Protect Your Patient's Vision with Photochromic Lenses
Discussing photochromics with patient's can be challenging. Here's our advice.
- What are photochromic lenses?
- Understanding photochromic technology
- Discussing photochromics with patients
- Key benefits for your patients
- Browse the Neochromes website
- Common misconceptions
- Starting the conversation
- Recommending a photochromic lens
- Why Neochromes? The photochromic lens that delivers
- Make the change: Try Neochromes
Protect Your Patient's Vision with Photochromic Lenses
Discussing photochromics with patient's can be challenging. Here's our advice.
Today's photochromic lenses protect your patient's vision and provide unparalleled comfort. Advancements in technology mean you can offer them clear vision in all lighting conditions, indoors and out, while safeguarding their eyes from harmful UV rays.
In this article, we'll explore how photochromic lens technology has changed over time, photochromic benefits for patients' eye health, and address some misconceptions, so you can confidently discuss photochromics with your patients, and ultimately dispense more photochromic lenses.
What are photochromic lenses?
Photochromic lenses, or photochromatic lenses, are eyeglass lenses that darken upon exposure to UV light. When the UV light diminishes, the lenses return to their clear state. This adaptability makes photochromic lenses incredibly versatile, providing clear, comfortable vision in a variety of light conditions.
No matter the type, all photochromic lenses share predictable consistencies:
- Temperature and Light Sensitivity: The colder the climate, the darker the lenses will become. Conversely, in warmer climates, the lenses exhibit less darkening.
- UV Light Influence: The presence of more ultraviolet light results in darker lenses, while less ultraviolet light (or more infrared light) makes the lenses lighter.
Understanding photochromic technology
Understanding the technology behind photochromic lenses is essential for recommending them effectively. These lenses automatically adjust their level of tint based on the amount of UV light they're exposed to. This dynamic adaptability ensures that wearers enjoy optimal vision under various lighting conditions without needing to switch between different pairs of glasses. The core technology involves photochromic molecules embedded within the lens that react to UV light, changing structure to darken the lens. Once the UV light diminishes, the molecules revert to their original form, and the lens returns to a clear state.
The advancements in photochromic lens technology have led to faster darkening and fade-back times, broader color options, and better performance in different temperatures. This makes today's photochromic lenses not only a practical choice for vision correction but also a stylish option that meets the aesthetic preferences of a wide range of patients.
Discussing photochromics with patients
Now that you understand the technology, it’s important that we can explain this properly to our patients if we are to properly manage their expectations. The best way to introduce photochromic lenses to our patients is by talking about eye health and comfort.
Key benefits for your patients
Offering photochromic lenses to your patients not only enhances their visual experience but also provides significant health benefits. Here are the key advantages of recommending photochromic lenses, specifically Neochromes:
Eye Health Protection:
- Blocks 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays, safeguarding against conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Filters out harmful blue light from both natural sunlight and digital screens, helping to prevent eye strain and potential damage.
Visual Comfort:
- Addresses light sensitivity or photophobia, providing comfort and improving the quality of vision indoors and outdoors.
- Reduces eye strain associated with the use of electronic devices by blocking high energy visible (HEV) light.
Convenience and Style:
- Eliminates the need for switching between multiple pairs of glasses, as photochromic lenses change smoothly from clear to dark and back again.
- Comes in a range of colors and effects, meeting the aesthetic preferences of a wide demographic.
- Ensures color neutrality, allowing for true color perception indoors and outdoors.
Browse the Neochromes website
Discover our new marketing materials, the technology behind Neochromes, and more!
Common misconceptions
A common misconception about photochromic lenses is their performance in different temperatures. Many patients might expect these lenses to darken most in warm, sunny conditions, such as at the beach. However, photochromic lenses actually become darker in colder conditions, like on a snowy slope, due to the temperature-dependent nature of the photochromic reaction. Understanding this characteristic is crucial for setting realistic expectations and ensuring patient satisfaction.
Starting the conversation
When introducing photochromic lens options like Neochromes to your patients, we are big believers in keeping the conversation simple and ensuring you address a few key points:
- UV Protection: Highlight the health benefits of UV and HEV light protection.
- Visual Comfort: Explain how photochromic lenses reduce glare and eye strain.
- Convenience: Stress the practicality of not needing separate prescription sunglasses.
- Style: Present the range of colors and effects available with Neochromes lenses.
- Misconceptions: Clarify how temperature affects darkening and fade-back times.
- Demonstration: Use sample lenses to show the darkening and fade-back processes and color neutrality.
Recommending a photochromic lens
Not all photochromic lenses are the same - particularly if we are talking about their dye quality and manufacturing processes. We recommend considering Neochromes, our new state-of-the-art light-sensitive lenses. By choosing to offer Neochromes,, you will be giving your patients access to a high-quality, high added-value product that takes their needs and expectations into account. Neochromes perform just as well as market-leading photochromic lenses, and give you more control over your product portfolio, by either harnessing the power of the Neochromes brand, or by creating your own brand.
When asked about the most important attribute of a photochromic lens technology, most patients will state that the fade back time is number one. Neochromes lenses are completely clear indoors and color neutral in their inactivated state, independent of which materials or refractive indices are used. Neochromes photochromic lenses darken in 6 to 7 seconds, and fade back to clear in less than 3 minutes. Much like the natural pupil in the eye, constricting in bright sun and dilating when going indoors from the bright sun, these lenses do not do this in an instant. This works similarly to the ‘natural fade back’ time of our pupils when not wearing eyeglasses.
Why Neochromes? The photochromic lens that delivers
Neochromes offer distinct advantages that set your practice apart:
- Rapid Fade-back: Your patients value the convenience of one pair of glasses that can quickly change between environments.
- Color Neutrality: Ensure patients enjoy true color perception indoors.
- Brand Flexibility: Harness Neochromes' reputation or create your own.
Make the change: Try Neochromes
Don't just discuss photochromics, demonstrate them. Equip your practice with Neochromes and confidently recommend a solution that enhances your patients' vision, health, and overall well-being.
Fill out the form below to find out how you can add Neochromes to your product portfolio!
