OPTIMA’S CERIUM58™ FOR RESOLUTION® SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATINGS
Highly Advanced Vacuum Coating System Delivers Unprecedented Precision and Superior Adhesion Previously Unattainable in the Industry

Stratford, Conn. (November 20, 2002) – Just as Optima set a new standard for polycarbonate lenses with the introduction of RESOLUTION™, which uses a revolutionary and proprietary manufacturing process, they have set a new standard for AR (anti-reflective) coatings with the introduction of CERIUM58™ for RESOLUTION® lenses.

Although advances have been made and AR coatings have vastly improved since they were first introduced the industry has still been plagued by coating and durability issues. Optima’s new vacuum coating system for Cerium58™, one that is the most sophisticated in the world, promises to deliver an AR coating that finally eliminates these nagging problems. This leap in quality is no simple accomplishment. “By using an Optical Monitor to control the entire AR process rather than a Quartz Monitor, we achieve coating precision. It’s a significant advancement over other AR coatings” says Nicholas Niejelow, president and CEO of Optima Inc. The Optical Monitor measures optical thickness for the exact optical characteristics of the film as it runs and can be measured and monitored for each level. This results in more precise layer thicknesses and assures consistency, whereas a Quartz Monitor measures physical thickness but only after the film has run and inconsistencies have already occurred. “We’ve achieved another engineering breakthrough by having a coating system that utilizes three separate chambers to process the lenses,” says Niejelow. “The deposition chamber remains in a high vacuum, which gives our coating environment ultimate stability. It’s guaranteed to be precise day-in and day-out. Separate chambers are used to apply first, the anti-reflective coating and then the hydrophobic coating. There is no possible cross contamination. Ultimately it results in vastly superior adhesion.”

Optima raises the quality bar even further by using its new ultimate advanced Tantium™ non tintable hard coat as the scratch resistant base for its new CERIUM58™ AR lenses. This
base coat solves the problem of polycarbonate’s inherently soft surface and provides both extreme durability and an optimum base for the new Cerium58™ coating. RESOLUTION® CERIUM58™ AR lenses, in the regular range, will start shipping December 1, 2002.

For more about RESOLUTION® CERIUM58™ AR, and to view the full new extended range the trade is encouraged to visit the product web site at www.ResolutionLenses.com. To request collateral materials, a free extended range wall chart and for any other trade inquiries please call Optima at 800 621-1216 or your Optima’s sales rep. RESOLUTION® CERIUM58™ AR lenses are available nationwide through wholesale laboratories.

For available photography please contact nika@optonline.net