ESSILOR ADDS A NEW PREMIUM AR TO THE MARKET THAT
STAYS CLEANER LONGER THAN EVER BEFORE
Essilor Presents Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard

DALLAS -- (January 26, 2006) – Essilor of America, Inc. announced today that Crizal® Alizé™, the leading anti-reflective coating in the industry, is now even better with the addition of anti-particulate abilities of Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard™ technology. Research shows that the number one remaining wearer complaint with anti-reflective (AR) lenses is that the lenses collect dust, dirt and particles, making them difficult to keep clean. Following the huge success of Crizal Alizé, Essilor is once again providing the industry’s premiere AR solution with the introduction of Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard.

Crizal Alizé is the #1 recommended brand of AR in the U.S. Crizal Alizé provides unparallel durability, superior cleanability and smudge resistance giving wearers the clearest vision. With an unmatched hydrophobic coating, this coating allows water and oil to simply roll off, with the most minimal cleaning. Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard includes all of the benefits of Crizal Alizé and has incorporated the same technology used in plasma televisions to add an integrated anti-particulate layer into the AR. The result is a superior AR that stays cleaner, longer than any other AR, is easier to clean, and because of less cleaning, is even less likely to scratch.

Benefits of Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard include:
• Lenses that stay cleaner longer because they repel dust, fingerprints, oil, grease and water
• Lenses that are even easier to clean with no left over residue after wiping
• Because the lenses require less cleaning, it leads to even better scratch resistance
• Lenses that provide the clearest vision possible and make lenses appear virtually invisible

“Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard is an industry breakthrough that will give wearers the enduring clarity they expect from their lens,” said Carl Bracy, vice president of Marketing for Essilor. “The exclusive Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard technology and its unique properties help the lenses stay cleaner longer and gives wearers added benefits in AR.”

Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard is available through March exclusively on Varilux® Ipseo™ and Varilux Physio 360°™. Varilux Physio 360° is Essilor’s latest progressive lens designed for the discerning patient who wants the most advanced progressive vision. Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard will be made available nationally at a later date to be announced in the future.

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Varilux and Crizal are registered trademarks and Alizé, Varilux Physio 360°, Ipseo and DEFINITY are trademarks of Essilor International, S.A. Crizal Alizé with Clear Guard is a trademark and Thin&Lite is a registered trademark of Essilor of America, Inc.