Dave Dean from Live Eyewear (Cocoons Eyewear)
Live Eyewear (Cocoons Eyewear) sent us this blurb about low vision filters. If you are like me, we think of low vision products such as magnifiers, readers and telescopes. Never would I have considered a Tint as a low vision aid- filter. So I emailed Dave with some questions and here is his response:
1) What is a Low Vision Aid Filter/Tint?
- Low Vision absorptive filters are specially developed tints designed to enhance vision for those that experience low visual acuity due to light sensitivity and/or inadequate levels of contrast. The inability of the eyes to deliver the appropriate level of contrast can often make reading, driving and other daily activities difficult. Low Vision filters help to manage the transmission levels of various lightwaves, which helps to improve the vision of those with various low vision conditions. For instance, by filtering out 100% of the blue light that reaches the eyes, low vision patients can achieve a greater level of contrast, which improves object definition. Live Eyewear’s Cocoons Low Vision absorptive filters are available in four specific tints, Boysenberry, Lemon, Orange, and Hazelnut, and are proven to increase visual acuity when used in conjunction with various visual impairments caused by eye diseases such as Glaucoma or Age Related Macular Degeneration.
2) What tints are best for Low Vision Aids?
- Each low vision absorptive filter is designed with the goal of transmitting a specific range or percentage of lightwaves. The most common absorptive filter tints currently on the market are various shades of orange, amber, yellow, plum and smoke. In many cases, more than one filter may be required per case in order to meet the needs of changing light conditions and activities. In each instance when we are contacted by a low vision patient, Live Eyewear strongly recommends that they consult their eyecare professional or physician when determining the low vision absorptive filter that will best suit their particular eye condition or visual impairment.
3) Why did Live Eyewear (Cocoons) Go After the Low Vision Market?
- Cocoons OveRx polarized sunglasses have set the standard in optical quality eyewear designed to be worn over prescription glasses. The brand is associated with the highest grade optical components, performance and our independent eye care authorized dealer base has developed a deep trust in our service and product quality. Live Eyewear noted the increasing need for optical quality low vision aids that met the expectations of the ECP community as many of our customers began to focus more on expanding their low vision services. The maturing Baby Boomer segment is driving an increase in the percentage of the population that is afflicted by low vision impairments and ECPs are gearing up to meet their patients’ needs. Due to the fact that many low vision candidates wear ophthalmic eyewear, it was a natural fit to provide low vision filters in our already very popular OveRx eyewear frames. For details on the Cocoons Low Vision absorptive filter collection, visit http://www.cocoonseyewear.com/sunwear/category.php?id=53
4) What is the market and marketing potential for the eyecare professional?
- About 135 million people around the world have been diagnosed with low vision. That is a number we can’t ignore. We experienced an overwhelmingly positive response when we launched our Cocoons Low Vision collection in 2008 and have expanded our offering with the 2010 release of the Cocoons SideKick collection which is a low vision flip-up designed to provide improved top and peripheral protection at a very value conscious price point.
5) How Does the ECP market Tints as a Low Vision Aid?
- Not all ECP’s are low vision specialists. Eyecare practitioners who specialize in low vision provide a thorough evaluation of the patient’s low vision impairment and then prescribe the absorptive filter that best meets the patient’s visual requirements. It is an educational process and requires the ECP to have an in depth knowledge of the most common causes of low vision impairments and how the properties of each filter can provide improved visual acuity. Due to the growing need for trained low vision specialists (and realization that Low Vision is an expanding market), there is an increasing number of low vision continuing education opportunities being offered at many of the industry meetings, such as the International Vision Expo and Conference that happens in New York in the Spring and Las Vegas in the Fall http://www.visionexpowest.com/en/Continuing-Education/. ECPs interested in getting more information on Low Vision options and education can visit the Low Vision Division of the Vision Council at http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/ecp/content_7312.cfm
That was interesting information, and when I think about my brown Hoya lenses for foggy days, my mirrored lenses for really bright days and fashion tint statements, my grey lenses for general use, my Transitions Lenses and Shamir for computer, it makes a lot of sense, all my lenses are used for various lighting and vision issues.
Now when my friends ask me about tints, I will be referring to tints not just for eye health and fashion, but as low vision filters. I like it!
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Excellent write-up by Dave Dean. It is products like Low Vision Cocoons that are making a quality-of-life difference for the growing population of visually impaired seniors. And, making business sense for practitioners to provide low vision evaluations and low vision aid dispensing services.