Essilor announced an update to its Varilux lenses with Varilux Shift, featuring AI-powered lenses.
Today’s visual behavior is highly dynamic, requiring approximately 150,000 focus shifts throughout the day.1 This constant demand places an increased importance on recommending a design that provides smooth, natural shifts across all viewing distances.
Avanti Upponi, Senior Director of Lens Product Marketing, US at EssilorLuxottica, said: “The way presbyopes use their eyes today has drastically changed from the past, becoming more dynamic due to the increased utilization of digital devices. More than ever before, presbyopes today need a progressive lens solution that optimizes the placement of the near vision zone, provides a large far vision viewing area, and manages side effects—all while being easy to adapt to. That’s why we are excited to launch Varilux Shift lenses as the go-to entry-level Varilux design—rounding out our AI-powered portfolio and bringing innovation to every patient, at every price point.”
Technological Advances
Designed using artificial intelligence by analyzing millions of wearer data points, Essilor identified clear behavioral differences of today’s presbyopes and used AI to predict how gaze declination varies across refractive errors and addition values.
This deep understanding of near vision behavior enabled the R&D team to precisely adjust the position of the near vision zone.
iComfort technology, the innovative technology in Varilux Shift lenses, optimizes the position of the near vision zone to better align with the visual habits of today’s presbyopes. This provides wearers with easier access to the near vision zone and makes adaptation more intuitive.
Design enhancements to meet the needs of today’s presbyopes
AI simulations were also performed to compare the performance of Varilux Shift to standard progressive lenses, resulting in:
- 34% improvement in the softness of the designs‡2,3 minimizing the swim effect
- 18% far vision enlargement§4,5 creating a larger zone for distance vision.
For progressive lens wearer, this means:
- 91% adapted to Varilux Shift lenses
- 89% experienced easy access to the near vision zone
The result is a Varilux ShiftTM lens design that addresses today’s visual demands while providing high patient satisfaction and easy adaption.6 All while delivering the trusted Varilux experience expected by eyecare professionals.
References
*Compared to single vision (SV) lens, Varilux Shift lens provides better sharpness in near and intermediate vision. In far vision, Varilux ShiftTM lens delivers sharpness equivalent to SV lenses; Varilux Shift lens delivers visual sharpness equal to or better than Varilux LibertyTM 3.0 lens and standard PAL (FBSE1) across all viewing distances; Fewer distortions when switching between the three vision zones compared to Varilux Liberty 3.0 lens and standard PAL (FBSE1); Easier to switch from FV to NV and vice versa than Varilux Liberty 3.0 lens and standard PAL (FBSE1). EUROSYN presbyope expert panel evaluation.
†A near vision 1.5 times closer to the natural gaze lowering than Varilux Liberty 3.0 lens; and two times closer than the combination of competitors PALs.
+18% enlargement in far vision (FV) vs standard PAL (FBSE1) ; +16% enlargement in FV vs the combination of competitors PALs. Optical R&D simulations on standard 1.5-index lenses with regular FBS design across a range of prescriptions.
‡+34% of softness vs standard PAL (FBSE1); +25% vs Varilux® LibertyTM 3.0 lens; +19% vs the combination of competitors PALs. Optical R&D simulations on standard 1.5-index lenses with regular FBS design, across a range of prescriptions.
1. Sebastian S, Burge J, Geisler WS. Defocus blur discrimination in natural images with natural optics. J Vis. 2015;15(5):16. doi:10.1167/15.5.16.
2. EssilorLuxottica (2025). EUROSYN presbyope expert panel evaluation of 1.6-index clear lenses with Crizal SapphireTM HR coating. Assessment conducted among 13 experts, focusing on visual performance parameters including perceived distortion during motion (walking) and at the bottom of the stairs. Data on file
3. EssilorLuxottica (2025). Internal R&D simulations. Optical and avatar-based simulations were performed on 1.5-index lenses across a range of prescriptions (sphere: –4.00, –2.00, plano, +2.00; add: +1.00,+1.50, +2.00) to evaluate overall design softness. Data on file.
4. EssilorLuxottica (2025). EUROSYN presbyope expert panel evaluation of 1.6-index clear lenses with Crizal® SapphireTM HR coating. Assessment conducted among 13 experts, focusing on visual performance parameters including sharpness at near, intermediate, and far distances; ease of transitioning between near and far vision; and perceived distortion when switching between vision zones. Data on file
5. EssilorLuxottica (2025). Internal R&D simulations. Optical and avatar-based simulations were performed on 1.5-index lenses across a range of prescriptions (sphere: –4.00, –2.00, plano, +2.00; add: +1.00,+1.50, +2.00) to evaluate near-vision accessibility, far-vision enlargement. Data on file.
6. Essilor International. Varilux ShiftTM – in-real-life consumer study – Eurosyn, France (n=48 first-time progressive lens wearers). Responses received after four weeks of wear. Data on file. (2026)
Author
