Eyeglasses Design

Eyeglasses Design Blog Posts

At View Optical Eyeglasses Store we believe our patients can benefit of learning about eyeglasses. In our blog we write about Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, Contact Lenses, and Optometry. We are always keeping up with the latest in technology to bring the best service in the industry.

Picking the right frames is important. They go right on your face, and will wear them a lot. Our Eyeglasses Design blog posts will teach and educate you about all things glasses. Next time you visit us you will know the advantages and drawbacks of materials and will help you make the right choice so you will love your new pair of frames. Our selection of articles is always expanding so check back frequently for more articles and leave us a comment and tell us how we are doing.

Progressive Lenses: Pros & Cons, and What to Expect
Progressive Lenses: Pros & Cons, and What to Expect 150 150 jometry1

OverviewNO Line Bifocal

When shopping for prescription eyewear you will be presented with a selection of various lenses. These are Single Vision, Bi-Focal, Tri-Focal, and Progressive. Single Vision Lenses come in one strength. Bi-Focal and Tri-Focal come in two and three strengths respectively. Bi-Focal and Tri-Focal have a very clear cut between strengths known as “line”. While this cut might work, it has become out of fashion. Here is were Progressive Additional Lenses (PAL), also known as Progressive or No-Line lenses come into the equation. These lenses come in variable strength without the line making them more sleek and fashionable than its older variants.

Progressive Lenses

No line Bifocal
Progressive Lenses

What are progressives?

Progressive lenses are specifically made for patients that require corrective lenses for both distant and nearby objects. To put it simply, if you want one pair of glasses and don’t want a line, progressives are your best option.

Pros

Progressives solve many of the issues and inconveniences of having multiple glasses, or Bi-Focal lenses. No need to switch between glasses, there is no distracting line, and they look much more modern and sleek.

1. One pair of Glasses

Let’s be honest, nobody wants to carry an extra pair of glasses and having to switch between distance and reading. Think of it this way, your smartphone is a phone, a calculator, a map, among other things. Progressives are the smartphone of lenses, combining reading, and distance in a nice sleek package.

2. No line

Nobody likes lines. Lines are boring, lines are ugly. You don’t see people standing in line at the grocery store praising the fact that they have to stand for minutes waiting to pay for their groceries. While progressive lenses might not get rid of the line at the DMV or the grocery store, they do get rid of the line in your lenses. One less line to worry about.

3. Modern look

You probably wear your glasses everywhere so looking fashionable all the time is very important. You don’t have to settle just because you need multiple powers. While we at View Optical Eyeglasses Store aren’t fashion experts, we do know that progressives are way cooler than Bi-Focal.

Cons

Nothing is perfect, and that includes Progressive Lenses. You may notice distortion at the edges of your lens, it might take a few days to get comfortable wearing your glasses, and they tend to cost more.

1. Distortions on the edges

Hold your horses, we love progressive lenses but there are some things to need to keep in mind. To be able to go from one strength to another without a line some sacrifices have to be made. Distortion on the edges are a real thing. While they might be distracting at first, once you get used to your new pair of Progressive Lenses, you will not notice them.

2. Need to train your eyes

Something we see at our store almost every day is patients who can’t read from their progressive lenses properly. This is a common issue when you get a new pair of Progressives. Unlike glasses with a line, you can’t pin-point the perfect place to read from, it takes a few days for your eyes to find the perfect spot for reading. Think of it muscle memory but for your eyes.

3. Higher cost

Technology comes at a price. Progressive Lenses are more expensive to manufacture so they come at a premium compared to Bi-Focal lenses. Nevertheless, the convenience and simplicity of having one pair of eyeglasses is something our patients feel is worth it.

Are progressive lenses for me?

We at View Optical Eyeglasses Store in Fremont, love our progressive lenses. Our technicians at our state of the art optical laboratory are huge fans. But we understand Progressive Lenses are not the right choice for everyone. Some patients may have problems adjusting to their progressive lenses which sometimes can be solved readjusting the strength of of their lens. For patients that work in front of their computer we recommend our Computer Progressive Lenses, which are stronger for intermediate distance.

Takeaway

Progressive lenses can seem a bit complicated to use at first, but once you master them you will love them. Remember, you will need to pick the right material for your glasses, so read our Eyeglass Lenses Materials Guide to learn more. Next time you visit your Eye Care Specialist ask about progressive lenses to make sure if they are right for you. If you are located in or around Fremont, California you can book an appointment with our Independent Optometrist.

