Besides choosing your frames, there are many different options when it comes to picking out your lens. However, we are here to help you through the whole process so that you can have the glasses that you need.
Our optical staff is here to help you decide the right lens for your individualized visual demands. All patients and clients are welcome whether you are a new patient, existing patient, or a passerby. No appointment is necessary to meet with one of our optical experts as you can stop by anything!
Now more than ever our eyes are being used in many ways that was unforeseeable even from a decade ago. This means our options have expanded and that not all lenses are created equal for what your eyes are being used for and most patients find they need more than one pair for different activities in daily life. At Ottewell Eye Care we know how daunting it can be with the overload of possible options and our goal is to make the experience as simple and straightforward as possible.
The following are some of the most common lens designs:
Single Vision Lenses – This design provides the same correction over the entire area of the lens. These are typically prescribed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
Multifocal Lenses – This design can be further categorized as bifocals, trifocals, progressive addition lenses. These provide more than one focal point in one lens to help you see near and far without switching your glasses after you lose the ability to naturally change the focus of your eyes due to age (presbyopia).
- Bifocals – there are two distinct optical powers in the lens for distance and near with a “line” demarcation
- Trifocals – there are three distinct optical powers in the lens that provide the additional mid-range zone also with “line” demarcations
- Progressive Addition Lenses(PAL)/Progressives – you can think of this lens design as the “lineless” trifocal and today, most presbyopes choose this design as it is more aesthetically pleasing. Most people find with a little practice, they are an easy adjustment.
- Computer Vision – please click here for more information!
In addition to lens design, the quality of vision can be enhanced to give you the benefit of extra vision protection and improved lens performance via lens coatings:
Scratch Resistant Coating – increases the resistance to scratches; not to be confused with scratch-proof.
Anti-Reflective Coating – used to reduce reflections to cut out daytime and night driving glare.
UV Blocking Protection – further protection against the sun’s harmful rays
Photochromic/Transition Lenses – lenses that darken when you walk outside like sunglasses and become clear when you come back inside. This is available with all lens designs.
Blue Filter/Blocking Coating – provides protection from harmful high-energy blue wavelength of white light especially emitted from computers and other electronic screens without distorting natural colour perception. This coating eases eye strain under fluorescent lighting and aids in general eye fatigue with increased screen time. This is available with all lens designs.
Polarized Lenses – please click here for more information!