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Spectacle Lens Update

Choosing lenses using the latest computer technology

Using the latest computer technology we can show you how thick your lenses will be in the frame you have picked. You can judge the effect on final appearance of various different materials.

The most important part of your spectacles are your lenses. In recent years there have been some major advances in lens technology. Today spectacles lenses not only provide different forms of optical correction, they also satisfy the requirements of different lifestyles and activities. The wide choice of lenses now on offer can often be confusing. So let's take a look at what we can offer you.

Single Vision Spectacle Lenses
These are used for people with either short sight or long sight. If you have short sight, you are able to see clearly close-up but will need glasses in order to focus on intermediate and distance objects (e.g. for TV and driving). If you are long-sighted, however, the opposite is true. You can see alright generally, but will need spectacles for close-up work (e.g. reading).
Multifocal Lenses
These are worn by people who require both near and distance vision correction. Multi-focal lenses are used to rectify a condition known as presbyopia, something which all of us will experience as we get near middle age.

One solution is to have two pairs of spectacles, one for distance vision and one for reading. But this is often inconvenient and impractical. So instead lenses have been developed which incorporate both types of vision correction. The best known is the bifocal. The top section of the lens is used for distance vision, whilst the lower part is for closeup work. Bifocals now come in many different designs, so if you're presbyopic there is bound to be one to meet your personal requirements. More and more people are, however, choosing varifocals instead. These lenses have a gradual change in their optical power so there is no sudden jump between near and distance vision.
Photochromic Lenses
These are lenses that respond to different levels of light. They remain slightly tinted indoors and darken outside in the sunlight.
Glass photochromic lenses, such as Reactolite, have been around for many years, but new plastic photochromics are now available. These are lightweight and also filter out potentially harmful U.V. light.
Lens Coatings
Undoubtedly some of the most useful technological advances concern lens coatings. These days spectacle lenses can be treated to improve your vision and even make it more comfortable. An uncoated lens will reflect about 10% of light, something which can cause problems for spectacle wearers. Not only is your visual quality impaired, but the lenses themselves look quite obvious. As a result, lens reflections obscure your eyes and can make even the most stylish frame look unattractive.

An anti-reflection coating applied to the lens during its manufacture will solve these problems. As well as making your lenses virtually invisible, it will improve your vision in low light conditions. This is particularly useful for driving at night because an anti-reflection coating will reduce the glare from oncoming headlights.

Modern lenses can significantly improve the comfort and visual effectiveness of your spectacles. If you want to know more about their benefits, don't hesitate to ask your optometrist for further information.

Spectacle Lens Update

Single Vision Spectacle Lenses

Multifocal Lenses

Photochromic Lenses

Lens Coatings