The Optician's Ultimate Guide to Light-Reactive Lenses: Ultra-Fast Photochromics

Welcome to the third and final installment of our ultimate guide series on light-reactive lenses. In part one we covered standard photochromics before shifting to extra reactive photochromics in part two. In part three we’re going to look at a new and exciting category of light-reactive lenses that only came into existence in October 2018.

The budding category of ultra-fast photochromics is so new and advanced that only two lenses reside in it: SunSync Elite and SunSync Elite XT (which is technically a hybrid of extra reactive and ultra-fast). 
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In this installment, we’ll investigate the ins and outs of this relatively unknown light-reactive lens type, with an emphasis on the following topics.

• Technology
• Benefits
• Ideal Patients
• Setting Expectations
• Dispensing Tips

The Long-Awaited Solution to An Age-Old Problem

As the name implies, an ultra-fast photochromic lens earns its name based on the superior speed in which it fades back. Designed to overcome one of the biggest pain points among photochromic wearers since the technology came into existence, these marvels in light-reactive lens technology provide a long-awaited solution to the slow fade-back barrier.

How Do Ultra-Fast Photochromic Lenses Work?

The chemical process that enables dye molecules to “unfold” requires space for them to move. In standard light-reactive lenses, when dye molecules are exposed to UV, the bonds between particles shift and reverse slowly. Ultra-fast, light-reactive lenses are engineered to provide an environment that allows dye molecules to move freely—so they can move faster.
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Think of the difference between a traditional photochromic environment and an ultra-fast environment like a mud pit versus a swimming pool. Now imagine trying to swim laps in each. Which one’s going to allow you to move faster? When you’re able to move freely with less resistance, you move faster.
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The color-changing dyes are manufactured in a separate, very thin layer above the lenses, and this separation enables quick action. Without encapsulating the dyes in a separate layer and using a revolutionary manufacturing process to interface with lenses, fade-back speeds would not have advanced since the nineties.

What Are the Benefits of Ultra-Fast Photochromic Lenses?

Obviously, the dramatic speed is what differentiates these lenses. But speed leads to additional, deeper benefits for you and your patients. And, what really makes these lenses unique is that you don’t have to sacrifice any of the benefits you enjoy with their standard counterparts to enjoy faster performance. Let’s look at some of the benefits of ultra-fast photochromics:

Convenience
While standard light-reactive lenses typically take seven minutes or longer to get clear, ultra-fast lenses can return to clear in under a minute.  It’s a lot more convenient to have a lens that keeps up with today’s fast-paced lifestyle, than having to wait around for one’s lenses to return to clear. This is a major benefit for patients who move between indoor and outdoor environments throughout the day.

Aesthetics
Because they return to clear so much faster, patients don’t have to linger in that awkward, half-tinted phase when coming inside. Let’s face it, we all want to look our best, right? Well, clear looks better, and with ultra-fast photochromics, your patients spend more time in the clear zone than the creepy one.

UV and Blue Light Defense
Two cornerstones of all light-reactive lenses are defense against UV and blue light. Ultra-fast photochromics provide 100% UV protection, as well as excellent light filtration in both clear and dark states. ​​

Longer Performance Lifespan
When a person doesn’t have to swap out their lenses each year, its’s a nice financial boost for them. But how does that help the eye care practice? When you provide your patients a better experience by providing them lenses that last longer, you’re more likely to earn their business again. And when you consider that it costs five times more to acquire a new patient than retain an existing one, and a 5% increase in patient retention can yield as much as a 95% increase in profits, you get a good idea of the value that longer performance lifespan can have.

Safety
Ultra-fast photochromic lenses enhance safety for those reliant on strong prescriptions. When wearers go inside but their glasses remain dark, their natural tendency is to remove the glasses, which compromises their vision. A lens that starts fading back the second you walk indoors eliminates that need.

Fast Activation
Fast fade-back lenses activate more rapidly than standard lenses. That means more comfort due to less time in bright outdoor conditions.

Glare Reduction
Ultra-fast light-reactive lenses reduce glare as they darken, making for better, more comfortable viewing in high-glare environments.

Who’s the Ideal Patient for An Ultra-Fast Photochromic Lens?

