Corning and Healthe Announce Collaboration on Eyesafe® Technology

Healthe and Corning Announce Collaboration on Eyesafe® Technology to Help Protect Against Blue Light Emissions from Digital Devices

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (October 19, 2017) – Healthe and Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) announced their collaboration to develop and introduce Eyesafe® Screen Cover technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning®. When integrated with Corning Glass, Eyesafe® filter technology helps protect device users by selectively filtering UV and high-energy visible blue light emitted by digital devices.

 

Similar to sunscreens, which have an SPF rating, Eyesafe technology has an RPF® rating — or Retina Protection Factor. The higher the rating, the more digital blue light energy is blocked. Eyesafe technology made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning® provides consumers with improved scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility and better drop performance compared to existing screen protector solutions (1).

 

According to a 2016 Nielsen Audience Report, the average screen time has grown to 10.4 hours per day (2). As such, blue light exposure has increased, especially among children (3, 4). Research shows that prolonged exposure to the blue light emitted from electronics can result in a variety of health concerns for adults and children, including computer vision syndrome, (5) eye strain, (6) sleep cycle disruption (7, 8) and a variety of other ocular health concerns (9, 10).

 

“The blue light spectrum is an especially intense band of light energy reaching the retina of the eye,” explains Dr. David Friess, OD, FAAO. Dr. Friess leads Healthe’s Eye Care Advisory Group. “A large and growing body of research shows that cumulative exposure to blue light can result in circadian rhythm sleep disruption, digital eye strain and dry eye, and other ocular health concerns. The protection provided by Eyesafe covers is beneficial, especially given how much we use our digital devices daily.”

 

According to the research, Progress in Retinal and Eye Research study by Behar-Cohen, children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults from digital device screens, which is a growing concern as the popularity of cell phones, computers and tablets for school reading and personal use continues to grow each year. Increasing public health data and scientific research describes the eye health effects linked to exposure to digital device light emissions, including Computer Vision Syndrome, eye strain, and sleep cycle disruptions.

 

“As screen time and blue light exposure from devices continues to increase, we are excited to collaborate with Corning, the leading innovator in glass technologies for the display industry,” says Justin Barrett, Healthe’s CEO. “Together we have developed a best-in-class light filtering technology which offers protection from high-energy visible blue light and provides the benefits of Corning’s superior glass for device protection.”

 

“Corning is excited to collaborate with Healthe to create a better user experience by leveraging our unique material science solutions,” said Scott Forester, division vice president, Marketing and Innovation Products, Corning Specialty Materials. “Corning’s Accessory Glass was designed for screen protector applications and delivers superior scratch and drop performance. The combination with Eyesafe technology now provides consumers with added protection from the harmful effects of blue light.”

 

The new Eyesafe Screen covers are designed with Corning’s latest innovation in glass for screen protector applications – Accessory Glass 2 by Corning. This proven glass provides consumers with improved scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility and better drop performance compared to existing screen protector solutions in the market.

 

“By collaborating with Corning, the leading innovator in glass technologies, we have developed the best in class products to provide both superior device protection as well as the best eye protection available in aftermarket screen covers. Future collaboration announcements will be announced with international brands over the coming months”, says Mr. Barrett.

 

“The Eyesafe brand of screen protection together with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning, is well positioned to be the preferred choice for aftermarket screen covers recommended by eye care professionals”, said Greg Ruden, President of Expert Optics, the leading distributor of Eyesafe Accessory products.

 

The Eyesafe filter made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning® is available for pre-order online and from select Eye Care Professionals in the United States through the end of the year.

 

How it Works

Eyesafe technology works like sunscreen for digital devices with levels of RPF, or Retina Protection Factor. Eyesafe filters selective portions of the light spectrum from the display.

 

 

Eyesafe® Technology with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning® FAQ

 

Why is protection important for children’s eyes?

 

What are the health concerns associated with cumulative blue light exposure?

 

What makes Eyesafe technology unique?

 

Who is Healthe? What do they make? 

Healthe is a Minneapolis-based company with the mission of designing and developing Eyesafe® products, technologies and standards for digital devices in conjunction with the medical community for a global audience. Healthe’s products are designed to provide relief for frequent users of digital technology from prolonged exposure to harmful artificial UV and high-energy visible blue light. Through proprietary HEV blue light blocking screen covers and glass, Healthe provides advanced products that make artificial digital light more like natural light. To learn more about Eyesafe® products, please visit www.Eyesafe.com.

 

What is Eyesafe and how is it applied to Corning glass?

Eyesafe is a blue light filter technology reduces selective portions of the light spectrum without disrupting color and user experience. Eyesafe solutions pinpoint certain areas of the blue light spectrum while maintaining other beneficial areas of the color spectrum. Eyesafe is designed into the film, applied on the under side of Corning glass between the lamination and the screen.

 

What makes Eyesafe and Corning unique?

Compared to existing screen protectors in the market, Eyesafe Cover Screen has the ability to filter out the harmful effects of blue light that a consumer may experience from staring at smart device display over time. The Eyesafe Cover Screen is also made with Accessory Glass 2 by Corning®, a glass material designed primarily for screen protector applications and provides consumers with improved scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility and better drop performance.

 

 

About Healthe & Eyesafe Technology
Healthe (www.health-e.com) is a Minneapolis-based company with the mission of designing and developing Eyesafe® products, technologies and standards for digital devices in conjunction with the medical community for a global audience. Healthe’s products are designed to provide relief for frequent users of digital technology from prolonged exposure to harmful artificial UV and high-energy visible blue light. Through proprietary HEV blue light blocking screen covers and glass, Healthe provides advanced products that make artificial digital light more like natural light. To learn more about Eyesafe® products, please visit www.Eyesafe.com.

 

About Corning Incorporated

Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 166-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.
Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display technology, automotive, and life sciences vessels. Corning’s industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.

 

Sources

1. 1. Actual results may vary.
2. 2. 2016 Nielsen Audience Report, 1Q Report, http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2016/the-total-audience-report-q1-2016.html, June 27, 2016.
3. 3. American Psychological Association, Children and Electronic Media: How Much is Too Much? http://www.apa.org/pi/about/newsletter/2015/06/electronic-media.aspx, June 2015.
4. 4. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, Light-emitting diodes, (LED) for domestic lighting: Any risks for the eye? F. Behar-Cohen, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21600300, May 14, 2011.
5. 5. American Optometric Association, The 21st Century Child: Increased Technology Use May Lead to Future Eye Health and Vision Issues www.aoa.org/newsroom/the-21st-century-child-increased-technology-use-may-lead-to-future-eye-health-and-vision-issues, July 28, 2015.
6. 6. Eyesafe.com/Research.
7. 7. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness, Chang AM, Aeschbach D, Duffy JF, Czeisler CA, http://www.pnas.org/content/112/4/1232.abstract, November 26, 2014.
8. 8. NPJ Aging Mechanisms of Disease, Hatori M, et al. Global rise of potential health hazards caused by blue light-induced circadian disruption in modern aging societies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-017-0010-2, June 16, 2017.
9. 9. Gianluca T, Ian F, Kazuo T, Effects of Blue Light on The Circadian System and Eye Physiology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734149/, January 24, 2016.
10. 10. PLOS One, Phototoxic Action Spectrum on a Retinal Pigment Epithelium Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Exposed to Sunlight Normalized Conditions, http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0071398, August 23, 2016