Eyeglasses are a part of our fashion and an important part of functioning well at work and school. We wear them everyday. Eyeglasses can be fun, elegant, sporty and stylish. They are no longer boring. There are a vast number of materials that lenses are made from.
Plastic is the most basic and also one of the thickest and heaviest types of lens materials. There is Polycarbonate which an extremely strong, impact resistant material. Children’s eyeglasses are made from polycarbonate. Many eyeglasses with a partial frame or rimless frame (no frame) surrounding the lenses are made from this. Today there is a newer, stronger material called Trivex which is thinner, lighter and stronger than Polycarbonate. I like the Trivex because it gives patients a nicer appearance.
Then we get into the Hi Index materials which can be much thinner, lighter and more cosmetically pleasing. Remember, if your lenses are the thinnest, lightest possible, you get less distortion in your vision. Therefore, patients get less eye fatigue and discomfort when they are wearing the right lenses.
Another important feature of eyeglass lenses are the coatings. Many people don’t realize that the old Anti-reflective coatings that they used to buy on their lenses were difficult to clean and pealed off easily. The new Anti-Reflective coatings today like Teflon and Crizal Alize are stronger, more scratch and smudge resistant and easier to clean. A great Teflon coating will help your eyes see less glare at night and feel less fatigue when working on a computer or doing school work.
The frame you choose should be comfortable. Make sure that it is fit securely on your nose as well as your ears. This will lead to less headaches. With the vast number of frame manufacturers ranging from Fendi, to Michael Kors to Calvin Klein, there are many styles and sizes to fit anyone comfortably.
Sunglasses are also important to consider. Many people do not realize that beautiful sunglasses that are stylish also can be converted to prescription sunglasses. When made by an experienced lab and an experienced Optician or Optometrist, it is difficult to tell if they have a prescription in them or not. Remember sunglasses are important to protect our eyes against the sun’s harmful rays.
There are many patients who wear contact lenses. These patients should always have a back-up pair of glasses. It is healthier for our eyes to give our eyes a break occasionally from contact lenses, even if it is for an hour or two before sleeping.
We are constantly using our eyes, and with the best lenses and coatings, we can see and feel better.
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