ESSILOR INTRODUCES SINGLE VISION AIRWEAR®
POLARIZED GRAY AND BROWN HARDCOAT

Due to Demand for Prescription Polarized Lenses and the Success of Polycarbonate

DALLAS - (November 3, 2004) – Available immediately, Essilor of America is pleased to announce the launch of semi-finished Single Vision Airwear® Polarized Gray and Brown Hardcoat lenses in +6.00D to -10.00D power range. With the growing demand for prescription polarized lenses and polycarbonate lenses continually gaining shares in the lens market, Essilor of America is leveraging the success of both materials, creating a lens to complement the active lifestyles of people today.

Essilor is combining the only lens material that provides the unmatched combination of comfort, cosmetics and safety, Essilor’s Airwear® polycarbonate lens, with the high-demand polarized technology. Single Vision Airwear® Polarized Gray and Brown lenses are available with the anti-reflective properties of Essilor’s Crizal® or Crizal® Alizé™ which reduces bothersome reflections even further - making it the ultimate sunwear.

“The new Single Vision Airwear® Polarized Gray and Brown Hardcoat lenses are perfect additional offerings for lifestyles of people today,” said Mike Daley, president of Essilor Lenses. “These new polarized lenses are up to 43% lighter than plastic frames, up to 35% thinner, scratch-resistant and designed to effectively block the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.”

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Airwear®, Crizal®, Crizal® Alizé™ and Varilux® are registered trademarks and Alizé™ is a trademark of Essilor International, S.A.