Eye Glasses Lenses Material
A Guide to Eyeglass Lenses Materials
A Guide to Eyeglass Lenses Materials 720 342 jometry1

A Guide to Eyeglass Lenses Materials

Based on your prescription, frame selection, and lifestyle needs, our team of professional opticians in View Optical in Fremont can recommend the best lens materials for you. Here is a quick guide on some of the materials you may hear about at your appointment.

Types of Eyeglass Lenses Thickness

High Index 1.74
High Index 1.67
Polycarbonate 1.586
Trivex 1.53
Plastic 1.498

Plastic

  • Lightweight:
  • Affordable:
  • Less scratch-resistant
  • Covers the widest range prescriptions

Trivex lenses

  • Lightweight:
  • Impact resistant:
  • High Optical clarity:
  • UV protection

Polycarbonate lenses

  • Lightweight:
  • More expensive.
  • Impact resistant
  • Covers the widest range prescriptions

High index lenses

  • Thinner and lighter.
  • More attractive.
  • Better optical quality.
  • Covers the widest range prescriptions.
How to Wear Contact Lenses
How to Wear Contact Lenses 600 400 jometry1

Nervous? Don’t be. Putting contact lenses in and taking them out is easier than you might think. It may take a few days for your eyes to get used to the feeling of wearing lenses. If you’re having trouble don’t force it, give yourself plenty of time to get comfortable. There’s no rush, you can always try again tomorrow.

Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

Care
Daily disposable contacts are inserted on the eye every morning and thrown away every night, so you don’t need care solutions.

Lifestyle
One and done is an easy care routine for many first-time wearers or people with active lifestyles.

2-Week Contact Lenses

Care
Simply clean daily and store in lens solution overnight to maintain safety and cleanliness.

Lifestyle
2-week contacts require basic care and upkeep, but also enable you to have one pair for a longer period of time than just a day.

Monthly Contact Lenses

Care
Basic care and upkeep—storing and cleaning in lens solution overnight—allows you to keep them for an extended period of time.

Lifestyle
Because you’ll have these longer, they require some amount of responsibility to keep them clean.

 

Polycarbonate vs. Trivex Eyeglasses
Polycarbonate vs. Trivex Eyeglasses 450 300 jometry1

When Eye Safty  is a concern, polycarbonate or Trivex lenses usually are the best choice for your eyeglasses, sunglasses and sports eyewear.

Both polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses. They also offer 100 percent protection from the sun’s harmful UV light and are up to 10 times more impact-resistant than plastic or glass lenses.

This combination of lightweight comfort, UV protection and impact resistance also makes these lenses an excellent choice for children’s glasses and safety glasses.

Polycarbonate Lenses

polycarbonate lenses have become the standard for safety glasses, sports goggles and children’s eyewear. Because they are less likely to fracture than regular plastic lenses, polycarbonate lenses also are a good choice for rimless eyewear designs where the lenses are attached to the frame components with drill mountings.

  • Light weight (Up to 20% lighter and thinner than plastic CR-39)
  • Impact-resistant lenses. (up to 10 times more impact-resistant )
  • UV Protection (100% UV Protection So if you chose Polycarbonate Lenses, don’t pay for UV coating )

Trivex Lenses

  • Thickness. Polycarbonate has a higher index of refraction than Trivex (1.58 vs. 1.53), so polycarbonate lenses are about 10 percent thinner than Trivex lenses.
  • Weight. Trivex has a lower specific gravity than polycarbonate, making Trivex lenses about 10 percent lighter than polycarbonate lenses.Index-Comparison
  • Optical clarity (central). Trivex lenses have less internal stress and may produce sharper central vision than polycarbonate lenses.
  • Optical clarity (peripheral). Trivex lenses have a higher Abbe value and may produce sharper peripheral vision with less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate lenses.
  • Impact resistance. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses have comparable impact resistance.
  • UV protection. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses both block 100 percent of the sun’s UV rays without the need for special UV-blocking lens coatings.
  • Availability. Polycarbonate lenses are available in a wider variety of lens designs ( progressive lenses and other multifocals) than Trivex lenses.