GOOD THINKING
Prasen Vinchurkar
Optical system combines replaceable safety glasses with users' presciption lenses
By Ben Coxworth
12:15 May 26, 2011
The IC Safety System consists of outer protective glasses, and an inner foil that incorporates prescription lenses (Photo: New Eye Company)
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Those of us who need to wear glasses face a bit of a quandary when it comes to protective eyewear. We can put big safety glasses on over top of our prescription glasses, although these can be bulky, uncomfortable, and a little funny-looking. Those drawbacks can be avoided by getting safety glasses with prescription lenses, but given the conditions under which such glasses are typically worn, it's entirely possible that their custom lenses will get scratched. This leaves users on the hook for an expensive new pair, which they will have to wait several days for. Australian inventor Andreas Mehringer, however, has created what could be a better alternative, in the form of his IC Safety System.
Mehringer's system consists of two parts.
On the outside is a pair of fairly conventional wrap-around non-prescription polycarbonate safety glasses. These are designed to protect the eyes from flying bits and pieces, and varying amounts of UV light (depending on the model). Their lenses have an anti-scratch, anti-fog coating, and are said to be distortion-free.
Sitting against the inside of them is a proprietary clear plastic "Astralon" foil, which is the same shape as the lenses. It simply slides in and clicks into place. Mounted within that foil, in such a way that they line up exactly with each specific user's eyes, are a pair of prescription lenses.
When one of the outer protective lenses gets scratched, users pop out the foil, and put it into a new pair of IC glasses - no down time, and no new prescription lenses required. Mehringer is aiming his product mainly at managers of workplaces, who could supply each employee with their own prescription foil, but who would also have a ready supply of replacement outer glasses on hand.
A single-vision prescription foil costs AUD$100 (US$106), with one pair of IC safety glasses going for AUD$28.90 (US$30.74). Prices go up with trickier prescriptions, while a sport version of the glasses sells for AUD$49.90 (US$53.22). They are available through the website for Andreas' business, New Eye Company.
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How is this different from Oakley's system? You get an insert that goes behind the sunglass lenses which houses your prescription lenses. . . http://au.oakley.com/innovation/optical-superiority/prescription
socalboomer
- May 26, 2011 @ 02:17 pm PDT
Nothing new here. Companies that make sunglasses for bicycling and other sports have had models that have prescription adapters behind the main lens for decades now. I've seen them from Smith, Bolle and Oakley, among others, since the late 1980s. Some even let the protective lens flip up and/or be changed out for different tints.
Gadgeteer
- May 26, 2011 @ 03:42 pm PDT
Saw this on "Inventors" on Australian ABC, great idea and it won on the night. Smart thinking mate
Reece Agland
- May 26, 2011 @ 07:29 pm PDT
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Prasen Vinchurkar
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
School Of interdisciplinary Science & Technology
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