TRANSITIONS OPTICAL CELEBRATES 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Year-Long Celebration Kicked Off at the OLA

DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2005 – It was 15 years ago during the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) conference that a new company – Transitions Optical, Inc. – was introduced to optical laboratories and promised to be the first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens. Now, at the 2005 OLA conference, Nov. 17 – 19, Transitions is kicking off a year-long 15th anniversary celebration, recognizing its partners for their important role in making Transitions® Lenses the #1-recommended photochromic lenses worldwide.

OLA attendees can learn more about the celebration at the Transitions booth, #720, and from their Solutions Team representatives throughout the year.
“We celebrate this occasion, alongside our partners, because it is they who have made it possible for Transitions to deliver on its promise of offering the widest availability of the most advanced photochromic lens technology,” said Rick Elias, president, Transitions. “Together we can look back with pride at the past 15 years of innovation, and our collective role in the incredible growth of the photochromics category.”

Since the company was founded in 1990, Transitions Optical has grown from a production workforce consisting of 50 workers and one lenscaster, to today employing over 1,200 workers worldwide, and working with nearly one dozen lenscasters, to offer more than 100 lens options in the fastest-growing categories of lens materials and the most popular lens designs.

Transitions has also broken optical industry ground related to consumer education, with more direct-to-consumer marketing efforts than any other lens company. Transitions’ outreach efforts have included national television and print advertising, consumer media outreach, and youth education programs, such as Eye Didn’t Know That! Together with its partners, Transitions has also offered complementary marketing programs and tools that eyecare professionals can utilize to leverage these outreach programs within their own practices.

“Our partners have been our greatest ally in delivering Transitions’ comprehensive marketing resources to eyecare professionals and empowering them to benefit from our national outreach on a local level,” said Dave Cole, general manager of the Americas, Transitions. “It is our hope that our combined efforts will continue to draw attention to the importance of healthy vision, and elevate the vital role of the eyecare professional and the optical industry as a whole.”

According to Cole, “the success Transitions has enjoyed is a direct result of the lens manufacturers, labs and eyecare professionals that support our company, our products and our vision. We are excited for our future together in the next 15 years and beyond.”

About Transitions
Transitions Optical, headquartered in Pinellas Park, was the first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990. As the leading supplier of photochromics to optical manufacturers, Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology and the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names. Transitions® Lenses are the #1 recommended photochromic lens worldwide.
Transitions Optical has manufacturing operations in Pinellas Park; Tuam, Ireland; Laguna, Philippines; Sumare, Brazil; and Adelaide, Australia. Sales offices are located in Cambridge, Canada and nine other countries.
For more information about the company and Transitions Lenses, the first to earn the American Optometric Association’s Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).