The Vision Expo East in New York City showcased the unique blend of health care and fashion in the vision and eye care business. The event brought together eye care providers, designers, vision business leaders, and eye-tech aficionados to display the latest trends in eye frames and technology. One particular attraction at the expo was a pair of adaptive sunglasses called 32 Degrees North, which can transform into reading glasses when needed. These glasses, created by Israeli company DeepOptics, aim to address presbyopia, a common vision problem that occurs around age 45.
The 32 Degrees North glasses come in two frame designs, Wharton and Muir, with two color options, black and clear. The lenses of the glasses are made of Deep Optics’ pixelated liquid crystal, which functions similarly to an LCD television screen. The crystal layer allows for dynamic and high-quality lenses that can be adjusted into reading glasses with a tap or swipe on the glasses. The glasses have a maximum adjustment of +2.5 diopters, which should cover most people’s presbyopia prescription. Users can also fine-tune their prescription using the paired app from Deep Optics.
To switch between regular sunglasses and reading glasses mode on the 32 Degrees North glasses, users can swipe or touch the glasses to activate the desired mode. The glasses also have a quick access feature where pressing the side of the glasses temporarily switches them to reading mode for short glances at close-up objects. The battery life of the glasses can last up to a day of normal use or up to 5 hours when the reading mode is active. The glasses are priced at $849 and come with a 30-day refund period for customers to try them out.
While the decision to buy the 32 Degrees North glasses depends on individual preferences and needs, they offer a convenient solution for those with presbyopia who require both sunglasses and reading glasses. The technology behind these glasses also shows potential for future advancements in eyewear design and vision care. Yariv Haddad, CEO of DeepOptics, mentioned plans to develop technology that caters to myopia and blurry distance vision, indicating a shift towards more personalized and versatile eyewear options in the market.
Overall, the 32 Degrees North glasses represent a step towards innovation in the vision and eye care industry. By combining style with advanced technology, these glasses offer a practical solution for individuals with presbyopia and a glimpse into the future of eyewear design. As the demand for vision correction continues to grow, developments like these adaptive glasses could lead to a more customized and efficient approach to meeting the visual needs of consumers.