These lenses are the new standard in light-reactive lens performance and should be a first-choice recommendation for any patient interested in a photochromic.
​
As discussed in parts one and two, determining an ideal, ultra-fast candidate comes down to really knowing the person on the other side of the dispensing table. And once again, that’s where your patient questionnaire, or a good thorough discussion comes into play. By identifying some of the following patient information, you’ll be able to more effectively present all the benefits an ultra-fast lens offers them:

​Priorities
Weighing up priorities can help you choose between different types of photochromics. Patients who prioritize speed and personal appearance are prime candidates for an ultra-fast lens. Those who prioritize in-car activation and outdoor darkness, but still want fast fade-back speed would be better suited for a lens like SunSync Elite XT, which ticks all of those boxes. 

Occupation
People with jobs that entail a lot of indoor-outdoor movement throughout the day need highly-responsive lenses. Many professionals (and hobbyists) require the best possible eyesight in bright and dark environments to perform their task safely and well.

• Construction: The ultra-fast activation and fade-back speeds are perfect for a variety of construction fields where people spend their days shifting from inside to outside and requiring outstanding visual clarity in both environments. ​And when you enhance a safety lens with an ultra-fast photochromic, it’s a hard second-pair suggestion to pass up.​
   
• Hospitality: Waiters, bussers, hosts and hostesses make their living by providing fast service. Rapidly moving from low-lit indoor dining areas to bright, outdoor patio section, need a lens that can keep up and provide clear vision without pause.
  
  For patients in the lodging side of the hospitality industry, an ultra-fast photochromic keeps up with them as they move from inside the hotel to outside around the grounds. Front -of- house staff, cleaners, and facilities workers all fall into this category.
   
• Office: Many people earning a living in the modern-day office environment are out of office almost as much as in. Whether racing to a meeting or stepping out for a quick bite, office workers are on the go a lot throughout the day and need their eyewear to keep up. A fast-acting lens means stepping into a big presentation confidently, rather than worrying if the audience is thinking they forgot to remove their sunglasses.

Lifestyle
An ultra-fast photochromic’s quick adaptability to changing conditions make them well-suited for patients who enjoy a variety of different lifestyle activities:

• Students: An ultra-fast lens that helps improve self-confidence by improving aesthetics is a natural match students who view appearance as a must-have when it comes to their glasses. The excellent blue light defense also makes these lenses attractive to parents of a group who are constantly looking at some kind of screen.
   
• Outdoor Athletes: Whether running, biking, hiking, or kayaking, athletes constantly transitioning from bright to shaded conditions need a lens that keeps up with them and provide precise, clear vision for comfort and safety.​ Outdoor enthusiasts and athletes who need a lens that keeps up with them while providing exceptionally clear vision are ideal candidates for an ultra-fast photochromic.
   
• Do-It-Yourselfers: When paired with a safety lens, an ultra-fast photochromic offers the visual clarity, comfort, and protection you need when measuring, drilling, and cutting—especially when moving from bright to dark environments or vice-versa.

These are just a few examples of strong candidates for an ultra-fast photochromic. Anyone who prizes technology, convenience, and appearance could be well-suited for this category of light-reactive lens.

Setting Realistic Expectations

Because the primary advantage of these lenses is the fade-back speed, factors that impact that speed should be addressed with patients.

Ambient temperature is the main influence on reaction speed, so that should be your starting point. Hotter temperatures result in slightly lighter outdoor color and faster fade-back speed, whereas colder temps slow down fade-back rates but increase outdoor darkness. From there, you can discuss other environmental factors related to temperature including:

Geography: Southern states that are closer to the equator receive more UV and hotter temperatures, so these regions would enjoy the benefit of quicker fade-back speed. Conversely, inhabitants of colder, more northern states may experience slightly darker lenses during winter months.

Time of Day: Mornings are cooler than afternoons. So, the lenses may get slightly darker and take a little longer to fade back during a.m. hours.

Time of Year: Fall and winter months are colder, so the lenses may get a little darker and stay darker longer during these times of year. The warmer spring and summer months produce slightly faster fade-back times.

"Think of the difference between a traditional photochromic environment and an ultra-fast environment like a mud pit versus a swimming pool."

What Are the Benefits of Ultra-Fast Photochromic Lenses?

