Several factors have prevented occupational lenses from realising their full potential, but a portfolio recently launched in Australia is helping optical practices approach the category in a whole new way.

The occupational lens category has been around for several decades and has a surprisingly reasonable level of awareness among the general public (57% in one survey), yet data shows it has lagged behind in terms of market penetration at around 3-4%.

But with increasing demands on near and intermediate vision due to changing work environments and more time spent indoors, lens manufacturers like HOYA are developing more advanced designs to meet this new challenge and supporting optical practices to communicate the benefits to patients.

Occupational lenses differ from progressive addition lenses (PALs) with unlimited powers that generally provide clear vision to the wearer in the intermediate to near range. On the other hand, PALs gradually progress from far to near, with the intermediate section said to be more of a by-product of the lens design.

HOYA Lens Australia national training and development manager Mr Ulli Hentschel says some key barriers have held back the occupational lens category. But new insights have informed the company’s new occupational lens portfolio launched in July 2022, comprising Hoyalux iD WorkStyle 3, Hoyalux WorkStyle Business, Hoyalux WorkSmart Room and the SUPEREADER.

“Some key barriers and implications we have seen in occupational lenses, among eyecare professionals, include confusion over which lens is appropriate for each scenario – it’s been too complicated,” he explains.

“Some are also unfamiliar with the difference between PAL and occupational lenses and therefore lack the confidence to sell them, and there’s also a concern of being perceived as delivering the ‘hard sell’ for a second pair to regular customers. Among patients, there’s a lack of awareness about occupational lenses compared to other lens types, and an expectation that PALs will be an all-in-one spectacle, hence there is no need for another pair.”

As a result, Hentschel says the category has been calling for a more simplified portfolio with obvious positions such as: good, better, best. There’s also the need to provide clear differences between occupational lenses and PALs and for practices to have a second pair strategy that is going to benefit the right patients.

HOYA’s new occupational lens range, which replaces its previous indoor designs, seeks to overcome these challenges, with key features including:

• Hoyalux iD WorkStyle 3 is a premium lens designed for the clearest, most comfortable and natural vision when switching between different digital devices at the near to far intermediate distances up to one, two or six metres. It is available in three individual designs (Close, Screen, Space) based on visual preferences. It is equipped with premium trademarked Binocular Harmonization Technology verified with HOYA’s Binocular Eye Model and AdaptEase technology for wider fields of vision.

• Hoyalux WorkStyle Business is a mid-tier solution for progressive lens wearers who would like wide vision areas when working on near and intermediate vision distances, up to two or four metres. It includes View Xpansion technology which maximises the visual fields to the periphery of the lenses and offers swim and sway reduction.

• Hoyalux WorkSmart Room is an entry-level occupational lens with a distance range up to four metres, enabling the wearer to switch effortlessly between their computer screen and keyboard, while having a clear overview of their desk all day long. It offers swim and sway reduction and a stable image perception in a dynamic environment.

• SUPEREADER is designed for heavy readers. This lens offers support at near distances and is said to have a much better depth than ordinary reading lenses. It includes Quic focus technology, providing natural head posture for less head rotation for near work.

In Australia, Hentschel says traditionally either premium or basic-level occupational lenses have been offered, which has excluded a portion of the market.

That’s why HOYA has released a new mid-tier product (Hoyalux WorkStyle Business) that is financially more palatable, while including lens technology that’s sits just below the company’s new premium offering (Hoyalux iD WorkStyle 3).

“This means if someone is prescribed progressive spectacles, and is then sold a more affordable version of our occupational lenses, they’re still going to get the benefit from it. And then maybe next year, they will be tempted to try the premium version,” he explains.

When explaining occupation lenses to patients, Hentschel says it’s important to understand the customer’s visual requirements, asking openended questions about what sort of screens they use for work (laptops are the most common work-from-home device), and whether they were experiencing discomfort in their neck and back, or headaches and eyestrain. Another key question could be to ask if they spend more than two hours indoors stationary behind a screen daily.

“And then you can use that information to drill down into what type of lenses they are using for screen use. And that’s really important, because we have a range of different lenses that people can select from, that will suit various tasks.”

The company recently held a continuing professional development session with Optical Dispensers Australia to explain these methods in more detail. It has also developed a range of consumer brochures, desk mats, posters, fact sheets with easy-to-follow graphics that allow practices can clearly demonstrate the benefits of each HOYA occupational lens type.

While there’s a common perception occupational lenses are a second pair product, Hentschel says some practices might want to think about it another way.

“Depending on the person, you could argue that an occupational lens, in fact, should be the primary pair, and the progressive lens could be the second pair. That’s because a lot of people are spending the majority of their day sitting in front of a screen,” he says.

“And then when you’re driving home, maybe from work or going out to the shops, you may not need to have the most advanced progressive lens, so having a more advanced occupational lens may actually be of more benefit to that person.”

Helpful questions to ask customers

• Have you been irritated by visual discomfort, unnatural posture or eyestrain due to prolonged near work?

• Although you do not need any correction for far vision, do you feel that your current reading glasses are able to provide good vision for intermediate distance?

• Would you enjoy the convenience of moving around indoors without having to remove your reading glasses?

• Could you see a benefit from having lenses that are specially designed to cater to your specific visual needs and working distance?

• Just like shoes, occupational lenses have different designs for different functions and activities.

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