[bc]SUPER HIVISION AR COATING FROM HOYA
SETS NEW STANDARD IN SCRATCH RESISTANCE [/bc]
BETHEL, Conn., Oct. 29, 2002 – A new anti-reflection (AR) coating system, which offers triple the scratch resistance of conventional AR coatings, is now available exclusively from Hoya Vision Care.

Super HiVision AR coating gives plastic lenses the scratch resistance previously found only in glass. Using the industry standard Bayer Abrasion Test, it provides scratch resistance of 12.431 compared to glass, which averages between 12 and 14. By contrast, uncoated CR-39 has a scratch resistance of 1 and conventional AR coatings average 4. The new coating also enhances impact resistance.

“Super HiVision is the crown jewel of coatings,” said Bill Norwood, executive vice president of Hoya Vision Care, North America. “The scratch resistance is literally off the charts, and its anti-reflective properties are so outstanding, lenses virtually disappear on the face. With Super HiVision, consumers can have an outstanding combination of anti-reflection and scratch resistance in an easy-to-clean, impact-resistant lens.”

Glare, surface reflections and interference fringes are minimized by Super HiVision coatings, while visual acuity is maximized for night driving.

A Superior System

All Super HiVision coated lenses comprise a multi-layered system of coatings applied to both sides of the lens. The base is a hardcoat, which is followed by the AR coating and then finished with View Protect, a hydrophobic coating that gives lenses an extremely slippery surface that resists dirt, oil, fingerprints and other distracting smudges.

Super HiVision coatings are applied using Hoya’s patented Substrate Matching Properties (SMP), a process that creates perfect mechanical matches between Hoya lens materials and Hoya coatings, and guarantees that the coatings match lens indices, which eliminate interference fringes. With SMP, lenses and coatings expand and contract at the same rate given temperature fluctuations, helping prevent peeling while enhancing strength and durability.

Availability

Hoya presently offers Super HiVision coatings on 1.70 EYRY and 1.71 TESLALID lenses. It will be available for Hoya’s full product line, including HiLux, Phoenix and 1.60 EYAS in spring of 2003.

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1Bayer test results were provided by COLTS Laboratories.