Answer True or False to the following questions to test your Eye-Q.

  1. Bifocals or readers are the only options for correcting close-up vision.
  2. Polycarbonate lenses and high index lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses.
  3. An anti-reflective coating on your lenses will help you see more clearly.
  4. Readers are never around when you need them.
  5. People with strong prescriptions have no choice but to wear thick, heavy lenses with thick, heavy frames.

READING IN THE DARK

Lifestyle Eyecare Centers Have you noticed it's harder to read in dim light? Having a bright light improves your ability to see. An anti-reflective coating is like turning up the brightness of the lights in a room. By removing reflections on the front surface of the lens, more light can get to your eyes making it easier to see. Anti-reflective lenses also make it easier to see at night by removing the halos around street lights and oncoming headlights. An added benefit of this technology is that while an anti-reflective coating makes it easier for you to see, it also makes it easier for others to see you, making your lenses all but disappear. Combine these lenses with a pair of rimless frames for a minimalistic, stylish look.

Even with progressive lenses and an anti-reflective coating it can still be difficult to read the menu in a dark restaurant. A menu pen light—a small flashlight—can be the perfect solution, fitting discreetly into your purse or pocket so it’s ready when you need a little extra light on the subject.

ALL GROWN UP

LOOK MOM, NO LINES

Lifestyle Eyecare Centers Progressive lenses, sometimes referred to as no-line bifocals, provide visual correction not just for distance and reading, but for intermediate distances as well. Progressives have the added cosmetic benefit of not having a telltale line that would tip off others to the fact that you need readers.

Progressive lenses provide a smooth transition from distance through intermediate to near, with all distances in-between. This smooth graduation between different vision zones allows you to read road signs up ahead, see your dashboard speedometer, and read the fine print on a map, all without changing glasses.If your current prescription makes your lenses heavy and uncomfortable, there are a variety of lens materials available that are thin and light. Lenses made from polycarbonate can be up to 35 percent lighter and thinner than standard plastic lenses and have 100 percent ultraviolet protection built in. High index lens materials are lighter still—some up to 50 percent thinner than standard plastic—for the thinnest, lightest lenses possible. Your eye care professional can recommend the best lens material, based on your prescription to provide you with the thinnest, lightest and most comfortable lenses available.

ACESSORIZE

For those who only need a little help reading close up, a pair of prescription readers may be all you need. The problem with readers is they never seem to be around when you need them. Some people buy more than one pair and place them around the house, in their purse or in the car. Another solution is to buy several fashionable chains to keep the readers close at hand. Many of the new reader chains are as beautiful as jewelry, some are designed to look like a necklace with a ring attached to hang your readers. The readers themselves are also available in a variety of styles, colors and shapes. These aren’t your grandmother’s readers. Just because you can’t read the fine print any more doesn’t mean you have to wear outdated, uncomfortable glasses in order to see clearly. With today’s new lens and frame technology you can have comfortable, stylish glasses that allow you to see clearly in every situation.