Need to know more about lenses?
Welcome to our lenses 101 page, where we help you understand more about lenses and select the
right glasses for you.
Eyeglass Guide
All about Lenses
Designs
- Aspheric: These lenses have gradually changing non-spherical curves; they feature good vision, a thin profile, light weight, and cosmetic appeal.
- Bifocals: This lens has two viewing areas one for distance and one for near with visible line between the two.
- Computer lenses: Near and mid range variable focus lenses are good for occupational environments such as computer work. Ask your eye care professional about other occupational lenses that might be right for you.
- Progressive Lenses: Also known as PALs, no line, or invisible bifocals, these replace the unsightly segment lines of bifocals with a smooth, gradual transition for clear vision up close, far away, and in between.
- Single Vision: Single prescription lenses can be for near or far.
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Drivewear Lenses – These are sunglass lenses that are designed to maximise the eye’s natural ability in different light conditions, both outside and behind the windshield. They are ideal for drivers who value comfort and safety on the road.
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Varilux Physio 360 – W.A.V.E. Technology makes Essilor 360º Physio lenses the superior option for patients who demand the best visual experience. Let technology make your life easier and enhance your vision at the same time.
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Varilux Ellipse 360 - Varilux Ellipse 360° is recommended for Current wearers of progressive lenses looking for the latest innovation and who want uncompromised vision in small frames. Maximum Vision, minimum size.
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IPSEO Lenses – By testing your head and eye movement, Ipseo Lenses can be customised to more accurately fit the progressive user’s every move while giving the widest possible clear visual area. Experience faster adaptation, greater clarity and more natural vision with Ipseo lenses.
Materials
- CR-39: This plastic lens material is much lighter than glass, but more easily scratched if left uncoated.
- Glass: Though heavier than newer materials, glass has outstanding optics and less susceptible to scratching.
- High Index Plastic: Great for strong prescriptions, especially high minus, there are a variety of high index lenses and materials. Because of the ability to bend light more than other materials, high index plastic lenses are lighter and thinner, especially at the edges. Some, like the two below, are also impact resistant.
- Polycarbonate: Also called Poly, this is a high-index material that is tough, shatter resistant, lightweight, and safe for active wearers, home and on-the-job safety, and everybody wear.
- Trivex: This new material is lightweight and good for everyday use, but is also shatter-resistant and safe for active wear.
Treatments
- Anti-reflective Coating (AR): This treatment eliminates nearly all reflections from lenses, making them crystal clear and improving both vision and appearance.
- Photochromics: These changeable lenses darken outdoors and lighten indoors.
- Polarized: Good for outdoor sports and daytime driving, these sunlenses block polarized light that causes the glare that can come from any horizontal surface (from bodies of water to the hood of your car)
- Scratch-resistant Coating: It increases durability and resists scratching and abrasion.
- Tint: Color treatments can make lenses cosmetically flattering for everyone.
- UV Coating: This lens treatment helps protect the eyes against potentially damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVR).
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Crizal Opti Fog lenses – Tired of your lenses fogging up with you go out in the sun? Get a reactive coating that eliminates this effect. With the Crizal Opti Fog treatment, your lenses will perform to its optimum advantage with clarity that is second to none.
Conditions
- Astigmatism: Because of an irregularly shaped cornea, vertical curve is not the same as the horizontal one. The main symptom is blurring.
- Hyperopia (farsighted): This means you need vision corrected to see up close.
- Low Vision: Vision impairment that cannot be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lens, surgery, or drugs-problems can range from moderate) e.g., the inability to do daily tasks such as read a newspaper) to serve vision impairment or “legal” blindness.
- Myopia (nearsighted): This is the inability to see well at a distance.
- Presbyopia: A normal process of aging, this is the inability to see up close it results from the gradual hardening of the eyes lens.
