He's Baaack: Dr. Sheedy Strikes Again!

**drk** · 09-19-2005, 12:54 PM

In my newest JAOA: "The optics of occupational progressive lenses" by James E. Sheedy, O.D., Ph.D.

Thumbnail results, interpreted by myself (don't kill the reporter, here):

Only two have true distance Rx: AO Sola's Technica, and Hoya's Tact. Both of these will pay the price for the distance area by adding peripheral astigmatism and having a narrower intermediate-near zone. Of these two, Tact has more distance area, and Technica has more near area. Think of these as traditional progressives fit really, really high, with a more uniform (but very narrow) width to the distance, intermediate, and near zones. You do get the full distance power, though.

Essilor's Interview has the absolute lowest amount of peripheral astigmatism by far, and relatedly the largest viewing area by far. One catch: it only has a one-size-fits-all degression of -0.75. Meaning it is slightly better than SVNO, but not too much. On an absolute presbyope, it will give a "computer add" of +1.75, which is pretty dang high. Not a good walking around lens, therefore. Think of it as a SVNO lens with a very mild degression.

Gradal RD is a good walking around lens. It's designed a lot like a traditional progressive, but with a +0.50 add in a narrower distance portion. It provides a very wide intermediate and near zone. Think of it as an overplussed progressive with a narrowed distance area to open up the intermediate and near width.

The Shamir Office has relatively more near area than intermediate area (i.e. the unwanted astigmatism is placed higher in the lens) compared to the others. It's a more reading-oriented lens, with reasonable balance.

The Rodenstock Cosmolit Office seems to be a pet of Dr. Sheedy, reading between the lines. It has a good width in all three areas (he defines as near, near-intermediate and far-intermediate). Its standard degression on a +2.50 would be -1.75, so you get the picture. Thus, it's a very balanced design.
(* I noticed that Rodenstock and Zeiss' lenses are quite similar in qualities)

The Sola Access has a lot of near, and a lot of intermediate, but the maximum degression is only -1.25. This may not be a bad thing in most cases, but you can't see across the room at all when you're an absolute presbyope (let's say at add powers over +2.00). The benefit though, is that it has wide zones for the computer and near. The astigmatism is bunched at the 180 line and doesn't extend much down into the reading area or up into the computer area. Think of it as an exec plussed up +0.75 or +1.25 in the distance area.

Say what you will about Dr. Sheedy and his methodology, but we sure have a dearth of independent evaluations in this industry. I, for one, applaud his efforts.

**wmcdonald** · 09-19-2005, 01:39 PM

As a researcher, I know full well that whatever you do can be scrutinized and for that reason you must be certain of your results. The methodology of a given study can provide some insight into its validity which I do not have here, and is not presented. Knowing Jim Sheedy a bit, I can tell you he is a professional in every sense of the word, with superb resources at his disposal, and a university department that supports his research. I am not sure how the study ws conducted, but if he did it, you can pretty well bet the farm! I would enjoy seeing how the study was conducted if you have the information.

**QDO1** · 09-19-2005, 02:25 PM

Things move on so fast.. The Cosomolit Office has just been discontinued in the UK - replaced by Nexyma 40 and Nexyma 80, and also individual versions of the lenses as a option too

**spartus** · 09-19-2005, 08:28 PM

Our office looooves the Interview--for presbyopes under 50, of course. Me, I'm jealous of--and confused by--why Essilor UK sells it in two powers, -0.80D and -1.30D degression, and in mid-index instead of CR39. If they'd just give us that, we'd sell twice as many.

**Lewy** · 09-20-2005, 03:21 AM

The 2 regressions are obviously for differing age ranges to give the wider range of working distances. However the mid index does add a premium to the reatail price, If they had used CR39 at a lower price point then we could easliy sell an awful lot more. In my opinion it should retail just slightly lower then a bifocal. but Hey! I am just a lowly DO, what do I know?

Lewy

**QDO1** · 09-20-2005, 07:31 AM

There is a whole discussion to be had about occupational dispensing...

The first point would be - how do you start to break that "I only want 1 pair of spectacles" barrier down, followed by "that pair of spectacles also needs to be 18 mm or less deep"

the tail waggeth the dog?

**Happylady** · 09-20-2005, 08:00 AM

Thanks for this imformation. Where can I read the full article?

**drk** · 09-20-2005, 09:16 AM

Journal of the American Optometric Association. You have to be a member, unfortunately. I don't think it's posted on their "members only" site, either. It will eventually be available, I'm sure.

**Stopper** · 09-20-2005, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Happylady

Thanks for this imformation. Where can I read the full article?

Call the company who's lens was top rated. they probaly have plenty of copies that they can hand out.
Cheers

**QDO1** · 09-21-2005, 03:57 AM

The article is here, and is very good

http://optometry.osu.edu/COOR/pdfs/O...SciArticle.pdf

**rinselberg** · 09-21-2005, 04:19 AM

QDO1,

"drk" is talking about a new Sheedy report.

You've just referenced one of his older, original reports from 2004.

**QDO1** · 09-21-2005, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by rinselberg

QDO1,

"drk" is talking about a new Sheedy report.

You've just referenced one of his older, original reports from 2004.

Thanks for that

Well the 2004 report was a eye opener... does anyone have a web address for the new one.. cant wait!

**hoodsmom** · 09-27-2005, 02:24 PM

A question from a nonprofessional (an internist with just enough ophthy training to read Dr. Sheedy's 2004 article and understand most of it):

He makes the point that no one has tried to correlate the results of his rating system with performance or patient satisfaction, but in your experience, does his rating system correlate roughly with different patient needs?

(And thanks very much for the reference and your kind answers to my other post. I will be much better armed when I go back to the optician to have the progressives that aren't quite right for me replaced.):)

**QDO1** · 09-27-2005, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by hoodsmom

A question from a nonprofessional (an internist with just enough ophthy training to read Dr. Sheedy's 2004 article and understand most of it):

He makes the point that no one has tried to correlate the results of his rating system with performance or patient satisfaction, but in your experience, does his rating system correlate roughly with different patient needs?

(And thanks very much for the reference and your kind answers to my other post. I will be much better armed when I go back to the optician to have the progressives that aren't quite right for me replaced.):)

Yes they do

**Bobie** · 11-27-2006, 12:17 AM

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Cheer to Dr.Sheedy , you are my man.

**Cherry Optical** · 12-02-2006, 09:18 PM

I am suprised to see no one mention PRIO. The combinaion of Shamir Office (Prio Computer Lens) and Prio Browser (a Zeiss lens) gives more power shift options than any other near viriable focus lens in the market.

75, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 225.

In combination with PRIO Shazam!, PRIO lenses are easy to order, verify, and modify to special patient needs.

Adam

**Bobie** · 12-02-2006, 09:33 PM

Please inform me more about PRIO , :bbg: Cherry

RT · 12-03-2006, 09:30 AM

The combinaion of Shamir Office (Prio Computer Lens) and Prio Browser (a Zeiss lens) gives more power shift options than any other near viriable focus lens in the market.

Actually Adam, the Hoyalux Tact is available is unlike the other NVF lenses in that it doesn't use fixed "power shifts". Tact is ordered with a conventional add power from 1.00 to 3.00 diopters in 0.25 diopter increments. Tact also has the unique characteristic that it has 2 fitting points--EP40 and EP60, which deliver 40% of the add power and 60% of the add power at intermediate.

By clever use of the EP feature, combined with the many add powers, a good dispenser can create almost any near-to-intermediate power shift.

**Bobie** · 12-03-2006, 01:14 PM

Hi , RT
Could you please , show me some contour plot of TACT. :bbg:

**MarcE** · 12-03-2006, 10:37 PM

I thought Essilor bought Prio. You are saying that the Prio computer is the Shamir office, now distributed and owned by Essilor. BTW, I am wearing the Shamir Office poly right now. Don't ask if I'm wearing anything else.

**Bobie** · 12-04-2006, 12:46 AM

Essilor is born to buy another PALs and all labs. After they buy all , then they can sell their PALs in the price that can make heighest profit per share for shareholder. :D We have no choice , even we don't like it.

If nobody do something , we will have PALs monopoly soon and all of us have to do what they say like , yes sir , very good sir etc sir.

Our club is for protect the end-user from the PALs Empire and we looking for more Jedi Knight.

In the near future , the stand alone optik shop or O.D. clinic will be more difficult in PALs business.

Let we join to each other around the world and change the rule of PALs business. If we are together , the PALs Empire have to do what we say.

Join us or stand alone.

**Cherry Optical** · 12-04-2006, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by MarcE

I thought Essilor bought Prio. You are saying that the Prio computer is the Shamir office, now distributed and owned by Essilor. BTW, I am wearing the Shamir Office poly right now. Don't ask if I'm wearing anything else.

That is correct. PRIO is not a lens manufacturer, they are a marketing company. They also have a device that stimulates the eyes the same way a computer screen would. This stimulus is then used as a reading exam set at the same distance as the patients computer screen. The resulting ADD power is called the PRIO ADD or COMPUTER ADD. This add power is then entered into the Shazam! lens calculator along with distance Rx and normal reading add. The PRIO ADD power will always be set at the fitting cross and the power shift is determined by the other two factors.

We have worked will every computer lens out there. The HOYA TACT is an interesting lens and we have had some success with the lens. The PRIO system offers a complete 'speciality' to a clinic that is looking to solve computer vision syndrome; CVS.

Go to www.prio.com and check out the Shazam! program, if nothing else. It is 'fun' to play around with prescriptions and try to design a computer lens with the most distance vision and still match up to the patient's normal reading ADD.

As far as why Essilor bought PRIO, I would venture a guess that they are preparing to have a 'safety eyeglass' like program for ergonimic eyewear. There were a couple bills in the works that would have brought CVS to the forefront during the Clinton years. Maybe we need some good lobboysists for vision to help this out. Anyone ever seen "Thank you for smoking?"

Adam