Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Photochromic Lenses Life Expectancy

  1. #1
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Back in NYC.....Shenzhen, China and Hong Kong
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,155

    Photochromic Lenses Life Expectancy

    I am interested in knowing what people have found the life expectancy (when a noticeable change in the speed of color change occurs) of the photochromic lenses they have been selling. What brand(s) have you been selling and have you seen a difference in the life expectancy between different brands?

    Doc

  2. #2
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Only City in the World built over a Volcano
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,996
    Glarse or plarstic?

  3. #3
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Back in NYC.....Shenzhen, China and Hong Kong
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,155
    Quote Originally Posted by chip anderson
    Glarse or plarstic?
    Plastic

  4. #4
    One of the worst people here
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    8,331
    probably a year without AR and about three years with

  5. #5
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61
    Around 2-3 years for regular usage, which is meant to match life expectancy of a prescription. The lenses I've tried are serengetti (plano) and transitions. I cannot really comment on the difference in life expectancy of various brands due to differing usage rates, a fair comparison cannot be made. Generally, they do not differ much between brands with similar coatings, at least that's what I've heard from the veterans.

    In fact, after about 1 year 8 months of persistent daily use with several cycles of change in tints, one will find that they don't get activated as quickly as when it was new. What I've found is that the older generations which are not as sensitive to changes in UV conditions appear to last slightly longer.

    What I'm more interested to know is if there is any way or method these "spent" photochromic lenses can be restored.

  6. #6
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Bradenton,Fl.
    Posts
    6
    Most peoples rx will change before lenses "lose" the changability.

  7. #7
    Optician Extraordinaire
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Somewhere warm
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,130
    I know Transisitons don't work well past 2 or 3 years but sometimes I get patients in my office that have Transisitons older then this. I ask them if their lenses are still working and they always say they still work well. ??? Maybe the rate of decline with these lenses are slow enough that most people just don't notice? I don't argue with them.

  8. #8
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Wisconsin for now
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    78

    Photochromic life

    Most photochromics in plastic are compromised of same/similar photo-chemicals, which usually last 3-4 years before breaking down.
    I have seen many last 5 years of regular usage.

  9. #9
    opti-tipster harry a saake's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    lake norman, north carolina
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,099

    life

    i would think that the life expectancy would also depend on how much they are being used in the sun

  10. #10
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Occupation
    Optical Laboratory Technician
    Posts
    17
    3-4 years with AR for Next Generation. The older brands lasted less then a year. And now we sell a lot of INDO lens, they are really good, but i don't know if they are available outside Europe.

  11. #11
    Banned Jim Stone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Point Barrow
    Occupation
    Lens Manufacturer
    Posts
    340
    Has anyone gotten back any yet that have stopped changing?

  12. #12
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Only City in the World built over a Volcano
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,996
    Any manufacturer's have any input?

    Anyone tested life in the South as compaired to more Northern climes?

    Does CR-39 photochromic last more or less than Poly photochromic?

    Surely the folks that make this stuff has some information beyond advertizing propaganda. Lets hear from you.

    Chip

  13. #13
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Frostbite Falls, Mn.
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    7,417
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Stone
    Has anyone gotten back any yet that have stopped changing?
    I got one back that didn't change.

  14. #14
    Banned Jim Stone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Point Barrow
    Occupation
    Lens Manufacturer
    Posts
    340
    Quote Originally Posted by Jacqui
    I got one back that didn't change.
    How old was it? Was the problem with the pair or just one lens? Did it ever change?

  15. #15
    Banned Jim Stone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Point Barrow
    Occupation
    Lens Manufacturer
    Posts
    340
    Quote Originally Posted by For-Life
    probably a year without AR and about three years with
    Why would AR make them last longer?

  16. #16
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Frostbite Falls, Mn.
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    7,417
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Stone
    How old was it? Was the problem with the pair or just one lens? Did it ever change?
    It was a fresh lens. Can't remember the brand, I'll check tomorrow if needed. I tried to force it to work under a UV light and it will now get about 10-15% as dark as it should.

  17. #17
    One of the worst people here
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    8,331
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Stone
    Why would AR make them last longer?
    Steve would probably be the technical guy here to explain it. But it incases the lens. Apparantly also Alize makes the transitions change faster. I assume that would make it the same with all AR then.

  18. #18
    Master OptiBoarder rinselberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Sunnyvale, CA 94086
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    2,301
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Stone
    Why would AR make them last longer?
    Hi Jim. I remember what Jim Schafer posted:
    AR Coatings provide another benefit besides the obvious intent, by creating an oxygen barrier and sealing the lens (protects the dyes and plastic from photo-oxidation reactions). This barrier can virtually double the life of the product.
    That was in http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...1577#post41577

    Transitions photochromic lenses use the (somewhat famously worded) "imbibed" technology. All of the Transitions photodye is contained in a very thin layer at the surface of the lens. So it is not hard to understand how the AR coatings would have the effect of sealing off the Transitions photodye from oxidation reactions, and thereby extending the service life of the lenses.

    I don't think that this observation about AR can be extended to the other photochromic lenses in the market, such as SunSensors and any of the other ones, because the technologies of fixing the photodye within the lens materials are different from product to product. And since the technologies are different, the other products may have different service life characteristics.

    Yours truly.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Clinical Research Explores Vision-Related Quality Of Life
    By Newsroom in forum Optical Industry News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-14-2002, 04:46 PM
  2. polarised photochromic lenses
    By optispares in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 05-12-2002, 09:14 PM
  3. Transitions Next Generation.....
    By Texas Ranger in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 03-22-2002, 12:17 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •