Clear vision for everyone
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MY ROLE
Industrial Designer.
Research, Concept Design, 3D CAD, Engineering, Prototyping, Tooling, Factory Liaison.
OVERVIEW
The "Alvarez Lenses" can be manually adjusted to suit 90% of the populations prescription.
Learn more about Alvarez Lenses
The original purpose of this was for use in third world countries were custom glasses, and opticians, were not available. Over time, the product gained traction as an "emergency pair of glasses" in the UK and USA.
The product works, however it is purely functional in appearance, limiting it's appeal to a wider audience.
One Amazon review read - "I wore these to a party as I had left my normal glasses at work. Big Mistake! I came home in tears after 10 minutes with all the negative comments I received".
A better solution was needed.
Brief
Using the Alvarez Lens technology - Develop an adjustable reader product offering 0.75 to 2.75 dioptres of power.
A range of frames to suit male, female and unisex.
Glasses need to look "normal" and not like a specialist product.
Target Audience
Age: 45 +
Gender: Unisex
Income: £45'000 +
Interests: New technologies
Research - Actuation Position
The user will manually adjust the glasses. to suit their eyesight. A user study was carried out to determine which actuation location was preferred.
SUMMARY
The most popular choice was an External Wheel. The solution has to be discreet to limit aesthetic compromise.
Research - Interface Interaction
A thunbwheel is the optimum method of user interaction. What is the optimum. size and exact shape?
SUMMARY
Test 1 - Thumbwheel Preference
Test 2 - Thumbwheel Protrusion
Paper Sketching
Sketching focused specifically around the primary challenge of fitting two lenses into the space of 1. Different concepts were needed that achieved this via differing methods.
Final Concept - Key Features
LENS TRAVEL
6mm rear lens travel was tested and found to be the best compromise between power and distracting "lines in lens".
REAR LENS ACTUATION
Rear lens actuation was achieved by a rack and pinion mechanism for smooth and reliable actuation.
A nylon rack is ultrasonically welded to the lens. As the rack is slightly curved, it uses an involute gear profile to allow correct meshing.
The rack and pinion was cycle tested succesfully to 10'000 actuations, well and above the life of the product.
FRAME SPRINGS
The rear lens can move, and therefore requires tolerance to do so. This tolerance caused a rattle which early testers identified as annoying and low quality.
Therefore, micro leaf springs were inserted into the frame to apply pressure to the lens to prevent rattle, without affecting its movement.
BROW SPRING - Acts downwards on the rear lens (bottom left detail).
RACK SPRING - Acts upwards on the frame shelf, which in turn causes the rack to act downwards (bottom right detail).
Manufacturing
Manufacture was to take place in Taiwan at an established manufacturing factory. The factory had experience with complex injection moulding and complex assembly.
Part of my project role was to spend time in Taiwan, reviewing first-off tool trials with the factory team, and agree on actions if required.
I was also there to review the ultrasonic welding, and act as quality control for the first batch.
Finally, I had to sign-off the pre-production prototypes coming off the line, before the first batch could go into production.
Delivery
Adlens Adapt was available to buy direct through Adlens website, and was later available to purchase on Amazon in the US. The product faired well against its competition due to the discreet mechanics. Wearers did not feel like they "stood out".
As of January 2023, Adlens ceased trading.
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