IcareLabs Blog

A few years back Essilor shook things up a bit when they released the Comfort 2. There was a bit of panic that they might have made changes to the #1 selling PAL in history that might have not worked. Years later we all know that the changes made to the Comfort not only worked but worked well.

Back then Essilor looked into the "visual needs" changes that had occurred over the previous 10-15 years. Through this research, Essilor was able to update to venerable Comfort design to meet the needs of our modern patients.

Well, they have done it again with the launch of the Varilux Comfort Max. As our lifestyles continue to change so do the needs of our presbyopic patients.

Big news for fans of the Varilux family of progressive lenses. The new Varilux Comfort Max will be launching on August 11th, 2020! In this blog, we'll touch on everything that we know so far. We'll also take a look at where this new lens will be positioned among the many great Varilux lens offerings so you can be prepared when this lens launches later this year.

Essilor has announced the release of the third wave of Transition Signature GEN 8 lenses. This follows the first 2 waves of GEN 8 released in July and October of 2019. This is great news as the roll out for GEN 8 is now complete.

We also have a sneak peek of the new Varilux Comfort Max progressive lens that you won't find anywhere else!

We have just finished an update with our state-of-the-art surfacing equipment which enables us to surface the Varilux X Series lenses in-house. With this, we are now able to produce the full line of Varilux digital products in-house along with the full line of Crizal products.

This enables us to be your one-stop-shop for Varilux and Crizal products!

In the ever-growing world of digital single vision offerings, Essilor and Kodak Lens have just released information on their new designs.

These great new lens options are designed to help patients deal with digital eye strain and visual fatigue.

Let's take a look at each and see what they bring to the table.

With all of the options available in lens designs and materials, we truly are working in the golden age of optics. Never has there been more options and custom designed products to cover the vast array of our patients' needs. From specialized Single Vision products for young readers to fully compensated digital progressives offering wide field of views.

While we get plenty of training on these new products I find that many of us question when to use high-index lenses and why. Many do not understand the benefits and fear the drawbacks. 

In this brief article, I hope to clear up some misconceptions while giving you some parameters of when to use high index. 

In September of 2018 we took a look at the differences between fixed corridor vs. variable corridor digital progressives. While this is a good explanation of how to get the best out of each, fixed corridor progressive lenses can give you a new arsenal to keep your patients happy. 

We are seeing more of our customers choosing fixed corridor for their patients progressive glasses and for good reason. This blog will give you best practices when fitting your patients with fixed corridor progressives. The first step is using a product that allows for fixed corridor length. Shamir, Seiko, and our house brands (Legacy and Heritage) give you this ability.

In 2015, Essilor launched the Eyezen+™ lenses giving patients across the world a better alternative to traditional single vision lenses in prescription glasses. These lenses are geared toward the modern digital lives of your pre-emerging presbyope patients to help provide eye relief due to eyestrain.

While it's hard for me to admit, this year I reached the point in my life where my phone, tablet, and computer became a challenge to see thanks to small fonts. I started noticing at the end of my work day my eyes were tired and I had to come to grips with the reality that I needed help. In what seemed like overnight, I had become a pre-emerging presbyope. 

Kodak Lens recently released their newest version of their popular Unique lens with the Kodak Unique DRO progressive lens.

Building upon the ever change needs of modern presbyopes, reading habits continue to increase the time spent on mobile devices. Hours a day are spent using cell phones and tablets on social media, news, shopping, and driving directions. 

The Kodak Unique DRO uses Dynamic Reading Optimization (DRO) that helps enrich and enhance the reading area.

With over 50 years of doing business, Icarelabs labs has seen its fair share of changes. No other year has seen more changes than 2018. On May 17^th, 2018 we celebrated or 50^th anniversary and made sure we purchased some great gifts for ourselves in the process.

Along with this fantastic milestone we went too 100% digital processing by adding an additional 3 digital generators and multiple soft polishers.

These upgrades gave us the ability to process even more digital designs than ever. We also introduced our second line of house-branded digital progressives in 2018. Always with a thought to our past as we press forward, we felt there was no better name than Heritage.