It’s a confusing maze to choose the right lens and lens coatings. It is entirely based on lifestyle, occupation, hobbies and visual needs. There are numerous products our there and we just connect your needs with available products it’s that simple. Our expertly trained staff love the opportunity to help you choose the correct lens for your individual based needs.
High Index Lenses
Have a higher than normal prescription? High-Index may be for you
These lenses are made from a special material that slows down light or bends light more efficiently while going through the lens therefore allowing the prescription to be both thinner and lighter. Also since the lens is thinner there is less chance of distortion and much better image clarity than plastic or polycarbonate lenses.
People that are nearsighted (have a minus power) usually are benefited the most with these lenses. A high-index lens really decreases the edge thickness of the lens and eliminates the “coke bottle” appearance that regular plastic lenses can give you.
High Index lenses come in various different levels according to how much light slows down going through the material. This is called Index of refraction. The higher the number the thinner the lens. The index of refraction of regular plastic lenses is 1.50. The refractive index of high index plastic lenses can range from 1.53 to 1.74. Those in the range of 1.53 to 1.59 are about 20% to 25% thinner than regular plastic lenses, whereas 1.74 high index lenses are about 50% thinner than regular plastic lenses.
Important note: Lenses that have a high index of refraction reflect much more light off of the surface of the lens and always require anti-glare coating or anti-refective coating (A/R).
Aspheric Lenses
What is an Aspheric Lens?
Conventional lenses have the same curvature throughout the entire front surface of the lens. This can make objects very distorted in higher prescriptions but also can give the appearance that the lens is thicker. In higher farsightedness powers (plus powers) this can give the patient a “bug eye” appearance.
Aspheric lenses curvature continually changes from the center of the lens all the way to the periphery of the lens. This can make objects much less distorted, sharper, and clearer, especially in the peripheral vision. This continual curvature change also has the added benefit of making the lens thinner, and since they are thinner they are also much lighter.
Important Note: Lenses that have a flatter base curve such as aspheric lenses do also increases the reflections off of the lens surface. We require anti-glare coating or anti-refective coating (A/R) because of this.
Polycarbonate Lenses
Polycarbonate lenses are 10 times more impact resistant than regular plastic lenses, making them an required choice for children’s eyewear, safety glasses, and for anyone with an active lifestyle who wants a thinner, lighter, safer lens.
Polycarbonate lenses have a refractive index of 1.59, making them 20% to 25% thinner than regular plastic lenses. They are also up to 30% lighter than regular plastic lenses. Since these lenses are stronger they are more resistance to cracking and chipping. They are an ideal choice for drill mount frames or frames that are rimless or use a wire to hold it in place.
Important Note: One downside of polycarbonate is that depending on quality of manufacturer, the lenses can be not as clear as plastic or high index material. We will instruct each individual patient on what type of lens is appropriate for their needs and prescription.
Anti-Glare Coating (aka Anti-Reflective or A/R Coating)
All eyeglass lenses reflect some light off of the surface of the lens. This reduces the amount of light that enters the eye to form a clear visual image. This can have a severe to mild impact on vision depending on lighting conditions. The reflections can be especially troublesome and visually debilitating under low lighting conditons, like when driving at night. Lens reflections cause glare, further reducing vision in these situations.
The amount of light reflected off of the lens front and back surface of the lens depends on the lens material. Glass or plastic lenses reflect about 8% of incident light, so only 92% of available light enters the eye for vision. Thinner, lighter lenses made of high index materials can reflect up to 50% more light than regular glass or plastic lenses (up to 12% of available light).
Anti-reflective (A/R) coating reduces the front lens reflections and allows more light to enter the eye for better night vision. Regardless of the lens material, eyeglass lenses with A/R coating transmit over 99% of available light to the eye.
By eliminating surface reflections, anti-reflective coating also has the added benefit of making your lenses nearly invisible. This greatly improves the appearance of your eyewear and allows others to see your eyes, not the reflections in your glasses.
Important note: Anti-glare quality is greatly varied from manufacture to manufacture. Poor grade anti-glare coatings can chip or scratch easily. We only use and recommend Crizal® brand Anti-glare coating which won’t chip or scratch since it is ionized inside the lens.
Scratch Resistant Coating
Scratch resistant coatings are a specially treated lens that in the final steps of manufacturing a hard coat is added to the front and back surface of the lens. Kids' lenses, especially, benefit from a scratch-resistant hard coat.
Nearly all high index lenses (including polycarbonate) come with a factory-applied scratch-resistant coating for added durability. This coating is optional for regular plastic lenses. However, to safeguard your investment in your eyewear, scratch-resistant coating should be considered for all eyeglass lenses. The only exception is glass lenses, which are naturally hard and scratch-resistant.
To help protect your eyeglasses and help prevent them from scratches, keep your glasses in a protective case when you’re not wearing them. Never clean your lenses without first rinsing them with a cleaning solution or water, and rubbing a dry, dusty or dirty lens with a cleaning cloth or towel can cause scratches, even on lenses with a scratch resistant coating.
Important Note: Scratch resistant coating are just that scratch resistant NOT scratch proof, so dropping them on concrete will not prevent scratches or pitting. Using a dirty or abrasive material to clean them with also not prevent scratching.
Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment
UV light is a very damaging product of the sun rays, just as you use sunscreen to keep the sun's UV rays from harming your skin, ultraviolet treatment in eyeglass lenses block those same rays from damaging your eyes. Overexposure to ultraviolet light can cause increased risk of cataracts, retinal damage, including melanoma and macular degeneration, as well as other eye problems.
Majority of high index lenses have 100% UV protection built-in. But with regular plastic lenses, a lens treatment is required for these lenses to block all UV rays.
Important Note: Most people confuse UV with tint. Ultraviolet protection is a clear coating applied to the lens and tint is a color added for glare or light sensitivity. Basically you can have a clear pair of lenses that block the same amount of UV that a dark pair of sunglasses does, but it all depends on the fit of your frame if you are properly getting complete UV protection.
Photochromic Lenses
Photochromic lenses, or as they are also known by the brand name Transitions®, are convenient eyeglass lenses that automatically darken and lighten according to how much UV is exposed to the lens. These lenses also provide 100% UV protection from the sun, and are available in a wide variety of lens materials, (high index, polycarbonate) and lens designs, (bifocal, progressive lenses).
Photochromic lenses are highly dependable on the amount of UV exposure they get. So they won’t get as dark in a car since all vehicle window are UV treated. The darkening of the lens is a chemical reaction and has only so many times before it starts to lose its full ability to get dark and also will remain slight tinted indoors.
Important Note: Buyer beware. There are quality differences between different photochromic companies. Transitions® lenses is the founding company of this technology and are also the best photocromic lens manufacture. Also even if they say it is a Transitions® lens make sure it is the new Transitions® 6 lens which gets darker, gets darker quicker, and gets clearer, and gets lighter quicker when making the transition from light to dark.
We love to help!
With so many lens products available, it’s extremely hard to know all your lens options and decide what lens options are best for you. Rely on our expertly trained staff to make selecting your eyeglasses easy and fun. Our staff loves helping people find the perfect eyewear for their personal style and visual needs.