Answer True or False to the following questions to test your Eye-Q.
- One pair of glasses will work for every situation.
- Polycarbonate and high index lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses.
- An anti-reflective coating on your lenses will help you see more clearly.
- All lenses provide 100 percent ultraviolet protection.
- Photochromic lenses completely eliminate the need for sunglasses.
EVERYDAY
For your everyday eyewear think thin, light and comfortable. These glasses are going to be on your face day in and day out. Today’s lenses can be created using thin and light materials such as polycarbonate or high index plastic. 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.
An anti-reflective (AR) coating will eliminate reflections on the front of your lenses making it easier to see by allowing more light into your eyes. An AR coating has the added benefit of making your lenses seem virtually invisible, allowing others to see you clearly. For the ultimate in convenience, photochromic lenses are clear indoors and turn sunglass dark outdoors, providing you with the most comfortable vision and 100 percent ultraviolet protection. These modern lenses then turn back to clear when you return indoors, all without having to change back and forth between your regular glasses and sunglasses.
LENSES & LIFESTYLES
Buying a pair of glasses can be similar to shopping for shoes. You buy formal shoes for going to a wedding, hiking boots for hitting the trails and flip flops for walking the beach, each with their own characteristics, styles and functions. Similarly, your lenses should match your lifestyle needs while performing the task of providing you with clear vision in every situation.
Your eye care professional will make certain recommendations based upon your prescription for the best combination of lens material, design and coatings to match your lifestyle and provide you with the best pair of lenses for your particular visual needs.
AT WORK
Depending on what you do for a living, you might want to consider a different pair of glasses for work. Spend a lot of time in front of a computer? Then a special pair of computer glasses designed for reading the computer monitor might be in order. Some jobs can be rough on your eyewear. Polycarbonate lenses are the most impact resistant lens material available. Safety glasses and the glasses used by the military and police all have lenses made from polycarbonate or the more advanced Trivex lens material. Polycarbonate is thin and light as well as impact resistant and perfect for on-the-job wear.
AT PLAY
Are you an active person—riding a bike one day, backpacking another? Then you need a pair of glasses that can keep up with you. Dress glasses may not be up to the challenge you place on your glasses. Again, lenses made from polycarbonate will be the most impact resistant and provide you with the safest eyewear for your active lifestyle. When you are outdoors it’s important to protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays and glare. One hundred percent UV protection is a must and is a natural part of polycarbonate lenses. To cut out glare, polarized lenses are the best option and come in a variety of lens materials, designs and colors.
The design of your lenses for work or play will depend largely on your prescription needs but there are lens designs for specific purposes so make sure you tell your eye care professional how you plan to use your glasses. For example, there is a lens design that works well for people who golf and another design that is better suited for use while fishing. By explaining how and where you use your glasses, your eye care professional can guide you through the decisions needed to create the best pair of glasses just for you.
