[bc]ESSILOR AND OAKLEY TEAM UP TO CREATE OAKLEY® VARILUX® PROGRESSIVE LENSES [/bc]
VISION EXPO EAST, NEW YORK CITY - (March 21, 2003) – Two powerhouse industry and consumer brands are now working together to provide presbyopes with a new choice. The Oakley® Varilux® lens is a combination of Oakley’s Plutonite® lens material and Essilor’s Varilux® Panamic® lens design. Oakley’s authorized eye care professionals (ECPs) in the US will be able to offer their patients this state of the art progressive lens on an exclusive basis beginning in the second quarter of 2003.

“Essilor has been working with Oakley for years,” said Mike Daley, president of Essilor Lenses. “Incorporating Varilux® Panamic® into Oakley’s lens is a logical next step as both organizations share a mission for providing premium eyewear to presbyopes, a fast-growing segment.”

"This marks another technological advance for Oakley's Rx program,” said Colin Baden, President of Oakley, Inc. “This new partnership with Essilor will now allow us to to combine Oakley's Plutonite® lens material with Varilux® Panamic®, the most advanced progressive lens technology, offering consumers the best of both worlds."

The power range available for Oakley Varilux ® Panamic® lenses is +2.00D through –4.00 D, up to –3.00D cylinder. The add range will be 1.00 through 3.00 (in 0.25 steps). Color choices will be clear with A/R, Grey, Ice, and Oakley’s patented mirror coatings Black Iridium® and Gold Iridium®.

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[size=1]Varilux®, Panamic®, Airwear® and Crizal® are registered trademarks of Essilor International, S.A.[/sixe]