Style spotlight

Transitions Signature Gen 8 lenses are designed to appeal to younger wearers

Transition into autumn style

This month, Emily Morris provides some top styling tips around Transitions lenses – and how they can help practices engage with a younger audience

Patients can be less sun savvy with their eyes over the winter months, but it’s important to educate them around the need for protection from UV damage and glare all year round. And that’s where light adaptive lenses can help wearers through those crisp, bright autumn days in style.

Transitions lenses can help eyecare professionals capture a younger patient by offering them a statement look. Read on for some top tips on styling, and ways to open conversations with different types of patient profiles.

CAPTURING A YOUNGER AUDIENCE No-one can ever have too many pairs of glasses but keeping up with changing light conditions can be a burden. That’s where Transitions Light Intelligent Lenses can do the hard work by transitioning seamlessly with exposure to UV light, so the wearer is always ready for every moment throughout the day.

For years, younger patients may have overlooked photochromic lenses for fear of being 'uncool', but they are now the ultimate way to look stylish and provide an instant statement look while protecting the wearer’s eyes on a bright sunny day.

There’s a huge opportunity for eyecare professionals to recruit younger lens wearers to try Transitions lenses, which have always been popular amongst an older demographic. This is something we addressed with the launch of Transitions Signature Gen 8 lenses in Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Sapphire, Grey, Brown and Graphite Green. The collection is designed to appeal to under 45s who want to personalise and express their own look, and that applies to lenses too.

Transitions lenses can be combined, for example, with Essilor’s Eyezen lenses, an optimised single vision lens that can relax and protect eyes1 so that the wearer can lead a more comfortable life. To attract the patient in-practice, a virtual try-on tool is available on the Transitions website so the range can be explored online first. This is a great way for patients to see how different lens colours can match with frames.

A large selection of frames and colours are available to view, in a wide variety of different shapes and materials. Patients receive frame and lens recommendations using face shape recognition and style questions. The selfie option will allow them to enjoy the great immersive augmented reality experience of trying on different combinations.

TOP STYLING TIPS Transitions lenses are available in seven colours so patients will discover the colour choice that will best pair with the latest frame trends, such as modern romance with multi-dimensional, large and oversized forms in acetate, light futurism with architectural and linear forms in acetate, easy comfort with classic shapes in acetate and metal, nostalgia for fun with bold and big statements pieces, and retro vintage classic in acetate and metal.

With so many colours, the patient will be sure to find a shade they love. Here’s a closer look at the colours available: Grey: We tend to associate grey lenses with silver, black or masculine frames – but not at Transitions. Grey can also be paired with gold or tortoiseshell frames to make them stand out even more and give feminine vibes. Graphite Green: Green stands out with its parade of references to ‘nature’. Graphite Green is a timeless colour that has an affinity with sports frames. Amethyst: Amethyst can be used to create an instant pop effect for eyewear. Amethyst is currently the ‘must have’ to complement a trendy look and illuminates classic frames. Emerald: Emerald brings a precious dimension that can impart real modernity to an ultra-design frame. Amber: Amber is one of our most popular colours. It is the colour of fundamental energy and creates an interesting twist for those who want to go off the beaten path and spice up their look with a dynamic glow. Brown: Brown is a true neutral lens colour, but one that is more on the warm side. Wood texture and translucid stripped acetate are what make brown lenses stand out the most. Sapphire: Sapphire is another one of our most popular colours. It's timeless and never out of fashion.

Mirrored sunglasses are also a big trend right now and Transitions Style Mirrors offer a unique way for patients to match lenses with different coloured frames, enjoying light more comfortably and experiencing hassle-free UV protection with a mirror finish. The range is available in gold, silver, green and blue.

Transitions Signature Gen 8 lenses in Sapphire

Transitions Signature Gen 8 lenses in Grey

OPENING CONVERSATIONS It’s important to remember that Transitions lenses can appeal to a wide range of people with different priorities, thanks to their ability to help meet universal needs for light management, visual experience and style. To help open conversations with patients, we’ve identified five different patient profiles that typically visit an optical practice.

