Normal eyewear often creates glare, reflections, and “ghost images.”
Now all that can be eliminated with an anti-reflective treatments.
What we see is a result of light being sensed by our eyes. With normal
glasses, much of the light reflects off the lenses. This produces
glare. It also reduces the wearer's visual acuity. In other words, the
light reflection is both a cosmetic and visual problem.
Anti-reflective coatings increase light transmission through the
lenses to 99.5 percent. They make it easier to see and easier for
others to see you. These coatings are especially useful for those
viewing computer screens and driving at night.
Your glasses do not have to be an eyesore to those around you.
Eyeglasses can be a stylish accessory, a part of your personality, or
a way for you to be unique. There are a variety of frames to choose
from, but you may not know that there are also many ways to improve
the appearance of the lenses. Cosmetic tints are now available. These
tints offer a variety of colors and shades. You can choose light blue
or any other color of the rainbow. Some lenses are clear at the bottom
and gradually get more colored towards the top of the lenses. There
are many ways to adjust your lenses to whatever style suits your
personality. Some tints are also functional.
Recently there has been much attention on a condition called Computer
Vision Syndrome, or CVS. A special tint for your glasses can reduce
eyestrain associated with CVS.
Previous to the last few years, the only materials available for use
as lenses were glass and a hard resin called CR-39. But recently, high
index lenses have become available. High index materials are named
because they have a higher index of light refraction. Basically, they
can do the same job that glass or CR-39 does, but high index lenses
are much thinner and lighter. With high index lenses, you can avoid
having “soda bottle” lenses.
When learning about high index lenses, you may hear many unfamiliar
numbers and terms. Here are a few things to remember.
The first and still the most popular high index plastic is
polycarbonate. Polycarbonate was originally developed for fighter jet
cockpits. It is very strong, very light, and resistant to scratches
and breaking. Most sports lenses are made of polycarbonate.
Other high index materials are classified by numbers. The higher the
number, the thinner and lighter the lens. The lower numbers are
classified as mid-index lenses. Mid-index lenses, such as 1.54, 1.56,
and 1.57, are thinner than glass, and nearly as strong as CR-39.
If you have ever felt frustrated at needing both prescription glasses
and prescription sunglasses to accommodate an outdoor lifestyle, you
should consider photochromic lenses. Photochromic lenses darken when
exposed to UV rays. The change is caused by photochromic molecules
that are found throughout the lens or in a coating on the front of the
lens. When the wearer goes outside, the lenses darken or tint. When
the wearer goes back inside, the glasses become clear.
Glare from wet roads, light reflecting off other vehicles, and glare
from your own windshield can be annoying and dangerous. To eliminate
this glare, we offer polarized lenses. Polarized lenses eliminate
almost all glare, reducing eye strain and increasing visibility.
Polarized lenses are the most effective way to reduce glare.
If you have hard resin lenses (CR-39), you should consider getting a
scratch resistant coating. Resins and plastics are more susceptible to
scratches than glass. Scratches damage the cosmetic look of the lenses
and compromise their performance. With a scratch resistant coating,
you do not have to worry as much about minor scratches on your lenses.
Another advantage of scratch resistant coatings is that most coatings
come with a one-year warranty. They are a great investment to prevent
minor scratches. However, it is important to remember that scratch
resistant does not mean scratch-proof. All lenses are susceptible to
scratches.
One of the main problems with bifocal and trifocal lenses is the
problem of eye fatigue. It is difficult to switch from one focusing
power to another. It can make your eyes tired, and it can even lead to
a headache, sore neck and sore back.
A variation of bifocals and trifocals is the no-line lens or
progressive lens. No-lines provide a smooth transition from focusing
on nearby to focusing on distant objects because they do not have a
distinct line which separates the focusing powers. Instead, a gradual
change in power allows the wearer to focus on objects at all
distances. Distant objects are viewed through the upper portion of the
lens, while near objects are viewed through the middle or lower
portion of the lens. These are also great for computer users.
For many people, different lenses are needed for seeing at different
distances. Bifocal lenses allow the wearer to look through two areas
of the lens. One area focuses on distant objects. The other is used
for reading.
Bifocals allow the wearer to read through one area of the lens, and to
focus on distant objects through another area of the lens. As the eyes
age, though, a stronger prescription is often needed to read. This
would be fine, but the stronger prescription that allows for reading
makes it difficult to focus on objects at intermediate distances, such
as grocery items on a shelf or your speedometer. Thus, trifocals are
necessary for a third prescription for intermediate focusing.
We all have heard the phrase, “Different strokes for different folks.”
Well, this also holds true when it comes to selecting glasses. There
are different lenses for just about everybody. No matter what your
particular need, there is probably a specialty lens designed for you.
For example, a specialty lens that is becoming increasingly useful is
designed for computer users. Computer lenses have “windows” designed
for viewing your computer screen, documents on your desk, and distant
objects. The lenses are designed to reduce Computer Vision Syndrome,
or CVS, which is characterized by headaches, eye strain, neck and back
aches, dry eyes, blurred vision, and double vision.