Lens Guide
There are many types of lenses and finishes that are available. Here’s a breakdown of prescription types, materials and finishes.
Single Vision
Single vision lenses have one prescription throughout the entire lens. They are to help people who require correction of farsightedness or nearsightedness. These eyeglasses have just a single optical prescription correction and they distribute focus evenly over the entire surface area of the lens.
Progressives
Also known as multifocal lenses, allows multiple vision corrections to be incorporated into a single lens without any clear distinction or lines between the different corrections. The power in the lenses “progressively” changes from far too intermediate to near.
Top of lens: For distance vision, driving, TV.
Middle of lens: For computer vision, intermediate distances.
Bottom of the lens: For reading or completing other close-up activities.
This means you can see your whole field of vision without switching between multiple pairs of glasses and eliminating the obvious line between prescriptions on bifocals and trifocals.
Occupational
The intermediate portion of your prescription in front of your eyes. Resulting in the computer screen being clear without having to tilt your head at uncomfortable angles. The bottom of this lens is also clear for reading, but as this type of lens only has 2 prescriptions, not 3 like a standard progressive lens. The corridors of clear vision are much wider.
This means that you can see more of your computer screen or page while reading clearly without having to move your head.
Anti-fatigue
This lens is used for people who do not require a progressive or bifocal lens but still suffer from tired eyes at work. The Anti-Fatigue lens has the distance vision exactly as in a regular single vision lens throughout the lens but with a slight power variation in bottom part of lens to give some comfort in near vision, preventing and relieving visual fatigue.
Lens Enhancements
Photo-chromatic
Lenses automatically adapt to changing light conditions when exposed to UV rays. Responding to the light around you, they change from clear to dark (choose from grey, brown, or green) when you go outdoors and back to clear when you return inside. All Transitions lenses block 100% of UV rays
Transition lenses are available for all prescription types, from single-vision and progressives to non-prescription.
Tints
Your lenses can be tinted many different colors! Fashion tints can be a great way to personalize your glasses and make them a bit more unique. Tinted lenses are lenses with a pigmented dye in them. There are a variety of tint colors available, with the most common being brown or gray. The color doesn’t influence how much protection you’re getting but is more based on personal preference.
BENEFITS OF TINTED LENSES:
Help reduce glare when there is excess light
Certain colored tints can provide sports players with competitive advantages
Improve contrast and image resolution (brown lens)
Help reduce and minimize eyestrain (amber lens)
More precise and relaxed vision (green lens)
Other Lens
Enhancements
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Anti-reflective (AR) lenses are glasses lenses that have a special coating applied to the surface to reduce glare and improve vision in bright light conditions. This coating helps to reduce the amount of light that is reflected off the surface of the lens, which can make it easier to see and reduce eyestrain. They can be especially helpful for people who spend a lot of time working on computers or driving at night, as they can reduce glare from the screen or headlights.
Benefits to using AR lenses:
Improved Vision: AR lenses can help to reduce reflections and glare, which can make it easier to see in a variety of lighting conditions. This can be particularly beneficial when driving at night or working on a computer.
Reduced Eyestrain: Reflections and glare can cause eyestrain, particularly when reading or working on a computer. AR lenses can help to reduce these distractions and improve overall eye comfort.
Enhanced Appearance: AR lenses can help to reduce reflections on the surface of the lens, making it easier to see the eyes of the person wearing the glasses. This can make the glasses look more attractive and improve the overall appearance of the wearer.
Improved Durability: AR lenses are more resistant to scratches and other types of damage, which can help to extend the life of the glasses.
UV Protection: Many AR lenses also provide some protection from UV light, which can help to protect the eyes from damage.
When applied to photochromic (transition) lenses, AR coating enhances the clarity, sensitivity or reaction time and their ability to fully lighten to clear.
When applied to sunglasses it eliminates glare from sunlight reflecting into your eyes from the back surface of tinted lenses when the sun is behind you.
Overall, AR lenses are a convenient and effective way to improve vision and reduce eyestrain in bright light conditions. They are a popular choice for many people who wear glasses and can be helpful for a wide range of activities.
