Blog

April 12, 2018April 24, 2018

Rapid 3D Printing of Lenses

A method of using a 3D printer to rapidly create small aspheric lenses offers new possibilities for manufacturing customized contact lenses and optical imaging lenses.

Developed by a team at Northwestern University Engineering, the layer-by-layer 3D printing technique is capable of creating a 5 mm in diameter lens in about four hours. The lenses have less than 7 nanometre surface roughness, which means that the standard step of polishing the lens can be omitted.

“Up until now, we relied heavily on the time-consuming and costly process of polishing lenses,” said Cheng Sun, associate professor of mechanical engineering and lead researcher on the project. “With 3D printing, now you have the freedom to design and customize a lens quickly.”

Adding additional transition layers between steps and and treatment with a photocurable resin resulted in a smooth, transparent lens.

“We realized that the layers on top of each other created surface roughness. The layer thickness is typically 5 microns, while the wavelength of visible light is around 0.5 micron. This creates an optically rough surface,” explained Sun. “That was the bottleneck. The roughness made the lens incapable of clear optics.”

The group’s next goal is to expand their method to larger lenses and creating customized contact lenses for keratoconus patients. “The contact lens would feature the customized surface, matching it to the shape of the patient’s cornea,” Sun said.

Their work was published in the March 27 edition of Advanced Materials.

April 12, 2018

Leucan Ski Challenge Presented by Lanctôt Raises $584,585

On Saturday March 17th, 427 skiers and snowboarders including the Lanctôt Team, went down the slopes in Bromont, taking part in the 13th edition of the Leucan Ski Challenge presented by Lanctôt. Thanks to this family oriented and festive event, the Leucan Ski Challenge raised a total of $584,585 including $183,017 in Bromont to help cancer-stricken children and their family.

“This touches our core values. Helping cancer-stricken children is really important to us. Being able to help them through sport and physical activities is essential and represents who we are” explains Diane Lanctôt, President of Lanctôt Ltd, official presenter of the Leucan Ski Challenge.

After 10 hours of ski, participants had the chance to experience a great firework and a show from regional spokesperson, King Melrose. “Thank you everybody for your participation and your donations. This enables us to organize more activities and games held in the Leucan playing rooms at the hospital,” explains Catherine Raymond, 8-year-old spokesperson of the event. Catherine is in remission of the Wilms tumour and went skiing along with more than 50 of her supporters!

April 11, 2018May 20, 2026

Charlotte: Ultimate Comfort and Lightness

Etnia Barcelona expands its Nanoflex collection through the incorporation of frames in metal and combinations of acetate and ultra-thin metal, worked to give the body a unique appearance, without diminishing their comfort and lightness. The Nanoflex collection is produced in a special patented alloy of stainless steel with chrome, copper and titanium.

www.etniabarcelona.com

April 11, 2018April 24, 2018

E-Vision Announces Demo for Liquid Crystal Electronic Contact Lens

E-Vision™ Smart Optics has announced the successful completion of a prototype version of their electronic contact lens platform device to demonstrate the ability to electronically change diopters in real time to prospective licensing partners.

The Electronic Contact Lenses will offer features including onboard power/control, remote setting and activation, dimensions that fit within current contact lens size requirements, and up to four diopters of control, or more, that can be switched in 50 milliseconds.

Sandwiched between three thin layers of polymer are two layers of liquid crystal, 8 microns thick. In the unpowered mode, the liquid crystal molecules are in their relaxed state and provide no optical power. When a small voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules begin to change their optical properties resulting in focus changes in the lens.

All power, electronics, optics and communication components will be inside of the contact lens. The power source will provide energy for a full day’s use and be recharged wirelessly when removed from the user’s eye overnight.

Read the complete press release HERE.

April 11, 2018April 24, 2018

J&J Announces ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions Light Intelligent Technology

Johnson & Johnson Vision announced on April 11 ACUVUE OASYS^® with Transitions^®Light Intelligent Technology™ first of its kind contact lens that provides wearers with vision correction and a dynamic photochromic filter that helps to continuously balance the amount of light entering the eye. These contact lenses quickly and seamlessly adjust from clear to dark in response to changing light conditions; reducing exposure to bright light indoors and outdoors, including filtering blue light and blocking UV rays.

“This innovation was born out of deep research into consumer lifestyle needs and fits our future-forward approach to caring for human sight,” said Dr. Xiao-Yu Song, Global Head of R&D for Johnson & Johnson Vision. “ACUVUE OASYS^® with Transitions^® creates and defines an entirely new category of contact lenses that will address unmet needs for patients. After more than a decade of product development and numerous clinical trials involving more than 1,000 patients, we are excited to bring to market a solution to help contact lenses wearers manage the changing light conditions they face every day in their modern, active lives.”

This strategic partnership between Johnson & Johnson Vision (JJV) and Transitions Optical combines the respective strengths of each company. While ACUVUE^® is the world leader in contact lenses, Transitions Optical is the leading provider of photochromic (smart adaptive) lenses world wide. The two companies are working together to research and deliver best-in-class vision care innovations.

ACUVUE OASYS^® with Transitions^® has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is indicated for the attenuation of bright light. The two-week reusable, spherical contact lens will be marketed by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and will be commercially available in first half of 2019.