ESSILOR GRANT ENHANCES SUCCESS OF AOA’S AVIATION VISION PROGRAM

AOA CONGRESS, NEW ORLEANS - (June 26, 2002) – For more than three years, Essilor of America, Inc. (EOA) – through an annual grant – has enabled the American Optometric Association (AOA) to prepare optometrists to meet the basic needs of their pilot patients through the organization’s Aviation Vision program. At the 105th Annual AOA Congress, doctors will have the opportunity to participate in a six-hour Aviation Vision course sponsored by the AOA Aviation Vision Committee and the Armed Forces Optometric Society (AFOS).

“Thanks to Essilor, our year-round educational effort extends beyond the classroom,” said J. Pat Cummings, O.D., incoming president of the AOA and a registered pilot. “Essilor has enabled us to produce a cockpit simulator that teaches our optometrists the special requirements of our general, commercial and military pilots.”

In addition to being exhibited at the AOA Congress, the AOA’s Aviation Vision cockpit simulator, sponsored by Essilor, makes upcoming appearances at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh in July and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo in Palm Springs in October.

“Essilor’s commitment to professional education is evident in the programs we support,” said Rodney Tahran, O.D., vice president of professional relations for Essilor. “Knowledge of the unique occupational requirements of the aviator deserves special attention. Varilux® progressive lenses enable pilots to view cockpit gauges as well as the sky ahead with accuracy, while Crizal® anti-reflective lenses increase light transmission up to 99%.”

Essilor of America, Inc. (Essilor) is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International, S.A., a publicly held company traded on the Bourse (Symbol: ESI).

Essilor is the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States and founding partner of VisionWeb(SM), www.visionweb.com, which is creating the world's largest eyecare network. An industry pioneer in the development and production of ophthalmic lenses, Essilor is the market leader in progressive, high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. The company manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Airwear® and Essilor brand names.
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Varilux&reg, Airwear® and Crizal® are registered trademarks of Essilor International, S.A.
VisionWeb(SM) is a service mark of VisionWeb, Inc.