Lenses, there's more to them that meets the eye

LENSES

At the end of the eye examination, your optometrist will advise which lenses would be best for you, taking into consideration your home and work life.

Many consider this choice the most important. 

There are many lens options available including simple single vision lenses, lenses adapted for use on digital devices and varifocals. Lenses can be clear, tinted as sunglasses, or dispensed as transitions which change with UV levels. Mirror and reflected coatings can now be applied to make your prescription eyewear look even more like normal sunglasses.

VARIFOCALS

Varifocals are the lenses that give the most natural vision for the over 40s. Taking glasses on and off all the time or swapping between two pairs can be incredibly annoying. It also makes you look older and results in more broken frames and scratched lenses. 

Varifocals are perfect for everyday use where moving from far to near is a common occurrence. This includes looking down at your phone, seeing prices in shops, looking at a meal in front of you, or glancing at the dashboard of the car when driving. 

Not all varifocals are created equal. We use branded Varilux lenses that vastly reduce problems and patients tell us they love them. 95% of people adapt easily.

Most people over 45 are wearing varifocals, you just can't tell.

TASK SPECIFIC

We are seeing more and more patients who benefit from a task-specific pair of additional glasses for computer use or for a particular hobby or pastime, including playing a musical instrument. The different distances involved create unique requirements that can be solved using an occupational or office lens, or a single vision lens set at the correct distance. This reduces eyestrain and allows for more comfortable vision.

Reading glasses can also be extremely useful, especially for reading in bed or when you just want the full area of the lens to be dedicated purely to reading. Many of our patients wear varifocals generally but keep a pair of reading glasses at the side of the bed, for undisturbed night-time reading, where a wide field of view is the most important thing.

THINNER, LIGHTER, TINTED, TRANSITIONS, POLARISED

We supply a range of high index lenses that are thinner and lighter than a standard lens. This improves the comfort and appearance and is particularly important for higher prescriptions. 

Treatments such as tints (usually for sunglasses), Transitions that change with the light, or polarised to reduce reflections, are also available in all lens types. We use the latest genuine Transitions lenses. They invented the plastic photochromic lens and are continually improving it with each generation. There are even mirror Transitions lenses available in a wide range of colours.

COATINGS

We supply all of our lenses with multi anti-reflective coatings. These minimise the light loss at the lens surfaces and improve the quality of your vision. The multiple coatings, which are applied to both surfaces of the lens, also improve the cosmetic appearance of the lenses making them disappear so people can see your eyes and not a mass of reflections. You also have the option of choosing a blue light blocking anti-reflective coating for use with digital devices.

YOUR PRESCRIPTION

At the end of the eye examination the optometrist will give you a printed prescription and will pass over any advice to the dispenser and stylist who will discuss your final lens requirements and help find you a frame that you love. They'll make sure it's fitting correctly and suitable for your lenses. 

With the myriad of options available, good advice is essential. We'll make sure we take into consideration all of your visual requirements.