18 Nov 2025
We’ve tried to come up with a vision related link to the radio – but sometimes even we’re stumped. Answers on a postcard (or in person) to 63 The Quadrant please…
Anyway, if you’ve had the radio on recently, you may well have heard the new advert for Essilor’s Varilux XR lenses – the ones that sound almost too futuristic to be true. Lenses that use artificial intelligence to learn how your eyes move, anticipate where you’ll look next, and keep everything crystal clear from one glance to the next. It might sound like something out of a science-fiction film, but we’ve had these for a while – ahead of the trend once again!
You know by now we’ve always been fascinated by innovation that genuinely helps people see better. Jez and the team love combining clever design with real-world comfort – whether that’s the bold, joyful colour of Kirk & Kirk, the precision engineering of TAVAT, or the effortless style of Porsche Design. The Varilux XR collection takes that spirit one step further: lenses that don’t just correct your sight, they actually think with you.
Traditional varifocals are built on static optical maps, so your eyes have to do the adapting.
Essilor’s researchers flipped that idea on its head. They gathered millions of real-world eye-movement recordings and taught an AI system how people naturally look at the world – how we scan screens, shift between road signs and dashboards, glance at faces, menus and skylines. That information shapes every Varilux XR lens so that it anticipates your next movement and adjusts instantly. The result? A viewing experience that feels smoother, faster and far more natural.
Picture yourself reading the paper over breakfast, checking your phone, then looking up to greet a friend – all without a flicker of refocus. Or imagine driving through a misty St Albans morning as headlights approach; the transition stays calm, the glare stays low, and every detail remains sharp.
Customers who’ve tried them describe the difference as “instant clarity.” There’s no awkward break-in period – just lenses that feel right from the very first wear.
And because every pair is created to match your unique visual habits, no two are ever identical. Jez takes time to measure exactly how you move – the angle of your head, your posture, the way your eyes naturally track – so your lenses work precisely as designed.
As an Essilor Expert partner (we even have a sticker on the door to remind us of a morning!), we can offer the full Varilux XR experience with our premium coatings included as
standard. Anti-reflection, scratch-resistant and easy-clean finishes mean your lenses stay clearer for longer. No bundle gimmicks, no “basic versus upgrade” decisions – just the
highest-quality lenses built to last.
If you need to add a Transitions tint to the lenses too – that’s an option we can discuss – and show you all the fabulous colours available at the moment.
So, if that radio ad has caught your ear, now’s the perfect time to see what they’re actually talking about. Pop in, see for yourself, with the absolute guarantee there’s no Christmas music on the playlist in November. And quite possibly most of December.
