VARILUX LIBERTY AND VARILUX ELLIPSE ANNOUNCE
THREE NEW PRODUCTS COUPLED WITH TRANSITIONS V

Line Extended with Addition of Brown and Gray

DALLAS -- (June 17, 2005) –Essilor continues to expand its offering of Varilux® Ellipse™ and Varilux Liberty™ with the introduction of three new products: Varilux Ellipse Thin & Lite® 1.67 Transitions® V Gray, Varilux Ellipse Airwear® Transitions V Brown and the Varilux Liberty Airwear Transitions V Gray. All three products contain the advanced photochromic technology that make Transitions Lenses the number one recommended photochromic ophthalmic lenses on the market.

The Varilux Liberty Airwear Transitions V combines the Instant Reading Power™ from Essilor with the latest in photochromic technology from Transitions. This combination is designed for the patient who is seeking a bifocal replacement lens that offers protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation, adjusts to changing light conditions and glare from the sun. Both of the Varilux Ellipse lenses, the Varilux Ellipse Thin & Lite® 1.67 Transitions V and the Varilux Ellipse Airwear® Transitions V, are designed to provide the wearer with extra wide far vision, creating more comfortable vision at all distances. These lenses work with Transitions technology to provide customers of all ages with more comfort, convenience and protection for their eyes.

“We are very excited to expand the Varilux line with more choices and brands that are now available in more materials and in more colors,” said Mike Daley, president of Essilor Lenses. “Essilor now has a total of nine Varilux products in the Transitions V technology. By adding more Varilux Liberty options, Eyecare Professionals have more premium options for their patients.”

The power ranges for each product are: Varilux Ellipse Airwear Transitions V Brown and Varilux Liberty Airwear Transitions V Gray, the range is +6.00 to -10.00 up to a -4.00 cylinder, Varilux Ellipse Thin & Lite 1.67 Transitions V, the range is +8.00 to -12.00 up to a -4.00 cylinder.
Essilor of America, Inc. (Essilor) is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International, S.A., a publicly held company traded on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Reuters: ESSI.PA).
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Airwear, Crizal, Essilor and Varilux are registered trademarks and Alizé, Ellipse and Varilux Liberty are trademarks of Essilor International, S.A.
Thin & Lite is a registered trademarks and Instant Reading Power is a trademark of Essilor of America, Inc.
Transitions is a registered trademark and ESP is a trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc.