Which Lens is right for you?
Your lens choice will depend on your prescription, your lifestyle and your budget. There are many lens designs, materials, coatings, tints and lens treatments available.
Lens Materials
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Plastic (resin) lenses have become the most popular lenses throughout the world. They are impact-resistant and half the weight of glass, while providing excellent vision.
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Polycarbonate Lenses are an excellent safety option. They are up to 27% lighter than standard lenses, 10 times more impact resistant than regular plastic and have in-built UV protection. Polycarbonate lenses are recommended for children, sports people and anyone who follows an active lifestyle.
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High & Mid Index Lenses are lighter and thinner than standard lenses, and are recommended for glasses with stronger prescriptions.. Some of these lenses are recommended when using rimless frames to improve the overall durability of your spectacles.
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Glass lenses, while scratch resistant, are heavy and easily broken. They are not recommended for children or active people and now represent less than 5% of all lenses prescribed. They do not offer the same UV protection that plastic and polycarbonate lenses do.
Lens Designs
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Single Vision Lenses are used to correct common visual defects such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
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Reading Glasses are a simple way of correcting presbyopia. They will focus for near vision but objects at other distances may be blurred. This is often inconvenient and two pairs of spectacles, bifocals or progressive lenses may be needed.
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Bifocals have two different prescriptions combined together in the one lens, with usually clear distance vision in the top part and the bottom section of the lens designed for reading or close work.
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Trifocals have three different prescriptions combined together in the one lens. Usually clear distance vision is provided in the top part, the middle section focuses on arms' length tasks such as computer and the bottom section of the lens is designed for reading or close work.
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Progressive Lenses offer another solution to presbyopia. Wearers enjoy natural vision for distance and near, and also intermediate tasks such as computer use, in one single pair of spectacles. Recent lens designs in these blended lenses, mean that progressives offer wide, uninterrupted fields of vision plus at all working distance without the lines of bifocals and trifocals. Learn more
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Occupational lenses - with the increasing visual demands of screens and computers, occupational lenses provide an excellent option for people requiring reading and intermediate vision- ideal in the office and at workstations.
Anti Reflection Coatings
Adding an anti reflection coating to your spectacle lenses increases the transparency of the lens, and reduces obstructions to your vision caused by reflections. This gives you vision that is more natural and is useful for all spectacle wearers, but especially for night driving, computer use, and any bright conditions. An antireflection coating also improves the appearance of your lenses by reducing reflections seen by others looking at the front of your spectacles.
Transition Lenses
Transitions lenses are photochromic, which means they react to sunlight. More accurately, they react to Ultraviolet light from the sun’s rays. They go dark in bright sunlight and the tint fades to clear when you go inside or in poorer light conditions. Transition lenses react less efficiently inside a car or vehicle, as the sun’s UV rays are usually reduced by the vehicle’s windscreen. However the new XTRAACTIVE LENSES react to visible light and do go darker in the car.
Transitions lenses absorb 100% of UVA and UVB light, and therefore are a good protection against the damaging effects of UV on the eyes and eyelids.
Sun Lenses
Fixed tint sun lenses are available in a range of different forms. The most popular sun lenses are polarising lenses, which cut down reflected glare from the sun. They are great for driving and at the beach, cutting down glare of the sand and sea. Many people use polarized lenses while fishing as the reduced reflections off the water, help you see into the water- and also the fish!!!. Polarised lenses are also good for general sun use, but are not advised for use while cycling or using a motorbike as they can reduce the visibility of slicks and puddles on the road.
Tarbutt Optometrists will be happy to explain and advise on the most suitable type of lenses for your circumstances and lifestyle. PHONE NOW 07 8276597
