Glossary for Optical Shop
Your eye exam:
A routine examination from your eye doctor can detect problems with your sight, but did you know that your eye doctor could also detect the following:
- A detached retina
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Corneal Diseases
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Neurological Disorders
Your eyesight is a critical part of your everyday life and we have the perfect visual solution for your every need.
Types of Lenses:
Single vision lenses:
All purpose lenses for those of us who do not need bifocals. For those of us who do, single vision lenses can be used for distance or near vision. Even for special tasks as in occupational needs. These can be made in all lens materials.
Bifocal lenses:
Bifocals with a line allow you to see for both distance and near vision. We can make the bifocal as wide as you need from 22 mm across to the entire width of the lens. We can help you choose depending on your specific needs. These lenses are available in most lens materials, depending on the width of the bifocal itself.
Trifocal lenses:
Trifocals with a line not only allow you to see for both distance and near vision, but also allow you to focus on tasks at arm’s length distance. Great when you need to see the computer screen, or across the table when you are playing cards. Like lined bifocals, these too can be made as wide as you need, and are available in most lens materials. These lenses require larger eyeglass frames to accommodate these added areas.
No-line bifocals – Progressive lenses:
Progressive lenses are no-line bifocals that provide the most natural form of vision correction for those of us who have trouble seeing up close. Progressive lenses provide a smooth transition from distance to intermediate to near and are available in multiple designs and lens materials. With these lenses, no one knows that you wear bifocals. Here is where much of the new technology in lenses is occurring. New lenses are being produced that provide sharper vision and more natural vision. With so many choices in progressive lenses, there is bound to be one right for you.
Occupational Safety and Sport glasses:
Did you know that the fashion eyewear that you use everyday is considered to be “dress” eyewear? That’s right. They are not meant for use while playing sports, or for use on the job where work hazards could threaten your eye safety. Sport and work safety eyewear are made to withstand greater impact than your everyday eyewear. The frames are also made to be more protective for a variety of different circumstances.
We have lots of choices of safety and sport eyewear to address your needs. We have frames available for the motorcycle enthusiast and bicyclist, as well as for the Little Leaguer in your life.
If you work in a hazardous area, we can find fashionable looking frames that are OSHA approved for use in the environment in which you work.
Task specific eyeglasses:
There are also occupational specific lenses that can help when regular bifocals or trifocals won’t work. Are you a mechanic? Musician? Spend lots of time on the computer? How about needlework? There are many lens designs that can help make your job or hobby more enjoyable.
Anti-Reflective coating (A/R):
Anti-Reflective coating allows you to see more clearly by allowing more light into the eye. More light entering the eye is essential for crisper vision, especially when driving at night. Anti-Reflective coating reduces glare from headlights and streetlamps. Anti-Reflective coating reduces the surface glare on your lenses. People can see your eyes and not the glare on your lenses. Anti-Reflective coating can be added to almost any lens.
Photochromic lenses:
Photochromic lenses automatically adjust to changing light conditions for convenient protection, visual acuity and visual comfort. They lighten or darken when exposed to UV rays from the sunlight. While the UV light diminishes, lenses fade back to clear. Photochromic lenses offer just the right level of tint as UV light increases and allow just the right amount of light to enter the eye. They also provide 100% UV protection.
Polarized sun lenses:
Polarized sun lenses are by far and away one of the most comfortable choices for sunglasses. Polarized sun lenses filter sunlight to protect your eyes from dangerous glare. They enhance visual acuity, color contrast and comfort. They are great for activities like fishing; driving, golfing, hiking, biking and all other activities that involve extended time spent in UV sunlight.
Lens Materials:
Glass lenses are the heaviest and most breakable lens.
Regular Plastic lenses are more impact resistant than glass and about half the weight of glass. A scratch-resistant coating can be added to this lens since these lenses can be more easily scratched than glass.
Polycarbonate lenses are the safest lenses available. They will withstand a harder impact before they break. Polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter than Regular Plastic lenses. They are UV protective, and scratch-resistant coated.
Hi-Index lenses bend light differently than plastic or glass lenses. For this reason, they are the thinnest lenses available. Like Polycarbonate, they are UV protective and scratch-resistant coated. Their impact resistance is about the same as Regular Plastic lenses. A person who wears a strong or “thick” prescription would consider this lens material to make their lenses thinner and thereby, lighter in weight.