An essential part of getting a pair of eyeglasses is the lenses. Lenses are made from three materials: plastic, glass,
and polycarbonate. Plastic, the most used material for lenses, is impact resistant and lightweight but partial to easily being
scratched. Glass is still used for lenses and is scratch resistant but heavy and breakable. Most everyday use lenses are made of
high resin. Hard resin lenses are lightweight, provide good optical quality, and are resistant to scratches. They can also be
upgraded with color tints, UV - protectants, or photochromics. Polycarbonate lenses are designed for high impact resistance and
are ideal for occupational hazards, children, and athletes. They provide the best eye protection.
High Index Lenses allow thick prescription glasses to be thinner by compressing the material. "Index of refraction" is a term
used to describe the speed at which light travels through a material. A higher index results in thinner lenses. Technology has
made it possible for both plastic and glass lenses that have a high index. High Index lenses are lightweight, look much thinner,
and do not magnify your eyes but are more expensive. There are also ultra-high index lenses for people with high prescriptions
that are the some of the thinnest and lightest available.
Aspheric lenses are not like conventional lenses in that they do not have a spherical front curvature but have differing
degrees of curvature. This allows wearers to see clearly whether they are looking directly ahead or to either sides.
Aspheric lenses can also be combined with high index material to produce extremely thin lenses that provide the same
great vision improvement.
Eyeglass Lenses Upgrade
Scratch protectant coating is a must have for plastic or glass lenses. It is easy to scratch your lenses and the damage
usually can not be repaired, thus wasting a good pair of glasses. A scratch protectant coating will help the lenses become more
resistant against most abrasions.
One of the causes of cataracts could be the high amounts of ultra-violent light that enter our eyes. A UV coating helps
to reduce the amount of UV rays that enter our eyes by blocking it through the lens. A UV coating is inexpensive and the
end result of protecting our eyes is worth the price.
Anti-reflective lenses are another upgrade that can help you see better. It not only gets rid of the glare and reflections
but allows people to see your eyes without any problem.
Polarized lenses are like sunglasses in that they are tinted with a polarization filter and block vertical light from
causing stress on the eyes. They are good for outdoor activities where the sun will be glaring down on you.
Photochromic lenses are designed not only for outdoor but also indoor wear. They are designed to lighten up the tint when
in the shade and darken the tint when in direct sunlight. There are a lot of brands with varying tint percentages.
Make sure to ask your optometrist or optician on lenses and which type would be more beneficial to
your lifestyle and upgrades that are a must for you.
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