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What type of glasses do I need?
You can
spend a lot of time picking out the right frame, but if you don’t
get the right lenses, you can be missing out on clear, comfortable
vision. Listed below are lens materials and options to help you
understand and decide which is best for your lifestyle.
Lens Materials:
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Glass –
glass lenses are very heavy and rarely used.
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CR-39 –
these basic plastic lenses are more easily scratched than glass
and do not block out harmful UV rays. Application of a
scratch-resistant and UV coating are recommended.
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Polycarbonate
– these lenses are impact resistant and are highly recommended for
children and active patients. The material weighs less than CR-39
and, because of it’s strength, can be made ultra-thin, allowing
for more lightweight and comfortable lenses. Another benefit to
these lenses: they block harmful UV rays.
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High Index –
these lenses bend light more efficiently than CR-39 so they allow
stronger prescriptions to be made thinner and lighter. In some
instances, high index materials provide better optics than
polycarbonate.
Lens Designs:
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Single Vision –
single vision lenses can provide clear vision at all distances
providing a bifocal prescription is not required. If a bifocal
prescription is needed, single vision glasses can be used in task
specific instances to clear far, intermediate, or near visual
demands.
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Flat-top Bifocal (or
Trifocal) – bifocal lenses provide distance vision in the
top portion and near vision in the bottom. These lenses are not
recommended for patients that need clear intermediate vision,
particularly those who use computers regularly. A trifocal offers
distance, intermediate, and near focus with visible lines between
each segment.
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Progressive
– progressive lenses are the most advanced multi-focal lens
available. These lenses provide continuous clear vision at all
distances without visible lines. There are many brands of
progressive lenses available from low to high quality. The
highest quality progressive lenses offer the least amount of
distortion and the clearest image to the wearer. These lenses are
the top choice for computer users who want to own only one pair of
glasses.
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Computer lenses–
for people that are on the computer for many hours per day and
wish to have a wider field of view than is found in progressive
lenses, these lenses are a perfect option. These lenses provide a
wide corridor for both intermediate and near vision. However,
they do not correct distance vision.
Lens
Options:
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Anti-reflective coat
– all ‘lenses’ create reflections when they are untreated. This
is why you can see a trace reflection of yourself when you look
into a car or house window. If those windows were treated with
anti-reflective coating, you would not have to cup your hands
around your eyes in order to see inside. With this coating,
distracting reflections are removed from the front and back
surfaces of the lenses. This improves the quality and clarity of
vision, reduces eye-strain and also enhances the wearer’s
appearance.
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Photochromic
– also called “Transitions” because of the well known brand, these
lenses are clear when indoors, but darken when outdoors. The
brighter the sun, the darker they become. These lenses provide
100% UV protection. As they are triggered by UV exposure, they
will only darken in direct sunlight, and they do not darken when
inside a car.
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Polarized lenses
– polarized sunglasses are the optimal lenses for outdoor use.
They eliminate glare reflected off the surface of objects such as
a wet road, the water when fishing, or snow when skiing. These
lenses provide more comfortable and clear vision than is available
with a simple tint.
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Scratch-coat
– scratch-resistant coating protects lenses from normal scratching
during everyday use. “TD2” is a more advanced scratch protection
that coats both sides of the lens and is a valuable option for
children and adults that are rough with their glasses.
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UV filter –
CR-39 lenses do not protect against UV unless this coating is
added. This is important in any climate, but especially here in
Florida.
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Aspheric lenses
– aspheric lenses allow for improved vision and more attractive
glasses in higher prescription powers. They reduce peripheral
blur and create a flatter, thinner and lighter lens. For people
that are quite nearsighted, they reduce the small eye
appearance; and for people that are farsighted, they reduce the
bulgy, enlarged eye appearance.
Frames
Frames are
available in many different styles and materials. Plastic frames
are ideal for high prescription powers because they can more easily
hide lens thickness. They can also look very stylish regardless of
lens power. Titanium frames are very strong, but
lightweight. They are available in designs that can be twisted and
spring back into shape when released. Both titanium and plastic
frames are ideal for those people who have a skin reaction to
certain metal frames. Semi-rimless frames are frames that
have some metal or plastic around the lens and a wire that holds the
lens in place from underneath. Rimless, or drill-mount, frames
have no frame around the lens at all. The lens is held in place by
tiny screws or a pressure mount system. These frames can be very
attractive and virtually disappear on your face.
We carry
numerous brand-name frames. Below are some of the brands that we
have in stock. This is in no way a complete listing of our frame
selection.
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