The Obvious Companion Sale

Yoan Massie | 1 December 2009

In recent years, Overspecs, Sunclips and Rxable clip-ins have experienced a steady rise in popularity. This section of the eyewear market has carved out a solid niche for itself mainly due to its attractive price point and convenience.

Cost, fit and convenience are what drive this category, and the demand for this companion sale to corrective eyewear, has never been higher.

The growth of this sector is largely due to the fact that Australians are living longer than ever before, and as our population ages, there will be even greater need, and demand, for these products.

For customers who work or play outdoors, having adequate UV and glare protection is paramount so it's important we discuss the following products with them:

• Overspec Sunglasses

• Normal and Magnetic Sun Clips

• Clip-in Rx-able Lenses

The need for very large numbers of consumers to wear corrective eyewear also creates an opportunity to support their wider eyewear needs.

The very real risks associated with UV damage to the eyes have been proven to pose an even greater risk to people who wear spectacles. Due to the large amount of people who are exposed to this risk, it is important that you offer customers effective and affordable solutions.

Overspecs

This category provides a convenient alternative to purchasing two prescription frames - one for outdoors and the other for inside. Overspecs are rather like sunglasses that can be worn over your normal spectacles. They have optical quality lenses which absorb all harmful ultraviolet rays, protection at the top and wide side-shields to eliminate rays from all directions. Particularly beneficial to those over the age of 50 and low vision patients, overspecs also offer comfort to anyone who experiences glare problems.

Duality Eyewear

Within the overspecs market, Duality offers high quality memory metal optical frames with a matching pair of Fitovers Eyewear i.e. overspecs. Fitovers Eyewear product snaps perfectly into place, giving the wearer the appearance of wearing a pair of designer sunglasses. Duality Eyewear has made it simple for the eye care professional to offer their patients a progressive friendly memory metal optical frame, and a Fitovers Eyewear product for one price.

It is estimated that 85 to 90 per cent of patients that purchase prescription eyewear leave without adequate sun wear protection. Duality Eyewear provides the patient with a frame with Dualflex temples and Reflex Memory Metal bridge. The matching Fitovers feature polarised side lenses that reflect away glare while maintaining peripheral vision, as well as an integrated brow bar that blocks light from entering from above.

The Duality Eyewear target market is men and women aged 47 to 75. The memorymetal optical frames are progressive friendly and combined with the matching Fitovers, are ideal for driving and any other outdoor summer activity.

(Distributor: Jonathan Paul Eyewear (AUS) 02 4353 0933)

OverSpex

Trademarking the name 'OverSpex' for their overspecs product, this company provides a stylish range of high-quality sunglasses for all applications. OverSpex are designed to fit snugly over-the-top of optical eyewear. The fusion between design and technology has also resulted in the use of TR90, a highly innovative nylon based fibre which when applied to OverSpex results in a sunglass frame that is extremely lightweight, highly durable, chemical resistant and ensures long-term colour endurance.

OverSpex are fitted with premium Os- VUE Polarised Lenses, providing clarity, 100 per cent UV protection and scratch resistance. Designed to relax the eyes, Os- VUE Lenses are fully polarised to ensure maximum glare reduction. The range of Os-VUE Lens tints provide wearers with the option to choose the most appropriate lens for their lifestyle or outdoor pursuits.

(Distributor: Optica (NZ) 03 982 98 98)

Sun Clips

'Sun clips are metal sun glasses with without temples. Rather, these clip-on sunglasses have cushioned tabs which are designed to clip on to the front of your existing eye glasses. Sun clip frames have a highly flexible brow bar, allowing them to fit a variety of similar frame sizes and shapes. These professional quality clips have eye wires that open, allowing wearers to remove and replace the lenses if they wish.

Cocoons SideKick

Cocoons patented frames are based on proven OverRx design principles that ensure a comfortable fit when worn over a wide range of prescription eyewear shapes and sizes. These sun clips offer 360˚ of UV protection, giving the wearer unsurpassed protection from the harshest outdoor elements.

The need for a product that could perform similarly to their full frame Cocoons Low Vision UV absorptive filters, but at a more affordable retail price led to the development of a new patented flipup sun clip design. Unlike traditional flip-up designs, the SideKick features wrap around lenses that offer the wearer additional protection from both the peripheral line of sight and from light that enters from above. The majority of light is now filtered through the UV absorptive filters or blocked by the brow bar. The result has been superior protection and reduced eyestrain.

The simple to use concept of flip-ups will immediately communicate convenience and ease of use to low vision patients. SideKick is available in three sizes to fit 99.8 per cent of prescription eyewear frames and features scratch resistant Polaré absorptive filters.

(Distributor: Aviva Optical (AUS) 08 9354 4499)

Domani

The Domani design team strive to create the most attractive primary frame, designing their sun clip to follow the contours of the prescription frame, transforming a prescription frame into the latest, coolest, polarised sunglasses.

Outside the car, the prescription frame glazed with transition lenses will function as expected, however, once inside the car, a higher degree of comfort can be achieve by attaching the polarised sun clip. Through extensive research and development, using both magnetic and mechanical forces, domain achieved equilibrium between the sun clip's secure hold and ease of removal.

(Distributor: Domani Eyewear (AUS) 02 9997 1910)

Silhouette

Silhouette sun clips are made from a polarised polycarbonate material, with the bridge pieces made from Silhouette's patented SPX - a durable, ultralight and hypoallergenic material. Comfort is a large factor when using these easily attached sun clips. They weigh less than one gram, so wearers barley realise they're even wearing them. The lenses are composed of 12 hydrophobic, anti-reflex, anti-scratch, synthetic layers - with 100 per cent UV protection and filtering out at least 85 per cent blue light (brown lenses filter 97 per cent).

There are five layers of anti-reflective coating on the inside of the lenses to minimise glare, in addition to a waterrepellent coating.

There are more than 300 sun clip options available and Silhouette recommends using the 'Clip-on Guide', a readyreckoner that allows optical practitioners to effortlessly choose which sun clips correspond to particular eyewear models.

Silhouette's Pro-Clip is a sophisticated hinge design that eliminates the need to repeatedly attach and remove the clip. They can simple be flipped up or down as needed with only two fingers. (Distributor: Mimo

(AUS) 02 9970 1800)

Rx-able Clip-in Lenses

These are paired with specially designed frame sockets that allows the prescription lenses to be fitted in, giving the wearer extra convenience and comfort. These lenses are suitable for sporting events, and can also cater for prescription lenses including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Zero RH+

This breakthrough technology marks the invention of the first alternative contact lens/clip on glasses (where you mount ophthalmic lenses into the glasses).

The Zero RH+ prescription and sport eyewear range has been created for fashionable sportspeople who want to make a statement while demanding advanced technology and performance from their eyewear. Zero RH+ sports ranges incorporates See Safe photochromatic lenses, scientifically formulated for flexibility and strength.

Redline Zero RH+ products are made specifically with sports in mind and use the highest technology available to meet the tough demands of the sportsperson's world with glasses suited specifically to cycling, mountaineering, sailing, golf and other areas. Made in a Grilamid-Titanium frame, it comes with an anatomical removable non slip sports grip end bit. The lenses are See Safe photochromatic and use NXT-Soft technology lenses which are unbreakable and scratch resistant, light, clear and resistant to solvent. This lightweight frame also has an adjustable nose piece.