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Introducing Transitions® GEN S™: A groundbreaking leap in optical innovation beyond traditional eyewear. In a dynamic conversation filled with excitement and expertise, Dr. Darryl Glover, along with industry leaders Nicolas Barbier, SVP, GM Transitions Optical, and Brian O’Neill, Global Vice President, Innovation, Technology & Operations at Transitions Optical, unveils the extraordinary features of Transitions® GEN S™.
In partnership with Transitions Optical
These lenses are designed to revolutionize the way we see the world, embodying a perfect fusion of speed, style, and intelligence. With unparalleled clarity, vibrant colors, and advanced smart technology, Transitions® GEN S™ lenses redefine the boundaries of eyewear excellence. Join us as we embark on a journey into the future of vision, where every glance reveals a world of astonishing clarity and comfort.
What’s Covered?
Transitions® GEN S™ Expert Guests
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Awesome. Before we dive into this interview and explore this fantastic technology—seriously, it’s incredible—I’d like each of you to share a bit about yourselves. Who you are, what you do, and hey, throw in a fun fact because why not? Let’s kick it off with you, Brian.
Brian O’Neill:
Oh, well, I’m not usually one to kick things off. I’m more of a quiet, introverted type. I’m Brian from Dublin, Ireland. I’ve been in this industry for about five years now, and fun fact about me? Well, I’m a bit of a traveler. I roam around everywhere, though I’m pretty quiet about it. Just kidding, I love to chat and have a blast wherever I go.
Nicolas Barbier:
I’m Nicolas Barbier, been in the game for 25 years now, across three, no, wait, four continents actually. North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Yeah, that’s my fun fact. Love this industry, it’s been a wild ride.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Nicholas, you’re practically a world tour in one person! Now, your turn, Brian, let’s talk about this GEN S lens and its speed. I’m itching to know more.
Brian O’Neill:
Absolutely. Let me dive a bit deeper into the journey of developing this incredible technology. You mentioned the fear of missing out, and honestly, we felt that anticipation for years. Five years of dedication went into perfecting this lens, and it’s not just another generation upgrade. This is a game-changer. We started by identifying the barriers people face with current lenses.
We aimed to create a dynamic light management system that addresses speed, style, and visual clarity. And let me tell you, when it comes to speed, it’s blistering. We’re talking activation in seconds. We went through 450 prototypes, and when we hit the final version, I was blown away. It transitions from category one to full category three in 25 seconds flat. That’s unheard of speed in this industry. And when it comes to clarity, it’s crystal clear in less than two minutes, twice as fast as previous generations.
Revolutionizing Vision: The Journey of Transitions® GEN S™
Dr. Darryl Glover:
That’s incredible, Brian. Speed is essential, but style is equally important. Nicholas, tell us about the style aspect of these lenses.
Nicolas Barbier:
Absolutely, Dr. Glover. We understand the power of color and how it can transform the perception of prescription glasses. Our goal was to make wearing prescription glasses a necessity and a joy. We wanted to offer a wide range of colors to cater to all preferences and age groups. With seven unique colors already available, we’re setting a new standard in prescription lens aesthetics.
We’ve put immense effort into engineering these colors to be vibrant, beautiful, elegant, and true to tone. But we didn’t stop there. We expanded our palette to ensure compatibility with any frame out there. With our eight-color palette, the options for pairing are endless. What’s remarkable about Transitions® GEN S™ is that all eight colors perform equally well—they’re fast, they reach full darkness quickly, and they maintain true tone throughout activation.
Achieving this required developing exclusive new dyes that maintain true tone at every activation stage. So not only are the colors vibrant and beautiful when fully activated, but they maintain their true tone throughout the transition. Transitions® GEN S™ stays on trend with the latest sunglass tints while offering unmatched performance.
The Style Evolution of Transitions® GEN S™
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Absolutely stunning, Nicholas. Ruby, especially, caught my eye. It’s a perfect addition to the palette, offering endless pairing possibilities.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
But let’s talk about the other ‘S’: Smart. Brian, as a vision neuroscientist, this must be close to your heart. How does Transitions® GEN S™ redefine smart for eyewear?