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Polarized lenses are a type of lens that is designed to reduce glare. Glare is caused by light reflecting off flat surfaces, such as the hood of a car or the surface of a body of water. This reflection can cause discomfort and difficulty seeing for some people, particularly when driving or engaging in outdoor activities. Polarized lenses work by only allowing vertical light waves to pass through the lens, which helps to reduce glare and improve visibility. They are often used in sunglasses and are popular among people who spend a lot of time outdoors or on the water. Polarized lenses can also reduce the amount of harmful UV light that enters the eye, which can help to protect against eye damage.
There are several benefits to using polarized lenses:
Reduced Glare: Polarized lenses are designed to reduce glare by only allowing vertical light waves to pass through the lens. This can help to improve visibility and reduce eyestrain when driving or engaging in outdoor activities.
Improved Safety: Glare can be a major distraction when driving and can make it difficult to see the road clearly. Polarized lenses can help to reduce glare and improve visibility, which can make driving safer.
Enhanced Comfort: Glare can be uncomfortable and cause eyestrain, particularly when engaging in outdoor activities. Polarized lenses can help to reduce glare and improve comfort.
UV Protection: Polarized lenses can also help to block harmful UV light, which can help to protect the eyes from damage.
Better Color Perception: Polarized lenses can help to reduce reflections and enhance color perception, making it easier to see colors accurately.
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Mirror lenses also known as "flash" or "reflective" lenses, are lenses that have a reflective coating on the outside surface. This coating reflects light and reduces the amount of light that passes through the lens, which can make it easier to see in bright conditions. Mirror lenses are often used in sunglasses and other eyewear to reduce glare and improve visibility in bright sunlight. They are also popular among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts because they can help to reduce eyestrain and improve performance. Mirror lenses are available in a range of colors, including silver, gold, blue, and green, and can add a stylish element to eyewear.
There are several benefits to using mirror lenses:
Reduced Glare: The reflective coating on mirror lenses helps to reduce glare by reflecting light away from the eyes. This can make it easier to see in bright conditions and reduce eyestrain.
Improved Visibility: The reflective coating on mirror lenses can also help to improve visibility by reducing the amount of light that passes through the lens. This can make it easier to see in bright sunlight and other high-glare environments.
UV Protection: Mirror lenses can provide some protection from UV rays, which can help to protect the eyes from damage.
Stylish: Mirror lenses are available in a range of colors and can add a stylish element to eyewear.
Enhanced Performance: Mirror lenses can help to reduce eyestrain and improve performance in outdoor activities and sports.
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Blue light is a subset of light emitted by the sun, as well as by computer, phone, and other electronic screens. This high energy blue light penetrates the cornea and lens to the retina that can cause diseases such as dry eye, cataract, age-related macular. This finish will help filter out blue light to effectively block the transmission of a range of wavelengths emitted from devices. Ultimately, blue light glasses can help you feel more refreshed after facing a screen all day.
Lens Types
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Polycarbonate lenses are a type of plastic lens that is known for its durability and impact resistance. They are often used in safety glasses, sports eyewear, and children's eyewear because they are less likely to shatter or break than traditional glass lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are also much lighter in weight than glass lenses, which can make them more comfortable to wear. In addition to their durability and lightweight properties, polycarbonate lenses also provide 100% protection from UV rays and are scratch-resistant. They are also thinner and flatter than traditional lenses, which can improve the appearance of eyewear.
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Trivex lenses are a type of plastic lens that is known for its durability, lightweight properties, and clarity. They are like polycarbonate lenses in many ways but are made from a different type of plastic called Trivex. Trivex lenses are also impact resistant and are less likely to shatter or break than traditional glass lenses. They are also lighter in weight than glass lenses and provide 100% protection from UV rays. In addition to these properties, Trivex lenses are also thinner and flatter than traditional lenses, which can improve the appearance of eyewear. Trivex lenses are often used in safety glasses, sports eyewear, and children's eyewear because of their durability and impact resistance.
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High-Index 1.67 lenses are 45 percent thinner than plastic lenses. This lens material helps reduce the distortion others may see when looking at your eyes through your glasses.
Benefits of High-Index 1.67 lenses:
Their slim profile allows you to choose from a wider selection of frames
Light weight for added comfort
Flatter surface, so your lenses bulge less from the frame and your eyes appear more natural in size.
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High-Index 1.74 lenses are the thinnest, flattest, lightest weight, and most cosmetically appealing lenses available. This material allows for a thinner lens, especially in extra-strong prescriptions.
An ultra-thin profile and ultra-light weight
Scratch resistance, UV protection, and anti-glare properties.