A R T & S C I E N C E O F

Younger Optics presents Transitions Drivewear – the day time Ophthalmic lens

designed to address the visual information in variable light conditions ranging from

low light overcast weather to the brightest sunlight environment and it is specifically

addressing the visual challenges faced during the car driving.

OPHTHALMIC PHOTOCHROMIC POLARIZED LENS

FRONT LENSSURFACE

UV LIGHTREACTION

VISIBLE SPECTRUMLIGHT REACTION

HIGH TRANSMISSION POLARIZER

BACK LENSSURFACE

Transitions Drivewear’s variable tint technology is provided by using advancements in Transitions® Optical Photochromic Technology, while Transitions Drivewear’s polarization prop-erties are provided by breakthroughs in NuPolar® technology by Younger Optics.

Many attempts have been made to combine polarization and photochromics. These attempts did not work because the properties of the lens were not designed specifically to make the two technologies work together in a compli-mentary and synergistic way. The resulting product did not utilize either technology to its fullest potential or achieve any direct visual improvements.

Transitions Drivewear lenses go beyond these unsuccess-ful attempts by using each of these specific technologies in ways that enhances each one’s capabilities. Transitions Drivewear represents the highest utilization of technology of any lens ever introduced into our industry.

Transitions Drivewear’s combination of technologies is so advanced and novel that multiple patents have been filed on this invention (for instance, “Eyewear having se-lective spectral response”, US patent #6926405 and WO 2005/001554).

TECHNOLOGIES SYNERGY PHOTOCHROMIC EFFECT AND POLARIZATION

400 500 600 700 400 500 600 700 400 500 600 700

During the overcast weather, the lens only active element is the high contrast green/yellow polarized film. The polariz-er blocks blinding glare and high contrast color enhances the object recognition and depth perception for the driver. The lens light absorption in this state is 68%.

While the windshield blocks UV light and prevents the standard photochromic molecules from activation, the new, vis-ible spectrum photochromic molecules are activated by intense visible portion of the sunlight spectrum.

Due to this, the lens color changes to the Copper/Brown and the lens light absorp-tion increases to 78%. The lens continues to block blinding glare and insures great visual comfort for the driver.

As the UV rays are no longer blocked by the car windshield, the layer of Transi-tions photochromic molecules become active. As all 3 technology layers of the lens are active, the color changes to the Dark Brown and the light absorption in-creases further again to 88% while 100% UV rays are blocked.

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR EFFECTWHAT IS SEEN THROUGH THE LENS

LOW LIGHT CONDITIONSHIGH CONTRAST GREEN / YELLOW COLOR

OVERCASTDRIVING CONDITIONS

COPPER COLOR

DAYLIGHTOUTSIDE CONDITIONS

DARK REDDISH BROWN COLOR

BRIGHT LIGHT

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR TRANSMISSION DURING DRIVING

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR TRANSMISSION IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR TRANSMISSION DURING BRIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS

PHOTOCHROMIC TECHNOLOGYThe photochromic properties of Transitions Drivewear lenses represent a breakthrough. In the past, photochro-mics responded only to UV light intensity. Upon exposure to UV light, the molecular structure of typical photochro-mics, such as the naphthopyrans, will change orientation, and absorb light. Windshields of cars contain UV blocking agents; therefore, common photochromics won’t work.

The technology breakthrough needed for Transitions Drivewear was to find an array of molecules that would activate by the lower energy visible light, not just high-er energy UV light. This would facilitate reaction of the molecules behind the windshield of a car. It was also nec-essary to achieve the performance longevity of such mol-ecules. The very important factor was to maintain traffic light color recognition according to ISO standards.

Younger Optics looked to Transitions Optical, Inc., one of the foremost innovators of photochromic technologies, for the latest developments in visible and UV activated dyes to enhance the Transitions Drivewear lens.

POLARIZATION TECHNOLOGYThe polarization technology of Transitions Drivewear was also a significant development. It was important to develop a polarized film that maintains high polarization efficiency while absorbing minimum amount of visible light. The polar-ized film efficiency is calculated by formula

E = (T1-T2) / (T1+T2) x 100%

where

T1 – light transmittance through 2 parallel polarizersT2 – light transmittance through 2 crossed polarizers

To achieve maximum efficiency T1 must be as high as pos-sible, while T2 as low as possible. To make 99% efficiency Transitions Drivewear polarized film was even more difficult because the yellow/green contrast color dyes were added.

Polarization properties of the thin polymer are achieved through its uniaxial stretching. The highet the film stretch ratio, the higher is the polarization efficiency. The polarized manufacturing technology of Transitions Drivewear lens was pushed to the new level of exceptional performance.

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR EFFECT

PHOTOCHROMIC MOLECULE SCHEMATICS

Inactive state Visible light activation Visible and UV light activation

POLARIZED FILM DIACHROIC MOLECULE SCHEMATICS

STANDARD VIEW VIEW THROUGH TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR

SUNNY WEATHERTransitions Drivewear blocks intense blinding glare on the car windshield and reduces the intensity of light reaching drivers eyes.

The pictures were made through Transitions Drivewear lens and are not computer rendered.

OVERCAST WEATHERTransitions Drivewear lens blocks blinding glare on the windshield and on the wet road while enhancing color contrast for the driver.

STANDARD VIEW VIEW THROUGH TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR

DRIVING WITHTRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR LENS

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR PATENTOriginal invention patent was issued for Transitions Drivewear lens.

“An eyewear lens provides for selective spectral performance in response to varying light conditions, including both changes in intensity and spectral distribution. The lens responds selectively to both ultraviolet and visible light, and exhibits different spectral transmittance characteristics under different lighting conditions, to provide for better vision for wearer. In addition to this active response, the lens also may include a polarizer to further control light and to minimize the glare that interferes with clear vision.”

TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS • Development of a light, high contrast polarizer, which

maintains high polarization efficiency.

• Development of the dye package which includes photochromics initiated by Visible and UV light.

• Casting polarization into Transitions monomer and achiving strong chemical bond

• Developing a polarizer which withstands the high temperature of the Transitions and multicoating processes.

• Making the polarized and dye package work together to deliver the proper spectral color results at the varying states of the lens.

• Complying with traffic color recognition according to ISO standards at every state of the lens.

TRANSITIONS DRIVEWEAR SUMMARY

WWW.DRIVEWEARLENS.COM

UNITED STATES

2925 California Street Torrance, CA 90503 USA Phone: +1-310-381-1362Fax: +1-310-783-6477

Orders:customerservice@youngeroptics.com

AUSTRALIA

Unit 6, 9-13 Ridley StreetHindmarsh SA 5007

Phone: +61-8-8241-9800Fax: +61-8-8241-7108

Orders:admin@youngeroptics.com.au

EUROPE

Komerční zóna ČestliceObchodní 110

251 70 Čestlice, Czech RepublicPhone: +420-234-097-222Fax: +420-234-097-200

Orders:orders@youngereurope.com

DRIVEWEAR IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF YOUNGER MFG. CO. TRANSITIONS AND THE SWIRL ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF TRANSITIONS OPTICAL, INC.

© 2014 YOUNGER MFG. CO.

TRANSITIONS AND ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF TRANSITIONS OPTICAL, INC. 2006DRIVEWEAR IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF YOUNGER OPTICS.