benefits with the Eyezen lenses. All of these lenses can be stacked with Crizal Prevencia anti-reflective coating which will add more blue blocking capabilities and reduce glare.
CLICK HERE for the Essential Blue availability chart.
CLICK HERE for the Essential Blue White Paper.
CLICK HERE for the Crizal Prevencia FAQ.
CLICK HERE for the Crizal Prevencia White Paper.
Kodak Total Blue Lens
Another great option for patients looking for an all-in-one solution is the Kodak Total Blue Lens. These lenses provide your patients with a hybrid lens material and anti-reflective coating that blocks up to 80% of HEV blue light. They also provide 100% absorption of UV rays.
CLICK HERE for the Kodak Lens availability chart.
CLICK HERE for the Kodak Total Blue Lens sales aid.
BluTech Lenses
BluTech lenses have been one of the industry's leaders when it comes to blue blocking lenses in optical. Their lenses are offered in both an indoor and outdoor variations. The indoor lenses offer around 40% protection of broad spectrum blue light while the outdoor versions will give you closer to 80% blockage.
CLICK HERE for the BluTech availabilty chart.
CLICK HERE for the BluTech Ultra and Classic sales aid.
Transitions Photochromic Lenses
Some ECP's are not aware that Transitions lenses also offer built-in blue light protection. This will of course carry over to the new Transitions Gen 8 that's currently rolling out across the world. Indoors, they filter at least 20% of the HEV bue light and outdoors they can protect your patients from over 85% of HEV blue light caused by the sun's harsh glare.
Transitions XTRActive lenses offer even more protection with at least 34% protection indoors and up to 95% protection outdoors.
Transitions adaptive lenses can also be stacked with several of the options above giving your patients even more options while also giving them peace of mind.
CLICK HERE for the Transitions HBL sales sheet.
CLICK HERE for the Transitions HBL White Paper.
CLICK HERE for the Transitions HBL sales aid.
Hopefully this article has cleared up any confusion you may have had related to blue light protection as well as educated you on the myriad options available to you and your patients. We hope to have also provided you with all of the resources needed for your practice.
We also now offer our house brand BlueGuard blue light protective lenses. Head over to our Blue Light Resource Center page to learn more about all of these different options.
If you have any more questions and are already part of the Icare family, feel free to call one of our friendly customer service representatives today.
If you'd like to open up an account with us, click the link below to request our price list. Blue blocking options are listed on page 15 of our full price list for your convenience.