Obviously, the dramatic speed is what differentiates these lenses. But speed leads to additional, deeper benefits for you and your patients. And, what really makes these lenses unique is that you don’t have to sacrifice any of the benefits you enjoy with their standard counterparts to enjoy faster performance. Let’s look at some of the benefits of ultra-fast photochromics:

Convenience
While standard light-reactive lenses typically take seven minutes or longer to get clear, ultra-fast lenses can return to clear in under a minute.  It’s a lot more convenient to have a lens that keeps up with today’s fast-paced lifestyle, than having to wait around for one’s lenses to return to clear. This is a major benefit for patients who move between indoor and outdoor environments throughout the day.

Aesthetics
Because they return to clear so much faster, patients don’t have to linger in that awkward, half-tinted phase when coming inside. Let’s face it, we all want to look our best, right? Well, clear looks better, and with ultra-fast photochromics, your patients spend more time in the clear zone than the creepy one.

UV and Blue Light Defense
Two cornerstones of all light-reactive lenses are defense against UV and blue light. Ultra-fast photochromics provide 100% UV protection, as well as excellent light filtration in both clear and dark states. ​​

Longer Performance Lifespan
When a person doesn’t have to swap out their lenses each year, its’s a nice financial boost for them. But how does that help the eye care practice? When you provide your patients a better experience by providing them lenses that last longer, you’re more likely to earn their business again. And when you consider that it costs five times more to acquire a new patient than retain an existing one, and a 5% increase in patient retention can yield as much as a 95% increase in profits, you get a good idea of the value that longer performance lifespan can have.

Safety
Ultra-fast photochromic lenses enhance safety for those reliant on strong prescriptions. When wearers go inside but their glasses remain dark, their natural tendency is to remove the glasses, which compromises their vision. A lens that starts fading back the second you walk indoors eliminates that need.

Fast Activation
Fast fade-back lenses activate more rapidly than standard lenses. That means more comfort due to less time in bright outdoor conditions.

Glare Reduction
Ultra-fast light-reactive lenses reduce glare as they darken, making for better, more comfortable viewing in high-glare environments.

Who’s the Ideal Patient for An Ultra-Fast Photochromic Lens?

These lenses are the new standard in light-reactive lens performance and should be a first-choice recommendation for any patient interested in a photochromic.
​
As discussed in parts one and two, determining an ideal, ultra-fast candidate comes down to really knowing the person on the other side of the dispensing table. And once again, that’s where your patient questionnaire, or a good thorough discussion comes into play. By identifying some of the following patient information, you’ll be able to more effectively present all the benefits an ultra-fast lens offers them:

​Priorities
Weighing up priorities can help you choose between different types of photochromics. Patients who prioritize speed and personal appearance are prime candidates for an ultra-fast lens. Those who prioritize in-car activation and outdoor darkness, but still want fast fade-back speed would be better suited for a lens like SunSync Elite XT, which ticks all of those boxes. 

Occupation
People with jobs that entail a lot of indoor-outdoor movement throughout the day need highly-responsive lenses. Many professionals (and hobbyists) require the best possible eyesight in bright and dark environments to perform their task safely and well.

• Construction: The ultra-fast activation and fade-back speeds are perfect for a variety of construction fields where people spend their days shifting from inside to outside and requiring outstanding visual clarity in both environments. ​And when you enhance a safety lens with an ultra-fast photochromic, it’s a hard second-pair suggestion to pass up.​
   
• Hospitality: Waiters, bussers, hosts and hostesses make their living by providing fast service. Rapidly moving from low-lit indoor dining areas to bright, outdoor patio section, need a lens that can keep up and provide clear vision without pause.
  
  For patients in the lodging side of the hospitality industry, an ultra-fast photochromic keeps up with them as they move from inside the hotel to outside around the grounds. Front -of- house staff, cleaners, and facilities workers all fall into this category.
   
• Office: Many people earning a living in the modern-day office environment are out of office almost as much as in. Whether racing to a meeting or stepping out for a quick bite, office workers are on the go a lot throughout the day and need their eyewear to keep up. A fast-acting lens means stepping into a big presentation confidently, rather than worrying if the audience is thinking they forgot to remove their sunglasses. 

