Celebrating 15 Years of Unity: Putting the Progress in Progressive Lenses

When you think back to 2010, what do you see? Fidget spinners, Apolo Anton Ohno’s record-setting Olympic performance, and colorful skinny jeans? Things looked a little different back then, and today it’s hard to imagine a world without iPads or Instagram (both of which launched that year!).  
But there was another game-changing innovation in 2010, at least for the optical industry: The launch of Unity® lenses. 
As we mark our 15th anniversary, we're reflecting on our journey in optics and celebrating the milestones that define our commitment to excellence and innovation. From our humble beginnings to becoming a VSP® category leader, Unity continues to push the boundaries of progressive lens design, collaborating with global experts in the optical space to help wearers achieve their best possible vision.  

The Early Days: A Vision for Progressive Lenses  
Unity launched with a simple, impactful goal: to rethink how progressive lenses are designed, dispensed, and experienced. Starting with an anti-reflective coating and our first progressive lens, we set out to improve upon traditional options and help deliver a better visual experience for patients. 
Over the past 15 years, Unity has introduced enhancements that support comfort, performance, and ease of fitting—solidifying our place in the optical market as a trusted brand. Highlights from the past 15 years include: 

• Lens Enhancement Technologies: We launched SunSync® Life-Reactive Lenses and TechShield® Anti-Reflective Coatings in 2013 and 2017, respectively, helping to reshape the way the industry thought about all-in-one progressive eyewear.  

• Unity Via Progressive Lenses: In 2017, the easy-to-fit, easy-to-wear technology behind this development launched us to the forefront of premium progressive lenses, where we remain to this day.  

• Next-Generation Photochromics: In 2018, we launched SunSync Drive XT, which retains a tint in the car, solving one of wearers’ top complaints. We also launched SunSync Elite, creating a new class of ultra-fast photochromic lens enhancements, which outperform most competing photochromic lenses in fade-back speed.  

• Innovation Through Emerging Technology: In 2024, Unity Via Elite VR became the first Unity progressive lens developed using virtual reality, reflecting our focus on emerging tools that support precise, patient-centric design.  

Throughout this journey, our focus has remained on delivering lenses that meet high standards for performance, consistency, and reliability—backed by a collaborative development process with experts across the optical industry. Designed with patients and eye care professionals in mind, Unity lenses continue to deliver reliable, high-quality vision solutions that meet evolving patient needs.  
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A Bright Future for Progressive Lenses 
So, what’s next for Unity? As we look to the future, we remain focused on exploring new progressive lens design technologies to further enhance the comfort, adaptability, and performance of our lenses for wearers, and the ease of dispensing for opticians.  
Our journey over the last decade and a half has been marked by innovation, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As we celebrate our achievements, we invite you to share in our success and reflect on your experiences with Unity. Together, let’s look forward to a future filled with even more groundbreaking advancements in progressive lens technology. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to continuing to serve you and your patients.  
Unity has grown steadily since its launch, with more than 10 million pairs dispensed—reflecting the trust eye care professionals place in our products and our commitment to continued innovation. Get a sneak peek at what's next.