Each of these will have different needs, so it will help if the eyecare practitioner adapts their approach accordingly when talking to the patient with these examples. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the profiles can be mixed and matched, as some patients could have multiple interests. 1. Trendy. For style savvy patients who love to stand out, the Transitions lens colour options are key. Browse and explore these by combining them with different frames to see the possibilities. You could say: “Thanks to the many colour choices of Transitions lenses, you can customise your eyewear to showcase your personal style”. These patients can have fun by experimenting with different lens colours in stylish frames themselves, using the virtual try-on tool on the Transitions website. This allows them to see what combinations work well and suits their personal style best. 2. Practical. Practical patients are looking for effortless function, comfort, and protection throughout their daily lifestyle.

You could say: “Transitions Light

Intelligent Lenses provide many benefits

LIGHT SENSITIVITY ONLINE QUIZ Help assess a patient’s light sensitivity using questions from our online quiz: ■ Do you squint when you walk around on bright, sunshiny days? ■ Can the light feel too intense, even when there’s no bright sun? ■ Do your eyes feel triggered by harsh indoor lighting? ■ When driving during the day, do your eyes take a while to adjust as you look around (sunshine, glare, surroundings)? ■ Do you dim your smartphone screen to take the edge off the light?

including seamless adaptation, versatility and always-on protection. It has many features all built into one amazing lens”. 3. Health conscious. Being healthy isn’t just about eating the right food and exercising, it’s also about prevention. For those conscious about their wellbeing, it’s good to know about the protective benefits of

Transitions lenses, especially their ability to help protect in changing light situations.

You could say: “Transitions lenses block 100 per cent of UVA and UVB and help protect from harmful blue light indoors, and especially outdoors where you need it most"2. Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses are perfect for patients who are very light sensitive, or frequently exposed to bright light and reflective glare. 4. Energetic Millennials/Gen Z. Millennials and Gen Z want hassle-free wellness and smart technology. When you can’t live without your glasses, it is a relief to have a pair you can wear indoors and outdoors.

You could say:“You have enough to worry about and switching your glasses every time you go out shouldn’t be one of them.

With Transitions lenses, you can look stylish and help protect your eyes from

UV and harmful blue light" 2 . 5. Better visual experience. For those who want the best visual experience,

Transitions lenses can be the ideal recommendation thanks to their ability to help manage light in changing light situations. You could say: “Good vision isn’t just about seeing sharply, it’s also

Virtual Try-On tool

about being able to focus on what you want to see, to see colours natural and bright, and to maximise your field of vision in any light situation. Transitions lenses will help provide a better visual experience thanks to their ability to manage changing light situations.”

EVER-EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY Transitions Optical’s photochromic lens technology is continuously improving. Transitions adaptive lenses are not the same as they were 10, five or even three years ago. Transitions lenses are darker than ever before, fade back to clear quicker than our previous lens generations and adapt quicker in warm climates. What better time for patients to give them a go and transition into autumn with ease. Visit transitions.com to find out more.

REFERENCES

1. Eyezen In-Life consumer studies. Harmful light protection: UV and partial Blue-Violet light filtration (up to 455nm with the greatest toxicity between 415-455nm). 2. Transitions Signature Gen 8 block at least 20 per cent of harmful blue light indoors, and over 87 per cent of harmful blue light outdoors – except Transitions

Signature lenses style colours, which block over 75 per cent outdoors. Style colours are Sapphire,

Amethyst, Amber and Emerald. Transitions XTRActive new generation block up to 34 per cent of harmful blue light indoors and up to 90 per cent of harmful blue light outdoors. 'Harmful blue light' is calculated between 380nm and 460nm. Based on tests on polycarbonate grey lenses at 23˚C.

Emily Morris FBDO is Transitions manager for the UK and Ireland. She qualified as a dispensing optician in 2018.