Lifestyle
An ultra-fast photochromic’s quick adaptability to changing conditions make them well-suited for patients who enjoy a variety of different lifestyle activities:

• Students: An ultra-fast lens that helps improve self-confidence by improving aesthetics is a natural match students who view appearance as a must-have when it comes to their glasses. The excellent blue light defense also makes these lenses attractive to parents of a group who are constantly looking at some kind of screen.
   
• Outdoor Athletes: Whether running, biking, hiking, or kayaking, athletes constantly transitioning from bright to shaded conditions need a lens that keeps up with them and provide precise, clear vision for comfort and safety.​ Outdoor enthusiasts and athletes who need a lens that keeps up with them while providing exceptionally clear vision are ideal candidates for an ultra-fast photochromic.
   
• Do-It-Yourselfers: When paired with a safety lens, an ultra-fast photochromic offers the visual clarity, comfort, and protection you need when measuring, drilling, and cutting—especially when moving from bright to dark environments or vice-versa.

These are just a few examples of strong candidates for an ultra-fast photochromic. Anyone who prizes technology, convenience, and appearance could be well-suited for this category of light-reactive lens.

Setting Realistic Expectations

Because the primary advantage of these lenses is the fade-back speed, factors that impact that speed should be addressed with patients.

Ambient temperature is the main influence on reaction speed, so that should be your starting point. Hotter temperatures result in slightly lighter outdoor color and faster fade-back speed, whereas colder temps slow down fade-back rates but increase outdoor darkness. From there, you can discuss other environmental factors related to temperature including:

Geography: Southern states that are closer to the equator receive more UV and hotter temperatures, so these regions would enjoy the benefit of quicker fade-back speed. Conversely, inhabitants of colder, more northern states may experience slightly darker lenses during winter months.

Time of Day: Mornings are cooler than afternoons. So, the lenses may get slightly darker and take a little longer to fade back during a.m. hours.

Time of Year: Fall and winter months are colder, so the lenses may get a little darker and stay darker longer during these times of year. The warmer spring and summer months produce slightly faster fade-back times.

Tips for Dispensing Ultra-Fast Photochromic Lenses

Demonstrate the Difference: Demonstration lorgnettes are available with an ultra-fast lens next to a standard photochromic to show how much faster these lenses are. Seeing one lens return to clear in less than 60 seconds while the other remains tinted for several more minutes is often all a patient needs to say yes to an ultra-fast photochromic.  If you don’t have a lorgnette, two pairs of glasses with the different photochromics works just as well.

Dig into the Deeper Benefits: Pointing out the deeper benefits of ultra-fast, fade-back speed helps to transition a patient from wanting these lenses to needing them. Primarily, people are looking for four things out of life: more money, time, convenience, and confidence. Ultra-fast photochromics offer each:

• Money: With a longer performance lifespan, patients won’t have to dig into their pocket as frequently for a new pair. Again, that seems like a financial hit for the practice, but in the long-term, it contributes to happier, repeat patients and referrals. Also, because they’re a great multipurpose option for younger patients, parents won’t have to fork out more money when a child loses track of a second pair. 
   
• Time: When you’re not waiting around for your lenses to clear up, you can go about your day without delays. From shopping for food to meeting with clients to grabbing a bite, having a light-reactive lens that comes as close to changing on the fly as possible puts more time back into a person’s daily life.
   
• Convenience:  Serving both indoor and outdoor purposes, these lenses are an exceptionally convenient offering.
   
• Confidence: Let’s face it, when we look better, we feel better about ourselves. Getting stuck in that lingering, half-tinted phase doesn’t look great and doesn’t do our self-confidence any favors. By clearing up quickly indoors, your patients look great and feel more confident in their appearance whether they’re on a date, in an interview, or out with friends.   

Wrapping it Up

Offering revolutionary advances in technology and performance, ultra-fast, light-reactive lenses are a perfect recommendation for current and previous photochromic wearers, as well as those who’ve been reluctant to try light-reactive lenses in the past.

Thank you for reading the Optician's Ultimate Guide to Light-Reactive Lenses. We hope you've enjoyed this three-part series. We invite you to explore SunSync's offerings in each of these categories: SunSync Elite, SunSync Elite XT, SunSync Drive XT, and original SunSync.