[bc]CLINICAL RESEARCH EXPLORES VISION-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE[/bc]
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., August 14, 2002 – Clinical research exploring whether a person’s overall visual experience can be enhanced by more than visual acuity was recently published in the July issue of The CLAO Journal as “Evaluation of Vision-Related Quality of Life for Patients Wearing Photochromic Lenses.”

The research, funded by an independent grant from Transitions Optical, compares the experiences of patients wearing regular, clear lenses to their experiences wearing Next Generation Transitions&reg Lenses. Results showed that patients experienced a significant improvement in visual comfort and satisfaction with Transitions Lenses outdoors, and had equivalent experiences with both types of lenses indoors.

“This research shows that visual comfort plays a significant role in improving the overall visual experience, leading us to consider this factor, along with acuity, as part of an overall vision-related quality of life,” said Susan Stenson, M.D., F.A.C.S., clinical professor, Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine. “Glare-induced conditions may preclude a patient with 20/20 vision from ‘seeing’ or from being totally satisfied with a given visual experience. With informed product selection, eyecare professionals can offer their patients the most comprehensive solution to address both visual acuity and visual comfort needs.”

Transitions Lenses scored significantly better than regular, clear lenses in several areas related to visual comfort:
- Reducing eye strain (tearing and burning)
- Reducing pain and loss of visual performance due to glare
- Adjusting from indoor lighting to outdoor lighting
- Adapting to different lighting conditions
- Ease of performing outdoor activities

Four Out of Five Preferred Transitions
Transitions Lenses also scored significantly better than regular, clear lenses in overall lens satisfaction. In fact, four out of five patients preferred the visual comfort of Next Generation Transitions over regular, clear lenses.

“The research reveals that patients themselves recognize and want this enhancement,” said Stenson. “This implies increased patient satisfaction with a dispensing approach that considers more than visual acuity in making a product recommendation to patients.”

“The research supports the trend we are already seeing in the optical industry,” said Dave Cole, general manager of the Americas for Transitions Optical. “With the introduction of Next Generation Transitions Lenses, eyecare professionals are embracing the opportunity to offer their patients a higher-performing everyday lens, and are dispensing more Transitions Lenses to a wider customer base than ever before.”

Long-term Vision Protection
To maintain vision-related quality of life, long-term vision protection should be considered as part of the overall visual experience in addition to visual acuity and comfort, said Stenson.
“Products like Transitions Lenses, used in this study, accommodate all three of these needs, but some photochromic lenses do not,” said Stenson. “Eyecare professionals should always keep UV protection top-of-mind when dispensing eyewear to their patients, so the quality of vision today doesn’t come at the expense of tomorrow.”

Next Generation Transitions Lenses are as clear as regular lenses indoors for uncompromised visual acuity, plus provide the added benefits of visual comfort in varying light conditions and 100 percent UVa and UVb protection.

Measuring Vision-Related Quality of Life
To compare the vision-related quality of life of patients wearing Transitions Lenses with patients wearing regular, clear lenses, participants in the clinical study were asked to complete the Transitions Vision-Related Quality of Life (TVRQOL) Instrument .
The Instrument was developed by a team of eyecare professionals, statisticians and photochromic scientists in 1999. Structured as a questionnaire, it explores various aspects of visual acuity and comfort according to five subscales: Vision Comfort, Daily Activities, Conditions Experienced, Features and Satisfaction.

“While other instruments have measured general quality of life, no previous instrument has focused purely on vision-related issues involving daily activities in both indoor and outdoor environments and demonstrated the scientifically meaningful nature of differences measured,” said Christopher J. Baldy, Ph.D., A.B.O.C., research associate for Transitions Optical, and part of the Instrument development team. “With this tool, we can confirm clinically what many have believed intuitively for years: that the visual comfort provided by a lens that adjusts to varying light conditions can enhance a patient’s overall vision-related quality of life.”

For questions related to the findings of the clinical research, e-mail researchinfo@transitions.com.

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For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, visit transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).