Roanoke Optics Company Goes Electronic With Japanese Partner

They’re called the static composite enhanced multifocal and electronic dynamic lenses and PixelOptics of Roanoke hopes they’re the future. PixelOptics and Panasonic Shikoku Electronics of Matsuyama, Japan have collaborated in the development of PixelOptics’ electronic eyeglasses.

Pixel is the world’s first composite ophthalmic lens company. It is developing both static (fixed focus) and electronic dynamic (changeable focus) lenses. Pixel launched atLast! its first static composite enhanced multifocal in November of 2008. Panasonic Shikoku Electronics is one of the group companies of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation.

Bill Kokonaski, Pixel’s chief technical officer, says, “Pixel and Panasonic Shikoku Electronics have been jointly developing the first ophthalmic eyewear solution that crosses over into the consumer electronics sector. We are most pleased to have Panasonic Shikoku Electronics assisting us with this development.”

In 1999 e-Vision began the development of electronic eyeglasses. e-Vision exclusively and globally licensed its intellectual property, trade secrets, and know-how to Pixel in 2005.

Pixel, with the help of nine other development partners from around the world, has been aggressively and diligently furthering the development. Panasonic Shikoku Electronics is one of the development partners playing a major role in creation of this product.

To date, Pixel has amassed an IP portfolio of over 300 patents and patent applications around the world. Dr. Ronald D. Blum, president and CEO of Pixel says, “Pixel’s electronic eyeglasses auto-focus faster than the blink of an eye using chemistry, electricity, and optics and do so without moving parts.

These eyeglasses allow for clear focus from far to near, and everything in between. They are lineless on the face of the wearer and provide significantly wider and less compromised fields of clear vision having far less areas of distortion than that of progressive addition lenses of an equal optical power.”

Progressive addition lenses presently are the most common and preferred way of correcting for presbyopia (a condition that results in the poor near and intermediate distance focus of one’s eyes after 45 years of age).

Blum says, “Pixel was delighted to have a global company as well respected as Panasonic Shikoku Electronics helping with the development. Panasonic Shikoku Electronics’ consumer knowledge and scientific expertise has proven to be most valuable and positive.”

“Panasonic Shikoku Electronics is very pleased to have had the opportunity to work on such an exciting project and one that will benefit so many people around the world,” says Yukinori Okazaki, CTO and board member of Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Co. “We anticipate there will be a lot of opportunities in health care that will benefit the world’s aging population in which Panasonic Shikoku Electronics can play a significant role. We see Pixel’s electronic eyeglasses as one of these opportunities.”

William Spies, Pixel’s COO, says, “PixelOptics has designed its electronic eyewear in such a way that it will involve all conventional channels of distribution: lens manufacturers, frame companies, wholesale optical labs, eye care professionals. No special equipment will be required to be purchased and the current eye examination will not change. We anticipate that if all goes to plan PixelOptics will move forward with a launch of its electronic eyeglasses in the second half of 2010. This is a most exciting time for our company.”

(From press release.)