The many types of ophthalmic eyeglass lenses can sometime be confusing. Too often, eyeglass wearers do not spend enough time selecting their lenses. Most do not realize that all eyeglasses are different. Your eye care professional can tell you about the variety of materials, coatings, styles and thicknesses of lenses available to help make your glasses look and perform their very best. As for the different types of lenses, these can be divided into four main categories; single vision lenses, bifocal lenses, progressive lenses and occupational lenses.
Single vision lenses have the same focal power throughout the entire lens and can be used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Single vision lenses are usually used by eyeglass wearers under the age of 40.
Bifocal lenses used to be the only option for people with presbyopia who also require a correction for myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism. They are lenses that carry two distinct optical powers in each lens. As that is an old technology, progressive lenses are now the new option for better aesthetics and comfort.
Progressive lenses are also designed to counter presbyopia. They correct the effects of presbyopia with a gradual change of power from near to distance vision, restoring natural vision without the unsightly segmentation lines or image jump experienced with standard bifocals. Progressive lenses offer comfortable vision at all distances.
Some lenses are specially designed for specific functions, as opposed to regular, everyday use. For example, keeping pace with the computer use where reading lenses for both near and intermediate vision are being used.
Nowadays we can offer better quality of lenses. Digital lenses are available for patients who were not successful with progressive lenses in the past. Good candidates are people with high prescriptions and a lot of astigmatism. Digital lenses require extra measurements from the optician to make progressive glasses prescription more accurate and better fit for the person's needs.
If you have any questions about lenses or interested in trying digital lenses please call Eyewear at Willows at 203-227-9380.
