ESSILOR THIN & LITE® 1.67 RECEIVES AOA SEAL OF
ACCEPTANCE FOR ULTRAVIOLET ABSORBERS/BLOCKERS

DALLAS - (January 4, 2005) – Essilor of America’s Thin & Lite® 1.67 is the newest recipient of the Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers by the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) Commission on Ophthalmic Standards. Thin & Lite® 1.67 offers better UV protection than other lenses lens due to the UV blocking agents (396 nm UV cut off) already built into Essilor’s lenses.

The AOA’s Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers is the newest category in the AOA Seal of Certification and Acceptance Program, which was established more than ten years ago to provide evaluation of ophthalmic related products. Products meeting the new Seal's criteria provide substantial protection of the eye from naturally occurring environmental
ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The AOA's Commission on Ophthalmic Standards specified the minimum requirements and test procedures for acceptance of products for the AOA Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers.

“Receiving this kind of recognition only reinforces to the industry and to consumers that Essilor is dedicated to protecting our patients from naturally occurring environmental ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ocular damage it can cause,” said Mike Daley, president of Essilor Lenses. “The Seal will help validate eyecare professionals' recommendations while aligning their practice with the best that the industry has to offer.”

To receive the Seal, Essilor supplied the Commission with Thin & Lite® 1.67 lenses for an independent evaluation to test that the product meets or exceeds the requirements for UV absorption/blockage. For acceptance, AOA requires that the product must not transmit more than 1% UVB (290 to 315 nm) or UVA (315 to 380nm), nor more than 0.2(v) [where v is the luminous transmittance] short wavelength VIS (380 to 400nm). In addition, each product must meet all appropriate ANSI and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for its product category to qualify for acceptance.

Essilor of America’s Thin & Lite® 1.67 offer thinner and lighter lenses resulting in a more aesthetic appearance and unsurpassed comfort. Transitions Optical, Inc.’s Transitions® Lenses were the first products to earn the AOA Seal of Acceptance in this category in March 2004, and has already promoted the acceptance widely. Thin & Lite® 1.67 will be promoting the AOA UV Seal in trade ads and sales aids.
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Varilux®, Airwear®, and Crizal® are registered trademarks of Essilor International, S.A.
Transitions® is a registered trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc.
Thin & Lite® is a registered trademark of Essilor of America, Inc.