ESSILOR EXPANDS OPTIONS FOR ECPs WITH ALL-NEW THIN&LITE 1.60
Material options expanded for Varilux Comfort and Varilux Ellipse

DALLAS – (May 17, 2007) – Essilor of America, Inc. announces Varilux Comfort® and Varilux® Ellipse® lenses are now available in Thin&Lite® 1.60 high-index material. The all-new Thin&Lite 1.60 high-index lenses are better than ever before, offering the features and benefits today’s fashion-conscious customers demand.

“Essilor continues to expand the options for ECPs,” said Mike Solosko, Varilux Brand Manager. “With the launch of Thin&Lite 1.60, Essilor now offers Varilux Comfort and Varilux Ellipse lenses in the full spectrum of thin lenses – Airwear® and 1.60 and ultra-thin lenses – 1.67 and 1.74. Two superior lens designs and the comfort, performance and cosmetic appeal of a thinner, lighter material – it’s a winning combination.”

Varilux Comfort set the industry standard for providing comfortable progressive vision, earning the trust of ECPs worldwide by providing presbyopes with smooth visual transition from one area of focus to another. Varilux Ellipse revolutionized short-corridor lens design by providing maximum vision potential at all ranges. Varilux Ellipse offers superior intermediate vision compared to other short-corridor lenses. The Varilux Ellipse lens received the prestigious Award of Excellence for design from the Optical Laboratories Association.

Up to 30 percent thinner and 20 percent lighter than standard 1.50-index plastic lenses, the new Thin&Lite 1.60 lenses deliver comfort, performance and cosmetic appeal. The new, improved MR8 substrate used in 1.60 lens production has many advantages over the previously-used MR6 substrate. MR8 boasts a higher Abbe Value at 41, a lower density of 1.30, and 100 percent UV protection. The new Thin&Lite 1.60 MR8 offers customers more choices, with an expanded availability, including Transitions. Essilor now has a complete offering in Thin&Lite 1.60 with Varilux Comfort and Varilux Ellipse.

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Varilux, Ellipse, Comfort and Crizal are registered trademarks and DEFINITY is a trademark of Essilor International, S.A. Thin&Lite is a registered trademark of Essilor of America, Inc.