An Essilor technician checks the color of a sun lenses.

CHARENTON LE PONT, France—Essilor International is expanding its presence in the global sun lens market with the launch last month of a new business unit, Essilor Sun Solution, that is dedicated to developing and marketing non-prescription sun lenses.

Established as a supplier to sunglass designers and manufacturers, Essilor Sun Solution combines the resources of two Essilor Group companies—BNL Eurolens and Intercast Europe—that will now operate under the Essilor Sun Solution banner. Overseen by Eric Thoreux, Essilor International’s president of sun, reader and photochromic, the new business unit offers a wide range of plano and semi-finished (Rx) matching plano sun lenses that are aimed at the fashion, lifestyle, sport and performance markets.

Essilor Sun Solution products have been subdivided into five macro-categories: Sport & Performance, Protection, Fashion & Lifestyle, Vision and Prescription. Within each category, Essilor has developed specific lens formulations to address various optical needs.


Christophe Mayet.

“Essilor Sun Solution was created in order to use the technology and know-how of the Essilor Group to put more added value into our plano lenses,” Christophe Mayet, vice president, marketing, Essilor Sun Solution, told VMail. “The more you bring added value to the market, the more you bring a full solution for all customers, whether they need Rx or plano, which are complimentary.”

Mayet said Essilor Sun Solution will focus on developing both the technical and trendy aspects of sun lenses. “We’re looking at things like how to enhance colors perception while reducing the intensity of sunlight, as well as developing fashion products such as gradient lenses,” he noted.

Mayet said that Essilor Sun Solution also offers plano versions of Essilor’s popular XPerio UV polarized prescription lenses. Conversely, it can produce semi-finished prescription lenses that match the look and performance of plano versions of the lenses. He added that Essilor Sun Solution will partner with sunglass manufacturers to supply Essilor-branded sun lenses on an OEM basis, as it does with the TAG Heuer Avant-Garde Eyewear brand from Logo of the Americas.