TOKYO—Mitsui Chemicals is launching a new ophthalmic lens material that helps protect eyes from not only ultraviolet (10-400nm) light rays but also 400nm-420nm wavelength light.

The human eye can be damaged by exposure to sunlight, in particular UV light. Recent studies have shown, however, that shorter wavelength light from 400nm to 420nm also damages the retina, which is the most vulnerable tissue of the eye, and this can be one of the factors which accelerates the development of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Although many conventional sunglasses, in addition to protecting eyes from UV rays, provide protection from shorter wavelength light, general vision correction lenses do not.

Mitsui Chemicals’ newly debuted lens material, “UV+420cut,” helps protect eyes from damaging short wavelength light.

“The other lens materials on the market that block short wavelength light have the disadvantage of having a yellow tint,” said Woody Muire, marketing manager for Mitsui Chemicals of America. “The yellowness is markedly less in UV+420cut.”

Conant Optics is planning to market these lenses in the U.S. under the “UV++” brand. n

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