The first spectacles appeared in the Middle Ages. Man
knows
that he sees better through glass. Since then, spectacular
pro-
gress has been achieved through deeper understanding of
the
human eye, the greater knowledge of the physiology of
vision
and the use of highly efficient technologies.
Creating materials to serve the eye
In addition to constant improvements in mineral lenses
(lenses with a
very high refractive index and photochromic lenses)
French industry, with
the help of chemistry, has developed new products (organic
lenses) and
now combines materials with complementary properties
(composites lenses) for greater comfort and improved
vision quality.
Curvatures to the nearest micron
Optical industries rely on ultra precision (to the nearest
micron) to obtain exact optical characteristics. Surface
machining operations (spherical, toric, aspheric, etc..
) in today's world are automated and computer assisted.
Computers have been instrumental in realizing and developing
progressive lenses for presbytic people.
Sophisticated processes
 Protect
the eye from infrared, ultra-violet light and laser
beams, make mineral lenses shock proof and organic lenses
scratchproof, eliminate reflection, work on the thickness
and surface of lenses (colouring, hardening varnish,
anti-reflective treatment). These are some of the sophisticated
processes to improve visual comfort and optical performances.
They require increasingly advanced technologies based
on electronics, physics, and chemistry.
Lenses and implants
Having mastered transparent biocompatible materials,
the French Optics industry has achieved remarkable results
with contact lenses and (artificial crystalline) intra-ocular
implants whose use has become common in cataract operations.
French spectacles have worlwide appeal
 Gold,
silver, tortoiseshell or wood, but also plastics, titanium,
carbon fibre, pliable spectacles and flexible hinges
have transformed the spectacle frame market.
With its technical and industrial expertise, and with
the talent of its designers, French industry sets fashion
trends world-wide.
Optics serving optics
The precision and ergonomics of measuring instruments
and machines use by opticians to test, adjust and mount
lenses to adjust have benefited from progress in optronics.
Ocular optics, a made-to measure industry
Ocular optics occupies a unique position in industry
; it is a mass production industry providing in the
shortest time highly sophisticated made-to measure products.
Innumerable ametropic correction formulae as well as
wearers demands for comfort and attractiveness have
led the industry to handle and deliver hundreds of thousands
of product references.
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