What are the options for lenses?

There are many eyeglass lens options available. An eye care provider will take things such as lifestyle and vision correction needs into consideration when helping select the right lenses for the patient.

Here are some of the most common eyeglass lens types:

Transition lenses – These lenses are made of dynamic materials that automatically adjust to the level of surrounding light. They can take the place of prescription sunglasses and help block UV rays. With new technology out, lenses transition 2.5 times faster than before.
UV coated lenses – UV coating can be applied to regular eyeglasses unless the lens is made with polycarbonate, as polycarbonate already contains a UV filter. UV coated lenses look like any other lens – the coating is transparent.
Polycarbonate lenses: A specialized plastic lens material that can offer the wearer impact resistance, UV protection, and thinner lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are typically used for children, safety lenses, and for patients who would like a lighter lens option.
Trivex lenses: A newer lens technology, Trivex is highly rated for safety lenses. Trivex provides the patient with high impact resistance, clearer vision than polycarbonate, and UV protection.
Tinted sunglass lenses – If a patient is getting prescription sunglasses, they may want to get tinted eyeglasses instead. These look like sunglasses and protect the health of the eyes by keeping out UV rays, but technically are not true sunglasses.
Scratch-resistant coating – A transparent coating that helps protect lenses from those annoying scratches. Scratch-resistant coating is especially useful for children’s eyeglasses. This coating will also provide the patient with a two-year warranty on their lenses from date of order, excluding safety lenses and mirrored lenses.
Plastic lenses – Plastic lenses make the entire eyeglasses weigh significantly less than glass lens eyeglasses.
Hi-Index lenses – Specialty plastic lenses provides the patient with thinner lenses, as well as crisper vision. Perfect for patients with higher prescriptions.
Anti-Reflective Coating – Our office uses Crizal® anti-reflective products. This is a coating that added to the lens to decrease the amount of reflection on the lens and provides the patient with clearer vision and less eye strain.