DALLAS, November 4, 2005 – Essilor of America, Inc. will now offer DEFINITY™ progressive lenses through its network of Essilor Laboratories and other select laboratories nationwide. DEFINITY uses a patented, two-surface, offset design and free-form process to achieve a lower distortion than other progressive addition lenses.

“Essilor is pleased to offer ECPs and their patients access to DEFINITY and DUAL ADD technology through Essilor Laboratories,” said John Carrier, president of Essilor Laboratories of America. “For progressive lens wearers, this lens offers a wider field of vision, the least amount of blurriness and a smooth transition between distances to see near, far and in between. These are critical lens attributes for many presbyopes.”

DEFINITY features a breakthrough exclusive technology, known as DUAL ADD® which maximizes the available design space of the lens and allows for the least amount of peripheral distortion, while providing a smoother transition between all distances.

DEFINITY applies some of the progressive power to both the front and back surfaces of a lens. By splitting and slightly rotating the power distribution between the front and the backside, unwanted astigmatism is minimized. The DUAL ADD design also allows for a wider intermediate zone with a smooth transition between the distance and near zones. Sphere and cylinder powers of the prescription are optimized by using aspheric/atoric curves.

DEFINITY also features GROUND VIEW ADVANTAGE™. Located beneath the near zone, GROUND VIEW ADVANTAGE reduces the near add power to help minimize distortion and flatten the field of vision which creates clearer vision when patients look down.

DEFINITY is available in CR-39® clear and Transitions® 1.50 from +6.00 D to -10.00 D with up to a -4.00 D cylinder. Polarized 1.50 lenses are available from +4.00 D to -10.00 D with up to a -4.00 D cylinder. Polycarbonate lenses are available in clear and Transitions from +4.00 D to -7.00 D with up to a -4.00 D cylinder. The 1.60 high index material is available in clear from +8.00 D to -12.00 D with up to a -4.00 D cylinder.

For more information about DEFINITY and a list of DEFINITY distributors, please call(800) 820-2020.

Essilor is the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States and is the market leader in progressive, high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. A pioneer in the development and production of ophthalmic lenses, Essilor employs over 6,100 people in more than 100 facilities throughout the 50 states. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Thin & Lite® and other Essilor brand names. Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA) is the largest, and most trusted, optical lab network in the U.S. and offers a wide choice of services and lens brands, including Essilor premium lenses, to eye care professionals across the nation. Essilor of America, Inc. (Essilor) is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International, S.A., a publicly held company traded on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Reuters: ESSI.PA).
Varilux, Crizal, Thin & Lite and DUAL ADD are registered trademarks and DEFINITY and GROUND VIEW ADVANTAGE are trademarks of Essilor International, S.A.
CR-39 is a registered trademark of PPG Industries, Inc.
Transitions is a registered trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc.