Transitions VI Tech Notes Released

[keithbenjamin]

Improvements include 30% quicker fade time, better perfomance in hotter temperatures, slightly improved activation time, and clearer and darker states.

Transitions VI Details

-Keith

[DragonLensmanWV]

Improvements include 30% quicker fade time, better perfomance in hotter temperatures, slightly improved activation time, and clearer and darker states.

Details

-Keith

I was wondering exactly what the difference was. I thought they would go after the InstaShades's faster lightening time.Looks like it still won't lighten up as fast as InstaShades.

On a related note:
Cheers to Younger Optics!
Of the three companies I get Transitions from, they're the ONLY one to call me and make sure I had sent my old stock back in time to replace it with new stock.This is good as some 90% of my Transitions come from Younger.
Essilor- no calls, but did send printed forms and return materials.
CZV- nothing! No calls, no materials,no forms, nothing. This leads me to believe they want me to get stuck with old product, just like the last two times they upgraded.
No more CZV for me!

[LENNY]

OMG!
Good present for holidays!:idea:

[Barry Santini]

So, the majority of the *important* changes, compared to TV, is to *fix* that which was broekn in TV (but not TIV).

This is an advance?

Barry

[keithbenjamin]

Cheers to Younger Optics!
Of the three companies I get Transitions from, they're the ONLY one to call me and make sure I had sent my old stock back in time to replace it with new stock.This is good as some 90% of my Transitions come from Younger.
Essilor- no calls, but did send printed forms and return materials.
CZV- nothing! No calls, no materials,no forms, nothing. This leads me to believe they want me to get stuck with old product, just like the last two times they upgraded.
No more CZV for me!

Ditto!

Younger was by far the easiest (but of course that goes without saying). We did get forms from CZV but they made it clear they didn't want suppliers to return more than two weeks worth without a return charge. Essilor wouldn't accept any product without an RA which we had to repeatedly beg for and didn't get until the 11th hour.

-Keith

[MarcE]

Pricing

Is there a price change? Can I still have the same add-on for my Transitions after the first of the year?

[keithbenjamin]

Those specifics aren't out yet, but there will be a price increase... of course.

-Keith

[Barry Santini]

OK, so now I've read the new specs...

These "spec sheets" are just soooo much marketing BS...

For instance, Transitions claims:

1. That T6 is darker than T5 after 1 Min (1%)
2. That T6 is 7% darker than T5 @ 95 degrees (but neglects to include similar specs from T4(NG)
3. that T6 fades to a 30% absorbtion in only 9 minutes (where T4NG takes an additional 4 minutes (13 total)
Just when was the last time *you* saw T4NG take 13 m inutes to fade back to 30% absorbtion???)
4. T6 is clearer than T4NG & T5 (but *only* when an AR coat is added???!!!???)

Such *spins* on the facts are characteristic of every new Transitions generational development, IMHO.

FWIW

Barry

[obxeyeguy]

Such *spins* on the facts are characteristic of every new Transitions generational development, IMHO.

equals

but there will be a price increase... of course.

:finger:

[For-Life]

Usually when Transitions releases a new product there isn't a new price increase. Or at least my labs are not doing it.

[KStraker]

Ditto!

Younger was by far the easiest (but of course that goes without saying). We did get forms from CZV but they made it clear they didn't want suppliers to return more than two weeks worth without a return charge. Essilor wouldn't accept any product without an RA which we had to repeatedly beg for and didn't get until the 11th hour.

-Keith

That's odd, we received the return forms from Essilor with return authorization numbers already on them. We never asked for the forms. They did not specify return numbers. We kept enough to last until the first of the year. They are now gone.

[keithbenjamin]

Marketing BS? Really? ;)

At least now you know what VI brings (or does not bring) to the table. I suppose there is something to be said for consolidation across materials.

There typically has been a price increase on the wholesale end for new Transistions product. Some labs may not pass on the increase immediately or may only do price updates at certain times of the year. We have been assured there will be an increase from Transitions. Still, no idea what it will be, though.

-Keith

[karen]

CZV told us personally about 2 months ago and organized how we were returning the product at that time. Guess we are their favorite!!;);):p

and there is a price increase.

this is primarily to address the darkness issues in poly or so I have been told.

[crosseyedwildcat]

Transitions never ceases to amaze me. It was just 6 monthst ago they were trying to purchase Vision ease, with the expectations of having Trans 6 launched at VE west. It looks like they had to go with the fall back plan since the sec said no to purchasing vision easy. In my mind this is just alot of marketing woo haa on a marginally better product.

[Jim Schafer]

Hey...Happy New Year Optiboarders!!!

Such *spins* on the facts are characteristic of every new Transitions generational development, IMHO

You have that right Barry,
Every generation of Transitions has targeted improvement in specific areas of specific materials. The targeted areas are chosen from consumer and ECP feedback. Think about it....what areas do people ask you about photochromic lenses...

How clear is it indoors?
How dark is it outside?
Are the performance speeds satisfactory?
Will it activate and fade the same gray or brown color (no chameleon effect)
Will it work in a car? (this one is by far the toughest...will never happen with an everyday uv activated lens, I hope R&D proves me wrong!!)

So of course marketing will target these areas to talk about. It is topics the patient will ask you.

To me, Transitions Next Generation lens is the perfect photochromic lens...but it will be surpassed this February by Transitions VI...and the beauty of it all, not only will 1.50 be improved...all materials will have matching performance.

NG indoors is 89% T and averages 95% with AR...Transitions VI is 89% and 95% with AR..it is a wash...because all feed back said this is a good place to be. So, with a better photochromic package, allowing the lens to be faster (4 minute gain in fadeback speed) and darker (12% T at 73°) (no skimping on the photochromic load) we kept this attribute. Keep this in mind, a heavier pc load means, less clear indoors. It is very hard to get the dyes purified to the point of vitually no residual color.

As I said before, no competitor could ever match NG in total attributes...and now we made it better. I have been wearing a 1.50 Transitions VI Gray pair since August, I love them...and....before that I wore Transitions VI Gray transbonded in the heat of Florida summer. Side by side, the performance is identical.

The blind test panels love the product too.

The most dramatic improvement is in the Trans-bonded materials.

As I said before...each generation change targeted specific area. Transitions V targeted speed in the Trans-bonded area and better compatibilty with premium AR stacks.

Transitions V was not Next Generation and with 20/20 hindsight, we saw we missed the boat. We worked for 3 years on Transitions VI to ensure that all the attributes of that Next Generation lens would be improved and above all, ECP's no longer have to distinguish materials. Now, all materials have the same performance.

The big changes in Trans-bonded are improved indoor clarity (all materials at 89%) and outdoor darkness. ..just as dark as the imbibed 1.50. Like I said, over the last year I have worn both imbibed and Trans-Bonded product and...yes I have been on this project since the mid 80's ...I have worn every iteration we ever done...and competitive products too...
Transitions VI is by far the best photochromic lens any company has ever launched.

BTW...the launch date for North America has always been Feb 2008...
All of our launch announcements have been at OLA for the following pre VEE launch period.