Transitions Optical has launched its latest lens innovation, Transitions GEN S, available in Australia and New Zealand from August 2024.
According to the company, the “ultra dynamic lens” goes beyond simple correction by adapting its tone to changing light conditions, indoors and outdoors, faster than previous technology.
The lens is based on five years of research into photochromic technology, where more than 100,000 lenses were tested.
Available in a new ruby tone, there’s now eight colours to choose from.
Transitions GEN S brings together three core elements of performance for wearers.
The first is GEN Speed, referring to its ultra-responsiveness to light,1 with fade back being around two minutes,2 making it two times faster than Transitions GEN 8,3 the company reported.
Outdoors, Transitions GEN S are said to darken in seconds4 and – when fully activated – the lens is as dark as a sun lens.5 When asked about responsiveness to light, 88% of wearers agreed the lenses adapted so fast to light that they didn’t or barely noticed the change.6
The second key element is GEN Style; Transitions GEN S is available in eight colours, including a new addition, Ruby. Ruby is said to be a trending tone and was recently named ‘colour of the year’ by a leading colour institute.
“All colours have been optimised to be true to tone at all stages of transition, offering vibrant tints. While being fully clear indoors, and beautifully coloured outdoors, the dynamic lenses provide endless possibilities of pairing to complement any look,” the company said.
Finally, GEN Smart relates to “effortless vision”. Transitions GEN S is reported to offer better visual performance, faster,7 to ensure a continuous visual experience in varied and changing light environments. The lens provides 39% faster vision recovery from intense bright lights versus clear lenses. During fade back, tests have shown a 39.5% improvement in contrast sensitivity8 and 40% faster vision recovery8 versus Transitions GEN 8, a statement said.
Moreover, the lens provides light protection, darkens outdoors, blocks 100% UVA and UVB rays and filters up to 32% of blue-violet light in the clear state and up to 85% when activated.9
“The lens is based on five years of research into photochromic technology, where more than 100,000 lenses were tested. This resulted in the creation of new and enhanced photochromic dyes using advanced symbiotic technology,” Transitions said.
“These enhanced dyes absorb more energy within the matrix structure of the lens and work together flawlessly allowing the dyes to strike the right balance between vivid colours and seamless responsiveness to sunlight to deliver visual performance and durability.”
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References
- For grey polycarbonate & CR39 lenses with anti-reflective coating fade back to 70% transmission in less than 2 minutes and activate to 18% transmission @ 23°C in less than 30 seconds.
- For grey polycarbonate & CR39 lenses with premium anti-reflective coating fading back to 70% transmission @ 23°C.
- For grey polycarbonate & CR39 lenses fading back to 70% transmission @ 23°C.
- For polycarbonate & CR39 lenses across colours achieving 18% transmission at 23°C.
- For polycarbonate & CR39 lenses across colours achieving 18% transmission @ 23°C.
- 133 prescription lens wearers trialled Transitions® GEN S™ grey 1.67 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating. Photochromic performance may vary across colour and lens material. Wearers Test conducted by an external market research agency in the U.S., Q1 2023.
- Vision quality improved in challenging light conditions, notably in bright to very bright light situations and in low light with peaky stray light (when Transitions® GEN S™ are compared to clear lenses). Subject-masked cross-over randomised controlled investigation performed in 2023 on 30 healthy participants (19.2 ± 1.3 years). Testing light stress (discomfort and disability glare, photostress recovery) with the clear and darkest states of Grey Transitions® GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating compared to clear 1.6 index lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating. Principal Investigator Prof Billy R. Hammond.
- Sources: A – Subject-masked cross-over randomised controlled investigation performed in 2023 at the University of Georgia, on 30 healthy participants (19.2 ±1.3 years). Testing light stress (discomfort and disability glare, photostress recovery) with the clear and darkest states of Grey GEN S™ AR coated lenses compared to clear AR-coated control lenses. Principal Investigator Prof Billy R. Hammond. Manuscript ready for submission in Journal of Optometry. Harth JB, Wysocky CJ, Hammond BR, Renzi-Hammond LM, Using New Photochromic Spectacle Lenses to Attenuate Light Stress in Healthy Adults. B – Subject-masked cross-over randomized controlled investigation performed in 2023 at the University of Murcia, on 10 healthy pre-trained participants (29.5 ±4.01 years). Testing contrast sensitivity during fade-back with Grey GEN S™ AR-coated lenses compared to Grey GEN 8™ AR-coated lenses. Principal Investigator Prof Pablo Artal. Accepted abstract at ARVO 2024. Duarte-Toledo R, Mompeán J et al., A new photochromic lens improves contrast sensitivity during fade-back. Manuscript in preparation. Disclaimer: 1. Tested on Grey GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with premium AR coating compared to clear 1.6 index lenses with premium AR coating. 2. Tested on Grey GEN S™ 1.6 index lenses with premium AR coating compared to Grey Transitions® GEN 8™ 1.6 index lenses with premium AR coating * Vision quality improved in challenging light conditions, notably in the transition from a bright to a darker environment (source B), in bright to very bright light situations (source A), or in low light with peaky stray light (source B).
- For polycarbonate and CR39 lenses across colours. Blue-violet light is between 400 and 455nm (ISO TR 20772:2018).
