Transitions Optical Honors Tampa Native as Part of 'Early's Angels' Series on CBS...

Transitions Optical Honors Tampa Native as Part of 'Early's Angels' Series on
CBS News' 'The Early Show'

Transitions Sponsors Tampa Literacy Outreach Program and Provides Free Eyecare
and Eyewear to West Shore Elementary Students and Children Around the Country

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Transitions Optical
honored Tampa native Jennifer Frances on Friday during CBS News' The Early
Show, surprising her with a gift to support her mobile literacy outreach
initiative, "Bess the Book Bus." Frances was featured as part of the show's
"Early's Angels" series, which celebrates everyday people throughout the
country who show courage and selflessness in the face of adversity and make
extraordinary efforts to help others.

Through a donation made possible by Transitions Optical, Transitions is
adopting West Shore Elementary School in Tampa in celebration of Frances's
efforts and will provide nearly 400 students with free eye exams and eyewear
fitted with Transitions(R) lenses for those children who require it. Students
and the staff of West Shore Elementary enthusiastically received this gift via
a live satellite feed from the school in Tampa.

"I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the gift of healthy sight that Transitions
Optical has given the children at West Shore Elementary School," said Jennifer
Frances. "The free eye exams and glasses with Transitions lenses will help so
many children that just don't have access to proper eyecare and eyewear. When
I'm reading to the children, I see so many of them squinting - this is the
perfect gift to help them read clearly and maximize the benefit of their
education," she added.

Founded solely by Frances in 2004, "Bess the Book Bus" began visiting schools,
shelters and after-school programs in the Tampa area to distribute children's
books and host readings for underprivileged children. Since then, Frances's
efforts have expanded to include a multi-city tour, distributing nearly
100,000 books and serving over 6,000 families.

"Jennifer's mission of promoting literacy is critical, as studies show that 80
percent of a child's learning is visual and - what many don't realize - is
that one in four children have an undiagnosed vision problem that can
interfere with their ability to learn," said Connie Falvo, Transitions
Optical's director of external affairs who presented Frances with the gift on
The Early Show's plaza in New York City. "All of us at Transitions are
touched by Jennifer's efforts and strongly believe in what she's doing. We're
thrilled to partner with her to help children in our own community and
children around the country to see better and become enthusiastic lifelong
readers."

Beyond Transitions' support of West Shore Elementary, the company will partner
with Frances during her 2009 multi-city tour to bring healthy sight to other
children throughout the country.

Achieving healthy sight goes beyond passing an eye test. Healthy sight means
enhancing the quality of your vision today while helping to preserve the
health and wellness of your eyes for the future. Photochromic lenses, such as
Transitions lenses, are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight. As clear
as regular eyeglass lenses indoors and at night, Transitions conveniently and
automatically darken as light conditions change to reduce glare and improve
contrast - protecting the eyes by blocking 100 percent of harmful UV rays.

For more information about Frances's mobile literacy program, visit
www.bessthebookbus.org. To learn more about healthy sight, visit
www.Transitions.com.

NOTE: For high-resolution images, please contact Gina Villani at
gina.villani@bm.com or visit the Media Center on www.Transitions.com for the
full version of the press release.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.
Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor
International. The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic
lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to
optical manufacturers worldwide. Transitions Optical offers the most advanced
photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and
brand names.

Transitions(R) lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight. They
are clear indoors and at night. Outdoors, they automatically darken as light
conditions change. Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance
visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see
better today. Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB
rays - helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes - so you can
see better tomorrow as well.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, the first to
earn the American Optometric Association's Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet
Absorbers/Blockers, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical
Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

SOURCE Transitions Optical, Inc.

Rachel Hopkins of Burson-Marsteller for Transitions Optical, Inc.,
+1-412-394-6642, rachel.hopkins@bm.com; or Dan McLean of Transitions Optical,
Inc., +1-727-545-0400 ext. 7502, dmclean@transitions.com