So it’s time to get new glasses. Time to think about the big questions: what type of frame looks best on my face? Should I get a neutral color or something bolder? While choosing new glasses may make us think about what sort of frames we’d like next, the reality is that the lenses in our eyeglasses will be the real determining factor in how well our eyewear works for us.
Because there are so many different types of lenses, unless you’re an eye care professional, it can be confusing to hone in on what works best for any particular lifestyle or prescription. Whether you need single vision lenses to correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and/or astigmatism, or you need bifocals, progressive lenses, or other multifocal lenses, here’s the lowdown on some common types of lenses and their features.
High definition lenses – HD lenses allow for sharper, clearer vision than most eyeglasses wearers have seen before. Even if prescription lenses fully correct your near- or farsightedness or astigmatism, abnormalities (due to individual eye characteristics or limitations of eyeglass lenses) may affect vision. High definition lenses correct these aberrations, offering sharper vision in various lighting conditions and reducing glare for better night vision.
Anti-glare lenses – These lenses get rid of light reflections from the surfaces of your lenses, offering cleaner vision. Anti-glare lenses eliminate reflections from the back and front surfaces of lenses, allowing more light to pass through lenses to optimize eyesight with fewer distractions. In addition, these lenses are nearly invisible due to the reduced glare, offering a better look for your lenses and a better look at your eyes for those around you.
High quality polarized lenses – These specialized lenses help to protect the eyes from harmful effects of UV rays. Polarized lenses are coated with a chemical film that reduces glare from light reflection. These lenses are often used by those who spend lots of time in the outdoors, as the glare of the sun on water, snow, and other surfaces is highly polarized. Because these lenses block glare and protect from UV rays, they offer more comfortable vision outdoors.
BluTech Lenses – Like high quality polarized lenses, these provide protection from UV rays. In addition, BluTech Lenses protect eyes from high-energy blue light emitted from our (increasingly common) screens. These lenses feature a protective barrier of ocular lens pigment and melanin, which allows for protection without distorting or changing how our eyes perceive colors.
In addition to choosing lens type, it’s vital that lenses are crafted personally for their user. Uptown Eye Care utilizes the Visioffice System to measure and fit our clients for their eyecare products. Visioffice offers an improved patient experience through education and frame selection, as well as precise measurement for optimal lens crafting. In addition, our opticians will work with you to adjust and fit glasses to you for your own extended comfort and vision.
Like other technologies, lenses are improving every year: they’re becoming lighter, thinner, more scratch resistant and more personalized to wearers’ needs. To learn more about which types of lenses might work best for you and your lifestyle, contact us today.