Brian O’Neill:
Smart is more than just a buzzword here. It’s about enhancing visual performance. We conducted extensive research with leading experts to ensure our lenses provide the best vision in any light condition. This isn’t just about style; it’s about seeing the world better and faster. We have the data to back it up, too—medical-grade data that speaks to the undeniable improvement in vision quality. So, Transitions® GEN S™ isn’t just quick and stylish; it fundamentally enhances how you see the world.
The Smart Features of Transitions® GEN S™
Dr. Darryl Glover:
So, what’s the ultimate goal? What’s the ambition behind this product for Transitions? I know you guys are always at the forefront of innovation, but can you share a bit about the overarching vision?
Nicolas Barbier:
Absolutely, Dr. Glover. With Transitions® GEN S™, our goal is to offer a modern solution that transcends mere correction. While correction remains essential, we recognize that today’s wearers expect more. We aim to remove barriers and provide a dynamic lens experience that seamlessly blends functionality with pleasure. Our ambition is to set a new standard in the prescription lens industry, offering a dynamic lens experience without compromise.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
And when can we expect to see this technology available?
Nicolas Barbier:
The good news is that it’s right around the corner, Dr. Glover. We’re launching in the U.S. and North American markets on April 9th.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
That’s exciting!
Nicolas Barbier:
Absolutely. Following that, we’ll quickly expand to France and Italy in Europe by the end of April, followed by all Hispanic markets in South America in May. By Q3, Transitions® GEN S™ will be available in most markets, with Asia coming towards the end of the year. So, it won’t be long before Transitions® GEN S™ is available worldwide.
Dr. Darryl Glover:
Any final thoughts?
Nicolas Barbier:
This launch represents the realization of a dream for us. It’s the perfect balance we’ve been striving for: better vision, eye protection, and maximum comfort. We’re thrilled to bring this technology to the world.
GEN SPEED™: Ultra-responsive to light
Transitions® GEN S™ is the fastest dark lens1* in the clear-to-dark photochromic category. It is fully clear indoors and darkens in seconds2 outdoors. It is ultra-responsive to light, reaching category three levels of darkness in 25 seconds3* and fading back in less than two minutes4*. In fact, when asked 88% of wearers agreed that Transitions® GEN S™ lenses adapted so fast to light that they didn’t or barely noticed the change5*.
GEN STYLE™: Spectacular colour palette
Transitions® GEN S™ is available in eight exclusive colors, including a brand-new addition: Transitions® GEN S™ Ruby. All colors are optimized to be true-to-tone at all stages, offering vibrant tints in any light. While being fully clear indoors, and beautifully coloured outdoors, Transitions® GEN S™ provides endless possibilities of pairing to complement any look.
GEN SMART™: HD vision at the speed of your life
Transitions® GEN S™ offers better vision quality, faster6* to ensure a continuous visual experience in harmony with varied and changing light environments. Thanks to its responsiveness to light, it provides 39% faster vision recovery from intense bright lights7(A)* versus clear lenses. During fade back, tests have shown a 39.5% improvement in contrast sensitivity7(B)* and 40% faster vision recovery 7(B)* versus the previous generation.
Learn More: www.Transitions.com/GENSbrochure
2. For gray polycarbonate & CR39 lenses with a premium anti-reflective coating fading back to 70% transmission @ 23°C.
3. For gray polycarbonate & CR39 lenses fading back to 70% transmission @ 23°C, compared to the previous generation.
4. For gray polycarbonate & CR39 lenses achieving 18% transmission @ 23°C.
5. Compared to gray lenses in the clear to dark (category 3) photochromic category. Transitions® GEN S™ Gray lenses fade back faster to 70% transmission while achieving less than 14% transmission when activated at @ 23°C.
6. For polycarbonate & CR39 lenses across colors, achieving 18% transmission at 23°C.
7. For CR39 & polycarbonate gray lenses, compared to the previous generation.
